Jesus has so far affirmed Pharisee soteriology. God first loves an individual. In response to God’s love, the individual cares to keep God’s Law. If a person keeps God’s Law, that person is righteous. God’s love is what brought the person into righteousness (i.e. saved the person). When the person kept the Law, that was... Continue Reading →
Seeing the Kingdom of Heaven
Have you ever seen God? Some of you will answer by telling me how you see God working or how you see God in nature or people. Those things are not God Himself. I will venture to guess that you have never seen God. Yet, we believe He is. A vast majority of people on... Continue Reading →
Jesus as Prophet and The Personal Salvation Debate Among Jews in the First Century
In these notes, I first show the point of John 3:1-2 by offering a biblical apologetic for Jesus as having the authority of a prophet to reveal new revelation. Then, I explore the theological environment of First Century Judea in order to provide historical context for Jesus's conversation with Nicodemus. It is no surprise that... Continue Reading →
On Salvation and Reprobation
From the debates between Paul and the Gnostics through the ancient dialogue between Augustine and Pelagius to the exchanges between Luther and Erasmus or Calvin’s disciples and those of Arminius to the more modern upheaval between the New Calvinists and Free Willists, the doctrine of election has dominated Christian discussion. Election is the doctrine that... Continue Reading →
Armageddon
Only one more chapter until Jesus claims all authority in heaven and on the earth. Matthew is writing about how the kingdom of heaven came. We saw Jesus claim that from this moment on, the people would see Him at the right hand of Power and coming in the clouds. Peter denied Him, fulfilling prophecy... Continue Reading →
On Denying Jesus
https://feeds.castos.com/733p8 The theme of Matthew’s Gospel is the arrival of the kingdom of heaven. At the beginning, Jesus is born and begins preaching, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). At the end of the Gospel account, He proclaims, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).... Continue Reading →
When Jesus is Coming in the Clouds
https://feeds.castos.com/733p8 The theme of Matthew’s Gospel is the kingdom of heaven. From the start, Jesus’s message has been that the kingdom of heaven is at hand (near). In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus revealed that the hour was here. It was time for the kingdom of heaven to finally be established. At the end of... Continue Reading →
Encouragement for Those Who Have Been Betrayed
https://feeds.castos.com/733p8 Betrayal comes in many forms on this earth. Betrayal can come even from people with good intentions. You’ve heard the old adage, “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” Betrayal hurts. People we feel should support us shoot us down or stab us in the back. Unfortunately, betrayal is still a part... Continue Reading →
God is Building Something
In Ephesians 1, Paul writes about the unconditional love of God in Christ. He makes immediate application to himself, saying that he thanks God for the saints because God has unconditionally chosen and adopted them. Because God loves and accepts His people unconditionally, we also love and accept one another unconditionally. The truth is simple,... Continue Reading →
Gethsemane
After having the Passover meal and clarifying the true meaning of the cup, Jesus goes with His disciples to Gethsemane. Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of... Continue Reading →