You may be familiar with the doctrine of concupiscence that has become the subject of recent controversy. Some contemporary theologians are arguing that the classical reformed position is that our very desires and temptation itself are “sin” not just our acting on our desire, giving in to temptation. A counter point to that has been… Continue reading “Sinful flesh” and its implications for concupiscence, desire and temptation
Tag: sin
What can we and should we say about our identity?
About five years ago I contributed to the book, “The pastor with the thorn in his side”. In it, seven pastors told their stories about experiencing depression. Would it have been okay if we had identified ourselves as “depressed Christians” at the time?[1] I ask because of an exchange in this month’s Evangelicals Now. Responding… Continue reading What can we and should we say about our identity?
Wages
I once preached at a church known locally as “The wages church”. The reason was that the church had posted on a banner outside Romans 6:23, Unfortunately, from the top deck of the bus, you could only see the first part of the verse emphasising that “the wages of sin is death”, you missed out… Continue reading Wages
Romans 6:20-23
We always belong to someone or something meaning that we are always free from someone or something. If we are slaves to sin, we are free from righteousness. That’s not as good as it might sound to some. It’s not that we are free from legal obligations, it is that we are free from being… Continue reading Romans 6:20-23
Why had the woman at the well had five husbands?
Jesus meets a woman at a well and asks her for water. Then, when she expresses surprise at a Jew asking her for water, he offers her living water. When he tells her to get her husband, she explains that she cannot and he confirms she has spoken the truth. She has in fact had… Continue reading Why had the woman at the well had five husbands?
Desire and temptation: Essays on the concupiscence controversy
I’ve recently published all my articles on the debate around whether desire and temptation are sin in one e-book. Here’s the introduction to that volume. This little book started life as a series of articles for Faithroot.com in 2024. At the time a little controversy had begun to brew in conservative evangelical circles. Technically the… Continue reading Desire and temptation: Essays on the concupiscence controversy
Cultivating the affections
Psalm 37:4 tells us to Delight yourself in the Lord and he will grant you the desires of your heart”. Such positive encouragement should caution us to a wholely negative view of desire as automatically and only sin. We can have good desires. We may also think of those things as affections, the people, things,… Continue reading Cultivating the affections
Desire and Temptation
Back in early 2025, there was a heated debate amongst reformed evangelicals. Some were quick to insist that not only our thoughts, words and actions but the very root desire and temptation itself were sin. Not only that but they were confident that anyone who disagreed was in, or at least in real danger of… Continue reading Desire and Temptation
What should we do with a brother’s teaching when he falls? Were TGC right to pull Sam Allberry’s articles?
In my previous article in the light of Sam Allberry’s resignation from Immanuel, Nashville and TGC, I referred to the statement that TGC had made. It’s fairly short, so I’ll quote it in full here: “TGC was informed yesterday by Sam Allberry about “an inappropriate relationship with another man a few years ago” and that… Continue reading What should we do with a brother’s teaching when he falls? Were TGC right to pull Sam Allberry’s articles?
How do we respond when a brother falls?
The news was recently shared that Sam Allbery had resigned as the lead pastor at Immanuel, Nashville. He has also stepped down from his role with the Timothy Keller Centre, part of The Gospel Coalition. In their announcement, the Gospel Coalition stated that they had removed all articles and links relating to Allberry. I was… Continue reading How do we respond when a brother falls?
