We Need Missionaries to Christendom
I recently turned forty-two, and just this morning, I learned that Søren Kierkegaard died at forty-two. I knew he died young, but I never took note of his age. Kierkegaard wrote numerous books and pamphlets, often under pseudonyms, writing in different “voices,” taking different points of view, writing experimentally, with some writings being enigmatically philosophical […]
Looking at the White Stone from a Different Angle (Revelation 2:17)
In Rev 2:17 Jesus promises to give to the overcoming believers at Pergamos a white stone. This is clearly a reward for faithfulness. It is a reward that will be given at the Judgment Seat of Christ, when the Lord rewards believers for their obedience. I have often wondered what this reward will mean for […]
Future Judgment in Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
Although Ecclesiastes is written from the perspective “under the sun,” you do see some glimpses of eternity. As I wrote in an earlier blog, Solomon did mention life beyond the sun, and how God put a longing for eternity in our hearts: He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity […]
God’s Sovereign Will Is Sometimes Secret
Another good question came to me recently: I was reading Bob’s article on the coronavirus in Grace in Focus. At one point he refers to “God’s secret will.” He says, “The sovereign will of God is everything that actually happens. But before it happens, we don’t know what will occur.” Doesn’t this put us back […]
Is There Profit in Ethics and Justice? (Ecclesiastes 3:16; 4:1-3)
King Solomon was searching for the meaning and purpose of life. Why go on living? What purpose does it serve? What’s to gain? What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun? (Eccl 1:3). But crucially, Solomon was looking for the purpose of life in life. But where? […]
Is There Profit in Pleasure? (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)
What is the purpose of life? Why should anyone want to keep on living? Solomon was looking for meaning, for “profit”— What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun? (Eccl 1:3). Solomon started his search with wisdom, but found it only led to a great appreciation for […]
Is There Profit in Wisdom? (Ecclesiastes 1:3-18)
Where do you find true happiness? Where have you been taught to find it, by family, friends, church, school, and Hollywood? If anyone was in a position to discover the meaning of life, it was King Solomon, the son of David, supremely wise, and rich beyond comprehension (cf. Eccl 1:1, 12; 1 Kings 3, 10). […]
Ecclesiastes in a Syllogism
As I was making lunch, my son, Zane, came into the kitchen and asked, “Has it been an hour yet?” “An hour from when?” “No! Just, has it been an hour?” “From now? I’ll have to start counting.” “No from later.” “Well, if it’s an hour from later, then it hasn’t happened yet, because it’s […]
The Perseverance of the Saints
I received an interesting question—correction really—from a reader. He wrote: I think you at GES are mistaken about the perseverance of the Saints. R. C. Sproul says it is God by His Spirit that helps us persevere in the Christian life until the end. Sproul said it should be called the Preservation of the Saints. […]
According to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:3-4), Part 2: Jonah in the Belly of the Fish
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:3-4). In the last blog, I explored some of the OT verses that […]