This is Part 2 in a two-part series on the Covenant of Works in Genesis 2. See Part 1 here. Covenant Defined and Defended In defending the exegetical reality of the Covenant of Works in Genesis 2, it is important to define what is meant by the word “covenant.” In his systematic theology, James P. […]
Genesis
Why Genesis 2 Teaches a Covenant of Works – Part 1
In the Garden of Eden, there lived a king named Adam. God gave Adam, the first man, a mission to further this kingdom over all the earth. God would reign through the man He had appointed as the federal head of the human race (cf. Gen. 1:31). The key to this paradise was that Adam […]
You Will Be Like ‘Gods’?: Genesis 3:5 and Mormonism (re-post)
The following post originally appeared on Things Above Us in October 2019. A good friend in the ministry recently raised a question she was asked by someone else concerning Genesis 3:5 in the context of a conversation with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and it’s a very good one. In this […]
Implications of the Imago Dei
The “Imago Dei” is Latin for the image of God. Genesis 1:27 tells us God created male and female in His image. In Genesis 9, post-fall, God reminds us that mankind is still made in His image (see Genesis 9:6). Here are three implications of this reality. Every single human being: Displays the Imago Dei […]
Book Review — Creation Basics & Beyond, 1st Edition
Creation Basics & Beyond sounds like a fairly generic, nondescript title, but it’s actually fitting. Sometimes it can be very basic, and other times it goes beyond my understanding to the point that I have to just leave a note on the chapter to go back to it because I simply failed to grasp what […]
5 Reasons a Historical Adam Matters
Did a man directly created by God out of the dust named Adam really exist in history? Did he really have a wife named Eve? Did he really have sons and daughters and populate the earth? And does it really even matter? Well, actually, yes it does. And I’m going to give you 5 reasons […]
Walking with God — Part 4
Currently, I am preaching through Genesis 1–11 at Perryville Second Baptist Church. In our 33rd week through the series (no, I am not recommending everyone go that slow!) we came upon the curious case of Enoch in Genesis 5:22–24. This series of posts (see part 1 here) fleshes out some thoughts on Enoch’s walk with […]
Walking with God – Part 3
Currently, I am preaching through Genesis 1-11 at Perryville Second Baptist Church. In our 33rd week through the series (no, I am not recommending everyone go that slow!) we came upon the curios case of Enoch in Genesis 5:22-24. This series of posts (see part 1 here, part 2 here) fleshes out some thoughts on […]
Walking with God – Part 2
Currently, I am preaching through Genesis 1-11 at Perryville Second Baptist Church. In our 33rd week through the series (no, I am not recommending everyone go that slow!) we came upon the curious case of Enoch in Genesis 5:22-24. This series of posts (see part 1 here) fleshes out some thoughts on Enoch’s walk with […]
Jesus in the Garden
Jesus went to a garden once. In Gethsemane, He prayed to the Father as He anticipated His crucifixion. But long before that garden, there was another garden where the Son of God was. The triune God made this garden for His beloved creation, mankind. This garden’s name was Eden. The land of delight. Paradise on […]
Walking with God – Part 1
Currently, I am preaching through Genesis 1-11 at Perryville Second Baptist Church. In our 33rd week through the series (no, I am not recommending everyone go that slow!) we came upon the curios case of Enoch in Genesis 5:22-24. This series of posts fleshes out some thoughts on Enoch’s walk with God and how we […]
No Regrets
Sometimes the providence of God is especially kind. In the same week I was preparing for our 32nd sermon in our Genesis 1-11 series on Genesis 5:1-5, I received an email. Turned out to be a valuable sermon illustration. (I hope) BOOM shakalak! That was the subject line. And the first line of the email […]
Be Killing Sin – Part 3
We’ve been walking through Genesis 4:6-7 in these posts and today we want to look at our response. The ball is in Cain’s court so to speak. How will you respond Cain? Sin’s desire is for you, but you must rule over it. Be killing sin or it will be killing you. We know how […]
Be Killing Sin – Part 2
Last time, we looked at God’s rebuke of Cain and the exposure of his sin (Genesis 4:6-7). In this post, we want to dive a bit deeper into a better understanding of sin. In this gracious rebuke from the Lord, we also learn some important truth about sin and a warning about sin. Sin is […]
Be Killing Sin – Part 1
In his work on the Mortification of Sin, that is, the killing of sin, John Owen (1616-1683) writes: “Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you.” Be killing sin or […]
God’s Sovereignty Over Evil
A typical atheist mantra seems to be something along the lines, “God doesn’t exist and I hate Him.” One of the reasons cited for this hatred is because we live in a world with pain, suffering, and evil. A few years ago British comedian Stephen Fry was asked what he would say if he was […]
You Will Be Like ‘Gods’?: Genesis 3:5 and Mormonism
A good friend in the ministry recently raised a question she was asked by someone else concerning Genesis 3:5 in the context of a conversation with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and it’s a very good one. In this article, I’ll answer the question with a moderate level of […]
The Greatest Words in Human History
There have been quite a few famous speeches in the course of human history. Winston Churchill and William Wilberforce both addressed the British House of Commons in their respective eras with words that have been dramatized by Hollywood. Abraham Lincoln’s words at Gettysburg are studied by elementary students year after year. Socrates had his Apology […]
Man’s Design is for Dependence
We’ve been walking through Genesis 1-11 in our Sunday morning sermon series at Perryville Second Baptist Church. I’d like to highlight one of the things we’ve discovered together as we’ve been studying these verses together. Man is designed to be dependent on God — not just sinful man, but from the very beginning. Adam and […]
Tossed by the Waves, Part 2 — Returning to Creation in Six Literal Days
In part 1, I gave a short version of my Christian testimony and how that tied into my beliefs about creation. While I remained steadfast in my belief in six literal days through high school, I began to have serious doubts in university and even embraced Darwinian evolution for a time. Here’s what happened next. […]