The doctrine of the Incarnation (God coming in the flesh) stands at the very heart of historic Christianity and is celebrated around the world at Christmastime (known in the traditional church calendar as the Advent season). Borrowing from the fourth-century Christian church father Athanasius, C. S. Lewis unpacks the meaning of the Incarnation and explains the reason for the importance of…
One of the most distinct doctrinal tenants of historic Christianity is the Trinity—the belief that one God exists eternally and simultaneously as three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three persons in the Godhead share equally and completely the one divine nature, and are therefore the same God, coequal in power, nature, and glory. A theologian friend of…
When you proclaim Jesus, the Spirit-anointed Son of the Father, you proclaim the triune God.
—Michael Reeves, Delighting in the Trinity (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2012), 37–38.
When you proclaim Jesus, the Spirit-anointed Son of the Father, you proclaim the triune God.
— Michael Reeves, Delighting in the Trinity (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2012), 37-38.
Last week, my colleague Krista Bontrager shared her insights into Son of God and the TV mini-series from which the film was derived. Whether or not you choose to see Son of God in theatres (or any of the other faith-based films coming out this year), movies like this can provide a window of opportunity to discuss Christ with others.…
But when the Helper [3rd] comes, whom I [2nd] will send to you from the Father [1st], the Spirit [3rd] of truth, who proceeds from the Father [1st], he will bear witness about me [2nd]. — John 15:26, ESV
It is critically important to sing Christian songs and hymns that are consistent with Christian theology and worldview overall. Yet the only way to know if the song or hymn is compatible with the faith is to think carefully about the words and meanings it mentions. For example, if you’ve ever attended a liturgical Christian church then you’ve likely heard…
As a historic Christian the most appealing aspect of my faith is the truth that God is Triune (one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). God’s unique Triune nature is revealed in the pages of Scripture and is theologically defined in the historic creeds and confessions of Christendom. The doctrine of the Trinity is arguably historic Christianity’s…
I strive to encourage Christians to think carefully and critically about their faith not only through Reflections but also through two RTB podcasts: Straight Thinking (I lead my colleagues in discussions of important issues in light of the Christian worldview) and I Didn’t Know That! (RTB scholars offer unscripted answers to listener questions). In case you missed them, check out…
Richard [of St. Victor: d. 1173] argued that if God were just one person, he could not be intrinsically loving, since for all eternity (before creation) he would have had nobody to love. If there were two persons, he went on, God might be loving, but in an excluding, ungenerous way. After all, when two persons love each other, they…
