Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. —Psalm 147:5. There is nothing which God does not know—he is omniscient or all-knowing. Psalm 139:4 helps to illustrate how God knows everything. There the Psalmist said, “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.” This knowledge … Continue reading Does God Know Everything All The Time?
holiness
Pleasure and the Pursuit of God
“Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things, God will bring you into judgment.” Ecclesiastes 11:9[1] In the song “Wait for It,” which is … Continue reading Pleasure and the Pursuit of God
What Happened When Jesus Died?
Jesus' sacrifice of himself on the cross is one of the richest moments of history. We could never exhaust everything that God accomplished through Christ on the cross. Herman Bavinck helps us out a bit. Bavinck gave offered a helpful list of what Christ has accomplished for his own glory: What Christ acquired by this … Continue reading What Happened When Jesus Died?
Work of Faith Working
It was common for the ancient Greeks, and some of us today, to love idleness. To be involved with physical labor was a sign of the lower classes—to be a servant. But it is for this “work” that Paul praised the Thessalonians before God. But what does “work of faith” mean? The relationship of faith … Continue reading Work of Faith Working
Let it Go!: The freedom of forgiveness
What is your favorite attribute of God? For sinners like you and me, perhaps forgiveness is the most valued of God’s attributes. Forgiveness will unify a congregation, a family, and your view of yourself. A lack of forgiveness will destroy a congregation, a family, and your view of yourself. The only way we can … Continue reading Let it Go!: The freedom of forgiveness
Personhood, Gender, Marriage, and Divine Order
It cannot be denied that sexuality is an expression of personhood.[1] God designed humanity to exist in one of two genders. The male and female genders are complimentary physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Wayne Grudem summarized the implications on human sexuality from God’s creation of humanity in his image when he wrote: “According to God’s original … Continue reading Personhood, Gender, Marriage, and Divine Order
Christian Participation in the Moral Order
O’Donovan defined morality as “participation in the moral order.”[1] As Christians participate in the culture, they must shine the light of Christ as wisely as possible. This demands that all sinners are addressed with respect as the image bearers of God. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” and all need … Continue reading Christian Participation in the Moral Order
THE INTIMIDATING GOD WORTH FINDING
Paul approached the scholarly philosophers on Mars Hill to free them from their vain philosophies and introduce them to the true God. He warned the Colossians against falling to vain philosophies (Col. 2:8). Now he worked to free the Epicureans and Stoics from their own error so they could know the true God. The Epicureans … Continue reading THE INTIMIDATING GOD WORTH FINDING
Our Need to Be Justified
Why do we need to be justified by faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8)? “It is as though God had committed to our trust a perfect crystal vase, and had said, ‘if you keep that whole, and present it to me, you shall have a reward.’ But we have cracked it, chipped it; ah! … Continue reading Our Need to Be Justified
The Sacred Text Message–The Doctrine of Inspiration
John Locke said: “The Bible is one of the greatest blessings bestowed by God on the children of men. It has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth without any mixture for its matter. It is all pure.” The importance of the inspired text is seen in Moses’ words: “And these words … Continue reading The Sacred Text Message–The Doctrine of Inspiration
Donnie's Dogmatics 