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There is one final thing I would like to consider about election, and our Ephesians passage in particular. Why would God choose to make salvation work in this way?   Certainly, there is some mystery in God's design. John Piper has said, helpfully, “Not all things are good for us to know, and so God has not revealed them to u... Keep Reading

We are often tempted to dismiss idolatry as a serious threat to our spiritual well-being. When we think of idolatry, we can easily retreat to Old Testament days and believe that it was their problem. We confine idolatry to the work of wood or stone, and thereby dismiss it as an ancient sin with no impact to our generation. However, in the N... Keep Reading

No one is saved apart from Christ, and no one is saved apart from hearing the gospel and placing their faith in Christ alone. There is no calm, dispassionate entry into heaven for the elect. Rather, the elect are spared from the clutches of death and hell because of Christ who gave His life and shed His blood to win them. This is not a cold, systematic arrangement. This is God’s love, mercy, grace, and goodness on display to all creation. All could have been left to suffer punishment for sin, but in God's wisdom and love, He showed His goodness by saving some.... Keep Reading

Written by Pastor Jim Law The Old Testament is given to the people of God as vital revelation for -the strengthening of our faith -the instruction of our doctrine -the foundation of the Gospel, and -the encouragement of our soul. The historical narratives of the Old Testament are filled with many priceless gems. In this short post, I w... Keep Reading

If you are a Christian, you did not become one simply because you chose God. Rather, He chose you to be an instrument of His glory and grace. What a mystery! Election raises a lot of questions, but the answers offered by the scripture are remarkably beautiful.... Keep Reading

We are a culture that prizes convenience and pragmatism, and consequently we love “silver bullet” solutions to our problems. By “silver bullet,” I’m referring to the term that commonly describes an action that cuts through the complexity of an issue by providing a quick solution. silver-bullet-thinkingWhen bact... Keep Reading

This week, we begin a series which will take a good look at what it means to be saved. Along the way, we'll examine the various parts of salvation and the Ordo Salutis (the logical order of salvation). Today, we’re going to ask some important questions about salvation: What are we saved from? Who does the saving? How does salvation actually take place? For what purpose are we saved?... Keep Reading

Most would agree that churches should have skilled preachers who prepare and deliver sermons with excellence. But far too few of us give much thought to training skilled listeners. ... Keep Reading

Paul warns Timothy that people have a natural tendency to listen to what they like. That's pretty harmless if we're only thinking about what kind of music we enjoy, or what kind of topics we talk about with friends. But what about issues of great importance? Would we stop listening to a doctor because we don't like the test result he reported? That would be incredibly foolish.... Keep Reading

Part 2 of a series on the "sermon moment." What must the preacher do in every sermon? How should he go about it? How should hearers respond? I hope this series will prompt you to take more interest in the sermons you hear, and that you will continue to pray for and support the men of God who minister to you through preaching.... Keep Reading