Category Archives: Sin
The gospel of God’s holiness
So, God’s holiness – good news or bad news for sinners? We usually think of God’s holiness as the bad news which necessitates some of the best parts of the good news. God is so holy, pure, other, perfect, unique, … Continue reading
Sanctification in Colossians
Colossians is good medicine for anyone overly troubled by angst over sanctification of the kind I’ve talked about before. It’s the ultimate ‘Jesus is everything’ and ‘the way in is the way on’ book of the NT. For anyone afraid … Continue reading
1 John on sanctification
I started putting some passages and thoughts together a while ago on sanctification. I figured I should get back to it. Here’s an important passage from 1 John 3. 4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; … Continue reading
Muddle on the Mersey
The Bishop of Liverpool continues to embroil himself and his Diocese in an increasingly odorous policy on human sexuality. His recent address at Diocesan Synod argues that the CofE should (and one day will) tolerate a range of theological positions … Continue reading
Re-post: Grace and godliness
This is a re-post, simply because it seems to fit quite well with the posts I’m in the middle of on sanctification. So, how does grace train us to be godly? I suspect a big part of the answer to … Continue reading
Change has come
More from Romans 6 on sanctification as real change that involves movement from disobedience to obedience. This time the highlighted parts in bold reveal the basis of such change in the grace of God in Christ. [See here for the … Continue reading
Real change in Romans 6
Biblical sanctification is not just growth in understanding of unworthiness and need for forgiveness. Neither is it simply a matter of growth in knowledge. The bible repeatedly expects those who belong to Christ to actually change in their patterns of … Continue reading
grace and godliness
So, how does grace train us to be godly? I suspect a big part of the answer to this (or at least to what Paul had in mind by the idea) is in verse 14. Titus 2:14 [Jesus Christ] who … Continue reading
Either way, it’s grace.
Carrying on from the previous post, it should be noted that, whichever we’re fighting, whether legalism or lawlessness, the answer is still the grace of God in Christ. Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for … Continue reading
Legalism?
We always have to fight both legalism and lawlessness. Always. But, which is the bigger threat within evangelicalism today – legalism or lawlessness, earned grace or cheap grace, Pharisaism or presumption? One way of thinking about that is to think … Continue reading
On dating an unbeliever
I went to college with Dawn, who is delightful. As is this honest, faithful, passionate piece over on her blog about Christians dating those who aren’t Christians. Go read, and pass on to anyone who is struggling in this area.
Friday Calvin: Matt 5:29
Thought it was high time I resurrected Calvin Friday. Here is the Genevan reformer on Matthew 5:29, part of the passage I am preaching on this sunday at our 6pm service. It might be thought that, considering the weakness of … Continue reading
Making everybody mad
Two excellent posts worth reading HERE and HERE. Pastor Doug Wilson writes about the need to make the distinction between refugees from the world and advocates of the world. Highlights below, but the whole posts are worth reading. “We have … Continue reading
