Continuity Jesus didn’t just drop into a world that knew nothing about his coming. In fact, he was born among a people who traced their ancestry back through Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, and all the way to Adam. That’s a long line of people to whom God made wonderful promises. At first glance, it may seem…
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Sovereign Love
God’s Choice In Romans 9, Paul is discussing the doctrine of election. More specifically, in the verses we’ll be looking at today, he is refuting the idea that God is unjust for redeeming some of those “from Israel” (Christ’s disciples) but not all. But it is not as though the word of God has failed….
Collective Judgement
Does God Judge Peoples? Recently, I had listened to an interview of a fairly conservative Christian teacher regarding how the church should view national identity. During the exchange, he argued that God formerly judged nations but with the coming of the new covenant he no longer does so. Instead, each person will be judged according…
Purposeful Plagues
Plagues to Save Israel In Exodus 9, we’re well into the record of God’s plagues against Egypt. Their water had been turned to blood. They’d had nasty wildlife invade their homes. They’d had boils come upon them personally. To be sure, Egypt has suffered greatly for ignoring God’s command to release the people of Israel….
Unforgivable Sin
Still Unforgivable Many Christians, if asked, will tell you that there is no sin for which Christ did not die. They can be forgiven for this mistake because in the wide range of every possible sin, there is exactly one sin for which Christ did not die. Others argue that the one sin Christ said…
God Uses Weakness
Aaron’s Loss Leviticus 10 begins with the family of Aaron experiencing two losses. Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before…
Never Weary of Good
Confidence In Obedience Paul concludes his second letter to the church in Thessalonica with a reminder of remain faithful. Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will…
Purpose of Punishment
Many people consider punishment to be unnecessary cruelty. Parents are told they will raise warped children if they spank them. Overincarceration is the reason given for seemingly every social woe that communities already riddled with crime experience. Even when people acknowledge the need for imprisonment, it is with an eye to rehabilitation only. There are…
Sign of Jonah
Seeking Signs Jesus performed many supernatural wonders during his earthly ministry. Many were healed, demons were cast out, he walked on water, and even saved a wedding by turning water into wine for the celebrations. On many of these occasions, the scribes and Pharisees opposed him upon the basis of the signs themselves. They claimed…
Nations In Judgement
Collective Judgement There are many examples in scripture of a people becoming so wicked that God judges them collectively. Sodom and Gomorrah likely comes to mind for many readers (Genesis 19). However, there are also examples of peoples who were warned of judgement, but that judgement was stayed because they repented. Perhaps many are thinking…