The apostle Paul teaches that “the Jerusalem above,” that is the eschatological Jerusalem, “is our mother” (Gal. 4:26). Likewise the author to the Hebrews exclaims, “You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the…
The Obedience of Christ and the New Creation (2 Cor. 5:21)
Jesus Christ is Isaiah’s prophesied Suffering Servant who took upon himself the iniquities, transgressions and sins of his people as their substitute, so that they might be reconciled to God in right relationship as new creation.[i] Or, in Paul’s words,…
James Ussher: Another Irishman You Should Know
James Ussher (1581–1656) was one of the most influential Reformed theologians of the seventeenth century. He adroitly contended throughout his life against Roman Catholicism on various platforms, whether writing, preaching or debating. And even though he turned down an invitation to…
12 Episodes on Redemptive-Historical Hermeneutics
Herman Bavinck, reflecting on the all-important impact of Christ on history, writes in The Philosophy of Revelation, “[R]evelation gives us a division of history. There is no history without division of time, without periods, without progress and development. But now take…
Going On to Perfection: A Redemptive-Historical Reading of Hebrews 6:1
The author of the letter to the Hebrews makes explicit in the prologue that there is an organic progression to God’s revelation[1] and that the content and mode of God’s revelatory speech demarcates history into two comprehensive epochs: “long ago” and…
Joy-Full Fellowship (Part 6): The Incarnation
With a smirk befitting someone about to deliver the authoritative word on a subject long puzzled over, the apostle John reaches for his pen to begin inscribing his gospel account (or so I can at least imagine). Going from 0 to 60 in record time, he opens: “In the…
Joy-Full Fellowship (Part 5): The Prophets
Following the apex of Israel’s glory with the construction of the Solomonic temple, the biblical drama enters a period of sustained decline with the occasional righteous Davidic king temporarily suspending its ultimate demise. The inhabitants of Jerusalem repeatedly fail to meet the…
Joy-Full Fellowship (Part 4): The Temple
Introduction The Garden The Patriarchs The Tabernacle Israel’s history progresses and time and time again they prove to be an unholy people unworthy to have the Holy One, the Lord of Glory dwell in their midst. Nevertheless, the Lord brings…
Joy-Full Fellowship (Part 3): The Tabernacle
We continue our expedition through the biblical drama of the triune God’s pursuit of union and communion with his people in joy-full fellowship (Ps. 16:11). The promise, “I will be your God and you will be my people,” is the refrain of his heart that…
Joy-Full Fellowship
Where can I find joy that is full and pleasures that are everlasting? This is the one great pursuit of men in every age. In the words of Pascal, “All men seek happiness. This is without exception.” Because this is…
