The group of churches that John writes to in this trio of epistles had recently experienced a split because of doctrinal controversy. We do not know the exact content of the error that these false teachers were spreading, but it is apparent from John’s writing that their teaching somehow denied the truth of the incarnation—that […]
Have you ever thought about how amazing it is that we can pray? How incredible is it that we can come into the presence of God at any time and bring our needs to him? Prayer is a wonderful, miraculous gift of grace that God has given only to his children. Yet even though one […]
Every believer is fighting a battle—a battle within themselves. God has created a new, holy nature in each of his children. But even though elect believers are regenerated and sanctified, their old, totally depraved nature remains in them while they are still on this earth. Their old nature and new nature are constantly in conflict […]
What is the church? Do you remember the answer to this question from your Essentials catechism book? “The church is the elect body of Christ, which is revealed on earth as the gathering of elect believers and their seed.”[1] The epistle of Paul to the Ephesians elaborates on this basic truth by presenting us with […]
As the time of the judges came to an end, the people of Israel asked God to give them an earthly king like the heathen nations that surrounded them. God answered their request by raising up Saul to be their king. Saul’s reign, however, was marred by disobedience and rebellion against God. After Saul’s sin […]
Job had the perfect life. He was a godly man who was rich and successful. He had a loving family consisting of a wife and ten children. But in the blink of an eye his perfect life fell completely apart. In one day, he lost all his livestock and servants, and all his children were […]
As we ended our study of the book of Luke last month, Jesus had just ascended into heaven and left his disciples behind (empowered by his Spirit) to continue the work of establishing the early church. Now we fast-forward about thirty years to consider the two epistles that Paul wrote to Timothy. Churches had been […]
“Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord” was the cry of the multitude as Jesus completed his journey to Jerusalem and made his triumphal entry into the city (Luke 19:38). How is it possible that only five days later he would be executed just outside this same city? Sadly, for […]
As we continue our study of Luke’s gospel account, you will notice a shift in Jesus’ ministry. Prior to this, he had been teaching and performing miracles in the region of Galilee. But now, as his time on this earth is coming to an end, he begins a journey to Jerusalem that would eventually culminate […]
The great Messiah whom God had promised to his people had finally arrived! But he was not at all the type of savior that most people were expecting. Where were the great displays of power and majesty that one would expect from the King of kings? Where was the mighty warrior who was going to […]