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Post by Admin on May 30, 2024 16:40:48 GMT -5
5 Things You Should Know about Biblical Decision-Making
David Boxerman
3 Min Read
Decisions, decisions, decisions. We all make a multitude of them just in a single day. Granted, some are seemingly mundane (regular or decaf?), while others are certainly much more life-impacting (Which college shall I attend? Shall I accept this job opportunity? Who shall I choose for my marriage partner?). In all of these, believers want God’s help and guidance. Though not an exhaustive list, here are five things every Christian should consider in making biblically sound decisions.
1. Biblical decision-making is based on the Bible.
In stating the obvious, the Bible is not just one voice among many equals from which we may choose. It is the sole source of infallible wisdom, counsel, direction, and advice. The Bible is not merely an information book; it is the very voice of our God, the same as if He were speaking it to us with His own breath (2 Tim. 3:16). Or, to put it another way, the Bible is not merely informational; it is relational. This is our loving heavenly Father giving us His guidance in our decision-making. Hence, any decision that is a clear violation of Scripture is not merely rejecting the Bible; it is rejecting our Father. And, inevitably, there will be consequences.
2. Biblical decision-making is prayerful.
Biblical decision-making is relational. God hears, cares, and answers. We are not merely researching an impersonal guidebook; we are asking for guidance from the guide Himself. We have a relationship with the Author. It is His wisdom; it is His counsel; and it is written for the sake of His children, for whom Jesus died and whom He has adopted and loves. He is delighted to give us aid when we ask.
Which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matt. 7:9–11)
3. Biblical decision-making is consultational.
The Bible often commends making wise decisions by consulting the wisdom of others. “Plans are established by counsel” (Prov. 20:18). “With those who take advice is wisdom” (Prov. 13:10). Of course, the “others” must be godly, mature, biblically knowledgeable Christians who know us well. There is great benefit in consulting those who can confirm our decision or alert us to potential dangers, challenges, or other blind spots that we may not have considered. This is most often violated when those we consult are less mature or even non-Christian friends, who will often say what we want to hear. Hence, we follow the requirement of “biblically knowledgeable” since “the counsels of the wicked are deceitful” (Prov. 12:5).
4. Biblical decision-making is providential.
Biblical decision-making takes note of what God is doing in His sovereign providence as the God who is actively “preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions” (Westminster Shorter Catechism 11). This is certainly not the sole factor for determining God’s will in decision-making. Nevertheless, God can give us opportunities in answer to our prayers or His providence can direct us in a way we had not previously considered. God’s people can trust Him to guide us providentially as we look to Him in faith for guidance.
5. Biblical decision-making is a God-given and Bible-endorsed combination of these principles (and others) to be taken together.
One of the ways well-intentioned Christians make less-than-biblical decisions is by using one aspect of the process to the exclusion of all the others. The two most frequently employed “single source” solutions that people wrongly trust for finding God’s will are (1) thinking that we are infallible interpreters of God’s providence (“I saw this sign” or “I had this dream”) and (2) our feelings (“I just feel this is what God wants me to do”). When one of these are taken to the exclusion of all the others, the decision being made will be imbalanced. God has given all of His Word to be used together in His promising to help us with our decision-making.
The peace and confidence we have in our decision-making is that God loves us and will always accomplish His supreme purpose in every decision we make. And even if we “mess up”—while there may certainly be negative consequences for which we are wholly responsible—God will still oversee our life, with all our sins and mistakes, for our good and His glory. The peace and comfort we have shielding us from the howling winds of anxious fears is that He is still the God who, by His sovereign will, causes all things to work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28).
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Christian Character
Resources about keeping in step with the Spirit and maturing in Christlikeness, including: beauty and goodness, compassion, conscience, contentment, godliness, hope, humility, joy, love, peace, strength, thankfulness, and unity.
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Post by Admin on Jul 16, 2024 12:09:22 GMT -5
5 Recommended Resources for New Christians
Karrie Hahn
2 Min Read
No event in our lives could be more significant than our conversion to Christ. But what happens next, after we become Christians? What do we need to know, and how do we grow in grace? The following resources, curated by the Ligonier editorial team, can assist new Christians in learning the Bible and Christian doctrine so that they might live a life of love for God and others.
Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R.C. Sproul
In this book, Dr. Sproul explains more than one hundred major Christian doctrines, providing an accessible yet thorough understanding of the Christian faith as revealed in Scripture. Topics covered include divine revelation, the attributes of God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, the church, end times, and much more. Analogies and illustrations from everyday life make this an interesting and informative tool for those who are new to the Bible or theology.
The Basics of the Christian Life by Sinclair Ferguson
What is a Christian? What does it mean to belong to a church? And how can we grow in grace? This twelve-part teaching series answers these vital questions and many more, covering topics such as becoming a Christian, belonging to the church, the means of grace, discovering God’s will, and enduring hardships. It is a valuable resource for new believers who are seeking to better understand what it means to be a Christian and how to live to the glory of God.
Everyone’s a Theologian by R.C. Sproul
We may not think of ourselves as theologians, but the truth is, anytime we think about a teaching of Scripture and seek to understand it, we are engaging in theology, which refers to the study of God. In this book, Dr. Sproul surveys the basic truths of the Christian faith, explaining what God is like and what He has done for His people. This introduction to systematic theology includes sections on the doctrines of Christology (Christ), pneumatology (the Holy Spirit), soteriology (salvation), ecclesiology (the church), and eschatology (last things).
The Reformation Study Bible
This study Bible is designed to provide an unparalleled reading, study, and discipleship experience for every age and stage of the Christian life. Resources include theological notes from Dr. R.C. Sproul, commentary from distinguished theologians, topical articles on key theological themes, book introductions and study notes for every book of the Bible, full color maps, and historical creeds and confessions. Other editions are also available, including a condensed edition and a student edition.
Tabletalk Magazine
Tabletalk is a monthly discipleship magazine dedicated to helping Christians grow in their faith. With articles from trusted pastors, scholars, and teachers, each issue contains feature articles, daily Bible studies, and columns that address various biblical, theological, and practical themes to help strengthen and encourage readers. New Christians may find the daily Bible studies especially helpful as they seek to develop an understanding of correct biblical interpretation.
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Post by Admin on Jul 24, 2024 11:19:01 GMT -5
5 Things You Should Know about Covenant Theology
Harrison Perkins
4 Min Read
Some topics are covered frequently enough in Reformed churches that it might be easy to lose track of the basics. One such topic is covenant theology. Let’s look at five things that Christians should know about covenant theology.
1. Covenant theology is about our relationship with God.
A covenant is a formal relationship. Marriage best exemplifies this kind of relationship (Mal. 2:14). Marriage is the most intimate bond two people can have. This supremely personal and loving partnership is also a legal arrangement. Covenants work in a like manner.
Covenant theology helps us better appreciate how God relates to us. Walking with the Lord would be very difficult if He were not clear about what our relationship with Him is like. If we had to guess about things such as how God feels about us, whether He accepts us, how He accepts us, and the best ways to pursue Him, then we would frequently feel uncertain about our standing with Him.
Covenant theology affirms that God clearly explains what our relationship with Him is supposed to be like. Holy Scripture is God’s written, clear revelation of how we can have a right relationship with Him. Because a covenant is a formal relationship, God gives us certainty about our relationship with Him as He commits to us in that fixed bond.
2. Covenant theology helps us understand the relationship between works and grace.
Ephesians 2:8–9 captures a critical aspect of how Reformation Protestants have understood salvation: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Sometimes, we struggle to explain how this free offer of salvation by grace alone relates to the point in verse 10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). How do we hold together the freedom grace brings with our responsibility to live well?
In the traditional Reformed understanding, covenant theology distinguishes between the covenant of works and the covenant of grace. God made the covenant of works with Adam before the fall, and it had the condition of perfect obedience. In the covenant of grace, brought by the second Adam, Jesus Christ, God accepts us as His people by faith in Christ’s atoning work alone. These two covenants clarify that works and grace are two different and opposed ways of seeking to secure salvation and right standing with God.
Covenant theology then helps us relate grace and works because our works cannot be the basis of our relationship with God, even though good works will be produced in the lives of true believers. Because our works are not the condition of God’s covenant with believers for salvation, they cannot be the reason that we are right with God.
3. Covenant theology helps us to see Christ in all of Scripture.
Colossians 2:17 explains that many features of Israel’s religious life “are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” Although the Old Testament period imposed many ceremonies on God’s people, these practices taught them about the One who had been promised in Genesis 3:15, the coming Redeemer in whom they were to place their faith. Because faith in Christ has been the only way of salvation since the fall, covenant theology reminds us that Christ is the substance of all God’s dealings with us in Scripture.
4. Covenant theology helps us to see the importance of the church.
In the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19–20, Jesus instructed the church to disciple all nations by “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” These external ordinances of administering the sacraments and teaching God’s Word are the means of advancing our mission as God’s people.
Covenant theology reminds us not only that Christ is the substance of all the Scriptures, but also that He comes to His people to do His spiritual work upon us through the ordinary means of grace that He has given to His church. Westminster Shorter Catechism 88 reminds us that the church’s means of grace are the Word, sacraments, and prayer. These outward means, which deliver Christ as the substance of the covenant to believers, have often been called the covenant’s “external administration.” The church is a necessary part of the Christian life because it is how we participate in this external administration where we meet Christ.
5. Covenant theology helps us to have deeper assurance as we pursue holiness.
Ephesians 1:13–14 explains that the Spirit’s indwelling of believers in Christ is the guarantee of our everlasting life:
In him [Christ] you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
We have this divine Helper to spur us forward in holiness as we walk with Christ.
Covenant theology reminds us that our Spirit-empowered holiness is a gift that Christ has earned for us. Christ has fulfilled every condition of perfect obedience on our behalf. He equips us with His Spirit so that we can pursue Him in faithfulness. This gift of the Spirit is evidence that we already belong to Christ and have the assurance of life with Him in eternity.
This article is part of the 5 Things You Should Know collection.
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Covenant Theology
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Post by Admin on Jul 24, 2024 11:30:32 GMT -5
5 Ways Covenant Theology Applies to Everyday Life
Sarah Ivill
4 Min Read
Our family goes to Christ Covenant Church. The school that meets on our campus, and is a ministry of the church, is Covenant Day School. Our denomination’s college, as well as the seminary, is named Covenant. Yet many people, even those who are part of such churches or academic institutions, do not understand the meaning of covenant theology, and therefore, do not understand why it matters for everyday life. So, I want to give you five reasons why covenant theology is important for daily living, which I hope will also inform your understanding of covenant theology overall.
1. Covenant theology reminds us of a perfect promise.
When someone breaks a promise to us and we are confused or devastated, covenant theology reminds us that Someone has made a better promise to us. There is no way that we could have reached out to have a relationship with the creator God. But amazingly, He has reached out to us by way of His covenant. He has promised, “I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people” (Lev. 26:12). You may be crushed today because of a broken promise, but take comfort, dear believer. God has chosen us in Christ to be His people and He always keeps His promises.
2. Covenant theology reminds us that the Bible is a living book.
When we are tempted to guide our lives by other books instead of first turning to God’s Word, covenant theology reminds us that the Bible is a better book. It reveals the bigger picture of who God is and who we are. Through His Word He reveals our need (seen in the covenant of works) and His perfect supply (seen in the covenant of grace). God’s Word will reveal to you “wondrous things” (Ps. 119:18). Its words “are pure words” (Ps. 12:6). It consistently testifies of Christ (John 5:39). It has the power to convert the soul (Ps. 19:7). It comforts God’s people (Rom. 15:4). Its author is God, and it is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16–17).
3. Covenant theology reminds us that Christ is the center of our story.
When we are tempted to believe that our suffering, sin, or service is the core of who we are, covenant theology reminds us that Christ is the center of our story, as well as the bigger story of redemption. In fulfillment of the covenant of redemption, Christ accomplished the redemption that God the Father appointed, and the Holy Spirit applies (see John 17:1–26; Eph. 1:3–14; Heb. 13:20). He is the second Adam who brought life instead of death (Rom. 5:12–21). He is the final Noah who saved His people through the cross (Col. 2:12–15). He is the final Abraham in whom all the families of the earth are blessed (Eph. 2:11–22). He is the prophet greater than Moses (Heb. 3:1–6). He is the final David who reigns in perfect justice and righteousness (Acts 2:25–36). And He defined His death in covenantal terms (Luke 22:20), revealing that He is the fulfillment of the new covenant, which is the climax of the covenant of grace.
4. Covenant theology reminds us of the implications of God’s free grace.
When we are tempted to believe that our good works add something to our salvation, or that our sin excludes us from salvation, covenant theology reminds us that justification and adoption are acts of God’s free grace, and sanctification is the work of God’s free grace (see the Westminster Shorter Catechism A. 33, 34, 35). Everyone deserves God’s wrath (Eph. 2:1–3). But God is “rich in mercy” and love and saves His people by grace (Eph. 2:4–5). This salvation is not a possibility, but a certainty (Eph. 2:6–7). God’s call is effective because God has purposed our salvation (Eph. 2:8–9). Therefore, we can be confident that God will complete the salvation He has begun in us (Eph. 2:10; Phil. 1:6). This in no way endorses licentiousness on the one hand, or legalism on the other. Instead, it frees us to “strive . . . for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).
5. Covenant theology reminds us that believers are part of a community.
If we are tempted to think we can lead a life of individualism, covenant theology reminds us that believers are part of a different kind of community. When we are saved, we become part of the family of God. In this community, we are to serve one another with the spiritual gifts that Christ has given to us (Eph. 4:7–8). We are to grow up together, walking in truth, love, light, and wisdom (Eph. 4:25; 5:1–5, 8–9, 16–21). We are to gather together for worship on the Lord’s Day (Heb. 10:25). Recognizing Christ is king, and that His presence is with us, we are to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:18–20). As we do this, we must set our eyes on the city to come, the new Jerusalem, in which we will behold the face of our beloved Bridegroom, enjoy the spiritual blessings that are ours in Christ, celebrate the consummation of God’s promises, and stand beside those from every tribe, tongue, and nation to worship the Lamb of God forever (Rev. 22:1–5).
Covenant theology is of immense daily benefit because it points us to the gospel. Because of Christ, believers have received a better hope that is based on a better covenant, which is founded upon better promises that guarantee better possessions in a better country (Heb. 7:19, 22; 8:6; 10:34; 11:16).
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Post by Admin on Jul 24, 2024 11:32:22 GMT -5
5 Recommended Resources on Covenant Theology
Karrie Hahn
2 Min Read
Covenant theology seeks to understand the Bible and how God relates to His people through a covenantal structure. In particular, Reformed theologians identify two distinct biblical covenants: the covenant of works and the covenant of grace. The following resources, curated by the Ligonier editorial team, can serve those who want to better understand what covenant theology is and how it differs from other hermeneutical frameworks.
The Fulfillment of the Promises of God: An Explanation of Covenant Theology by Richard P. Belcher
This book examines covenant theology as presented in the Westminster Confession of Faith, giving attention to the covenants found in Scripture. Minor and major variations within covenant theology are addressed, including how these variations impact important doctrines. Attention is also given to the views of confessional Baptists and to progressive covenantalism.
God to Us: Covenant Theology in Scripture by Stephen G. Myers
God’s unchanging purpose is to bring a people to Himself through His Son. This book seeks to explain the purpose and work of the covenants in detail so that readers may deepen their knowledge of God by understanding their relationship to Him as His covenant people.
The Christ of the Covenants by O. Palmer Robertson
In this book, Dr. Robertson examines the successive covenants in Scripture, showing their role in developing the central thrust of God’s redemptive plan for His people. He also seeks to demonstrate how a correct understanding of God’s initiative in establishing covenants can help make sense of the relation of the two testaments and the distinctive message of the Bible.
Covenants Made Simple: Understanding God’s Unfolding Promises to His People by Jonty Rhodes
This accessible book examines not only what covenant theology is, but also why it matters, arguing that covenants carry the Bible’s story from beginning to end and give root to the gospel of salvation by grace. Topics include law and grace, union with Christ, baptism in the Spirit, predestination, and water baptism.
Christ and Covenant Theology: Essays on Election, Republication, and the Covenants by Cornelis P. Venema
This collection of essays summarizes and defends a broad consensus view of the doctrine of the covenants in the history of Reformed theology and clarifies several areas of dispute. Attention is given to covenant theology as seen historically in the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Canons of Dort, and the theology of Herman Bavinck. The book also includes a discussion of covenant, justification, and Federal Vision theology.
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Post by Admin on Sept 9, 2024 10:09:17 GMT -5
Christian LivingMarriage and FamilyParenting
5 Things You Should Know about Being a Parent
Tedd Tripp
4 Min Read
I have recently become a great-grandfather, welcoming two great-granddaughters and one great-grandson into our family. Here are some biblical thoughts about childrearing that I am passing on to my grandchildren and their spouses.
1. Parenting is an important calling that God has given you.
Psalm 78 comes to mind:
He [God] established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God. (Ps. 78:5–7)
What could be more important than passing on truth about God to the next generation? What could be a more significant legacy than generation after generation setting their hope in God? You will have many challenging opportunities in your life, but few will ever be as impactful as raising children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:3).
2. Learning to live under authority is foundational.
In Ephesians 6:1–3, God addresses children: “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and your mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” God has drawn a circle in which children are to live. The boundary of the circle is to honor and obey parents. God promises wonderful blessings as a child lives in the circle; it will go well, and they will enjoy long life.
These are blessings every child and parent wants. Honoring and obeying is more profound than just doing what one is told. It is a faith commitment to trust and obey God. In teaching your kids to be under authority, you demonstrate the foundational truth that submission to God’s authority is the pathway to blessing.
3. The heart is the wellspring of life.
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flows the springs of life. (Prov. 4:23)
Life flows from the heart. The problem we have does not just consist of the ways we sin, but the sin that lies under the sin. It is the pride, the compulsive self-centeredness, the love of self, the envy, and the assorted sinful attitudes of heart that motivate behavior. It is easy for parents to focus on behavior and miss the heart.
Jesus reminds us that behaviors such as coveting, deceit, envy, slander, arrogance, and pride flow from the heart (see Mark 7:2–23). A major part of the parenting task is helping children identify the heart attitudes that lie under the ways they sin. Of course, understanding the attitudes of heart that lie beneath your own besetting sins will facilitate asking good questions that help your children understand their hearts.
4. Keep the gospel central.
The heart of our faith is not how to be good enough to earn eternal life. The heart of our faith is the One who was good enough. Jesus is incarnate to be our Savior. He lived the life we could not live; He lived without sin so that we could have righteousness. He died the death we could not die; He laid down His life on the cross to deliver us from the guilt and condemnation of our sin. He was raised to life for our justification. Even now He prays for us at the Father’s right hand.
This hope of grace, forgiveness, salvation, and empowerment is truth that our children (and we ourselves) always need. As you correct and disciple, always hold the hope of the gospel before your children. We deny the gospel when we tell children they can be good in their own strength. The encouragement of Hebrews 2:17 is that Jesus who, as a man, suffered being tempted, can help us in our temptations.
5. What you model is powerful.
Deuteronomy 6:5 captures this truth: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Your love for God, your joy in Him, and your gratitude and satisfaction for all that God is to you in Christ are important truths for you to model for your children. The next verses capture how essential this modeling is: “These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children” (Deut. 6:6–7).
Each day, as you live with your children, you are presenting a view of reality. You are showing them that you believe that God is good and the rewarder of those who seek Him. By loving God and others, you model the truth that the law of God is good. As you make a priority of worship, you tell them that life is found in God. When you are kind to people who are unkind, you show the magnanimity and kindness of God. Everything you do provides a narrative of truth for your children.
Your submission to God in all things, your honesty about the ways your heart is prone to wander, and your hope in the grace of the gospel all provide a narrative for your children. Raising children for God is some of the greatest work you will ever do.
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