Our Complete Priest (Hebrews 9:24-28)

One of the frustrating things about Christianity is that we do not have a tangible king. This means that we cannot simply knock on a door and see a king at work. We are a people who are to walk by faith with our eyes peering to the heavens as we sojourn on this earth. How can we be assured that our Lord is walking with us? How can we be assured that we really do have a priest who continues to minister on our behalf?

Our Merciful Priest (Hebrews 2:14-16)

If Christ merely pays our debt for today then we are still in trouble. This would mean that our sins are only covered until today. It is true that God is merciful if he does this, but God does more than merely take a few sins away. God takes all our sins away and restores us to a right relationship with him. In fact, we have a priest who is better than the priests in the Old Testament. How can we have a priest today who is better than the priests of the Old Testament? Those priests were tangible and could look us in the eye. So, why is Christ a greater and more merciful priest?

Our Stable Priest (Hebrews 7; BC 19)

Christ is both God and man.  This is not an easy doctrine for us to understand.  As human beings we want to bring God down so that Christ is maybe a little less God, but still greater than man.  Or maybe his humanity is not so human, but not quite divine.  So, why is it important for us to see Christ as being both God and man?  Why are these two natures so necessary for Christ to accomplish his mission?

The Incarnate Shoot (Isaiah 11:1-5)

Normally our fist text that we go to defend the doctrine of the incarnation is John 1. This is not a bad text, but it implies that there are no references to Christ's incarnation in the Old Testament. Is it true that Christ's incarnation is just a New Testament doctrine?

One or Two Redeemed People? (Acts 13:16-43)

Belgic Confession Article 17 teaches us that it is God who reaches down to pull man up. It is by God's gracious mercy that he seeks us out, gathers us together, and brings us to glory. So, is our God have one plan for Israel and another plan for the gentile Christians? How does one enter into heaven?

Does God Hate? (Romans 9:13)

It is common for us to think that God is love. Love is certainly one of God's many attributes. However, our Lord says, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." How can the Lord say such a thing? What does it mean that the Lord hates?

No One is Righteous?

The apostle Paul states that no one is righteous. How can Paul say such a dreary statement? How can man be in such a negative predicament? We can work our way out of this right? If we cannot work our way out of this mess then is there any hope? Is this something that is unique to Paul's skewed perspective or is Paul merely the messenger of this scriptural truth?

God's Overbearing Grace (John 6:44)

There is no doubt that we are saved by the Lord's grace. However, how much grace does God give us to come to Christ? Does he give us enough to counteract the fall? Do we really need grace after Adam's fall? Or are we so fallen and depraved that without the Lord's grace overwhelming us we would never turn to him? How much of a gift is our faith at the end of the day?

God Meant for Good (Genesis 50:20)

Joseph confronts his brothers after their scheme to manipulate Joseph to forgive them. The thought of God's providential care has not resonated within them. Joseph, has been betrayed in several ways, he has been exalted to a high position, and yet he does not seek to get vengeance on his brothers. Why is Joseph willing to move beyond his past? What has the Lord taught Joseph in Egypt?

Are Angels Real? (2)

Last week we considered the fallen angels. This week we consider the angels who remain in glory. They have a purpose to serve the Lord, and the Lord's people. What does the story of Sodom and Gomorrah teach us about the righteous angels? What does this narrative communicate about the final judgment?

Are Angels Real? (Jude 6)

Jude warns the church that judgment is coming. He appeals to Israel being brought out of Egypt, he appeals to Sodom and Gomorrah, and sandwiched between these events he reminds us that the Lord is judging the angels. What does it means that God holds these angels in chains? Are these angels who are part of a super race?

Christ’s Helper (John 14:25-28)

Christ promises that he will send his helper. It is encouraging to know that Christ's return to heaven does not leave us as orphans. How can we be sure that Christ's teaching will resonate within us if Christ is in heaven? Why does Christ have to go away? How can we be sure that Christ’s work will accomplish its redemptive goal when he says the father is greater than I?

Born in the Fullness of Time (Galatians 4:4)

The promise that Jesus will enter history is not just a New Testament promise.  The Lord promises at the exit of Eden that Christ will enter into history taking on the flesh.  God binds himself in a covenant to Abraham that Christ will enter into history.  This is a wonderful promise, but why is this promise necessary?  

The Trinity’s Testimony ( 1 John 5:6-12)

The doctrine of the trinity is a fascinating doctrine.  We teach that God is one God and three persons.  How can God be one and three at the same time?  Why would we want to teach this doctrine if it is so complicated?  Why is this doctrine necessary for us to believe as a church?

The Eternal Word (John 1:14; 15:26)

Christ makes the promise that he will be with us until the end of the age.  How can Christ deliver on this promise when Christ is up in heaven and we are down here on earth?  How can the incarnation teach us about the significance of the trinity, and God's desire to redeem?

True Truth (Acts 26:22,23)

The Apostle Paul is in a position to defend his faith once again.  He has an opportunity to defend his faith, and so what does Paul say?  Where does Paul put his assurance and confidence that the word of God is true?  What is our assurance and confidence as we live out the gospel in Christ?

Discerning our Tradition (2) (Art. 5, 6 2 Timothy 3:15,16)

The word of God is the power and means God uses to call his people.  If this scripture is written by men and inspired by the Spirit how do we know that the books of the Bible we have are true? Our confession says that we do not embrace the apocrypha, but it does not forbid us from reading it.  How do we view these apocryphal writings, how do we know that they are not inspired? 

Discerning the Tradition (Art. 4, 5; Acts 17:10-15)

The apostle Paul is one who goes from place to place preaching the word of God or to be precise the canon of Scripture. As he preaches from place to place he encounters various agitators. Agitators in Paul's context are people who deny that Christ is the messiah. How can we be confident that Paul is really an apostle sent from God? How can we be confident that Christ is the Messiah? How do we know that his words are the words from God?

Optional or Authoritative Word? (Exodus 31:18; Revelation 1:11, 19)

The Lord is invisible, but he has not hidden himself.  The Lord shows himself by His self revelation.  The Lord leaves his signature in this creation, and the Lord gives us his word.  While we as humans can never know God exhaustively we can still know God, and more importantly God knows us.  So, if the Lord gives us his word how do we know that his word is certain?  How do we know that the Lord can use the gifts of the man without contaminating his word?

A Secret or Revealed God? (Romans 1:16-23)

I marvel at how the Lord works through various men in history. Consider the sermon preached by Jonathon Edwards titled “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Jonathon Edwards supposedly preached that sermon in a monotone fashion, but it sparks the great awakening. John Owen is not someone known for a lot of contemporary rhetoric or contemporary oratory winsomeness, but yet the Gospel went out in power. Many today would say Owen is complicated, technical, and maybe even boring. You think of Calvin being sickly, technical at times, and yet the Gospel goes out. The Lord still uses these men despite contemporary advancements in our human wisdom. What is the power behind this message? Is it the man or is it the message? What about this message is so powerful?