Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
Romans 5:18 

He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

Luke 16:1-8

I was having lunch today with one of my co-workers and a boss. While we were enjoying our delicious hotdogs from Skins Hot Dogs, my boss asked us what our thoughts were on the parable of the dishonest manager from Luke 16. He was perplexed by some of the aspects of the parable. Firstly, it appears that the dishonest manager is continuting to be dishonest in what the parable is calling shrewdness. Secondly, the rich man doesn’t get angry with the manager for settling his accounts for less then they were worth, but he instead commends the manager.

What’s going on here?

Danny and I went to small group recently. To be honest, I didn’t want to go. However, my husband is one of the most dedicated and persistent people I know. This is one of the most aggravating and reassuring characteristics about him. The purpose of this small group was to decide if we were going to continue meeting and what we would study. We decided we would continue meeting, and we tossed around a couple of ideas about what we would study. We had to leave early, and I’m not sure if anything was decided. However, the idea for a book study was offered. Danny said that he hoped that we would do a book study because he gets so much out of the bible study he is doing on the book of Luke. I told him that I would love to study any of Paul’s letters because they are filled with such doctrine. I decided I would study Second Corinthians because I knew portions of scripture from First Corinthians, but know very letter about Second Corinthians. It is ironic that I chose this book to begin studying because my initial desire was to learn more of the doctrine that Paul teaches. Second Corinthians is the most biographical of Paul’s letter and contains the least amount of doctrine. In it we are able to see “:the deepest tenderness of affection, wounded feeling, sternness, irony, rebuke, impassioned self-vindication, humility, a just self-respect, zeal for the welfare of the weak and suffering, as well as for the progress of the church of Christ and for the spiritual advancement of its members, are all displayed in turn in the course of his appeal.” (Easton’s Bible Dictionary, 1997) However, I believe that this is a perfect starting place for studying Paul’s letters. It is exciting to get to know Paul as an emotional human instead of simply a great theologian. Perhaps his theology will be easier to understand when we understand Paul as a person. Much of the information that I am relying on to do this study comes from my notes as a sophomore in college. Many of you know have more theological training than I do and I would like to invite you to let me know if you interpret something different than me or if I have overlooked something important.

I thought I should share a very brief background of this epistle with you. Corinth was a prominent center of commerce in the Mediterranean world with a population of 650,000. The city was known for commerce, intellect, and diversity of culture and religion. It was also known as a place for all sorts of evil. Over 300 taverns have been excavated from the ruins of Corinth. In addition, the temple of Aphrodite was located there. This temple hosted 1000 priestesses dedicated to prostitution in the name of religion. It is amazing that a church existed at all in such a city. Yet, this environment did have an effect upon the church in Corinth. Paul had spent a year and a half in Corinth establishing a church, teaching the gospel, exhorting the Christians and challenging them to repent and stand firm in their faith. After leaving this city Paul desired to continue challenging this church to seek the truth and to set themselves apart from the corruption that surrounded them. In the first letter Paul wrote he challenged the Corinthians to repent from their sins and was anxious to hear how the letter was received. About a year after he wrote this letter he received news about its reception from Titus. The report from Titus was encouraging, but evidently it also brought troubling news. Judaizers had caused some members of the Corinthian church to doubt Paul’s authority as an apostle. In response to this doubt Paul speaks emotionally about the meaning of apostleship, the hardships he has experienced as an apostle, and against false apostles. This is a very brief synopsis and I encourage you to do more research, but I feel you have enough information for the purpose of our study.

Scholars debate over how many letters Paul wrote to the Corinthian church. Some say he wrote two letters, some say he wrote four, some say he wrote more. I think that it is more important to understand that Paul was concerned for the people of Corinth. He made three missionary journeys there and when he couldn’t be there in person he wrote letters to teach, exhort, and challenge. These letters follow the typical format of those written during antiquity. This is also the format that I am going to use to write my reflections of the epistle. Some subsections are longer than others and may need me to devote more time to them, but by looking at this outline you can know what the topic of my next reflection as well as the scripture references.

SECTION 1 THE GEEETING (1:1-11)

The greeting generally includes these 4 parts.

1. Sender(s): Paul and Timothy (1:1a)

2. Recipient(s): Church of God in Corinth and all Saints in Achia (1:1b)

3. Greeting: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1:2)

4. Thanksgiving (or Blessing): (1:3-11)

SECTION 2 THE BODY (1:12-13:10)

The body of the letter generally includes these 4 parts.

1. Initial Exhortation: Reconciliation (1:12–2:13; 7:5-16)

2. Thesis Statement???*

3. Theological Discussions: What is an apostle? (2:14–7:4)

4. Ethical Admonitions: Be aware of false apostles (10:1-13:10)

SECTION 3 LETTER CONCLUSIONS (13:11-14)

The conclusion of the letter generally includes these 4 parts

1. Practical Matters: Paul is coming for another visit & take care of the poor (8:1-24; 9:1-15, 13:1-10)

2. Individual Greetings: Greet one another with a holy kiss (13:11-13)

3. Personal Postscript:???*

4. Doxology (or Prayer):???*

* Since these notes are from undergrad I’m not sure if the ??? are there because they are not in 2 Corinthians, or scholars dispute their location, or there was simply a cute guy walking by at the moment that Dr. Mynatt said these references. If you know could you please let me know? Thanks!

This is an encore presentation of this article. To make a comment, please visit the original post by clicking here.

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.
Proverbs 21:31 (ESV)

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)

And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
Leviticus 9:24 (ESV)

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:36-37 (ESV)

Question posted on Yahoo! Answers: Can someone please explain the beauty in this Psalm? I’ve been told before that Psalms is one of the most beautiful parts of the Bible. I’m stumped by this one though. Can anyone explain it?

“Happy is the one who takes your babies and smashes them against the rocks!” ~Psalm 137:9

Here is an awesome resource posted by Tim Challies over at Ligonier Ministries. Whar are some good commentaries you have come across?:

Over the course of several months, Keith Mathison put together a list of his top 5 commentaries for each book of the Bible. With his recommendations of commentaries for Malachi and Revelation, he has now completed both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Here is a round-up of the complete series.

I am continuing the theme started by JackNathan on his post, What is the Purpose of Scripture?. Nathan asked us at the end of his post to think of other passages of Scripture that depicted stories of redemption that point to Christ.

The first story of redemption that I thought of was the account of Lot and his family being rescued from Sodom and Gomorrah. The story really begins in Genesis 18:16 where Abraham was seeing off the men that were sent by God to visit him. God contemplated whether or not to reveal to Abraham his plans for Sodom and Gomorrah. God did decide to reveal this to Abraham. Abraham then exhibits what I believe to be a shadow of Christ’s intercession for us. Abraham interceded, even negotiated, on behalf of the righteous that lived in the cities. In the end, God agreed not to destroy the cities if there were ten righteous people that resided there.

Unfortunately, there were not even ten. The men went to the city of Sodom and were greeted at the gate by Lot, one of the less than ten righteous people in the city. He was hospitable to the men and protected them from the wicked men of the city with every resource available to him. However, everything he had wasn’t enough. Everything we have isn’t enough either. We cannot save ourselves from our sin any more than Lot could save his guests from the wicked men of the city.

Fortunately, God had a plan all along. A perfect plan that worked to redeem the righteous and to judge the wicked. The men sent from God warned Lot to escape with his family from the city before judgment came. God then baptized the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire. They were utterly destroyed because of their wickedness. God’s righteous judgment along with His loving mercy came together to reveal His holy character.

Genesis 6:1-8:22  (Noah and the Flood)

Noah is the only one left who is found to be righteous.  He is the last remnant of those who worship Yahweh.  God’s righteous anger is kindled against the world of evil.  And so, in judgment, He floods the earth, wiping away all the wicked in one cataclysmic act of destruction. In the midst of this destruction, Noah, his family, and a remnant of the created order are preserved on board an ark which God instructed Noah to build.  Noah is told to make preparations well in advance of the great deluge.  When all seemed well, Noah started preparing for the end of the world.  It was not his own plan but God’s plan which prevented His destruction.  Noah and his sons and his sons’ wives were preserved and life began again on the earth after the flood.

How does this point towards Christ?

Well, first let us ask what it displays of the nature and character of God.

• Destruction of the entire world
  • God is just.  He punishes the wicked.
  • Evil will not go unabated forever.  There comes a day when God destroys the evil doers.
• Preservation of Noah and his family
  • God is just.  He does not punish the righteous alongside the wicked.
  • God is loving and extends the standing of Noah to his sons.
    • Noah alone is called righteous, not his sons.
    • Yet God preserved Noah’s sons as well on the basis of the righteousness of Noah.

Now, let us ask how this text is used elsewhere in Scripture.

• Nahum 1:7-8
  • This text does not explicitly quote the flood narrative, but it calls forth its imagery.
  • The imagery of the flood narrative is used to describe the future judgment and destruction of the enemies of God (Nahum focuses on Ninevah’s destruction).
• Matthew 24:36-44
  • These are the words of Christ.  This is His application of the flood narrative.
  • He was asked about the end of the age, the cataclysmic judgment of God upon the whole earth.
  • His response (the text above) is that it will be just as it was for those in the days of Noah.
    • So the flood narrative is used by Christ to speak of His return and the judgment the world will finally undergo.

So what does the flood narrative have to say to us today that goes beyond a history lesson?

Just as in the days of Noah, God is not content to allow evil to continue.  The wicked will see an abrupt end brought upon their ways.  There will not be leniency given to those who do not fear and follow God.  They will be taken suddenly in judgment.  Meanwhile, the righteous will be preserved, they will remain forever.  (Take special note here how the Matthew passage looks like it is speaking about the supposed rapture.  But if you examine what Jesus is saying, He is saying that it is the wicked who will be taken, not the righteous!)  The judgment comes quickly and takes the world by surprise.  But just as Noah was told by God to prepare, all Christians are called to prepare.

We will not be building an ark by which to escape judgment.  We are placed in the ark, that is Christ, which delivers us from judgment.  In the judgment, God destroys the world, bringing an end to all things.  But the righteous will be preserved by God, delivered through the waters of judgment.  While all the wicked are ended dramatically and finally, the righteous will continue in life on a new earth just as Noah had.  But this new earth will not be corrupted any longer.  It will remain pristine and unblemished, just as the He is, who has prepared it for the righteous to live forever with Him, forever.

Is it B.I.B.L.E- Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth?

Is it a history of the world?

The Scripture is God’s Holy Word.  Yes, but what is its purpose?  Think about that for a bit then read on.

Scripture tells us of Christ.  It is often said that the entire Old Testament points forward to Christ and the entire New Testament points back to Christ.  But why and how?

Scripture gives us the history of God’s redemptive work(s).  Man is bound by sin and death reigns in mankind because of Adam’s sin as recorded in the book of Genesis.  So, we see that there is need of a savior to take man out of this pit of despair.  So why does Scripture not simply say that we need a savior who would come and then give us basic instructions on how to follow God?  Why the book of Judges?  Why the book of Esther?  What do they have to do with Christ?

The writer of Hebrews says in chapter 8 that the things of the Old Testament serve as shadows of the things to come in Christ.  So, the Old Testament gives vague impressions of the things to come in Christ.  Just as a shadow calls to attention that there is something casting that shadow, so too, the things of the Old Testament call to attention the need for Christ.

Since the Scriptures are the history of God’s redemptive work, we can read the Scriptures in that light.  Read the Old Testament and ask, “How does this relate to our redemption in Christ?”  Or, “how does this call us to look towards our ultimate redemption?”

Take for instance, the great picture of salvation in the Old Testament, the Exodus.  The Israelites were enslaved, bound by a cruel taskmaster in a foreign land.  But God raised up a deliverer to take Israel out of the hand of their former masters.  Israel was delivered from Egypt by God’s mighty hand which also judged the Egyptians with plagues and ultimately with destruction in the Red Sea.  Israel was to go into the Promised Land after this exodus, but their stay there was relatively short lived.  It was not permanent as they had hoped.

So how does this relate to our redemption?  We are enslaved to sin (Egypt) in a land that is not our own.  So God sent a savior in order to deliver us from our cruel taskmaster.  This savior delivered (will deliver) His people and will take us into the Promised Land while judging the Enemy and ultimately destroying him.  But this will not be a temporary arrangement.  We will not be kicked out of the Promised Land, for God will keep us there and will live amongst us.

So, the Exodus serves as a picture of the Redemption that was to come in Christ.  The fact that Moses did lead the people of Israel into a lasting kingdom calls forth the reader to anticipate the perfect deliverance.  The deliverance of Moses was good, but not eternal.  There must be an eternal deliverer for true redemption to take place.  The reader is called to look forward to the Christ to come.

Read the Old Testament and ask, how does this passage paint a picture of the Redemption to come in Christ?  And how is this an imperfect picture which calls to mind the need for the fullness to come in Christ?

Remember, our redemption has been purchased, but the consummation where we will fully enjoy the benefits of our relationship with God is yet to come.  Keep your eyes up, and pray for the return of Christ when He will ultimately judge and destroy the enemy!

Also, post in the comments some other passages of Scripture that call us to look to our Redemption in Christ (I know, I already took the easy one).

I recently read an old Jewish saying pertaining to the third commandment: “When God gave the third commandment, the whole world trembled.” The reasoning behind this saying pertains to the wording in Exodus 20:7 “for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” This leads the Jews to believe that this commandment is the unpardonable sin.

So what exactly does it mean?

This commandment has been interpreted in a number of ways. One interpretation I have heard is that this commandment is limited to the use of the name of God in a frivolous manner. Another interpretation is that the name of God should not be used in magical or occult practices. A third interpretation is that this commandment prohibited one from breaking any contract that was sworn in the name of God. Thus, if someone promises by the name of God to do something and then fails to do it, that would qualify as having taken the name of the God in vain. A final interpretation is that it prohibits swearing all together.

Instead I would like to offer a more detailed explanation for the third commandment, one that requires us to have a brief understanding of the ancient Hebrew culture.

Most Hebrew names carried a recognizable meaning that was evident to all. A child’s name could be a reflection of a parent’s faith (e.g.  John “God is gracious”; Samuel, “God has heard”; Gabriel “devoted to God”), or the prevailing character of the child (Jacob, “heel-grabber”). A person’s name became synonymous with his or her reputation, which would resonate with the mere pronouncement of it. It was an extreme privilege when the LORD was gracious enough to provide Israel with His name. Knowing God’s name gave the Israelites personal access to God. Consider the things that have been done in the name of the Lord:

A mere shepherd boy battled with God’s might and power and was victorious over a  giant soldier (1 Sam 17:45).

A priest who invoked the Lord’s name in prayer brought life and vitality to an individual (Num 6:27).

In a time of cataclysmic judgment, anyone who called upon the name of the Lord would be delivered and find salvation (Joel 2:32).

Taking refuge in the Lord’s name provided a shelter so impenetrable that one would sing with shouts of joy (Ps 5:11).

Fearing the name after lapsing into idolatry could bring a restoration of spirit so complete it would be as if one had found a fountain of youth (Mal 4:2).

Worshiping at the place where God had placed his name would be to experience an intimate meeting with God, and with it blessing and life (Exod 20:24).

Possessing the name of the Lord was important to the Israelites. However, if possession of the name was a supreme privilege for Israel, it was also fraught with danger for God.  All kinds of atrocities have been committed in the “name of God” including the Inquisitions, crusades, the holocaust, child molestations, serial murders etc… These incidents have unfortunately affected a multitude of people both physically and spiritually.

How is this applicable to us?

This commandment requires us to become aware of the connection (or the lack thereof) between our spoken words and our innermost thoughts, between our public face and our private truth. We cannot hide our motives from God.  Yet people attempt to do this in a number of ways: a wordy prayer done for the approval of others, a superficial act of charity done for show, an attempt to impress others with a public display of words or emotions self- designed to show how God-like they are etc… Some people simply don’t care about God, and have no problem using His name to curse or swear. Others might use God’s name to dress up in formality an oath or promise they may have no intention of keeping.

Since we have become Christians, we are new creations. We have taken off our old selves and become part of God’s family. We bear His name, and as such we shape His reputation. We help the world interpret the name of the Lord. In its most basic form the third commandment looks at those of us who attach ourselves with the name of the Lord and asks what our motives are, who/what we are living for, and who/ what is at the center of our worship.