The Bible and God

Ok, so the bible is not God.  But then, what is the relationship between God and the written word?
I’ll devote quite a big proportion of next week to that question as I blog about preaching.  But for now let me explore an analogy with the sacraments.  Marc can shoot me down – he’s doing a [...]

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“My Body Hell”

Last night I caught the end of a wonderful documentary about Marlie Casseus from Haiti.  She suffers from a rare disease called Polysostotic Fibrous Dysplasia.  A 16-pound growth overwhelmed her whole face to point she could barely breathe and was about to go blind.
She was ostracized by her community – many considering her to be [...]

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Christ in OT video

Have you heard about this guy Paul Blackham?  Apparently he’s into the whole Jesus in the OT thing too.
;-)
Check out the body language as he switches between talking about the two views.  The first half is a brilliant impression of Kurtz in Apocalypse Now. 
The horror…  The horror…
Watch here.
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The bible is God, apparently

There are many problems with saying that the pre-flesh Word of John 1 = the Scriptures.  Here’s one of them…

h/t Bobby.

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Summary post

These are my concluding thoughts for a blog discussion here. 
So for the three of you who know what I’m referring to…
 
Here’s what the discussion is not about:
It’s not about progress of knowledge.
It’s not about trust in Messianic prophecies.
Those are important questions for another time.
 
Here’s what I am not saying:
I am not by any means [...]

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What real men look like…

I’ve discussed many times on this blog what real masculinity looks like.  Here it is…

I’m not even joking.

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John Owen – Communion with God

John Owen’s masterpiece On Communion with God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost was written at a time when Socinianism (a form of Unitarianism) was infiltrating England.   Their belief (as expressed in the Racovian Catechism) was that Jesus was essential for salvation.  He was manifestly predicted and prophesied in the OT.  The Hebrew Scriptures were indeed a word [...]

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The classical reformed position

In this comment on another blog Mo has claimed that classical reformed theologians were not interested in identifying which Person of the trinity is talking in the OT.
When it comes to appearances of the LORD and when it comes to the Angel of the LORD, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
I could list many [...]

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A parable

Nice huh?
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My new favourite word…

…Are you ready?  It’s really particularly awesome.  Here it is:
exeJesus
How cool is that?
What do we want from our exegesis?  ExeJesus that’s what!
Nice one Dave Ingland.
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He Rose Up – with tune

Here’s the audio.
There’s a harmony too, but I’ll have to add that when I get some recording software.
He rose up among us, as told.
He rose up as promised of old.
My Brother in strife
Assuming my life
He rose up, He rose up for me.
 
He rose up humanity’s Last
He rose up in life unsurpassed
My Champion living
God’s life of [...]

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Song – He rose up

I wrote this while working on my kids ascension song.  I’m working on the tune.  I’ll put up a rough mp3 at some point.
 
He rose up among us, as told.
He rose up as promised of old.
My Brother in strife
Assuming my life
He rose up, He rose up for me.
 
He rose up humanity’s Last
He rose up in life [...]

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Some convictions of mine

The OT is not functionally unitarian
Christian revelation cannot be functionally unitarian
God simply is trinity
Functional unitarianism can in no sense be a preparation for trinitarianism
The oneness of the triune God is nothing like the oneness of the unitarian god.
Trinity is not a nuance
There is no way to shove ‘Trinity’ in a corner while we discuss ‘God’
Whatever [...]

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Steve Levy speaks

The issue is not progress of knowledge but object of faith.
Amen! Amen!
Go and enjoy this post but I dunno – maybe comment here rather than there.  Your call.  But some blogs aren’t as much free-for-alls as Christ the Truth.  Both kinds of blogs have their place and it’s good to respect the differences.
 
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Acsension Day Kids Song – NEW EDIT

Here is my (NOW EDITED) attempt at a kids song for the ascension.
It views the ascension first from heaven (Psalm 24 perspective) and then from earth (Acts 1 perspective).
Audio here.
 
FROM HEAVEN:
Here He comes  – Here He comes 
Open up   -  Open up
It’s the King  -  It’s the King of Glory
 
Who is He?   Who is He?
This King  [...]

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Ascension sermon – Dev Menon

It should become an annual Ascension Day practice to listen to Dev’s incredible sermon.
Sit back and enjoy.  You’ve never heard anything quite like it.  Unless you know Dev!
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What’s the point?

A flurry of recent blogging on Christ in the OT.  A whole swathe of posts written in the past.  Why?
I write on this the same reason I write on pastoral theology, on doctrine of God, on evangelism, on preaching, on everything:
KNOWING JESUS IS CRUCIAL!
KNOWING JESUS IS EVERYTHING!
DON’T MESS WITH KNOWING JESUS!
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That’s why.
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Ascension Day kids songs

Anyone know any ascension day kids songs?
EDIT: Just written one here if anyone’s interested.

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A thought on why The Angel matters

I’ve been involved in a blog discussion about the Angel of the LORD. 94 comments and still going strong. 
I’d like to clarify a couple of things about the Angel of the LORD:
The Angel of the LORD is not by any means the only title under which Christ appears in the OT.  He also appears simply as [...]

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Three ways Christ is in the OT

By promise
By prototype
By presence
Genesis 22 is a good example of Christ being there in all three senses.
By promise, He is there in the Seed, first promised in 3:15, threatened through sacrificial death but renewed so that in Abraham’s Seed all nations will be blessed (22:18).
He is also promised very strikingly in v14.  Abraham said the LORD would [...]

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Three approaches to Christ in OT discussions

I’m the sort of person who bangs a drum for Christ in the OT.  Specifically I think it’s important to maintain that knowledge of God is always in Christ. 
In my experience there are three ways to do this:
1) From the OT forwards
Basically you point out where the OT reveals an Appearing LORD, the Angel of [...]

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He giveth more grace

By any worldly measure this does not rock.  And yet…  Boy does it rock!

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1 Corinthians 9 sermon – part five

Continued from here.
Where do we draw the line though?  Is Paul infinitely flexible? Just a chameleon with no integrity?  No, look at those brackets in v21:
21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to [...]

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1 Corinthians 9 sermon – part four

…Continued from here.
Let me ask you a question: What does an evangelical look like?
‘Evangelical’ is just a label that bible believing Christians like us use for ourselves. It’s taken from the word ‘evangel’ which means ‘gospel’. An evangelical just means a ‘gospel person.’ So what does an evangelical look like?
The scandal is – everyone knows [...]

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1 Corinthians 9 sermon – part three

…Continued from here.
To offer the gospel for free and for everyone requires huge sacrifices on our part.  To offer it for free will put great pressure on our time and money – Paul had to work a second job.  To offer it freely for everyone will require huge sacrifices of personal comfort.  It will require [...]

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1 Corinthians 9 sermon – part two

Continued from here.
What does it mean to give up our rights for the sake of the Gospel?  What does that even mean?  What is the gospel?  Let me summarize it for you:
‘Gospel’ is a word that just means good news.  And here is the good news that the bible tells us: 
[SLIDE - the Gospel]
Jesus Christ [...]

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1 Corinthians 9 sermon

I haven’t posted any sermons for ages.  Part of the reason is that they’ve had trouble recording them at church the last couple of months.  So I don’t have any mp3s, but here’s the text of Sunday’s sermon if you’re interested…
Previously on 1 Corinthians, we asked the vital question: Can I eat this kebab??
 
In a [...]

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Short talks using film clips

This looks to be a very helpful resource.  Especially for youth work:
Peter Chilvers has posted 11 short evangelistic talks using clips from popular films. 
Let him know if you use them.
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Is the fruit of the Spirit too sissy for ‘real men’?

Quote:
Real manliness is defined by Christlike character, and not just the Gentle-Jesus-meek-and-mild-style character, but the full-orbed fruit of the Spirit rounded out with strength, courage, conviction, strong passions, manly love, and a stout-hearted willingness to oppose error and fight for the truth—even to the point of laying down your life for the truth if necessary.
From [...]

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OT law seminar

The history of redemption according to Galatians 3: 
Not…

But…

 
Dave reminded me of this talk on OT law.  These diagrams may help explain it a bit.
And here’s the tabernacle:

And remember:
When there is a change in the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.  (Heb 7:12)
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Some short posts I’ve enjoyed recently

What’s so new about the New Testament?
The ‘Already Relevant Bible’
Hiding Stuff in your Heart
Created Grace vs Grace as a Person
Hilarious quip by Barth after a sermon
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He said – She said

She said: This morning I was really blessed by this Scripture… which got me thinking about… and then I was praying through the whole issue of… which reminded me about the verse where it says…
He said: Yeah, it’s that whole theme of… isn’t it interesting how Paul says…
She said:  Hm. (tight lipped, looking out window)
What’s [...]

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Gospel outline?

Ok, I’m off for the weekend – but that doesn’t mean you can slink off.  I have work for you all.
I’ve just thought of a gospel outline – probably for a tract.  But I need you to fill in the details for me.
Provisional Title:  “What for?“
Six sections (of course):
For Him – Creation is for Christ, [...]

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Larry Crabb’s unique approach to couples counselling

 

 
From the conference I was at.
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Nice and Christian

Those two things aren’t the same you know.  But often we forget that.  Especially as we try to live in community.  I mean, think about it – what helps our Christian communities function? 
Surely we get along because we all play nice, right?  Empowered by the gospel of course.  We have to add that caveat.  But now [...]

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Read the Bible in 90 days

It works out at 12 pages a day. About 16 chapters.  That’s do-able right?
Week 1: Genesis 1:1 - Exodus 40:38 :
Week 2: Leviticus 1:1 - Deuteronomy 22:30 :
Week 3: Deuteronomy 23:1 - 1 Samuel 28:25 :
Week 4: 1 Samuel 29:1 - 2 Kings 25:30 :
Week 5: 1 Chronicles 1:1 - Nehemiah 13:31 :
Week 6: Esther 1:1 - Psalm 89:52 :
Week 7: Psalm 90:1 - Isaiah 13:22 :
Week 8: Isaiah 14:1 - Jeremiah 33:26 :
Week 9: Jeremiah 34:1 - Daniel 8:27 :
Week 10: Daniel 9:1 - Matthew 26:75 :
Week 11: Matthew 27:1 - Acts 6:15 :
Week 12: Acts 7:1 - Colossians 4:18 :
Week 13: 1 Thess. 1:1 - Revelation 22:21 :
Go here to subscribe to the RSS feed.  Day one begins here.
Biblegateway proposes you do it over the summer: 1 June – 29 August.  But me and a mate are starting tomorrow.  If anyone wants to join us, let me know.
It might mean my blogging [...]

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Disagreeing with brothers and sisters

Yet another conversation containing the names Goldsworthy and Blackham has collapsed under the weight of pointed comments that got out of hand. And I was the chief commenter.
[deep exhale]
And this is precisely why people hate the issue being brought up.
It aggravates old wounds.
Wrong response 1:  We should be able to discuss such things dispassionately.
No, actually.  If [...]

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How to sum up evangelicalism worldwide

John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge describe the spreading evangel in their Saturday Times article:  “God is back: How Ned Flanders won the evangelical crusade“.
Virtually everywhere in the developing world fiery preachers are preaching a faith that would appeal to Ned Flanders: live your life according to God’s law, read the Bible as the literal word of [...]

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Another Christ in OT discussion

Been commenting here.
What do you think?
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Happy St Athanasius Day!

c.293 – 2 May, 373

Out of His great love, [Christ] became what we are so that we might become what He is.  (Against Heresies)  

Why not celebrate by listening to two outstanding talks by Mike Reeves on his life and teaching.
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No such thing as brute facts

Yesterday Dave Bish linked to my post called “We all have our creation stories.”   It’s about reversing a common misconception. We think of scientists as dealing in the realm of observable, testable fact but theologians deal only in the realm of unsubstantiated stories.  In fact, all cosmology/physics/astronomy/biology tells stories.  And theology is truly science.  Indeed Queen of [...]

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