And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us . . . (John 1:14)

Yesterday we looked at the doctrine of anhypostasis and said that the kind of humanity Jesus took in the incarnation was impersonal. He did not add a human person to himself when he took a fully human nature.

Now we turn to the flip side of the coin and ask, Where did the singular person of Jesus come from? Who is the one person of his two (divine and human) natures?

The doctrine of enhypostasis gives the answer. His humanity is not only impersonal (anhypostasis), but it’s also in-personal (that’s what enhypostasis means), in that its personhood is in the personhood of the eternal second person of the Trinity. The fully d…

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. . . [Being] in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men . . . (Philippians 2:6–7)

At Christmas we celebrate that Jesus became human that he might save us. Without ceasing to be fully divine, he took on full humanity.

But what kind of humanity did he take on? Was it a humanity that was already personal? Or did he somehow take on a kind of impersonal humanity?

We’re not the first Christians to think about these things. In particular with the doctrine of Jesus’ person (Christology), we find a good two millennia of thoughtful engagement with such questions and challe…

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"You have exalted above all things your name and your word." (Ps. 138:2)

 

In the beginning was the Word
And the Word was with God and the Word was God
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory,
Glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Though he was in the form of God
He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
But made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,
Being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form,
He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him
And bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
…

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And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people' (Luke 2:10).

The Bethlehem shepherds were afraid of the holy angel. That’s understandable. Holy glory naturally strikes terror into the heart of sinful people.

But the angel told them they did not have to fear. He was bringing them good news! Christ the Lord, their Savior, had been born in the city of his father, David. And this Savior would bring peace among those with whom God was pleased—peace with God (Romans 5:1) through the forgiveness of their sins (Luke 1:77).

God had sent his holy Son into the world not to condemn it, “but in order that the world might be sa…

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Dear Clarence,

At the outset, please forgive me if this letter seems a bit disjointed. I’ve never written an angel before, so I’m a bit nervous!

What’s the occasion of this, my very first “Angel” letter? I realize it’s a tad tardy, but it’s regarding the movie that made you famous: Frank Capra’s iconic film It’s a Wonderful Life.

I’ve watched it for nearly every year I’ve been alive, and have even passed the tradition on to my growing children. Indeed, for much—perhaps even the majority?—of the United States (even Christians) Christmas is nearly synonymous with the movie. A Christmas passing without watching it? Unthinkable! Just recalling that famous line by one of the Bailey girls, “…

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I agree that the final judgment is according to works. We are justified—made right with God and given a title to heaven—by faith alone apart from works. This faith, though, always and necessarily leads to good works, such that at the final judgment works can be necessary as evidence that we have already been accepted by God. So works are necessary as evidence, not basis.

One analogy may be going to a concert. When you are going to a concert you buy a ticket. Then, to get into the concert, you have to bring the ticket. But the ticket is not what gave you the right to get in. Paying the money is what gives you the right. The ticket is the evidence that you paid, that you bought entrance into…

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What is God’s sovereign grace?

Not grace to bar what is not bliss

Nor flight from all distress but this:

The grace that orders our trouble and pain

And then, in the darkness, is there to sustain. 

This poem was taken from the sermon by John Piper, “Sustained by Sovereign Grace—Forever”.

When has a preacher crossed the line into plagiarism in his sermon?

Matt Perman, senior director of strategy at DG, has posted his response today at The Gospel Coalition Blog. It follows in a series on plagiarism that began earlier this week, which also includes posts by Don Carson, Sandy Willson, Tim Keller, Glenn Lucke and Collin Hansen (the last two forthcoming; read Hansen's introduction to the series).

After explaining his answer, Matt gives this encouraging takeaway:

Just be free about letting people know the sources of your ideas and where you have learned things. This doesn’t diminish your credibility at all, and in fact benefits your listeners and the church by letting peopl…

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And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers…[and] went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them. (Judges 2:12)

The ancient Israelites repeatedly turned to the idols of the surrounding nations despite God’s repeated warnings. What in the world was so compelling about Baal, Dagon, Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Molech?

Answer: the world around them worshiped them. The nations surrounding Israel had fruitful harvests and won wars. They grew wealthy, had many children, and flocks of livestock. Those nations mocked Israel’s invisible God and applied political pressure. These gods appeared to provide more immediate benefit than Israel’s God.

We mustn’t b…

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Our master, Jesus the Messiah, said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Christians are called to be peacemakers. So how are we doing? Is this what we are known for? Does this describe you?

Imagine you were to tell your family that you wanted to be a peacemaker. Would they first think of the church or the UN? “Peacemaker” ought to be synonymous with Christian, especially in light of the frequent New Testament commands to be at peace with others (i. e. Romans 12:18; 14:19; 2 Corinthians 13:11). Do we realize that not only does Paul give a blessing of grace at the beginning of each of his letters, but he also always includes peace?

But what is a peacemaker?…

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