Blogging in Boredom

Happy Thanksgiving

The blog is taking a Thanksgiving break along with you. If you need a break from all of the family, football, turkey, and shopping you can always explore the blog for posts you haven't yet read. Don't waste your Thanksgiving!

Grace and Peace
Stephen

Are Near-Death Experiences Biblical?

Note: The views expressed in this video do not necessarily reflect my own...He makes a lot of sense though.

I also wonder what God's purpose would be in allowing someone to die and then return to earth...any thoughts?

Does James 2:24 contradict Paul's understanding of Justification by faith alone?

"You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone" (James 2:24).

The first thing we need to remember is that, though ultimately the Holy Spirit is the Author of Scripture, there are two different human authors speaking on the subject of justification in James and Paul. The Holy Spirit was using them as they came from different backgrounds, wrote to different audiences, in the context of different situations.

There is no doubt that both Paul and James make belief a major part of their definitions of the word "faith." For Paul we see this clearly in Romans 4:5. Here faith clearly points back to belief. For James it is seen in James 2:19, In the context of his argument that faith apart from works is dead he says, "You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!" So there is no disagreement between the two that faith includes intellectual consent to an idea.

The problem is that James is arguing that faith is not enough for one to be justified and Paul is arguing that it is the only means by (or through) which God justifies.

Once again I think if we look at the definitions of "faith" under which the authors are operating we will see that they believe the same thing. Going back to Romans 4 where Paul's argument on justification is being made we see that "faith" does not merely mean "believe" (Romans 4:20-21). Here faith is being spoken of in terms of trust. A fuller scope of Paul's definition will show that he also sees faith as an act of obedience (Romans 1:5, 16:26) by which the righteous man must live (Romans 1:17) and without which any man is sinning (Romans 14:23). All that said I think it is safe to conclude that Paul has an "all inclusive" definition of the word "faith."

James, for whatever reason, is not working with as full a definition as Paul. In fact, he is arguing for the kind of faith which Paul assumes. James 2:22 should suffice as an example of this, "You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works." James is arguing for a fuller, more complete faith; a faith like that of the apostle Paul.

Understanding this is important for many reasons. I hope your faith is strengthened by understanding faith. James is a hard book to read and should not be taken lightly but it does not contradict Paul's understanding of justification; it supports it.

Rescue the Perishing

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe.

Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

Bible Study: Romans 1:14-17

I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.

Here is a portion of what I wrote on this passage on my post on June 3rd.

Why isn't Paul ashamed of the gospel? He tells us that it is because "it is the power of God for salvation." The problem with this phrase is that when I (and I suspect most American Evangelical Christians) read this phrase my mind is thinking "it is the power of God for converting people." In other words, I think most people read this phrase and think that Paul is saying that the message of the gospel is the power of convincing people to believe; which is the basis of their salvation. Though it may be true that the message has that kind of power (see Romans 10:17) that is not the grounds of Paul's confidence in the gospel. If Paul's lack of shame in the gospel was merely that it has the power to convert people he would be no better than any other religious leader (no better than Oprah!).

So what is it the real reason Paul is not ashamed of the gospel? What is it that encourages him to follow the command of Jesus in Luke 9? Simply put, Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because it works. Look at it this way, "I am not ashamed of the gospel (the person and work of Jesus Christ coming to the world to die for sinners), for it is the power of God for salvation (salvation from the wrath of God unto eternal life) to everyone who believes."

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

The ABC's of the Bible- Baptism

What is Baptism? Baptism is the outward sign of the reality that a person has died to his old self and been raised to a new life in Christ.

-It is commanded by Christ (Matthew 28:19).

-Baptism is immersion (Acts 8:37-38). The very word means "dip or immerse."

-Baptism signifies union with Christ (Romans 6:3-4).

-Baptism is for believers (Colossians 2:11-12). It is often argued that infants of Christian families should be baptized. The argument is usually based on the link between circumcision (of the Old Covenant) and Baptism (of the New Covenant). Many good Christians believe this but in doing so they must redefine the biblical definition of Baptism (see Galatians 3:26-27).

Based on John Piper's sermon, "What is Baptism, and How Important is it?"

What if I doubt my salvation?

Become a Calvinist because we sleep better after bad elections.

The Democrats' opinion of Barack Obama: "He's the Messiah!"

The Republicans' opinion of Barack Obama: "He's the anti-Christ!"

The Bible's opinion of Barack Obama: "His heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; the LORD turns it wherever he wills." (Proverbs 21:1)

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

Joyful Noise

"Angels surrounding His throne and
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
The whole earth is full of His glory
All nations bow to His name
His majesty fills the Heavens
Our hearts give thunderous praise
Declare the Lord is forever
Make a joyful noise in this place" -Flame

Bible Study: Romans 1:8-13 A Cooperative Ministry

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

"What he heard of their flourishing in grace was so much a joy to him that it must needs be much more so to behold it. Paul could take comfort in the fruit of the labours of other ministers.--By the mutual faith both of you and me, that is, our mutual faithfulness and fidelity. It is very comfortable when there is a mutual confidence between minister and people, they confiding in him as a faithful minister, and he in them as a faithful people. Or, the mutual work of faith, which is love; they rejoiced in the expressions of one another's love, or communicating their faith one to another. It is very refreshing to Christians to compare notes about their spiritual concerns; thus are they sharpened, as iron sharpens iron.--That I might have some fruit, Romans 1:13. Their edification would be his advantage, it would be fruit abounding to a good account. Paul minded his work, as one that believed the more good he did the greater would his reward be." -Matthew Henry

The ABC's of the Bible- Adam

Adam was the first man created (see Genesis 2-3). We are all his descendants and thus it was his sin (see Genesis 3) that spread to the rest of mankind, and through sin also comes the judgment of death (see Romans 5:12).

Adam brings both good news and bad news to the Bible. The good news is that God, in love, decided to create a race of people knowing that they would almost immediately fall into rebellion. The bad news is that this rebellion has spread along with the judgment that accompanies it. This judgment is both physical and spiritual in nature.

The good news of the Bible is that God intended all along to send a second Adam.

"Thus it is written, 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven." (1 Corinthians 15:45-49)

The hope of this second Adam is that he brings hope of a second birth and a second life.

Legacy

What kind of legacy does King David have? It is in some passing words that don't even mention his name.

"And Samuel said to Saul, 'You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” (1 Samuel 13:13-14)

Three Reasons to Believe that Hell is Eternal

1. The greatness of the offended party increases the greatness of the crime, the greatness of the crime increases the greatness of the punishment.

Is there a difference between the punishment for lying to an infant and lying to the President?

2. There is no biblical evidence of the sinful nature being reversed when a person goes to hell.

We assume that people repent in hell but it seems that their hearts are still hardened toward God (example, Luke 16:19-31 the rich man still sees himself as greater than Lazarus).

3. There is no biblical basis for the assumption that because Jesus was able to bear the full wrath of God we can bear it too.

Jesus was a sufficient sacrifice who was able to bear the wrath of God to the end. If we as humans are not even able to look upon God what makes us think we can bear His wrath in a finite number of years?

To God be the Glory

To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

Bible Study: Romans 1:1-7 "...for the sake of his name..."

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Why does God set it up this way – with everything dependent on his grace through our faith? And the last phrase in Romans 1:5 gives the answer: "Through [Christ] we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the [ peoples] for His name's sake." The ultimate goal of all God's dealings is that his name (or the name of Christ, who is his image) would be known and admired and cherished and praised above all other realities.

Now this is why God makes all our salvation and all our ministry and all our obedience dependent on his grace and makes all our salvation and ministry and obedience the fruit of faith in grace – because the giver gets the glory. If our ministry and all our obedience is by grace through faith, then God gets the glory and we get the help. If Paul relied on himself to serve as an apostle, and if the effect of his ministry was to bring about the obedience of works, not the obedience of faith among the gentiles, then the name of Christ would not be praised, Paul would be.

...God gets the glory for our service if God gives the grace for our service, and if we serve by faith in that grace, in the strength of that grace and not our own." -John Piper

Two New Studies Coming Soon!

Theology Thursday posts are usually among my favorite posts of the week. I know they can be too detailed at times (I'm working on it!) but if you are able to get a survey of some of these topics I think they will be very helpful in your Bible study. I don't say this as one who has a lot of theological knowledge but the little I have I am happy to offer as a begger who found some good table scraps. That said, I have a new study that will begin next week for Theology Thursday as well as a new study for Fridays (I don't have a catchy name for it).

The ABC's of the Bible- I basically stole this idea from a recent lecture I attended at the Bible Church of Little Rock. What I'm going to do is do a brief overview of a biblical character, doctrine of theology, etc... from the letter A to the letter Z (so it should be a 26 week study!) If you have an idea for a certain thing I should go over when I get to its letter just post it in the comment section.

Studying Books of the Bible Together- I am especially excited about this study which should begin tomorrow. We will begin with the book of Romans. The idea is to simply show a portion of Scripture and then a portion of a commentary, sermon, quote, or my own thoughts on the passage. I think it will be a good learning experience.

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

Election Season Hangover Prayer

Colossians 1:15-17

"[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Proverbs 21:1

"The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will."

Pray for our new President elect.

Grace and Peace,
Stephen Bean

NOTE: THIS POST WAS WRITTEN BEFORE ELECTION DAY WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE OUTCOME.

Who's Will is Revealed Today?

Daniel 2:20-22-
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.”

Psalm 22:27-28-

“All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before you.
For kingship belongs to the LORD,
and he rules over the nations.”


Grace and Peace,
Stephen