Apostolic By-lines (1)

Christ paid the price to free us from the curse that the laws in Moses’ Teachings bring by becoming cursed instead of us. Scripture says, “Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.”  Galatians 3:13 (God’s Word translation, 1995, God’s Word to the Nations) Paid the price– THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO GO OUT ON MAY…

Infected

Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20  NASB Who continually– Isn’t it nice to know that the Teacher (Qohelet) allows for the ups and downs of ethical behavior? He notes that no one continually does good.  And we agree, of course, since his observation matches ours.  Sometimes we do…

David and the Midrash

“With reproofs You chasten a man for iniquity; You consume as a moth what is precious to him; surely every man is a mere breath.”  Selah.  Psalm 39:11  NASB Reproofs– The apostolic letters don’t stray far from roots in the Tanakh.  We should not be surprised.  The letters are commentary on the Bible of the apostles, the Tanakh.  So…

Life After Death

Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?  Romans 6:3  NASB Baptized– For a moment, put away your familiar associations with the joy of baptism.  Set aside the usual celebration when someone expresses faith through immersion ritual.  Ask yourself, “Isn’t it odd…

Paul, Augustine, and Addiction

 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.  For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.  That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.   Romans…

Keeping It in the Family

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  Romans 3:23 NASB Have sinned– Let’s reconsider Paul’s declaration.  If sin is basically disconnection (i.e., disconnection from the source of life—God—and consequently from His creation including other people), then Paul is declaring that each and every one of us experiences, at some level, a sense…

Does It Really Matter?

“Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, so that I am a burden to myself?  Job 7:20  NASB Done to You– In the grand scheme of things, in the cosmic order, do you think that your little sins really make any difference? You are…

Peas in a Pod

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  Romans 3:23  NASB All – Because we have focused our religious attention on justification by faith, we tend to read this verse as a preamble to the next one, that is, “being justified as a gift  by His grace through the redemption which is in…

Open to Suggestions

“The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.” Ezekiel 18:20 NASB Person who sins – It’s…

Not My Problem (1)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23 NASB Fall short – Just how far do you think you’ll get with modern men and women by telling them that they are sinners? Can I suggest that unless you are speaking to people who have some sort of connection with…