In Chapter 19, we learned that the Moral Law of God remains a permanent rule of life for the believer. But this immediately raises a tension: didn’t the Apostle Paul declare, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1)? If we… Continue reading Free from Men: On Christian Liberty and Conscience (WCF 20.1–20.4)
“Shall Not the Judge of All the Earth Do What Is Just?”: Abraham’s Plea for Sodom (Gen. 18:16–33)
Loved ones, in the first half of Genesis 18, we saw the Lord visit Abraham’s tent to bring a message of life: Sarah would have a son. It was a scene of intimate fellowship and miraculous grace. But as the afternoon wanes and the visitors turn their faces toward the valley below, the tone shifts… Continue reading “Shall Not the Judge of All the Earth Do What Is Just?”: Abraham’s Plea for Sodom (Gen. 18:16–33)
The Inner Citadel and the Indwelling Spirit
Throughout this series, we have encountered one of the most powerful and enduring metaphors in Stoic philosophy: the Inner Citadel. When Marcus Aurelius was surrounded by the chaos of the battlefield or the betrayal of his generals, he did not panic. He simply closed his eyes and retreated inward. He believed that deep within the human… Continue reading The Inner Citadel and the Indwelling Spirit
The Use of the Law: On the Abiding Validity of God’s Law (WCF 19.5–19.7)
In our previous article, we saw how the Westminster Confession divides the Old Testament law into three categories: Ceremonial (which is abolished), Judicial (which expired with the nation of Israel), and Moral (which remains forever). But this raises a profound question: If Christians are saved entirely by grace, and if Paul explicitly states that we… Continue reading The Use of the Law: On the Abiding Validity of God’s Law (WCF 19.5–19.7)
“Is Anything Too Hard for the LORD?”: Laughter, Doubt, and the Promised Son (Gen. 18:1–15)
Loved ones, in our last study, God broke a thirteen-year silence, reaffirming His covenant with Abraham and instituting the bloody sign of circumcision. Abraham, at ninety-nine years old, responded with immediate obedience. Now, in Genesis 18, the narrative shifts from a formal covenant ceremony to an intimate, personal visitation. God has promised a son, but… Continue reading “Is Anything Too Hard for the LORD?”: Laughter, Doubt, and the Promised Son (Gen. 18:1–15)
Cicero: A Bridge Between Worlds
Before we step back to paint our final portrait of the Christian Stoic man, there is one last historical figure we must examine. He was not a Greek. He was not an Emperor. And technically, he was not even a strict Stoic. He was a Roman lawyer, a politician, and the greatest orator of antiquity: Marcus… Continue reading Cicero: A Bridge Between Worlds
A Rule for Life: On the Law of God (WCF 19.1–19.4)
If we are justified entirely by God’s grace through faith in Christ, and if our good works cannot merit salvation, what do we do with the Old Testament Law? Are Christians completely free from the Ten Commandments? Should modern nations enforce the civil codes of ancient Israel? Do we still need to observe Jewish dietary… Continue reading A Rule for Life: On the Law of God (WCF 19.1–19.4)
“A Multitude of Nations”: The Sign and Seal of Circumcision (Gen. 17:1–27)
Loved ones, as we turn to Genesis 17, we must first notice what is absent: the voice of God. Between the end of chapter 16 and the beginning of chapter 17, thirteen long years of total silence have passed. Abram is now ninety-nine years old. Ishmael, the son of his fleshly compromise, is a teenager.… Continue reading “A Multitude of Nations”: The Sign and Seal of Circumcision (Gen. 17:1–27)
Meditations of an Emperor, Confessions of a Saint: Marcus Aurelius and the Search for Inner Peace
We are drawing near the end of our journey. We have analyzed the philosophy, adopted the disciplines, and rejected the heresies. But before we paint our final portrait of the Christian Stoic, we must look at one last pairing of lives. On the nightstand of Western civilization, there are two small books that have comforted… Continue reading Meditations of an Emperor, Confessions of a Saint: Marcus Aurelius and the Search for Inner Peace
A Certain Hope: On the Assurance of Salvation (WCF 18.1–18.4)
In Chapter 17, we established the objective fact of the Perseverance of the Saints: if you are in Christ, you are safe forever. But there is a massive difference between being safe and feeling safe. A passenger on a sturdy ship may be perfectly secure, yet terrified that the ship is sinking. This brings us to Chapter 18 and… Continue reading A Certain Hope: On the Assurance of Salvation (WCF 18.1–18.4)