Category: Jesus Christ

Vox | “Be Afraid, yet Don’t Fear”

In this passage from Luke 12:1-12, the Lord Jesus Christ deals with the subject of fear. The godless have every reason to wake up and be afraid—very afraid!—since they are living on heavily borrowed time. But even true followers of Jesus should beware of letting fear take over, because that very fear can turn God into their enemy. And yet, God’s children have no reason to be afraid of anything in this world, if they only trust Jesus and reject all fear of man.

Are you afraid? Of what—and why? Or are you content, without a care in the world when you should really be alarmed?

Join us for our afternoon service at 4:00 p.m. this Lord’s day (Sunday) when we will treat this passage at the Presbyterian Reformed Church, located at 1870 Route 50, in Tuckahoe. And please feel free to stay after for a shared supper around 5:30 p.m. We would love to have you there!

The Son of God, who is our Red Sea

[Our rebirth] does not happen by the physical water [of baptism] but by the sprinkling of the precious blood of the Son of God, who is our Red Sea, through which we must pass to escape the tyranny of Pharaoh, who is the devil, and to enter the spiritual land of Canaan. So ministers, as far as their work is concerned, give us the sacrament and what is visible, but our Lord gives what the sacrament signifies—namely the invisible gifts and graces; washing, purifying, and cleansing our souls of all filth and unrighteousness; renewing our hearts and filling them with all comfort; giving us true assurance of his fatherly goodness; clothing us with the “new man” and stripping off the “old,” with all its works.

Belgic Confession of Faith (1561), Article 34

No sign—except the sign of Jonah

“And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas [Jonah] was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineve [Nineveh] shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here” (Luke 11:29-32).

Jesus will soon come in the clouds to judge the nations. He will come to judge you and me, and we will all stand before Him. But though He came so many years ago to show mercy by dying on the cross, suffering the wrath of God for sinners, yet as the great Prophet, He powerfully denounced His generation and threatened fearful judgment. They had received so much, but had proven so unworthy of their blessings!

What is Jesus’ verdict on our generation? Will He acquit? Or will Jesus call witnesses against us?

Join us for our afternoon service at 4:00 p.m. this Lord’s day (Sunday) at the Presbyterian Reformed Church, located at 1870 Route 50, in Tuckahoe. And please feel free to stay after for a shared supper around 5:30 p.m. We would love to have you there!

Could the Shroud of Turin be authentic?

I had long written this off. But now I’m not so sure—could this indeed be authentic? I’m not at present aware of what biblical or theological reasons would rule it out. If it is fraudulent, it would be a 2nd Commandment violation, since we must not make images of God or any of His three persons. But if it’s real, it is no less a violation of the ban on images than the Ark of the Covenant, or for that matter, the sacramental bread and wine.