This week I’ve introduced a discussion to the blog around sin and desire first in reference to how we approach Romans 7 and secondly by beginning to look at a particular doctrinal controversy around “concupiscence” or desire. Significant to the conversation is what John has to say both in 1 John 1:8-9 and 1 John… Continue reading More on sin, desire and the normal Christian life
Tag: sin
Romans 7, the normal Christian life and missing the exam question
There are a few debates going on around the question of sin and the believer at the moment. They seem to link back to a current fascination amongst reformed academics about concupiscence. I’m intending to write a little bit more about this over coming months. However, one strand I’ve just picked up on s a… Continue reading Romans 7, the normal Christian life and missing the exam question
What should we do about Halloween?
Graham Nicholls writes for Affinity about the dilemma that many Christians face when approaching Halloween. I suspect that the dilemma arises because the event itself is messy. You are encountering not just one festival or “holiday” but several and they have all got muddled up together. First (though not chronologically) there’s the festival from which… Continue reading What should we do about Halloween?
Can babies sin? Navigating a current controversy
Apparently, the latest dispute to occupy people’s head space and get a thousand fingers tapping passionately at their keyboards, is the question about whether or not it is possible for babies to sin. The big claim has been that if you are reformed, then you should recognise that babies sin. The practical focus seems to… Continue reading Can babies sin? Navigating a current controversy
Cowardice, sin? Does the church need to repent over COVID?
We are now 4 years on from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and 2 and a half years on from the full re-opening of life in the UK which effectively marked its end. The UK have been holding a public inquiry to learn lessons from the pandemic and some Christians have been encouraging the… Continue reading Cowardice, sin? Does the church need to repent over COVID?
True repentance
How does grace work in the life of the believer? The answer is that it does in pretty much the same way as in the life of a new convert. God’s grace by bringing down the proud and lifting up the humble starts by working repentance in our hearts A look at the text (Read… Continue reading True repentance
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?
Faithroots 