A defining feature of our church is our statement of faith, which is tethered to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. For this reason, as a gathered church on the Lord's Day, we read and affirm its contents as the best expression of our doctrinal beliefs. This often leads to the misconception that the confession is our source of authority. Thus, the slogan "no cree...

Have you ever wondered why we have a call to worship or a benediction in our Lord's Day worship service? If you are like me, you have probably never encountered these elements in your previous church. Furthermore, these practices may have become so routine that no one really pays attention to the words anymore. For example, the call to worship may simply have become a Pavl...

"One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up" (Luke 18:1 NLT - New Living Translation quoted throughout.) The story that Jesus told His disciples is known as the "Parable of the Persistent Widow" (Luk. 18:1-8). In the parable, Jesus contrasted an unjust judge, who eventually grants justice to avoid being worn out by a wi...

The Christmas season is once again upon us. And with another Christmas season comes another opportunity for us Christians to reflect upon and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In addition, the celebration of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ at this time of year gives us another opportunity to give thanks to God. In this article, I will list ...

"Post tenebras lux" is the Latin phrase that means "After darkness, light" It was one of the rallying cries of the Protestant Reformation. This motto symbolized the rediscovery of Biblical truth in the 16th century after a period of spiritual darkness.It can be found inscribed on the famous Reformation Wall that was erected in Geneva, Switzerland to honor the Protestant Re...

The context of this verse is the death of Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. Lazarus was Jesus' friend. Martha's message was, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." Lazarus died and Jesus came four days later. He listened to Martha and Mary and entered into their grief. Even though Jesus knew what He was about to do, we are told, "Jesus wept." Jesus did not celebr...

"Justice means standing with the victims, not excusing the guilty." God has said to show no pity and do not support the murderer. (Deut.19:13; Prov.28:17). Today, there is a lot of excusing, justifying, and even financial support given to those charged with or found guilty of murder. There are those who even celebrate with great rejoicing when certain individuals are murde...

In this final article I want to turn your attention to Romans chapter 13. But before I do, I am aware that the argument has been made that the laws against murder and for capital punishment belong in the Old Testament and do not apply to today. That argument is nonsense. God gave the law against murder when He made His covenant with Noah. This was a new beginning after the...

In the first article we looked at Gen.9:5-6. In the second article we looked at Cain's murder of Abel. In this article I want to set before you a series of verses with minor comments here and there. Exod.20:13, "You shall not commit murder." This is the sixth commandment, and its primary emphasis is on premeditated murder. Exod.21:12, "He who strikes a man so that he die...

In the first article we looked at Gen.9:5-6 where God, in making a His covenant with Noah, instituted the death penalty for murder. In this second article we will look at Gen.4, which records for us the first crime after the fall of Adam. That first crime is murder : Cain murdered his brother, Abel. Interestingly, Cain's arrogant great grandson, Lamech, committed the secon...