Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Romans 6:3 NASB Baptized– For a moment, put away your familiar associations with the joy of baptism. Set aside the usual celebration when someone expresses faith through immersion ritual. Ask yourself, “Isn’t it odd…
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2 NASB Deep– Before anything else, let’s translate these verses without the theological influence of Western science. When we do, something incredibly important emerges….
For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of…
O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55 NASB Death – thanatos. The end. Dead. Finished. Qohelet is right. Without a resurrection, the rabbis provide a stark assessment: “We know nothing about death, nothing beyond the one fact that we shall ‘die’—but what is that, to die? We do not…
You shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God or accept correction; truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth. Jeremiah 7:28 NASB Perished – What happens to a society that does not obey the voice of the Lord? Jeremiah gives us a list—a…
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:10-11 NASB The Dead Pool – “Being conformed to His death.” Now, what in the world can that mean? The only way to be conformed to…
Then I accounted those who died long since more fortunate than those who are still living. Ecclesiastes 4:2 JPS Fortunate – Take a hard look at life! A very hard look. Without your continued hope in God, wouldn’t you have to agree with Solomon? Those who have already died are finished with all this…
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NASB Sin – In the end, everyone gets paid. Since reimbursement is inevitable, it makes sense to know the rules of the game, especially if Paul is correct and the real wages…
No man can by any means redeem his brother or give to God a ransom for him— Psalm 49:7 NASB Redeem – Context, context, context. Without the context, this verse seems to oppose the very idea that Yeshua acts as a substitute sacrifice for sinners. Of course, the idea of substitutionary atonement is a Reformation…
Will You do wonders for the dead? Will the shades arise and acclaim you? Selah. Psalm 88:11 (Robert Alter translation) Wonders – When is it too late? When does the power of the Lord cease to be effective? When you’re dead! Death ends it. As the Korahites sang, we can cry out to the Lord…
