“If God were not just, there would be no demand for his Son to suffer and die. And if God were not loving, there would be no willingness for his Son to suffer and die. But God is both just and loving. Therefore his love is willing to meet the demands of his justice.” (John Piper, Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! The weekend has arrived, and Christmas is almost here! I pray your week has been a blessing to those around you, and your thoughts are focused on the first coming of Christ. Here are some links that I hope will keep you meditating on His love for you.

• Within the last few weeks, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro had on his Sunday Special show Pastor John MacArthur, and then Bishop Robert Barron. Their views on salvation vastly displayed the gulf between what Scripture says, and what Catholic tradition says in contrast. Jordan Standridge pointed out this and other differences between these two men, and you would do well to know some of the differences between Roman Catholicism and biblical Christianity.
• Young-earth creationists are criticized regularly for solely bashing evolution. Jonathan Sarfati answers by pointing out the falsity of the claim, and laying out the two-fold approach to answering objections to creation as revealed by God.
• Ligonier Ministries recently called for prayer with respect to the church in China, as there has been an increase in persecution by the government. It a call to sober-mindedness, compassion, and boldness in the face of opposition, and we need to heed that call.
• CBMW’s podcast, Danvers Audio, recently posted an interview with Nancy Pearcey, author of her newest book, Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality. Definitely worth your time, especially if you want to get a handle on what is happening in our culture.
• The people behind the writing of The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel continue their exposition of the statement’s various articles. Here is the most recent one on Article XIV: Racism.
• Alan Shlemon of Stand to Reason writes of the many unknowns that come with considering IVF. If you and your spouse are thinking of this as an option, this is the article for you.
• Do you find yourself having a hard time enjoying the Christmas season? Pastor and seminary professor David Murray wrote an open letter to the depressed believer, and you or someone you know may need to read this letter. Hopefully, it will draw your focus on Christ, even when the holiday may sometimes do anything but.
• New Testament scholar Timothy Paul Jones debunks the common objection that Christianity borrowed from pagan myths in constructing the story written in the Gospels. This is bookmark-worthy.
• How does the Incarnation of Christ lead us to change to be more like Him? Pastor and biblical counselor Tim Pasma points out how Jesus coming in flesh and living among us is a huge help to us all, whether we are counseling others, or are in need of counseling ourselves. Christ is the Gift that will never stop giving.
• Biblical counselor Dr. John Street explains the importance of data gathering in counseling on ACBC’s Truth in Love podcast.

That’s all for this week! I hope you enjoy your time with friends and family this Christmas season, primarily in celebrating Christ’s birth! See (some of) you Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria