Finally finished my Galatians exegesis paper! Thanks for the useful comments (Dan, Matt, and others). I ended up just covering Gal. 3:10-12. Here is my abstract: Galatians 3:10-12 is at the heart of Paul’s message to the Galatian believers: salvation is unattainable by obedience to the law’s commands, because nobody is able to continually remain in steadfast obedience to them. The “implied premise” of Gal. 3:10 is stated in Gal. 2:16, which alludes to Ps. 143:2: nobody living is righteous before God. Since all are constituted sinners, nobody can be justified before God by the law, and … [Read more...] about Galatians Paper
Theology
Signs of the Spirit – Sam Storms
Have you ever wondered: What is the essence of true Christianity? What constitutes the essence of a life that is pleasing to God? Are there criteria by which we can distinguish between true Christians and those who only seem to be? Have you ever known someone who seemed so godly, but later abandoned everything they once held dear? Have you ever had the fearful thought that such a thing could happen to a loved one (or even you)? Have you ever struggled with assurance of salvation, or are you dealing with a friend who is? Jonathan Edwards, perhaps the greatest theologian in American … [Read more...] about Signs of the Spirit – Sam Storms
The Spiritual Struggles of Pastors
To aspire to the pastoral ministry is a noble thing (I Tim. 3:1), but not many should pursue it (Jas. 3:1). Mark Driscoll shares some sobering statistics on pastors and depression. Heb. 13:17 "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you." The list begins with: 1. Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches. 2. Fifty percent of pastors' … [Read more...] about The Spiritual Struggles of Pastors
Free Audio Book – E. M. Bounds – Power Through Prayer
Christian Audio is offering an unabridged audio version of this classic resource on the importance of prayer for free during the month of July. I confess I've not read Power Through Prayer, but I've often heard juicy quotes from it. It is highly reputed and has fed generations of Christians. Use coupon code: JULY2007 to redeem the download format of E. M. Bounds' Power Through Prayer for free. … [Read more...] about Free Audio Book – E. M. Bounds – Power Through Prayer
Psychologists Report: Babies Naturally Tell Lies
If you were looking for more scientific data to support the belief that humans are sinful by nature, today is your day. The Telegraph of London announces the (surprising?) result that "babies are not as innocent as they pretend." They report: "Behavioural experts have found that infants begin to lie from as young as six months. Simple fibs help to train them for more complex deceptions in later life." More snippets: "Infants quickly learned that using tactics such as fake crying and pretend laughing could win them attention. By eight months, more difficult deceptions became apparent, such … [Read more...] about Psychologists Report: Babies Naturally Tell Lies
Another Mark Dever Interview
This time, from Martin Downes. My favorite question: Martin Downes: What would you consider to be the main theological dangers confronting us today and how can we deal with them? Mark Dever: The main theological dangers I see confronting us today are a practical rejection of the authority of God’s word even by those who theoretically submit to it; a rejection of the sovereignty of God in favor of the putative sovereignty of man; a caricature, misunderstanding, or rejection of the penal substitution of Christ for sinners; a shallow understanding of conversion as a mere shift of opinions; a … [Read more...] about Another Mark Dever Interview