By Mike Peek

Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her yet without sin. Hebrews 2:14 (ESV) Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same. Matthew 26:38 (ESV) Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” Luke 1:31 (ESV) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. Luke 1:35 (ESV) And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. Hebrews 7:26 (ESV) For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, for ever. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV) For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. John 1:14 (ESV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Romans 9:5 (ESV) To them (Israel) belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. Hebrews 7:23-24 (ESV) The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he (The Lord Jesus Christ) holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. The Lord Jesus Christ is the redeemer of God’s elect! ...

God having, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer. Ephesians 1:3-4 (ESV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has blessed us in Christ, choosing all the believing in Christ before the foundation of the world; this is true election and predestination. Romans 3:21-22 (ESV) But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. The Lord God has declared the believing in Jesus Christ righteous. This...

All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever. Death is threefold: First, spiritual death, the separation of the sinner from God. Second, physical death, the separation of the soul from the body. Third, eternal death, the abandonment of the soul in hell. Genesis 3:8, 24 (ESV) And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden...He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. Ephesians 2:3 (ESV) among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Galatians 3:10 (ESV) “Cursed be every...

The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called Original Sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it. Romans 5:19 (ESV) For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners. Romans 3:10 (ESV) None is righteous, no, not one; Ephesians 2:1 (ESV) And you were dead in the trespasses and sins Psalms 51:5 (ESV) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Matthew 15:19-20 (ESV) For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. Adam choose the way of sin for all of his children; therefore, none are righteous, all are dead in sin, all are born sinners and our hearts are not righteous.

The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery. Romans 5:12 (NASB) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— I have spent the past twenty-four years working at the bedside as a Registered Nurse. I spent the majority of that time in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. During that time, I have witnessed human death more than a thousand times; in every instance, death is a horrible, horrible thing. Death is not the natural end of life but a curse on human life because of sin. Death is threefold: First, spiritual death, separation from God. Second, physical death, separation from the body. Third, eternal death, abandonment in hell. In this life we have many trials and tribulations because of the curse, and our bodies are dying and decaying. 

The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression. God created heaven, and earth and sea, and all that is in them. (Acts 4:24)  God created man in his own image, in the the image of God he created them male and female he created man; for it is through the marriage of a male and female that man is to fill the earth and subdue it, to rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every living thing that moves on the earth. (Gn 1:26-28) The Lord God placed man in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. He told man that he could eat freely from any tree in the garden except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God warned man that doing so would result in death. (Gn 2:15-17) The man and the woman both ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; (Gn 3:16) therefore, all of mankind became condemned becaus...

The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was eating the forbidden fruit. (Shorter Catechism, A. 15) In the beginning, God create man male and female, and he blessed them, and he said to them to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth and rule over all that God created on the earth. (Gn 1:27-28) God gave to them for food, any tree, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God warned the man, that breaking the commandment would result in death. (Gn 2:16-17) Having listened to the lies of the serpent, the fruit of the tree delighted the eyes of the woman, so she ate, and she gave also to her husband with her and he ate. (Gn 3:4-6) Thus, original sin, and all sin, is going away from the original estate in which God created mankind.

Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God. (Shorter Catechism, A. 14) 1 John 3:4 (NASB) Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. The KJV (1611) translates this verse “transgression of the law.” However, it is possible to sin when there is no law; (Rom. 5:13) therefore, sin is more than transgression of the law, sin is lawlessness, living in such a way that there is no law or law giver.  Sin is always against God because it is going away from God, it is rebellion against the creator and the way that he has created the world. Sin is wanting ones own way, it is refusing to acknowledge God as the Sovereign Lord of the universe, and for that matter, the Sovereign Lord of your life. The absolute essence of sin is placing one’s own will above the will of God. (BBC)  When Jesus was questioned about sexual sin, he did not do what his questioners expected; they expected him to go to the law of Moses but he went to the b...

Our parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God. [1] The preacher in Ecclesiastes 7:29, said: “Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.” [2] God created our first parents (Adam and Eve) upright and perfect; however, Satan using the subtlety of the serpent, seduced Eve to eat from the knowledge of good and evil, and she ate; she in turn seduced her husband Adam, and he willfully transgressed the commandment of God. [3]  God permitted our first parents to fall from the original state of righteousness in which he created them. [4] [1]  The Shorter Catechism, 13. [2]  NASB. [3]  Genesis 2:12-13. [4]  The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689, 6:1-2.

When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death. [1] Moses wrote that the man who practices the righteousness based on law shall live by that righteousness. [2] Therefore, the covenant of grace is not like the first covenant which was based on perfect obedience, the law is not of faith, for he who practices the law shall live by the law. [3] God told the man, after creating him, and placing him in the garden, to cultivate it and keep it, that he could eat from any tree in the garden, except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God warned the man, that in the day that he ate from it, he would certainly die. [4] [1]  The Shorter Catechism, 12. [2]  Romans 10:5. [3]  Galatians 3:12. [4]  Genesis 2:17.

God’s works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions. [1] God will always act righteously and kindly toward all of his creatures, because God is righteous and kind. [2] The Son of God, Jesus Christ, is the radiance of God’s glory in human flesh. When we look to Christ, we are looking to God, for he is the exact representation of God’s nature. Not only is he the exact representation of the nature of God, being the Word, he is the power of God. He is at the righthand of the Father, having made purification of sins, nothing or no one can thwart the Word. [3] The throne of God is not on the earth but is established in heaven. This means that God’s rule is above rule of man. His rule is perfect and powerful, there is nothing that God cannot do. Though it may seem at times, that the enemy has the upper hand, God’s sovereignty rules over all of his creation and all of his creatures. [4] [1]  The Shorter Catechis...

God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures. [1] Genesis 1:27 (NASB) God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. The final supreme act of God, on the sixth day, was the creation of man. People today do not like to use the term man, because in their minds it means maleness, but God created man, male and female, in the image of God; therefore, all, male and female should be treated with the dignity afforded to the image of our creator.  Colossians 3:10 (NASB) and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— When we lie, we make God out to be a liar; when we steal, we make God out to be a thief; and when we are unfaithful, we make God out to be unfaithful. Genesis 1:28 (NASB) God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue...

The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good. [1] Genesis 1:1 (NASB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. God created everything in the universe; there was nothing, and God created everything. Hebrews 11:3 (NASB) By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. It is by the Word that God created everything that now exist. He did not create from matter but created the matter. He did not create in time but created time. Genesis 1:31 (NASB) God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. We should look at creation through God’s eyes; for what God created in six days is very good. [1]  The Shorter Catechism, 9.

God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence. [1] Revelation 4:11 (NASB) Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created. God created the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them; therefore, he is worthy of all glory and honor and praise. Nothing exist that God did not will, for he created all things that exist from nothing.  Daniel 4:35 (NASB) All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?” This was the confession of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Once brought low by God, God returned him to reason; understood and proclaimed that God does what he wants, however he wants to do it, and there is nothing that a mere man can to do to thwart the providence of God. [1]...

The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. [1] Ephesians 1:11-12 (NASB) In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. All of history is moving towards a climactic subjection to God. [2]  It might not appear that God is in control, but God is firmly in control of history.  We do not serve a God who created the universe and stepped away, or a God who is incapable of bringing about his purpose. Everything, and I mean everything that occurs is in some sense predestined by God. Why does a good and sovereign God allow tragedies and evil? I do not know, but I am confident that evil will eventually be defeated, for God’s purpose and will is for good. [3]  It is a mystery how Go...

There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. Matthew 28:19 (NASB) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Do you believe that God is one Divine being existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all of whom are equally God in essence?  Belief in the Trinity is an essential to the christian faith. All Christians from Acts to the present day have believed that God is Father, Son, and Spirit. Throughout christian history, the Godhead has been invoked during baptismal ceremonies.  In believers baptism, Christians publicly identify themselves with the Triune Godhead. [1]  During the baptismal ceremony, the baptizer invokes the Godhead saying, “I baptize you my brother, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” [1]  Believer's Bible Comme...

There is but one only, the living and true God. Deuteronomy 6:4 (NASB) “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! This verse is called the Shema because the verse begins, “Hear, O Israel!;” Shema is the Hebrew word for hear. What was Israel to hear but that the LORD (i.e. יְהוָֹה Yehovah or יַהְוֶה Yahveh ) is their God? They should also hear that the LORD (i.e. יְהוָֹה Yehovah or יַהְוֶה Yahveh ) is one. Saying that the Lord alone is Israel’s God is a statement of exclusivity, for Israel was to bow down to no other so called gods. In the book of Deuteronomy, verse 6:4 follows another Shema, the Ten Commandments which where given by the mouth of God on Mt. Sinai in the desert and all of Israel heard the word of the LORD and they were afraid.  In Deuteronomy, Moses is recounting all of these things to the sons of Israel. He reminds that the LORD said, “I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of slavery.” (Dt 5:6) All of Israel was to hear tha...

God is Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. [1] Exodus 34:6-7 (NASB) Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” Exodus 34:6-7 is one of my favorite passages in all of Scripture, which includes the story that proceeds and follows. When Israel proclaimed the proper name of their God (Yhvh i.e. יְהוָֹה Yehovah or יַהְוֶה Yahveh ) they were invoking the nature of God, given to Moses on Mount Sinai.  John 1:17-18 (NASB) For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the...

The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. [1] 2 Timothy 1:13 (NASB) Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. I learned a five step method for interpreting Scripture: [2] 1.      Grasp the text in their town. 2.      Measure the width of the river to cross. 3.      Cross the principlizing bridge. 4.      Consult the biblical map. 5.      Grasp the text in our town The point of this is to come to the universal principle taught in the text that is applicable in the lives of everyone, then personally apply the principle in our own lives. There are also a few criteria to observer: [3] §    The principle should be reflected in the text. §    The principle should be timeless and not tied to a specific situation. §    The principle...

The word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. [1] Ephesians 2:20 (NASB) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. The latin, “Sola Scriptura,” was the rallying cry of the Reformation. It would be Scripture alone by which Protestant churches would be organized, and the rule by which the followers of Jesus Christ would live out their lives. The Old Testament is the writings of the prophets and the New Testament is the writings of the apostles; Jesus Christ is the corner stone of both the Old Testament and the New Testament because he is the Word of God become flesh. (Jn. 1:1, 14) The Scriptures were held h...

A man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. [1] 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NASB)  Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Why was man created? In my study, there is a painting of my father. This is a creation of my daughter’s, in the likeness of her grandfather, in one of the places on the earth that he enjoyed. Did she create this work of art for the glory of the painting? Did the painting create itself? When someone looks at a painting, you can marvel at it’s beauty, but ultimately, you most marvel at the artist who created the work of art. It is God who created the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and all that they contain. We can enjoy the things, and persons, and work that we do, but it is God who gets all the glory, because it is God who created all. Psalms 73:25-26 (NASB) Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my...

Deuteronomy 6:4 (NASB) “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! Moses said to the children of Israel, that they shall love the Lord their God with all of their heart, and with of their soul, and with all of your might; (Dt 6:5) the New Testament adds, “and with your mind.” (Lk 10:27) Moses goes on to teach the Israelites that all the words that he is charging them with today, shall be on their hearts, and they shall teach them to their children. They shall talk of them when they sit in the home, when they are walking, when they lie down, and when the rise up. (Dt. 6:6-7) What is your greatest regret in life?  In the Baptist tradition, believers in the church present their children before the congregation, (baby dedication) vowing to raise them in the way of the Lord; other denominations baptize their children. Whether presenting or baptizing, all agree, that children are very important in the life blood of the church. My greatest regret in life is that I did not catec...

Today I am scheduled to work in the CVICU. This job has been very very difficult lately and the patients seem to be sicker than they were in the past. People have always been sick, sickness came with the fall but it seems to be more abundant now then in times past. Perhaps it is a bad patch that we are going through at the moment. I do not always know what the Lord is doing and the reason for everything under the sun. I named this blog the Nurse Theologian because I am a Registered Nurse and I spend my time off from my job in theological studies. Theological studies include the Bible, church history, systematic theology and practical theology; I believe nursing to be a practical theology.  My time studying is a reprieve from the bedside of the sick. This job has been so very stressful as of late, I am not sure that I can even continue in it, it is more than I am able to bear, and it is not about me but about the other; human suffering and death abound, “death spread to all men beca...

The translation that I read, (NASB) gives Isaiah 53 the title: The Suffering Servant. Biblical interpretation is a very interesting thing and can be thwarted by our desires and presuppositions. For example: The 21st century Jewish Rabbi would tell you that the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 is Israel. The christian dispensationalist interprets the passage to be about Israel but in a different way; it is the confession of Israel on a future date, when Israel comes to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the unlearned person who has heard the story of Jesus but does not have a theological grid by which to interpret the Scripture would simply say, the passage is about Jesus. The simplest interpretation is often the correct interpretation, that is, if you are seeing Christ in all of Scripture because the Scriptures are written about Jesus Christ. John 6:35 (NASB) “I am the bread of life!” John 8:12 (NASB) “I am the Light of the world!” John 10:7 (NASB) “I am the door of t...

Dear Neighbor, My reading this morning came form Isaiah 45-48; for Israel, there is comfort in Cyrus, there is comfort in the fall of Babylon’s idols, there is comfort in the fall of Babylon and there is comfort in Israel’s return from captivity. Where do we find comfort except in the historical bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ and his promise to return to raise us up to eternal life in the new heaven and the new earth.  I confess that my wife and I are struggling. We are going through a very difficult time and often feel like we are going through this difficult time alone. We are struggling because our children have departed from us and scorn us. Our God is not an idol of wood are metal set upon a shelf but a living God whose throne is in heaven. Jesus Christ is God incarnate, he died and rose again, he ascend, he sat down at the righthand of the Father and he lives to make intercession for us. He made this promise to his disciples, Matthew 18:19-20 (NASB), “Again I say to you,...

My conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ was a slow process. I did not come to the Lord quickly, making a decision for the Lord but American Evangelicalism is based on quick decisions. The alter call, the Roman road (Rom 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9) and the sinners prayer all came about in order to elicit a quick decision in the mind of an awakened sinner. I had an experience with this type of evangelism in 1994. I was awakened to the fact that I was a sinner fallen short of the glory of God; that I was deserving of death and hell but was led in the sinners prayer without any knowledge of the Lord. I soon departed the church and would not return until the year 2003 when I was drawn to read the Scriptures. I would read the Scriptures for over six years before a question was put to me regarding life and my answer was to follow Jesus Christ. For this reason I believe that conversion is a process by which a person is regenerated from within by the holy Spirit of God and from without by the means o...

Abraham•Isaac•Jacob•David•Jesus, this is the line through which all of the nations on the earth shall be blessed. John the Baptist said, John 3:35-36 (NASB) “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” It is through faith in Jesus Christ that all are saved! Psalms 118:24 (NASB), says, “This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” I do not know what will come today. I did not know that I would be where I am today but my trust is in the Lord who created heaven and earth. I know that I am scheduled to work in the CVICU today but I do not yet know whom I will be caring for or their present condition. We are all like grass, lovely when we are blooming but all wither and fade; however, the word of the Lord remains forever (Is 40:6-8) and he has promised eternal life for all who repent and believe in the Son.

Isaiah 33:22 (NASB) For the LORD is our judge, The LORD is our lawgiver, The LORD is our king; He will save us— Yesterday evening,  Sylvania Church  held our annual Maundy Thursday Service. Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum, which means “to command.” On Thursday evening, before his arrest, trial and death by crucifixion, Jesus commanded that his disciples love one anther. (Jn 13:34, 15:12, 17) On this night he also instituted the Lord’s supper. (1 Cor 11:24, 25)  The service is traditionally a salaam service, as we reflect on the final words of Jesus and his death for our sins.  The service began with a Hymn, “When I survey the Wondrous Cross,” and was followed by a Scripture reading, (Luke 22:14-23, 22:39-23:31) given by our pastor, Phillip Dancy. After which was a spoken confession, with parts spoken by the leader and parts spoken by the people. This is a very difficult confession because in it, the pastor puts himself in the place of Pilot and the congregation ...

Isaiah 28:16 (NASB) Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed. This prophecy given through Isaiah is one of the most quoted by the New Testament writers: Matt 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Eph 2:20; Rom 9:33; 10:11; 1 Pet 2:6. There is no doubt that Matthew, Mark, Luke, Peter and Paul who penned these New Testament text were saying that Jesus is the stone that the Lord God placed in Zion, that whoever believes in him should not perish. My personal favorite text in all of Scripture is Romans 3:21-31. The NASB translators titled this section, “Justification by Faith.” Leading up to this passage, Paul shows that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; both Jew and Gentile have sinned. The Gentile has sinned without law and the Jew has sinned with law. However, God in his mercy has laid in Zion a costly cornerstone for the...