Tag Archives: Surprised by Hope

Following Jesus, by N. T. Wright

I bought this one with my very own money – and it was money very well spent. Following Jesus was first published in 1994. It doesn’t offer hugely powerful new theology. Rather, it offers excellent, insightful introductions to several New … Continue reading

Posted in Book Reviews, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Following Jesus, by N. T. Wright

Surprised by Hope: Will We Remember Our Former Lives In Heaven?

[Re-posted to include some new material at the end.] Someone asked this in class Sunday, and I had wondered the same thing as I was preparing the lesson. The question comes from Isaiah — (Isa 65:17) “Behold, I will create … Continue reading

Posted in Heaven, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 42 Comments

Surprised by Hope: Being Like God, Part 3

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Heaven, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Surprised by Hope: Being Like God, Part 2

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Heaven, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Surprised by Hope: Being Like God, Part 1

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Heaven, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Surprised by Hope: Mission and the End of Time, Part 3

Hatred (Gen 4:8)  Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Because of the jealousy caused by sin, Cain became … Continue reading

Posted in Heaven, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Surprised by Hope: Mission and the End of Time, Part 2

To understand our salvation, we have to understand what the Curse cost us. Multiply (Gen 1:28a)  God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” Sex and bearing children aren’t … Continue reading

Posted in Heaven, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Surprised by Hope: Mission and the End of Time, Part 2

Surprised by Hope: Mission and the End of Time, Part 1

The translators of 2 Pet 3:10-13 are steeped in the traditional view that the world in which we live will be burned into nothingness, and we’ll then be swept away into disembodied bliss in a spiritual existence in heaven. Therefore, … Continue reading

Posted in Heaven, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Surprised by Hope: 2 Peter 3:10-13 — Re-translating Peter

So if the creation is to be redeemed and freed in a way that gives it expectancy and even a groaning in anticipation of the end of time, how can it melt, be destroyed, and disappear? What if we were … Continue reading

Posted in Heaven, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Surprised by Hope: 2 Peter 3:10-13 — A Hypothesis

It would be really cool — nice and symmetrical — if the creation were to be redeemed much as God redeems his people. After all, our becoming new creations means that the old passes away, but not that there’s no … Continue reading

Posted in Heaven, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments