No Detour from Calvary
And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him…
For God’s Little People
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all…
The Triumphant Shame of the Cross
[Christ did not] offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly…
The Different Tenses of Grace
We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,…
Have Mercy on Me, O God
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. (Psalm 51:1) Three times: “Have mercy,” “according to your steadfast love,”…
The End of the Gospel
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we…
Ruler of All Nature
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.(Proverbs 16:33) In modern language we would say, “The dice are rolled on the table, and…
At the Bottom of It All
In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.(Ephesians 1:4–5) When I was coming to Christ, I thought…
Why We Should Love Our Enemies
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27) There are two main reasons why Christians should love their enemies and do good to them. One is that…
What Jesus Did to Death
Just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a…