Apollinaris of Laodicea (d. 382) started out as a well-known opponent of Arianism. As time went on, his arguments for Christ’s full divinity fell into its own set of errors on at least three points. [Read more…] about Apollinaris of Laodicea: Why His Teaching on Christ was Condemned
Review of Union with the Resurrected Christ by GK Beale
GK Beale wrote Union with the Resurrected Christ as a sequel to his A New Testament Biblical Theology (NTBT). The sequel focuses on union with the resurrected Christ and how those united to the resurrected Christ receive his benefits. As Beale also makes clear, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus begin the fulfillment of the eschatological new-creational kingdom (1). [Read more…] about Review of Union with the Resurrected Christ by GK Beale
Jesus Became a Baby Because He Loves You
Why did the King of Glory become a baby? We can answer by saying “for his glory”! And we would be right to say so, but what does that even mean?
To start with, the word glory can sometimes describe doing good works. When a good deed is manifested in the world, we call it glorious. This is why all of God’s works are glorious, especially his creation of humans (Isa 42:7). The good works God does point back to the good Creator of all.
God also created humans for glory and honour. David says, God “crowned [humans] with glory and honor” (Ps 8:5). Paul even tells us to pursue glory and honour (Rom 2:7). While sin for a little while decrowned us of our glory, Jesus became human to bring “many sons to glory” (Heb 2:10, 14).
In summary, God created us for his glory, he crowned us with glory that we for a little while lost by sin, and Jesus restored that glory to us when he came into the world. Glory seems like a good answer for why Jesus was born, but I would say it is not a full answer.
A more complete answer includes the biblical truth that Jesus became a baby because he loves you. And this work of love is glorious. [Read more…] about Jesus Became a Baby Because He Loves You
What Does TULIP in Calvinism Mean?
I recently came across a social media post that described the Calvinist TULIP in the following way:
T= everyone hates God with all their heart even from the womb
U = for a mysterious reason God only loves and “elects” a few and damns the rest
L = Contrary to scripture, Jesus only died for some
I = God forces a few to love Jesus
P = irrelevant in light of Evanescent Grace
I have heard similar mischaracterizations before. However, comments under this post from Calvinists(!) attempted to defend TULIP without correcting this mischaracterization!
I am not that surprised. For years, I have heard Calvinists and non-Calvinists alike make odd claims about Calvinism and TULIP.
This post and its comments provide a useful teaching moment about what TULIP means. [Read more…] about What Does TULIP in Calvinism Mean?
Am I Responsible for Changing Others?
Am I responsible for changing others? Like a friend or someone you know?
I think we are responsible to do our best, but we cannot make someone change. So feeling responsible for someone’s change of disposition is outside of our power.
As I understand it, some things are within our power; some things are not. The future is outside of our power (don’t worry about tomorrow …). The present is in our power (whatever you do, do with all your might …).
[Read more…] about Am I Responsible for Changing Others?Technology Isn’t the Bad Guy
I am more and more convinced that the weight we put on the structural implications of technology and its deleterious effects on us misses the mark. The loss of civic virtues and institutions that had taught forms of self-control, gave community, and more have played a huge role.
This role is often unstated in technology studies. But one reason why people attempt to find community online is because they cannot find it in real life. Everyone is isolated, lonely, living in cities that tend to further this isolation, prevent large families from existing, etc.
Without the traditional mediating institutions of clubs, churches, fraternities, schools, and other such places, people gravitate towards what’s left: social media and community online. [Read more…] about Technology Isn’t the Bad Guy