The Invisible Framework We Inherit I’m sure most Christians assume they understand the relationship between law, grace, and salvation, yet few of us ever pause to examine the framework through which we interpret these concepts. There are, in fact, multiple ways of viewing these theological ideas, and like a pair of invisible glasses, this framework quietly shapes how Scripture is read, how the gospel is explained, and how discipleship is practiced. Rarely is it questioned, because … [Read more...] about From Transaction to Transformation: How Scripture Frames Law, Grace, Faith, and Salvation
Law
Christ and Moses – Parallel Prophets
Australian author Mark Robertson wrote The Enlightened Law of Moses, about the Old Testament. Most people think of the Bible in two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. And in thinking of the Old Testament, they think of that as the Law of Moses, a collection of old Jewish stories, obsolete statutes, sort of anachronistic, legalistic, and harsh. The New Testament, by contrast, is where all of that is done away, where Christ introduced grace and cast aside Israel to build a better … [Read more...] about Christ and Moses – Parallel Prophets
Three Choices: Good, Evil, & Life
Author Steven Covey states what distinguishes us as humans is the ability to examine our own character, to choose how to view ourselves and the situations in which we find ourselves, and to control our own effectiveness. This is important because it implies that we can learn the art of ethical behavior and apply it to life’s circumstances. He says “We are not our feelings. We are not our moods. We are not even our thoughts. The very fact that we can think about these things separates us from … [Read more...] about Three Choices: Good, Evil, & Life
Grace Redefined: How Gnostic Thinking Warped Christianity’s Teaching
What Is Grace… Really? Grace is one of the most talked-about—and misunderstood—concepts in Christianity. Central to salvation, it’s debated across denominations, with few agreeing on exactly what it means. For many today, grace boils down to this: “I don’t have to do anything—Jesus did it all.” But is that what the Bible teaches? Or has the definition of grace subtly shifted over time, shaped not by Scripture, but by ancient philosophies that crept into Christian thinking? The Modern … [Read more...] about Grace Redefined: How Gnostic Thinking Warped Christianity’s Teaching
Salvation: Who’s In and Who’s Out
One key element of modern Christianity is the concept of salvation. It is often at the center of endless theological debates—salvation by works versus salvation by faith, the question of whether one can lose salvation, or the doctrine of ‘once saved, always saved.’ These debates ultimately narrow down to a singular, anxiety-laden question: Are you saved? This approach often feeds off fear—the fear of judgment, the fear of what happens after death, and the fear of being excluded from God’s … [Read more...] about Salvation: Who’s In and Who’s Out
God’s Law Has Consequences
Processing the unfolding events – both worldwide and locally i difficult. By processing, I mean taking the individual components and analyzing them to reach a wise conclusion. It is important that people use a “sound mind” to assess the developments around us which impact us by degrees. We would also do well to keep in mind that God’s law has consequences. Those consequences can be good or bad depending on whether the law is applied or rejected. Sin is the cause of our current crisis and … [Read more...] about God’s Law Has Consequences
Pentecost, the Spiritual Connection
There are many things that we can learn and understand in our walk with God when we observe God’s walk with the nation of ancient Israel. There’s much about the nation of Israel that sets a pattern for us to learn from. By covenant, they became a called-out people who were destined to live according to the will of God as expressed by His law. The feature of the special relationship was the fact that God would dwell among them: “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among … [Read more...] about Pentecost, the Spiritual Connection