Breaking News: Humanity Still Fallen

As I write this, U.S. peace talks with Iran, hosted by Pakistan, may be happening.

Meanwhile, missile and drone attacks persist across the surrounding Gulf countries despite a ceasefire being declared between the two nations. All that to say, we live in a world full of concerns. Some are as mundane as the weather, while others are as serious as national security and world wars.

This post addresses another great concern – The Christian Life. Last time, we discussed how the Puritan John Owen believed that the Christian life involves having a realistic understanding of self-knowledge. He identified four aspects. This post discusses the second one.
 
#1. The Christian is human (HERE).
#2. The Christian is fallen.
 
Human fallenness refers to man’s inherent sinful nature. Sin so devastates man’s original nature that it not only alienates him from God but also disorders his soul to such a degree that his will no longer chooses the proper good (i.e., God). Instead, man becomes enslaved to his fallen affections, which conflict with his Creator. Thus, like Adam and Eve, man has an ingrained desire to dodge and defy God. When God approaches Adam and Eve, they resist His grace. Sin is devastating.

For the Christian, sin’s persistent presence has yet to be completely eradicated. We look forward to that day. In the meantime, our self-knowledge should make us somewhat distrustful of ourselves. Knowledge of our fallenness should eliminate self-confidence and self-satisfaction because both indicate a lack of awareness of sin. Our remedy for the influence of sin is a posture of the soul that is sharply aware of and sensitive to sin as sin. This posture keeps our hearts receptive to the gospel, like fertile soil where grace can flourish.
 
(Adapted from A Quest for Godliness, J.I. Packer.)

Brains, Hearts, and Holy Churn

The Redwoods of California are the largest living things on Earth. They can grow over 360 feet tall, with trunks exceeding 60 feet in circumference. They are giants among trees, with all others dwarfing in comparison.
 
If Puritans were trees, they would be the Redwoods of the forest. Unfortunately, few Christians are truly aware of the Puritans. By aware, I mean they have actually read them. Most have heard of them, but usually in a negative way. The Puritans are among the most misunderstood figures in church history.

The Puritans loved to keep Christ as the center of their lives. For them, all of life was Christian. Their great concern was how to live the Christian life. They believed it began with a realistic understanding of self-knowledge. The Puritan John Owen believed there were four aspects of self-knowledge vital to the Christian life. This blog focuses on the first aspect of self-knowledge.
 
#1. The Christian Is Human.
Humans are created in the image of God with a mind of reason and rational action. Mankind is unique among all other animals in this sense. As rational creatures, man is equipped with faculties unique to his design. Owen identifies three faculties: 1. Understanding (mind), 2. Affections (desires), and 3. the Will (actions).

Understanding is the Spirit-enlightened ability of the mind to apprehend, reason, and discern spiritual truths. The mind enlightened by truth then shapes our affections toward God as the object of our desire, love, joy, and supreme delight. Our affections then direct and steer our will to action for godly living.
 
Thus, Owen’s first aspect of the Christian life is to know that we were created with a mind that orders our affections and affections that direct our actions. As we gain a greater understanding of Christ, our hearts churn for more of Him, changing how we live.

(Adapted from a Quest for Godliness, J.I. Packer.)

Maid to Pray

There is a story about several ministers gathering together to discuss Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5.17, pray without ceasing. What does it mean? How is it possible? After much discussion and disagreement, the ministers could not agree on its meaning and application. They decided to meet again in a month after further study.
 
About this time, a young maid serving the ministers spoke up:

“What? A whole month to tell the meaning of this text?” she said. “It’s one of the nicest texts in the Bible.” A minister responded to her, “Well, Mary, with your busy schedule, can you find time to pray continually?” Mary said yes. The minister asked her to explain what she meant. “Well, sir,” said the young maid, “when I first open my eyes in the morning, I pray, ‘Lord, open the eyes of my understanding.’ While I am dressing, I pray that I may be clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness. When I am washing, I ask to have my sins washed away. As I begin my work, I pray that I may receive strength for all the work of the day. While I kindle the fire, I pray that revival may be kindled in me. When preparing and eating breakfast, I ask to be fed with the Bread of Life and the pure milk of the Word. As I sweep the house, I pray that my heart may be swept clean of all it impurities. When I am busy with the children, I look up to God and pray that I may always have the trusting love of a child; as I…”
 
“Enough,” interrupted the minister. “Go on, Mary,” he said, “pray without ceasing. As for us, brothers, let us thank the Lord for this lesson.”

(Story adapted and quoted from Developing a Healthy Prayer Life, Beeke.)

Three Nuggets - Week 3

• Every week this month. I’m recommending a very, very short book worth your time. This one is not very short, but it is nevertheless short, under 140 pages.  This week, I highly recommend this short book: God’s Battleplan for the Mind.
  
  
• Favorite Podcast. I used to love NPR. Not as much these days, though. But if there were a Christian equivalent, it would be this: "The World and Everything In It." Hit play!
  
  
• Devotional Thought: On the corkboard in my office, I have a quote from John Newton’s "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds." It is a quote that is true for us all:

Three Nuggets  

• Every week this month, I’m recommending a very, very short book worth your time. Ever wanted to memorize large portions of Scripture or even entire books? If so, I highly recommend this very short book: How to Memorize Scripture for Life.
  
  
• 5-minute Podcast. The bookishness of believers has a long history: “The Enduring Word: Take up and Read!”
  
  
• Devotional Thought. As Sodak Sojourners, how do we live out our faith amid life’s challenges and hardships? J.I. Packer is helpful: “God uses chronic pain and weakness, along with other afflictions, as his chisel for sculpting our lives. Felt weakness deepens dependence on Christ for strength each day. The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually, even while our bodies waste away. To live with your ‘thorn’ uncomplainingly — that is, sweet, patient, and free in heart to love and help others, even though every day you feel weak — is true sanctification. It is true healing for the spirit. It is a supreme victory of grace.”
  
  

Logan

Hello Church, I’ve got three things that have blessed me this week and would like to pass them on to you:

• Every week this month, I’m recommending a very, very short book worth your time. Here it is: How Do We Glorify God?
  
  
• 5-minute Podcast: “Rethinking Josephus and His Claims about Jesus”
  
  
• Devotional Thought: As I prepare to preach through 1 Peter, the first two verses tell us that God’s chosen people, who are living as exiles, scattered across the world and facing hostility, are there according to God’s foreknowledge. It’s all part of His fatherly plan and good purpose, including the hard times, challenges, and frustrations. They were chosen for this. So are you, because of His fatherly love for you.
  
  

Logan

Continued:
In the previous post, I wrote about the importance of our name: Grace Bible Church. In that, I covered "What we believe about Grace." The next two words, Bible and Church, are discussed below.
What We Believe About the Bible:
Princeton theologian B.B. Warfield famously said, “When the Bible speaks, God speaks.” Scripture is God’s revelation of Himself to the world. We believe all Scripture is God-breathed, and therefore, infallible (not misleading, but sure, safe, and reliable), inerrant (free from falsehood or mistakes in all its parts), and authoritative (all other things are subordinate). As such, it is the only rule of faith by which the church and man’s conscience must be bound. Scripture has supremacy over all councils and traditions, and all other truth claims must be weighed against it. Scriptures are to be believed, as God’s divine council; obeyed, as God’s commands; embraced, as God’s guarantee in all that it promises. The central theme of Scripture is Jesus Christ, the Lord, Redeemer, Creator, and Judge. And if we have seen Jesus Christ, then we have seen the Father.  
What We Believe About the Church:
Jesus promised to build His church and that not even the gates of Hades could stand against it (Matt. 16.18). The church is not on the defensive but on the offensive, and its greatest foe stands no chance against its advancement.
The Scriptures refer to the church not just as a people but also to their activity of gathering as the people of God. Additionally, the term is rarely, if ever, used to denote an ecumenical church. Instead, it typically refers to specific local churches with Christ as their head (Col 1.18), carrying heavenly and spiritual significance (Eph. 1.22, 3.10, 21; Col. 1:18).  The term church occurs 114 times in the NT and predominantly refers to individual local assemblies around a confession of faith in allegiance to Christ. Nevertheless, there is only one universal church of Jesus Christ that extends throughout all time and place. Under the lordship of Christ, the universal church is a theological reality that is manifested in each local assembly.
The true church, by necessity, consists of regenerate individuals who make up local church membership (Heb 10.19-25). Many might profess faith in Jesus, but that does not mean they possess it (Matt. 7.21-23). The church practices two ordinances as physical expressions of its faith: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism identifies a person’s faith in Jesus Christ and serves as an initiation into the church (Acts 10.47-48; Rom. 6.3-4). The Lord’s Supper is a physical testimony believers participate in to remember Christ’s death for them, their current union with Him, His presence among them, and His future return (1 Cor. 11.23-29).  
The church has two offices: Pastors (called “overseers,” “bishops,” or “elders”) and Deacons (1 Tim. 3:1–13). God gifts these men to lead the congregation by teaching the Word, setting a godly example, and shepherding the flock (Heb. 13:7). However, the ultimate decision-making authority of the church is entrusted to the congregation under the lordship of Christ.  
The church is the result of our Triune God’s desire to have a people of His own, reconciled to Himself through His Son, by the power of the Spirit. It is what Jesus purchased with His blood, promised to build, and will one day return for. If it is what Jesus invested in, then so should we.  

How Important Is a Name?
Jesus’ name means Yahweh is salvation, Nehemiah means Yahweh comforts, and Melchizedek means King of Righteousness. Our name is Grace Bible Church, and that says a lot about us. These three words (grace, Bible, and church) describe three foundational truths that characterize who we are and what God is calling us to be as a church.
What We Believe About Grace:
In a real sense, the Kingdom of God operates on an economy of grace. Christ is building His kingdom by the gospel of grace. Every citizen of Christ’s Kingdom received entrance by an invitation of His grace. Grace is God’s unearned favor and blessing of everything that is good, true, and beautiful. In Christ, God extends His grace to sinful humanity, providing forgiveness and reconciliation that are not deserved, while withholding, in mercy, the judgment that is deserved. Knowing, loving, and believing in Christ for salvation is God’s specific grace that accomplishes His purpose of salvation. This grace is given to those whom God chooses to save.
God also extends common grace universally, blessing humanity with physical sustenance, pleasure, learning, and beauty. Everything delightful to the eyes, like colors, stars, and a baby’s smile, is a gift of God’s grace. Delicious food, satisfying drinks, and pleasurable scents are all gifts to us. The sound of music, the rustling of wind, and the melody of a lark are graces found in the God of nature. Imagination, history, and story are experiences and abilities that uniquely come from the God of grace.
Grace is a distinctive feature of who we are as Christians. It sets us apart from all other religions in the world. It characterizes everything we do. Because God’s grace is unmerited, unearned, and undeserved, our salvation is nothing short of amazing, and only possible by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We extend God’s amazing invitation of grace to everyone, understanding that none of us deserves it.  

I’m confused. Why do we call Christmas ‘Christmas’? At church and Awana, we have a Jesus Christmas, but in stores, on TV, and at school, we have a Santa Claus Christmas. It feels like two different holidays. Why do we give presents? Why do we hang stockings? And what does Santa Claus have to do with Jesus? I am confused.

Let’s answer that question, kids.

For a long time, some churches have had a special service called Mass.

Once a year, on December 25th, they had a special service called Mass. It was to celebrate the birth of Jesus, who we call “the Christ.” This special, once-a-year Mass was called the “Christ’s Mass.”

That is where the name Christmas comes from. But what does it have to do with the guy in the red suit?

If Christmas is all about Jesus, what does Santa have to do with it?

Do you know the real Santa Claus loves Jesus?

Let me ask you a question: Do you know Santa’s real name? Let me give you a clue: “The stockings were hung by the chimney with care…. In hopes that Saint Nichols soon would be there!”

Now, who is Saint Nicholas?

A long time ago, there was a leader in the church named Saint Nicholas. He loved Jesus very much, and he wanted to show that love to others by helping them.

His parents left him a lot of money. If he heard that someone needed food or clothes, he would sneak up to their window at night and throw a bag of coins inside.

Do you think that made him popular? Especially when news spread about the time he tossed a bag of coins to help three poor girls, and it landed in their stockings, which they had hung up to dry?

Does that sound familiar?

He was so appreciated that churches gave Nicholas his own special day, called Saint Nicholas Day.

Kids would hang up their stockings or put out their shoes to see what Santa Nicholas would leave them. Sometimes they’d find an orange or a piece of candy, maybe even a small toy.

Now that sounds a lot like what we do on Christmas, doesn’t it?

Saint Nicholas Day was on December 6th. Christ’s Mass was on December 25th. About 500 years ago, many churches stopped celebrating days dedicated to saints, like Saint Nicholas.

But the tradition was so popular that it wouldn’t go away. So many churches moved Saint Nicholas Day and combined it with Christ’s Mass, which together gave us our Christmas.

But there is one final question: How did Saint Nicholas’ name change to Santa Claus?

Stories of Saint Nicholas reached America through Dutch settlers 300 years ago. Dutch kids would set out their wooden shoes waiting for a visit from Saint Nicholas. But in Dutch, Saint Nicholas was called Sinteklaas. Over time, Sinterklaas changed to Santa Claus.

Santa Claus is actually Saint Nicholas.

So, when we celebrate Christmas, we are actually celebrating the birth of Jesus - Christ’s Mass and Saint Nicholas Day put together.

We celebrate Christmas because Jesus is the greatest gift we could ever get. And we celebrate Saint Nicholas because he gave to others out of a love for Jesus.

So when you’re excited on Christmas morning because of Santa Claus, remember, it was Jesus who excited Santa Claus.

(Idea inspired by Buck Denver asks…Why Do We Call It Christmas?, Phil Vischer, 2014)

Christians have historically understood the four gospel accounts as both humanly written and divinely inspired. As such, I do not believe the so-called contradictions between gospel accounts pose any threat to the integrity or historicity of the gospel. Quite the opposite, really. They give evidence to their authorial authenticity, divine design, and historical reliability.

Many critics of the gospels mistakenly see them as works of multiple authors who edited and added to them over time, creating a picture of Christianity that later became a unified narrative of Christ and church dogma. Indeed, despite early Christian defenders' efforts to present the gospels as consistent, errors and inconsistencies persisted in the accounts, undermining the historicity of Jesus, so they say, in a clandestine attempt to smooth them out. However, that is simply a caricature of the ancient writers.

Each of the four writers provides distinctions and differences in the gospels because each author has a similar but different purpose for their testimony. Instead of collaborating to ensure every detail was the same, which would be tantamount to collusion, each had a particular agenda to portray regarding the mission of Christ to His followers. In other words, as God oversaw the writing process, His desire was for each writer to present a distinct theological emphasis, but never at the expense of accuracy or truth. Thus, each gospel account complements rather than contradicts the others. Some authors provide, omit, add to, or emphasize events and details to offer a perspective that would otherwise be missed.  Sometimes, events are summarized, paraphrased, or intentionally skipped. The arrangement of events can be presented by theme, topic, or chronology. When things do not strictly line up, that is not by accident, but by design.

The differences are not a problem but a blessing because the church needs not only all four gospels, but the entire Bible to understand Christ in His fullest. The message of the gospels provides one piece in a unified story that begins in Genesis and ends in Revelation. The Gospels, therefore, retain their authorial authenticity, divine design, and historical reliability despite the criticisms of their detractors. So don’t only read the four testimonies of good news, but all 66.

How Should We Spend?

Imagine being part of a small church that generously gave financially, nearly reaching into the six-figure range. Now imagine asking the church: “How will it wisely steward that large sum of money?” The answer comes down to basically three things: 1) The church could spend it on itself; 2) save it for future concerns; or 3) give the money to further the Lord’s work. Fortunately, God addresses all of these in 1 Timothy 6:17-19, but in the context of how wealthy Christians ought to steward their own money. (Admittedly, by giving to the church, one is doing all three, but suspend your erudite logic for a moment and entertain me, will ya?)

1. The Bible states that God blesses people materially: “God, who richly supplies us with all good things to enjoy” (v. 17). Though the Bible warns against extravagance (Proverbs 21.17), the Word does not mandate ascetic living or depriving ourselves of nice things. The Bible is full of God providing an abundance for His people to enjoy and celebrate. We enjoy those things in a God-centered way that brings Him glory through our praise and acknowledgement of His goodness. The church can spend money on itself. 
2. Verse 17 states that wealthy people should not “set their hope on he uncertainty of riches, but on God.” And in verse 19, they should store up for themselves treasure “for the future.” This teaches that giving is an act of faith in which believers give to store up treasure in heaven, surpassing the earthly security that wealth might provide on earth. Nevertheless, Paul assumes that the wealthy will still be rich after giving generously. As concerns arise, resources will remain available to address them in the future. Scanning the Proverbs, saving for future concerns is wise stewardship (10.15, 13.22, 21.5). The church saves for future concerns. 
3. In verse 18, Paul tells Timothy to “command them…to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.” Our resources have been given to us by God, and we ought to be generous with them. This is our stewardship responsibility. Stewardship means giving wisely, and giving wisely means giving carefully. For example, the Bible warns about not giving to those who refuse to work (2 Thessalonians 3.10). It is essential to know where our money is going. We should research ministries, solicit the doctrine of those we support, and determine whether the mission is biblical and aligns with Scripture. The Bible reminds us that wealth is a means to some other end. It’s not the end in itself. God determines the end. The church gives to further the Lord’s work.

Let’s no longer imagine a church that generously gives. We are that church, a community known for its generosity and commitment to the Lord’s work. Let’s not back off from being that church. We owe an unpayable, infinite debt to our Lord Jesus Christ. He paid our debt for sin by taking it upon Himself and made us rich by imputing His righteousness into our account (2 Corinthians 8.9).

(Idea influenced by James Newheiser, "Table Talk," August 2025)

A lot can happen in eight months. Moving from the most southern region to one of the most northern areas of the United States is to me akin to Abraham’s call by God out from Ur of the Chaldees to a land he knew not. We left our mothers and our fathers, friends and family, familiarity and fashions, in faith, trusting in the God of the Bible’s call to Gettysburg, South Dakota.

We arrived on February 7th, around 5:00 pm, which happened to be about two hours after the parsonage remodeling was finished. Within two days, we experienced a 50-year low, with temperatures at -38 degrees with a wind chill of -56. A great consolation was knowing this was considered cold even by local standards. But to be honest, our greatest consolation is our undeterred conviction that God has placed us here. When Raven and I talk about “how we’re doing” in our new home, we don’t begin with our feelings. We have a sense of certainty, an inner witness, and a strong sense of calling and mission. This is our conviction and focus from which we talk about our experiences. So, amidst our real and present ministerial, personal, and relational challenges, we feel immovable. And despite regular discouragements, God’s grace is greater and it continually encourages us.

A pastor’s primary responsibility is to preach the Word, whether that’s in the pulpit, at the Manor, in a small group, or in personal conversation with you and with those in the Gettysburg community. A pastor is to speak, not to draw attention to himself, but rather to draw people to God’s way of thinking. When he does draw attention to himself, it should be done in the manner of the apostles — public sinners who continually relied on God's grace and mercy.

Pastors are public figures. They are resident theologians whose job is to seek, speak, and show understanding of what God is doing in the world through Christ and His church. They are to guide others in seeking, speaking, and understanding the same things. Pastors, like prophets, are truth-tellers, communicating God’s point of view, especially as it relates to Christ. He is responsible for protecting the church from theological errors and feeding the church on the truth of sound doctrine, as under-shepherds of Christ. Pastors are to care, nurture, and love the people bought by the shed blood of Christ.

Pastors are disciplers, devoting themselves to studying, interpreting, and understanding God’s Word so that others can grasp the person, events, and works of the Bible as they are summed up in Christ. Pastors are to live by example as a model for others, extending grace when others come short, and receiving grace when they come short. Pastors are to charge the congregation to live transformed lives, on mission for Christ, beginning in their church, families, and broader community. They are to cast God’s vision, which is that the church is the place for equipping and the world is the place of engagement.

Pastors are family men. They must first seek the spiritual well-being of their first flock —the little ones at home. Many times, pastors will have to say no to things so they can say yes to his family. Pastors must guard their evenings. They must sacrificially love their wives, just as Christ loved the church. Pastors are to raise their children with the expectation that those children will follow Christ, because of the years of schooling and discipleship invested in their lives, while also committing them in faith to the care and love of God.

I am regularly reminded that I fall short as a pastor, as a man, and as a husband. However, my role was never to be perfect, but instead to cling to, point to, and lead people to the One who is perfect. You and I best model the gospel to our families, our children, and our world, not by perfection but by our repentance, forgiveness, and dependence on the Holy Triune God. As a church, may we all strive to be these three things always: repentant of our sins, forgiving of others, and dependent on God. All of this flows from trusting in the sufficiency of Christ.

I want you to know that I’m encouraged by what I’ve seen and experienced firsthand at Grace Bible Church. I see a hunger and love for the Word of God, faithful church attendance, a commitment by men and women to serve on Sundays and throughout the week, significant community outreach events, a welcoming environment on Sundays, at AWANA, and more.

Pastor Ron said this is the healthiest church he has ever seen. He likened GBC to what Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4.11-12, “...but we urge you, brothers, to excel still more.” Here are a few ways I believe God would like to see us excel still more:
1. Revitalize our youth ministry by engaging in our local elementary, middle, and high schools, and even schools beyond.
2. More individuals taking responsibility for their God-given spheres of influence and owning those spaces as their mission field.
3. Enhancing the appearance of our interior and exterior building.
4. Expanding our online presence and appearance through social media.
5. To grow in the fundamental doctrines of the faith.
6. Increased desire to disciple and be discipled.
7. Greater trust in the power of congregational prayer.

Our mission at GBC is to know Christ and make Him known. This is what you are about. It is what I am about, too. As we think and pray about how it would please God to use GBC, let us commit to putting our time, talent, and treasure where our mission is – Knowing Christ and Making Him Known.

In His service,
Pastor Logan

Gen Z Trends Back

I’m a millennial through and through, which means I was born between 1981 and 1996. I caught the tail end of the seeker-sensitive movement in the church, which led Christians to abandon traditional denominations and what that entails. When I was in college, the apologetics movement was in full swing. Influential figures like William Lane Craig, Ravi Zacharias, Tim Keller, Greg Koukl, and others did great work to combat the so-called New Atheists. The New Atheists were a group that gained prominence after 9/11. Its leading figures, also known as the Four Horsemen, were Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens. This movement is very much passé and has mostly died out.
 
Around this same time, the evangelical world witnessed another movement: the Young, Reformed, and Restless movement (also known as the New Calvinist), featuring figures like John Piper, Mark Driscoll, Matt Chandler, R.C. Sproul, and John MacArthur. I never participated in this movement because the first 8-10 years of my Christian life were spent in the hyper-charismatic movement. That’s a story for another day.
While the remnants of these movements still linger in certain circles within the evangelical world (for example, the link I’m sharing has to do with a well known apologist), they have largely lost their original momentum.

While the data presents a mixed picture, there’s a fascinating trend emerging among Generation Z (1997-2012)—they show a growing interest in church attendance, especially among young men. They’re not just looking for any church, but are particularly drawn to conservative, traditional, and theologically rich congregations. Many in this age group seek a sense of historical rootedness and a depth that can often be missing in many evangelical churches across America.  Those who haven’t kept up with the latest trends may be surprised that evidence suggests Generation Z is gravitating back towards the traditional worship styles that Baby Boomers and Generation X once sought to move away from, believing they were too churchy.
 
This generation deeply longs for an ancient faith that is historically grounded, theologically rich, and marked by clear and meaningful distinctions. Nevertheless, too many individuals are enthusiastic about the church embracing new approaches and methods, as if what has been effective for the past 2000 years is now somehow lacking.  
I look forward to what God will do with this next generation of leaders.
In the meantime, enjoy this short video that claims Joe Rogan goes to church.
 
https://notthebee.com/article/wesley-huff-i-can-tell-you-for-a-fact-joe-rogan-is-attending-a-church

-Pastor Logan Nyquist
May 21, 2025

The Rainbow #takeitback

This morning, God’s covenantal reminder was displayed skywide. I’m talking about the Noahic Covenant found in Genesis 9. As I write this, a rainbow crosses the South Dakota sky.

The Noahic Covenant was made to Noah, his descendants (all humanity), and “with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth,” (v.10).
 
God is emphatic that when we see a rainbow, we understand it as a sign of His promise never to destroy every living creature by water again. God tells Noah no less than five times: v.9, “I establish My covenant;” v.11, “I establish My covenant with you;” v.12, “This is the sign of the covenant;” v.15, “I will remember My covenant;” and v.16, “remember the covenant.”

Covenant. Covenant. Covenant. Covenant. And in case you missed it – Covenant.

The rainbow is as much a reminder to all humanity of God’s mercy as it is a reminder of God’s comprehensive judgment. God says in v.11, “never again shall all flesh be cut off,” and in v.15, “never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.” The rainbow reminds us of God’s past destruction of all flesh and His present worldwide mercy.
 
The rainbow is above us, so the world would look up and remember the past judgment and present promise. Notice verse 14, “And it will be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud.”

Everyone has seen a rainbow, which is a healthy reminder to look up to God’s Word rather than down upon it.

Pastor Logan Nyquist
May 15, 2025

From Despair to Delight in God

Encountering the Living God is a fearful thing. He is a consuming fire of white-hot purity and zeal for righteousness—a God whose eternal existence has never known imperfection or error. Fear and terror seize those who encounter Him with crippling effects. Many conclude their death from one veiled look at Him. The book of Revelation describes the earth fleeing from the presence of Christ’s throne, the entire created order melting like wax before the flame of His glory.

It is foolish for anyone to cavalierly waltz into His presence as if these things don’t matter. Think of Nadab and Abihu’s strange fire, Korah’s earth-swallowing rebellion, or Uzzah’s irreverent steadying of the ark. One shouldn’t forget Ananias and Siphira or God’s deathly chastening in Corinth for inappropriately coming to His Table. The God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament. His character is immutable. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
 
Nevertheless, the religious quest for a gracious God remains in God. It is this same God who is astoundingly compassionate, faithful from generation to generation, slow to anger toward the hard-hearted, long-suffering with the stiff-necked, merciful to the undeserving, gracious to the ungrateful, forgiving to the blasphemous, gentle to the naive, humble to the proud, sacrificial to the point of death, endowed with the power of life, and benevolent to invite all to come into fellowship with Himself through the good news of Jesus Christ.

When the reader of the Bible encounters God in His Word, it is not a neutral interaction. It will be one way or another: Wrath or grace, Law or Gospel, Letter or Spirit.
 
An example from church history is the Reformer Martin Luther. He rightfully feared God to the point of exhaustion and despair. He feared God’s wrath because he knew he had broken God’s Law according to the Letter.

Luther was not wrong in his despair. God’s Law reveals His righteous character. His character is never in conflict with His other characteristics. His love is never at odds with His wrath. His judgment always corresponds to His mercy. His grace upholds Divine punishment. Luther’s brokenness was an emphatic example of how one journies from despair to grace. It highlights the reality of God’s holy demands for mankind and His marvelous grace found in the face of Christ.
 
Luther’s exhaustion and despair were correct in that they reflected a proper understanding of aspects of God’s character. Had he not undergone such anguish in his despair, he would not have encountered such delight in the gospel. It was God’s Law that revealed the graciousness of God in the incarnate and crucified Christ. That is the purpose of God’s Law, to drive us to faith in Christ. Though Luther was not wrong in his despair, he would have been if his journey ended there.

Luther wanted to please God, but he repeatedly found he could not. His continual failure broke him. In the gospel, he learned that fulfilling God’s Law, justice, and holy demands are accomplished in Christ. He learned that being right with God did not depend on what he did but on what Jesus has done and will do. Prior to Christ, his efforts only led to death. But encountering Christ, he found life. This life is lived by faith in the finished work of the cross.
The Christian life is lived by resting on Christ’s accomplishments. Only then are Christians enabled to live to God.

Pastor Logan Nyquist
April 19, 2025