In a sermon titled “Justification“, Colin S. Smith shared the following helpful illustration on the meaning of propitiation from Romans 3:25. A propitiation is a gift or payment offered to placate the anger of an offended person. The best way to explain is through an illustration, so let me introduce you to two characters, Neil […]
Helpful Definitions
Life-Changing Sentences: D.A. Carson on Genuine Worship
John Piper has famously and repeatedly said, “Books don’t change people, paragraphs do — sometimes sentences.” This new blog series “Life-Changing Sentences” takes that to heart and shares powerful sentences from Christian writers on a variety of topics. “The heart of genuine worship is the working out in every aspect of our lives the confession […]
What is Systematic Theology? A Definition from Dr. Wayne Grudem
Dr. Wayne Grudem, theologian and author of the landmark volume Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine answers the question, “What is Systematic Theology?” in his definition of Systematic Theology: “Systematic theology is any study that answers the question, “What does the whole Bible teach us today?” about any given topic. (page 21) Here is a short […]
Tim Challies’ Definition of Christian Discernment
In Tim Challies’ book The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment, he offers a long and a short definition of Christian discernment: “Discernment is a process of prayerful reflection which leads a person or community to understanding of God’s call at a given time or in particular circumstances of life. It involves listening to God in all […]
Tim Keller’s Definition of Idolatry from Counterfeit Gods
“What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give… An idol is whatever you look at and say, in your heart of hearts, “If I have that, then I’ll feel […]