"What is the theological significance of the virginal conception? Some have argued it was necessary to protect Jesus’ sinless nature, but the narratives themselves do not indicate this purpose. The Messiah could have entered human life free from sin with or without a virginal conception...
In the final analysis, the details remain a mystery. What is certain from the text is that the conception of Jesus was a supernatural act of God, confirming that God himself was about to accomplish the salvation which no human being could achieve.”
- from Four Portraits, One Jesus by Mark L. Strauss
What about you? What do you say when someone asks why a virgin birth?
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
The Incarnation
As we reflect on the Incarnation during this Advent season we can easily fall into focusing exclusively on one of two realities, realities that the Church has wrestled to hold in tension from its earliest history.
On the one hand, we can look at the manger and see a baby who isn’t really a baby at all but God merely appearing as a baby, leading us to sing “the little Lord Jesus no crying he makes” and similar verses.
On the other hand we can see a baby who is simply another baby, another child born into a hurting world who may provide a cute picture in the manger, and later bring a message of love, but ultimately in no different than the rest of us mortals.
Neither of these alone do justice to the Biblical witness, but how do we hold them together? Turning to Gregg Allison’s Historical Theology we read,
“Early Christian writers continually affirmed that Jesus Christ was both fully God and fully man, and that the incarnation did not diminish the deity of the Son of God nor make him a superman. Melito of Sardis described the mystery this way.
‘... He was carried about in the womb of Mary, yet was clothed in the nature of the Father. He walked on earth, yet filled heaven. He appeared as an infant, yet did not discard his eternal nature. He was invested with a body, but it did not limit his divinity. He esteemed the poor, yet he was not divested of his riches...He was nailed to a tree, yet he was the Lord of all things.’”
Speaking of God pushes the limits of our language, as it should. But the effort is worth it, because the true beauty of the Incarnation is only found when both these truths are seen at once.
http://www.koinoniablog.net/
On the one hand, we can look at the manger and see a baby who isn’t really a baby at all but God merely appearing as a baby, leading us to sing “the little Lord Jesus no crying he makes” and similar verses.
On the other hand we can see a baby who is simply another baby, another child born into a hurting world who may provide a cute picture in the manger, and later bring a message of love, but ultimately in no different than the rest of us mortals.
Neither of these alone do justice to the Biblical witness, but how do we hold them together? Turning to Gregg Allison’s Historical Theology we read,
“Early Christian writers continually affirmed that Jesus Christ was both fully God and fully man, and that the incarnation did not diminish the deity of the Son of God nor make him a superman. Melito of Sardis described the mystery this way.
‘... He was carried about in the womb of Mary, yet was clothed in the nature of the Father. He walked on earth, yet filled heaven. He appeared as an infant, yet did not discard his eternal nature. He was invested with a body, but it did not limit his divinity. He esteemed the poor, yet he was not divested of his riches...He was nailed to a tree, yet he was the Lord of all things.’”
Speaking of God pushes the limits of our language, as it should. But the effort is worth it, because the true beauty of the Incarnation is only found when both these truths are seen at once.
http://www.koinoniablog.net/
Monday, September 27, 2010
Election
There is probably no teaching of Scripture that arouses more emotion among Christians than the doctrine of unconditional election. On the other hand, there is probably no doctrine more needed to be preached and taught. The reason being is that there is no teaching so designed to humble man and exalt God's grace.
The fact that election so abases man and exalts God's love and mercy may account for the fact that in nearly every great movement of God, unconditional election and God's free mercy was at the center of what was preached. Luther, Calvin and Zwingli, God's primary agents of the reformation of the 16th century, taught and preached it freely. The leaders of the great awakening in the 18th century, such as George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards (among others) taught it. The leaders of the Puritan movement in the 17th century taught it as well. Of course Charles Spurgeon, whose ministry shook England and the English speaking world in the 19th century made it a central feature of his preaching in London.
The fact that election so abases man and exalts God's love and mercy may account for the fact that in nearly every great movement of God, unconditional election and God's free mercy was at the center of what was preached. Luther, Calvin and Zwingli, God's primary agents of the reformation of the 16th century, taught and preached it freely. The leaders of the great awakening in the 18th century, such as George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards (among others) taught it. The leaders of the Puritan movement in the 17th century taught it as well. Of course Charles Spurgeon, whose ministry shook England and the English speaking world in the 19th century made it a central feature of his preaching in London.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Music: Atonement Q&A by Shai Linne
You may not be fond of Rap Music but here are some lyrics I think you can live with...
Verse 1
Who is God? God is the universe’s Creator
And Sustainer plus the only Savior, there is no one greater
He triune, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, absolute
Loving, sovereign and righteous are a few of His attributes
How do we know this? Well, we know this from the Bible
Where God has revealed Himself- anything else is just an idol
Verse 1
Who is God? God is the universe’s Creator
And Sustainer plus the only Savior, there is no one greater
He triune, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, absolute
Loving, sovereign and righteous are a few of His attributes
How do we know this? Well, we know this from the Bible
Where God has revealed Himself- anything else is just an idol
The Bible vs. Cell Phone
I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we traveled? What if we used it in case of an emergency?
What if we bought a new one every time it wore out?
What if we upgraded it to get the latest version?
Is this something to make you go...hmmm...where is my Bible?
DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR BIBLE IS?
Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don’t ever have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill!!”
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we traveled? What if we used it in case of an emergency?
What if we bought a new one every time it wore out?
What if we upgraded it to get the latest version?
Is this something to make you go...hmmm...where is my Bible?
DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR BIBLE IS?
Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don’t ever have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill!!”
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