Sermons, Articles, and Other Things

Paul does not want his readers to have a wrong grasp of why Israel found herself away from the experience of God’s salvation. In the previous passage he had explained that in a way far beyond our ability to appreciate intellectually what was happening was connected to God’s eternal plan. Yet we have to have a balance approach to any subject, and to view anything only from the point of view of election will turn such people into speculators and spectators rather than admirers and participators. Human responsibility is an essential element of a Christian outlook. The failure of Israel (9:30-33) Paul points out to his readers the reasons why Israel as a race have not retained the privileged position that they should have enjoyed. There are two reasons, one connected to what they did with the law and the other connected to their response to Jesus when he came. God had given his law to Israel at Mount Sinai. The issue that concerns Paul here is why God gave it to them. He points ou

What should be our attitude when we read books of the Old Testament? The New Testament gives us guidelines for how to do so. Paul reminded Timothy that ‘All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work’ (2 Tim. 3:16). When Paul referred to the Scriptures in that verse he had the Old Testament in mind. So using the Old Testament properly will result in balanced Christian living. Another New Testament verse to bear in mind is what Luke says about the instruction given by Jesus on the day of his resurrection to the two disciples he spoke to on the road to Emmaus: ‘And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself’ (Luke 24:27). That verse suggests that there is something about Jesus is each of the Old Testament writings, which means that we should be on the lookout for s

Paul wants his readers to understand the role that Israel has in God’s purpose and why the Israelites no longer have the same prominence in God’s Kingdom as they did previously. Inevitably exploring this subject brings us face to face with the sovereignty of God. Right away, we can see at least three responses can be made. They are (1) what kind of God do we want? (2) what kind of God do we need? and (3) what kind of God do we have? So it is important for us to know what Paul says here about God. Moreover, Paul’s explanation causes us to delve into the doctrine of election, a prospect that frightens some people. Yet if treated properly the doctrine of election will become a great strength to one’s faith. It is helpful to remind ourselves that Jesus spoke about election and did so at the same time as giving a gospel invitation that stressed human responsibility. A clear example is John 6:37 where he says to his listeners: ‘ All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever co

This appearance of Jesus, which is also mentioned by Luke, is the fifth by the risen Saviour on his resurrection day. John was no doubt an eyewitness of this meeting. We are not told why they gathered in the room where they were. Perhaps they wanted to keep the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread that immediately followed the Passover (Lev.23:4-8). They would have known that Jesus had risen from the dead because of the testimony of the women sent by Jesus, although the only one of the apostles who had already seen Jesus was Peter, and we are not told a great deal about that meeting. We read this account with the knowledge of what these disciples had been like before Jesus was crucified and what they became like after his ascension to heaven and once the Holy Spirit had been sent by him. Although they had failed Jesus he would turn them into effective servants. And while they did not look like it on this occasion, what happened at it was a crucial part of the process of changing them