“…always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:15). Hope is essential for human well-being. Conversely, the lack of sufficient hope is the root…
Hope And Community
Tag: Common Grace
Law & Gospel
The teaching of Christ provides protection against the harshness of Old Testament law, and reveals God’s grace, which trumps God’s law for those who are “in Christ,” those who take advantage of Christ’s teaching. To read the Old Testament apart from the light of Christ constitutes a grave error for us who live on the resurrection side of the cross of Christ.
The Real Conflict with Islam
Ten years after 911, the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York City, Robert Reilly provided the structure for identifying and defeating the enemy that had declared war on the West. That structure unfolded in the pages of his…
Sustainable Living
Eternal life is sustainable life, to put it into current vernacular. And because eternal life begins with our salvation, it begins here, on this planet.
One In Christ
Paul’s admonition here is to not focus on these differences—Jew vs. Greek, bond vs. free, male vs. female—with regard to our inclusion in Christ. Rather, he said that we should focus on the reality of baptism, putting on Christ, living…
Seed
Again, Paul made much ado about σπέρμα (sperma), which is a plural noun used in the singular. Understanding how Paul used this term and what he meant by it is essential to understanding Paul’s message to the Galatians. The law…
Foolishness
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. –Ephesians 5:17 The usual contrast to foolishness is wisdom, but here Paul contrasts foolishness with knowing God’s will. This contrast then suggests that wisdom is equated…
The Call to Culture War
But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” –Ephesians 5:13-14 In verse 14…
One Another
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. —Ephesians 4:25 James Jordan has said somewhere that we Christians need to one-another one another, using one-another…
Christian Conflict
“They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. –Ephesians 4:19 We must also acknowledge that the story of the Bible is a story of conflict between believers and unbelievers, or…