Promises, pacts and pride

John Piper: Paul’s response in Galatians 3:15–18 is this: There are among men (v. 15) and between God and man unalterable pacts. God made one with Abraham and his offspring. The pact was that the inheritance of salvation would come, not to all Abraham’s descendants, but to the seed, which is ultimately the Christ, and … More Promises, pacts and pride

Temptation and Tears

At the end of Mark 14, we read of how Peter, who at one time bragged that he would never forsake Jesus, did just that.  He betrayed Jesus not once, but three times.  J. C. Ryle comments: The experience of Peter is only the experience of all God’s servants who have yielded to temptation. Lot, … More Temptation and Tears

What’s in a Name?

Charles H Spurgeon on Psalm 113:1-2 Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! By mentioning the name, the Psalmist would teach us to bless each of the attributes of the Most High, which are as it were the … More What’s in a Name?

The continental divide between divine blessing and divine curse.

John Piper has this challenging word about the message of Galatians 3: Satan is continuously at work tempting us to think and feel that because we use God-talk, and come to church, and pray at meal times, and avoid gross sins, we are, therefore, under God’s blessing. But the book of Galatians concerns a group … More The continental divide between divine blessing and divine curse.

Who ARE you?…”I AM”

Coty Pinckney on Mark 14:60-62 And the high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You make no answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” But He kept silent, and made no answer. Frustrated, the High priest tries to get Jesus to incriminate himself. Jesus gives no … More Who ARE you?…”I AM”

Discipline vs Punishment

Bob Deffinbaugh comments on 2 Samuel 13 and the tragedy in Israel’s royal family: ….this text is placed immediately following the passage that depicts David’s sin and its personal consequences in the death of his first son by Bathsheba. This is not only because the events of chapter 13 follow closely in time to those of … More Discipline vs Punishment