The first reason I am not a Calvinist is that Calvinists read Romans 8.29-30 incorrectly: "Those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his son."  They collapse God's foreknowledge into his choosing/predestining, based on their misunderstanding of covenant. The second reason I am not a Calvinist is that the god … Continue reading Why I Am Not a Calvinist, pt 3: Romans 9 – 11

Here are the lyrics and the video for "As You Find Me," my favorite song on the new Hillsong United album, People.  This song packs the same theological heft as "So Will I", from a couple of years ago. VERSE 1 I’ve been strong and I’ve been broken within a moment I’ve been faithful and … Continue reading “As You Find Me”–Lyrics and Video

This is one of the great songs from the new Hillsong United album, People.  I've linked the YouTube video at the bottom, check it out. VERSE 1 Hold me now in the hands that created the heavens Find me now where the grace runs as deep as Your scars You pulled me from the clay … Continue reading “Whole Heart” (Hold Me Now)–Lyrics and Video

I'll probably regret posting this.  (Isn't that a great opening line?) I've been working on a sermon about the Holy Spirit, which I will preach next Sunday (on Pentecost).  One of the things that I keep coming back to is how the Holy Spirit should make Christians "militant". He doesn't make us militant in the … Continue reading The Holy Spirit pt 4: The Spirit and Militancy

Tucked away in Philippians 4 we find Paul entreating two women in the Philippian church to set aside their differences. I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. And I ask you also, true yokefellow [PLS "yokefellow" or "coworker" is how Paul addresses the person tasked with reading this letter aloud … Continue reading Euodia, Syntyche, and Paul’s View of Women in Leadership

Michael Bird and the Old and New Perspectives: the benefits of seeing Paul through the New Perspective while not rejecting the Old Perspective; there's a lot of baby in that bathwater. There are some absolutely essential insights gained from the NPP which are much needed in churches. First, if you want to get excited about the … Continue reading Best of the Blogs (28 May)

Part 1 is here. Is speaking in tongues evidence that someone’s life is under the control of the Holy Spirit?  Is speaking in tongues evidence that a person is a superior or more mature Christian, with a deeper experience of Jesus Christ than those who do not speak in tongues? Here is how I read … Continue reading The Holy Spirit pt 2; Romans 8

A brief digression, then I will return to the issue of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues tomorrow. I am not a Calvinist.  By this, I mean that I do not accept the doctrine of double predestination. In broad strokes: double predestination is the teaching, most associated with Swiss reformer John Calvin (1509-1564), which … Continue reading Why I Am Not a Calvinist, pt 1: Double Predestination and Romans 8.28-29

Is speaking in tongues evidence that someone's life is under the control of the Holy Spirit?  Is speaking in tongues evidence that a person is a superior or more mature Christian, with a deeper experience of Jesus Christ than those who do not speak in tongues? I am preparing to preach on Pentecost, and God … Continue reading The Holy Spirit pt 1; Speaking in Tongues and Maturity