Enthrallment with sin under the cross

“If we bring only the aftermath of our sins to the cross, and not the whole of them, our very enthrallment with them, to the cross, then we create this division between justification and practice.” In this article: here, Dr. Rosenbladt has identified correctly that in the history of the church, this tension between grace […]

Mythologizing the Cross

When we inwardly mythologize Jesus’ suffering as a story or as mere theology, our redemption becomes mere theology as well. 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive […]

Easy Believy faith is the ONLY faith that produces virtue

What good is forgiveness if it doesn’t ‘work’ when you actually need it? I raised this question in response to some negative responses to this awesome blog post by David Zahl: The Subjective Power Of An Objective Gospel I thought the response was important enough to repost on my own blog, so I’m sorry in […]

Looking for Grace

I watched a video teaching recently where the teacher portrayed Jesus as taking the few loaves and fishes from the clutches of an unwilling boy’s hands, and made a whole message out of this, that God sometimes takes things from us that we want to hold on to for some greater good that we don’t […]

quiet

in the vast grand quiet         at the center                 of the mystery of existence                         if it is possible                 that a voice       […]

hell and grace

OK, it’s finally time for the fire and brimstone! See, read all of these passages where Jesus teaches about hell! What do you have to say about that Mr. Grace and forgiveness?! Well, actually, I have quite a bit to say. 22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother […]

Coercion and true virtue

Grace, true scandalous 100% forgiveness and acceptance, get-out-of-jail-free fire-insurance easy-believism grace, is the essential foundation for true virtue. Why? Let’s start by reading a few verses: 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under […]

Maybe in Christ we are absolutely accepted

One of the things to understand about me is that I’m working through the idea that maybe, in Christ, we are really totally and absolutely forgiven and accepted. It is real. The single condition is belief in His favor and forgiveness, in the sufficiency of His blood. If that is true, what does the Christian […]

Work out your salvation with fear?

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12, 13, NASB. […]

Law, Grace, and Truth

“For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17, NASB. I’ve been thinking about this statement a good bit. The Law given through Moses is juxtaposed against grace and truth. The law was “given”; grace and truth were “realized.” The law was written and imposed, but not […]