Christ’s Triumph over Earthly Powers

Scholars have begun to think about the way that Jesus and Paul called the Roman Empire into question.  I think that it was this Christian Century article from 2005 that turned me on to the trend.  Peter Leithart’s article in First Things also explored the idea of Paul’s assertion of Christ’s triumph over earthly powers:
Paul [...]

Jesus on the Cross = Penal Substitution AND Sanctification

My evening readings were in 1 Pt. 1-2 and there is so much precious truth in it all, however 1 Pt 2:24 sticks out  for me today:
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
I [...]

Happy Ascension Day!!!

Ascension Day often gets overlooked, but it is a most glorious truth that we celebrate today…the risen, exalted Christ, reigning from on high, expanding His kingdom and subdoing His enemies.

ESV Study Bible Article on Christ’s Full Deity + Humanity, Council of Chalcedon

 
The following article is from the newly released ESV Study Bible. I highly commend this study Bible to your collection…its study notes are thorough and Evangelical, and its articles cover a suprinsingly vast number of topics from Theology to Ethics, and everything inbetween. Visit esvstudybible.org.
The Person of Christ
Four statements must be understood and affirmed in [...]

Dead Sea Stone and the resurrection

The New York Times reports that a 3-foot-tall stone tablet found near the Dead Sea in Jordan contains writings that mention the Messiah and the resurrection. Scholars believe that the writing on the stone talks about the Messiah, “prince of princes,” who “in three days…shall live” after being killed.
Two things were particularly interesting to [...]

Book Review Part 8 of Dan Lioy’s “Jesus as Torah in John 1-12″; Chp. 5 “Jesus as Torah in John 5-6″

  
Chapter 5 “Jesus as Torah in John 5-6”
Part 1 (Examining treatment of Jesus as Torah in John 5)
Dr. Lioy views a shift in John’s emphasis from chps. 1-4 as emphasizing Jesus as the eternal Tanakh against the backdrops of Jewish piety and history towards a comparison of Jesus with some of the major festivals of [...]

Gospel According to Bono from U2…knows Gospel Better than Many Pastors

You can find Bono’s explanation of the Gospel at the following link:  http://www.worldmag.com/articles/10892
Here is a summary of some things Bono states:
 ”The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does [...]

3/20/08 Devotional: What is Maundy Thursday???

 
A lot of people will notice that the calendar notes that today is both Maundy Thursday and the first day of Spring. First of all, some of you may be wondering what “Maundy” means and think it insignifiant since everyone is working, the kids are in school, and the mailman will pay a visit. BUT, [...]

3/18/08 Devotional – Psalm 22 “Jesus sought joy in going to the cross!?!?”

 
Psa 22:1-31  To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?  (2)  O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, [...]

Movie Review of “The Guardian”, A Glorious Picture of Particular Atonement

This video gives the movie away as does what I am about to say. Kevin Costner willingly died to save Ashton Kutcher. The only consolation for Costner was to know that he was indeed giving his life to save the life of another.
Jesus, likewise, went to the cross with His sheep [...]

Book Review Part 7 of Dan Lioy’s “Jesus as Torah in John 1-12″; Chp. 4 “Jesus as Torah in John 2-4: The Samaritan Woman’s Conversation with Jesus as Torah (John 4:1-26)”

The Samaritan Woman’s Conversation with Jesus as Torah (John 4:1-26) 
Lioy makes two suggestions of how Jesus is seen as Torah in His encounter with the Samaritan woman that I find intriguing. First off, Lioy points to Ng (2001), who in “Water Symbolism in John: An Eschatological Interpretation”, examines the use of “water”  to refer to [...]

Book Review Part 6 of Dan Lioy’s “Jesus as Torah in John 1-12″; Chp. 4 “Jesus as Torah in John 2-4: Jesus as Torah Teaching Nicodemus (John 2:23-3:21)”

Jesus as Torah Teaching Nicodemus (John 2:23-3:21) 
This incident, in my estimation, is persuasive to Lioy’s premise that Jesus is Torah. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin. Lioy also notes that Nicodemus was “Israel’s teacher” (p. 89). Lioy comments, “This reference has led some to think that he had a special position as [...]

Book Review Part 5 of Dan Lioy’s “Jesus as Torah in John 1-12″; Chp. 4 “Jesus as Torah in John 2-4: Jesus as Torah Clearing the Temple Courts (John 2:12-22)”

“Jesus as Torah Clearing the Temple Courts” (John 2:12-22)” 
Now talk about extremes– Jesus first miracle is performed quietly and privately, while the clearing of the temple courts is loud and very public.

Lioy dialogues with some of the various views regarding whether Jesus cleared the temple once or twice. The fact that John records this [...]

Book Review Part 4 of Dan Lioy’s “Jesus as Torah in John 1-12″; Chp. 4 “Jesus as Torah in John 2-4: Jesus as Torah Changing Water into Wine (John 2:1-11)”

Dr. Lioy would like to encourage interested readers of Rick’s blog to recommend Jesus as Torah in John 1-12 to acquisition librarians in their area. Often, the latter are very open to receive suggestions for new titles to include in their library holdings, and this involves no direct cost to the person making the recommendation. [...]

Dr. Dan Lioy Responds to My Book Review on “Jesus as Torah”

For my intial review, please see:  http://endued.wordpress.com/2007/12/21/book-review-part-3-of-dan-lioys-jesus-as-torah-in-john-1-12-chp-3-jesus-as-torah-in-john-1/
Dr. Lioy was gracious enough to respond to some of my questions. His response is below:
Rick,
Your ongoing review of my monograph is appreciated. In it you wondered whether John’s first century AD audience would have connected the notion of “light” with that of “Torah.” I would answer *yes*. For [...]

Book Review Part 3 of Dan Lioy’s “Jesus as Torah in John 1-12″: Chp. 3 “Jesus as Torah in John 1″

 
Dr. Lioy engages the 1st chapter of John’s gospel to expound the premise of this volume that Jesus is Torah. Lioy mentions that one of John’s intents in authoring this Gospel was to confront false teachers who denied that Jesus was the divine Son of God. Accordingly, “One is left with the impression that throughout [...]

Book Review Part 2 of Dan Lioy’s “Jesus as Torah in John 1-12″: Chp. 2 “The Moral Law in Christ-Centered Perspective”

This is my second review of this book by Dr. Dan Lioy. To see part one, check: http://endued.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/book-review-part-1-of-dan-lioys-jesus-as-torah-in-john-1-12/ 
If interested in purchasing this volume, check out the following link:  http://wipfandstock.com/store/Jesus_as_Torah_in_John_112
This second chapter covered a LOT!!! Dr. Lioy broaches many issues in this chapter, all of which merit much reflection in Biblical Theology. The various uses of [...]

Book Review part 1 of Dan Lioy’s “Jesus as Torah in John 1-12″

 
For more on author, visit site: http://danlioy.googlepages.com/
If interested in purchasing this book, visit: http://wipfandstock.com/store/Jesus_as_Torah_in_John_112
Book Review Part 1 (covering chp. 1, “The Framework and Intent of This Study”)
Dr. Lioy first contends that there exists prevailing moral frameworks, namely those of “entitlement” and “merit”. Quoting, “Both a culture of entitlement (“it’s all about me”) and a [...]

Did God Die on the Cross? by guest blogger Joe Lamay

Is the cross of Christ (i.e. what he gave up and experienced) diminished by affirming that God the Son died as a human being but his divine nature did not die?
That’s what my response to an email is about.
Yesterday I preached on the Incarnation of Christ: One Person, Two Natures ( see audio 11-25-07 at [...]