Christ is our attorney

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.—1 John 2:1-2 … More Christ is our attorney

No arbiter between us

For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him,         that we should come to trial together.     There is no arbiter between us,         who might lay his hand on us both.     Let him take his rod away from me,         and let not dread … More No arbiter between us

Piper: John wants to motivate the fight with the confidence of victory

This is a longer than usual reading, but a great illustration to help us understand 1 John. John Piper, in a sermon, “The Strong Need Strength,” Compare 1 John for a moment to a letter that a mother writes to her daughter who has gone away to college. The mother gets word that there has … More Piper: John wants to motivate the fight with the confidence of victory

Blinded by bias

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is … More Blinded by bias

Ezekiel’s wife

    The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down.—Ezekiel 24:15-16 ESV To help us understand, John Piper wrote an Advent Poem in 1984 … More Ezekiel’s wife

The great Physician chooses the instrument, the means, and the manner

    As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So … More The great Physician chooses the instrument, the means, and the manner