We are taking another break from our series in Isaiah to jump into the New Testament and preach through the book of Jude. We will be considering the church’s task of contending for the faith once for all delivered to the saints, resisting false teachers, and persevering to the end. In this sermon, pastor Joel […]
Our God is a God of both sovereign and surprising mercy. While it’s true that he is unchanging, reliable, and faithful to perform his word, he nevertheless tends to surprise us, especially in his displays of mercy and salvation. And one of the clearest examples of this is seen in the formation of true Israel […]
Responding to the objection of injustice regarding unconditional election (Rom. 9:14), Paul has explained that once we grasp who God is (that he is absolutely free) and what mercy is (that it is undeserved), then we will understand that God is righteous in his sovereign purposes. But a further objection is raised in Romans 9:19: […]
Paul has been explaining in Romans 9 how God’s purpose in election guarantees the fulfillment of all his promises. But he knows that this teaching will raise some very serious objections. Insisting that salvation is solely based on God’s initiative, his decision, his purpose, his choice will cause many to ask: “How is that fair?” […]
As Paul begins Romans 9, he is grieved because the large majority of his fellow Jews have failed to respond to the gospel with faith. But his ultimate concern is God’s faithfulness to his promises. If Israel is “accursed and cut off from Christ” (Rom. 9:3), then have God’s purposes for them been frustrated? Paul’s […]
Our emotions and experiences would have us believe the lie that there is nothing good in the fiery furnace of trial. Present suffering can convince us that our lives are nothing more than broken pieces of glass, wasted and worthless. But behind the scenes, regardless of what we feel, God is putting all these pieces […]
What is grace? Simply put, grace is unmerited favor, and the grace of God is his love for the undeserving. And Scripture is clear that all things—from our election in Christ before the world began to our enjoyment of eternal life—is all to the praise God’s glorious grace. In Acts 13:48-51, Paul concluded his message […]
The church on Crete was new. Elders had not yet been appointed, the believers were fragile, and false teaching had already begun to creep into their midst. In fact, the problems they faced are no different from what we see today: issues regarding leadership, legalism, liberalism, discipleship, obedience, and overall gospel-forgetfulness. The apostle Paul had […]
“He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:10-11). Here is the tragedy of Christmas: the Word was made flesh, but the creation failed to know its very own Creator. […]
