“I gave my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who tore out my beard. I did not hide my face from scorn and spitting.” – The Prophet Isaiah 50:6; About 720 B.C. “This is Jesus the Messiah, the peerless sufferer. And this one who suffered, on whom men spat, was […]
The following excerpt is taken from “Martin Luther’s Basic Exegetical Writings,” Edited by Carl L. Beckwith. In the introduction to Luther’s writing on Mary’s Magnificat, Beckwith summarizes some of Luther’s thoughts, and captures something his heart. “Luther describes our sin and pride as residing always in the heights, in the exalted things of the world, […]
“Christ is the exalted King who teaches with authority and confirms His message with miracles. However, Christ is also the lowly servant, who bears His people’s sin as a substitute (v. 17 “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”) and has […]
We Cannot Be Silent The following quote is taken from Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr.’s new book: We Cannot Be Silent; Speaking Truth to a culture redefining sex, marriage, and the very meaning of right and wrong. “When it is demanded that Christians respond with compassion at the expense of truth, we must understand that […]
The following note taken from the ESV Study Bible (Crossway Publishers), succinctly explains the biblical teaching concerning the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. It also clarifies what it means for the believer in Christ to be justified by faith in Him. The note is based on 2 Corinthians 5:21, which reads: “For […]
During the 16th century Reformation many French Huguenots were persecuted, imprisoned and martyred. Pierre Viret (1511 – 1571), known as the “Angel of the Reformation” for his conciliatory spirit and gentleness in ministry worked to ease this persecution. He wrote many letters to encourage believers who had been incarcerated. Pierre Viret was a French clergyman […]
THEODORE VANDERGROE (1705 – 1784) is one of the last and most well known representatives of the Dutch Further Reformation. He devoted fifty-four years of his life to faithful preaching and pastoral ministry, serving two Reformed churches in the Netherlands. His sermons on the Heidelberg Catechism, published in two volumes in English for the first […]
The following meditation is taken from the Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible published by Reformation Heritage Books; Grand Rapids, Michigan. I feel that it is a good summary of what I have been preaching the last three Sundays on Romans 3:21 – 26. No promise of the gospel is more basic or precious than the […]
“Why do the nations rage (assemble in a rebellious uproar) and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.’ He who sits in the […]
The following quote is adapted from John Bunyan’s (1628 – 1688) book An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of the Eleventh, as found in The Works of Bunyan, by Banner of Truth Publishing. This book is “an unfinished commentary on the Bible, found among the author’s papers after his death, […]