Always Reforming

"For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."     The debate over the continuity/discontinuity of the Old and New Covenants rages on.  There are those who see absolutely no continuity between the covenants with regard to redemption and the moral code.  They would see little need to read the Old Testament.  On the other side you'll find those who incorrectly see no distinction between the covenants.  They say the only difference is that the New Testament now includes the previously-ostrac...

    We see here in Joshua 20 the repeating of a command given by God to Moses in Numbers 35.  It was a command that was not in effect in the Wilderness, but now that Joshua had led the Israelites to victory in the Promised Land of Canaan, it was time to implement it.  We have basically three characters in this passage.     Firstly, we read of the manslayer.  This was a person who had caused the death of another person unintentionally.  As verse 3 puts it, a manslayer is one who had struck any person without intent or unknowingly.   If two men were working on a house and one man accidentally dropped a stone and it struck the man below him and killed him, he would be labeled as a manslayer.  If a man struck a tree with what had been a perfectly intact axe and the head flew off and struck a bystander, he would be a manslayer.  This category did not include what we would call murderers — anyone who tried to kill another p...

    I was going to post a status on Facebook, but I realized that it would be way too long, so I decided to blog about it.  Here goes my rant.  Today I had a conversation at work with one of my bosses about why I should vote for Mr. Romney.  He didn't like that I said I plan on voting for Ron Paul even if I have to write his name in.  Now, it is not my attempt to discuss the merits of individual candidates.  I have made my choice.  You can make yours.  It is my desire to discuss briefly the peer pressure conservative folks apply to those who wish to vote their consciences and not along party lines.     My criteria for casting my vote behind a political candidate is based upon a Biblical understanding of the duties and qualifications of a leader.  I do not believe it venerable to cast away principles in lieu of pragmatism. When did it become morally superior to choose a candidate who can win instead of somebody who deserves my...

    As I'm reading through the New Testament, I keep on finding passages with such valid applications for our own day.  Part of my reading today included Luke 1.  There is passage is mainly focusing on the birth of John the Baptist, but Luke takes time to introduce Mary, John's aunt.  He shares the story of the angel, Gabriel, appearing to Mary and telling her that she would have a miraculous pregnancy, and that the child would inherit the throne of His father, David.  That's a lot to swallow, I'm guessing.  Notice Mary's answer.  She says, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word."  Mary embraces without reservation God's will for her life.  She understood her role.  She was God's servant.  Her very existence is at His mercy.  How could she refuse to follow her master's will?  If He wanted her to live a normal life, so be it.  If He wanted her to be the virgin mother of the S...

Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”     Just a few thoughts on this passage.  Joshua is given two basic commands that, if obeyed, will ensure the taking of the Promised Land.  We may not be making physical war, but we are fighting a spiritual war, so these instruc...

    As I survey the political world, I feel sometimes depressed, sometimes frustrated, and usually helpless.  We have in this country an extremely large government that is anything but accountable and whose actions consistently demonstrate a lack of concern for the God, the Constitution, and the people of this country.  They tell us not to worry--they've got it covered.  They know what is best for us.  They'll make a bunch of laws to make sure we don't hurt ourselves, or if we do, we'll certainly have healthcare.    The question conservatives ask is, "How are we going to turn this nation around?"  I admit, this question is one I have considered often.  How are we going to get those people out of office and limit the power of government?  How are we going to stop the government from encroaching on our freedoms?  How are we going to keep socialism out of our borders?  The assumption is that this is the good ol' U...

The Significance of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Part 1—Acts 2:22-36     As I was recently reading through the New Testament in my personal time of devotions, I was struck by the emphasis placed on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.   Of course I believed in the Resurrection and I understood that it was important, but I had never realized how key it was in the eyes of Scripture.   “The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very heart of Christianity,” according to P.G. Matthew.   Or as Wayne Jackson puts it, “The Resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the foundation of the Christian system.”   “If Christ be not raised,” says Matthew Henry, “the Gospel is a jest; it is chaff and emptiness.”   And yet, how many of us would share the Gospel with someone and make absolutely no mention of the Resurrection?   Sadly, the Resurrection of Christ has become merely another doctrine that we take for granted or another sermon that we expect to hear ...