Treasuring Christ Together in His Word
Are we becoming more captivated by Christ as we grow in our knowledge of Scripture, or have we become content with knowing the Word without truly beholding Him? The true measure of a Christ-centered church is not simply how much it knows about Christ, but how deeply it treasures Him. A church can be rich in biblical knowledge, religious activity, and outward devotion, yet still drift from the very Person Scripture reveals. We need one another to keep our eyes fixed on His glory, lest we become content with the things of Christianity while losing our affection for Christ Himself.
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It Is Finished
John Flavel writes about the work which Christ finished by His death, and how it was finished. What is the significance of seeing the work of Christ on the cross in light of those words: “It is finished?”
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Letters of Thomas Charles VIII: The Work of the Holy Spirit
John Snyder explores Thomas Charles's teaching on the essential work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life. The Spirit gives spiritual life, reveals Christ, convicts of sin, and produces holiness. This episode reminds us of our continual need for the Spirit’s presence and encourages us to earnestly seek His work in our lives.
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Letters of Thomas Charles VII: The Conscience of the Believer
Dr. John Snyder discusses Thomas Charles's essay on conscience on today’s Whole Counsel podcast. Charles explains the difference between the natural and renewed consciences. The natural conscience can warn us of wrongdoing while our hearts delight in the very sin it condemns. Not so for the believer. “Conscience acts as a judge of sin, but grace acts as an irreconcilable adversary. Conscience condemns sin, but grace slays it.”
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The Christian’s Family Badge
“Discipline is one of the chief marks of our lawful and honorable birth … Joy within we may expect—‘joy unspeakable and full of glory,’ for that is the family portion. But joy from without, the joy of earth's sunshine, the joy of the world's ease and abundance, the joy of unsevered bonds and unweeping eyes, is not our lot in this vale of tears. Still, in the midst of the ever-wakeful storms through which we are passing to the Kingdom, there is peace—deep peace, too deep for any storm of earth to reach. In the world we have tribulation, but in Jesus we have peace. Let us hold it fast.”
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The Image of Christ
In today’s post, we share a devotional from Jeremy Walker’s A Word in Season: 50 Days of Hope for Hard Times. He writes, “In the midst of all the sufferings, sorrows, pains, problems, weaknesses, and weariness of this world and in this body, let God’s people look forward with eagerness to the day when—though we currently bear the image of the man of dust—we shall bear the image of the heavenly Man . . .”
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Letters of Thomas Charles V: Spiritual Appetite
In this episode of The Whole Counsel Podcast, Dr. John Snyder explores Thomas Charles’s essay on spiritual appetite, written in 1782. Charles compares the believer’s hunger for God to physical hunger, explaining that spiritual food provides both nourishment and delight. A poor spiritual appetite is a sign of spiritual decay and must be dealt with immediately, lest we endanger ourselves and grieve our God by becoming “walking skeletons’ instead of flourishing Christians. He also challenges the idea that spiritual fervor naturally fades with age, urging believers to guard their affections and pursue a growing hunger for God throughout their lives.
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How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds
John Newton, the author of “Amazing Grace”, wrote over 300 hymns, including this beautiful, Christ-exalting one: “How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear. It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds, and drives away his fear.” Read the rest in today's post!
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Letters of Thomas Charles IV: How Does God Guide His People?
In today’s episode of the Whole Counsel, Dr. John Snyder returns to the writings of Thomas Charles to explore how believers should approach life decisions. Instead of offering a formula for discovering God’s will in every decision, Charles presents a broader, more biblical vision: the Christian life is a life of following the living God.
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The Incomprehensible God
To enlarge our thoughts of God’s majesty, we must look to Scripture to see what He says about Himself. If we will humbly set our hearts and minds to examine God’s self-revelation, we need not be discouraged by His incomprehensibility. In reality, incomprehensibility is one of the shining features of God’s splendor, the weight of His majesty. It is a truth that separates Him from all else.
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
—Romans 11:3
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Letters of Thomas Charles III: Where Does Assurance Rest?
In this episode of The Whole Counsel, Dr. John Snyder continues the series on Thomas Charles’s pastoral letters, focusing on a letter he wrote to his newlywed wife, Sally. She was still struggling with doubts about her spiritual condition and assurance of salvation. Charles responds with tenderness but also with strengthening words.
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