Blog

Baptism as Covenant Sign and Seal

Baptism is the sign and seal of the covenant of grace.  As a sign, baptism points to true realities beyond itself.  For example, the cleansing property of the water that is applied in baptism points to the cleansing of our…

Household Baptism

Baptism is not a human invention or mere initiatory ceremony.  It is a divine sacrament, commanded by Christ Himself: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and…

Baptism and a Godly Offspring

In Malachi chapter 2, the prophet charges the men of Israel with unfaithfulness to their wives and with unjustly putting them away in divorce.  In the flow of his argument he explains one key reason why God ordained the one-flesh…

Baptism and God’s Covenant Faithfulness

For the Christian, the whole of life is comprehended by God’s Covenant of Grace with us.  All of our endeavors, therefore, begin with God, continue in God, and run to God as our goal.  And so, Solomon wrote, “Unless the…

Baptism and Discipleship

After Jesus had accomplished His work at the cross, making atonement for the sins of His people, and risen from the grave as the Firstborn of the dead, guaranteeing the resurrection of His people, just before ascending to the Father…

The Efficacy of Baptism

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, “For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” …

John Murray on the Sabbath

‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.  Wherefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath’ (Mark 2:27, 28).  What the Lord is affirming is that the Sabbath has its place within the…

Making Sense of the Psalms

For someone who has never seen a hymnal the Trinity Hymnal may at first appear to be a random collection of songs for Christian worship and instruction.  Upon closer inspection, however, one begins to discern that these songs are not…

The Counsel of the Wicked

The first Psalm begins with these words, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked.”  The word “blessed” refers to the joy of life that every person desires.  So then, why are there so many…

Look on the Scars

“See,” the risen Jesus invited His disciples, “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself” (Luke 24:39). It was not His fingerprints that Jesus offered for identification, it was His scars. This is supported by Jesus’ exchange…

Without Hindrance or Our Church Logo

“Without hindrance!” These two words (one word in Greek) are the last words of The Acts of the Apostles. They capture the indomitable advancement of the gospel as recorded in Acts, even as they assure Christ’s witnesses of the ultimate…