Dr Paul Allen

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. — Galatians 3:13 Great hymns have the ability to unite the family of God , throughout history and the world, in the truths about God that matter most. But when voices from within the church begin to question or deny what the church holds most dear, great hymns become flashpoint of controversy. Such is the case with “In Christ Alone.” Some say they find it offensive enough to change one uncomfortable line, or abandon the song altogether. But I want you to see that the original line is deeply biblical and profoundly good news. The second verse says, Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied Some find this line so troubling they have changed it to “the love of God was magnified.” Love Magnified It’s certainly true that the love of God was magnified at the cross. Romans 5:8 says, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners , Christ died for us.” And in Galatians 2:2

Every movement and organization has their sayings. They can be helpful when they are accurate and memorable. But they can also be destructive when they are inaccurate and memorable. Such sayings float around a bit in Christendom . Thus, it behooves us to evaluate things we say against Scripture so that we accurately represent the faith. Oftentimes newer or mis-shepherded Christians will latch onto sayings, get swept down the stream of error, and cause others to do the same. Here are a few such Christian sayings that ought to be buried. 1. “They are a Christian but haven’t made Christ their Lord yet.” Sometimes the idea is phrased in other ways: “They are a believer, but have not yet decided to follow the Lord .” “They prayed the prayer, but do not follow Christ or live out their faith.” Burial of this saying is needed for several reasons. Christ is the absolute, Sovereign Lord whether we have acknowledged it or not (John 13:13, 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 1:8, 4:8, 11, 19:16). He is Lord of

The description of God as Light captures the essence of His nature and is foundational to the rest of the epistle. However, unlike the straightforward expressions “God is spirit” (meaning that God is immaterial in form; compare John 4:24 with Luke 24:39) and “God is love” (meaning that the persons of the Trinity love one another and mankind; cf. 3:17; 4:7, 16; Mic. 7:18; Zeph. 3:17; John 5:42; 15:10; Rom. 5:5, 8; 8:39; Eph. 2:4; Titus 3:4), the idea that God is Light (cf. Ps. 78:14; Isa. 60:19–20; John 1:9; 3:19; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46; Acts 9:3; Rev. 21:23) is more complex. Throughout the Scriptures, God and His glory are often described in terms of light. For example, during the exodus God appeared to the Israelites in the form of light:     The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pilla

“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” ( Ephesians 5:14 ) The message in our text provides an attention-getting warning to those who claim to be Christians but indulge in or even allow the evil practices of Ephesians 5:3-7 . A Christian does not, and indeed cannot, live a life of fornication, or uncleanness, or covetousness, or filthiness, or foolish talking, or jesting (vv. 3-4), for no such person “hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God . . . for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience” (vv. 5-6). Those who practice such things are “fools” (v. 15). While we as Christians must always be willing to bring the saving message of God’s grace to the sinner, we must not be “partakers with them” (v. 7) in their sins and indeed must “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (v. 11). Instead, we must “reprove them” (v. 11), pointing out the consequences of their acti

Detail of the third window of the north wall with stained glass depicting Jesus: I am the light of the world (John 8:12). (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” ( 1 John 1:5 ) Light is the most fundamental and important form of energy, and energy includes every phenomenon in the physical universe. It is appropriate for John to affirm that God is light, because everything created must reflect the character of its Creator. The term “light,” therefore, has come to be applied not only to light in the physical sense, but also to that which is true in the intellectual realm, and holy in the moral realm as well. In terms of truth and genuine knowledge, “the entrance of thy words giveth light” ( Psalm 119:130 ). “In thy light shall we see light” ( Psalm 36:9 ). Without God’s truth, there is only darkness. “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which belie

“Through the tender mercy of our God ; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.” ( Luke 1:78 ) This is an unusual, but beautiful, name of the coming Savior given Him by Zacharias when he was “filled with the Holy Ghost , and prophesied” ( Luke 1:67 ). In that same prophecy, Zacharias also called that coming one “the Highest” and “the Lord” who would “give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins” (vv. 76-77). Just six months later, Jesus was born. The Greek word here translated “dayspring” is so translated only this one time. It refers to the metaphorical spring from which the sun springs forth each day, and so is usually translated simply as “the east.” It is interesting that it is used three times in connection with the story of the wise men “from the east” who saw “his star in the east,” and then, when they reached Bethlehem once again, “the star, which they saw in the east,” led them to the one who was Himself “the dayspring” ( Matthe

The Light of the World (Manchester Art Gallery) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God , that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." ( Acts 26:18 ) All human experience understands the relationship between darkness and light. Those who love wickedness crave the darkness to hide their deeds ( John 3:19 ). Jesus insisted that He is the " light of the world " ( John 8:12 ). Now in His glorified state, the Lord Jesus--our King of Kings and Lord of Lords--is described as "dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto" ( 1 Timothy 6:16 ). This is not a mere metaphor. "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" ( 1 John 1:5 ). It is certainly clear in the Scriptures that those who have not yet been twice born must come "to the light" before they can ever receive the