Theological Treatises

  What Is Preaching? Dedicated to all truly-called church ministers of the gospel When I ask the question, "What is preaching?", the context I have in mind is mostly, (but not exclusively), the church's Sunday worship services.  I also hope to address the issue of the goal (or end) of preaching.   Paul's 10th chapter of Romans is probably the most comprehensive treatment of this sublime subject; and his (Paul's) Holy Spirit-inspired injunction of 2 Tim. 4:2a: "Preach the Word!", says it very succinctly.   I believe that preaching is the authoritative verbal presentation of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ in the message of His gospel of grace and mercy.  I also believe that anything short of this, is not preaching at all.  It is also my conviction that every text of Holy Scripture not only  lends  itself to this grand enterprise; but  exists  so as to facilitate it.   Therefore, when a true gospel preacher approach...

  Persecution of Real Christians in America Dedicated to all regenerate churchmen in the United States A lot of times we hear people say, "There is no persecution of the church in America."  This statement, though understandable on one level, is  entirely  false.  In fact,  every  truly regenerated (born again) Christian  does  get persecuted; and it depends  not at all  on where we live, or in what era of human history we live.   Here are Paul's Holy Spirit-inspired words of 2 Tim. 3:12: "Indeed,  all  who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus  will  be persecuted," (ESV/italics mine).  This means that if you are a  real  Christian you  will  be persecuted--and it does not matter  where  you live.  There is simply no way around this inevitable spiritual law of the gospel.   Somebody might say, "Yes; but Christians in America are not thro...

    The Importance of Giving Up Dedicated to everyone who casts him- or herself entirely on Jesus The most important thing a sinner can do, is to come to Christ with absolutely no resources whatsoever.  Until we admit that we cannot do this  life  thing on our own; and that everything we have sought out as an object of fulfillment has not fulfilled us; and that we are totally destitute of any more ideas for how we can solve our problems--we will remain miserable lost souls.   . . . But, if, by grace, we come to God in Jesus Christ, in prayer; and cast ourselves entirely on him, admitting that we are at the "ends" of our "ropes"; and that we truly and finally "give up"--and then, by grace though faith throw ourselves on Christ and His mercy, we enter a new world we could never have imagined; and this new kingdom, thoroughly centered on Christ, reorients everything in us and about us.   The Publican, in the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee, ...

  The Israel of God in the Middle East Dedicated to all regenerate Christians living in the Middle East I strongly suspect that the most  important  people, and the most  sublime  activity taking place in the Middle East today, are seriously neglected--even among thoughtful and well-informed Christians. Who  constitutes the "Israel of God," (Gal. 6:16b), in the Middle East (or anywhere else in the rest of the world) today?  According to the Holy Scripture, in both the Old and New Testaments, the "Israel of God" are the people who truly believe in the one and only God.  The only way to believe in the one and only God is through saving (or regenerative) faith in Jesus Christ, The God/Man Second Person of the Holy Trinity. . . . Therefore, the "Israel of God" is the church of Christ, made up of elect and redeemed Jews and Gentiles.  No one else is or can be the "Israel of God."  Since this is true, what are we to make of...

Unmaskings Dedicated to guileless lovers of God in Christ Even before the sad "Scandalizers" story affecting our beloved PCA denomination broke, I had hoped to write something about "unmasking" with regard to all of us fallen humans, but especially with regard to all those who claim the Name of Christ. Right up front, I  do  believe that it is one of the tasks of all truly-called (by Christ) church ministers of the gospel, to faithfully, diligently, and as comprehensively as possible "unmask" every deceit and disguise, put in place to avoid having to subscribe to the  sole  righteousness of Christ via regeneration by the Holy Spirit. But the first and most important person that an "unmasker" must work on, is himself.  And this project can never end, in this life.  As a matter of fact, an "unmasker" can never proceed further with regard to any other person, doctrine, or dynamic, until or unless he has first addressed his own heart as tho...

  The Consolations In Hell Dedicated to all thoughtful, but lost people This will be an interesting treatise; and some of the things I will write will seem preposterous to some of you who read them.  I do wish to state at the outset, that I take the issue of hell with utmost seriousness; and I am not a big fan of any levity with regard to this subject. My primary thesis is this: sinners outside of Christ both want to go to hell; and they know (in the deep recesses of their hearts) that they are going there, barring regenerative faith in Jesus Christ and resulting repentance. Someone might immediately object, by saying, "That is ridiculous.  Who would want to suffer eternal torments in hell?"  This objection is reasonable; and it deserves some response.  My answer would be, "No one actually  desires  to be in constant torment every moment for all eternity;  but the alternative (in their unregenerate minds) is even worse."  ...