In the Old Testament, the Messiah (or Christ) was understood to be the anointed king through whom God would establish his kingdom on earth. Israel was anxiously awaiting this coming king who would conquer his enemies and rule the nations in righteousness. Moreover, one of the distinguishing marks of this long-expected Messiah was that he […]

Following Jesus’ declaration of coming not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance, the Pharisees and scribes immediately defend their religiosity. Rather than hear, understand, and recognize their sinful condition before a holy God, they continue to boast in their self-righteousness and cling to their faithful law-keeping. But Jesus explains that the old covenant system of approaching […]

Luke’s gospel begins with two angelic announcements and two prophetic songs. In these narratives, through both the words of the angel and the doxologies of Mary and Zechariah, we are given a further glimpse into God’s plan of salvation that would soon find its fulfillment in Christ Jesus.  John’s miraculous birth prompted Zechariah to use his loosed tongue […]

While the psalmist has praised the Lord for his protection, strength, and victories won for his people in the first half of the psalm, he now calls for the gates of the temple to be opened that he may worship the Lord  in his presence (Ps. 118:19). But even while God may have been the defense […]

In this final psalm in the collection of psalms sung during the celebration of the Passover (Pss 113-118), God is thanked because of his perfect goodness and his unending mercies toward his covenant people. Though the church may be surrounded by enemies on all sides, though Satan himself seeks to accuse, to oppress, and to devour, and though we might […]

In contrast to the worthless idols that fill the land, the Psalmist declares that God alone is in the heavens. He is the only God worthy of all our praise, our adoration, our fear, and our trust. But what assurance do we have that this Sovereign God – ruling and reigning in the heavens, doing all that he […]

Far from being an issue only faced by the Galatian church, the tendency to slip back into justification by works is a present reality in the church even today. The difference between gospel-centered law-obedience is far too easily replaced by a works-driven law-reliance. However, the solution for the true believer is that we must always remember […]

Just in case the Galatians were still unclear of what Paul had been arguing for in the last few verses – that the entirety of our salvation is by faith in Christ alone, who became a curse for us “so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might […]

When Peter began to separate from associating with the Gentiles, for fear of the Jews, Paul opposed him to his face. Though Peter knew that salvation had come to the Gentiles, that justification came by faith and not works, he nevertheless was acting in a way that showed the gospel was for those who kept […]

In addition to the promise of a future and a hope for the people of God, we have been seeing promises of a new heart and a new spirit that will be given to them as well. God himself clarifies exactly what this would ultimately entail: “I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and […]

Jeremiah 29:10-14 is a beautiful passage of promise, restoration, provision, and hope that was originally delivered to the Jewish community in Babylonian exile. However, it is often the case that Christians take these kinds of Old Testament passages and attempt to claim them as promises made directly to us instead. But are these promises to be treated […]

In the very first month of the first year of his reign reign, Hezekiah began a series of sweeping reforms, repairing the temple and seeking to bring unfaithful Judah back to her faithful God: “For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. . . Now it […]

Most sermons based on the life of Old Testament characters typically revolve around all of the ways that we can learn to be just like them. In the case of Elijah, the focus is always on his faith, his powerful prayers, his extraordinary miracles, his power and anointing, etc., and how we should strive to […]

The temple was a special sign of God’s presence among His people, of God’s covenant promise to dwell with them and be their God . Yet, in Solomon’s prayer of dedication upon its completion, he poses a profound question in view of the transcendence and holiness of their eternal God: “But will God indeed dwell on the earth?” In […]

The Israelites had just miraculously crossed the Jordan river, causing the hearts of the Canaanites to melt in fear, yet Joshua does not begin the conquest of the land immediately. In this fifth chapter we see that God’s chosen people were in need of some vital preparation: the circumcision of a new generation, the observance of the Passover, and the submission to God’s sovereign and […]