We noted last week that the cup we drink is the cup of the new covenant. One of the fundamental terms of the new covenant is the glorious promise that God will remember our sins no more. This, therefore, is the cup of God’s forgetfulness. What of the bread? We are told that the bread …
Speeding Up in the Wrong Direction
“And the next taunt (for that is what these are) goes right to the heart of modern evangelicalism, in which evangelistic zeal excuses just about anything. But, the Lord points out, you can only export what you are manufacturing. If you have a stupid religion, then evangelistic zeal just gets you more of it. If …
Huh
Had a strange experience tonight. I am currently involved in a writing and editing project for Veritas Press — the Omnibus materials. The first text for seventh graders has been published and can be found off to right on the bookrack. The second text for eighth graders is just about ready to go off to …
Was John Calvin An Intolerista?
In a debate with Dan Barker a couple weeks ago, he brought up his view that anyone who thinks John Calvin was a good guy has to be morally bankrupt. And since I maintained that Calvin was a good guy, and a faithful servant of Christ, that made me morally bankrupt. But the politics of …
Simon Peter
In the Scriptures, Simon Peter is always listed first in any list of the apostles that is given. He is certainly a striking figure, and no attempt to tell the story of the new covenant community would be complete without him. It is hard to imagine him as anything but a large man, but whether …
Silence is Good
A common way of sinning with the tongue is to talk a lot, aimlessly. This kind of verbal scribbling is certain to lead to tangles, problems, and difficulties. Scripture says, “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, …
Where Christ is Revealed
We are sometimes urged away from understanding the types of Scripture on the basis of authority. Yes, people say, there may be typological significance to many aspects of Scripture, but we are not the Lord, and we are not his apostles and prophets. What authority do we have to interpret this way? This overlooks the …
Trying to Twist Away
When children are spanked, even in love and affection, they often twist and turn to get away from the point of pain. In the long run, they only make their situation far more difficult. We are trying to worship the Lord in such a way as to deal with our various sins and follies. The …
A Wet Spot on the Pavement
“In the old days, this trick had to be accomplished by means of respectful titles like the ‘Rev.’ But nowadays, in these egalitarian times, the attitude of spiritual conceit has had to be a little more creative, and a pastor shows his prowess in humility by asking people to call him Joe. Behind the scenes …
Marriage As Manifest Glory 39
Introduction Well, we come at last to the conclusion of this series of messages on marriage. This may be a cause of rejoicing for some, disorientation and sadness for others, and relief for still others. But remember that this subject is not like a series of particular messages to locomotive engineers or architects. We cannot …