-
The Miracle of the Virgin Birth
The Virgin Birth The season of Christmas is fast approaching, along with parties, shopping, and chilly weather. As we strive to keep our focus on Christ this Christmas, it is helpful to contemplate some of the amazing details of that first Christmas two millennia ago. In this article, we will be considering the miracle of the virgin birth. Gabriel’s Visitation You can read about the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary in Luke 1:26-38. Gabriel told Mary that she would conceive and bear a son. Mary found this news surprising, saying, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” Or in the literal Greek, “since I do not know a…
-
Giving Thanks for Salvation
Thanksgiving With Thanksgiving coming up it’s natural to reflect on the things we’re thankful for. For Christians, our salvation in Jesus Christ should be at the top of that list. Unlike material blessings, this gift is permanent. Unlike the happiness of the world, it’s not dependent on our circumstances. Unlike everything sold in stores during Black Friday sales (as good as those prices may be), it’s free. Black Friday and Good Friday Speaking of Black Friday, they say that name stuck in reference to the day after Thanksgiving as an allusion to retailers making a profit during the holidays after operating at a loss the rest of the year. In…
-
Understanding the Wrath and Love of God
God in the Old and New Testaments Have you ever thought that God seems loving and merciful in the New Testament, but angry and wrathful in the Old? How do we understand God’s wrath and love? How do we reconcile the God of the Old and New Testaments? God’s wrath and love. God’s Wrath and Love The Bible teaches that God doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6) and that with Him there is no variation of shadow due to change (James 1:17). Because of this, we know that God isn’t actually different in the Old and New Testaments—the difference is in our perspective. The reason God seems more wrathful in the Old…
-
Understanding Biblical Faith
What Does it Mean to Have Faith? In spite of the fairly secular climate of much of American culture, faith is a recurrent theme in pop culture. The idea of faith comes up in movies, TV shows, and books marketed to a wide audience, but there is a significant difference between biblical faith and faith in media. Of course, the topic of faith also surfaces in media marketed specifically to Christians, and these productions aren’t immune to shallow theology. As Christians, we should be able to distinguish the real faith of those who are rooted in Christ from the imitations we see in the world around us. Faith in Culture…
-
Theology is Important for Every Christian
Why You Should Care About Theology When you hear the word ‘theology,’ what comes to mind? White-haired seminary professors, 500 page books filled with incomprehensible language, people arguing about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin? It is fairly common to view theology as irrelevant and unnecessary for most Christians, if not a detriment to true faith in Jesus. The truth of the matter, however, is that theology is important for every Christian. It shouldn’t be confined to the divinity school, but should be found, alive and well, in the pews of churches across the world. Everyone is a Theologian But why should you care about…
Encouraging Believers to Stay Rooted in Christ
