Church Blog (Page 9)

Family greetings aside, the kiss as a form of greeting has never been a primary part of traditional American culture, though the culture of the deep south is a bit of an exception. However, we continue to see it practiced today in parts of Europe, especially in the Mediterranean regions. The kiss was a common form of greeting in Bible times and likely practiced similarly to today, namely, a kiss on the cheek or touching of cheeks. This is certainly…

So sang Ricky Nelson in his 1972 hit, “Garden Party.” But Paul had other ideas in Romans 15. Not that we should please everybody (cf Luke 6:26), but we should do our best to live in such a way as to edify our neighbors (v 2). Verse 3 is an interesting statement, as Jesus is held up as the prime example of living to please others. Christ certainly didn’t please everyone, but the welfare and good of others was a…

Continuing our theme of the American mind, we now embark on the journey to self-discipline wherein we intentionally restrict ourselves from practices that are permissible but create difficulties in the consciences of others. One thing that must be established at the outset is that we are not talking about matters of sin. These are matters of liberty and conscience. In days gone by, most Americans were willing to make personal sacrifices and sacrifice personal liberties for the sake of their…

As secularism continues its encroachment upon our society and government, it is difficult for professed believers in America to come to grips with submitting to a government so far removed from its religious moorings. The false claims of infidels and God-haters notwithstanding, America’s roots are firmly in religious thought and expression. But we would do well to remember that the church was born in a time and place that gave her no governmental protections nor any guaranteed liberties. The church…

In Romans 12, Paul transitions from the theology of grace to its practice. (Note the “therefore” in the opening line of verse 1.) To borrow a quote from Spiderman, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Grace is a powerful force, and those who are the recipients of grace are given great responsibility. First and foremost is the responsibility to submit and present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice. Paul describes this as our “reasonable service.” Some versions render this…

Romans 11 is the conclusion of Paul’s excursion into Israel’s rejection of God through their rejection of Christ. Chapter 9 began this exposition of God’s purpose to use Israel’s apostasy and hardness of heart as a means of bringing the Gentiles into God’s final covenant, the gospel of Jesus Christ. In chapter 10 Paul revisits Israel’s pride and false faith in law-keeping (10:1-4, cf 2:17ff) and again shows that all men must be reconciled to God through obedience to the…

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.” So Paul opens the tenth chapter of Romans after lamenting his Jewish brethren’s blind adherence to the law of Moses and rejection of faith in Christ. In this text we find for ourselves a plan for soul winning. Consider the following words and phrases and how each can help us be better soul winners. “My” – Indicates the individual’s responsibility to win souls. The…

A long-time friend and I were discussing God’s sovereignty and how it is manifested in the salvation of men’s souls. He is an ardent Calvinist and I, of course, am repeatedly on record as being an anti-Calvinist. (Note! This does mean I am an Arminian or a Pelagian, but enough of that for now.) As he pressed his argument for hard determinism (God predestined everything that happens and man has no libertarian free will), he said, “I can’t believe you…

Romans 8:28-30 has been a source of theological controversy for nearly five centuries. Many volumes have been written and much preaching and debate has arisen as men seek to impress their views of the text. I would not be so foolish to think I could solve the matter in this five-hundred-word forum. So, I will focus on a single phrase that has unnecessarily caused great distress among professed believers who have no interest in Reformed theology. Romans 8:28 has been…

In extolling the superiority and exclusivity of the gospel of Christ, Paul compared the Law of Moses to a dead husband. While a woman may have once been married to her husband, when he is dead that bond is severed so that she may marry another without being an adulteress. In like fashion, Paul continued, the Law of Moses was to the Jews as a dead husband. Being freed from that law, they were free to be married to another,…