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Christ: The Wonder of It All

Christ: The Wonder of It All A theological meditation on 2 Thessalonians 1:10 There is a kind of glory that can be discussed, defended, even defined—yet still not truly seen . Scripture does not leave the hope of believers as an abstract doctrine, but presses it toward a final horizon: the Day when Christ is no longer merely confessed by faith, nor only known by the present experience of spiritual life in a mortal body, but entered as the wonder of immortality—the consummation of eternal life, which God purposed before time and has already set within our hearts, beheld in unveiled reality. Paul gathers this horizon into a single sentence that feels like it is too much to imagine: “...when He comes on that day to be glorified in His saints , and to be marveled at among all who have believed ...” — 2 Thessalonians 1:10 But let out limited minds pray for a spirit of wisdom and revelation into this wonder. The promise is not only that Christ will be glorified, but that His glor...

The Church as Glory and Joy: Paul's Vision of Ministry Reward

The Church as Glory and Joy: Paul’s Vision of Ministry Reward A Theological Essay on Ministry, Servant Leadership, and the True Reward of Equipping the Saints Introduction Distortion of scripture is nothing new, Peter himself warned that Paul’s letters were being twisted even in the first century—some “distort” them, as they do “the other Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:16). Paul likewise warned that distortions would arise from within the church, with people speaking “twisted things” to draw disciples after themselves (Acts 20:29–30). And when the subject turns to money, the New Testament is especially direct. Paul cautions against those who imagine “godliness” as a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:5) and insists that gospel ministry must not be peddled for profit (2 Corinthians 2:17). Peter adds that false teachers exploit others “in their greed” (2 Peter 2:3), and Jude warns of those who “abandoned themselves for the sake of gain” (Jude 11). Paul also says some “teach… for shameful gain” (...

The Promises of God — The Promised Eternal Covenant

God’s Eternal Purpose Enacted: The Promised Eternal Covenant When Scripture speaks of the New Covenant, it does not describe God improvising after human failure, as though redemption were a divine contingency plan B. The New Covenant is the historical unveiling of something older than history: God’s eternal purpose in Christ. Before there was a world to break, God purposed a world to redeem. Before there was a law to expose sin, there was a promise to overcome sin. And before there was a people formed in time, there was a people chosen “in Him” before time. This is why the Bible can speak in two registers at once. In one register, God promises a covenant in the prophets—an “everlasting covenant,” a “new covenant,” a covenant of peace, forgiveness, and Spirit-wrought obedience. In the other register, the apostles speak of grace “given… in Christ Jesus before times eternal,” and of an “eternal purpose” accomplished in Christ. The Eternal Covenant is the meeting of those two registers: th...

The Jerusalem Council : Grace or Law (And The Question of Tithing)

Introduction: A Gospel-Defining Moment The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 represents one of the most decisive moments in church history. At stake was nothing less than the nature of the gospel itself. The controversy began with a stark claim: "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved" (Acts 15:1). This wasn't a debate about cultural preferences or minor rituals. It was a fundamental question: What constitutes salvation? What governs belonging among God's people? Is the gospel administered through the Mosaic Law, or through grace in Christ? The council's purpose was clear: to preserve the gospel as God's action in Christ—received by faith—rather than restructuring it into a Law-based entry system governed by the old written code. Peter's Argument: The Center Holds Peter established the theological foundation. God gave the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles "just as he did to us," he testified, "making no distinc...

The Promises of God — The Promised Holy Spirit

The Promised Holy Spirit Introduction: The Promises of God and the Gift of His Spirit When Scripture speaks of the promises of God, it does not describe outcomes or blessings detached from relationship. God’s promises are covenantal in nature—rooted in His faithfulness to give Himself to a people and to dwell among them. From the beginning, the promises of God move steadily toward one central reality: restored communion between God and those He calls His own. Among all that God promises, the gift of His Spirit stands at the center—not because redemption, the cross, or forgiveness are secondary, but because the Spirit is the promised result toward which redemption itself moves. The cross is the means by which God fulfills the promises. Because God is holy, the righteous requirements of His justice had to be satisfied before His Spirit could dwell within redeemed humanity. As the writer of Hebrews makes clear, a covenant is established through death, and the New Covenant is inaugur...