“This Gospel, then, is that God is our holy Creator and righteous Judge. He created us to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever, but we have all sinned, both in Adam as our representative head, and in our own individual actions (Rom. 5:12; 3:23). We therefore deserve death—spiritual separation from God in hell (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:3)—and are in fact already spiritually stillborn, helpless in our sins (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:6-8; Eph. 2:1) and in need of God to impart spiritual life to us (Ezek. 37:1-14; John 3:3). But God sent His Son Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man (Phil. 2:5-11), to die the death that we deserved, and He raised Him up for our justification, proving that He was God’s Son (Rom. 5:1; 1:4). If we would have Christ’s perfect righteousness credited to us, and the penalty for our sins accounted to Him, we must repent of our sins and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation (2 Cor. 5:21; Mark 1:14-15).” (Mark Dever & Paul Alexander, The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Good Friday! I hope you all have been reflecting and meditating deeply on Holy Week, the last week of Jesus’ earthly life. I hope this week’s links will contribute towards that end. Here they are:

• This whole week has been focused on remembering the last week of Jesus’ life here on earth, prior to His death and resurrection. Holy Week is ending, but Ligonier Ministries has compiled a list of resources to enrich our understanding of what Christ did during His final week pre-crucifixion. There is more than enough to last you through next year! Also, don’t miss out on the opportunity to receive a DVD series on the work of Christ for a donation (ends today)!
• Like clockwork, criticism concerning Christ and the resurrection has arrived in the publication of Bart Ehrman’s new book, Jesus Before the Gospels. Melinda Penner from Stand to Reason provides a short response that addresses the fundamental claim to Ehrman’s work, and the evidence that disproves it.
• Susan Heck stops by the Women’s Hope podcast to share a Scripture memory method that has led her to memorize 23 BOOKS of the Bible. Hopefully, this will be a starting point for you to bring God’s Word into your heart and mind.
• If you are engaging Muslims about the claims of Christ, or would like to, you need to bookmark and read through this primer on Islam and Christianity.
• If you’re wondering how to encourage your kids to have a deeper faith, consider a special time for them to ask questions. And just so the rest of you think you’re exempt from this since you don’t have kids, Voddie Baucham calls us all (according to Scripture) to engage in expository apologetics (don’t miss the audio interview at the end).
• Continuing their series of ’25 Women Who Impacted the World for Christ,’ Revive Our Hearts turned their attention to Corrie ten Boom. May you be reminded, by her life, of God’s love for you in the face of trials.
• In dealing with popular teaching on the Christian life, Don Whitney clarifies the biblical view of effort in the Christian life, and refutes the ‘let go and let God’ approach to sanctification in two posts. Highly recommended.
• James White received backlash for writing on Facebook about the effects of fatherlessness, Planned Parenthood’s genocide of black babies in the womb, rebellion against God and authority, and the Gospel which is race-blind. The observations he made on his Dividing Line webcast are timely, and need to be said. Make sure you give some time to watch or listen to this.
• CCEF has made available a sermon, published in the Journal of Biblical Counseling, from Ray Dillard, former OT professor at Westminster Theological Seminary, in preparation of Easter. May you meditate on the cup that Christ drank, and the cup we drink as believers in Him.

That’s all for this week! We invite you to come and remember the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior tonight and Sunday. Please consider coming to learn more about why Jesus came to die. Hope to see you soon!

Soli Deo Gloria