Stephanie Englehart

Just as the Samaritan woman did not fully understand who Jesus was at first, we also need Jesus to open our eyes to the reality of who He is. It is only in Jesus that we will be saved from our sins and made new in Christ.

Reformed theology is a beast of a topic. Men have devoted their very lives to the expansion of it, as it’s one of the most well-known movements — played out over decades — in church history. Seminaries and churches are named after the great reformation, and the memory of some of the men who started the reformation still lives on today through consistent republished writings.

I personally do not claim to be an expert on the reformation, or on reformed theology. There are men and women much, much wiser than I, that know a great deal more than I do (John Piper, Jen Wilkin, Timothy Keller, and R.C. Sproul just to name a few). With that being said, I hope this article points you to a deeper understanding of the glory of God. As R.C. Sproul says: “the study of theology is the study of God himself”, so let us not neglect the study of theology — as it’s purpose is to point us to a greater knowledge and love of God. 

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Friends do not let God's good pleasure, in any matter, scare you away or harden your hearts in anger. Rather, let His good pleasure mold your heart to His—let it help you see the greatness of who God is in all circumstances.

The disciple who loves Christ, and has committed themselves to Him as the Messiah, will continue to pursue His peace because He has already provided all the peace we need.

The exhortation of Ecclesiastes is to release our perceived sense of control and enjoy the lot God has given us, no matter what’s thrown our way. In order to do this, we cannot just simply claim to ‘enjoy’ things, but we must seek the very thing that provides joy in the first place.

We must see that the whole story of the universe, the story of the cross, is the ultimate work of God’s divine intervention and plan. He is always initiating, engaging, adjusting, and personally playing the music that makes our souls come alive.

Sitting in the back of the classroom, I felt confusion flood me. My English teacher had just declared that we must prophesy and speak in tongues in order to be saved. My heart raced as I began to question whether or not I was saved. The conversation felt off, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. Months later, I began processing my fears and questions with my pastor. He brought me to the Bible and walked me through the passages that spoke to this issue one by one. I look back on this memory fondly. Through the careful teaching of the Word as our highest authority, my fears were put to rest. Reading the Bible for myself sparked a love of studying the Bible that I had not known before. Little did I know, that my first introduction to the concept of Sola Scriptura had just begun—the idea that in all matters of life, God’s Word alone has the highest authority.

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In Psalm 51:17, David is crying out to God for forgiveness. He says that his sacrifice to God is a "broken and contrite heart." But what exactly does this look like, and how can a contrite heart help us grow in our spiritual walk? And do we have a biblical contrite definition we can know as Christians?

Expiation and propitiation will only ever make sense if we see ourselves as sinners who once were under the wrath of God, but through the death and resurrection of Christ we have been saved today, tomorrow, and through eternity.

Belief in the gospel changes everything. Before Christ, we are lost in a sinless world with no hope, no satisfaction, and no purpose. With Christ, we have new life and new desires.

Today’s numbers are showing that the United States has the leading number of cases of coronavirus in the world. Many states like Washington, Louisiana, and California are functioning under a ‘stay at home’ or ‘shelter in place’ order. Some states, like Florida, are receiving backlash from the media and leading experts for starting the quarantine late. Countries all over the world are working to flatten the curve that this pandemic is taking. Regardless of age, demographic, or underlying health issues, it seems the coronavirus is capable of infecting all. Which leads many to ask the question: How did this happen, and where is God? In the face of suffering, many refute the claims of God, others blame Him for their pain, while few bless and worship Him. In the life of Job, we see a man faced with great suffering—who lost everything. So what does the book of Job teach us about the Coronavirus?

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The current state of our world is uneasy at best. It seems each one of us is choosing to handle the COVID-19 crisis differently. We see memes popping up all over social media making light of a dire situation. Friends and family in medical professions work on the front lines of this pandemic every day. Parents isolate with their children, seeking protection from exposure. Others are going about things flippantly as if there isn’t any actual threat to human life. And some are just hoarding toilet paper. Yet, the theme I continue to hear is the feeling of helplessness. Collectively we seem uncertain of where to even turn. Society at large has lost a perceived sense of control, and the realities of death and grief seem to be staring everyone in the face.

But in the midst of uncertainty, there is One who is in control. There is One we can turn to. There is One who holds the whole world in His hands. God is sovereignly, graciously, reigning over the world in the midst of fear and panic. He is not threatened by this pandemic, nor is He surprised.

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