This essay attempts to explain the belief that the death of Christ on the cross had the character of penal substitution, and that it was by virtue of this fact that it brought salvation to mankind. First, the author clears up some questions of method. He then continues to explore what it means to call Christ's death substitutionary.

What is wisdom? How is the wisdom of God different from human wisdom? This article shows how God is wise in leading and guiding the lives of man by describing how God worked in the lives of Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph.

This article considers the unity of the Trinity in Christ's command to baptize disciples.

This article highlights four key truths about Christian giving: it is both a spiritual gift and a discipline of discipleship, a management of God's money, a ministry with God's money, and a mindset regarding God's money.

The article featured here centres on the doctrine of justification by faith and its place in the life of the church. The article traces the emergence of its prominence in the church of the Reformation. Further, the article considers the need for justification, the meaning of justification (including imputation of righteousness), and faith as the means of justification.

This article explores the matter of Christian hope, through the lens of 2 Corinthians 5:1-8.

This article aims to help us know and assess Satan so that we are better equipped to fight him effectively. It gives a portrait of Satan, including his mentality and tools, but also speaks of the fact that he is captive, and we have weapons to use against him.

The harmonious unity of Scripture has for centuries been the presupposition and belief of the church in the East and West. In this paper, Packer discusses the implications of the modern emphasis on the diversity in Scripture and focuses on the moral and ethical implications.

How do we know there will be the resurrection of the dead? Jesus Christ's resurrection is the assurance of the resurrection for all. This article looks at how people will be raised, and the place of believers and unbelievers in the resurrection.

The Bible clearly teaches the reality of the second coming of Christ. This article looks at the nature and purpose of his coming.

What is the unpardonable sin? This article explains.

Perseverance of the saints is the doctrine that those who are saved will persevere to the end because they are preserved by Christ. This article explains how this works.

The civil government is instituted by God for the welfare of society. This article discusses the responsibility of the government and the Christian's duty towards it.

This article explains how the world is defined in the Bible. The article points to the world's created order but also its godless order. It also explains the role of the church and Christians in the world.

God created the family to be place of teaching and learning about God and godliness. This article explains how this is achieved in the home.

This article discusses the origin and purpose of marriage, and the place of divorce and remarriage.

Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to every member of Christ's church for the nurturing of the church. This article explains different ministries in the church, type of gifts, and the responsibility of every believer.

Mission work is accomplished through words and deeds. This article explains how the two relate.

The spiritual health of the church is maintained through discipline. This article explains why church discipline is important and why is it the mark of the true church.

Jesus Christ instituted two sacraments in his church: baptism and Lord's Supper. This article discusses their meaning and function.

The office of elder is what Christ uses to shepherd his church. This article explains the elder's role.

Preaching of the Word and the pure administration of the sacraments are among the marks of the true church. Why? This article answers this question.

This article explains the origin, authority, and function of the apostles.

The kingdom of God touches on the purposes of God, has impact for the church, and is still coming. This is what the article explains.

Both an oath and a vow invoke God. Should Christians take an oath or make a vow? This article answers.

Prayer is fellowship with God. It is a response to listening to God. This article explains the nature of prayer and its relation to the sovereignty of God

One can say that the Christian's full-time employment is to please God. This is what is at the heart of godliness. This is what the article explains.

Christian hope is rooted in Jesus Christ. The Bible calls him our hope. This article explains the nature of this hope.

Love is the hallmark of the Christian life, as this article.

Antinomianism is the denial of the use of God's law in the Christian life. This article discusses five faces of antinomianism.

Legalism is the biggest threat to the Christian life. Why? Let the article explain.

Christian liberty points to the reality that Christians have been set free from sin, law, and superstition. Let the article explain.

Repentance describes the change that happens in the believer that leads to living a new life. This article explains it.

This article discusses the relationship between good works and justification, and the place of good works in the Christian life.

Illumination describes the work of the Holy Spirit in imparting spiritual understanding to the truth of Scripture. This article explains this work of the Holy Spirit.

If you believe is Christ you are a child of God. This is the truth of adoption. This is what the article explains.

How is it possible that people can be converted? Effectual calling is what explains the reality of conversion. This article explains it.

This article answers four questions about salvation: What is salvation? What are we saved from? How are we saved? For what are we saved?

This article looks at the deity and work of the Holy Spirit.

The article explains the atonement of Christ whereby he gave satisfaction for sin and restored a broken relationship.

Jesus Christ is the Mediator between God and man. This article explains what it means that Christ is the Mediator, as well as the nature of his work.

The Bible presents Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father. This article shows that this has to do with Christ's authority and rule.

The ascension expresses to us Christ's omnipresence and his heavenly ministry. This article explains.

The transfiguration was a revelation of Christ's deity and his work of redemption. How? This article explains.

Why was Jesus baptized? The baptism of Jesus was a sign that he was identifying himself with us. How? This article explains.

Jesus was sinless from birth. This article explains that the sinlessness of Christ was essential for our salvation.

Jesus' teachings pointed to the Father, to people's need, and to his own role. This article discusses the nature of the teachings of Christ and the three themes flowing from them.

The virgin birth expresses the reality that Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit not as a result of a sexual relationship. This article gives a biblical explanation of this mystery.

Jesus is fully divine and man. This article explains the two natures of Christ.

Incarnation is the doctrine that seeks to explain the human nature of Christ. This article gives a biblical account of this teaching.

This article discusses the calling and function of biblical prophets and how they differed from false prophets.

Worship is a response given to God based on who he is as revealed in the Scriptures and through his deeds. This article shows how God ordered worship in the Old and New Testaments.

The law of God functions in three ways, as mirror, restrainer, and guide. This article explains this threefold use of the law.

The law of God is essential to man's true happiness. This article looks at the law, explaining its purpose and types in the Bible.

This article explains the covenant of grace from the Old Testament to its fulfillment in Christ.

"Original sin" is the reality that we sin because we are descendants of Adam, and the implication is our total depravity. This is what the article explains.

Man is created as body and soul, male and female. This article explains why God created us in this way.

Humans are created in the image of God. This article highlights five things that explain the nature of man, and shows how the fall destroyed this image.

Satan, whose his name means "adversary," is the chief of fallen angels. This article explains the reality and activities of the devil.

Demons are spiritual beings that are corrupt and hostile to God and man, with Satan as their chief. This article explains their nature and activity.

Angels are spiritual beings created by God. This article explains their origin and place in God's plan of salvation.

Idolatry is the refusal to give God the total allegiance he demands. This article shows how idolatry and syncretism relate.

The glory of God defines everything God does. This article shows that God does all things through revelation. It also explains what the word "glory" means.

The best way to summarize the biblical teaching on miracles is through the words "wonder, mighty work, and sign." This article explains them.

God's providence is God's work in preserving and governing all his creatures and their actions. God is completely in charge. This article explains the truth of this doctrine and its meaning for Christians.

"Mystery" in this article refers to the creature's inability to comprehend either the being or the actions of the Creator. Does it mean we cannot know God at all? Let the article explain.

The holiness of God sets him apart from us and makes him an object of awe, adoration, and dread. The article shows the link between his holiness and his justice and purity.

God is one, existing in three persons. This biblical teaching is called the doctrine of the Trinity. This article explains it.

"Omniscience" describes the reality that God knows everything, and also sees everything. What does this mean for you life? The article explains.

The "wisdom of God" refers both to the eternal decrees of God and his commands. This article explains these two.

God is love, and God is good. These are well known phrases. What do they mean really? This article explains.

God is omnipresent, which means he is present everywhere in his fullness. He is also omnipotent. This article explains more.

This article explains the transcendence, immutability, impassibility, and simplicity of God.

God revealed himself as Yahweh – the I AM. This article explains why God revealed himself in this way.

Christian baptism must be seen in light of the covenant. This article explains the nature of the covenant relationship between God and sinners, as well as the unity and continuity of the covenant in the Old and New Testaments. From these arguments it considers infant baptism.

What the church historically has deemed to be essential for the nurturing of the church, is today neglected. What could that be? This article answers this question by pointing to catechesis.

For preaching to be effective, the preacher needs to understand the paradigms surrounding him. This article shows that there is a paradigm shift that preaching must take into consideration in three themes: God, man, and godliness. Understanding this shift is crucial for the faithfulness and effectiveness of preaching.

Preaching is the event of God bringing to an audience a Bible-based, Christ-centred, life-impacting message of instruction through the words of a spokesperson. This article gives five factors that undermine the credibility of such preaching. It looks at what should constitute authority in preaching and what are the things that hinder such authority.

This article picks up where part one ended. Focus is on the claims of Neo-Pentecostalism or the charismatic movement on baptism of the Spirit, glossolalia or speaking in tongues, gifts of the spirit, and healing, with the leading texts being Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 12-1 Corinthians 14.

In order to give a theological reflection on Neo-Pentecostalism or the charismatic movement, this article gives five characteristics that characterizes the movement, twelve affirmations that the movement seeks to stand for, and ten defects within the movement. This article explains them all. This is part one of the reflection; please also read part two for a complete reflection.

In order for true unity and ecumenicity to exist within the churches, there needs to be a convincing confession of faith. This article looks at the role confessions and creeds play in shaping such unity of churches. Attention is given to the need for confessions, the problems and challenges of adopting confessions, and the method for formulating them.

The work of the Holy Spirit in relation to the local church is that he creates the local church, animates it, brings order within it, and causes growth. These are principle taught from 1 Corinthians 12-1 Corinthians 14 on the work of the Holy Spirit in the local church. This is what the article explains.

Humanism appeals to reason as its authority while Christianity appeals to Scripture as its authority. Can Christians appeals to reason? This article answers this question by looking at the authority of reason in religion, in Protestant theology, and in the Scriptures.

The Roman and Reformed tradition produced two different traditions on the Christian life. This article looks at these two tradition through the eyes of Francis de Sales, Richard Baxter, and John Owen. Here focus is on their view of faith and love.

The Roman and Reformed tradition produced two different traditions on the Christian life. This article looks at these two traditions through the eyes of Francis de Sales, Richard Baxter, and John Owen. Here focus is on their view of man and sin.

Does the church need reformation today? This article shows that at times the call for reformation is directed by thinking that the Reformation itself was about getting doctrine, church order, and liturgy straight. Yet there is more to the Reformation than this, which the article also demonstrates.

The sovereignty of God and human responsibility seem like a contradiction in terms. This article looks at the relationship between the two and shows from Romans 9 how this appearance of contradiction must be dealt with.

Does the sovereignty of God kill the need for evangelism? Looking at the relationship between the sovereignty of God and evangelism, this article shows both the negative and positive aspect of thinking about this relationship. It shows that God's sovereignty should offer hope for success in evangelism.

The standard for the Christian life is God's Word. This article reflects on what Christian standards should be when it comes to sexual conduct, family life, and singleness.

How does God give guidance to his children? This article looks at Psalm 23 and shows how this psalm should guide Christians in their thinking about God's guidance so that they avoid the superstitious belief about guidance and the danger of using a formula to discern God's guidance.

What is the Christian hope? From 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 this article shows that Christian hope is looking forward to a new dwelling place, new clothing, new home, and being with Christ. This should be the Christian's comfort as he faces the aging period.

This article shows that Christians know that it is through weakness that God's strength is manifested. It gives three reasons why God gives strength.

How can you tell if you are growing in grace? This article shares three signs that points to sanctification: humility, faith, and love. Let the article explain them.

How do you cure double mindedness? From James 1:2-8 the author shows that double-mindedness can only be cured by learning to trust God.

What should be the Christian attitude towards the law of God? This article seeks the answer from Christ's view of the law.

What makes a revival? Jonathan Edwards gave a biblical reflection of this. However, to understand the answer of Edwards, we must understand the man himself, his understanding of God and how God works to reveal his glory. It is the view of God that shaped Edwards's understanding of revival. The article discusses this while pointing to crucial elements that constitute a revival.

What is it that makes one an evangelical? This article shows that the answer comes in two ways: the historicity of the evangelical identity, and the New Testament teaching of what makes one a Christian.

What is involved in making a moral choice? This article shows that this question can be answered by looking at one's understanding of what man is, the role of the conscience, and the question of standards and motives. This is what shapes an understanding of Christian ethics.

A profile of evangelicalism can be explained in six principles: their view on Holy Scripture, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, conversion, evangelism, and Christian fellowship. Based on this the article discusses the relationship between evangelicalism and tradition, and the hindrances to true evangelical fellowship.

This article gives a summary of the biblical teaching on death, judgment, heaven, and hell. It shows how Christians should think about these.

Gifts of the Spirit are those without which the church cannot subsist in the world, nor believers be useful to one another and the rest of mankind. Gifts of the Spirit give the church its inward organic life and its outward visible form. This article is an expansion of this definition by John Owen.

How does God bring us to understand him, and to comprehend the world of spiritual reality? This article looks at John Owen's answer to this question: through the giving of revelation, the inspiration of Scripture, the authenticating of Scripture, the establishing of faith in Scripture, the interpreting of Scripture.

Idolatry is a reflection of the desire of fallen human nature to be lord of what one worships. This article explains.

Conscience is knowledge held in common with another, namely, God. It is a man's knowledge of himself as God knows him. This article discusses the role of the conscience within Puritanism. It reflects on the place of conscience among Puritans, their teaching about it, and how their understanding of conscience shaped their preaching.

Expository preaching is the preaching of the man who knows Holy Scripture to be the living Word of God, and whose aim in preaching is to show the hearers what the text is saying to them about God and about them. It is this kind of preaching that has fallen on hard times, but from Charles Simeon we can learn how to regain it. This article explains.

The practice of evangelism is threatened by minimizing the gospel. To remedy this approach of minimization this article presents the Puritans' practice of gospel preaching. It looks at their understanding of the gospel, its demand and its presentation.

Why do we need to read the Bible? This article uses Psalm 119:105 for the justification for Bible reading.

Evangelism is all about the gospel. What makes the message a gospel message? The gospel message is about God, sin, Christ, and faith and repentance. This article explains these four ingredients.

There is no way men and women can believe the biblical truth about grace without embracing what it presupposes. This article discusses four fundamental truths that grace presupposes. Without them, the truth of grace is not believed.

The Lord’s Supper is an act of worship taking the form of a ceremonial meal. This article looks at the institution of the Lord's Supper, the issue of Christ's presence, and the meaning of holy communion for the believer.

The judicial act of God pardoning sinners and declaring them righteous for Jesus's sake is justification. This article explains the relationship between judgement day and justification.

Having spiritual understanding is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is this work of illumination that this article explains.

Through the fall into sin man is born under the guilt and power of sin. This article shows how Adam relates to all humans by virtue of his sin.

Baptism signifies cleaning and remission of sins. It points to union with Christ in his death and resurrection. This article considers the relationship between the external and inward significance of the sign, the mode of baptism, and who are to be baptized.

To believe that the Bible is God's Word is through the illumination of the Holy Spirit. How does the Holy Spirit do this? This article explains.

Through the voice of general revelation and conscience man has no excuse, but remains guilty of idolatry. How? This article explains.

Christians have the responsibility to personally read and interpret Scripture. This article offers five principles which will guard Christians from misinterpreting Scripture.

When Jesus spoke about eternal punishment from Matthew 25:46, did he have in mind the state of eternal torment in hell or was he speaking about annihilation? This article examines the arguments for annihilationism against the biblical teaching on hell.

When the Reformers claimed that man has no free will, they did not deny the truth that man has free agency. What is the difference? This is what the article explains

To understand the Puritan way of evangelism, one must understand how their practice of evangelism differs from the modern practice of it. This article shows that the difference lies in their doctrine of man and his state.

Knowing God's will and following his guidance should not be a superstitious exercise. It should be the result of the work of the Holy Spirit as he works renewal in the believer, through the Word, applying it to concrete life situations in the context of godly advice. In this way believers are able to have good discernment. This is what the article explains.

Sanctification is growth. This article explains by showing the relationship between sanctification and regeneration, and how regeneration leads to holiness.

Through the resurrection of Christ, death and its terrors have been demolished. For this reason the Christian need not fear death because in death he goes to be with the Lord. This is what the article explains.

This article shows that in speaking about justification by faith, the Reformers addressed three things: the need for justification, the means to it, and the meaning of it. Then it shows how this view can be distorted.

What is God really doing? This article shows that the Bible tells us what is the plan of God for this world. It shows that God works all things for his purpose, which is his glory. This understanding of God's plan is important if you are to find meaning for your life.

There are mainly three questions facing the church about worship: In what sense are the Scriptures authoritative for Christian worship? What regulations are proper for Christian worship? What discipline is proper in connection with worship? The Puritans answered these questions by pointing to the essence of worship.

The authority of God and submission to it is the path to true freedom. Why? This article answers this question by looking at the nature of biblical authority and how it differs from secular authority.

The biblical way of thinking about the atonement is to think of it as penal substitution. In arguing this point this article points to the nature of knowledge required to comprehend this. This kind of knowledge is faith knowledge that rests on God's Word. It explains the idea of substitution and how it relates to Christ death being penal.

Should there be a relationship between Arminianism and Calvinism? In answering this question the article looks at the definition of Arminianism and the two schools within it—Rationalistic Arminianism and Evangelical Arminianism. It then deals with its causes and cures.

This article examines the relationship of love and law through the eyes of situation ethics and existentialism. It gives a biblical evaluation of these ethical approaches.

Definite redemption, also known as particular redemption or limited atonement, attests to the biblical truth that God intended Christ's work to remove only the sins of the elect. Let the article explain.

Jesus' resurrection is essential to Christianity because it attests to Christ's victory over death, his righteousness, and his divine identity. This what the article explains.

This article show how the total obedience of Christ is essential for our salvation.

This article shows how the human and divine nature of Christ relate by pointing to Scripture and the confession of the church through the Council of Nicaea and Council of Chalcedon.

The only way to know God is through his self-revelation. This article argues that this self-revelation is what constitutes the Bible.

Predestination refers to God's eternal decision of particular sinners for salvation and eternal life. Let the article explain.

God's self-existence is the truth that asserts that God has always been there. He has no beginning or end. This article explains this truth.

Regeneration is the work of God in which a new heart is given. This article explains this concept of being born again.

Christian knowledge of God is intellectual, volitional, and moral. This knowledge comes through faith, and it is different from the knowledge of Gnosticism. This is what the article explains.

What is covenant theology? The answer given here is that covenant theology is a way of reading the Bible. This article shows how covenant theology is essential for understanding the gospel, Scripture, and God.

Here the relationship between the nature of scripture and hermeneutics is explained. The article shows the impact that biblical authority and inerrancy have on hermeneutics, and how these should guard the church against over-simplification.

Election is rooted in God's sovereignty and is unconditional. Yet the elected are known through their fruits. This is what this article explains. It also points to the reality of reprobation as a biblical reality.

Both universal redemption and Arminianism paint an unbiblical account of salvation, for they all take away God's glory. This introductory essay to John Owen's The Death of Death in the Death of Christ shows how this is so by looking at what constitutes the teaching of Calvinism about the atonement.

How does the sovereignty of God relate to evangelism? This article shows that the sovereignty of God does not take away the necessity and urgency of evangelism. It does not invalidate the genuineness of the gospel invitation. In actual fact, the sovereignty of God is the only hope for evangelism. 

Written as an introduction to John Owen's teaching on limited atonement, this article shows that upholding universal redemption is a denial of the gospel. The author discusses the biblical teaching on atonement, and shows how this perspective impacts preaching.

Our paradigms of reality determine how we process informational data. It determines what we make of it (to speak in everyday terms), for processing data is essentially a matter of fitting the bits into our overall frame of reference. In this way paradigms become the pathway to understanding - if the paradigm is a good one, or to misunderstanding if it is not.

"I urge you, Timothy, as we live in the sight of God and of Christ Jesus (whose coming in power will judge the living and the dead), to preach the Word of God. Never lose your sense of urgency, in season or out of season.

The purpose of this article on authority is threefold. In the first place it discusses the nature and excellence of authority in general, and the authority that historic Christianity has ascribed to the Creator in particular. Secondly, it points to some of the ways the Western world has turned from God's authority. Finally, it discusses how Christianity might be able to re-establish authority in the world today.