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One of the primary ways the church advances the kingdom of God is through corporate prayer. And when God’s people gather at the throne of grace, they should not limit their prayers to the elect, but they should pray for all people. Why? Because there is a wideness in God’s mercy. While his special grace…
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In the first half of the twentieth century, several ancient Near Eastern law codes were discovered and deciphered. Many of the laws contained in these codes bear a striking resemblance to some of the Mosaic laws of the Old Testament. This fact has forced Old Testament critics to revise their late date for the Pentateuch…
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Like as a father pitieth his children,so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.—Psalm 103:13. In the former part of this psalm the Psalmist sang of God’s deeds of love, his gifts, his benefits, and his acts of kindness; but here he goes deeper into the divine motive, and hence he finds sweeter incentives to devout…
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The Bible sufficiency teaches us everything we need to know in order to know, love and serve God. But how precisely does the Bible reveal this information to us? According to the Confession, the Scriptures reveal God’s will both directly and also indirectly. Here’s how the Westminster Confession states it: “The whole counsel of God…
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The so-called “long day” recorded in Joshua 10:12-14 has generated much discussion among Bible scholars. Before Copernicus’ heliocentric solar system gained acceptance, it was argued that the sun’s and moon’s orbits were halted. Martin Luther, for example, reportedly denounced Copernicus and declared, “I believe the Holy Scriptures, for Joshua commanded the sun to stand still,…
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In John 17:21, the Lord Jesus prayed to His Father on behalf of the disciples “that they may all be one” (John 17:21). The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth (1 Cor. 1:10): “I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing,…
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Should we allow minors into the membership of the church? Most evangelical churches would, without hesitation, answer this question affirmatively. Those that practice infant baptism believe the Bible warrants the inclusion of the children of believers into the membership of the church de jure. On the other hand, many Baptist churches today pressure young children…
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Religious “Legalism” with a capital “L” is heresy. It’s the belief that one’s personal virtue and obedience to religious norms or standards merits God’s favor and/or salvation. This “do-it-yourself” religion is antithetical to the gospel of Christ and the Bible’s grace-based religion. “For by grace you have been saved through faith,” writes the apostle Paul.…
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The content explores the concept of degrees of sin, referencing biblical teachings that support the idea that some sins are more serious than others. It contrasts Roman Catholic notions of mortal and venial sins with the argument that all sins are inherently serious and deserving of punishment. The discussion culminates in the notion of the…
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We’ve looked at the law and gospel in terms of “the big picture” and determined that they are interrelated and inseparable concepts (see Part 1). But is it ever appropriate to distinguish law from gospel? In other words, do the biblical writers ever contrast law with gospel? The answer is “Yes.” In fact, such a contrast is…