Posts by Brian Najapfour

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So, who really killed Jesus? 1. Was it the Romans? Let’s find out the answer in God’s Word. In Matthew 27:35 we read, “And when they [that is, the Roman soldiers] had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.” From this verse we learn that the Romans crucified Jesus. In...
What are your plans for 2022? Perhaps you plan to get married, or continue your studies, or look for a different job, or buy a house, or travel abroad. Whatever your plans may be, I hope you will consider what God teaches in Proverbs 19:21: “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the...
1. Preach sound doctrine. Don’t reserve Bible doctrines such as justification and sanctification for your Sunday school. Preach these doctrines during your worship service. 2. Preach with discrimination. Address both believers and unbelievers in your preaching. Don’t assume that everyone in your...
With God’s help, in 2001 I graduated from The Center for Biblical Studies Institute and Seminary in the Philippines. That same year I received a call to pastor the congregation, where I previously did my internship. The year 2021 therefore marks my 20th year in the ministry. Throughout my life as a...
Note: In this interview, Brian G. Najapfour speaks with Herman Selderhuis about his book, Martin Luther: A Spiritual Biography (Crossway, 2017, 347 pp., hardback). Given the numerous biographies written on Luther, what is the unique contribution of your book to the study of Luther? Unique is quite...
A Workman Not Ashamed: Essays in Honor of Albert N. Martin . Edited by David Charles and Rob Ventura. Conway, AR: Free Grace Press, 2021. Before I present my review, I want to thank David Charles and Rob Ventura, who out of their love and esteem, took the time to coedit a festschrift for Albert...
“Thou shalt not kill” (Exo. 20:13) The sixth commandment requires that we preserve our lives and the lives of others. This does not prohibit self-defense, lawful war, or capital punishment, but it certainly forbids us to harm ourselves and others. To put it positively, the commandment tells us to...
The Reformed theology of grace, as articulated in the Canons of Dort, informed and influenced the spirituality of the Puritans. These Canons of Dort, also called the Five Articles against the Remonstrants, consist of doctrinal statements adopted by the Synod of Dort in 1618–19 against the Five...
On Tuesday, November 3, 2020, US citizens will exercise their right to vote for who they want to be president. Since the primary two parties in the US are Democratic and Republican, the focus of the election is on Joe Biden (Democratic) and Donald Trump (Republican). But there are other nominees,...
I’m neither black nor white. I’m brown, or Asian American. And I’m a Christian; therefore, I want to address racism and rioting from a biblical point of view. Here are some thoughts on these issues: 1. There’s only one race on earth, and that is Adam’s race. Regardless of your skin color, your...
As a Christian, I want to view the coronavirus pandemic through the lens of the Bible, especially Romans 8:28–29: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be...