Author: R L Coursey
Publisher: WestBow Press
ISBN: 1973631377
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 176
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Book Description
Many, who correctly exalt the preeminence of Christ in their theology, may yet oppose His preeminence with their priorities. Our priorities reveal our portion, and location does not change that portion. For the psalmist declared the preeminence of Christ in both heaven and earth: Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides Thee. (Ps. 73:25) Whenever there are two things that are good, the believer who has his priorities aligned with the kingdom never rejects the lesser but always prefers the better. And when one of these is finite and the other infinite, there must be no competition in his choice. Since Christ is preeminent in creation, cosmic preeminence must be infinitely higher in our affections than cosmic redemption. The new view on heaven is popular because it legitimizes the priorities of a consumer culture by always emphasizing the latter while merely including the former. While both are equally true, they are not truly equal. The priority of the beatific vision is evidenced by the superiority of its object. Therefore, we should always emphasize the former without failing to mention the latter. Once creation and redemption are paired together in our priorities, the preeminence of Christ slowly becomes less important, and how to gain and/or enjoy creation is always the primary emphasis, both in this life and the next. Like Christ, we must differentiate between His kingdom and all those things that are merely added unto us in this life and on the future new earth. With the Kingdom clearly in view, we must prioritize that mandate (Great Commission) through which Christ has chosen to extend His kingdom and work of redemption in the world. The Creation Mandate given before the Fall, like all the commands, is not redemptive in nature, and the church is the only society of the redeemed. Our new identity in Christ, without eliminating, infinitely supersedes our creation identity, simply because Christ infinitely supersedes all creation in worth. The problem with exchanging the Great Commission with the Cultural Mandate is that the present mission of Christ to build His church becomes secondary to His work of providence in culture; the power of the gospel becomes secondary to the power of our example and moral influence on society and culture, and the preeminence of Christ is no longer based on His person and work but on the success of our work among people. We always proclaim what we are, wrote Martyn Lloyd-Jones, by our priorities.
Author: R. L. Coursey
Publisher: WestBow Press
ISBN: 9781973631385
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 176
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Book Description
Many, who correctly exalt the preeminence of Christ in their theology, may yet oppose His preeminence with their priorities. Our priorities reveal our portion, and location does not change that portion. For the psalmist declared the preeminence of Christ in both heaven and earth: Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides Thee. (Ps. 73:25) Whenever there are two things that are good, the believer who has his priorities aligned with the kingdom never rejects the lesser but always prefers the better. And when one of these is finite and the other infinite, there must be no competition in his choice. Since Christ is preeminent in creation, cosmic preeminence must be infinitely higher in our affections than cosmic redemption. The new view on heaven is popular because it legitimizes the priorities of a consumer culture by always emphasizing the latter while merely including the former. While both are equally true, they are not truly equal. The priority of the beatific vision is evidenced by the superiority of its object. Therefore, we should always emphasize the former without failing to mention the latter. Once creation and redemption are paired together in our priorities, the preeminence of Christ slowly becomes less important, and how to gain and/or enjoy creation is always the primary emphasis, both in this life and the next. Like Christ, we must differentiate between His kingdom and all those things that are merely added unto us in this life and on the future new earth. With the Kingdom clearly in view, we must prioritize that mandate (Great Commission) through which Christ has chosen to extend His kingdom and work of redemption in the world. The Creation Mandate given before the Fall, like all the commands, is not redemptive in nature, and the church is the only society of the redeemed. Our new identity in Christ, without eliminating, infinitely supersedes our creation identity, simply because Christ infinitely supersedes all creation in worth. The problem with exchanging the Great Commission with the Cultural Mandate is that the present mission of Christ to build His church becomes secondary to His work of providence in culture; the power of the gospel becomes secondary to the power of our example and moral influence on society and culture, and the preeminence of Christ is no longer based on His person and work but on the success of our work among people. We always proclaim what we are, wrote Martyn Lloyd-Jones, by our priorities.
Author: R L Coursey
Publisher: WestBow Press
ISBN: 1664279512
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 405
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Book Description
Thomas Chalmers, in his classic sermon entited, “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection,” correctly ascribes subjective power to subjective affections, for love does have an expulsive power, whether one loves God to the despising of self, or loves self to the despising of God. But he incorrectly sides with objective justification, full pardon and gracious acceptance as the power that creates love and the engine that empowers sanctification. He is right to suggest that a new affection has expulsive power, but wrong to suggest that the source and power of a new affection is primarily in the indicative benefits. Jonathan Edwards, on the other hand, sided with regeneration for the obvious reason that without a new nature, the natural man can only be constrained by outside considerations (the indicatives) to superficially walk in newness of life (the imperatives). Such considerations mght produce change that rises as high as the outward performance of the Legalist, but it is still only the superficial height that self-love alone can achieve. The Spirit’s work of illuminating the higher glory and beauty of Christ to the soul is the only source of an affection that can be called new. If the expulsive power of a new affection does not dethrone self as one’s primary concern in life and theology, then what exactly is being expulsed by the power of the gospel? If one’s religion does not surpass one’s primary concern for what’s in it for oneself, then one’s self-love may have an expulsive power, but it will be the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus that is expulsed by the power of self-love. The irony of the cross was that Christ was crucified by those who already had a knowledge of God’s steadfast love and rejoiced in spiritual priviledges. The proper force and source behind the believer’s love for God is not found in the objective benefits as they reflect upon the believer’s high privileges, but God’s power alone as it is exerted in the soul by the Spirit imparting a new heart, new affections and a new principle of action that did not exist prior. Good fruit is produced only by a good tree, and however constrained by outside forces, a bad tree cannot be manipulated to produce fruit contrary to its nature.
Author: Jr., O. Wesley Allen
Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
ISBN: 161164951X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 382
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Book Description
When it comes to understanding a passage in the Bible, context is everything. What historical events surround a book’s composition? What larger literary unit is a given passage part of? What central themes explored by the book touch on the verses in question? If we don’t know the answer to questions like these, we are ill-prepared to speak to–and especially preach about–a passage’s meaning. The Preacher’s Bible Handbook aims to meet this need for extra help in preparing the sermon. Essays on each of the biblical books introduce the most relevant historical, literary, and theological facts about the book. Each is designed to aid the preacher in setting the stage for a sermon on any passage in the Bible.
Author: Frank S. Thielman
Publisher: Zondervan Academic
ISBN: 031086433X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 800
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Book Description
Studying the theology of the New Testament can be a daunting task, even to the knowledgeable Bible student or pastor. Each of the twenty-seven books, written by various authors, has its own theological emphasis and nuances. How do we elicit a coherent message from such theological diversity, especially given that some of the theological statements in the New Testament seem to be at odds with one another? Is such an endeavor achievable or even valid? Theology of the New Testament takes a balanced approach in response to these challenges. Frank Thielman presents a theology of the New Testament that is careful to take into account the cultural and historical circumstances surrounding each book and the New Testament as a whole. He not only examines each book’s theological content individually, but also in relation to the rest of the New Testament, particularly within each of the three theological units that comprise the New Testament: the gospels and Acts, the Pauline epistles, and the general epistles and Revelation. This canonical and synthetic approach honors both the theological diversity of the various books and the theological connections between the books. In the end, Thielman finds a unified theological vision of the New Testament, anchored in the centrality of Jesus Christ. Frank Thielman’s Theology of the New Testament is an outstanding achievement. The book is marked by scholarly depth, exegetical rigor, and theological profundity. Both students and professors will profit immensely from this lucid treatment of the theology contained in the New Testament documents. Thomas R. Schreiner Professor of New Testament, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary An accessible presentation of the key theological points of the New Testament books by an accomplished New Testament scholar and teacher. Its clear style, lucid organization, and sound theological insight make it a prime resource for serious students in both the academy and the church. Karen H. Jobes, PhD Associate Professor of New Testament, Westmont College
Author: Bruce J. Malina
Publisher: Fortress Press
ISBN: 9781451411355
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 298
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Book Description
A groundbreaking first social-science commentary on this popular book of the Bible.
Author: Weinandy Ofm Cap Thomas G
Publisher: CUA Press
ISBN: 0813238382
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 430
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Book Description
In this volume, The Unity of Faith, Thomas G. Weinandy, OFM, Cap., has compiled a theologically significant medley of essays. The first section deals with the Trinity, ranging from the question of the filioque to the trinitarian thought of Johnathan Edwards. The second section addresses a topic for which Weinandy has become notable - the impassability of God and human suffering. The third takes of the topic of Christology, particularly from within the contemporary theological milieu. For example, what is the relationship between the Incarnation and Soteriology? What is the nature of Christ's human consciousness and knowledge? How does Paul perceive the primacy of Christ within his Christological hymns? The next collection of essays focuses on the relationship between faith and reason. In doing Catholic theology, how do theologians apply reason when contemplating the mysteries of faith? What is the philosophical and theological significance of Pope John Paul II's encyclical, Fides et Ratio? Ecclesiology is the final topic addressed. Weinandy examines the contributions that Henri de Lubac has contributed to our understanding of the Church. He also takes up the very delicate issue of the Jews in relationship to the Church. How important is it that Jews become Christians? The nature of the sacramentality of the Catholic priesthood is investigated. What does it mean that the priest acts in persona Christi? Lastly, Weinandy broaches a topic that has received very little theological attention - the Christian family as a Domestic Church. In what manner are spouses and parents, in imitation of Christ, priests, prophets and kings? Weinandy invariably writes in a clear and engaging manner, so much so that these essays would benefit not only academics, and students of theology, but also the educated laity.
Author: Marilyn McCord Adams
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521686006
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 356
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Book Description
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Author: John Hart
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1610973186
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 429
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Book Description
Cosmic Commons explores terrestrial-extraterrestrial intelligent life Contact. It uses a thought experiment to consider the ecological-economic-ethical-ecclesial impacts of Contact, analyzing incidents around the world described by credible witnesses (two of whom are interviewed for the book), including Roswell and the Hudson River Valley. It discusses government and academic efforts to use ridicule and coercion to suppress Contact investigations, supports a scientific method to research ETI reports in a field that should excite scientists, and calls on academics to publicly disclose their Contact experiences. It traces Earth ecological and economic injustices to the European Enlightenment and the Discovery Doctrine by which European nations rationalized invasion of distant continents, genocide, and seizure of the territories and natural goods of native peoples. It advocates a change in humans' Earth conduct to avoid replicating in space the policies and practices that wrought economic injustice and ecological devastation on Earth, provides an innovative cosmosociological praxis ethics theory and practice toward that end, and develops a Cosmic Charter, based on UN documents, to guide humankind in space and in ETI encounters. Permeated by a profound sense of the sacred, Cosmic Commons explores a positive relationship between religion and science as humankind ventures into space.
Author: Gary Gallant
Publisher: Christian Classics Reproductions
ISBN:
Category : Bibles
Languages : en
Pages : 299
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Book Description
This book is a daily devotional of the prophecies from the Old Testament fulfilled throughout history. The foretelling from these prophets is historically accurate. Most are fulfilled by Jesus Christ alone. Jesus talks about fulfilling the Law and the prophets. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that He had not come to abolish the Law or the prophets but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17). Scripture tells of prophets, their warnings, and their prophecies. Some spoke of good things to come, while others described desperate times. The fact that Jesus fulfilled the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings reminds us that the Word of God is true, steadfast, and eternal. God is active in every moment. Prophets foretold the birth of Jesus and how He would face trials, disappointment, the unbelief of the people, torture, and death on the cross. Scripture tells how Jesus would rise on the third day and ascend into Heaven to sit at the right hand of His Father. Through each word spoken and each action, Jesus showed what would happen. Jesus knew that the plan of His Father was the best. By reading and studying the Word of God, we learn that everything Jesus said would happen is true. Although not all prophecies have been fulfilled yet, Christians know that the day is coming when Jesus will return.
