Think Wink.

When we read the actual narrative of Jesus’ birth in Matthew 1:18-25, we often focus on a few things such as whether or not Mary was a technical virgin or a woman of marriageable age or what the impact of Joseph’s decision to divorce Marry upon hearing about her pregnancy that is not a result of his sexual union with Marry. That’s about where people go in their thinking when it comes to Jesus’ birth narrative, except for Christmas and then it’s about Jesus as Emmanuel and celebrating Jesus being born. Then the debate about Jesus being born of a virgin or not rears it’s head, ugly or not.

I want to focus upon why Yahweh’s messenger tells Joseph to name the baby that is born of Mary Jesus in Matthew 1:21, “And you will name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” What does Matthew intend for his readers to understand when they read this statement? How does Matthew believe that Jesus saved his people from their sins? Read more

Original Sin and Infants

Reflections on Jonah Part 4

Am I a Five-Point Calvinist?

Earlier this past week, a dear friend and one of the youth at my old church in KC asked me to reflect upon the book of Jonah. So I went and reread the story of Jonah and pondered upon what his story was trying to communicate. After some earnest reflection, I think that the story of Jonah shows: 1.) The character of God, first seen in Exodus 33:19; 34:6-7; 2.) God’s promise to Abraham was to redeem all creation, not just Abraham’s posterity, and Abraham was to be the vessel through which this redemption comes; 3.) Israel had become blinded by her position as Yahweh’s elect people and ignored her function as the channel through which God’s promise to redeem creation, not just Israel, comes into the world; 4.) Only in Jesus the Messiah was/is/will God’s plan to redeem his creation through Israel to be carried out and accomplished.

In previous posts, I have covered the first three points. In the following post, I want to look at the fourth and final point, which might be the most important point of the four. Read more

Reflections on Jonah

Reflections on Jonah Part 3

Reflections on Jonah Part 2

The other day I was asked by one of my youth and friends from Kansas City what my take on the prophet Jonah and his story as told in sacred Scripture. I went back and reread the story and looked to what I felt were some of the main points that the author, presumably Jonah but may be not, was trying to make. After some reflection, I think that the story of Jonah shows: 1.) The character of God, first seen in Exodus 33:19; 34:6-7; 2.) God’s promise to Abraham was to redeem all creation, not just Abraham’s posterity, and Abraham was to be the vessel through which this redemption comes; 3.) Israel had become blinded by her position as Yahweh’s elect people and ignored her function as the channel through which God’s promise to redeem creation, not just Israel, comes into the world; 4.) Only in Jesus the Messiah was/is/will God’s plan to redeem his creation through Israel to be carried out and accomplished.

In the first post I looked at how Jonah illustrates and points the reader the character of God see in Exodus 32-34. In the second post, I looked at how in Jonah, God’s desire to relent from executing his judgment upon Nineveh goes back to his purpose to redeem all of creation through the family-seed-nation promised to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. In this post I want to talk about what it is that Jonah most clearly and powerfully illustrates. Read more

Reflections on Jonah

Reflections on Jonah Part 2

Interview with Dr. Mark Futato

Here is a very important paragraph in Edwards Sermon, “The Final Judgment,”

Christ’s redemption of fallen man includes not only his obeying the Divine law, making atonement for sinners, or in preparing the way for their salvation. His redemption is also actually fulfilled in the converting of sinners to the knowledge and love of the truth, in carrying them on in the way of grace and true holiness through life, and finally raising their bodies to life, and glorifying them. This is completed by actually pronouncing of the sentence upon them, and crowning them with honor and glory in the sight of men and angels.

It is necessary that Christ should do this in order to finish the work He has begun. Raising the saints from the dead, judging them, and fulfilling the sentence are parts of their salvation. Christ must be appointed Judge of the world, in order that he might finish His work (John 6:39-40; John 5:25-31). The redemption of the bodies of the saints is part of the work of redemption; the resurrection to life is called a redemption of their bodies (Romans 8:23).

It is the will of God that Christ Himself should fulfill that for which he died, and suffered so much. The very reasons He suffered and died were to complete and secure salvation for His people. This final salvation will be obtained at the last judgment, and not before.

When Christ had finished His appointed sufferings, God put the purchased inheritance in His hands to be kept for believers and be given to them at the Day of Judgment

Edwards hits on a really important point. We cannot talk about salvation in terms of the cross and sins being propitiated alone. Our redemption is still incomplete at that point, our salvation still lacking. Our resurrection is vital to our salvation and redemption. Until we are resurrected, judged, and the sentence carried out that is our receiving the glory and honor in being the people of God and members of Christ’s kingdom, we are not saved.

Too often we talk about “walking the aisle and gettin’ saved.” Salvation is a category that includes being raised up to new life on the Day of Judgment and entering into the new heavens and new earth. The walking the aisle is conversion, not salvation. One of N. T. Wright’s biggest problems with contemporary Christianity is that the term salvation has come to equal and mean certain parts of salvation, i.e. salvation = conversion or salvation = justification. Salvation is going from God-hater and being brought into his eternal kingdom in the new Jerusalem on new earth as a God-lover. It’s the whole thing, not part of it. I know that a person who is converted is so assured of his entrance into the kingdom that he is said to be saved. A square is indeed a rectangle. But a rectangle is not a square. I hope we do a better job of keeping this in mind.

Edwards Quote of the Day

A taste of My Friday Morning

A Blissful Headache

In the previous post, I mentioned I was asked about the book of Jonah and my thoughts on the text as a whole. In response I said I think that the story of Jonah shows: 1.) The character of God, first seen in Exodus 33:19Open Link in New Window; 34:6-7; 2.) God’s promise to Abraham was to redeem all creation, not just Abraham’s posterity, and Abraham was to be the vessel through which this redemption comes; 3.) Israel had become blinded by her position as Yahweh’s elect people and ignored her function as the channel through which God’s promise to redeem creation, not just Israel, comes into the world; 4.) Only in Jesus the Messiah was/is/will God’s plan to redeem his creation through Israel to be carried out and accomplished. In the previous post I looked at point 1 and how Jonah highlights the character of God, as first seen in Exodus 32-34. In this post, I want to continue going through the points of my answer. Read more

Reflections on Jonah

Reflections on Jonah Part 3

Interview with Dr. Mark Futato

Yesterday I was asked by one of my youth and friends from Kansas City what my take on the prophet Jonah and his story as told in sacred Scripture. I went back and reread the story and looked to what I felt were some of the main points that the author, presumably Jonah but may be not, was trying to make. After some reflection, I think that the story of Jonah shows: 1.) The character of God, first seen in Exodus 33:19; 34:6-7; 2.) God’s promise to Abraham was to redeem all creation, not just Abraham’s posterity, and Abraham was to be the vessel through which this redemption comes; 3.) Israel had become blinded by her position as Yahweh’s elect people and ignored her function as the channel through which God’s promise to redeem creation, not just Israel, comes into the world; 4.) Only in Jesus the Messiah was/is/will God’s plan to redeem his creation through Israel to be carried out and accomplished. Read more

Reflections on Jonah Part 3

Interview with Dr. Mark Futato

Reflections on Jonah Part 2

In his sermon on the final judgment, Jonathan Edwards made this observation about that Day for his beloved saints,

How comforting it is for saints to know that their Redeemer is appointed to be their Judge. The same One who spilled His own blood for them has determined their ultimate fate. There is no doubt that they will obtain what has cost Him so much to purchase.

Oh, what joy it will be for them on that last day to lift up the…ir eyes and behold the very Person in whom they have trusted for salvation, fled to for refuge, and whose voice they have often heard, inviting them to Himself for protection and safety, coming to judge them.

It truly is a comfort to know that the one who died and rose for me is the one who will pass sentence upon me on the Last Day. I am confident that the Messiah will honor his own death and resurrection on my behalf when carrying out God’s contention against this evil age.

A taste of My Friday Morning

A Blissful Headache

Two Goals for the Summer

N.T. Wright on Genesis

N.T. Wright on Adam and Eve

N.T. Wright on How Our Worldview Impacts Our Reading of Scripture

Michael Horton’s Review of N.T. Wright

Thoughts on the Endings of Kings and Chronicles

The Faith Of Jesus Christ

Back in August I wrote two blog posts weaving my way through Psalm 72. In the first post, Justice and Psalm 72, I discussed the meaning of “righteousness” as the psalmist here uses it and looked at its impact upon my understanding of the New Testament’s use of “righteousness.” Suffice it to say, I find myself more inclined then, as I do now, that the traditional formulations of “righteousness” language is deficient due to the much needed impact of the Reformation of the 16th Century. However, righteousness, especially God’s righteousness, cannot be located solely in a sphere of merit theology and legalism. God’s righteousness is active and does more than merely declare someone to be righteous or wicked, but also acts according to that verdict, namely resurrecting Jesus and those who are in his kingdom from the grave.

Then in the second post, Domain and Psalm 72, I discussed the poem in a little bit more depth. But I saw there that the poet prays that Yahweh will expand the borders of the kingdom to include the whole world which would thus bring this saving righteousness of God to the whole world through the king and his kingdom. The wicked of the entire earth will be defeated by God through his king and the righteous poor will be prospered. God grants the king his own righteousness, and then gives the whole world that righteousness by bringing the world under the domain of his king.

In the following post, I want to conclude my look–yes I wrote the first two in August and it’s now March, my timing is off–at Psalm 72, namely Psalm 72:15-19. Read more

James 4 and Psalm 24

sane’, Malachi, and Paul Pt 1

Pre-Pre-load Psalm