The Good in Nazareth (Luke 1:26)
Although Theophilus had been instructed about Jesus, he needed certainty. That is, he needed a more stable understanding of who Jesus is and what He did (cf. Luke 1:4). For example, maybe Theophilus heard rumors about Jesus’ unusual birth. What really happened? Luke tells the story. Sometime after Gabriel’s appearance to Zacharias, he had a […]
What It Means to Believe in Jesus
AF wrote to me wondering if I present two different and contradictory understandings of what it means to believe in Jesus: Youi wrote: So, what does it mean to “believe in Jesus”? Does it mean to believe that He existed? That He was born in Bethlehem? That He lives a sinless life? That He is […]
Mary’s Virginity in Messianic Prophecy (Luke 1:27)
In Luke 1:27, we read that God sent Gabriel to a virgin named Mary. At this time, Mary was probably a teenager. But despite her young age, as was customary, she was betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph. Betrothal meant they were legally promised to each other in marriage, but the wedding ceremony itself, […]
Everlasting Life Reconsidered
Dr. Charles Ryrie famously said, “If everlasting life could be lost, then it has the wrong name.” Everlasting life is ever-lasting life. Recently, however, I came across an article from a Free Grace friend arguing that there is no Greek expression for everlasting life. He says, “zōē aiōnios…is not endless life, but life pertaining to […]
Free Grace and Works Salvation
The other day Shawn and I received the following email from BP who listens to our daily podcast: You said, “Well it is funny because I know some people in Free Grace circles who would say, ‘I know for sure I have everlasting life. It is simply by faith in Christ apart from works. I […]
Zacharias’ Disbelief and Divine Discipline (Luke 1:18-22)
Did you know that even the oldest, godliest believers can doubt God…and be disciplined for it? If you were a member of the clergy, a priest of God, and a blameless man who had served the Lord for many decades, and an angel appeared to you announcing that God heard your prayer and would answer […]
John the Baptist’s Seven Spirit-Empowered Services (Luke 1:8-17)
So it was, that Zacharias was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, when his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the Temple of the Lord. There were approximately 18,000-20,000 priests in Israel (Bock, Luke, p. 48; Swindoll, Luke, p. 33), who served in rotation. Even with the subdivisions, […]
God Will Send Them a Strong Delusion That They Should Believe the Lie (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12)
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thess 2:11-12). David asks this tough question: I listened to a sermon preached by Tiff Shuttlesworth on the Tribulation. At the […]
Adam, Satan, the Garden, and God’s Intention
Justin asks, “If God knew Adam was going to follow Satan, why did He allow Satan to do so? Doesn’t this make it a set up?” Yes, God knew that Adam was going to sin when He allowed the serpent to tempt Eve. But does that mean God set up Adam to fail? It depends […]
In What Sense Were Zacharias and Elizabeth Righteous and Blameless? (Luke 1:5-6)
During the days of Herod, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. Presumably, Luke had verified this detail, as could Theophilus, emphasizing the historicity of these events. Why did it mean for Zacharias to be in the division of Abijah? Israel had thousands of priests, but only one temple, which created a […]