tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24020426345615586252024-03-12T19:44:27.162-04:00By The TreeJust thoughts...Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.comBlogger308125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-63044364373746733262024-03-12T14:30:00.007-04:002024-03-12T14:30:44.016-04:00Devotion 64: Apostasy: "Where is God?" (Deuteronomy 2:2,8)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivcDP8Df_JCs23Uo-WKyl0dNxy51VCHPVGWc1eDE6TPClXnWDAlntQzsKOQpBz7Di0XyGN-nnLueH3yQthqmqBszEa3JwmJ8HiH-_dHrV6F8bUZB_UIlUcCGLaAqbBXgCgvDx3mF2gDEgs2fsv6kZjTzI8Pvkdls9U_SgLo_mqbOqW08xvEdli89_w7s1t" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="406" data-original-width="720" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivcDP8Df_JCs23Uo-WKyl0dNxy51VCHPVGWc1eDE6TPClXnWDAlntQzsKOQpBz7Di0XyGN-nnLueH3yQthqmqBszEa3JwmJ8HiH-_dHrV6F8bUZB_UIlUcCGLaAqbBXgCgvDx3mF2gDEgs2fsv6kZjTzI8Pvkdls9U_SgLo_mqbOqW08xvEdli89_w7s1t=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-25574657081936325212024-01-16T20:45:00.004-05:002024-02-10T08:34:49.406-05:00Review: The Myth of Pelagianism
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40009596"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40009596"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40009596"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40009596">The Myth of Pelagianism</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17995033">Ali Bonner</a></div></div>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6176189920">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br />
<div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-H7OYPKqC4yvrqmgqSAuTi8bapEzMtbOJ92PTTUQ8DoFn864a8z89DvFUHgo_4wF4S8IYUyRjjZa-jtHOGvwAalm7sODKtYDu07U9ccxPCnE8xVlpLrjpH8T_IurerW-wxAeQvjvtjwM6i1LmKW7Kk4pA64NRMBKPLYisHFEl02FWPwdjhhynBCWtH2f/s400/40009596.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="270" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-H7OYPKqC4yvrqmgqSAuTi8bapEzMtbOJ92PTTUQ8DoFn864a8z89DvFUHgo_4wF4S8IYUyRjjZa-jtHOGvwAalm7sODKtYDu07U9ccxPCnE8xVlpLrjpH8T_IurerW-wxAeQvjvtjwM6i1LmKW7Kk4pA64NRMBKPLYisHFEl02FWPwdjhhynBCWtH2f/s320/40009596.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br />Bonner convincingly shows just how the opponents of Pelagius had misrepresented him, painting him as a heretic when his ascetic teachings were more consistent with the ruling contemporary views of the Christian faith and more in line with Christian antiquity than even the teachings of his opponents. Bonner says, "The aim of this book is to show that Pelagianism never existed" (p.xvii), that is, that Pelagius teachings were mischaracterized in order for their opponents, mainly Augustine (who changed his views regarding human free will as a consequence of his attacks against Pelagius) and Jerome (who turned away from certain theological views he shared with Pelagius, which he once held, in order not be labelled a heretic), to secure the charge of heresy against him and set up their own novel theological views, e.g., predestination as foreordination. An excellent and eye-opening read for anyone who views Pelagianism as a teaching in opposition to the Christian faith.</div></div><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6176189920">View all my reviews</a>
Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-64834839288363145202023-11-09T19:33:00.004-05:002024-01-16T20:46:37.684-05:00Review: Jacob Arminius: Theologian of Grace
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13689925">Jacob Arminius: Theologian of Grace</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/885970">Keith D. Stanglin</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5965990483">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxc-_KGUVSh2lOUHYmEY464UgdHq0qaESNNUnOneCLXyzTKG5KCP43_G59ads7W4mUJAhOPEyNF-atGi78EG111j2l2s9STDUq9AExAgRoqCN98ECRzSSVjXO3XtCB45gXAt_SZLfPE7xhi_Mz3ysudELJ8IHx8tYnTHDCNfwm1aIf4umz2d0zRufhiDi/s445/41MW-+4UWGL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="296" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxc-_KGUVSh2lOUHYmEY464UgdHq0qaESNNUnOneCLXyzTKG5KCP43_G59ads7W4mUJAhOPEyNF-atGi78EG111j2l2s9STDUq9AExAgRoqCN98ECRzSSVjXO3XtCB45gXAt_SZLfPE7xhi_Mz3ysudELJ8IHx8tYnTHDCNfwm1aIf4umz2d0zRufhiDi/s320/41MW-+4UWGL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div>Excellent overview for a proper understanding Arminius' theology and the reasons why he opposed the Reformed Calvinism of his day.</div><div><br /></div><div>The chapter contents listed in the book are as follows:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. The Making of a Theologian, where the authors rehearse Arminius' personal life and the various perspectives others have had concerning his person, work, and influence.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. God and Creation, whereby Arminius' theology is grounded.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Providence and Predestination, wherein the authors start getting into the nitty-gritty (so to speak) of Arminius' theology in opposition to Calvinism. What is very interesting are the authors' 7 pages discussing "Providence and Evil" with respect to the divine permission.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. Sin and Salvation, where he argues that (unlike Calvinism) God's "only role" sinful behavior is "permitting humanity to exercise free will and power" (p.143).</div><div><br /></div><div>This is a book is for both non-Calvinist and Calvinists interested in the Calvinist–Arminian controversy, for the purpose of clarifying and correcting one's understanding of Arminian theology.</div><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5965990483">View all my reviews</a>
Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-9792034877307762282023-11-02T11:40:00.003-04:002024-02-04T15:19:58.947-05:00War is Absurd<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="font-family: Chalkduster; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The Absurdity of War</b></span></p><p style="font-family: Chalkduster; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8V2prAH9ZCaYmIJuqNuKg0YFKPd8qM7GcJFNSTXQWucGcvCZdtfQ3zshkJG4lV5N6yibMdJHrv2mgn1ekdNcbJZ9js2qRZ4IBfTnUWaQtiCDvKZLYxQndhmUTW1QiccWWyU_XosudHpczzAyeB7fp-USL_ky5vz8F6kBmSqkis5nJqkFvXtKuj4pkyhNm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2560" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8V2prAH9ZCaYmIJuqNuKg0YFKPd8qM7GcJFNSTXQWucGcvCZdtfQ3zshkJG4lV5N6yibMdJHrv2mgn1ekdNcbJZ9js2qRZ4IBfTnUWaQtiCDvKZLYxQndhmUTW1QiccWWyU_XosudHpczzAyeB7fp-USL_ky5vz8F6kBmSqkis5nJqkFvXtKuj4pkyhNm=w640-h386" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEdODmK53-EfxwWrDbWWJZ1n8s_HWXyj1TCyle2H0UjY7_kIvW6kYFHqFyTlyJnVokjanBeKsrGXI7kUO7k4s7BtQsyk0K4nSpq_SPLfY1d3TE0tSrmH8W5MO7l0RMF-galkEYCcZ1zKvfEOUlUeLgJRRNRP8dXrdCok43Ru3xVO2nKUd5SKZMCuW_73be"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Someone had stated that they have no sympathy for either side in the war Israel is now engaged in against the Palestinian terrorist group, Hamas, whose primary goal is the extermination of the Jewish race. They said this because Israel bombed a Palestinian refugee camp killing at least 50 people. Israel made a statement that they bombed the camp in order to kill a high-ranking Hamas military official hiding in it, who was involved planning the October 7th, brutal cross-border attack against the Israeli population, killing, kidnapping, and torturing Jewish civilians indiscriminately, men, women, and children alike. PBS news reported,</span><span style="font-family: Times;"> “More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, most of them civilians slain in the initial Oct. 7 Hamas rampage that started the fighting. In addition, around 240 hostages were taken from Israel into Gaza by the militant group.”</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;">I was a bit surprised that anyone would equate what Israel did as being in the same playing field as Hamas when the former is the defender, while the latter is the bloodthirsty and savage aggressor.</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;">Then I started thinking…</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;">Every war has atrocities. War itself is an atrocity. That's not meant to dilute the horrible and cruel acts of violence men commit against each other, only to state that it is a fact. But I think the burden of any guilt needs to fall on the aggressors, not the defenders. That's just my simplistic opinion because, when you come down to the nitty-gritty, war is complicated nonsense.</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Whether one is of the opinion that Israel committed an inexcusable war crime against Palestinian refugees, what about the atrocities Hamas has committed against it's own Palestinian people by deliberately putting civilians in harms way by using them as shields, soldiers hiding among the civilian population, refugee camps included, and placing their military hardware in civilian areas like schools and hospitals?</p><p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">See: </span><a href="https://stratcomcoe.org/cuploads/pfiles/hamas_human_shields.pdf"><span style="font-size: medium;">https://stratcomcoe.org/cuploads/pfiles/hamas_human_shields.pdf</span></a></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Here's what I read regarding the recent bombing of the refugee camp by an Arab news website:</p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/1/israels-deadly-attack-on-the-jabalia-refugee-camp-what-we-know-so-far">https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/1/israels-deadly-attack-on-the-jabalia-refugee-camp-what-we-know-so-far</a></span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;">What is Israel to do in such a conflict? She's damned if she doesn't and damned if she does. Either way, Israel is between a political rock and a hard place in this war, in any war of defense it has been forced to engage in. In war, what are felt to be necessary military actions of self defense are difficult to make that satisfies the world community, which has its own contradictory sense of morality in war.</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;">Maybe the Israeli action is reprehensible, but war itself, in the first place, especially on the side of the aggressor, is reprehensible. However, is what Israel did in the context of defense any more reprehensible than what Hamas arbitrarily does to its own Palestinian civilians and, especially, to Jews, as they have shown on October 7th?</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;">I am of the opinion that if we were attacked by Mexico the way Hamas attacked Israel, and we had the opportunity to bomb Mexico City, despite the civilians living there, in order to end the war, you wouldn't get many, if any, complaints of atrocities committed by the U.S. from its citizens. Just think. We bombed Japan! Although the extent of the atomic bomb's devastation to Japan's civilian population in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were frightfully horrendous, it stopped the war. Without that unconscionable act, the war could have continued with millions more civilians being killed by the aggressor, Japan. While 108,000 thousand Japanese civilians were killed by the atomic bomb, the "Japanese murdered 30 million civilians while 'liberating' what it called the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere from colonial rule. About 23 million of these were ethnic Chinese.”</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">What I'm saying is not a matter of taking sides, although, I will side with the victim rather than the aggressor; for example, I side with Ukraine rather the with Putin, despite claims made accusing Ukraine of war crimes:</p><p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/04/09/ukraine-s-military-accused-of-war-crimes-against-russian-troop_5980121_4.html"><span style="font-size: medium;">https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/04/09/ukraine-s-military-accused-of-war-crimes-against-russian-troop_5980121_4.html</span></a></span><span style="color: #0000e9; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 24px;">I'm just stating the facts: war is ugly and if you want it to cease, the only way it will cease is not by humanitarian acts of kindness, but by either the victim being more aggressive than the aggressor or the aggressor overpowering its victim (probably with the help of those crying out against how unjustly the victim is waging the war, as if there is something befitting and just when people, who have no real personal quarrel with each other, start killing each other).</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;">If you want justice, wait till the war is over and then, perhaps, we can sort things out between those who committed "war crimes" by killing illegally and those who killed legally (can't we see how absurd that sounds?!).</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;">As a Christian, one thing I find absurd about war, among many other things, is something like I saw when I was a kid in the Bushwick area of Brooklyn, NY. I would see Italians and Puerto Ricans fight for possession of Maria Hernandez Park (formerly, Knickerbocker Park). All I could think of, even as a preteen, was how stupid they all were. The Park did not nor ever will belong to either one of them; it belongs to the city.</p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;">It is the same absurdity with both Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine and Hamas’ genocidal aggression against Israel. The land these aggressors seek to own will never be in their possession because, “The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein all belong to he Lord” (Psalm 24:1-2).</p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEdODmK53-EfxwWrDbWWJZ1n8s_HWXyj1TCyle2H0UjY7_kIvW6kYFHqFyTlyJnVokjanBeKsrGXI7kUO7k4s7BtQsyk0K4nSpq_SPLfY1d3TE0tSrmH8W5MO7l0RMF-galkEYCcZ1zKvfEOUlUeLgJRRNRP8dXrdCok43Ru3xVO2nKUd5SKZMCuW_73be"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1667" data-original-width="2500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEdODmK53-EfxwWrDbWWJZ1n8s_HWXyj1TCyle2H0UjY7_kIvW6kYFHqFyTlyJnVokjanBeKsrGXI7kUO7k4s7BtQsyk0K4nSpq_SPLfY1d3TE0tSrmH8W5MO7l0RMF-galkEYCcZ1zKvfEOUlUeLgJRRNRP8dXrdCok43Ru3xVO2nKUd5SKZMCuW_73be=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></div><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-49293448133051277382023-10-27T10:59:00.006-04:002023-10-27T10:59:58.484-04:00Devotion 63: God's Timing (1 Corinthians 6:2)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikoaqshzp33i5j_K1SAed89bp43l942gIoRvalxR9k4Dna-hIcxDY_KG0LG5o1o1X58RxRoXAcc0YBOvqZo8CkLTYK7Xr273HB6b0i9qtpoEdsULOxh8ksnI2-z_38zHYlJxhCohUbYAnsS_kqBrk7VHEHIuBhY6cL8kbUEmK_SdqoC9gYn_uoAPW_Mv7k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="460" data-original-width="833" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikoaqshzp33i5j_K1SAed89bp43l942gIoRvalxR9k4Dna-hIcxDY_KG0LG5o1o1X58RxRoXAcc0YBOvqZo8CkLTYK7Xr273HB6b0i9qtpoEdsULOxh8ksnI2-z_38zHYlJxhCohUbYAnsS_kqBrk7VHEHIuBhY6cL8kbUEmK_SdqoC9gYn_uoAPW_Mv7k=w640-h354" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-74990411119351454012023-10-22T18:15:00.003-04:002023-10-22T18:21:42.867-04:00Review: Jesus the Miracle Worker: A Historical & Theological Study<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/316595"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/316595"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFG1HYAUJNd5_4fmcNMuoyAHfb-acy5mPFMa9o8uDsL_r3GUPPOrA50a4Kvltflzs0q5kJt6aqXwivfB4pqdBC0uRPa9ELBW06HqhLxHzIdHt6NvoEdxkAozcL5cyfIF4yAS6pV-BnPmT6LRxOD0n0VXSftvNkpn1T_zsMFaQBwMATWgVo7bOX2NFQ91qS/s1360/712jUQAarBL._SL1360_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="907" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFG1HYAUJNd5_4fmcNMuoyAHfb-acy5mPFMa9o8uDsL_r3GUPPOrA50a4Kvltflzs0q5kJt6aqXwivfB4pqdBC0uRPa9ELBW06HqhLxHzIdHt6NvoEdxkAozcL5cyfIF4yAS6pV-BnPmT6LRxOD0n0VXSftvNkpn1T_zsMFaQBwMATWgVo7bOX2NFQ91qS/s320/712jUQAarBL._SL1360_.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Jesus the Miracle Worker: A Historical & Theological Study by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/104730">Graham H. Twelftree</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5926002420">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Excellent read concerning the miracles and healing if Jesus thoroughly looked at and discusses the reliability of it being an actual event in the life of Jesus and their meaning. The author covers every miraculous, exorcism, and healing event recorded in the Bible one by one.<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5926002420">View all my reviews</a>
Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-31648023025527784812023-09-30T19:18:00.007-04:002024-02-09T21:09:04.371-05:00Devotion 62: Free from Sin (John 8:35-36)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgess8XqUsUrMcSY73tcuPo4tnkNZ4D9a0w9_d5u09stWMS69EaTpfUdoWBSIgy1z4dTE63XatwAcXDGEvI0jYTrHBGtu73U8Ljm4gkSXwdUZte02HqX3UkOXf9mwJAb1m-kVLQwRw5jqc1DKabEzp_M7WLO-GhSnBHUlWkxFlKB6iSFQzMoQD-Qn7w4s5E/s1200/6705-gettyimages-manopjk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgess8XqUsUrMcSY73tcuPo4tnkNZ4D9a0w9_d5u09stWMS69EaTpfUdoWBSIgy1z4dTE63XatwAcXDGEvI0jYTrHBGtu73U8Ljm4gkSXwdUZte02HqX3UkOXf9mwJAb1m-kVLQwRw5jqc1DKabEzp_M7WLO-GhSnBHUlWkxFlKB6iSFQzMoQD-Qn7w4s5E/w640-h334/6705-gettyimages-manopjk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">Short thought on What It Means to be</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #660000; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Free from Sin</b></span></span></p><div data-block="true" data-editor="ao26b" data-offset-key="cgv67-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cgv67-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">First of all, there is no such thing as "sinless perfection" since we have already sinned. So, that phrase is misapplied.</span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cgv67-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cgv67-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Second, to commit sin is always a possibility, regardless of one's advance in the Christian life. However the Cross of Christ not only provided forgiveness for sin but deliverance from sin, thus rendering the commitment of sin neither inevitable nor necessary.</span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ao26b" data-offset-key="4g38q-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4g38q-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4g38q-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Note, 1 John 2:1 is not translated as "WHEN anyone sins" but "<i>if</i> anyone sins" (NASB).</span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ao26b" data-offset-key="7p8pg-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7p8pg-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="7p8pg-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ao26b" data-offset-key="d60v3-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d60v3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="d60v3-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Also, we read in Luke 1:74-75 that Christ is God's fulfillment of His promise to Abraham in order that we, after having been delivered from enemies, "might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him <i>all our days</i>."</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ao26b" data-offset-key="3oavo-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3oavo-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3oavo-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ao26b" data-offset-key="9vsoj-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9vsoj-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="9vsoj-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Again, I repeat, this all is not to say that one is guaranteed to never sin or that sinning is impossible; it is to say that to sin is neither the natural course of the Christian life for the one who truly believes, nor is it something that the Christian must inevitably and necessarily commit, whether in thought, word, or deed.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ao26b" data-offset-key="e6omq-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e6omq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="e6omq-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ao26b" data-offset-key="b4at0-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b4at0-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="b4at0-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">For the person who is sinning only demonstrates that he is a slave to sin; but if the Son sets a person free, then that person is truly free (John 8:35-36).</span></span></div></div>Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-5275010832536433742023-08-06T00:40:00.003-04:002023-08-06T00:40:54.039-04:00Debate: God's Eternity<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbkmuesL1Lg_W2Fc7RL1nThfKqS-i__We5hCaDQJ-xJyWhnRqnqAi_faNFjks_kKv5tsz1EpAsAg7g4cFQGk3SsJHaQ0spvqNEKyCPch-FmyA4nuNjrVaXVQIJeCgHan-Nx2tFAsFEPyAmt054xBzELU6AGMtdNHduYHbTTS7R4BsYNTT5M_Tpo2RkVhd/s833/360_F_360439304_oLSSRG4ATIxg2my2dtFoqVWI0Zbo8c1n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="833" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbkmuesL1Lg_W2Fc7RL1nThfKqS-i__We5hCaDQJ-xJyWhnRqnqAi_faNFjks_kKv5tsz1EpAsAg7g4cFQGk3SsJHaQ0spvqNEKyCPch-FmyA4nuNjrVaXVQIJeCgHan-Nx2tFAsFEPyAmt054xBzELU6AGMtdNHduYHbTTS7R4BsYNTT5M_Tpo2RkVhd/w640-h276/360_F_360439304_oLSSRG4ATIxg2my2dtFoqVWI0Zbo8c1n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><b>1 Kings 8:12; 1 Timothy 6:16</b></span></div><p></p><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="fcnca-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fcnca-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="fcnca-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">On a Facebook debate group, someone, apparently an atheist, posted comments to the effect that if one conceives of an eternally existent being, his nature would necessarily be "undetermined, random, and without purpose."</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="4k7v1-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4k7v1-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="4k7v1-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="1efdr-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1efdr-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="1efdr-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">After responding to what I thought were assumptions that did not necessarily follow the idea of an eternally existent being, someone responded to me saying, in part, "what would be [this eternal being's] motivation for doing or creating anything? I honestly can't fathom the idea that God came from nothing and somehow advocated for good, all from his own volition. I don't even get the concept. But, maybe I'm just that simple minded."</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="2ranf-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2ranf-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="2ranf-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="5nc1i-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5nc1i-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="5nc1i-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">It gave me the opportunity to think a little beyond my usual surmises and come up with a coherent way to uphold God's eternal nature without lessening his nature as wholly good, wise, and purposeful. I hope I have succeeded.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="5omir-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5omir-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="5omir-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="h1ll-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="h1ll-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="h1ll-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">I thought posting my response to that person here might be of interest to others. I inserted the questioner's comments in brackets //like this//.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="7n6kh-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7n6kh-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="7n6kh-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="9cihq-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9cihq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="9cihq-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">So here below is how I replied:</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="foqu2-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="foqu2-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="foqu2-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="7uuut-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7uuut-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="7uuut-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">//I don't even get the concept [of an eternally existent being]. But, maybe I'm just that simple minded.//</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="f42t7-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f42t7-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="f42t7-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="fk8tg-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fk8tg-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="fk8tg-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Not at all.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="7665q-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7665q-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="7665q-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="ejb0q-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ejb0q-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="ejb0q-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Eternity is hard to contemplate considering the extreme finitude of our minds compared to it. The concept of eternal existence is incomprehensible. Such a concept is so high, it may be why atheists reject it, that is, because our minds cannot break out beyond the walls of its room.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="9363j-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9363j-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="9363j-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="63pkk-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="63pkk-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="63pkk-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">If such a being, a maximal, intelligent, personal being of eternal existence above whom there is no other, he would be as one who is surrounded by a thick darkness and yet lives in unapproachable light; therefore, rendering it absolutely necessary that, if such a supreme being exists, he must take the initiative to disclose himself to us and absolutely necessary for us to surrender to that self-disclosure rather than conceive from our own limited conception of reality, what would such a being like.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="cd4bv-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cd4bv-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="cd4bv-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="bnl8s-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bnl8s-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="bnl8s-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">//I honestly can't fathom the idea that God came from nothing//</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="althk-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="althk-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="althk-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="ch675-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ch675-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="ch675-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">An eternally existent being does not come from nothing; nothing did not exist until he created. He is the creator of something and nothing, for example, planets, stars, as well as space; perhaps, it can be likened to the construction of two buildings side by side with an alleyway in-between. There would be the empty space in the alleyway and the empty spaces in the rooms, by virtue of the way the buildings were constructed (but, of course, there could be the notion that nothing is something, that there is no such thing as absolute emptiness for, perhaps, something exists that we are unable to conceive of or see. But I digress).</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="dm4bd-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dm4bd-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="dm4bd-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="8kh4h-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8kh4h-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="8kh4h-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">As maximal, intelligent, personal being of eternal existence of which there is none greater, he is necessarily existence itself. Before him, for a lack of a better word, there was "nothing" but him, yet, even "nothing" had no existence until he created; he was all and all.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="cjcai-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cjcai-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="cjcai-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="dttk-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dttk-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="dttk-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">//what would be "it's" motivation for doing or creating anything?//</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="dli6-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dli6-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="dli6-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="r3ab-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="r3ab-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="r3ab-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">First of all, as an intelligent being, he is not an "it" but a Person, yet not as we would conceive what is a "person"; he is a person maximally eternally beyond what we know of is a person, although, we are given to know grasp some aspects of his being as a person.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="27hik-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="27hik-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="27hik-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="d66uv-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d66uv-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="d66uv-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Second, it is the necessary and natural activity of a maximal, intelligent, personal being of eternal existence to create. Why do we create? Is it not because it is inbred in us to create; human creativity is natural, instinctive. It is in our DNA to create.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="99evl-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="99evl-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="99evl-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="405ep-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="405ep-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="405ep-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Third, such a supreme being above which there is no other and none greater creates because he loves to create and loves what he creates and always seeks to communicate good to his creation. Humanity creates not just because it is instinctive in us to do so, but because we love to create and we love what we have created.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="7st26-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7st26-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="7st26-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="dulg9-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dulg9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="dulg9-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">As a religious and wise Jew once said:</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="4qeas-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4qeas-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="4qeas-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="2q3g4-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2q3g4-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="2q3g4-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Oh, the depth of the riches</span></i></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="btt2k-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="btt2k-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="btt2k-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"> of the wisdom and knowledge of God!</span></i></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="cdsnk-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cdsnk-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="cdsnk-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"> How unsearchable his judgments,</span></i></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="f46pr-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f46pr-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="f46pr-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"> and his paths beyond tracing out!</span></i></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="55caq-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="55caq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="55caq-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"> Who has known the mind of the Lord?</span></i></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="4fvml-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4fvml-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="4fvml-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"> Or who has been his counselor?</span></i></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="60jcq-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="60jcq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="60jcq-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"> Who has ever given to God,</span></i></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="10omh-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="10omh-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="10omh-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"> that God should repay them?</span></i></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="1scg9-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1scg9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="1scg9-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"> For from him and through him and for him are all things.</span></i></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="5qga8-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5qga8-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="5qga8-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"> To him be the glory forever! Amen.</span></i></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="a5buu-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a5buu-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="a5buu-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2rjbe" data-offset-key="4m5g-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4m5g-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="4m5g-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Romans 11:33-36</span></span></div></div>Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-59307546670093620152023-05-21T21:29:00.003-04:002023-06-19T17:17:04.515-04:00Review: The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54860220" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1612742047l/54860220._SX98_.jpg" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54860220">The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/184936">Carol Anderson</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5565638965">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
An eye-opening book on the relationship between the 2nd Amendment and racism. Carol Anderson shows how racism is embedded in the Amendment, and thus in the Constitution, and the cruelty that went with racism and the hypocrisy regarding how the 2nd Amendment was used or not used in American courts of law to benefit Whites and how it was used against Blacks to control them. The author very convincingly starts from America's founding to today, showing the role played by racism in the formulation and ratification of the Constitution and the 2nd Amendment. A required read for all who cherish the ideals embedded in the U.S. Constitution without hypocrisy and, especially, the 2nd Amendment, while not a divine right, yet a right that should be for all American citizens, white and black and every color in-between.<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5565638965">View all my reviews</a>
Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-45894497485720608172023-03-10T11:08:00.007-05:002023-04-30T11:44:27.605-04:00Devotion 61: God Loves YOU!<p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3smByzNAAQqmWqkxGv8eUbPW-KqHAks_brD3l2URDD0RDNB7a5Z86V_9PJnhrdtagY21lOvs93bykJhWcjPzPSPpAeDt8IjvNZQF8-L19S3tpaiVjo63E0KkUD97bl8aECeL76Ibt01QMnOwNyHxr2CFaMfAgfnZvssPM_YicQ-SgQ0jKt0QMuKB_yA/s1280/3480602438_f49b0c6320_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1280" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3smByzNAAQqmWqkxGv8eUbPW-KqHAks_brD3l2URDD0RDNB7a5Z86V_9PJnhrdtagY21lOvs93bykJhWcjPzPSPpAeDt8IjvNZQF8-L19S3tpaiVjo63E0KkUD97bl8aECeL76Ibt01QMnOwNyHxr2CFaMfAgfnZvssPM_YicQ-SgQ0jKt0QMuKB_yA/w640-h429/3480602438_f49b0c6320_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">In a Bible Study I attended, the text taught on was John 13, with the emphasis that Jesus loved his disciples to the end and, thereby, washed the disciples feet. The concluding remark was, "Jesus loves YOU," a point he seems to have stressed in order to strengthen our faith in God's ever-embracing love for each one of us.</span><p></p><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="6n8av-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6n8av-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="6n8av-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">However, without at all disagreeing with the teaching and the stress being made, my mind wandered into an additional, if not slightly different, perspective about God's love that I think, is missed a lot, especially considering the individualism emphasized in our Western culture.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="7r8bn-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7r8bn-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="7r8bn-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="auu71-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="auu71-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="auu71-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">A father has five sons. The youngest sees his father cruelly treat his four older siblings day in and day out. The father comes to his youngest son and tells him, "I love you." Do you think the youngest child will have any confidence in the father's words?</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="6qs4t-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6qs4t-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="6qs4t-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="5nue1-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5nue1-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="5nue1-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">In my opinion, I doubt it very much. Chances are he won't have any confidence in the father's declaration of love because he has seen that kind of "love" demonstrated towards his siblings.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="4nn78-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4nn78-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="4nn78-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="3p1gd-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3p1gd-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="3p1gd-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">So, it is with the Church. Confidence in God's love is realized and secured within the context of the whole; that is, God's love for us as individuals can only be rightly discerned within the context of what one sees of God's love as demonstrated in and for the Church.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="12s34-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="12s34-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="12s34-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="a3gaa-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a3gaa-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="a3gaa-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Divine love is first, "in Christ," which is the corporate identity of the people of God. The Bible portrays Christ as dying for a people, which are made up of individuals, nevertheless, the individual is identified by the group. God views us individually but within a corporate context as the "people of God" (Judges 20:2; Hebrews 4:9).</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="4571f-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4571f-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="4571f-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="8j6n7-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8j6n7-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="8j6n7-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">In Romans 1:6, Paul says to the believers in Rome, "you also are <i>the called</i> of Jesus Christ." The "you" in Greek is plural, like the Southern saying, "y'all." We are corporately identified as "the called." Each one of us having individually come to Christ, having heard and responded positively to His call, are identified as "the called" on a corporate basis by virtue of our union "in Christ." No one is portrayed in the Bible, to my knowledge, in union with Christ merely as an individual on their own. However, while we each as individuals come to Christ, nevertheless, no one is identified as "the called" merely on an individual basis.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="b3lcb-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b3lcb-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="b3lcb-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="f1hli-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f1hli-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="f1hli-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Paul writes, "Do you not know that you [plural] are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you [plural]," not only individually but, also collectively; "If any man," referring to those individuals who sought to usurp Paul's spiritual authority and bring division within the community of believers, "destroys the temple of God," that is, the believing community as a whole and not merely as individuals, "God will destroy him" [singular], for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you [plural] are."</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="4itmn-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4itmn-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="4itmn-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="v850-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="v850-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="v850-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">The person who seeks the destruction of one or a few, seeks the destruction of all, since all believers together comprise the temple of God.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="dn33n-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dn33n-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="dn33n-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="6r2tk-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6r2tk-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="6r2tk-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">In 1 Corinthians 6:19 the reference is to the individual believer, nevertheless, the "you" is plural suggesting, unless I'm mistaken, each person is individually connected as members of Christ.</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6r2tk-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="6r2tk-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6r2tk-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="6r2tk-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">In verse 1 Corinthians 6:15, reference is to removing oneself from that membership by going outside, as an individual or a group and reverting back to a life of sin: </span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-large;">"take away the members [plural] of Christ."</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-large;"> The emphasis seems to be that, while each member is a temple of God unto themselves, nevertheless, it is all of them together that form a corporate whole, they are all members of one community. It's like local Christian churches in an American city, although they are separate and distinct from each other, each possessing the Spirit of God, nevertheless, each one is a member of the worldwide community of believers of God in local churches all over the world, all are "in Christ."</span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="5id1g-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5id1g-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="5id1g-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="84uoe-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="84uoe-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="84uoe-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">On the whole, it seems to me that when the inspired authors of the Bible, contemplated believers, they did so more from a corporate perspective rather than merely an individual perspective.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="6cdgb-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6cdgb-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="6cdgb-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="cpud9-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cpud9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="cpud9-0-0"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">In conclusion, it seems to me that our experiential knowledge of God's love in Christ for each one of us might always be deficient if we don't take into consideration God's love for all men and, especially, those of the believing community. One major way we can know God loves us is by seeing how the Bible depicts God's love for all and how it is actualized in the lives of those around us.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ecihh" data-offset-key="abuks-0-0"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-68511374893360838242023-02-28T09:36:00.003-05:002023-02-28T09:39:06.795-05:00Review: The Burned-Over District: The Social and Intellectual History of Enthusiastic Religion in Western New York, 1800-1850<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1891910"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1891910"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EHKxKPSPJn8jLcWJEwaw5di_DQ0k1spJWilXcJHFl3GsEerSXTt7u_C-yG1q1a0PckY6n6-TBa8_nmQ2zqznw2OrEjSUU1Z9-_Oa8vxoW4yVMACMM6MeJNeNe6Q6CaePVhIRr5J4Rx_PDhcig0mKzNraY1qvnch0fW6zcD9VeH34ImGSCCwUyc1pJQ/s500/51wUI7TE6hL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EHKxKPSPJn8jLcWJEwaw5di_DQ0k1spJWilXcJHFl3GsEerSXTt7u_C-yG1q1a0PckY6n6-TBa8_nmQ2zqznw2OrEjSUU1Z9-_Oa8vxoW4yVMACMM6MeJNeNe6Q6CaePVhIRr5J4Rx_PDhcig0mKzNraY1qvnch0fW6zcD9VeH34ImGSCCwUyc1pJQ/s320/51wUI7TE6hL.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>The Burned-Over District: The Social and Intellectual History of Enthusiastic Religion in Western New York, 1800-1850 by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/861745">Whitney R. Cross</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5379448669">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
In my opinion, we cannot understood the religious attitude of the today's Christian mind and the political culture without referring back to the "burned-over district," even after 170 years! 1800 to 1850 seems to be a time of Christian revival and extremism, religious enthusiasm, rise in political engagement against the culture, and the birth of various "christian" cults, some that still exist or have influence today, including fanaticism with respect to the Millennium. Reading this book, I could not help but realize that revival is even more complicated, vulnerable, and susceptible to the surrounding cultural and political environment than I could have ever guessed. Anyone who has any real interest in American revivals needs to read this.<br /><br />By the way, Cross discusses revivals under Finney in a somewhat extensive manner (which is why I bought the book but, reading it, got more than I bargained for).
<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5379448669">View all my reviews</a>
Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-6047094209537382822023-02-09T11:19:00.006-05:002023-06-09T12:50:45.633-04:00John 3:16: "God Does NOT Love ALL Men"?<p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkkMg3jOi7FKhD0atZhAvFtHnujH31TieonWYUKwqDpfLzDUkP6sNZF2B831tsX6FtQupaSlil-x-w-ZOT1T1hRPmIpFMmaEkthRnvedJsPfdSAmayZfypTol6JHs3KAQEBKgKSoUJgnhRBLXWZWK1YrhQVNNuh4SvysfRmfGoPOhR9PnEPld8dosCg/s1200/14535-istockgetty-images-plusartisteer-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1200" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkkMg3jOi7FKhD0atZhAvFtHnujH31TieonWYUKwqDpfLzDUkP6sNZF2B831tsX6FtQupaSlil-x-w-ZOT1T1hRPmIpFMmaEkthRnvedJsPfdSAmayZfypTol6JHs3KAQEBKgKSoUJgnhRBLXWZWK1YrhQVNNuh4SvysfRmfGoPOhR9PnEPld8dosCg/w640-h338/14535-istockgetty-images-plusartisteer-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I feel very strongly in my heart that this needs to be put out there.</span></div><p></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A Calvinist claims that, </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">God is not the savior of ALL Mankind or the world or every individual because</span></span></b></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>God doesn't Love ALL men."</b></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I <span><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>don't understand how any Calvinist (although, not all) can read the Bible and claim something wholly contrary to its unambiguous reading.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I think John 4:42 and 1 John 4:14 clearly contradict the claim that God is "<i>not</i> the savior of... world," specifically not only naming Jesus as the "Savior of the world" but saying that it is precisely for this purpose John testifies "the Father has sent the Son" in order "to be the Savior of the world" (cp. 1 John 2:2; John 3:16).</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The claim that "God is not the savior of ALL Mankind" is, again, refuted by Biblical revelation:</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">(a) especially since "world," at least in the texts I've mentioned, means "the inhabitants of the earth; humanity" (Thayer).</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">(b) Paul specifically states that the saving kindness appeared because of His love for mankind (3:4).</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">(c) In Acts we read that James, the leader of the Jerusalem congregation stated that the future restoration of Jerusalem is precisely "so that the rest of Mankind may seek the Lord" (Acts 15:16-17).</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">(d) And, that God "determined" the "appointed times and the boundaries" of Mankind, precisely so that men and women "would seek God, if perhaps they might... find Him" (Acts 17:27).</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">That "God is not the savior of... every individual" is, again proven contrary to Biblical revelation, which is authoritative for faith and practice, where we read Paul telling the church in Rome that "Christ died for the ungodly"; and, since all individual men are ungodly –– "For God has shut up all in disobedience" –– Christ died for all men as individuals –– "that He may show mercy to all" (Romans 5:6; 11:32).</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">To claim "God doesn't Love ALL men" is such an egregious misstatement, that it practically comes close to blaspheming the Word of God because it impugns the divine character; but what does the Bible say? "For God so loved the world" (John 3:16; 1 John 3:2), that is, "world" referring to "the inhabitants of the earth, humanity" (Thayer). Even Calvinist D.A. Carson (along with John Piper and Calvin!) refutes the notion "world" in John 3:16 means "the elect" or "believers only," saying that to limit it to "the elect" simply "will not do" (see: <span><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbarrywallace.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F03%2F19%2Fcalvin-carson-and-piper-on-john-316%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3nDqr20uMwaDlIc75_M0DlisOdr67eeSSZ-3SIA6AF_419rQ3Tf-01xR8&h=AT1AJO3D3467ebqcamCKaartS1OF2ZiFKf5emATmI8TEk9kuGAjuhSTOBRoXsO_eokUamglYHNz1Onzn4AtYUB9B6ihnJUc9QbzXHA1Q_fFJN31msVT3KbwHZAiKBG8BpJ2OklqQpaooK_0mQ6WVFxwAYw&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT1n5lBYSJatvlehZwUkxq8WMfbKU6Fld7prbQ7FDW7E9uw7lbFF5d3guX5hC1d2e4Iv3wCrhrckC8q3oxCEh0Ba-Zxm8S1skXmH3sAVfTTryQbSLTxh_q_iQgFoRItxvPSoSLxQnX7oJGQV51O2cQmnXA" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--blue-link); cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://barrywallace.wordpress.com/.../calvin-carson-and.../</a></span>).</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Also, Calvinist Leon Morris states, "It is a distinctively Christian idea that God's love is wide enough to embrace all people, His love is not confined to any national group or spiritual elite." Morris also quoting Calvinist FF Bruce, writes, "If there is one sentence more than another which sums up the message of the Fourth Gospel, it is [John 3:16]. The love of God is Limitless; it embraces all Mankind" (emphasis mine). And he also quotes John Marsh, who says, "The magnitude of the love [of God] is matched by the magnitude of the gift... God loved all there was, and gave all he had" (Gospel According to John, NICNT, p.203, and footnote 77).</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The whole Bible itself, our authority for faith and practice, refutes and denounces in no uncertain terms any who would deny God's love to anyone but themselves on some pretended theological notion akin to how the Pharisees separated God's favor and love between themselves and the rest of men. The truth of the matter is, God loves all men as sinners and sent His Son to atone for all of Man's sins in the hopes that every person, without exception, would be saved; and the fact that, to this date, not all men are saved does not in any way lessen the divine intent, force, sufficiency, and effectiveness of Christ crucified.</span></div></div></div>Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-66567583827998452482023-01-24T10:24:00.003-05:002023-01-24T10:30:10.107-05:00Review: Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: General and Historical Objections
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61321"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61321"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk61WnF2J6csH5gp4qSm-ajMU_Go6Lj1z2EDywpVAIiyU-xd4oS90ZUIorlpzAtj8mtnvHEUVYeseCcZS1giI3ZUb1tpV6-so6cHmB288EP-H1uQR8ba50jS2TDe9iAitLGpzZzxyV0ACkjFCIjGGIuqeSw6PQ6-ysZ4Ktiyd0oI3bbnxKsVdsj-_hTA/s500/080106063X.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_SX500_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk61WnF2J6csH5gp4qSm-ajMU_Go6Lj1z2EDywpVAIiyU-xd4oS90ZUIorlpzAtj8mtnvHEUVYeseCcZS1giI3ZUb1tpV6-so6cHmB288EP-H1uQR8ba50jS2TDe9iAitLGpzZzxyV0ACkjFCIjGGIuqeSw6PQ6-ysZ4Ktiyd0oI3bbnxKsVdsj-_hTA/s320/080106063X.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_SX500_.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: General and Historical Objections by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/34513">Michael L. Brown</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5292047736"><br />5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br /><div>Dr. Brown lists introductory objections by Jews against the Christian faith and answers them. Surprisingly this book is very informative for those unfamiliar with the Jewish faith, like me. Dr. Brown's scholarship always surprises me how, with plain common sense, he answers the most difficult objections with simple logic as well as providing a thorough understanding of Judaism and Jewish history (he is Jewish himself).</div><div><br /></div><div>"Answering Jewish Objections" is in 5 volumes of which this is the first. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to know our parent faith and seeking to share it with the Jew.</div><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5292047736">View all my reviews</a>
Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-73015532688018720132023-01-15T17:14:00.003-05:002023-01-15T17:17:05.457-05:00Review: Grasping God's Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1926885"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1926885"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81YL_ToEDjyGZn2qTkC3wwozgnfKW7GCjieG9wXd-ngd8_N2u2Z5nxagu71koBf0zR56IfTbKJDft_MEGhTT6rPxXQvE_RGGo2Gn1Uk09qjola4-hkv9Cezo-_y6U02lS4JB40jxJRjUEItP89W0ME3qdPeWlO5e8WXkn99lfCIeZkrHkl4JktDn-ew/s499/51Qdtqn2OtL._SX389_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="391" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81YL_ToEDjyGZn2qTkC3wwozgnfKW7GCjieG9wXd-ngd8_N2u2Z5nxagu71koBf0zR56IfTbKJDft_MEGhTT6rPxXQvE_RGGo2Gn1Uk09qjola4-hkv9Cezo-_y6U02lS4JB40jxJRjUEItP89W0ME3qdPeWlO5e8WXkn99lfCIeZkrHkl4JktDn-ew/s320/51Qdtqn2OtL._SX389_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1926885">Grasping God's Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21027">J. Scott Duvall</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5267315555">5 of 5 stars</a>
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wow! This is an excellent book on how to study the Bible. Authors give clear, simple, and basic instructions for the layman on how to uncover the Bible message. This book seems to cover every area of the exegetical method scholars use. It is also a reference tool to look back and check any method you need to brush up on or any areas may have forgotten within a method. There are also exercises to do after each chapter that are really challenging. Shucks! I was stuck on the first challenge question which was to "Find a minimum of thirty observations in Act 1:8." The instructions further read that these are not theological observations that are being requested but observations on the passage itself, "For example," the authors instruct, "an observation would be to note that the passage starts off with a conjunction." Not that easy for me. I kept on thinking of how it should interpreted.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Note, there is also and excellent workbook with challenging exercise and also 3 DVDs with 22 lessons, and both workbook and DVD's which I highly recommend along with the book.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is an excellent book not only for beginners, for whom it is specifically written, but also for the seasoned self-study laymen to review, remind, and further ground one in the proper method of interpreting Scripture.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5267315555">View all my reviews</a></div>Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-81075415810360320982023-01-14T06:17:00.004-05:002023-01-15T17:17:37.039-05:00A Calvinist's "Balanced Guide" to Arminian Theology?<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="fs1hb-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlRfZCBBsfexuLVukNT8wSnZ0N1v-XQS15mzOZcdBMRHu7GH_rtJHUb-goEbdLz_btHd8E9a0ZzWZ4X-CXtBWcSe9CAH-S6bSZj_vFYRBTqxdQs2ArkbTKg0iyr55DO2GwInk7AID9Mse2id7Cwbcer-UfqXsuZK1F405JBCIfyRcwOBtPAzOXUbJ3w/s253/220px-Synode_van_Dordrecht.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlRfZCBBsfexuLVukNT8wSnZ0N1v-XQS15mzOZcdBMRHu7GH_rtJHUb-goEbdLz_btHd8E9a0ZzWZ4X-CXtBWcSe9CAH-S6bSZj_vFYRBTqxdQs2ArkbTKg0iyr55DO2GwInk7AID9Mse2id7Cwbcer-UfqXsuZK1F405JBCIfyRcwOBtPAzOXUbJ3w/s16000/220px-Synode_van_Dordrecht.jpg" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span data-offset-key="fs1hb-0-0">Calvinist, C. Michael Patton, attempts to </span>give<span data-offset-key="fs1hb-2-0"> what he claims is an objective or, as he describes it, a "balanced" understanding of Arminianism (click <a href="https://credohouse.org/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-arminianism-from-a-calvinist?fbclid=IwAR0MrCqrCnhKYGxRO0yblDr2178hEkAx0Kopucx7XUL1BG7hE2oFwB1ZiAM" target="_blank">here</a>). However, in my opinion, he betrays his objectivity to being subjective by his last sentence, when he states, "Arminians need to learn to trust the Lord," as if Arminians do not trust the Lord or, worse, are not saved.</span></span></div><p></p><div data-block="true" data-editor="f6laq" data-offset-key="6mf9h-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="f6laq" data-offset-key="765b5-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="f6laq" data-offset-key="2a9f3-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2a9f3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="2a9f3-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia;">After you have read the above blog, please, read my comment posted on his blog, which I copy/paste below for your convenience.</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2a9f3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">******************************</span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2a9f3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="f6laq" data-offset-key="86s-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="86s-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">Arminius, as Reformed, argued against Reformed Calvinism because he felt it impugned God’s character. ULI were obstacles to maintaining the nature of God as good and just. Free will was not the primary issue or emphasis, as many Calvinists, even you in the way you framed the Arminian beliefs here, seem to suggest. For Arminius it was, above all, maintaining the Biblical revelation of God’s goodness and justice.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">On the Calvinist teaching of predestination, Arminius states that, along with the reminder it was never brought forward or approved by any Church Father or in any Church council for the first 600 years after Christ, it is “repugnant to the nature of God,” in particular, His justice and goodness. Arminius defines divine goodness as “an affection [or disposition] in God to communicate his own good so far as his justice considers and admits to be fitting and proper. But in this doctrine (i.e., Calvinist predestination) the following act is attributed to God – that, of himself, and induced by nothing external, he wills the greatest evil to his creatures… even before he resolved to bestow upon them any portion of good” (Works 1:624-625, London edition).</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">Arminius even sees Calvinist predestination as “diametrically opposed to the act of creation” because “creation is a communication of good”; but creation in the Calvinist program “is not a communication of good… [but] a preparation for the greatest evil both according to the intention of the Creator and the actual issue of the matter.” Further, Arminius explains, “If Creation be the way and means through which God willed the execution of the decree of his reprobation, he was more inclined to will the act of reprobation than that of creation; and he consequently derived greater satisfaction from the act of condemning certain of his innocent creatures, than in the act of creation” (ibid., 1:626-627).</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">In your concluding remarks, you claim, “Both unconditional election and human freedom are clearly taught, emphasized, and celebrated in the Scripture.” While I agree the latter, rightly understood, is taught, I would strongly disagree that the former, an unconditional election to salvation or damnation is taught, explicitly or implicitly, in the Bible. My reading of the Bible informs me that such an interpretation is reading into the Biblical text what is not stated rather than reading out of the text what is stated.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">You also claim “[t]here is a great mystery here that Arminians do not allow.” First, respecting man’s obtainment of salvation, we need not allow mystery because there is none. Second, if it is legitimate for a Calvinist to appeal to mystery in order to defend their doctrine, then an Arminian can appeal to mystery when affirming that man freely choosing salvation is not meritorious; that is, man exercising faith is compatible with –– as faith is not a work –– rendering salvation wholly as the unmerited gift of God. If the Arminian cannot object to Calvinist predestination by virtue of it being a mystery, neither can the Calvinist object to free will as a condition of salvation that is neither a work or merited due to an appeal to mystery.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">You also suggest, with what seems an air of hubris, that “Arminians need to learn to trust the Lord” –– as if only Calvinists do and we don’t –– “in that He is the effectual Caller and Lover of mankind.” This is not denied by the Arminians. But, for the Calvinist, God is also emphasized as the “effectual Caller and Lover” of damning souls to eternal torment for some unfathomable reason that even Calvinists don't know, except that it is God’s good pleasure to send how many millions of individuals to eternal misery without any reference to deserts.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;">I anticipate that should the curtain be pulled back, Calvinists could be mighty disappointed.</span></i></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /></div></div>Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-44956556598193998542023-01-04T18:35:00.003-05:002023-01-04T18:40:52.618-05:00Review: Questions to All Your Answers: The Journey from Folk Religion to Examined Faith<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1013581"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1013581"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4Q9rxGfHPiFDKwh-q9fbg0osg8nRXJ39ZBST5pQibmcwSiVelaoFouUQUqv_LZYP2KQtxuEEXu6vk_qxP5DlB2ddBNeyBElwfkg-OvBiHLsT3FiSiH4Ovt6xbcU4TmDN0Qe5WueqXB3ueOmuZKQW0ESo--bz44MR19MI3JWcjI4XeppbDb7Lk20huQ/s400/1013581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4Q9rxGfHPiFDKwh-q9fbg0osg8nRXJ39ZBST5pQibmcwSiVelaoFouUQUqv_LZYP2KQtxuEEXu6vk_qxP5DlB2ddBNeyBElwfkg-OvBiHLsT3FiSiH4Ovt6xbcU4TmDN0Qe5WueqXB3ueOmuZKQW0ESo--bz44MR19MI3JWcjI4XeppbDb7Lk20huQ/s320/1013581.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br />Questions to All Your Answers: The Journey from Folk Religion to Examined Faith by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/101707">Roger E. Olson</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5231115860">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
<span style="background-color: #fffbd3; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">The subtitle says it all: The Journey From Folk Religion to Examined Faith.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: #fffbd3; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">This is a book for thinking or reflective Christians, that is, Christians who don't just go along with the Christian cliche's or Christian culture , which Olson says are really part of folk Christianity, but who seriously examine these sayings and the culture in light of Biblical Revelation. In his introduction, Olson examines 10 Christian cliches, for example: "It's a mystery, just accept it" or "All sins are equal."</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: #fffbd3; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">This book contains discussion questions at the end of each chapter and, therefore, can be used in small group meetings. A great book (only 185 pages, and small, only 9"x5") to get non-reflective Christians to seriously start thinking about their faith.</span><br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5231115860">View all my reviews</a>
Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-91725083620313460712022-12-11T14:14:00.004-05:002023-01-15T17:17:59.664-05:00Devotion 60: We Were Not Created Emotionless – Psalm 122:1<div data-block="true" data-editor="dsjmu" data-offset-key="25qrf-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="25qrf-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="25qrf-0-0"><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: -webkit-standard; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>"I was rejoicing with great gladness</b></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: -webkit-standard; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>when they said to me,</b></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: -webkit-standard; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Come on! Let's go into the Lord's house to worship!" </b></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: -webkit-standard; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>~ Psalm 122:1 ~</b></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsLexvVPIBdJkKLGqIqHeuFvAUrLbxSpskeUZVt2cgCBzuLoxaYS-FLHushTSZuJRrnL2VfA0nyQhEcJHVGC0ZPAQ08cesdcU_NyYkTMf6bAGyIi-45_aU5PEQx8Jj3M52O8KPoFityo8Cx9u0UbUTGneWmcE388pVjG2zEF5K7ZGT7SvUKuORRcB0g/s643/Daviddacne.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="643" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsLexvVPIBdJkKLGqIqHeuFvAUrLbxSpskeUZVt2cgCBzuLoxaYS-FLHushTSZuJRrnL2VfA0nyQhEcJHVGC0ZPAQ08cesdcU_NyYkTMf6bAGyIi-45_aU5PEQx8Jj3M52O8KPoFityo8Cx9u0UbUTGneWmcE388pVjG2zEF5K7ZGT7SvUKuORRcB0g/w640-h422/Daviddacne.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">An exuberant show of joyous emotion in the Spirit demonstrates both the value one places in God's saving grace towards him and that gratefulness he is under cheerful obligation to extend.</span></i></div></span></i></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="dsjmu" data-offset-key="380sg-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="380sg-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="380sg-0-0"><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></i></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="dsjmu" data-offset-key="6fhr9-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6fhr9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="6fhr9-0-0"><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The one who just stands still in monotonous singing might just be forgetting what God commanded, to "love the Lord your God with all your heart [emotions], and mind [reason] and strength [physicality]." Note the last is enthusiastically demonstrated by King David, even at the risk of offending others.</span></i></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="dsjmu" data-offset-key="a69qg-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a69qg-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="a69qg-0-0"><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></i></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="dsjmu" data-offset-key="616pj-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="616pj-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="616pj-0-0"><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">God did not create robots that move according to a programmed itinerary, but he created free, emotional beings who, admittedly, should guard and be in ultimate control of their emotion but without succumbing to that impassive resignation that suppresses and/or filters out emotions. </span></i></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="dsjmu" data-offset-key="dialj-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dialj-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="dialj-0-0"><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></i></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="dsjmu" data-offset-key="5j5tp-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5j5tp-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); clear: both; color: #050505; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k1R_UiGWGAaYapyq1c8kuPaBLHEW_YX8KGUEqrFJjRDUWPiqyg6frZziWXV1sAaiXAiPBiH4pNMIFhfGTIYoXuUhSReGHSWJjn4MPntV0_KFSPpbTIM4iPPdUvS3X9lFRyo38-SGHHZDCt4Gtcgou7wSYhZFfpsnJIqLEjOD07xNWx2LUDdXwu9lJg/s600/2016HurstJoyinWorship.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="600" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k1R_UiGWGAaYapyq1c8kuPaBLHEW_YX8KGUEqrFJjRDUWPiqyg6frZziWXV1sAaiXAiPBiH4pNMIFhfGTIYoXuUhSReGHSWJjn4MPntV0_KFSPpbTIM4iPPdUvS3X9lFRyo38-SGHHZDCt4Gtcgou7wSYhZFfpsnJIqLEjOD07xNWx2LUDdXwu9lJg/w400-h194/2016HurstJoyinWorship.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span data-offset-key="5j5tp-0-0"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Holy Spirit expresses Himself through our emotions as well as through our reason and the whole of our personality and physical being. A salvation as great as that which </i><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>God</i></span></span><i style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in Christ has provided for us, if we are truly experiencing Him, deserves luxuriant, excitable worship in the Spirit.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen!</i></span></div></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5j5tp-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="5j5tp-0-0"><i><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></span></div></div>Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-87055350887788529342022-12-10T00:01:00.008-05:002023-10-12T21:33:51.755-04:00Devotion 59: Did the Spirit-Gifts Cease? 1 Corinthians 14:1<h1 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Did the Spirit-Gifts Cease?</span></b></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQntFrk8wN_pT_QX3GJY5J1mlauMzfReM6sa-VoXNCUhn2tkaq1Vcf1t2h792ukeCkXpgbMV_0BRh-dsyTaBCbBfAyqyE5OvZAxMjAZrnR8nZ6f5dwyVfo2Uq4mI8vuEk_DJ7aanIOAqP-_cUstHyia30eLvc2b2kzSbL-AfMq5X1t0pi82QCz0VBPg/s900/eyeglasses-open-bible-11975969.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQntFrk8wN_pT_QX3GJY5J1mlauMzfReM6sa-VoXNCUhn2tkaq1Vcf1t2h792ukeCkXpgbMV_0BRh-dsyTaBCbBfAyqyE5OvZAxMjAZrnR8nZ6f5dwyVfo2Uq4mI8vuEk_DJ7aanIOAqP-_cUstHyia30eLvc2b2kzSbL-AfMq5X1t0pi82QCz0VBPg/w265-h400/eyeglasses-open-bible-11975969.jpg" width="265" /></span></a></div><p></p><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="5v5jk-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5v5jk-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="5v5jk-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Random thoughts for your consideration regarding the Spirit-gift of tongues (as well as the other gifts enumerated in the Bible) for those who believe it is not for today.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="bfl4t-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bfl4t-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="bfl4t-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bfl4t-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="bfl4t-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Four things to consider: </span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="3h6vh-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3h6vh-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="3h6vh-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="87npc-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="87npc-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="87npc-0-0"><span><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">(1) One objection to the continuation of the Spiritual gifts is that it promotes disorder and God, it is argued, is a God of order or peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). I agree, but what do we do with Acts 2, where even the disciples' behavior, under the fullness and leading of the Spirit, looked like they were drunk and, as such, "out of order"?</span></span></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="87npc-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="87npc-0-0"><span><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="87npc-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="87npc-0-0"><span><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therefore, it seems that such an objection against what appear to be manifestations of the Spirit today are not necessarily warranted. The people in church looking like they are drunk is not necessarily a sure indication they are <i>not</i> in the Spirit. It may depend on what one considers as being disordered. In any case, all unusual manifestations claimed to be by the Spirit ought to be, as the apostle Paul admonishes, tested rather than downright rejected.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="87npc-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="87npc-0-0"><span><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="17b84-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="a5n0c-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a5n0c-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="a5n0c-0-0"><span><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">(2) In 1 Corinthians 14:5, Paul desired that everyone in the Church spoke in tongues. This indicates that the Spirit-gifts are not limited to certain people but are for all believers (see Mark 16:17-18: "These signs will accompany those who have believed... they will speak with new tongues"); and if Paul earnestly desired something for the Christian community, should that not also be our earnest desire?</span></span></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="9o703-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9o703-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="9o703-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="9bumh-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9bumh-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="9bumh-0-0"><span><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">(3) The purpose for tongues is for the edifying both oneself (if it is without interpretation since he "speaks mysteries," which others and himself will not understand) and, of course, and more importantly, the Church (assuming there is someone with the gift of interpretation) as they corporately worship God. What determines an abuse of the Spirit is the intent and not the act itself per se, for it may be in ignorant innocence that one behaves improperly (and that is not to say it should be tolerated, but rather it should be corrected with gentleness). In any case, again, the manifestation should not be rejected outright but examined.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9bumh-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="9bumh-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9bumh-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="9bumh-0-0"><span><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(4) Finally, and more to the point of my little essay, there is </span></span><i style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>no place</b></i><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the Bible where we are taught that these Spirit-gifts are to cease after some time, either after all the apostles have died or the canon is complete. Nowhere! See: </span></span></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">(see Ephesians 4:7-13; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:28,31; 13:8-12; 14:1,5,39). </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9bumh-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="9bumh-0-0"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xSbC0Ng5NPFvvizGjdpNrWHY0ZmaS1X6REqb7HlFA5jf2E6zz3a_ma7UlQCvBzQwr61KpIh7pH17-jhozR2zKD4Jv0L5GqKO2oRZaC3Y6yuwMXebjL81TklNq8ll_rUUzgzqNaWtAzFfNr4nkKQCKnlgRDcOdZY-lppI3UWGY5e5WJuii8Mi_2wI1Q/s1024/RandyholdingBible.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xSbC0Ng5NPFvvizGjdpNrWHY0ZmaS1X6REqb7HlFA5jf2E6zz3a_ma7UlQCvBzQwr61KpIh7pH17-jhozR2zKD4Jv0L5GqKO2oRZaC3Y6yuwMXebjL81TklNq8ll_rUUzgzqNaWtAzFfNr4nkKQCKnlgRDcOdZY-lppI3UWGY5e5WJuii8Mi_2wI1Q/s320/RandyholdingBible.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="cqjnu-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cqjnu-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="cqjnu-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As a matter of fact, we read <i>just the opposite is explicitly stated</i> in:</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="fgpgs-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fgpgs-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="fgpgs-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="freco-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="freco-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="freco-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">(a) Acts 2:38-39: "the promise is for your children and for all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call" (see, also, Acts 11:17-18: where God's granting of repentance was evidenced by their speaking in tongues as a consequence of the Holy Spirit falling on the Gentiles as He fell upon the Jews in Acts 2.</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="freco-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="freco-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="freco-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="freco-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As Gordon D. Fee<b>*</b> states, the Spirit-gifts are "the gracious activity of God" in the midst of His people.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="dbp5f-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dbp5f-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="dbp5f-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="fh6cm-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fh6cm-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="fh6cm-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">(b) In 1 Corinthians 13:10 we read, "when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with." As the context shows (vs.9,11-13), the "perfect comes" refers to the Parousia. In 1 Corinthians Paul did not denigrate or speak against the practice of tongues per se and the value they have to empower and edify the Church, but he is was attempting to position the practice of Spirit-gifts in its proper place and to curb its abuse.</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fh6cm-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="fh6cm-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmR42WDcC-AwB_HEpidv8CYkPUQ7cja0zKgw6s5TafV1YMQ-SgeVqnDijp7-kmhzzle5-ln2b-v2wOvNKIcOgZN8Bi_T6GZSILPnv82DVhSL6ImsHaClN8If_a169wrFHEtRtOPc9vPL8Z5hXw5bhwYXY5h-UGq2N9RdLGyaiNQSPE6XA05xeCDycZA/s1024/SIX-BIBLE-STUDY-TIPS-THATLL-LIGHT-A-SPARK-4-1024x767.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmR42WDcC-AwB_HEpidv8CYkPUQ7cja0zKgw6s5TafV1YMQ-SgeVqnDijp7-kmhzzle5-ln2b-v2wOvNKIcOgZN8Bi_T6GZSILPnv82DVhSL6ImsHaClN8If_a169wrFHEtRtOPc9vPL8Z5hXw5bhwYXY5h-UGq2N9RdLGyaiNQSPE6XA05xeCDycZA/s320/SIX-BIBLE-STUDY-TIPS-THATLL-LIGHT-A-SPARK-4-1024x767.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fh6cm-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fh6cm-0-0"><br /></span></div>Again, Fee writes, "[T]he central role of the Spirit in individual and corporate life will not allow for correcting abuse by disuse. Rather, the antidote for abuse is proper use."</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="4jd3s-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4jd3s-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="4jd3s-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="3m2ck-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3m2ck-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="3m2ck-0-0"><span>(c) Note in </span></span><span>Ephesians 4:11-13 </span><span>that the apostle explicitly states that the gifts will endure for the Church until she reaches her "fullness in Christ" (v.13). When will we attain the "fullness in Christ"? At the Parousia!</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="3r959-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3r959-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="3r959-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="bg4ne" data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Finally, so, as you can see, the Spirit-gifts are represented in the Bible as being the experience for the whole Church as that which evidences God's activity in the world; and they are for each and every individual believer, for all time until He returns. It is nothing less than the Presence and Power of God working effectively in the Church for salvation.</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Fee contends, the manifestation and exercise of the Spirit-gifts "was a normal expression of the Spirit's activity in the early Christian communities," and, I would say, there is no reason why what was experienced in the book of Acts should not be the experience of the Church today and every reason why it should be.</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i><span data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>"If you are zealous for Spirit-gifts, then</span></span></i></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i><span data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>seek to abound in them for the </span></span><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">edification of the church."</span></span></i></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0" style="position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Corinthians 14:12</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8jse5-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">*</b>Quotes by Gordon D. Fee are from his excellent book, "God's Empowering Presence: the Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul."</span></span></div></div>Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-43371531917695036022022-11-19T21:58:00.003-05:002023-01-15T17:18:24.839-05:00Review: The Arminian Confession of 1621<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1541658"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1541658"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdSgI0GZ1BuctNdOW5CvWytf8EqoXuDThM5TVRKcFK0nknN0cH_evyB0ilCR07kB57VIMRJ6tzjn99gLAGPJ-xmE8KV7Y2j_uv1MvidP_1GNC8g2JOd2CfOp5Ut94MtMDO1pKXBmp1t04n1UTVsBPGcX0pB0omIbyEWq16sDEB5TuLcLj5wFbCshmQw/s500/1597523372.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_SX500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdSgI0GZ1BuctNdOW5CvWytf8EqoXuDThM5TVRKcFK0nknN0cH_evyB0ilCR07kB57VIMRJ6tzjn99gLAGPJ-xmE8KV7Y2j_uv1MvidP_1GNC8g2JOd2CfOp5Ut94MtMDO1pKXBmp1t04n1UTVsBPGcX0pB0omIbyEWq16sDEB5TuLcLj5wFbCshmQw/s320/1597523372.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_SX500_.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br />The Arminian Confession of 1621 by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/718234">Mark A. Ellis</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5114880065">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
<div>Ellis states after a couple of lines in his introduction, "I was surprised how Calvinist [Arminius'] affirmations sounded," respecting various theological issues.</div><div><br /></div><div>Reading this Confession is essential in understanding Arminian theology and is a good resource to come to on the various theological issues, especially those pertaining to soteriology. Here one can get a clear picture of the beliefs of the Remonstrants after Arminius' death and how they defended it against Calvinism. An essential read for anyone seeking to know classical Arminian theology.</div><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5114880065">View all my reviews</a>
Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-76222755415659101532022-11-05T01:11:00.004-04:002023-01-27T22:58:33.543-05:00Devotion 58: "By Faith Alone"?<p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFLT59GjqDq4tb8S-qcQ4WGmxWR0jZQfkMXMGbZmi5j-6RxWVi-yMEVjpJRCtaF80Hr-BuUCBR3CWFwmaoQ-cAxHbbYxwDrYZRtFIUSzSo1ceP-j8iCAGRqwJ_u-pYlQfNau_HC0eiG-vANAdw8rSIgL-M7CloazdgSlBsZL_haneEhs0NuM_EIv_mrQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="368" data-original-width="697" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFLT59GjqDq4tb8S-qcQ4WGmxWR0jZQfkMXMGbZmi5j-6RxWVi-yMEVjpJRCtaF80Hr-BuUCBR3CWFwmaoQ-cAxHbbYxwDrYZRtFIUSzSo1ceP-j8iCAGRqwJ_u-pYlQfNau_HC0eiG-vANAdw8rSIgL-M7CloazdgSlBsZL_haneEhs0NuM_EIv_mrQ=w640-h336" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="ep3s4-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ep3s4-0-0" style="color: #050505; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just</span><span data-offset-key="ep3s4-1-0" style="font-family: inherit;"> a question on my mind:</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ep3s4-0-0" style="color: #050505; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="ep3s4-1-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ep3s4-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="ep3s4-1-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b>Is it Biblically accurate to say that we are saved by </b></span></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;">"faith alone"?</span></b></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="7d58r-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7d58r-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="7d58r-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="42iq1-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="42iq1-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="42iq1-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the final judgment, Jesus teaches that we will all be judged according to our works (Matthew 16:27). He makes no mention of faith.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="6de72-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6de72-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="6de72-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="5pb8l-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5pb8l-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="5pb8l-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The apostle Paul teaches the Roman Christians God will render "to each person" the just reward "according to their deeds" and that "glory and honor and peace" will be given only to the person "who does good" (Romans 2:6,9). Faith is not mentioned.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="6vcjh-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6vcjh-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="6vcjh-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="9c7qh-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9c7qh-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="9c7qh-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We read in Revelation that Jesus is coming quickly, bringing the just rewards for "every man according to what he has done" (Revelation 22:12). Again, no mention of faith is made here, either.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="frhcs-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="frhcs-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="frhcs-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="6aqje-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6aqje-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="6aqje-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I see it, the nature of saving faith or the faith that justifies is necessarily accompanied by works. Interesting how James puts it:</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="colud-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="colud-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="colud-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">– "can that faith [without works] save him?" (2:14)</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="29g3i-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="29g3i-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="29g3i-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">– "faith, if it has no works is dead by itself" (v.17,26)</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="b6s6c-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b6s6c-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="b6s6c-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">– "I will show you my faith by my works" (v.18)</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="9u6au-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9u6au-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: left;"><span data-offset-key="9u6au-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">– "faith without works is useless" (v.20)</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="ubpd-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ubpd-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="ubpd-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">– "as a result of works, faith is perfected" (v.22).</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="3bm5h-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3bm5h-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="3bm5h-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">– "man is justified by works and not be faith alone" (24).</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3bm5h-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: left;"><span data-offset-key="3bm5h-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJjO396X875O_NXIUU-4Jo5qxjt1Xirt23nHwkUBrG0katNIWGFlNjec6qfN899HhD_JTBtrbNlkIoCJqQoBDi3FQgjPk8INx__CEKJGfaGFPhWXGckfWZuHmfQYebm5vHUfRqQTqWXpascDU4rvvFBPtf4pR-ViVBHTcwTwPgLrk_N1DnMmrXR8UGg/s800/james2_24.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJjO396X875O_NXIUU-4Jo5qxjt1Xirt23nHwkUBrG0katNIWGFlNjec6qfN899HhD_JTBtrbNlkIoCJqQoBDi3FQgjPk8INx__CEKJGfaGFPhWXGckfWZuHmfQYebm5vHUfRqQTqWXpascDU4rvvFBPtf4pR-ViVBHTcwTwPgLrk_N1DnMmrXR8UGg/s320/james2_24.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Note how v.24 is worded. Not exactly how Luther and the Reformers would put it (actually, Luther felt the book of James shouldn't be taught in his school). And I don't buy into the interpretation that James is not talking about salvation but merely about the evidence of one who truly has saving faith. As I read the text, I believe James is talking about the faith that apprehends salvation in Christ, that is, saving faith because James rhetorically asks if a faith that has no works is able to save (2:14); and the answer is, "No." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="47k6u-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="47k6u-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="47k6u-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">While I may believe we are saved by "faith alone," we must remember it is the <i>faith that necessarily produces works consistent with the will of God and the example of Christ</i>, which is in essence love for God and man; works <i>must</i> accompany faith if one is to find salvation in Christ. If faith is merely professed but not embodied, there is the legitimate concern that true faith does not exist.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="69lpr-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="69lpr-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="69lpr-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ferkb" data-offset-key="7uoui-0-0" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7uoui-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="7uoui-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Faith and good works are not inimical to each other in Biblical revelation. What is hostile to the Gospel is a faith that is absent of good works grounded in love for God and our fellow man.<br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinSZJ-DB2ZEPXBvGRFuWzNg0AjETTVoNylPkucRo437G1lRX_jpLmcztewF5MvEXMzP0c1RiU919KFAzhiK3GyHP72zsLAqhqjueU-6F9LCUBdl9kW_D0Kkrr9NZcSKfDxsjRQtiN2FzZpAp_p9EpJ3P9xmtoK8udK4oiRJzmT8PoskVvv9Qav5zRwoA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinSZJ-DB2ZEPXBvGRFuWzNg0AjETTVoNylPkucRo437G1lRX_jpLmcztewF5MvEXMzP0c1RiU919KFAzhiK3GyHP72zsLAqhqjueU-6F9LCUBdl9kW_D0Kkrr9NZcSKfDxsjRQtiN2FzZpAp_p9EpJ3P9xmtoK8udK4oiRJzmT8PoskVvv9Qav5zRwoA" width="320" /></a></div></div></div>Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-7475644849670812782022-11-01T16:52:00.002-04:002022-11-01T17:05:57.003-04:00Review: The Prayer God Answers<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26267663"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26267663"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IHRNFDefN4u_kRY_OAOWu39iPc5lNZd8TS2eM8jDiGC3G6ncs0SBYt3WFmh0DGBRc3zqXBMIUunE5-JbUysyi0_UsqEG1k4KHvrdEnDKjw6OnZg8gUkRngSl-jV2maDry27vkYwpo3ILuMIPtyVRBSqRXTxSiTJzCnPNn78KfKTr7XC0pUhKzGw76g/s400/26267663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="286" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IHRNFDefN4u_kRY_OAOWu39iPc5lNZd8TS2eM8jDiGC3G6ncs0SBYt3WFmh0DGBRc3zqXBMIUunE5-JbUysyi0_UsqEG1k4KHvrdEnDKjw6OnZg8gUkRngSl-jV2maDry27vkYwpo3ILuMIPtyVRBSqRXTxSiTJzCnPNn78KfKTr7XC0pUhKzGw76g/s320/26267663.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br />The Prayer God Answers by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/220380">Eberhard Arnold</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5079452348">3 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
A small book with few pages, nevertheless, packed with illuminating wisdom on prayer.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5079452348">View all my reviews</a>
Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-52786933123008743892022-10-15T06:23:00.002-04:002022-10-15T06:44:28.068-04:00Devotion 57: God, the Terrible<p> </p><div data-block="true" data-editor="ca282" data-offset-key="44qmm-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="44qmm-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); clear: both; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUCzGqLEyUiyaZk9rzwlwsto19ujELybMQbmp4ZcBNEp8AKCBBVyx_Z1fuCT9KU9zMYxe_UApuOoJl0OmcW1fmay-gLXEKvKGjNrd1M58gTkCJDEIBaLto57Aucz8-LGE75rV08AiXDdtMloKGironMFOiQ6lIc5G8cy3n5P4nJwrdLiAct9IFBcVavg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="557" data-original-width="713" height="501" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUCzGqLEyUiyaZk9rzwlwsto19ujELybMQbmp4ZcBNEp8AKCBBVyx_Z1fuCT9KU9zMYxe_UApuOoJl0OmcW1fmay-gLXEKvKGjNrd1M58gTkCJDEIBaLto57Aucz8-LGE75rV08AiXDdtMloKGironMFOiQ6lIc5G8cy3n5P4nJwrdLiAct9IFBcVavg=w640-h501" width="640" /></a></div><p style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #060606; font-family: "Bodoni 72"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #060606; font-family: "Bodoni 72"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p><p style="color: #070707; font-family: "Bodoni 72"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"For it was the Lord's intention to harden their hearts</span></b></p><p style="color: #070707; font-family: "Bodoni 72"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">so that they would... be completely destroyed and annihilated..."</span></b></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #060606; font-family: "Bodoni 72"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</p><p style="color: #070707; font-family: "Bodoni 72"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Joshua 11: 20 (CSB)</p><p style="color: #080808; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<br />
How we ought to fear the just judgment of God so as to soften our hearts in His hands, allowing Him to have pity on us and mold us, shape us to His liking, a people prepared for good works, rather than to rebel and be judged unworthy of life, and fall under the terrible judgment of God, the Holy One.</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #060606; font-family: "Bodoni 72"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</p><p style="color: #080808; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Let us make no mistake about it: God seeks earnestly to save all people as sinners through the substitutionary death of Christ on the Cross. However, to those who persist in their sin, thus rejecting Jesus Christ as the judge of the living and the dead, and the only Lord and Savior, God can have no intentions for their welfare, their good, but what remains is only a certain "terrible expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire" (Hebrews 10:27; Revelation 14:9-11).</p><p style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #060606; font-family: "Bodoni 72"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</p><p style="color: #080808; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">This is the choice left to each person to decide for themselves.</p><p style="color: #080808; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="color: #080808; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="color: #080808; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo: University of Alaska, Anchorage; Archives and Special Collection</span></span></p></div></div>Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-24395517839518925182022-08-06T17:50:00.003-04:002022-08-06T18:02:41.351-04:00Review: Miracles Today: The Supernatural Work of God in the Modern World<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55784706"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55784706"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtamI2qZJAwF_Tu2qGkxRhZRKPldVQ7MJcnFqnY6S6y-ubALQiX80zHf7fZge5DQfVH8XunPJx38lR_JR2yOcw_3W-38X6W-Y0wpcl9ANB4sDwpX5r564j-XSI_ZsLbTDIJtmgRmIr5FPXUQuZccfkhDI8KFUNUIBHWCqJ2hI8OIH-i_VUbBDF9nhJpw/s400/55784706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtamI2qZJAwF_Tu2qGkxRhZRKPldVQ7MJcnFqnY6S6y-ubALQiX80zHf7fZge5DQfVH8XunPJx38lR_JR2yOcw_3W-38X6W-Y0wpcl9ANB4sDwpX5r564j-XSI_ZsLbTDIJtmgRmIr5FPXUQuZccfkhDI8KFUNUIBHWCqJ2hI8OIH-i_VUbBDF9nhJpw/w134-h200/55784706.jpg" width="134" /></a></div>Miracles Today: The Supernatural Work of God in the Modern World by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20171314">Craig S Keener</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4900514745">5 of 5 stars</a> <div><br /></div><div>Excellent testimonies of miraculous healings in modern times with sources and documentations cited in the "Notes" section. Keener provides a balanced look at the issue of the miraculous which should encourage believers to God's tangible revelation of Himself in Christ in the world today and challenge the atheist's worldview on the basis of science, as this book provides evidence of the behavior of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation, and testing as being affected by the reality of God.</div><div><br /></div><div>What is no less important is that Keener provides and appendix discussing (A) Did Prayer Make things Worse?, (B) Some of Hume's Arguments (Hume denies the miraculous), and (C) False Signs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, Kenner cites where sources and documentations may be obtained (if available) in the "Notes" section at end.</div><div><br /></div><div>This book is a companion for the layman to his two-volume scholarly work, "Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts," from which Keener takes some of the accounts from. However, most of the material is new and not included in the two-volume work. <br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4900514745">View all my reviews</a>
</div>Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-45464026192209944892022-08-06T16:32:00.004-04:002022-08-06T16:41:35.910-04:00Review: Holy Bible: From the Ancient Eastern Text<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/125364"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/125364"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5RWFgDtF4M6pZYSeeyv1QzJdEqLBRaLBV0ZLhUE3G71xb86Fubdv7XF0HSwSNTHM0ZFhcccYk8h6u-60dSTRRZ3ZN2HSvWD7ANpFvWPa5ScfW9hU2Eoaro20lVYYTWdzsRlZ9BR9GM0hE26rkknm69e8UFo6ETSuMX_AetXXvO0WKojAcr3xcOrMJA/s400/125364.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5RWFgDtF4M6pZYSeeyv1QzJdEqLBRaLBV0ZLhUE3G71xb86Fubdv7XF0HSwSNTHM0ZFhcccYk8h6u-60dSTRRZ3ZN2HSvWD7ANpFvWPa5ScfW9hU2Eoaro20lVYYTWdzsRlZ9BR9GM0hE26rkknm69e8UFo6ETSuMX_AetXXvO0WKojAcr3xcOrMJA/w134-h200/125364.jpg" width="134" /></a></div>Holy Bible: From the Ancient Eastern Text by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/35732">George M. Lamsa</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4900368502">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
<div>Very interesting translation from the Peshitta, the standard version of the Bible from the Syriac tradition. In Lamsa, 1 Chronicles 7:22 reads, "And her daughter escaped in upper and lower Beth-horon." The NASB reads, "Their father Ephraim mourned many days, and his relatives came to comfort him."</div><div><br /></div><div>In Lamsa, 1 Peter 3:7 in part reads, "live with your wives with understanding, and hold them with tenderness like delicate vessels, because they also will inherit with you the gift of everlasting life." NASB, "live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life."</div><div><br /></div><div>Jeremiah 4:10 in Lamsa reads in part, "Ah, Lord God! I have greatly deceived this people." NASB, "Ah, Lord God! Surely you have utterly deceived this people."</div><div><br /></div><div>This comparison is not meant to criticize the Lamsa Bible but only to show the differences in these two passages, some very stark differences. There are more differences, not that they change the overall meaning of the passage compared to the NASB, but they are interesting and some provoke a deeper understanding of the text.</div><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4900368502">View all my reviews</a>
Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2402042634561558625.post-16136838550588174292022-06-22T17:06:00.006-04:002022-07-03T04:24:10.711-04:00Review: Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 4: Tertullian (IV), Minucius, Commodian & Origen<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54913111"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54913111"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHlC335x4aE36iO5Xk2al-v5S_-4ghkQaAfftOvBspz2CRjDiKuCTvk8pcLNgt6y5hXe6UhKsQW8Kob03OTWfudvfBgdrqXL-KhoEqYJIpl6H-9e5G-pAdzFMKoIXgzu0Ncw9uIjx3qBwNQDJPohpcGDaBhkJ9Muss0jkVWZfMGpnzoQk9eU4Li6fOA/s499/31sbwDQvZ8L._SX291_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="293" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHlC335x4aE36iO5Xk2al-v5S_-4ghkQaAfftOvBspz2CRjDiKuCTvk8pcLNgt6y5hXe6UhKsQW8Kob03OTWfudvfBgdrqXL-KhoEqYJIpl6H-9e5G-pAdzFMKoIXgzu0Ncw9uIjx3qBwNQDJPohpcGDaBhkJ9Muss0jkVWZfMGpnzoQk9eU4Li6fOA/s320/31sbwDQvZ8L._SX291_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="188" /></a></div><br />Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 4: Tertullian (IV), Minucius, Commodian & Origen by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/640869">Alexander Roberts</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4800605027">3 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
A good read on what the early church taught. However, more than in the previous volumes, I felt it unnecessary to read about 122 pages regarding, "On the Apparel of Women" (p.18-101) and the appendix of poems attributed, not without doubt, to Tertullian (p.127-166). I just read a page or two and found them quite uninteresting and irrelevant.<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4800605027">View all my reviews</a>
Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12470212473565517507noreply@blogger.com0