Sermons, Articles, and Other Things

Different words are used in the Bible to describe the intention and effects of the death of Jesus on the cross. Each of them says something about us and our state before God, and also says something about God and his gracious plans for us, and what Jesus had to provide for us.   For example, in the verses before our text, Paul says that Jesus died for the ungodly and for sinners, which mean that before conversion, a person is unrighteous and has fallen short of God’s standards and is under the wrath of God. On the cross, Jesus offered up his perfect life and paid the penalty for our sins. When we trust in Jesus, God the Father declares us righteous in his sight because he has reckoned to our account the perfect life of Jesus and he recognises that our penalty has been paid by Jesus. That is what Paul means by justification and it describes a permanent state before God. We are no longer in the place of condemnation and are safe from the wrath of God.   In verse 10, Paul does no...

We have seen that God has worked in his providence to bring about the situation in which the brothers of Joseph have bowed down to him and are in a situation in which they are dependent on him if they want to survive through the coming years of famine. The dilemma that a first-time reader would have is how will the brothers come to know that the brother they despised is now their deliverer and provider. And what will be the outcome once they do discover who the second most important person in Egypt is?   The wisdom of Joseph Joseph was a busy man. Yet he had his priorities, and no doubt those priorities at any given time would depend on the current circumstances. He would have to fulfil the responsibilities connected to his role in Egypt as its prime minister. He would have responsibilities in his home and in his family. And at the particular time detailed in this biblical passage, he had priorities in connection with his brothers who did not yet realise who he was.    Wh...

We have observed that a main aspect of the story of Joseph concerns the fulfilment of the revelation of God’s purpose that was conveyed to Joseph through the two dreams he had which indicated that his family – his brothers, his mother and his father – would bow to him. If we had been reading the story for the first time, we might wonder if that would ever happen. Connected to this aspect of bowing to him would be the reason for them doing so, especially with regard to the brothers. It would need to be voluntary and for the right motives. Previously, the brothers had refused to recognise that Joseph should have the birthright.   The brothers bow to Joseph Events in Canaan made it necessary for the family of Jacob to travel to Egypt for food. Jacob decided that Benjamin, the other son of Rachel, should not go in case harm would come to him. Given that Benjamin was now an adult, the decision could not have been based merely on the possibility that someone could attack them. After all,...

The Saviour, in his prayer, looks ahead to the ingathering of his people. Indeed, he looks ahead to the end when all his people will be together. When we consider his prayer for them, we can see that he mentions three things about them. First, he states how they will become his people; second, he prays that they would be one; and third, he prays that all of them would see his glory.   How will they become his people? Jesus says that they will become his people through the word of the apostles. The ‘word’ here is probably their message, and we know that it is now found in the Bible. It is possible that ‘word’ means the written word, but many of the apostles did not contribute to the New Testament. So I think we should regard the term ‘word’ as pointing to the gospel, the message that the apostles declared, and which has been declared ever since by those who hold to the same faith as the apostles. It is through responding to the gospel that sinners become the people of God.  ...

The words of this song are not sung by the people of God. Instead it is a song about the people of God, but it is sung by others. The singers are the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders, who are two groups of angelic beings. The four living creatures are the cherubim and they appear throughout the Bible. The twenty-four elders are usually found close to the throne of God, which indicates a role of importance is assigned to them. Perhaps they lead the praise because, after they sing, others join in the praise of God.   The occasion The occasion described here is the ascension of Jesus. Elsewhere in the Bible, at the end of Luke and the beginning of Acts, we are told about the start of the Saviour’s journey to heaven. Here his arrival in heaven is described and, given the sense of joy and praise that followed his sitting at the Father’s right hand, we can assume that it was a moment all of heaven had been anticipating because no other could sit there and open the scroll....