Jesus said, “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44). He clearly loved his enemies: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). And God loved his: “While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10). But in the age to come there will be no [...]
Jesus
Shredded flesh against unforgiving wood, iron stakes pounded through bone and wracked nerves, joints wrenched out of socked by the sheer dead weight of the body, public humiliation before the eyes of family, friends, and the world – that was death on the cross, ‘the infamous stake’ as the Romans called it, ‘the barren wood, [...]
The reason Jesus is essential to believe in is because there is a holy God who is infinitely just and infinitely loving. And in his justice he is angry at us because we have sinned against him. We have rejected him, we haven’t trusted him, we haven’t loved him as we ought, we have broken his [...]
I lay my sins on Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God; He bears them all, and frees us from the accursed load; I bring my guilt to Jesus, to wash my crimson stains; White in His blood most precious, till not a stain remains. I lay my wants on Jesus; all fullness dwells in Him; [...]
The opening words from John Donne’s Christmas sermon delivered on December 25, 1626: The whole life of Christ was a continual Passion; others die Martyrs, but Christ was born a Martyr. … His birth and his death were but one continual act, and his Christmas-day and his Good Friday, are but the evening and morning [...]
God became human, the invisible became visible, the untouchable became touchable, eternal life experienced temporal death, the transcendent one descended and drew near, the unlimited became limited, the infinite became finite, the immutable became mutable, the unbreakable became fragile, spirit became matter, eternity entered time, the independent became dependent, the almighty became weak, the loved [...]
A church that cares not for truth is a community that rejects its very mission. The person who says, “I’m not interested in doctrine or theology,” is not “of the truth.” He or she has missed the voice of Jesus. For the church to be the church, she must bow before her King and embrace [...]
Christ’s righteousness is infinitely perfect, equal to the highest demands of the divine law – and therefore a firm, immovable ground of trust. We may safely venture the weight of our eternal all upon this rock. It will stand forever, without giving way under the heaviest pressure; without being broken by the most violent shock. [...]
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus! (Hebrews 12:2) For every look at self – take ten looks at Christ! Live near to Jesus – and all things will appear little to you in comparison with eternal realities. How many millions of dazzling pearls and gems are at this moment hidden in the deep recesses [...]
One of the sweetest statements from the lips of Jesus is this: ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’ (Matthew 25:34b). There is a plan of God designed for your salvation. It is not an afterthought or an attempt to correct a mistake. Rather, [...]
