Justification and sanctification are not the same. Justification happens outside of us; sanctification takes place within us. One is about having righteousness credited to us, while the other involves righteousness being infused in us. Justification is a one-time event; sanctification is a gradual process. One person may be more sanctified than another, but no one … Continue reading The Difference Between Justification and Sanctification
We are all vulnerable to deception. Even the church, which has the truth of God's word and clear commands, can make poor choices if we do not seek the Lord's guidance. An illustration of our vulnerability can be found in the story of Israel and the Gibeonites in Joshua chapter 9. God had commanded Israel … Continue reading Avoiding Gibeonite Deception in Modern Churches
What does it mean that God created us in his image? The Imago Dei is a topic that has been debated throughout church history. I do not expect this post to answer all the questions or be the final thought on the matter, but perhaps it may be helpful to prime the pump. In reading … Continue reading 4 Aspects of Being Made in God’s Image
Sin and sorrow are tightly intertwined, forming unbreakable chains; thus, as one's engagement in sin intensifies, so does their experience of misery. This principle is reflected in the characterization of the devil as the most miserable being in the universe due to his extreme depravity. Conversely, there exists an inseparable connection between holiness and happiness. … Continue reading The Search for Happiness
There are few things more frustrating than being wrongly accused. I remember trying to bring peace to a situation where two people were at each other's throats. No matter what I tried, one person was unwilling to come to the table. This person refused to be reconciled because the other person accused her of doing … Continue reading How to Respond to False Accusations
Salvation is an achievement no one could attain on their own; not even the mightiest angels in Heaven could accomplish it. The consequences of sin, including the anger of Almighty God, had to be addressed. Who could bear this immense burden? It would instantly crush even the mightiest archangel. No one could endure it except … Continue reading More Than Atonement
It is time to dust off an old theological doctrine to the glory of God—divine impassibility. Impassibility is the notion that God’s passions or emotions cannot be negatively affected by anything outside of Himself. Some theologians have wrongly assumed that this means God is static and cannot feel, but it does not. It means that … Continue reading How Could God Be Happy When the World is So Sad?
We have all likely learned lessons by considering Israel's defeat at Ai in Joshua chapter 7. However, a small detail in their eventual victory over the city in chapter 8 sheds light on two important truths. When the people went against Jericho, they were to take no spoil. Everything was to be destroyed except the … Continue reading Avoiding Achan’s Errors
I recently had the opportunity to preach a sermon on Joshua chapter 7 called “Keep Yourself from Things Devoted to Destruction. In it, we look closely at the cost of hidden sin. Join me as we delve into a weighty passage of scripture, exploring the story of Achan in Ai. In the biblical text, we … Continue reading The Cost of Hidden Sin
From the moment Jesus faced trial before Pilate, he was led away to his execution. Bearing the cross to which he would be affixed, he faltered under its weight, requiring someone else to carry it to the execution site. There, he was fastened with nails through his hands and feet, hoisted up as a naked, … Continue reading The Substitutionary Suffering of Christ
The Fight of Faith 