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
From an essay entitled “Hungering and thirsting after righteousness” by the late Princeton Seminary theologian Geerhardus Vos: The Sermon on the Mount is rightly accorded a chief place in the teaching of our Lord. It carries a weight of authority, sets an ethical standard, and reveals heights and depths ofContinue 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 Heidelberg Catechism Q/A 65 we confess: 65. Since, then, we are made partakers of Christ and all His benefits by faith only, where does this faith come from? The Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts1 by the preaching of the Holy Gospel,2 and confirms it by the useContinue Reading
Batter my heart, three-person’d God, for you As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; That I may rise and stand, o’erthrow me, and bend Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new. I, like an usurp’d town to another due, Labor to admit you, butContinue 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
In his essay entitled “Industrial or pastoral?: The Techniques of Church Growth,” church historian and elder DG Hart begins by asking the probing question: Can measurements of “customer satisfaction,” which have largely been borrowed from the industrial and mechanical world, be helpfully appied to something that is fundamentally organic andContinue 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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