After listing the things he believes are degrading to the person—things that are harmful to individuals and society: homosexuality, wickedness, greed, envy, murder, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, arrogance, boastfulness, and disobedience to parents—Paul indicts everyone who passes judgment on those who practice such things. We should perk up, here, because we like to mount our... Continue Reading →
From Adam to Noah
We saw God create the world. We saw Him create humankind in His image. We saw Him promise Eve that her descendants would trample those of the serpent. We saw the seed of the serpent strike the heel of the seed of the woman as Cain killed Abel. We saw the seed of the woman... Continue Reading →
The Good Curse
Adam and his wife have sinned against God by responding wrongly to the temptation of the serpent. Adam could not atone for his wife’s sin. Instead, he joined her. Both Adam and his wife blamed their sin on the serpent. Today, we see Christ’s response. We remember that it is the preincarnate Christ talking to... Continue Reading →
The Creation of Humankind
During the creation week, God created the heavens and the earth and has been filling them both. Moses’s language has been inexact. We have not received the minutia of creation. We simply know that God speaks to create and command His creation. Moses has presented God as the sole creator and has called out the... Continue Reading →
Let There Be Stars, Fish, and Birds
We have observed three days of creation. Today we will consider a fourth and fifth day. We have seen Moses using more inexact language than we might like. We have seen that the purpose of Genesis 1 is not to present an exact, detailed account of creation. Moses is painting broad strokes. Though he asserts... Continue Reading →
On Gaining the World and Losing Yourself
The Easter season is upon us, the liturgical part of the year when we reflect upon our own depravity and inability to be righteous or holy. In this season, leading up through good Friday and Black Saturday, we long for a savior to come free us from our sin, clothe us in His righteousness, and... Continue Reading →
On Order and Chaos
Paul has been writing to the Corinthians church about unity through maturity. In this section of his letter, he addresses spiritual gifts, primarily those of prophecy and tongues. We have seen that, within the local church, spiritual gifts are given in order that we may edify one another, not seek attention or exalt ourselves. Out... Continue Reading →
Tongues vs Prophecy
We return to Paul’s discourse on spiritual gifts, which have been used to cause division within the local church at Corinth. There were some who, apparently, exalted the gift of tongues such that others desired the mystical gift above all else. There are many in our own day who exalt mystical sign gifts like tongues,... Continue Reading →
Going to Church: Worthless?
Paul is admonishing the local church at Corinth toward unity through maturity in the faith. He is presently addressing the local church’s idolatry of the spiritual gifts. He does not discredit the spiritual gifts, but has instead stated that there is a better way than merely seeking after the spiritual gifts (12:31). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIY9JuPpKdY&t=44s As we... Continue Reading →
Kicking Christ Out of Church
In 1 Corinthians, Paul has been admonishing the church at Corinth toward unity through maturity in the faith. As we have seen in this section so far, Paul has admonished the church to give up her quarrels about what goes into the mouth and head coverings for women. The earth is the Lord’s, and all... Continue Reading →