Tag: sin

Rahab

To illustrate what he means by faith and works going together, James points to two Old Testament characters.  The first and perhaps obvious one is Abraham (James 2:21-24). James reminds us of the statement that “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness” from Genesis 15.  He argues that this was particularly… Continue reading Rahab

Does God sometimes reward sin?

When Abraham goes to Egypt because of a famine in the land of Cannan and  attempts to pass off Sarai his wife as being just his sister, the consequences for Pharoah are serious. God strikes Egypt with plagues.  However, Abraham, himself appears to do well out of it. First, we are told that “when Pharaoh’s… Continue reading Does God sometimes reward sin?

Typical? When our old testament heroes prove flawed

The other day I wrote responding to an article arguing that Abraham didn’t really lie when he passed  Sarah off as just his sister.  The reality is that when we read through the lives of people in Scripture we discover lots of things that would leave us deeply uncomfortable, horrified even about their behaviour.  Our… Continue reading Typical? When our old testament heroes prove flawed

How many of the Ten Commandments did Adam and Eve break?

Adam and Eve broke one specific commandment in the Garden of Eden: not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  However, I want to suggest that there is a sense in which they may well have been breaking each of the Ten Commandments.  How? Well, first of all, by listening to… Continue reading How many of the Ten Commandments did Adam and Eve break?

Reaping what you sow

This next section reinforces the point that we’ve seen developed through chapter 5-6, we cannot fix our lives and our relationship to God by making external adjustments to our behaviour through rule keeping and rituals.  Instead, our lives will bear fruit in accordance with the roots. A look at the text (Read Galatians 6:7-10) An… Continue reading Reaping what you sow

Fleshly

Paul has set up a contrastbetween Flesh/human sinful nature and The Spirit/Life in the Spirit.  He now spells out in detail what those types of life look like. A look at the text (Galatians 5:19-21) Paul says that “the works of the flesh/human sinful nature are obvious”.  It doesn’t take too much to work out… Continue reading Fleshly

The toxic danger of gossip for both men and women

I recently engaged with an article that described gossip and slander as “the curse of women.” The article has since been withdrawn, I suspect one if those articles written in haste and frustration at specific circumstances. However, the association of women specifically with gossip is a common misconception. I found that phrasing unhelpful because I don’t… Continue reading The toxic danger of gossip for both men and women

Food from around the worldwide web

What are theologians for? The case of Karl Barth’s adultery. An illuminating and challenging read. Though it raises questions about what we do with the sins of other big names in church history. What do we do for example with those who kept slaves? 5 signs a pastor is over committed: learn to accept your… Continue reading Food from around the worldwide web

Grace

Despite the judgement on Cain, once again, God is not done with mankind.  Cain and his wife have children and they in turn have children. Read Genesis 4:17-26 Common Grace First, we see through Cain’s line how God blesses humanity as promised, enabling and equipping them to carry out the work of filling and subduing. … Continue reading Grace