Category Archives: Index

“Muscle & Shovel”: Chapter 5, Part 3A (Reconciling baptism and faith)

We are considering Michael Shank’s book Muscle and a Shovel. As promised, here’s how I reconcile the dozens of verses that promise salvation to everyone with faith in Jesus with the many other verses that teach that water baptism is … Continue reading

Posted in Muscle & Shovel, by Michael Shank, Uncategorized | 93 Comments

“Muscle & Shovel”: Chapter 5, Part 2 (What is faith?)

We are considering Michael Shank’s book Muscle and a Shovel. Up to this point, I’ve tried to keep the arguments free of Greek and such like, trying to learn from Shank’s popular (and effective) style. But sometimes, you just can’t … Continue reading

Posted in Muscle & Shovel, by Michael Shank, Uncategorized | 46 Comments

“Muscle & Shovel”: Chapter 4 & Chapter 5, Part 1 (Saved by faith through grace?)

We are considering Michael Shank’s book Muscle and a Shovel. You’ll begin to notice several typos here and there in the text quoted from the book. I cut and pasted these electronically. They are all in the original. I’ll not … Continue reading

Posted in Muscle & Shovel, by Michael Shank, Uncategorized | 72 Comments

“Muscle & Shovel”: Chapters 1, 2 & 3

[Click here for a table of contents to all my posts regarding Muscle & Shovel.] We are considering Michael Shank’s book Muscle and a Shovel. As I’ve said before, Shank has an obvious talent for story telling, and it’s a … Continue reading

Posted in Muscle & Shovel, by Michael Shank, Uncategorized | 85 Comments

“Muscle & Shovel”: On the Solution to It All

We are considering Michael Shank’s book Muscle and a Shovel. I begin republishing a post from February 2, 2008 — (1 Pet 5:5b-6) All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives … Continue reading

Posted in Muscle & Shovel, by Michael Shank, Uncategorized | 59 Comments

“Muscle and a Shovel”: An Introduction and a Rerun

For reasons that are kind of hard to explain, I think it’s important that I return to the book Muscle and a Shovel by Michael Shank and take up the arguments made there in some detail. I realize that many longtime … Continue reading

Posted in Muscle & Shovel, by Michael Shank, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

From the Comments: The Connection of the Church with Israel, Part 12 (A Little New Perspective)

We’re getting close to the end. Really. Part of N.T. Wright’s contribution to contemporary theology is his understanding of the place of Israel in the great, grand narrative of scripture. For most of us, Israel is like a mistake God … Continue reading

Posted in Connection of Church with Israel, Uncategorized | 24 Comments

From the Comments: The Connection of the Church with Israel, Part 11 (Back to Romans)

Back to Romans Early in Romans, Paul plainly alludes to the several Old Testament passages we covered in the last post. (Rom 2:28-29 ESV) 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But … Continue reading

Posted in Connection of Church with Israel, Uncategorized | 26 Comments

From the Comments: The Connection of the Church with Israel, Part 10 (The Moral Law Within, Part 2)

Jeremiah explains that God will make a new covenant with this people. (Jer 31:31-34 ESV) 31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the … Continue reading

Posted in Connection of Church with Israel, Uncategorized | 30 Comments

From the Comments: The Connection of the Church with Israel, Part 9 (The Moral Law Within, Part 1)

Deuteronomy and the Spirit Imagine the scene. Nearly all the Israelites who’d left Egypt with Moses had died in the desert. The next generation — desert-hardened, accustomed to traveling as led by God’s special presence in the camp — prepared … Continue reading

Posted in Connection of Church with Israel, Uncategorized | 8 Comments