Jesus Christ is the Greater Prodigal Elder Brother

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Do not remain in the far country. Do not stand outside in resentment. Come home through Jesus Christ, the true and greater Elder Brother, who lavished His life to bring prodigals home.

Yet there is an even deeper glory when this parable is read in the full light of the gospel. The elder brother in the parable failed. He would not rejoice over the restoration of the lost. He would not bear the cost of mercy. But Jesus Christ is the true and greater Elder Brother. He did not stand outside the feast in resentment. He left the glory of heaven, took the form of a servant, obeyed His Father perfectly, and gave His life to bring prodigals home. Continue ReadingJesus Christ is the Greater Prodigal Elder Brother→

God’s Law Written on the Heart: The New Covenant, the Ten Commandments, and Christian Obedience

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Christians love the Ten Commandments because it reminds us of the grace and mercy of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

This is one of the great blessings of the New Covenant. God does not merely put commandments in front of His people. He changes them from within. He gives forgiveness. He gives a new heart. He gives the Holy Spirit. He produces a new love for Himself, a new hatred of sin, a new desire for holiness, and a new willingness to walk in obedience. Continue ReadingGod’s Law Written on the Heart: The New Covenant, the Ten Commandments, and Christian Obedience→

Jesus Derangement Syndrome: Why the World Hates Christ and His People

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Jesus Derangement Syndrome is the world’s irrational hatred of Jesus Christ, His gospel, and His people. Scripture teaches that this hatred should not surprise us, because the world hated Christ first. The gospel exposes sin, confronts religious pride, demands repentance, and declares Jesus as the only Savior and rightful Lord.

The world did not hate Jesus because He lacked love. No one ever loved like Jesus. The world did not hate Him because He lacked compassion. No one ever showed mercy like Jesus. The world hated Him because His holiness exposed sin, His truth exposed lies, His grace exposed religious pride, and His Lordship challenged human rebellion. Continue ReadingJesus Derangement Syndrome: Why the World Hates Christ and His People→

Ten Commandment Derangement Syndrome

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Ten Commandment Derangement Syndrome describes sinful hostility toward God’s law because the commandments expose sin, rebuke rebellion, and reveal mankind’s need for grace, pointing guilty sinners away from self-righteousness and toward salvation in Jesus Christ.

The same fallen world that resists Christ also resists God’s commandments. That should not surprise us, because Christ and the commandments of God are not enemies. Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law, exposed false interpretations of the law, and revealed the holy character of the Lawgiver. The Ten Commandments are not a man-made moral code. They are a summary of God’s holy standard, revealing His righteousness and exposing our sin. Continue ReadingTen Commandment Derangement Syndrome→

Grace, Mercy, and Peace: An Anchor for the Soul

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Grace provides the Savior. Mercy pardons the sinner. Peace restores the relationship.

The Bible gives us a better foundation. Salvation flows from the grace of God, is received through faith, and results in peace with God. Christ died for the undeserving. God forgives the guilty who believe. The justified believer is reconciled to God. Continue ReadingGrace, Mercy, and Peace: An Anchor for the Soul→