Tag: christianity
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Notes on Hebrews 1:1-4
Hebrews 1:1-4 is perhaps the most spectacular opening statement in any NT epistle. It’s like a tightly compressed spring that will pop open over the rest of the letter. It’s like flower whose petals will unfold over the next 13 chapters. The whole letter is summarized in these jam-packed verses. A couple observations: First, Paul…
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The Resurrection
The resurrection is not just proof that God accepted Jesus’ payment for sins on the cross. The resurrection is not just a receipt. The resurrection is Jesus’ vindication and therefore the vindication of all who are in him. The resurrection is Jesus’ justification, as it overturned the condemnation of the earthly courts that put Jesus…
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Race, Ethnicity, and Sanctification
Most of this was originally posted on X and is related to discussions there: It’s true Paul agreed with the generalization that Cretans are liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons (Titus 1:12). It’s also true that having carried out a gospel ministry at Crete, Paul expected Titus to find Cretan men who met the qualifications…
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Lord’s Supper: Hors D’Oeuvres of the New Creation
The Lord’s Supper shows us that creation participates in Christ’s death and resurrection. By identifying his body and blood with bread and wine, Jesus shows that he came to redeem the whole world. This fallen creation will be set free. Grace crucifies and resurrects nature. The kingdom is not an escape from this world, nor…
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Good Theopaschite Friday
From X: Why is Good Friday good? Good Friday is all about the good news. It’s good because this is the day Jesus accomplished our full and free redemption. This is the day Jesus laid down his life for us. His life was not taken, but given – he gave his life for ours, willingly,…
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Slow to Anger, Quick to Forgive
James 1:19 includes the exhortation to be “slow to anger.” The wise man controls his emotions, especially his temper. While it is possible for anger to be a constructive force when it is guided by virtue (see Mark 3:5 and Ephesians 4:26), more often than not, anger is a destructive force and therefore a deadly…
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Nature, Grace, and New Creation
The gospel = God restores (and glorifies) nature/creation through the death and resurrection of Christ. When we use the slogan, “grace restores nature,” we need to keep two things in mind: 1. Grace doesn’t just put creation back where it started, but ultimately brings us to the eschatological and glorious end God intended from the…
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The Original Paedofaith Essay
PAEDOFAITHA Primer on the Mystery of Infant SalvationBy Rich LuskAugust, 2004 In Psalm 22:9-10, David asserts that he had faith as an infant. He sees continuity between the faith he possesses now as an adult and the faith he had as a child, even in the womb. He explains that he had a God-ward orientation…
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Notes on Effeminacy, Feminism, and Other Odds and Ends
Effeminacy is the lack of masculinity where it ought to be. In that sense, only men can be effeminate, and in classical discussions of this vice that’s how it was presented. Effeminacy is a softness in men that prevents them from fulfilling their peculiarly masculine responsibilities. The term could also apply to speech or mannerisms,…
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X Marks the Spot on Baptism
Some of my X posts on baptism, collected into one place: A few notes on the debate over covenant baptism…. Some Baptists will claim the old covenant was merely physical (thus it included physical children) whereas the new covenant is spiritual (so physical children are excluded). But the core promises of the old covenant in…
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