The New Testament sign of the believer is undoubtedly the sign of baptism. But what exactly does this look like? Some have said that the Old Testament, 8th-day circumcision is what controls our understanding of baptism and would therefore see it as something that is done with babies as a sign of the New Covenant. They would argue that since circumcision was the sign of the Old Covenant, so infant baptism — which seems to be the best possible transition from Old Covenant times to New Covenant Times (New Testament times) — would be the best possible transition from circumcision to baptism.
However, is this a good deduction to make with regards to the church’s current obligation to signify salvation through baptism (Matt. 28:19)? Is the church’s present-day practice of baptism mainly a vestige of a period in salvific history that, historically speaking, was symbolised by males only? That could hardly be the case in light of New Testament examples of believers, whether male or female, who were baptised after coming to faith in the Lord Jesus. The argument between infant baptism (paedobaptism) and believer’s baptism by immersion (credobaptism) therefore mainly centres around this issue that involves its definition in New Testament times. If we define it in terms of a rehashed, reshuffled, or changed 8th-day circumcision, then it could perhaps make sense that babies should be baptised. But if it can be proven that it became the New Covenant sign of the believer, which is really a sign in its own right, then one could make a strong case for believer’s baptism. Read the full article here
0 Comments
To a large extent dispensationalism is misunderstood by those who oppose it. This may be the result of the application of a faulty hermeneutic in Bible interpretation. Since our hermeneutic drives our interpretation we need to make sure that it lines up with Scripture. If not, the results can be hazardous. The following aims at displaying the hermeneutical features of the dispensational system. As a system, dispensationalism consists of a solid method of interpretation; therefore adopting its principles of interpretation is valuable. We will look at the meaning of “hermeneutics.” It is essential to understand what we are talking about when we use this term. Subsequently we will look at the key tenets of dispensational hermeneutics. This will be done by contrasting and critiquing some of the views contrary to the one applied in dispensationalism.
Read the full article here The following is an attempt to establish an accurate view regarding the authorship and date of the Pastoral Epistles. There has been a vicious attack on the Bible and particularly with regards to the question of inerrancy and authorship. These questions however can only be properly addressed by viewing the evidence and allowing the evidence to speak for itself.
Evangelicals have long faced opposition from liberal theologians who have questioned the validity and inerrancy of the Bible. By imposing endless questions on the text these theologians have succeeded to create doubt in the hearts of many concerning their own belief in the basic truths of the Bible. One such area that liberal theologians would challenge is the authorship of the Bible. They would argue that certain portions of Scripture have not truly been written by those who have traditionally been believed to have written it. However, by closer observation of the facts we are able to arrive at a clear understanding and a proper rebuttal of such assaults. Read the full article here It can be a heart wrenching experience when someone you have grown to respect walks away from the faith. This is especially true when you are young and impressionable, and in need of good role models around you in the church. Young believers are in need of good and wholesome examples who have walked the road of faith, despite their weaknesses, and have been proven by the trials they have endured in the process (Jas. 1:2-3) that they are in the faith.
Read the full article here Every now and again we will take some time to look back at the pages of Christian history. There is so much that can be learned from those who have studied the Bible and have determined for it to be their rule of life. Church history is never superior to bibliology, by no means, but it certainly does aid our understanding of various biblical doctrines today. As we are able to identify how the things that we believe about God today agree with what theologians from earlier centuries have believed about it, we can receive some affirmation for that which we believe, especially as these doctrines are preached and believed today.
The same however is true for lessons that can be learned from church history which should not be repeated. Not everything that happened in the first few centuries after Christ was necessarily good... Augustine progressed philosophically as most men of his day. Eventually neo-Platonism would have a considerable effect on his thinking, especially as he made sense of God and the created order through these lenses. In his “Confessions” he makes quite clear that a subtle disdain of the physical had started to set in. From his account it seems that it could have been his hatred for his past sinful lifestyle that led him to the false piety of an over-spiritualized view of God and what he grants men. Read the full article here Let’s just say, it’s difficult not to brag at times, especially when the world is often filled with people who like to gloat about all their accomplishments. They like to talk about all their successes in life and somewhat expect any unsuspecting bystander to be okay about hearing about their jobs, the places they have traveled, the people they know and the things they have amassed throughout their years.
It can be tempting for Christians to want to play the same game when facing someone like this. Even Christian to Christian we can be tempted to want to share in the narcissist hobby of bragging, boasting, “tooting our own trumpet,” call it what you will. Scripture does not allow for this kind of behaviour. Of all people Christians should be known for their humility. We are not people who goes around bragging about our accomplishments. The reason is simple. Everything that we have become in Christ is because of what God has done for us in Christ... But if there is any reason for bragging, any reason for triumph, any reason for letting the world know about it, let it be Christ. He is our only reason for boasting. The apostle Paul explains this so well in 1 Corinthians 1 where he talks about the worth of the cross, or the worth of Christ as the Saviour of the world. As he does so, Paul focuses his explanation of the cross, and in particular, its uncomplicated message on two broad groups, the Jews and the Gentiles. Read the full article here J.C. Ryle: How God shaped one reluctant clergyman into a powerful tool for gospel proclamation12/7/2019 There is a golden thread that runs through the Bible which can sometimes go unnoticed by some. It involves this road that we travel on. For all God’s children of all generations, the walk of faith that we are engaged in does not occur in a vacuum, rather it occurs in an onward and upward motion, spiritually speaking. We often forget the fact that this road that we are on is marked by the grinding footprints and cross-dragging induced furrows of many saints who before us have had to travel the same road on their way to glory (Matt. 7:13-14). This is a walk that has been attempted and completed by many of the Lord’s dear followers of old. There is therefore much that we can learn from the pages of church history, in particular from Christian biography (Prov. 13:20). As Paul instructed the Corinthians, we would be wise to imitate them too, as we diligently imitate the Lord (1 Cor. 11:1).
One such saint that deserves recognition at this juncture is a man by the name of John Charles, or J.C. Ryle. The son of a wealthy banker, Ryle was born in the town of Macclesfield within the region of Cheshire, England, on 10 May, 1816. Like many other boys he took a liking in different kinds of sports during his teenage years, but especially excelled at the activities of rowing and the game of cricket. After his transfer to Christ Church, Oxford in 1834, his cricket playing career reached its crescendo in an 1836 Varsity match at Lords, when he took no less than 10 wickets in a bowling effort, sealing the match for Oxford. Read the full article here In a world of fluidity Christians can sometimes find themselves being moved along with a never ceasing tide of worldly instability. That would be the true nature of this world to begin with. At best, this world system that we find ourselves having to operate in, can be riddled with uncertainty and capriciousness. Today it’s up, tomorrow it’s down. The moment you think it is left then all of the sudden it’s right. Next week it’s black. The week after that it’s white. Naturally, there seems to be an abundance of grey areas, which, by the way, can never be the case biblically, since right is always right, and wrong is always wrong. But doubt will obviously abound in a fallen world where right and wrong, good and bad, get convoluted in an intricate labyrinth of lies, fabrications, half-truths, empty promises and outright rebellion toward the Maker. The world’s instability can be seen everywhere in society. Of course we understand that by agency of the fall, things have since the entrance of sin into the world, always been in a state of never ending flux. Along with the entrance of sin came great changes in the natural order (Gen. 3:17-18). Life became challenged by death, health by sickness, abundance by poverty, and safety by danger. However, this is not so much the instability of the world that I have in mind. Naturally, nature is in flux, and this is the natural course which the world has been taking ever since the first sin. This instability is of a material nature and we deal with it as best we can (think droughts, catastrophes, etc.). Rather the real danger lies with the moral instability of the world, and this is truly catastrophic in a spiritual sense.
Read the full article here It is to be lamented the things that people sometimes believe about the Bible. I had a friend in seminary who worked with me in the library who, just for the fun of it, once subscribed to a typical, ranting, raving Word of Faith ministry. Every now and again my friend would receive a little package in the post that contained some item that was intended to bless him in some way or another. He would receive these as long as he paid his monthly subscription fee, of course. I remember how we would all stand around him in anticipation as he unboxed everything from “special anointing oil” to “healing holy water,”and then watch him as he comically read the instructions and put his latest “gift” to the test. On one occasion he even received a little cloth that the self-proclaimed prophet-healer prayed over. He was instructed to place this “special” cloth over his Bible on the floor and then literally stand on his Bible whenever he prayed, because it would of course render his prayers especially effective.
This is sad but true. There are unfortunately many false views of what constitutes as effective prayer. The same applies to those who swear by the “name of Jesus.” These are people who would for instance say that our prayers only become effective when we insert the magic words somewhere along the line, “in Jesus’ name,” or “in the name of Jesus.” You ask them why they say so, they’ll quickly retort by saying that it is because of these “special” words that our prayers become heard in the first place. Along this line of reasoning they honestly believe that God doesn’t hear us if we do not insert the actual words “in the name of Jesus” or whichever derivative thereof. I distinctly remember a school teacher, God bless her heart, who once taught us that if we do not say “in Jesus’ name” before we say amen, that our prayers won’t reach higher than the ceiling. Wrong views of the employment of the name of Jesus certainly do abound. Sadly, some have opted for an approach to God that is similar to that of Aladdin’s with his genie. Allegedly prayers are only heard or answered when we “say the magic words,” and then voila! God will hear us. But this approach betrays an underlying blunder in biblical interpretation... Read the full article here Few things are as precious as a freshly cooked meal, straight out of the oven and steaming hot. As a family we get to appreciate such meals most every evening, as all of us eagerly await to devour the scrumptious meal momma prepared with the greatest of love and care. All the way from chutney chicken and roast potatoes to chicken enchiladas, not to mention lamb chops and mash, her cooking, not to exaggerate, is the thing that dreams are made of. But what is equally thrilling, to me at least, is the opportunity to have another go at some of them, around lunch the next day. This of course is all made possible because of the invention of Tupperware and fridges. A simple, plastic container kept at the right temperature can amazingly contain and preserve the tastiest and nutritious meals, serving after serving, day after day, joyful laughter after joyful laughter.
Until they break… Yes, Mr. Tupper’s containers were indeed made to store away the food equivalent of gold and to withstand some pressure. Indeed, they can be handled with fatty hands, you can drop them, bend them, use their lids as Frisbees (kids do it all the time), sit on them (toddlers especially like that) and so on. But since they are made of only plastic, they will eventually break. The apostle Paul once taught the Corinthian church a valuable lesson as it involved containers and the precious contents within it... Read the full article here |
Topics
All
By Date
March 2024
|