There is a crucial connection to be made between human behavior and human nature. Living beings behave according to their nature. If God prescribes a certain kind of human behavior it is for the purpose of reflecting a certain kind of nature. The...
So I’m upping the ante on my reading in apocalyptic and eschatological literature. I encountered this quote yesterday and thought it worth sharing: Ideas have consequences. . . . At worst, such belief [in a rapture] is a form of escapism. The...
Even a completely innocent, self-giving act (such as the Cross) that is driven by love and compassion can, and will be perverted by the World. This reality, however, does not give license to do anything less than follow Jesus' example.
God did not bring Israel out of Egypt so they could wander the desert. No, he brought Israel out of Egypt so that he could establish his Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. In much the same way, sinners are not saved through the Cross simply so...
Various people have various definitions of the Gospel of Christianity. Most North American protestant evangelicals would define the Gospel as the story of the substitutionary atonement in the Cross through Jesus that allows for the forgiveness of...
Excerpt from Holiness in Fresh Perspective: Covenant, Cross, and Kingdom (Wipf and Stock) God’s promises David that his offspring would be the one with the eternal anointing to rule over God’s people. In this promise rests the concept of the...
What is sanctification according to Paul? This is the question that I wrestle with in my upcoming book Holiness in Fresh Perspective: Covenant, Cross, and Kingdom (Wipf and Stock). Before answering this question, let’s take a step back and ask the...
I’ve always been a bit confused by the fact that the disciples weren’t expecting Jesus to come back to life after his brutal death on the cross. At the same time, it’s no surprise because the disciples quite consistent don’t...
C.S. Lewis, yet again, gives us another wonderful gem of a thought. Lately I’ve been overwhelmed by work. Task after task just keeps piling up on my desk. A PhD dissertation to finish, a book manuscript to edit, a seminary community to serve...
Many Christians struggle with understanding how the Old Testament and New Testament fit together. One of the particular ares of difficulty is understanding how the Mosaic Law (things such as food laws and other ceremonials laws) fits together with...