Hebrews 2:11, “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.” Young person, have you ever been very ashamed of yourself for something you did? Maybe you got caught, and that was shameful; or maybe it was something that […]
The superstitious Athenians to whom Paul preached wanted to make sure that they didn’t miss out on identifying with a god that could possibly be the all-powerful God. They sensed an empty space that they felt compelled to fill with an idol “to the unknown god” (Acts 17:23). To say that the Athenians were missing […]
Publishing one issue on the topic of union with Christ is like publishing a one-page summary of Calvin’s Institutes. It will not say all that needs to be said, but hopefully it will whet your interest to study more deeply about the subject. The doctrine (I am tempted to call it a super-doctrine since so […]
Scripture often speaks of our union with Christ. It does this wherever it tells us that we are “in Christ.” The word “in” speaks of a union. If the branch is in the vine, then the vine and branch are united. So also, to be in Christ means to be united to him. And so […]
In John 15 Christ speaks of the vine and its branches, where he is the vine and the disciples are the branches. Most of us are familiar with that figure, which emphasizes that faith is union with Christ. But there is another aspect of the figure that receives less attention: Jesus calls us to “abide” […]
Union with Christ is the profound and mysterious description of the reality of the elect believer’s gracious salvation. All men by nature are in connection with Adam. In Adam, all are conceived and born dead in sin. In Adam, all perish. In Christ, all his people are made alive. He is the last Adam, the […]
June 7 Read Zechariah 10 The first oracle of blessing that Zechariah began in chapter 9 continues in chapter 10 with the description of a coming king. The Lord of hosts cares for his flock, and he shows this care by promising them a better shepherd. This prophecy refers in part to the future leadership […]
Christian, let God’s distinguishing love to you be a motive to you to fear Him greatly. He has put His fear in your heart, and may not have given that blessing to your neighbor, perhaps not to your husband, your wife, your child, or your parent. Oh, what an obligation should this thought lay upon […]
Waiting for God Easy to say but hard to do. Sinful human nature wants to run. “I need it now,” I am tempted to say. But the Holy Spirit commands me to wait. For His glory and my good, He causes me to follow Him. Obeying my God Even when my own way I want, […]