For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:22 Mere behavioral change is not sufficient to remedy the human condition. Instead, we need a new heart and nature, what the Bible calls regeneration or new birth, followed by ongoing sanctification into Christlikeness if there is to be any … Read more
BIBLE INTERPRETATION: How is Jesus the hero of the Bible? The opening line of Scripture introduces us to its hero, God. Throughout the pages of Scripture this God is revealed. In the closing line of the New Testament Scriptures, we are reminded that the God who is the hero of the true story of Scripture … Read more
Jesus’ entrance into history as a man (incarnation) was in many ways a mission trip led and empowered by God the Holy Spirit.1 Jesus’ cross-cultural transition from heaven was starker than any missionary has ever experienced. Jesus came down from heaven to live in the sinful culture. He participated in it fully by using a … Read more
The typical gospel presentation is that we are all sinners and that if we confess our sins to Jesus he will forgive our sins through his sinless life, substitutionary death, and bodily resurrection. This is clearly true according to Scripture. However, this gospel only addresses the sins that you have committed (as a sinner) and … Read more
The study of covenants now brings us to the ultimate covenant in all of Scripture, that covenant which is the fulfillment and extension of all prior covenants between God and his people, expanding the benefits to people from the nations of the earth. Jeremiah 31:31–34 promised the new covenant: Behold, the days are coming, declares … Read more
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8 The Bible gives few details about crucifixion. This is likely because the original audience had witnessed them. However, since few people in the modern era have personally witnessed a crucifixion, it is important for us … Read more
“… as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” – Acts 8:12 Among the scandals of the cross is the fact that Christians have called it their gospel, or good news, and celebrate it every year on Good Friday. To understand the good … Read more
CROSS: How does Jesus pay our debt to God? God made us to love, honor, and obey him in thought, word, and deed. Every time we fail to do that perfectly, we accrue a debt to God. Every person has sinned against God, and hell is the eternal prison for spiritual debtors who have stolen … Read more
…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.– Hebrews 9:22 One scholar says that blood is mentioned some 362 times in the Old Testament and some ninety-two times in the New Testament and even more often than the cross or death of Jesus; thus, it is the most common means by which … Read more
…for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. – Romans 2:8 The Bible is filled with examples of God getting angry at sinners and of his anger as hostile, burning, and furious.2 Because God is holy, good, and just, he not only feels angry about … Read more
The question, for whom did Jesus Christ die? has generated some of the most heated and varied answers in church history. To help you understand the different answers to this question, we offer the following chart: Heresy of “Christian” Universalism Heresy of Contemporary Pelagianism Unlimited Atonement Limited Atonement Unlimited Limited Atonement … Read more
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies… – 2 Peter 2:1 Before we examine how the incarnation occurred, we will note some important truths about this doctrine, for the sake of precision. First, the incarnation is not an … Read more