What do justification and sanctification mean? Justification means our declared righteousness before God, made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection for us. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit’s work in us. (New City Catechism) First, declared – altogether Continue reading “Catechism 32”
Tag Archives: Jesus
Catechism 31
What do we believe by true faith? Everything taught to us in the gospel. The Apostles’ Creed expresses what we believe in these words… (New City Catechism) We believe: Almighty Father – maker of all living things, all things sustaining, holding all. We believe: One Son, one Lord – JesusContinue reading “Catechism 31”
Kingdom
The teachers of the law deceive, devour; The humble king is quizzed on His own law. The pure in heart see God; the kingdom’s poor Inherit what the rich lose with their power. Great David’s greater Son knows that His hour Is soon to come; He knows the loving score Composed and tuned by Father’sContinue reading “Kingdom”
Catechism 30
What is faith in Jesus Christ? Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel. (New City Catechism) Price paid – rest. Continue reading “Catechism 30”
Catechism 29
How can we be saved? Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross; so even though we are guilty of having disobeyed God and are still inclined to all evil, nevertheless, God, without any merit of our own but only by pure grace, imputes to us the perfectContinue reading “Catechism 29”
Sonnet
Your mind’s a rhizome and your head’s at sea. Stray flotsam, jetsam drift in it; its roots Run deeper than the ocean bed and shoots Burst out of it, this way and that. The key To tracing thoughts back to their unity Lies not in system or in sticking boots Into the wildness of yourContinue reading “Sonnet”
To the believers from Mosul
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Hebrews 12:3-4) We are not surprised by this; we should not be surprised. ThisContinue reading “To the believers from Mosul”
Mark 11
No doubt if food was all that He required He could have made it bear for Him but leaves had presaged early fruit and nothing showed there yet. Not the season for figs, and yet He who made the fig tree sprout could change the seasons with His will. If curses worked, then why notContinue reading “Mark 11”
From Ashes 12: Metamorphosis and Sophronismos – Neuroplasticity and the Renewed Mind
As I approach my 30th birthday, which brings with it much reflection on all that God has done in my life so far, I have found myself drawn again to one of the most well-worn parts of my the Bible – Psalm 139. For many, this is their favourite psalm, and it is certainly oneContinue reading “From Ashes 12: Metamorphosis and Sophronismos – Neuroplasticity and the Renewed Mind”
Catechism 26
What else does Christ’s death redeem? Christ’s death is the beginning of the redemption and renewal of every part of fallen creation, as he powerfully directs all things for his own glory and creation’s good. (New City Catechism) Yet the cost went deeper than souls into soil and weathered the tree-trunks and witheredContinue reading “Catechism 26”
The Consolations of Writing 