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The Latter Days in the Old Testament

Eschatology precedes soteriology. Find out why in this essay.

Two Ages: Evaluating a Biblical concept

If the cosmos has changed over time, as redemptive history has moved from through “five worlds” from creation (Genesis 1–2) to the new creation (Revelation 21–22), then there have also been covenantal changes, too. In the beginning, God made a covenant with Adam (Gen. 2:15–17; cf. Hos. 6:7), which is often called the “covenant of works.” Then, after the flood, God re-established a covenant with Noah and all creation. As Genesis 9:8–17 reports, God hung his bow in the sky as

Getting Into Macro-Eschatology: Seeing The Five Worlds God Has Made

Last Sunday I introduced something I called “macro-eschatology.” Macro-eschatology is an approach to redemptive history that sees the end of things (eschatology) as fulfilling, restoring, and superseding the beginning of things (protology). At the center of this approach to reading the Bible is the person and the work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who stands at the center of God’s plan to unite all things in creation. As Ephesians 1:9–10 tell us, Christ is the one who will

The ABCs of Eschatology (Pt 2): 14 More Key words

Last time, I introduced fourteen key words for understanding some basic concepts in the study of last things (eschatology). Today, I will complete my basic glossary with fourteen more terms, in hopes that these definitions will help improve present and future discussions about eschatology. You can also listen to the Sunday School that explains many of these terms. And if you would like a handout of the glossary, scroll to the bottom. (15) The Intermediate and Final States. W

The ABC’s of Eschatology (Pt. 1): Key Words to understanding end times

Eschatology is a word that means the study (-ology) of last things (eschatos). And in that study there are lots of words that are familiar (*resurrection), unfamiliar (*preterist), and debated (*rapture). Likewise, terms like millennium and tribulation are ones that have multiple definitions, and figures like the *antichrist, whose common description may or may not match John’s use of the word. Knowing that sound doctrine and fruitful discussions require clear definitions,

Twelve Books to Read Before the End of the World

When I teach Systematic Theology to seminarians, I make students read two books on eschatology and I recommend about twenty. Since I recently began a Sunday School series on the subject of eschatology, I wanted to share that list with you. You can also listen to the classes here. The Two Most Important Books on Eschatology Benjamin Gladd and Matthew Harmon, Making All Things New: Inaugurated Eschatology for the Life of the Church (2016). This is my go-to book for eschatolog

The Baptismal Waters are Against You :: Jesus is For You

In baptism, water is NOT for you, it is against you! In the serenity of a quiet chapel, the baptismal pool looks like a cleansing pond for the religious seeker. However, such a sanguine sentiment is deceiving, because as the Bible paints the scenery, baptismal waters run blood red. Unsure? Compare the historical account of the … Continue reading The Baptismal Waters are Against You :: Jesus is For You

Holy Worldliness

John Stott, in his immensely helpful (read: biblical and practical) book, The Living Church, considers the two-fold identity of Christ’s church. That is, he balances the need for the church (1) to be called out of the world and yet (2) to go into the world. This kind of Christ-directed oscillation is seen in passages like … Continue reading Holy Worldliness

Jesus Has Absolute Authority

In John Piper’s 1998 sermon on the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), Piper gives a representative list of all the things that Jesus has “authority over.” Its a powerful reminder that today Jesus upholds the universe with the power of his word (Heb. 1:3; cf. Col. 1:16-17) and that one day every knee will bow and tongue confess … Continue reading Jesus Has Absolute Authority

The Tapestry of Scripture

Tomorrow night, our church, Calvary Baptist in Seymour, Indiana, will begin its Wednesday night journey through the Bible. We will begin by looking at the Bible as a whole. While preparing for our time, I came across this statement about the unity of the Bible from the ESV Study Bible. It is a succinct and compelling … Continue reading The Tapestry of Scripture

By Evidence or By Faith?

If you are looking to prove the validity and authority of the Bible based on extra-biblical evidence, consider this: For those who make their doctrine of Scripture dependent on historical research into its origination and structure have already begun to reject Scripture’s self-testimony and therefore no longer believe that Scripture. They think it is better … Continue reading By Evidence or By Faith?

Bavinck on the “Word of God”

During the month of December, I am preaching on the “Word of God Made Fresh,” looking at how God’s Word in the Old Testament prepares for the Word of God Made Flesh in the New Testament. In preparation for tomorrow’s sermon, I ran across this captivating quote by Herman Bavinck: Finally the designation ‘word of God’ is … Continue reading Bavinck on the “Word of God”

A Growing Disciple: The Eighth Mark of a Healthy Church Member

The essence of being a Christian is to be a disciple. “Disciple” and “discipleship” are not words that get much “air time” today, and when they are used in secular parlance, it often conjures up thoughts of cults or sects. However, in the pages of the New Testament, God’s Word speaks of discipleship with great frequency (over … Continue reading A Growing Disciple: The Eighth Mark of a Healthy Church Member

Who Seeks Discipline? The Seventh Mark of a Healthy Church Member

Really, who seeks discipline? In our pleasure-seeking culture and churches so inundated with the gospel of self-gratification: Not Many! Yet for those who know Christ and are known by him, discipline is not a pain to be avoided, but a necessary and blessed part of the Christian life. As Thabiti Anyabwile shows in his chapter on the subject in … Continue reading Who Seeks Discipline? The Seventh Mark of a Healthy Church Member

Committed Church Membership: The Sixth Mark of a Healthy Church Member

To many Christians today, church membership is a non-essential or an enigma. Be it from the proliferation of extra-church ministries (i.e. Bible camps, collegiate ministries, or other parachurches), the ever-increasing array of Christian teaching diassociated from church membership (i.e. Christian TV, radio, Bible studies, etc), the creation of hybrid-churches (i.e. multi-site, Internet and virutal churches), or the simple neglect … Continue reading Committed Church Membership: The Sixth Mark of a Healthy Church Member

A Biblical Evangelist: The Fifth Mark of a Healthy Church Member

On Sunday night, the church I am interim, Calvary Baptist (Seymour, IN), looked at what it means to be a “Biblical Evangelist” according to Thabiti Anyabwile’s helpful study What is a Healthy Church Member? During our time together, I suggested five ways to live out a life of intentional evangelism. In addition to memorizing an evangelistic tract and /or … Continue reading A Biblical Evangelist: The Fifth Mark of a Healthy Church Member

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