For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under [a]the Law but under grace. Romans 6:14 NASB But – Yesterday we discovered that there is an alternative way of reading this text that preserves Paul’s Jewish orthodoxy. This fact is critically important because it shows us that the Christian assumption that Paul left Judaism and invented…
For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. Romans 7:5 NIV Aroused by the law – Did the Law make me sin? Some might draw that conclusion when they read Paul’s difficult analogy in chapter seven of…
then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall restore what he took by robbery or acquired by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him, or the lost property which he found, Leviticus 6:4 NASB Becomes guilty – When are you guilty? As soon as you commit a sin? As…
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has averted My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. Therefore say, ‘Behold, I am giving him My covenant of peace; …
In Your righteousness rescue me and save me; extend Your ear to me and help me. Psalm 71:2 NASB Righteousness – Conformity is almost a dirty word in the modern world. As we discovered yesterday, self-identity and self-concern were pregnant in the idea of the individual, born into a new sense of Man in the…
You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2 NASB Not add/ nor take away – How flexible are your ethics? Do you hold hard and fast to your own moral commandments? Are…
Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 NASB Right thing – What is the right thing to do? Ah, doesn’t that depend entirely on your particular view, your culture, your environment? Is there such a thing as universal “right,” an ethical demand…
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 NASB Sin– Last week we looked at Wyschogrod’s work on the idea of sin. What we discovered is that sin in nota moral or ethical category. Sin exists as…
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18 NASB Neighbor – Ethics is a relational concept. It does not exist as an inner, entirely personal formation. To be ethical there must be a movement from an inner…
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) Romans 3:5 NASB Inflicts wrath – Is it right for God to inflict wrath (Greek – epipheron orgen)? That might sound like a rather silly question,…
