[A comment I made yesterday, edited a tad, and moved to be a main post.]
John wrote,
Jay,
[His laws of pardon are] [r]epentance of sin, confession of fault, and prayer to God for forgiveness. 1 John 1.7 is a passage of great comfort, and it seems there is some covering going on there. But, at some point, [...]

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A week ago, Bob Smietana, a reporter for the Tennessean newspaper in Nashville, emailed me, asking for an interview for a story he was working on regarding the progressive Churches of Christ. I tried to set up a time, but our schedules never coincided.
His story was published today. I think you’ll find it to be [...]

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Rich asked,
When I think of the concept of law within the Bible I think of anything I must obey. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” I equate the generic term ‘law’ with ‘commandments’ whatever they may be. Therefore, Paul isn’t contrasting generic law. He is contrasting ‘the law’ (old law) with new [...]

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Argument 2.
In Galatians, Paul continues to explain why obedience to the positive command of circumcision is pointless.
(Gal 5:18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
Now, we try take this statement, turn it on its head, and declare that “led by the Spirit” means “obey all the laws.” Obviously, [...]

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I contend that Benjamin Franklin has it exactly backwards: moral law is higher than positive law. Indeed, I question whether God even makes positive law any more.
Argument 1.
(Rom 13:8) Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
This and the several [...]

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We continue to consider RVL’s lessons on how to think as the First Century Jews thought, that is, with an Eastern point of view. (“RVL” is what his students call Ray Vander Laan and how he often refers to himself.)
To think Eastern, it’s critical that you first see the picture before you try to draw [...]

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Guy wrote a comment asking why I take such a dim view of positive law (and I do). I knocked out a quick comment, but I think the topic bears a more thorough explanation. It’s going to take several posts that dig deeply into the mind of God.
After some background, the first few posts will [...]

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BrotherhoodNews.com recently issued this report –
MERIDIAN, Miss. (BNc) — The Northside congregation hosted a Bible debate on church benevolence Jan. 21-22.
Thursday night Patrick Donahue of Huntsville, Ala., affirmed that, “The Bible does not authorize use of the church treasury for social meals.” John T. Polk II of Dover, Tenn., denied.
On Friday night Brother Polk affirmed, [...]

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Joy
Question 5: Is the doctrine of salvation by works as taught by the majority of the Churches of Christ in accordance with Biblical teaching?
Question 12: What is “Fellowship”?

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A few weeks ago, I attended a seminar taught by Ray Vander Laan near here. I took my new netbook with me and furiously typed notes. Now it’s time to report a few of the lessons to the readers.
(RVL’s speaking schedule is available at his “Follow the Rabbi” website. Find one near you and go.)
The [...]

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Terrence (Mount) Cody (First team, 270370 lb. All America consumer of running backs and other lesser beings) and Ricki Lebegern (First team All America Balance Beam). Not Photoshopped. Really.

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Oh, man, have I ever!!

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Thanks to Reverend Fun

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I continue to try to sort out just where the progressives and conservatives part ways in their theology. Ask any conservative, and he’ll assure you that he believes we are justified by faith, not works, by the grace of God. He’ll cite many of the same verses that the progressives use as proof texts. And [...]

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Royce Ogle has posted an article labeling me a “change agent”! And it’s a compliment. Really. (My wife sent a copy to my mother!)

(Logo is from http://www.blogtalkradio.com/influencechange.)

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Dear Pat Robertson,
I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I’m all over that action. But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is [...]

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Thanks to http://www.gocomics.com/ for the lesson in theology.
If the image is too small, try either double clicking the cartoon or else right clicking and selecting “View Image.” Or else go here.

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In the last post, we began a consideration of Eph 5:18-21, pointing out that “command” (not really the right word) is to be filled with the Spirit. The rest of the passage is made of three participles modifying — by example — “be filled with the Spirit.”
(Eph 5:18 ESV) And do not get drunk with [...]

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In the last post, we considered the meaning of Eph 4:22-24 –
(Eph 4:22-24)  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the [...]

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I love studying the Bible — for lots of reasons. One reason is that I’m constantly stumbling across delightful little nuggets in unexpected places.
In an earlier post in this series, I considered –
(Eph 4:22-24)  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted [...]

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