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?

Christ’s Tragic Fulfillment (Matthew 26:47-75)

Christ has to live up to his name.  He is the anointed (christ) who has to save his people from their sins (Jesus).  The moment of testing has arrived, but will Christ go to the cross?  He has already prayed that the father would remove the cup and so will Christ fulfill his mission's objective?

Definitive Defender

Our story of God’s pilgrim people skips ahead to the exodus story.  This is a wonderful story that demonstrates the Lord’s sovereign power over the serpent seed.  God will prevail.  How does this story encourage us today?  How does this story assure us that God can and will build his kingdom? 

Christ's Shocking Prayer (Matthew 26:31-46)

Christ is facing his moment of trial. This is the moment where the Gospel promises will stand or fall. Christ asks the Father to take the cup from him. Why would Christ make such a request? Is Christ going to fail? What does this scene tell us about our great high priest who is seated in heaven?

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?

Senile or Serene?

We move forward and recount tthe Lord’s gracious preservation as he works in the midst of his pilgrim people. We are invited to witness Jacob saying good bye to Joseph his favorite son. What does this scene teach us about Jacob’s reflection on life? What does this teach us about our earthly sojourn under the sun?

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?

God Wrestles and Prevails

The progress continues in the pilgrim story. Jacob goes away to his uncle’s house only to meet his match. HIs uncle is a more skilled trickster and schemer than Jacob. However, the Lord sustains Jacob only to wrestle with him. Why does the Lord wrestle with Jacob? Why is his name changed from “Supplanter” to ‘Wrestled and Prevailed?”

Your Kingdom not Our Kingdom (Matthew 26:1-16)

Our Lord teaches us to pray, "Your Kingdom Come." This might sound easy for us and we should desire the Lord's kingdom. However, this request is easy to say, but tough to live out. Why is the Lord's kingdom so offensive? Why is it so hard for us to live out his kingdom?

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?

God's Tower

The progress continues in the pilgrim story. Isaac has two sons, and one son is sent away. This is not the apostate son, but the son of the promise. Has the Lord failed to uphold his promise? Is the Lord really going to build a kingdom or is his kingdom always going to have set back after setback? Why is Jacob’s tower so significant in light of Jacob’s exile?

The Promise is for You and Your Children (Acts 2:39; Genesis 17:7)

Peter states that promise is for you and your children. Does this mean that the promise is merely the promise of the Holy Spirit that is shown at pentecost? Is this a promise that goes before before pentecost? What passages could Peter have in mind to show that this promise is more than just pentecost? Ultimately, does this text imply that we are commanded to baptize infan

if you are want to learn more about the argument for infant baptism please check out our page on “Infant Baptism.”

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?

Covenant Confirmation

The Lord finally provides the promised heir to enter history. You would think that the story of redemption would be closed because the Lord has fulfilled his promise. However, the Lord endangers this promise by commanding the promised child to be sacrificed. Why would the Lord do such a thing? What does this sacrifice disclose to us?

The Humble and Powerful Gospel (Acts 28:23-30)

Luke teaches that Christ is the messiah, he is the one to establish the promises of God, and ultimately to be the administrator of peace.  So we conclude our series by turning to the last chapter in Acts.  Paul is under house arrest because of the Gospel, rejected by the jews, and fails to convert the government leaders.  How can we be assured that Christ really is the messiah?  How can we say that Christ’s mission is truly a successful mission? 

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?

Covenant Pilgrims

The Lord goes beyond merely asserting a promise, and the Lord initiates a covenant where the Lord binds himself to secure his pilgrim people. So, why does Abram cut animals in half? Why does the Lord enter into what seems to be a second covenant in Genesis 17? What is the Lord communicating about the gospel for his pilgrim people already in Genesis?

Seeing the Lord’s Salvation

Christ is the God Man who enters history to do his father's will. John tells us that Christ tabernacled among us. This means that Christ is God dwelling in the midst of his people in the flesh. If Christ is the tabernacle then why does Christ go to the temple? Why do Christ’s parents bring him to the temple? If Christ is the walking temple then why does Luke tell us about Christ in the temple? Is Luke contradicting or complimenting John's Gospel?

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?