Orthodoxy Has Always Been Essential for Orthopraxy
The importance of orthodox theology in the early church cannot be overstated. Paul repeatedly tells Timothy to guard the deposit of apostolic truth entrusted to him.
Articles by Kevin DeYoung
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What Does “Begotten, Not Made” Mean?
The Greek word translated “only begotten” is monogenēs, a word used five times in the New Testament with reference to Jesus.
6 Lessons We Learn from the Nicene Creed
Here are six summary statements—or, we might say, six lessons—we can learn from this seventeen-hundred year-old confession of faith, the Nicene Creed.
How Does Sanctification Differ from Justification?
Justification and sanctification, though related, are different gifts. The most serious, and potentially damning, errors surface when the two are not carefully distinguished.
In Sanctification, Where You’re Going Is More Important Than Where You Are
When it comes to sanctification, it’s more important where you’re going than where you are. Direction matters more than position.
The Journey to Accepting Difficult Doctrines Is Painful (and Rewarding)
We can think about difficult doctrines in at least a couple of categories. Some of these doctrines are particularly hard to understand. And then there are those doctrines that are hard to accept.
Extraordinary Doctrine Helps Ordinary People Go Deeper into God’s Word
So much about learning doctrine is learning the vocabulary. What are the categories? What are the ways in which people have talked about these things?
7 Things the Holy Spirit Does in and for Our Salvation
The work of the Holy Spirit is the means by which all that Christ accomplished comes to benefit the elect. The Holy Spirit does (at least) seven things in and for our salvation.
Help for Those Who Long for Lasting Change
We can think of doctrine as being interesting to seminary students, to pastors, or just certain very intellectual people in the church. But doctrine is very practical for living a godly Christian life.
Can I Passionately Follow Jesus and Not Care About Good Doctrine?
The real heart affection that’s going to burn bright and is going to last must be connected to that knowledge, deep doctrine, and precision or carefulness with what we believe.
3 Questions about Creation: Who, How, and Why?
When considering the creation of the universe, there are three principal questions we can ask: Who? How? and Why?
2 Truths to Help Navigate Doctrinal Disagreement with Other Christians
This side of heaven, we see through a glass dimly. It’s just reality. We’re not going to agree on everything.
No Christian denies that justification is by faith. That is an obvious biblical teaching. The controversy is about whether justification is by faith alone (sola fide).
Over the centuries, theologians have articulated several different theories or models of the atonement.
Is Double Predestination Fair?
The terms election and predestination are often used interchangeably, both referring to God’s gracious decree whereby he chooses some for eternal life.
Is Every Sin the Same in God’s Eyes?
Many Christians hold to the mistaken notion that every sin is the same in God’s eyes. Some Christians embrace this conviction by way of a misguided theological calculation.
Reaching the Next Generation Is Easier and Harder Than You Think
Sometimes we fear or we feel this burden that if we’re going to be effective as pastors, Christians, or parents that we need to have this cultural expertise.
Making Every Issue “Your Thing” Is Impossible
In this digital age we have access to millions of people's hopes, dreams, fears, pain, and suffering. Shouldn't we be doing something about all of these problems?
What Is the Secret to Reaching the Next Generation?
What we need to do is keep doing the same things that Christians in every age have been called to do: make disciples, love one another, speak the truth, be kind, and ask good questions.
Amaze the Next Generation with God
I beg of you, don’t go after the next generation with mere moralism. The gospel is a message not about what we need to do for God but about what God has done for us.
Win the Next Generation with Love
The evangelical church has spent far too much time trying to figure out cultural engagement and far too little time just trying to love. If we listen and are curious about people, we will be plenty engaged.
When Genuine Obedience Becomes Impossible, Hell Becomes Impossible as Well
There’s no way to understand the pastoral epistles unless you realize Paul has a category for Christians who are living a faithful, obedient life, and a category for those who are unrepentant, in whom there’s no progress.
One Simple Yet Crucial Decision College Freshmen Need to Make
My oldest son is a freshman in college. So I’ve thought about this question: What is that important piece of advice for a graduating high school student heading off to college?
The Sermon on the Mount Is Not an Impossible Standard to Make Us Feel Bad
If we approach the Sermon on the Mount only or mainly as a means by which we see our sinfulness, we’ve not taken the sermon on its own terms.
How the Bible Talks about Corporate Responsibility and Repentance
Do we share some responsibility for the sins committed by those who were part of the same immediate family? What about the same religious family?
On the Crushing Guilt of Failing at Quiet Time
Meet any mature, fruitful Christian, and you can almost guarantee he regularly has something like a “quiet time”—a time set aside to talk to God in prayer and hear from God in the word.
12 Old(ish) Books to Read When You Are Young
Talk to almost any mature, vibrant Christians, and they will tell you about Christian books that have been instrumental in their lives.
Good Advice for Living a Countercultural Life
When you think about your life, you are the main character. You never think about your life as a supporting actor or actress in someone else’s story.
An Untethered Identity Is Dangerous
The way that our world shapes and steers us on that quest for identity can be dangerous because it’s often without reference to God, without being anchored in his Word.
The Right (and Wrong) Way to Be True to Yourself
You’re no longer worshiping the god of this age. You have the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. This is what’s true of you.