John Calvin’s emphasis on the centrality of the cross is essential to his understanding of God’s glory. Calvin highlights how through Christ, God’s love and grace are manifested, transforming the sinners perception of God from one of fear and despair to one of love and mercy. Calvin explains a profound insight into the beauty and significance of the cross as a symbol of God’s redemptive love and grace, as well as its role in revealing the essence of God’s glory.
Tag Archives: Jesus
Introducing… The Gospel!
Christmas 2022 I love the way the gospel of Mark begins. It is incredibly direct and full of content. Mark’s first line – the line that is meant to captivate his readers – is this: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Right there, dear friends, is likely the simplestContinue reading “Introducing… The Gospel!”
What We Need
“It is imperative… to acknowledge and remember… that when we gather together as companies of God’s people, it is not to enjoy preaching eloquence or to criticize the lack thereof, but it’s to hear and to heed the Word of God. We come to be exhorted, not to be entertained. And if churches or theirContinue reading “What We Need”
The God Who Saves
The advent of the Son of God was when the “goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared.” It was in Christ that God saved us from continuing in hostile rebellion against Him. Paul writes in Romans 5 that for those who believe in Christ were reconciled to Him when they were enemies of God. You see, He saved us, not because of anything we did, do, or could do. No, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly …God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Christ Jesus is the mercy of God! The mercy of God isn’t just God restraining His anger. It’s more than passive. It is active. His mercy is when He draws near to us, condescends to us, despite of all our helplessness and sin. As Paul makes so clear in Philippians, it is against the backdrop of our utter bankruptcy before God (Philippians 3:7-11), that Christ condescends to save us and purchase us as His own people (Philippians 2:5-11). Jesus coming into the world means God saves by mercy—not by works.
Revival or Reformation?
A short unfolding of the Book of James… I think James is pointing out what is and must be at the bottom of all the visible bad behavior: filthiness and rampant wickedness (1:21). Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in their hearts (3:14). Why does James take so much time pointing this out? And why would this not be apparent and clear? Because they are being “false to the truth” (3:14). “Where there is disorder and every vile practice,” says James, there will be underneath that “jealousy and selfish ambition” (3:16). They aren’t living life in the light of “the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (1:17). They are living in another wisdom, not from God (which would be good and perfect 1:17), an “earthly, unspiritual, and demonic” wisdom.
Standing Before God, This We Are and No More 