If you are old and fear that Christ will not accept you for having sinned away the better part of your life, let Jonathan Edwards compel you. This is from a sermon titled “No Obstacle to the Pardon of the Returning Sinner,” based on Psalm 25:11, “For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.”

I am afraid God will not accept of me, when I offer him only mine old age.

To this I would answer

Hath God said anywhere, that he will not accept old sinners who come to him? God hath often made offers and promises in universal terms; and is there any such exception put in?

Doth Christ say, All that thirst, let them come to me and drink, except old sinners? Come to me, all ye th…

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The doctrine of hell is important — and extremely unpopular.

In this episode of Theology Refresh, David Platt talks about the priority of God's word as we approach this doctrine and faithfully serve the gospel in light of its reality.

Platt explains that hell is the manifestation that our sin against an infinitely holy God warrants infinitely eternal punishment. Moreover, when we minimize the reality of hell, we actually malign the mercy of God — because central to the fact of hell is that it is escapable. Jesus has endured the wrath of God on our behalf so that all who trust in him will be delivered from God's wrath and brought into fellowship with him forever.

Stream or download th…

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In this two-minute video that Talitha and I made at home, I give a snapshot of how the Lord teaches me deep things through my little grandchildren. The lesson is simple. But the summons is for a miracle to happen deep in my life — again and again.

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Recent posts from John Piper —

• Five Reasons I Believe Romans 11:26 Means a Future Conversion for Israel
• Pray and Ponder Yourself into Sync with Paul's Sense of Wealth
• Read Your Bible More and More

Any time a selfish sinner is tasked with leading other selfish sinners in a Godward direction — whether in families, friendships, small groups, churches, or broader movements — there’s going to be trouble.

Take Moses, for example. No Old Covenant leader was as meek as Moses (Numbers 12:3), had more intimate interaction with God (Exodus 33:11), and was more unjustly and harshly criticized by those he led.

Here’s an overview of Moses’ experience as a spiritual leader:

• At first the Israelites rallied behind him (Exodus 4:31), but when Pharaoh increased their work they lost faith (Exodus 5:21).
• Then after the Passover Moses was their hero (Exodus 12:28)! But that quickly evaporated on…

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In the current series "How to Stay Christian in Seminary," we've been sharing some ways that those in the midst of theological education might grow in grace. David Mathis recently sat down with Don Carson and asked for his counsel:

Carson: "You should never be doing anything with the word of God that is less than devotional, or less than critical."

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How to Stay Christian in Seminary:

• Introduction: Seminary: Life or Death?
• #1: Know Your Value of Values
• #2: Be Fascinated with Grace
• #3: Love That Jesus Calls the Weak
• #4: Study the Word for More Than Words.

Psalm 40:6–8,

In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
  Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
  I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”

For many of us, Psalm 40:6–8 is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma — as Winston Churchill once said of Russia.

Verses 1–10 are David’s song of thanks to God for rescuing him from dire straights. Verses 6–8 then raise the issue of what should David do in response to God’s life-saving rescue. Slaughter another sheep? Sacrifice a bull or goat? Is that re…

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Romans 11:26 says, “And in this way all Israel will be saved.” I take this to mean that someday the nation as a whole (not necessarily every individual; see 1 Kings 12:1; 2 Chronicles 12:1) will be converted to Christ and join the Christian church and be saved.

This was J. C. Ryle’s view published in 1867:

[The Jews] are kept separate that they may finally be saved, converted and restored to their own land. They are reserved and preserved, in order that God may show in them as on a platform, to angels and men, how greatly he hates sin, and yet how greatly he can forgive, and how greatly he can convert. Never will that be realized as it will in that day when “all Israel shall be sa…

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The first Gospel Coalition National Women's Conference is approaching (June 22–24 in Orlando, Florida). Don Carson, the president and co-founder of TGC, answered a few questions about the conference and the priority of training women for ministry.

Explain for us the origin of the women's conference and how it serves the broader vision of TGC?

Don Carson: TGC aims to reform evangelicalism, putting the "evangel" (the gospel) at the center of our thinking and practice — and that means focusing on Scripture, on Christ, on the cross and resurrection, on the God who redeems his people. If we are going to contribute to the reformation of evangelicalism, we must aim to teach women as well as men…

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Octavius Winslow:

Christian mothers, your child may be far away from the sheltering home, voyaging on the stormy sea, or dwelling in some distant climate beyond your voice. But he is still within the reach of the mightiest power a mother can wield – the power of prayer! And although you cannot throw around him your maternal arms to shield him from the evil of the world, you can invest him with your wrestling believing petitions, and secure on his behalf the Arm which encircles the globe, and is mighty to save. Oh that the Church of God may be filled with such praying mothers!

Octavius Winslow, "The Christian Family."

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Recent posts from "They Still Speak" —

• C. S. Lewi…

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On February 11, 2012, at age 61, Mike Stohlmeyer, a good friend of and mission partner with us at Desiring God, entered the joy of his master, Jesus Christ. After a 39-year battle with Crohn’s Disease, Mike’s body finally succumbed but his spirit did not. He finished well and no doubt was greeted with the words “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

Mike lived in Ames, IA, with his beloved wife, Maureen, who beautifully and faithfully served with and cared for Mike during their 34-year marriage. Mike served as a pastor and passionate teacher of God’s word at Stonebrook Church in Ames until weakened health forced him to step down in the mid-1980’s. 

But Mike didn’t was…

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