“How do I get to Jesus from here” is a question that I like to ask myself as I process an Old Testament text. In my routine of study this question brings a measure of joyful anticipation to the exegetical process. When I work an Old Testament passage I do realize that the original readers of it would not have clearly discerned how it pointed to Christ. As a result, I must carefully discern the Author’s intention through a...

This past week I had the opportunity to present a workshop at the Advancing the Church Conference hosted by Calvary Baptist Seminary in Lansdale, PA. Dr. Harbin and Dr. Jordan did an outstanding job organizing the conference and effectively addressing the topic, “We Believe in Preaching.” Dr. Don Carson was the keynote. As a master teacher, he competently illustrated how to use the OT in the life of the church. In the context of Don...

A significant theme used to open the book of Joshua is the Divine Warrior (Josh 1:1-5). The key ideas associated with this theme are victory, fight, and trust. As the Divine Warrior, the Lord promises to terrorize Israel’s enemies and to abide with them as His covenant people. The Lord is presented to us as the Divine Warrior in Exodus 15 in the Song of Moses. In this song Moses sings, the Lord is a man of War, the Lord is His name...

If you were to read Philippians 2:1-11 along with this study my goal would be to encourage you to embrace the exalted character of our God. I want to encourage you to confess with a hearty AMEN that Jesus Christ is Lord. In the quietness of this moment I want to invite you to appeal to the Lord, as did Moses in Exodus 33:18, show me your glory. What was Moses asking? What are we asking when we blend our voice with Moses and desire to see the...

Wayne Grudem, in his Systematic Theology describes union with Christ as a phrase that summarizes several different relationships between believers and Christ. Through these relationships with Christ, Christians receive every benefit of salvation. These relationships include the fact that we are in Christ, Christ is in us, we are like Christ, and we are with Christ. The key union with Christ Scriptures are Colossians 2:8-10; 3:8-11 and Ephesians...