INTRODUCTION:Having discussed some of the gifts of the body, Paul moves on to exhort the Roman Christians in how the parts of the body should function together. What does it look like when the saints are being knit together in love, as they ought to be? What does the Spirit do? In Paul, one of …
One Little Word Shall Fell Him
I have written before that the watershed issue for me in the political process is abortion. But that leads immediately to a host of practical questions — is this politician sincere in his pro-life views? If sincere, does he have the horsepower to get anything done about it? Is anything actually going to happen? There …
Our New Covenant Cozies
Luke 9 and 10 contain a striking juxtaposition. In chapter 9 there is that famous incident where Jesus sent messengers ahead of Him into a Samaritan village, and Jesus was not received (9:53). The disciples wanted to call down fire from Heaven, just like Elijah, and torch the place. Jesus said that they did not …
True Members
INTRODUCTION:Paul now moves into a discussion of body life—a theme he treats in detail elsewhere as well (1 Cor. 12-14). This body life is organic and alive, and is not to be confused with simple administrative organization, although it is organized. With living organisms, the organizational principle arises from below, and is not imposed externally. …
A Living Sacrifice
INTRODUCTION: As we have worked through this epistle we have seen certain characteristics of Paul’s turn of mind. We now come to another one, very much in evidence throughout his letters. His pattern of teaching is this—doctrine precedes ethics, and is foundational to it. He teaches us what we must believe (credenda, things to be …
Thinks I Have Thunk
Mars Hill audio is an audio magazine that just celebrated the publication of its 100th edition, and I commend it to you. I listen to it faithfully, and the interviews with numerous authors are really informative, and it is one of my main sources for tips on valuable books to check out. So go ye, …
Theology and Doxology
INTRODUCTION:Paul’s response to the very dense theology he has been working through is to break out into song. His theology bursts forth into doxology. These are not two unrelated things—rightly done, rightly understood, theology leads inexorably to praise. Let’s consider why. THE TEXT:“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of …
Staying on Message
“All the sermons in Acts have one essential point — Jesus Christ is risen from the dead” (Wagner, Tongues Aflame, p. 97).
Deliverance from Zion
INTRODUCTION:We now come to the place where Paul makes his dramatic statement about the future blessedness that awaits Israel. He has shown us that Israel according to the promises must receive the blessings (by definition), but here he is saying that Israel according to the flesh will be included in them as well. How so? …
Hail Marys in Protestant Churches
“There are preachers who make a last ditch effort to make something out of a sermon which was generally disorganized, vague, and lacking biblical content. Such a pastor may recognize (too late) that he isn’t getting anywhere, so he moves into his ‘two-minute offense’, trying to hit pay dirt quickly” (Wagner, Tongues Aflame, p. 84).