Torrey Gazette is the combined work of everyday Christians blogging on books, family, art, and theology. So pull up a seat and join us. Family Table rules apply. Shouting is totally acceptable.
All in Theology
But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through
If Christians begin to think this way about salvation then there is a strong chance the vitality and centrality of the church would not be overlooked as it so often is in our individualistic culture.
Jesus’ admonishments over passing judgement are entirely misconstrued by the secular relativist. When Jesus tells his audience “judge not lest you be judged,” he is talking about the quality of one’s judgement, not whether one is passing judgement. You can’t
Now that the review has published it is time for me to recap some thoughts on the books in general and their contributions to Genesis 1-2 and the fight for a historical Adam.
In the same way that a newborn child learns it’s given name through symbols so too does an infant who is baptized learn it’s Christian name.
7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. – Hebrews 6:7-8
Perhaps the reason there is so much strife in the church nowadays is because we are not communing with one another as we ought. Our ultimate allegiances need to be formed not by who we would invite to our tables but by whom Jesus, weekly, invites to his.
Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. (Romans 11:22)
God is the author of all of
This would seem to support the thesis of Christ’s parable of the soils. It also brings to the forefront the major theme of John's writing: abiding in Christ. Abiding in the true vine is essential for those who have once been cleaned by the word of God.
It is only the last soil that would be called “saved” in the eschatological sense. These are those predestined to preservation and perseverance. What then is the proper terminology for the other soil?
To be certain, the Jews were in sin, they were misreading the story, they rejected their messiah. However, the sin of the jews and the Pharisees were not necessarily the same as the sins of our own day. We can certainly learn from the foolishness and pride of the Pharisees but it will impossible to do so if we insist on turning them into
Re-baptism only occurs when concern over the hands pouring the water trumps the hands that created the water.
We tend to be like the unfaithful servant in the parable of the three servants in Matthew 25:14-30. Our master has given us gifts to sow and invest. However, we are afraid that these resources that God has given us might run out so we go and bury them.
Growing up in a conservative background, the default, the “biblical”, position was six literal 24-hour days. “The bible says day so it means day” was the logic. While admirable for taking the bible seriously as the inspired, inerrant Word of God, such literal biblicism misses the point that the creation narrative is not a scientific how-to guide for creation, it is a story portraying the creational work of God; it is a historical narrative.
What I would encourage you to do is study the material in the original language, from both young earth creationist and old earth creationists. If all we do is read from our own camp, and in a translated language, we will inevitably miss the vastness of the creation narrative.
Ever since God’s incarnate Word broke forth from the tomb on Easter morning Genesis 1 is happening all over again. The world is being re-created.
This book, and its particular evangelical paradigm, have an important role in the creation discussions.
If I had small kids, I'd probably take them to this
