EXPOSITION: Chapter 9:1-29 9:1-5—Introduction: The Tension Between God’s Promises and Israel’s Plight 1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of … [Read more...]
The Divine-Human Arrangement: The Meaning and Purpose of Covenant
The Meaning of Covenant, Part 1 The covenant motif of the Bible (Old and New Covenants) communicates the divine-human arrangement. Yet, while ‘covenant’ is a familiar biblical concept—what does it really mean? For any communication to be effective, the successful transmission of ideas between persons requires a clear definition of words. If this is essential to … [Read more...]
Romans: God Revealed & Man Judged—Covenant Disobeyed, Part 3
EXPOSITION: Chapter 1:18-32 False Gospels. Our passage under consideration is the opening one of a far larger section (1:18-3:20). This larger context demonstrates that man, universally (Jew and Gentile), is under sin and that there is no question of his justification apart from faith. It picks up the theme of the epistle presented in v. 17 that the Gospel is the "... … [Read more...]
Reality & the Inescapable God: Foundations in Christian Worldview
The Inescapable God “… we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter” Isa 28:15 – Part 2 of 3 – An Inescapable Reality The foundation of any worldview is its view of origins. What a person accepts as ultimate will shape everything else. The biblical worldview is grounded in its doctrine of creation, which, in contrast to naturalism’s … [Read more...]
Rationality & the Inescapable God: Foundations in Christian Worldview
The Inescapable God “… we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter” Isa 28:15 – Part 1 of 3 – An Inescapable Goal The goal of fallen man[1] throughout history, as defined in Genesis, is “to be like God, knowing [or determining] good and evil” (Gen 3:5). While man’s place in the cosmos, as a creature, is found in total dependence on his … [Read more...]