The Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
A few years ago I was one of four authors, including Tom Schreiner, James D. G. Dunn, and Michael Barber, for a book called Four Views on the Role of Works at the Final Judgment. In my portion of the book one of the things I discussed was this parable (pp. 36-37). A reader brought […]
Worship: False and True (Acts 7:44-60)
God’s True Tabernacle What is the difference between true and false religion? On the surface they may have some similiarities. But God approves of one and abhors the other, because God has commanded one and has not commanded the other, no matter how similar they may be. The difference between true and false religion is […]
I Preached a Gospel of Doubt
By Allen Michael Rea Up until a year or so ago I was an avid Lordship Salvation pastor. In fact, I was a card-carrying MacArthurite. I studied theology at a small Baptist college where my OT professor was an Open Theist, my NT professor was a typical Baptist, and my theology professor was a five-point […]
Hang In There and Wiggle
This morning I put in a few hours of activity which should earn me some points in the father-of-the-year contest: I drove my son and some of his classmates on a school field trip to go fishing. Fishing with over twenty fourth graders is not really fishing: It is baiting hooks, helping them cast, pulling […]
The Lord’s Supper and Rewards (Joshua 5:10-15)
All Christians are familiar with the Lord’s Supper, also known as communion. When we participate in it, we remember our Lord’s death. He died in order to pay the price for all our sins. As a result, when a person believes in Him for eternal life, He is able to give life everlasting to that […]
Love
Introduction It all began on a bleak and blustery midwinter night in early 1958. A young preacher in Philipsburg, PA was burning the midnight oil. During a study break he happened to pick up and browse through the current issue of Life magazine that had been buried under a stack of books piled high on […]
The Will of the Father Is That Believers Will Not Perish
I noticed something today in studying Matt 18:6-14. I completely agree with Bob Wilkin in his book The Ten Most Misunderstood Words in the Bible (p. 68) that this section is about believers. I was really struck with the similarity of Matt 18:14 and John 6:39. Each of those verses speak of the will of […]
Idols in the Wilderness (Acts 7:30-43)
The Indictment Continues Stephen, accused by the Council, continues his indictment to Israel. 7:30-35. “An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush.” The miracle of the bush which burned and was not consumed (cf. Exod 3:2-3), prefigures the history of Israel, especially since her rejection of Christ. […]
Back from the Future
Good morning. My name is John. I’m here to tell you my story, a story that really isn’t remarkable at all. In fact, if you had known me during my life you would probably say I was just an ‘average Joe,’ nothing special, certainly not a model Christian. Maybe that’s why I’m here. Everywhere I […]
Discipleship and the Crucified Christ (Luke 14:25-35)
The death of Christ has a surprising connection to the call to discipleship, a point illustrated by studying two of the Lord’s parables in Luke (Luke 14:28-30, 31-32): Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife […]