Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12,2 is an important verse which I intend to come back to. I want merely here to draw attention to it. Our minds matter so very much! I want to start this time by telling a funny story: I was talking to a great…
In the last blog post, we talked about sanctification as being a) a consecration – a setting apart – a separation; for the purpose and the service of God (see 1 Cor. 1,30; 6,11; Rom. 1,7; Phil. 1,1 etc.), and b) a process, whereby we are being conformed to the image of his Son. In the mind of Paul, it was unthinkable, but that the latter should be the outcome of the former; that we are set apart for him…
The publication of my next blog post on Romans 8, is due to be published later this week. It would be good if you could read through Romans ch. 1-3, in the meantime. I read through them over the weekend, because I am working on Romans 8. It did me the world of good! Such mighty doctrine – up to the climax of ch. 3,23-25! And great background when looking at ch. 8,3-4. Kđ
âFor by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.âââEph. 2,8-9⏠â Having been saved by grace, we are now not made perfect (or holy) through works of the law. I have described the Christian life as a continuous motion towards the Father; a motion in and by the power of the Spirit! I called this «sanctification»,…
This morning I want to challenge you to see the film Chariots of Fire, from 1981. This is a film which has a lot to teach us about faith. Itâs about two runners who participate in the Olympics in Paris in 1924. One is a Jew, the other is a Christian. It is a true story. It is the Christian, Eric Liddell, who captures my attention. At one point he says, «I want to compare faith to running in a…
We have established then, that the Christian life is not a matter of law-keeping, of trying our best to lead as good a life as possible, in order to please God; holy and righteous though he certainly is. Such an endeavour may seem admirable at first sight. Then when we see this for what it really is, an attempt to establish our own righteousness over against God – to establish some credit with him – we understand that this is…
Just heard the Lord say to me that the world (and that means whoever we meet) needs our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – in this present crisis! It has nothing comparable to offer! See Galatians 5,22! Have a great and safe weekend! đđ
COMING BLOG POSTS PREDOMINANTLY PAULINE 1. A Reflection in 1 Corinthians 8,6 2. Sanctification 3. A Reflection on Romans 8 4. Galatians 5 5. What is the Church? 6. The Christian and the Church 7. The body of Christ and spiritual gifts PREDOMINANTLY JOHANNINE 8. The Prologue, Jn 1,1-18 9. Jesus reveals the Father 10. The New Birth, Jn. 3 11-15. The âI amâ sayings in John: In the Synoptics Jesus preaches the Gospel of the Kingdom. In John, Jesus…
Reading through my last blog: âThe Law and the Christianâ, I have chosen this week to make 3 comments on points I made – points which I felt needed further comment, to avoid misunderstanding. 1. To the statement that Christians have never believed they had to keep the whole Torah: This is true after the final break with Judaism. However, the first Christians did not think they had started a new religion, separate from their ancestral faith, Judaism. They believed…
Twice during Easter I posted a blog about living the Christian life; on the 8th of April, and on the 12th. I was concerned to show that the Christian life is lived by faith, and in the power of the Spirit! I was careful to emphasis this, over against the keeping of law! Of course “the Law” in Paul’s day, could mean the whole Torah, or just the 10 commandments. Christians have never, to my knowledge, thought that the whole…
Hi everyone! This Easter is going to be different for all of us! But we need to stay connected with friends and loved ones now more than ever, via social networks, FaceTime, walks in the woods ( as long as we keep our distance) etc. During Easter, I will be posting daily; that is from Palm Sunday (5th. April) through to Easter Sunday (12th. April). It will be a word of encouragement with a word of Scripture. I will generally…
As humanity seems to be at sea; the wind and the storm raging, it is needful for us to get our eyes off the storm. My Help Comes from the Lord A Song of Ascents. 121 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.6 The sun shall…