Isaiah 56-66 in Luke’s Gospel, pt.2
Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise in Isaiah to bring all people into his restored holy city of the New Jerusalem.
Isaiah 56-66 in Luke’s Gospel, pt.2 Read More »
Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise in Isaiah to bring all people into his restored holy city of the New Jerusalem.
Isaiah 56-66 in Luke’s Gospel, pt.2 Read More »
In Luke, Jesus begins his ministry by reading from Isaiah 61:1-2. Throughout his Gospel, Luke will use the themes of these prophecies found in the last section of Isaiah (Isaiah 56-66) to tell us who Jesus is.
Isaiah 56-66 in Luke’s Gospel, pt.1 Read More »
Paul’s manner of addressing Philemon gives us a good example of how to speak truth in love and with maturity to each other. Eph. 4:15. Paul addresses Philemon as an equal, with respect, and reminds Philemon who he is in Christ Jesus.
Philemon – A Story of Christian Freedom, vv.4-24 Read More »
Living Christianity makes people more human, not less. No Christian should grumble at the extra demands of love. They are golden opportunities to draw on the reserve of divine love, and in so doing become more fully oneself in Christ, more completely in the image of God, more authentically human.
Philemon – Overview and Introduction, vv.1-3 Read More »
Paul ends his letter by reminding the Ephesians of our eternal, spiritual, incorruptible, immortal, death-defeating, teleological end. As the letter begins with God’s plan which was set forth from the beginning that all things would be united in Christ, so Paul ends this letter with this same teaching that death is defeated and God will be all in all.
Ephesians 6:21-24 – The Benediction Read More »
The church’s military engagement with the powers and principalities of the heavenly realm is not about advancing or attacking but of standing firm and holding one’s ground. Christ is the one who wins the battle and the church militant is to hold those gains.
Ephesians 6:10-20, Armor of God Read More »
In the three examples of household relationships, Paul always addresses both parties to that relationship. In addressing the traditionally subservient party, Paul gives them a share in the responsibility to maintain the good order of the household. In addressing the traditionally dominate party, Paul gives him reciprocal obligations.
Ephesians 6:1-9, Household Codes pt.2 Read More »
The very basis of Paul’s household codes is his introductory statement that we must “be subject to one another.” v.21. In his examples, Paul transforms the existing roles into something new. The social structure or shell of these institutions is left in place, however, Paul’s teaching radically reimagines and redefines the inner reality of these existing institutions.
Ephesians 5:21-33, Household Codes pt.1 Read More »
In acting in accordance with the Good, the Church exposes the unfruitful works of the darkness of the world. The Church does this, not by scolding those still in the world, but by showing them the Light which is Christ, and thereby being attractive to them.
Ephesians 5:6-20, Children of Light Read More »
The summation of Paul’s ethical rules is contained in 4:32-5:2 – Give grace to one another, just as God in Christ gave grace to you and be imitators of God, to walk in love with one another just as Christ sacrificially loved you.
Ephesians 5:1-5, Imitators of God Read More »