Category: Practical Theology
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Evening and morning: how Day One of creation foreshadows the Christian life
The one where I talk about how the ordering of the first day of creation—first evening, then morning—foreshadows what God is doing through the Gospel.
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Vertical and horizontal: how distinguishing the directions of the Christian life can strengthen assurance
The one where I explain how our security in the vertical dimension—peace with God through Christ—comforts believers in our struggles in the horizontal dimension. Which includes ourselves and everything else that’s not God.
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Some further thoughts on the Holy Spirit in Romans
The one where I explain how Romans chapters 6 and 8 are telling a particular story, from different angles. And how understanding this will help us rescue a gem of pastoral theology for struggling Christians in Romans 7:15 – 8:2. (Fair warning, this one is heady, and I’m still working out the finer points.)
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The Spirit of Holiness: Brief Thoughts on the work of the Spirit in Believers
In Romans 1:4, St. Paul refers to the Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of holiness.” This phrase alerts us to the totality and all-pervasiveness of the Spirit’s work in the sanctification of believers: it is all “from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
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What does it mean to be “above reproach”?
Scripture calls church leaders to be “above reproach” (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6-7). What does this mean? And how can unrealistic standards for “above reproach” lead to unhealthy and even abusive leadership in churches?
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Does marriage make us holy?
There’s a popular sentiment in Christianity these days that the purpose of marriage is to make you holy. Is that really what marriage is for?
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Changing diapers to the glory of God
The one where I explain how God is glorified in ordinary moments, and uses them for our sanctification.
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Sanctification: Positional and Progressive (Hebrews 10:10, 14)
The one where I completely buck the majority report on holiness from popular American Christianity; to bring struggling Christians comfort and joy from the old paths.
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By grace, through faith, for works: gospel and vocation in Ephesians 2:8-10
Ephesians 2:8-10 teaches us that we are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works. In these verses, we are taught the proper distinction between Gospel and Law in the Christian life; and we also learn to distinguish between our salvation and our vocations.
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Walking in the light (1 John 1:5-10)
“Walking in the light” is not a first-class experience reserved for super saints. Instead, it is the way for those who have completely given up on being impressive.
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