Tuesday
Mar112014

Theological Term of the Week 

high priestly prayer of Jesus
Jesus’ final prayer, found in John 17, in which he “prays, first for himself (vv. 1–5), then for his disciples (vv. 6–19), and finally for later believers (vv. 20–26)”;1 also called the Farewell Prayer.

  • From scripture, an excerpt from the high priestly prayer:

    I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, butthey are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (John 17:9-19 ESV)

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Monday
Mar102014

Linked Together: Teaching Your Children

Justification by Faith
Fred Zaspel has a helpful article on teaching the doctrine of justification by faith to our children in January’s Credo Magazine.

For many Christian parents it is not that they don’t want to teach doctrine — it’s just that they feel they don’t know how. So let’s think for a bit on that level: how can we teach our children this most important doctrine. What are the essentials that we need to get across?

Click below to read it. 

 

The Trinity
I’ve mentioned previously that I don’t recommend using analogies for the Trinity because the ones I know do a better job illustrating a trinitarian heresy than illustrating the Trinity. This one is better than most, but I’m still not sure about it.

What do you think? Does it help?

Monday
Mar102014

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 27. What do you mean by the providence of God?

Answer: The providence of God is his almighty and ever present power (a) by which he upholds and governs (b) heaven, earth, and all creatures, so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, (c) fruitful and barren years, food and drink, health and sickness, (d) riches and poverty (e)—yes, everything—comes to us not by chance, but by his fatherly hand. (f)

(Click through to see scriptural proofs.)

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