The Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed are foundational tools for the Christian faith, clarifying the essentials of Christian belief and distinguishing it from paganism and heretical movements. These creeds emerged as a response to new ideas and errors within the church, serving as fences to show where believers can safely disagree and which new ideas stray too far. They remain essential to Christians today, marking the boundaries of Christian belief and showing who's in the Christian house and who is clearly in another house entirely. [... more]

God's covenant of grace is found all the way back in Genesis, promising salvation through the seed of the woman. This covenant stands in stark contrast to the covenant of works, where Adam's obedience was required for eternal life. Theologians throughout history have understood the covenant of grace as salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. [... more]

God's covenant with Adam in the Garden of Eden is a model for understanding the nature of God's relationship with humanity. The covenant of works, established with Adam, required perfect obedience to God's commands in order to receive eternal life. Adam's disobedience led to death and exile from God's presence, a pattern repeated in Israel's history. The covenant of works is a fundamental concept in covenant theology, highlighting the importance of obedience to God's commands and the consequences of disobedience. [... more]

The covenant of redemption is an eternal, intra-Trinitarian agreement among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to create and save a people. This covenant is rooted in scripture and serves as the foundation for the covenant of grace, which is central to Christian theology. [... more]

The Bible teaches that compassion and truth are not mutually exclusive, but rather, the truth of the gospel is full of compassion. Pastors have a responsibility to preach the Word of God with love and care, and congregations can encourage and equip them by praying for them, loving them, and allowing them to focus on their primary work of preaching and teaching. [... more]

Prayer is a life of communion with God, not just isolated times of prayer. Christians are called to pray without ceasing, rejoicing always, and giving thanks in all circumstances. The Bible teaches that God always answers our prayers, even if we don't like the answers. We are to cast our anxieties on the Lord, who cares for us, and pray in the Spirit, knowing that our prayers are heard and effective. [... more]

Anxiety and worry are common experiences for every human being, but as Christians, we can find the antidote in prayer and humility. By recognizing the problem of anxiety and its roots in sinful minds and hearts, we can learn to cast our anxieties on God and trust in His sovereignty and providence. Through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, we can experience the peace of God that surpasses all understanding and find joy in the midst of trials. [... more]

Christians are called to speak the truth in love, even when it means being rejected. The Bible teaches that marriage is between one man and one woman, and attending an LGBTQ wedding would be participating in a sinful act. Christians must stand firm in their convictions and not compromise their values, even if it means facing persecution. [... more]

How is Christ with us to the end of the age as He promises in the Great Commission Today Burk Parsons speaks on the Lord's enduring desire to dwell with His people and to use us in fulfilling His mission through the church Get 'The Great Commission' DVD Series and Digital Study Guide with Burk Parsons for Your Gift of Any Amount https gift renewingyourmind org the-great-commission Meet Today's Teacher Burk Parsons is senior pastor of Saint Andrew's Chapel in Sanford FL chief editorial officer for Ligonier Ministries editor of Tabletalk magazine and a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow He is [... more]

Teaching is an essential part of the Great Commission But what are Christians called to teach Today Burk Parsons considers the church's responsibility to make disciples who observe all that Christ has commanded Get 'The Great Commission' DVD Series and Digital Study Guide with Burk Parsons for Your Gift of Any Amount https gift renewingyourmind org the-great-commission Meet Today's Teacher Burk Parsons is senior pastor of Saint Andrew's Chapel in Sanford FL chief editorial officer for Ligonier Ministries editor of Tabletalk magazine and a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow He is author of Why Do We Have Creeds editor of Assured [... more]

The Gospel of God provides confidence and joy, and understanding its core elements is crucial for assurance of salvation. The relationship between assurance and sanctification is also explored, highlighting the importance of justification by faith alone and the role of Christ as our mediator and Savior. [... more]

The Holy Spirit's work of sanctification is a glorious process that transforms us into the image of Christ, bringing us to share in the divine life of the Father and the Son. Through the gospel, the Spirit opens our eyes to see the glory of Christ, changing our desires and affections, and giving us new hearts that love and enjoy God. The fear of the Lord, which is a filial fear, is a blessing of the new covenant that brings us to tremble with wonder at God's kindness and mercy, and to rejoice in His glory. [... more]

Christ is our mediator between God and man, and through Him, we have access to the throne room in heaven, where we find peace, justification, and sanctification. The doctrine of the mediator is rooted in Scripture and has been developed through the creeds and confessions of the church, including the Geneva catechism and the Pinchov confession. The Reformation emphasized the exclusivity of Christ as our mediator, and the importance of faith alone in justification. We are sustained by God's grace, which saves us from sin and guilt, and gives us hope and joy in our weakness. [... more]

The Fatherhood of God is the deepest revelation of the identity of God, and it shapes our understanding of the Gospel and the way we're called to live the Christian life. Knowing God as our Father gladdens our view of him, and it's the key to understanding the Gospel. God's blessing is sonship, and it's offered freely to real sinners through adoption. The Father's love for his Son encompasses us, and it's the heart of our transformation into the likeness of the Son. [... more]

The importance of creeds and confessions in Christianity, how they provide a map for understanding doctrine and the Christian life, and the need for humility and love in applying doctrine. [... more]

The concept of God's perfection and being is explored through the lens of philosophical inquiry, highlighting the distinction between potentiality and actuality, and the immutability and eternity of God's nature. [... more]

The affirmation of one God, as stated in the Westminster Confession, is a fundamental aspect of Judeo-Christianity, distinguishing it from ancient polytheism and modern ideas of multiple paths to God. The concept of idolatry, or worshiping false gods, is a central theme in the Bible, and the true God is described as eternal, simple, and perfect in being and power. [... more]

The Bible claims to be of divine origin, yet it was written by human authors. The concept of inspiration is crucial in understanding how God's Word was preserved and communicated through human vessels. The Westminster Confession emphasizes the importance of the Bible as the rule of faith and life, and the Protestant church agrees with the Palestinian canon of the Old Testament, excluding the Apocrypha. [... more]

The Bible teaches that God's existence is clearly revealed in nature, leaving humanity without excuse for not believing. The Westminster Confession of Faith emphasizes that this revelation is not sufficient for salvation, and that humans have a propensity to suppress the truth and worship false gods. [... more]

A collection of historic creeds, catechisms, and confessions provides a comprehensive understanding of the Christian faith, equipping believers to contend for the truth and deepen their knowledge of God's Word. [... more]