Proverbs 22
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
I'm a Christian. I'll be passing on that Yukon Denali.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
God of Fear versus of God of Love
Romans 2
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
I've always believed in a God that should be feared. This passage - about Paul's God of Love - was mentioned in church the other day.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
I've always believed in a God that should be feared. This passage - about Paul's God of Love - was mentioned in church the other day.
Friday, February 13, 2009
What does it mean to be a Baptist?
Acts 1
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
So much of my life has been spent trying to answer one question. What does it mean to be a Baptist? And, oddly, I'm not even sure whether or not I've been baptized.....
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
So much of my life has been spent trying to answer one question. What does it mean to be a Baptist? And, oddly, I'm not even sure whether or not I've been baptized.....
Monday, February 9, 2009
The Choice
Deuteronomy 1
26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse.....
That is always, since the beginning, the choice. And, somehow, we never let it be a simple choice. We always walk the edge of the cliff, with little fear of the threatened divine malediction.
26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse.....
That is always, since the beginning, the choice. And, somehow, we never let it be a simple choice. We always walk the edge of the cliff, with little fear of the threatened divine malediction.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Peshat
Colossians 1
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Interpreting The Bible
So, how do we become filled with His (God's) will? To a great extent, we read the Bible. And, needless to say, we need to interpret what we read. I have found the Hebrew concepts of interepretation helpful. I stumbled across this when I was studying the Mesorites and how we came to have the KJV.
Most important to me is to, day by day, read the Bible and first find the simple meaning, Pshat, of each verse. Upon this can be build a proper understanding of God's word.
Google the Hebrew word Peshat for more information.
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Interpreting The Bible
So, how do we become filled with His (God's) will? To a great extent, we read the Bible. And, needless to say, we need to interpret what we read. I have found the Hebrew concepts of interepretation helpful. I stumbled across this when I was studying the Mesorites and how we came to have the KJV.
Most important to me is to, day by day, read the Bible and first find the simple meaning, Pshat, of each verse. Upon this can be build a proper understanding of God's word.
Google the Hebrew word Peshat for more information.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Ritual Baptism
Romans 6
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Ritual Baptism, From Chafer's Systematic Theology:
The immersionist relates ritual baptism to Christ's death, burial and resurrection and on the ground of the fact that the believer is said to have been baptized into Christ's death, burial, and resurrection according to Romans 6:1-10 and Colossians 2:11-13. On the strength of these two passages, the candidate for ritual baptism should enact the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as a recognition of the relation which these hold to salvation, forgiveness, and justification....
My grandmother finally, after my grandfather died, got baptized in the Baptist church of her childhood. She was 72 years old. I think there is a story here, but it does not need to be committed to paper.
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Ritual Baptism, From Chafer's Systematic Theology:
The immersionist relates ritual baptism to Christ's death, burial and resurrection and on the ground of the fact that the believer is said to have been baptized into Christ's death, burial, and resurrection according to Romans 6:1-10 and Colossians 2:11-13. On the strength of these two passages, the candidate for ritual baptism should enact the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as a recognition of the relation which these hold to salvation, forgiveness, and justification....
My grandmother finally, after my grandfather died, got baptized in the Baptist church of her childhood. She was 72 years old. I think there is a story here, but it does not need to be committed to paper.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
The King James Version
Deuteronomy 4
2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
I do not see any really great arguments for reading the King James Version over other versions. That being said....
It's the only version I read - since third week of April, 1999. It connects me to the Bible my grandfather and great grandfathers read. The story of how it came to be written is wonderful inspiration. I draw a special comfort from reading it. In the end, though, it's the version that God chose to speak to me.
2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
I do not see any really great arguments for reading the King James Version over other versions. That being said....
It's the only version I read - since third week of April, 1999. It connects me to the Bible my grandfather and great grandfathers read. The story of how it came to be written is wonderful inspiration. I draw a special comfort from reading it. In the end, though, it's the version that God chose to speak to me.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Seven Personal Fundamentals - First Read
John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
I used to worry myself about a Calvinist interpretation of the Bible versus an Arminian interpretation of the Bible. And I use to worry myself about a Dispensationalist interpretation of the Bible and a Covenant interpretation of the Bible. So I read through the whole Bible. And here are the seven things that I found inportant:
Three Inportant Truths:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
I used to worry myself about a Calvinist interpretation of the Bible versus an Arminian interpretation of the Bible. And I use to worry myself about a Dispensationalist interpretation of the Bible and a Covenant interpretation of the Bible. So I read through the whole Bible. And here are the seven things that I found inportant:
Three Inportant Truths:
- Jesus saves.
- Jesus is coming.
- Jesus died for your sins.
- Are you born again?
- Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?
- You must live, day by day, by the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
- You are here to glorify God.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The King James Version
Psalms 12
6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified even times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
As much as I might study the the issue of Bible versions, I am finally left with this passage as the last word on the Word. It's about passing the Word down, from generation to generation.
And so, I prefer the King James Version.
6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified even times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
As much as I might study the the issue of Bible versions, I am finally left with this passage as the last word on the Word. It's about passing the Word down, from generation to generation.
And so, I prefer the King James Version.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Josiah's Reward
2 Chronicles 14
26 And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard;
27 Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.
28 Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.
As I strive for humility before God, may He also have mercy on my soul...and give me peace.
26 And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard;
27 Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.
28 Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.
As I strive for humility before God, may He also have mercy on my soul...and give me peace.
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