Thoughts on the Words of Institution

Posted inLord's Supper
In the church of which I am a member, we celebrate the Lord's Supper weekly and our pastor almost always reads a short form explaining its meaning and proper use. This form also prescribes the words with which the pastor exhorts the congregation to partake. "Take, eat, remember and believe that the body of our…

About the Fear of God

Posted inFear of God
"Because [the pious mind] sees him to be a righteous judge, armed with severity to punish wickedness, it ever holds his judgment seat before its gaze, and through fear of him restrains itself from provoking his anger. And yet it is not so terrified by the awareness of his judgment, as to wish to withdraw,…

To the Glory of God

Posted inGlory of God
As Christians we talk often (and rightly so) about doing all things to the glory of God. We also have an instinctive sense of the meaning of that behavior. But if you were asked precisely what it means, what would you say? Spending some time looking into what the Scriptures have to say about the…

Christ in All the Psalms: Psalm 22

Posted inChrist in the Psalms
To the Chief Musician. Upon the Deer of the Dawn. a Psalm of David1. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?Why are you far from my salvation,From the words of my roaring?2. O My God, I cried by day and you did not answer,And by night, and there was no silence for me.3.…

The Holy Spirit’s Intercession for Us

Posted inUncategorized
In Romans 8:26 the Apostle Paul says, "the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with wordless groanings." This intercession is different from the intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ who sits at the right hand of God. It is an intercession from within our hearts and is the foundation of Jesus' intercession for us. The passage…

Christ in All the Psalms: Psalm 21

Posted inChrist in the Psalms
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David1. Yahweh, in your strength the king will rejoice,And in your salvation how greatly will he exult!2. The desire of his heart you give to him,And the request of his lips you do not withhold.3. For you will meet him with blessings of goodness.You will set on his…

More Adiaphora

Posted inThings Indifferent
In 1 Corinthians 9:1-14, the apostle Paul defends his right to earn a living from the preaching of the gospel. But this passage appears within his instruction regarding Christian liberty, the adiaphora or things indifferent, that is, things that God neither commands nor forbids. In chapter 8 the apostle had taught that eating food sacrificed…

The Adiaphora and the Weaker Brother

Posted inThings Indifferent
Things indifferent, adiaphora, Christian liberty. The question has plagued the church since the time of the apostle Paul, who was forced to deal with it in the churches of Corinth (1 Cor. 8-10) and of Rome (Rom. 14). Yet the problem is not so much understanding the Biblical principles as applying the principles without harming…

Christ in All the Psalms: Psalm 20

Posted inChrist in the Psalms
To the Chief Musician, A Psalm of David1. May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble.May the name of the God of Jacob set you on high.2. May he send your help from the Holy Place,And from Zion support you.3. May he remember all your offerings,And make fat your burnt sacrifice. Selah.4. May he…

Christ in the Psalms: Psalm 18

Posted inChrist in the Psalms
In Psalm 18 David celebrates the work of the Lord in delivering him from all his enemies. These enemies were primarily the nations around Israel but also included Saul. Because David was an Old Testament foreshadowing of Christ, his victories exemplify the victories of our Lord Jesus Christ over our enemies, both demonic and human.…