Tag: faith

A receiving church (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

Having discerned that it is God’s Holy Spirit at work and not an evil Spirit, we can move to see what the Spirit is doing and saying.  One of the key things that the Holy Spirit does is to give gifts to the Church. Prioritise the giver (v4-6) We can become focused on the gifts… Continue reading A receiving church (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

What is Birmingham’s bankruptcy saying to us?

Yesterday I wrote about our city going bankrupt and what that might mean for us.  As I explained in the article, there’s actually a lot of uncertainty and the honest answer to “what does this mean?” Is that we really don’t know yet.  It is entirely possible that for most of us we’ll see very… Continue reading What is Birmingham’s bankruptcy saying to us?

Paedobaptism and the mediator problem

The Bible insists that there is one mediator between God and man, his name is Jesus.  Therein lies a crucial problem with paedobaptism.   There are some churches where babies are baptised and it is understood that this is symbolic, the baptism is in effect an expression of hope that the child will grow up to… Continue reading Paedobaptism and the mediator problem

The allegory of Sarah and Hagar

Remember that the argument being made by the agitators in Galatia was in effect that history and God’s Word was on their side. God’s covenant was with the Jewish people and it centred on two things, ancestry through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Torah keeping.  Paul has been systematically pulling apart this claim. A look… Continue reading The allegory of Sarah and Hagar

When the way forward is the way back

We got off the aeroplane at Beijing airport and jumped into a taxi, giving the driver the details of our hotel in the centre of the city.  After over half hour of driving, we assumed that we must be getting close to our destination. Except my mum looked out of the window and said “We’ve… Continue reading When the way forward is the way back

Build this house

This week’s #FaithrootsPodcast on 1 Chronicles 17. Arks, Temples, Priests and Kings in a post exile Judah Key dates David’s idea (v1-2) Nathan corrected (v3-15) “David’s house will be everlasting, ultimately secured in God’s love. The future of David’s kingdom would be wholly different from the uncertainty and disaster that befell Sau’s reign.”[1] Key things… Continue reading Build this house

Regression – Galatians 4 overview

Paul develops the theme of Law’s temporary responsibility by fleshing out the image of a guardian that looks after the young child. During childhood, it is impossible to tell the difference between children and slaves, both are restricted, both under compulsion, both unable to make decisions for themselves. In other words, prior to the coming… Continue reading Regression – Galatians 4 overview

What does the Law do?

Paul insists that the Law is unable to make us right with God. He also insists that the original promises to God’s people were about faith and not Law.  Does this mean that Law and Faith or Law and Grace are in competition? A look at the text Read Galatians 3:23-29 So, does the Law… Continue reading What does the Law do?

Father Abraham had many sons

In Galatians 3:6, Paul has taken us back to the example of Abraham, the ancestor of God’s people, to whom, through whom and in whom God’s covenant with his people was made.   He has demonstrated, as he will again when he writes to the Christians in Rome that Abraham was justified by faith. In other… Continue reading Father Abraham had many sons