We might say that baptism is the visible sign of the Spirit’s invisible work within us that tangibly shows God’s seal upon us and his promise to save in the gospel.   Paul speaks of the Spirit sealing believers in three texts (2 Cor. 1:21–22; Eph. 1:13; 4:30). While interpreters often associate this sealing with... Continue Reading

While our experience of the visible church is fallible—flawed, messy, and subject to error—it remains the apple of God’s eye and the earthly expression of Christ’s bride. We must not abandon the visible church, for it is the very place where Christ has promised to meet us, feed us with His Word, and prepare us... Continue Reading

Religion is not defined by a number of opinions, or by a collection of articles of faith, but rather by practice and obedience to the known will of God. This is because knowledge is a duty in relation to something else—it is instrumental to something else—it is not principally intended for itself, but for obedience.... Continue Reading

Christ doesn’t lead His bride with irritation and volatility, and He doesn’t abandon her in distress. He leads with strength under control. So when frustration rises in the home, the first response shouldn’t be explosion or retreat, but self-government.   In my article yesterday about kingdom utility, I wrote that a husband is useful to... Continue Reading

The work of reforming and strengthening worship is never finished by adopting a document. But it can be helped by one. A good Directory will not do the work of pastors and elders for them. But it can help pastors and elders do their work better.   A constitutional Directory for Worship will not, by... Continue Reading

Like any family, the church needs proper discipline and order so that our personal and corporate life together will imperfectly but truly reflect the fact that the church is an embassy of Christ and the age to come even in this present evil age. God’s law, not our spontaneous sincerity, defines what we should do.... Continue Reading

In any body of Christians (of any size), there will be a “mixture” of those who are regenerated, and those who are not. The problem is, it is not always that easy to discern between the two. The good news is, God has not called us to know this.   “Corpus per mixtum,” is Latin,... Continue Reading

Through suffering, God is conforming us to the image of His Son. When we are faced with personal tragedies, we should remember that God is not just working outside of us, but He is working in us.   It was just after 11 p.m. on an unusually cold January night in north Florida when the... Continue Reading

Basil also said that “the idea of the image would be lost were it not to preserve throughout the plain and invariable likeness”.  By that standard any image purporting to show Christ cannot be deemed his image, since we cannot know it preserves “plain and invariable likeness” to him—and since there are as many purported... Continue Reading

If the hearers of the gospel do not witness the glory of Christ in the image of God through all the blessings of the gospel, then we have not yet seen what finally makes the gospel truly good news—the Person of God himself.   We have pictured the gospel as a glorious diamond reflecting biblical... Continue Reading

From an early age, work must be taught, positively modeled by adults, and regularly practiced by children. This is one of the best gifts we can give to children.   I guess it could be subjective as to what is best to give our children. Even though God is the one who changes their heart,... Continue Reading

When other Christians cause us pain, we can be tempted to think, I love Jesus, I just don’t want anything to do with the church. But Jesus is not a brideless groom. His bride is the church, and he has called every believer to be a part of her and to fiercely love her because... Continue Reading

Sometimes, we hear people say they are “living the dream,” and we feel sorry for them, because their “dream” life is inferior to the better things and life that God gives. They are deceived as to what is valuable and what is worthless.   In Psalm 119:37a, the psalmist prays for something important that you... Continue Reading

What is needed is not a retreat to Rome or Constantinople, but a retrieval of the Protestant tradition that predated the individualism and heart religion that came from the Great Awakenings. Protestantism is the solution, not the problem.   Fr. Josiah Trenham is one of the top online personalities influencing people to convert to Eastern... Continue Reading

Editor’s Note: This post contains two essays, the first by Dr. Robert Letham and the second by Dr. Lane G. Tipton. Because these essays interact with David B. Garner’s view concerning the Son’s adoption as set forth in his book Sons in the Son, Ref21 has invited Dr. Garner to respond in these pages if he... Continue Reading

When Abraham named the mountain Yahweh Yireh, he wasn’t just talking about the ram in the thicket. He was prophesying. Two thousand years later, on that very same mountain range, another Father led His “only Son, whom He loved” up the hill. That Son also carried the wood of His sacrifice on His back. That... Continue Reading

Just as Satan in the Garden appealed to human desire so he did with Jesus who had gone forty days and forty nights without food. Just as he did in the Garden, Satan sought to lead the second Man to test God. Just as the devil quoted God’s word in the Garden, so he twisted... Continue Reading

When Jesus wipes away all our tears with His gentle, omnipotent hand, I believe our eyes will fall on the scars that made our suffering His, so that His eternal joy could become ours. “He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the... Continue Reading

A life is wasted when it is spent chasing things, even good things. But the life that is hidden with Christ in God, that life has no waste. Marriage, singleness, talents, and times, those things are the gift, not the prize. You waste your life when you live for those things. But you enjoy life... Continue Reading

Though the wicked foolishly live as though God has not seen what they have done and that there is no justice coming to them, God has seen and will repay them to their face for every evil act and even every evil intention of their heart. As the psalmist concludes his song, “He will bring... Continue Reading