Have you died? That may seem like an odd question, but it is actually one that a close reading of the New Testament forces you to ask of yourself. (more…)

The reality of our shortcomings produces in us a lack of confidence, even a fear, at the thought of meeting God. What will He do with me? I have fallen short of His holiness. What will He do with me?  (more…)

Last time I completed the little simple definition of sin that my wife and I used to teach our children. It is very simple, but very scary! (more…)

We’re thinking these days about the worth of our souls. (more…)

In my last entry in this blog I talked about our identification with Christ, and that God counts us as having died, and risen, with Christ. Some people might think that this idea is a bit esoteric, that it isn’t practical enough to warrant our attention. “I’ve got more important things to do than think about some remote theological concept!” they might say. I may have not seen the connection myself between this truth and my life when I was first exposed to it. But (more…)

I’d like to turn your attention to the issue of our identification with Christ. I try to explain it from one angle or another, examining one facet of that truth and then another. I do so because it is a neglected truth, and a very freeing truth. Do you know what it means that you are identified with Christ? (more…)

Listening to others pray can be a way to learn to pray. (more…)

In recent blog entries I’ve been dwelling on the seriousness of sin. I hope you’ve taken it to heart. But if you have, you may have sensed a burden growing over you. Sin is indeed a grave problem. But there is a wonderful lifting of the burden, if you know where to go for it. (more…)

John Flavel, in looking at 1 Corinthians 1:30, has concluded that “The Lord Jesus Christ, with all His precious benefits, becomes ours, by God’s special and effectual application.” Now, you may not be used to hearing the word ‘application’ used like that. What Flavel is saying, is that God applied the Son to us, and by so doing He saved us. But this application of Christ to us is not a description of all of salvation. There was more that preceded it. Let’s let John Flavel explain… (more…)

I want to continue sharing with you some of John Flavel’s writings. Last time he began a discussion on 1 Corinthians 1:30. He explained that Christ is our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification and our redemption. He continues… (more…)