Our natural life here on earth ends in our funeral. As the Scripture declares: What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave (Psalm 89:48)”? None. But the Good News of Jesus Christ proclaims that the final chapter in the story of our lives is not death but […]

Revelation 11 closes the first half of the Book of Revelation. In this chapter, we are given assurance that there will be a faithful gospel witness throughout the present age (Rev. 11:1-3). Endless speculation, and I believe fruitless speculation, has gone into the identity of the 2 witnesses in Revelation 11:3. We need to remember […]

The reading today begins with Jesus opening the first 6 seals of the scroll that was handed to him by his Heavenly Father (Rev. 5:7). The Lord Jesus was the only One worthy to open the scroll because of his life , death and resurrection (Rev. 5:8-14). He is both the Lamb of God and […]

The Bible is God’s story of how He lovingly, wisely and patiently redeems and restores a wayward creation back to Himself. It is, therefore, not surprising that in the last book of God’s story that the central character of this Redemption Drama takes front and center stage. We would avoid so many interpretive dead-ends to […]

Today’s reading covers 3 short Letters: 2 & 3 John and Jude, as well 1 John 5. In all of these Letters, the early Church leaders were contending with false teachers and prophets, all of whom had gained a foothold in the congregations addressed by these Letters. John put it this way in 2 John […]

Christianity is personal and relational. If we miss this, we will never understand what the Christian life is all about. We will never understand why God has us on this earth in the first place. Ultimate Reality Is Personal The reason why Christianity is personal and relational is that the Christian God is personal and […]

As we read 1 Peter, one is amazed in how the Apostle Peter has been transformed from an impetuous young man as portrayed in the 4 Gospels, to a man who has learned to suffer patiently for the cause of Christ. In 1 Peter 4:12-14 we read these words: Dear friends, do not be surprised […]

James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote the Letter of James to Jewish-Christians who lived among the Gentile nations (James 1:1). He became the main leader of the Jerusalem Church after the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. This is confirmed by Josephus, a Jewish historian who lived in the first century, and also by Scripture […]

Christianity doesn’t teach to have faith in faith, but to have faith in a personal God. This God has revealed His character in His covenant relationship with the Jewish people in Old Testament times, and has most fully revealed Himself in His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said to one of his disciples Philip: “Anyone who […]

In my blog yesterday, I mentioned that the Book of Hebrews teaches how Jesus, the long-expected Messiah of Israel, fulfills the types and shadows of the worship rituals of Old Testament religion. For example, the high priesthood ministry of Aaron and his descendants find their fulfillment in Jesus, our heavenly high priest. A Better Priest, […]