Barefoot, I stepped down into the freezing water. My six-year-old daughter Caroline held on tightly to my hand as she followed me into the baptistry of our church. I’ve baptized dozens of people since I entered full time ministry eight years ago, but there’s something dramatically different about baptizing your own child. I’ve taken this … Continue reading Of Water and the Spirit
Category: Theology
The Prodigal’s Substitute: Part 4
If God's knowledge exists in such a way that he fully knows the joy and sorrow of every decision we could possibly make, then his choice to create and bear our suffering is a substitutionary act in itself.
The Prodigal’s Substitute, Part 3
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. - Isaiah 53:4 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. - … Continue reading The Prodigal’s Substitute, Part 3
The Prodigal’s Substitute, Part 2
A few days ago, I shared a version of the Parable of the Prodigal Son called “The Prodigal’s Substitute,” that I think accurately reflects how the gospel is often preached. If you haven’t read it yet I would suggest you do so before reading this post because it will be essential to understanding just how … Continue reading The Prodigal’s Substitute, Part 2
The Prodigal’s Substitute
I want you to re-imagine the story of the prodigal son. Pretend you’ve never heard it before and think about what your reaction would be if it went something like this. A man has two sons, and one day his younger son comes to him demanding his inheritance. The father decides to divide his property … Continue reading The Prodigal’s Substitute
