Articles
Every Christian is a theologian. The question is whether if they are a good one or not. Our theology inevitably impacts every area of our lives (either consciously or unconsciously) – even our creativity – so it is important for creatives and Christians in general to think deeply about their theological beliefs.
Irresistible Grace | Effectual Calling
Reformed Theology states that regeneration precedes (comes before) faith. The Holy Spirit graciously regenerates every one of the elect, creating a new heart in them whereby they freely and willingly believe in Christ as Saviour. Thus, the New Birth makes faith possible – the person must be made alive first to believe.
Limited Atonement | Definite Redemption
The title “Limited Atonement” really is an unfortunate misnomer. It can imply that what Calvinists are saying is that the atonement’s value is somehow limited – as if Christ’s death only had saving power for a certain amount of people. But this is not what was meant. Christ’s death is infinitely valuable. Instead, what is being said is that the scope or intention of the atonement is restricted to be effective for the elect. Another way to put it is that Christ’s atonement is sufficient for all, but efficient for the elect.
Unconditional Election | God’s Sovereign Choice
Reformed Theology states that God’s election of people to salvation is unconditional. God’s sovereign choice of certain individuals for salvation was not based on any foreseen response of obedience on their part but was based solely on His good and sovereign will. Concerning this doctrine of election, C.H. Spurgeon commented,
Total Depravity | Humanity’s Radical Corruption
In this article, we’ll look at the Biblical case for the “T” in the TULIP – Total Depravity. It is an uncomfortable doctrine for many to wrestle with as it confronts us with the truly depraved nature of our sinfulness. However, if we ever had doubt that humanity was depraved, a peruse through the comments section of a controvertial YouTube video or Twitter thread should cure that in short order. It is obvious that people are sinful. The question is, how far does that depravity go?
The Doctrines of Grace (TULIP) | Series Introduction
The topic of Calvinism has generated no small amount of controversy, yet many times, the arguments and internet debates tend to generate more heat than light. My hope in this series of articles is to help shed some light on the topic by laying out the major teachings of the Doctrines of Grace and their Biblical support. While I will mention some of the counterpoints, this series will not be primarily focused on responding to criticisms but rather on laying out a positive Biblical case for the Doctrines of Grace.
The Pandemic & Our Public Dialogue
(A minor update to the article was done on Feb, 2022) This past year has brought some of the most stressful and confusing times for many of us. With the advent of the Coronavirus pandemic around...
A Terrible Comfort | Nahum 1:1-8
A kid in high school was shocked when his uncle passed away so suddenly in his prime. He was telling a friend ,Jonny, how hard it was that it happened so suddenly. Then Jonny tells him,...
Romans 2 Explained Verse-by-Verse | A Devotional Commentary
In the first entry of this Devotional Commentary, we took a look at chapter 1 of Paul's letter to the Romans. In this devotional commentary series, we consider some of the contexts of the letter,...
The Dangers of Word Studies
Many of us have probably either seen or heard of word studies in the Bible. Perhaps it was a preacher telling you about how God’s "agape” love is special and distinct from all the other types of...
Reformed Preacher Portraits | John Piper
The Reformed Preacher Portraits are a series of portraits of Christian preachers, teachers and authors who have significantly influenced and shaped my faith and understanding of Reformed doctrines....
You Know What’s Best… or do you?
"Believe in yourself... Speak your truth... You know what's best… You do you." These are the slogans of our hyper-individualized secular culture. It is me-centered and self-focused. And why not,...
Revelation 13 | The Meaning of the Dragon, The Beast & the Mark
Revelation 13 finds itself right in the middle of a book which quite frankly scares many, even the most devout churchgoer. Its imagery of dragons, multiheaded beasts and speaking images is enough to...
Revelation 13 | An Important Examination of the Historical & Literary Context
Revelation 13 sparks considerable disagreement between various expositors as to its significance. The influence of apocalyptic fictions such as the Left Behind series, which were based more on...
Revelation 13 Translation – What does the original text reveal?
**Disclaimer: Since the writing of this article (around 2016), I have shifted Eschatological views from Amillennial to Postmillennial. Thus, this article may not represent my current understanding...
A Reflection on the Journal of John Wesley
John Wesley is arguably one of the most influential men of the Great Awakening and the explosive revivals leading to modern evangelicalism—and with good reason. He was called the "greatest force of...