Reformed Thinking

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - What God Has Joined Together Let No Man Separate, for Whoever Divorces and Marries Another Commits Adultery Jesus set a significantly higher standard for marital faithfulness than Moses or the Jewish teachers of his day. He did not affirm the permission for divorce found in Deuteronomy 24, stating that Moses allowed it "owing to the hard...

Deep Dive into Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson - Conceptions of Salvation Secular theology offers a distinct view of salvation, fundamentally rejecting the traditional understanding that salvation involves removal from the world and supernatural grace from God . It emerged in the twentieth century as cultural views on God's role shifted due to scientific explanations and humanity&#39...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - What God Has Joined Together Let No Man Separate, for Marriage Mirrors God's Covenant with Us The devastation of divorce is depicted as a profoundly painful and far-reaching experience, often causing more emotional distress than the death of a spouse . This suffering is not fleeting; it can be prolonged for "long years" through...

Deep Dive into God as Yahweh-Rapha The concept of "Yahweh-Rapha," meaning "the LORD who heals you," is comprehensively understood as divine healing that extends far beyond mere physical recovery. First revealed at Marah when God transformed bitter water into sweet, it established His ongoing, characteristic role as the only true Physician . The Hebrew verb rāp̱āʾ , meaning &quo...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Do Not Take an Oath - Let What You Say Be Simply Yes or No When the high priest adjured Jesus during his trial, demanding to know if he was the Christ, the Son of God, Jesus responded, "You have said so." This seemingly simple phrase held profound significance, aligning perfectly with his earlier command, "Let what you say be s...

Deep Dive into Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin - Two Things To Be Noted in Free Justification Humanity inherently owes God undiminished glory and praise , along with the recognition of His exclusive righteousness and our complete accountability and submission to Him. However, man often glories against God, which is seen as a direct affront. This happens when individuals claim a...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Do Not Take an Oath - Cherish the Truth and Speak It Simply Truth is considered precious beyond imagination because human lives fundamentally depend on it every single day . Whether it's knowing if water is safe to drink, trusting marriage vows, or correctly hearing emergency calls, truth is essential for survival and well-being. Even ind...

Deep Dive into Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards - Secondly, I Proceed to Show, That Christian Practice, Taken in the Sense That Has Been Explained, Is the Chief of All the Evidences of a Saving Sincerity in Religion, to the Consciences of the Professors of It; Much to Be Preferred to the Method of the First Convictions, Enlightenings, and Comforts in Conversion, or Any Immanent Discoveries...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Lay Up for Yourselves Treasures in Heaven - It Is Your Father's Good Pleasure to Give You the Kingdom The phrase "little flock" used by Jesus is a term of affection and care , assuring His followers that despite their smallness or weakness, God's power and love will protect them because they are precious. It also emphasizes...

Deep Dive into Assurance by Charles Spurgeon - Helps to Full Assurance Charles Spurgeon explains that the Apostle John's primary purpose in writing his epistle was to help believers know that they have eternal life . John's style is simple and practical, not designed for speculation, but to lead "all those who believe on the name of the Son of God" into the assured knowledge of t...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Lay Up for Yourselves Treasures in Heaven and Increase Your Joy in Jesus Jesus's teachings present two significant claims regarding wealth and eternal destiny. First, a selfish spirit will keep individuals out of heaven . This is demonstrated through several parables and encounters. For example, the rich ruler's inability to part with...

Deep Dive into Joy, Joy for Ever (Psalm 5:11) by Charles Spurgeon Believers are called to be profoundly joyful, a state that is not merely an option but a divine command and a reasonable response to their relationship with God. This joy is a permit from God, allowing them to be "as happy as ever they like," and a precept, making happiness a duty . It is also a prayer that God inspires an...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Lay Up for Yourselves Treasures in Heaven by Giving Sacrificially and Generously The text highlights Jesus's teaching on laying up treasures in heaven instead of on earth. Earthly treasures are temporary and subject to destruction or theft, whereas heavenly treasures are secure and eternal. This concept is crucial because where one places...

Deep Dive into קֹ֫דֶשׁ Holiness, fundamentally understood as "apartness, sacredness, or the state of being set apart" , is conveyed through a multifaceted interplay of divine nature, presence, and human dedication, distinguishing what is sacred from the common or ordinary. Primarily, holiness is conveyed through God's inherent nature . God is intrinsically sacred, majestic, transcend...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Love Your Neighbor as Yourself and as Jesus Loved Us The teachings provided emphasize Jesus’s radical command to love, which fundamentally addresses the human condition and redefines our understanding of "neighbor." This command is radical because it cuts to the root of sin, identified as pride . Pride is essentially self-love corru...

Deep Dive into Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume - Psalm 3 David's experience, particularly during his flight from his rebellious son Absalom, profoundly illustrates his unwavering trust and deep dependence on God . Despite facing great grief, danger, and betrayal , David found profound peace and security through active faith and communion wit...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Love Your Neighbor with the Same Commitment You Have to Your Own Well-Being The command to “Love your neighbor as yourself” is presented as a radical directive that exposes the root of human sinfulness . This root is identified as the desire for one's own happiness apart from God and apart from the happiness of others in God , often refer...

Deep Dive into How to Rebuild Ukraine's Education after War Ukraine's education system has been severely damaged by war, facing not only physical destruction but also profound trauma, displacement, and conflicting ideologies. A proposed blueprint for reconstruction emphasizes that education is never neutral , viewing it as a moral and spiritual imperative rooted in the belief that every ch...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Love Your Neighbor as Yourself, for This Is the Law and the Prophets Jesus teaches that the entire Old Testament, referred to as "the Law and the Prophets" , is profoundly summarized and fulfilled by two paramount commandments. The first and greatest is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind , and the second,...

Deep Dive into Pronouns in the English Bible Pronouns in the English Bible are far more than simple grammatical placeholders; they form a "finely calibrated theological grammar" essential for safeguarding orthodox exegesis, strengthening Trinitarian worship, and guiding believers through the drama of redemption. Their precise handling is crucial because they carry vital information about...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Love Your Enemies to Show That You Are Children of God John Piper's analysis of Jesus's command to love enemies reveals a radical call for both external actions and profound internal transformation. Jesus demands active non-retaliation and generosity in the face of harm, such as turning the other cheek, giving freely to beggars, lendi...

Deep Dive into Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson - Recent Issues regarding the Holy Spirit Recent theological discussions on the Holy Spirit have seen a resurgence of interest, often influenced by postmodernism's emphasis on subjective experience. This has led to diverse interpretations regarding prophecy, science, other world religions, and other spiritual entities. One area is the co...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Love Your Enemies - Do Good to Those Who Hate You, Give to the One Who Asks Jesus's teachings emphasize a radical form of love, particularly towards enemies. This means actively doing good to those who hate you , extending beyond social circles to practical helpfulness, mirroring God's impartial mercy. Even simple gestures like greeti...

The name Yahweh-Jireh , appearing only once in Genesis 22:14, literally translates to "The LORD will see," but idiomatically signifies that God not only perceives a need but actively provides for it. This concept originates from Abraham's supreme test on Mount Moriah, where God commanded him to sacrifice Isaac. At the pivotal moment, God intervened, providing a ram as a substitutionary offering "i...

Deep Dive into All That Jesus Commanded by John Piper - Love Your Enemies - Pray for Those Who Abuse You The core of Jesus's command is to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you . This isn't a sentimental love, but a robust one that paradoxically must include hating the evil that destroys the beloved . This hatred is not personal vindictiveness but a moral repugnance for wi...