Just when you thought you thought you knew the parable of the prodigal son. “Never man spake like this man” (Jn. 7:46).
Archive for the ‘Christ Jesus’ Category
Jesus and the parable you thought you knew
Posted in Apologetics & Evidences, Christ Jesus on May 18, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Worth your time
Posted in Apologetics & Evidences, Christ Jesus, Christendom, Constantine, Modernity, Natural Theology, Political Theory & Theology, Postwar Consensus, Nationalism, Sacred & Secular, Secularization, Social Issues, Worth Your Time on March 3, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Some videos I’ve watched in the recent month. The ones with Tom Holland are intriguing, at the very least as an illustration of the persuasive power of Christianity on the modern mind short of regeneration. May the Lord grant academics like Holland not just to be “near” the Kingdom or “almost a Christian,” but inside it and altogether Christian!
And as always, “standard caveats.” I read and watch a wide range of things, some of which I do not agree with in whole or in part. I do commend everyone to “test the spirits.” And even the most mature of Christians should ever be vigilant, knowing that our Enemy is ever on the ready to draw us away.
Warfield: the theocractic endowments unite upon Christ
Posted in Biblical Theology, Christ Jesus, Holy Trinity: Ontological & Economic, Old Princeton, Redemptive History on February 18, 2026| Leave a Comment »
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me”—this is the response of the Messiah to such gracious promises—”because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good-tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of gladness for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified” (Isa. lxi. 1 sq.).
No one will fail to observe in these beautiful descriptions of the endowments of the Messiah, how all the theocratic endowments which had been given separately to others unite upon Him; so that all previous organs of the Spirit appear but as partial types of Him to whom as we are told in the New Testament, God “giveth not the Spirit by measure” (John iii. 34). Here we perceive the difference between the Messiah and other recipients of the Spirit. To them the Spirit had been “meted out” (Isa. xl. 13), according to their place and function in the development of the kingdom of God; upon Him it was poured out without measure. By Him, accordingly, the kingdom of God is consummated. The descriptions of the spiritual endowments of the Messiah are descriptions also, as will no doubt have been noted, of the consummated kingdom of God. His endowment also was not for himself but for the kingdom; it, too, was official. Nevertheless, it was the source in Him of all personal graces also, the opulence and perfection of which are fully described. And thus He becomes the type not only of the theocratic work of the Spirit, but also of His work upon the individual soul, perfecting it after the image of God.
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From “The Spirit of God in the Old Testament.” Listen to the entire audio here. Or read it below (scroll to the second page):
Warfield’s “On the Emotional Life of our Lord”
Posted in Anthropology, Audio Resources, Christ Jesus, Christian Conduct, Christian Ethics, Christian Life & Experience, Conscience & Casuistry, Experimental Religion & the Cure of Souls, Mental Health on January 12, 2026| Leave a Comment »
B. B. Warfield’s “On the Emotional Life of our Lord” is simply a masterpiece of exegesis, theology, and psychology on the high mystery of the God-man’s emotions as the Gospels depict them. Especially profound are his insights on His holy anger and fear, where the “holy, harmless, undefiled” Savior gives full play to this side of His sanctified humanity without the slightest breach of God’s law. “Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow!” And so we may appreciate all the more deeply the sympathy of our High Priest who can be “touched with the feeling of our infirmities, yet without sin.” This is an absolute must-read—I know of nothing else like it on the subject. You can read it below or listen to my recording here. Let me also suggest my recording of Richard Baxter’s “On the Government of the Passions;” and visit full WPE Audio library for more titles.
Vos on Christ as “Prince” (ἀρχηγός)
Posted in Biblical Interpretation, Biblical Theology, Christ & the Church, Christ Jesus on January 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Manton: “a new right of empire and sovereignty over the creature”
Posted in Christ Jesus, Mediator, Mediatorial Kingship, The Kingdom of God, Vox Patrum on November 7, 2024| Leave a Comment »
I’ve been meditating on these most mysterious and weighty words of our Lord in John 17:3, “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” Here is indication of the Father’s donation authority and right of Christ, as God-man, to dispense salvation to the elect out of the world over which He has been given all authority. Found this passage from Manton especially illuminating in light of it:
“There is no entrance into this kingdom but by coming into the kingdom of Christ. Besides the kingdom which belongeth to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one true and only God, there is the kingdom of Christ considered as mediator; a new right of empire and sovereignty over the creature, not destructive of the former,but accumulative, as superadded to it, that the government of God might be the more comfortable and beneficial to us in our lapsed estate.” Read the rest below.
“The Sure Mercies of David”
Posted in Audio Resources, Biblical Interpretation, Christ Jesus, Free Church of Scotland, Israel; Calling of & Mission to the Jews, Macleod, John (1872-1948), The Gospel on December 17, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Principal John Macleod (1872-1948) writes with a freshness and a force of thought that sadly is all too uncommon today. Listen to my latest recording of his sermon, “The Sure Mercies of David.” (View entire library here.) Here are a couple of worthy passages:
Nay, as Victor our Lord has overcome and is set down with the Father on His Throne. There as the Exalted Servant He is seated on the Throne of His Heavenly Father and on the throne of His father David. It is as David’s throne was the throne of the Lord over Israel that his Exalted Son sits upon it now. Having died death outright He lives with a life over which the shadow of death shall never fall. He dieth no more for He has borne and exhausted the curse. So as Lord of life and death He is the Resurrection and the Life. His rising from the dead was the step that went before His Ascension; and it was a step that brought with it in full detail every succeeding step of His glory as the Lord’s Exalted Servant.
With our Lord’s Resurrection and Ascension the Kingdom of God has come. Until He arose and went up it was a kingdom or order of things that was yet to come. This is the case no more. The fullness of the glory of the kingdom is in the course , of being unveiled. The fullness itself reaches unto the eternal ages.
Also, a delightful passage on the conversion of the Jews:
Israel shall return to the Lord their God and to David their King. When the set time comes the David of the New Testament will subdue them and bring them in. Then the natural branches shall come to their place in the old olive tree and it will be as it were life from the dead. Not only will it be life from the dead : to them it will be such life from the dead as a pining Church and perishing world need. It is for ~ur Lord Himself to bring about this glorious return. He will then make Jerusalem a praise in the earth; for He will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem His own Spirit, the token of His good will, as the Spirit of prayer, and they shall call on Him. They shall look on Him whom they pierced, and the world shall know the mourning of the brethren of the New Testament Joseph when He makes Himself known to them and gives them the kiss of peace. This thing will not be done in a corner. All the world shall hear of it.
Here is the original copy:
Christ, our regal Example
Posted in Christ Jesus, Practice of Piety, Redemption Accomplished, The Gospel, Vox Patrum on January 9, 2020| Leave a Comment »
“And if he had not been man, how could he have led us into the way of universal holiness, by the influence of his own example, which is, doubtless, an excellent method to reform mankind? It is not only necessary to enact rules of virtue by a kingly authority,but likewise, by example, to make precepts practicable and honourable. When brave generals, though of the noblest lineage, design to animate their armies to heroic achievements, they voluntarily submit their persons to all the humble offices and hardships of a state of war, courageously lead their troops into the high places of the field of battle,and expose their lives to the greatest perils. This our Lord has done for us; the Captain of our salvation, the King of the church, and Lord of the universe, has been made perfect through sufferings.”
-Gilbert Tennent
West Port Experiment 