Did you know that Satan and Job asked God a similar question? Of course, Satan’s questioning was meant for evil, but God permitted it for Job’s good. Nevertheless, when we probe the question(s) that Satan and Job directed toward the LORD, we see very similar pursuits, but from two different perspectives. And both confront us … Read more
Louis Berkhof’s Systematic Theology – Expanded Edition is a must-have for any serious student of theology. Banner of Truth has now given us a handy single volume of Berkhof’s most significant works.
The following is an excerpt from my book, From Death to Life: How Salvation Works (you can order this at our shop here at ThingsAbove): Affections, Actions, and Attitudes Here’s a helpful alliteration to assist in discerning whether or not the gospel has actually taken root in a person’s heart: affections, actions, and attitudes. Essentially, all … Read more
With this article, we are continuing our recurring series of reviews looking at notable commentaries on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Here we are looking at Magee and Arthurs contribution to Kregel’s Kerux Commentaries series and Richard D. Phillips’s entry in the Mentor Expository Commentary series.
We covered Ephesians 3:18-19 recently at Perryville Second Baptist Church. Strange interpretations have been given on these words “the breadth and length and height and depth…” Some very old writers said it refers to the cross as the cross has four directions and Paul gives four directions here. And truly, the cross is a display … Read more
The following is comes from a manuscript I’m working on entitled, A Change of Heart: Understanding Regeneration and Why it Matters. Regeneration and Evangelism There is a certain faulty line of reasoning that says if God is completely sovereign in salvation, choosing whom He will and regenerating whom He will, then evangelism is unnecessary. This is … Read more
Author’s note: After almost taking a year off of writing because of trials and transition from military to retirement, and after a year I wrote An Open Letter to Afflicted Saints, I thought I would share another shade of truth that I pray will help those who are currently enduring a season of suffering. Originally … Read more
Dale W. Smith has obviously put a remarkable amount of work into compiling the best of Puritan writings in Ore From the Puritans’ Mine. This book will serve effectively as a scholarly resource, as personal devotional reading, or as material for family worship. Highly recommended.
Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology has rightly become a modern classic. Readers can benefit from this book as an introductory source. I also think the author would agree that his listed resources for further reading should be used as a springboard to lead into deeper waters.
Dear Unbelieving Mom, Dad, or Grandparent, Perhaps you are a flat-out denier of the truth of Christianity. Or, perhaps, you would not refer to yourself as an “unbeliever” at all since you do profess to be a Christian. But, for all intents and purposes, you are what is referred to as a “nominal” Christian. In … Read more
Is church membership a manmade idea or is it really biblical? In this short post, we’ll consider just one text. Peter told pastors in his first epistle to “shepherd the flock of God that is *among you*.” (1 Peter 5:2) There is a lot there we could unpack but let me make one observation. Either … Read more
Noble, Sara. Sloth, Sam Sloth: The Unlikely Detective. Independently published, 2021. 32pp. $8.99. Purchase here. Biographical Sketch of the Author Sara Noble (From Amazon) I love writing, painting with acrylics, drawing, teaching, hiking, running, cats, books, laughing, puns, and embracing the good, noble, lovely, and praiseworthy things of this life. I do have a Bachelor’s … Read more