On October 27 we took a break from our series on the Sermon on the Mount in the gospel of Matthew to look at the some of the exacting laws of God set forth under the Mosaic covenant in Deuteronomy 23 to govern theocratic Israel. The purpose was to highlightContinue Reading
Perhaps you have run into a Messianic Jew or a member of the Christian Zionist movement and have wondered how their views stack up against Scripture in able to better converse with them. The following is a helpful essay by Dr. Michael Horton, writing from a Reformed and covenantal perspective,Continue Reading
In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus declares that his disciples are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. The saltiness and luminosity of the church is derived from the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone. To replace or twist the preaching of justification of sinnersContinue Reading
According to Jesus in the beatitudes in Matthew 5:9-12, peacemaking is a befitting of the children of God who have become participants in the life of the kingdom of heaven by grace alone through faith alone. Another distinguishing characteristic of the disciples of Christ living out the kingdom of heavenContinue Reading
Martin Luther’s commentary on Matthew 5:13: For if I cling to this, that Christ alone is my righteousness and holiness, no monk will ever persuade or mislead me by his hood, rosary, this or that work and childish human notion. For through faith I am a judge of allContinue Reading
According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism Question and Answer 98 and worthy of memorisation: Q. 98. What is prayer? A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God,[200] for things agreeable to his will,[201] in the name of Christ,[202] with confession of our sins,[203] and thankful acknowledgment ofContinue Reading
There are few books that have profited me more – especially in moments of existential crises of faith – than Martin Luther’s Commentary on Galatians. It can be downloaded for free here if you have a Kindle or the app or the like. To whet your appetite: The world bearsContinue Reading
In Colossians 2:19-23, the Apostle Paul admonishes the Christians at Colossae not to let their faith in Christ be derailed by false teachers who are insisting upon submission to all sorts of worldly rules, such as abstaining from food and drink. Like the Pharisaic version in the days of Jesus,Continue Reading
In Matthew 5:6-8 (sermon audio here), Jesus explains further to his disciples the blessed life of the kingdom of heaven. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied with God’s grace in this life and his glory in the next. Those who are merciful will receive God’s mercy. Continue Reading
The Sermon on the Mount or the beatitudes of Jesus found in Matthew 5-7 are notoriously difficult to interpret. This sermon on Matthew 5:1-5 is the first in a number of sermons that seeks to expound what Jesus is saying to his disciples as they sat as his feet onContinue Reading
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