EXPOSITION: Chapter 1:1-17 Purpose & Theme 1:1-7 — Paul's Salutation 1-2 "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures"—While possessing intimate elements, Paul's opening salutation (longer than any other Pauline epistle) is in the style of … [Read more...]
God's Government
This teaching stream examines the nature of God’s Government for the world.
The Gospel that Christ and the apostles proclaimed was the Good News of the Kingdom—of the new order of God’s government coming to earth, not in Caesar (i.e. the state), but in Christ. It is not only personal salvation but cosmic—the renovation of the universe. God’s government flows from the spiritual regeneration of the individual and their self-government through to the family, the redeemed community, and to civil government.
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Romans: Kingdom through Covenant, Part 1
The question will be asked, why another commentary on Romans? First, because Romans provides the ABC's of the Gospel, it is Christianity 101. From the early church to the present day, it has been recognised as the foundational teaching of Christianity, providing the Bible's most complete statement concerning God's purpose for humankind, its fall from that purpose, and his … [Read more...]
God & the Nations: Exploring Worldview from Psalm 2
In the face of increasing global political, economic and societal unrest, how ought the Christian view the perilous instability of our times? Where is God? And does he have a plan for the nations? Psalm 2 provides a concise summary of history that establishes a biblical worldview vital to understanding the issues of our day. As God’s revelation about his intention for the … [Read more...]
The Gospel & Cultural Transformation: Natural Law or God’s Law?
The current emphasis on the Gospel's power to renew cities and culture is a great positive. Nevertheless, it provokes an important question. Let us assume city and cultural renewal gets traction – which, increasingly, it will – the next question is how do we determine the ethics and laws by which a renewed and just society should be governed. As a Christian you would … [Read more...]
Religious Freedom: A Proposed Bill of Rights for Australia
After vigorous national debate, Australia, in September 2017, voted in a plebiscite to legalise Same-Sex Marriage. This highlighted the issue of competing rights and the potential suppression of freedom of speech and religion. As a result the Prime Minister established a Religious Freedom Review served by an expert panel of academics and clergy. Lifemessenger has submitted the … [Read more...]
