Introduction Years ago, when I was a young Christian helping with the youth group, the leader at the time was teaching the Ten Commandments—and it made me furious. I protested, “Why are we teaching the law? Aren’t we under grace? Didn’t Jesus fulfill the law for us? Aren’t we New Covenant, gospel people? What do…
Introduction One time when I was sharing the gospel with someone, after walking them through the gist of the whole Bible, this person looked at me and said, “I think I believe everything you just told me.” And I said, “Great. Then surrender your life to Christ and become a Christian.” To which he responded,…
Introduction Most of you have heard of the puritan minister and Bible commentator, Matthew Henry. And whether you realize it or not, one of the reasons you’ve heard of him is because his father, Phillip Henry, sought to raise him in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Often, whenever his children would misbehave, Phillip…
Introduction In Psalm 2:8 God the Father says to God the Son, “I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” In Psalm 110:1, the Father says to the Son, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” In 1 Corinthians 15:22-26 Paul echoes this…
Introduction Friday night Rachel and I went to a football game. And though I’m not a big sports guy, there’s something beautiful that happens sometimes in the game. You can feel it when it happens. The stadium has been silent, the home team behind, the fans weary and resigned to another loss. Then, out of…
Romans 4:13-17 (ESV) 13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For…
Romans 4:9-12 (ESV) 9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the…
Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 5:22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. …
Context Thus far in Ephesians we’ve seen the depth and the beauty of Christian doctrine. The doctrine that makes known God’s amazing grace to us in and through His Son who loved us, lived for us, died for us, rose again and ascended on high in power to ever intercede for us. Jesus, the Son…
Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV) 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in…