The Relative Right

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…

The Last Word on the Matter

So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Romans 7:12 NASB Holy– I wonder how long it will take before Christianity recognizes that its caricature of the Jewish Torah is a gross error. Oh, I can probably answer that. Forever!  Why?  Because the existence of Christianity depends on an implicit anti-Semitism. Lloyd Gaston made…

Entitlement Theology

For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, Romans 8:3 NASB Weak as it was– God saved you, right?  I mean, you couldn’t save yourself, could you?  You sinned.  Repentance and restitution don’t…

Entitlement Theology

For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, Romans 8:3 NASB Weak as it was– God saved you, right?  I mean, you couldn’t save yourself, could you?  You sinned.  Repentance and restitution don’t…

Divine Politics

“And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” 1 Samuel 8:18 ESV In that day – The day will come when those who have chosen leadership other than YHVH will cry out to Him. They will finally realize…

Cancelbration (2)

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 NASB Law of sin and death – What is “the law of sin and death”? If you follow Martin Luther (and others), you might assume that Paul’s use of nomos…

Nine Ways from Sunday

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 NASB Law – Paul is a complex writer. He uses Greek vocabulary to its maximum. In fact, sometimes he just makes up words. So to imagine that Paul always means…

Are You Devout?

But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 2 Timothy 2:16 NASB Ungodliness – The Greek word asebeia is translated as “ungodliness.” It comes from the root sebomai which means “reverence” or “worship.” It is found most often in the Greek world as eusebeia, a word that refers to general…

Reading What We Are Taught

Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Galatians 5:2 NASB Circumcision – Who am I to tell the former Chief Rabbi of Great Britain that his exegesis of Paul is incorrect? But listen to what Rabbi Jonathan Sacks says: “It was among this…

The Key to Success

In Transjordan, in the land of Moab, Moses undertook to expound this law, saying Deuteronomy 1:5 (J. Sacks, translation)   Expound – Today we think of the Ten Commandments as ethical prescriptions. They are viewed as the rules for moral living. Christians have modified them (for example, the law concerning the Sabbath), but still hold…