O the blessednesses… Perhaps you think we are a little preoccupied with this simple phrase: For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. (Rom 4:3 ASV) I hope not. Justification by
A. The Baptist
John the Baptist’s place in history Bible readers are often not sure what to do with John the Baptist. In terms of simple volume he is one of the most important characters in the New Covenant scriptures but is he
13. The Birth of the Saviour

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone
Elect in the Son: Robert Shank – Kindle Edition – 5 stars
I am an accidental Arminian. By that I mean I have not ‘signed up’ to Arminius’ theology but as I discover it I find a fellow traveller. For some time I have been convinced that the main thrust of the
a call to… Renew the Covenant. Final Countdown
Convocations, they used to call them. A Trumpet blast, rallying call to the whole nation to assemble together in submission to God and his will. Old Israel had lots of them; their weekly convocation was the Sabbath, but their annual
12. The Anticipation of Zacharias
So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.” (Luke 1:59–60
Abraham, my Friend 03

‘The head of an old man’ Guernico. Used by kind permission of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Known unto GodIn British war cemeteries throughout the world, you will often come across the words ‘Known unto God’ engraved on the gravestones. The
Abraham, my Friend 54
The Child of Promise The typology of Isaac does not only relate to the true Son but also to all true sons. Paul the apostle refers to Isaac as a ‘child of promise’: Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are
11. Judaea’s Anticipation of the Saviour

Meanwhile a hundred miles away in the hill country of Judaea… The gospel according to Luke begins in Jerusalem and in the temple. It begins with an old priest and his old wife. Their testimony shines clearly through the text.
Abraham, my Friend 26
Person-to-person Let’s gather up some fragments that remain from this account of Abraham’s faith. (New readers to this column should be warned that the ‘fragments which remained’ ultimately proved to be more than the original meal!) In our last devotional,


