Inside Job

Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.  Micah 7:19  NASB Cast – This is the Hebrew word shalak.  It has several different senses, all associated with throwing down.  It can mean the physical act of throwing down something, casting aside something or, in an important sense, abandoning something.  Micah…

Fastball

casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7  NASB Casting – Here is the Greek word epirripsantes.  It means “to throw upon.”  This is not a casual action.  It is a deliberate forceful throwing like throwing an enemy down to the ground.  Peter actually quotes Psalm 55:22 which uses…

The Order of Priorities

and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.  Acts 4:32  NASB Belonging – This is really the Greek word for “possessions.”  It is huparchonton.  Literally, it means things that exist first under ranked order.  We have converted this expression into a…

Investigation vs. Information

Recently a good friend mentioned that sometimes I use material from writers whose life teachings are considered heretical. And sometimes I investigate implications from Scriptural texts that challenge accepted doctrine. So I thought it might be important to comment on my approach. First, in my view, truth is truth no matter where you find it….

Stretching Exercises

but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead  Philippians 3:13 NASB Reaching forward – Greek adds emphasis to a word by attaching the prefix epi.  Paul uses this linguistic construction with this verb – epekteino (epi + ekteino).  It means, “to really stretch out toward something.”  You…

“Till Death Do Us Part”

for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God  Exodus 34:14 NASB Jealous – Out of all the names of God given in the Tanakh, this one is perhaps among the least understood. YHVH, God – His name is Jealous. That word carries with it…

True Religion (3)

 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.  James 2:10 ESV Rodney Baker has contributed several TW’s on Religion while I am in South Africa. Whole – This is a favourite proof text for those who would claim that the Law is no longer applicable…

True Religion (2)

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. James 1:26 ESV Rodney Baker has contributed several TW’s on Religion while I am in South Africa. Religious  – Now James provides the solution to the riddle. What is it to truly fear God?…

True Religion (1)

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. James 1:26 ESV Rodney Baker (Adelaide, Australia) has contributed several TW’s on Religion while I am in South Africa. Religious  – threskos. What a loaded word! A word that occurs only once in the…

Repenting in Advance

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!  Psalm 32:1  NASB Forgiven – Martin Luther broke ranks with the Roman Catholic Church over the practice of selling indulgences; the offer of providing forgiveness for sinful actions to be committed in the future for a monetary payment now.  Actually, it was a…