Paul's words are not meant to single out Israel for condemnation. They expose a temptation that exists in every generation of God's people. It is possible to know Scripture without allowing Scripture to shape us. It is possible to defend sound doctrine while neglecting a transformed heart. It is possible to wear the name of Christ while living in a way that makes others question whether the gospel has any power at all.   Read More

Nothing will be overlooked. Nothing will be misunderstood. Even the hidden motives of every heart will be known. That truth can feel unsettling until we remember who the Judge is.  Read More

One of the easiest ways to avoid confronting our own hearts is to compare ourselves with someone else's failures. As long as we can point to someone who seems worse than we are, we begin to feel justified. But God's judgment is never based on comparison. It is based on truth.   Read More

Three times Paul repeats the same sobering phrase: "God gave them up." God does not force people into obedience. In love, God calls, warns, pursues, and invites. But when people continually reject the Creator in favor of created things, there comes a point where God allows them to experience the natural consequences of that choice.   Read More

At its heart, idolatry isn't simply bowing before an image. It's allowing anything less than God to shape our identity, direct our desires, or define our hope.   Read More

The world continues to offer competing promises of security, identity, and hope. The gospel still declares something better: Jesus is Lord, and through Him God is making all things new.   Read More