Reformed & Expository Preaching

The prophet Micah was sent to Israel with a message that was very relevant and urgent for the Northern and Southern Kingdoms in Canaan. It is tempting to think that this is an in-house problem that impacts the immediate recipients of the letter excusing us from all responsibility. However, Micah calls all peoples to listen. All peoples are to hear the prophet speak. Why should we care what happens to these people in this unique time? What relevant message can the prophet bring to us today?

The interaction between Christ and Nicodemus communicates that there is a problem. It is a problem with the human condition and not a problem with the Lord. We can understand on one level the complexity of redemption, but on the other level we fail to see how complex it is. Nicodemus is shocked by the proposal of a new birth because Nicodemus hears that he needs to be part of another family or another genealogy. Christ is telling him that this is partly true, but it is not a genealogy tied to a family in this world. So, what genealogy matters? What genealogy do we want to have? How do we attain this genealogy and the necessary birth?

This is a sermon preached at our pulpit by Rev. Dr. Van Ee.

We might think that this notion of the preservation and perseverance of the saints is unique to the Apostle Paul. We might also think that this is not all that significant in terms of our psychology or encouraging us through difficult times in this life. In fact, we might think that that knowing God will preserver us waters down the struggle or the hardship of this life. It sounds like life is not that challenging because God will just continue to pull the puppet strings. So, what does a Calvinist say about such a claim that Reformed Theology minimizing suffering?

It seems fairly challenging for us to grasp the depth of Christ’s death on the cross. The reality is that we are people who probably do not fully grasp the Sanhedrin having to redefine their understanding of the messiah, the disciples wondering if they have been deceived, and Pilate never encountering a person like Christ. Why is it so hard for people to grasp Christ? Why is it that we think we grasp who He is without seeing the blind spots in our Christian life? Why is Christ’s death on the cross such a difficult thing for us to understand?

There is no doubt that one would not be saved apart from the grace of God. I think all Christians who have a grasp of Christianity would affirm the necessity of grace for our salvation. We know that we are those who need grace, but how much grace do we need? Is 90 percent enough or do we need more? Is our confidence in that we will not fall away because we love the Lord enough or is it because know that the Lord loves us enough?

Christ is the one who does not deserve to die because He is the only one who can claim that He does not fall under the sentence of Adam. He is unjustly condemned so that we can be mercifully reconciled to the living God. We read in Hebrews that we have a high priest who can sympathize with us. How can the God-Man sympathize with mere humans? How can He really know our struggle if He Himself has not sinned, done any wrong, or struggled with sin? How do we know that Christ really does know the pain of this world?

All conservative Christians agree that the human race is divided between those who believe in Christ as their savior or those who do not believe in Christ. The issue is how do we receive this faith or come to an understanding of the truths in Scripture? is this a gift that we receive by reaching up our hand to the benevolent giver or does the benevolent giver impose this gift upon us? So, is this a gift that the Lord imposes on us or is this a gift that we can return it?

Christ’s arrest did not really go that smoothly considering all that happened. It was not carried out in stealth, it was not after the feast of unleavened bread, and ironically Christ told them how they could have executed this arrest with greater precision. Christ told them that if they quietly escorted Christ out of the temple it would have gone a lot smoother. If the leaders of Israel desire to maintain credibility they better hope that the trial goes much better. So, does the trial go better? Is there proof against Christ that grounds their claims that He is a legitimate problem? Or is this another example where fallen man cannot competently conspire against the Lord?

The Apostle Paul sure chooses some strange words when he talks about Christ’s work on the cross. An example of strange wording regarding the work of Christ is when Paul states that Christ became sin. What does that mean? If we really pause for a moment that sounds like Christ has sinned so he could relate to us. Is that what the Lord is saying through the Apostle Paul? Why would it be problematic that Christ would sin? What does Paul mean by this language?