Posted by Randy Peterman on 8/25/2005
In the following screen shot (click for a larger version) you will see that I ranked high for ‘imorality’ on this blog due to a previous post.
While the correct spelling would be good (and has been corrected) I don’t think that the real focus should be on my ranking or type. The real intersting thing is the third ranking result: Immorality: Compare Prices
While we can buy immoral things for inexpensive prices, or get them for free, it is important to realize that we are not called to sin and should abide in Christ as we walk in the good works he has planned for us (Ephesians 2:10). Count the cost, don’t compare prices. Sure, we’re under grace, but don’t you love Christ? Love Christ in your relationship and the cost of being out of fellowship will surely be too high.
Compare the prices… and you won’t buy. Immorality comes with a price – is the gold plated grenade that plays MP3’s really worth it? Once that pin gets pulled its a timebomb of death.
Posted by Randy Peterman on 8/9/2005
This is partially taken from Lectures in Systematic Theology by Henry C. Thiessen. It is a work in progress. What other ideas/verses would you add? I need to cite everything here so please be patient with me :)
- The believer is delivered from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:10).
- The believer is delivered from the penalty of the law.
- The believer is delivered from the law itself (Romans 7:4, Ephesians 2:14-15; Colossians 2:14,20).
- The ten commandments have faded away (II Corinthians 3:7-11).
- The believer is seated in the heavenlies [the law is for the earth] (Colossians 3:1-3).
- The law is not just the ten commandments, there are 613 commands.
- The law was given to the Jews to set them apart from the rest of the world.
- Noah, Abraham, Moses and David were all saved by faith and not the law.
- The Temple no longer exists which makes fulfilling the law impossible.
- Jesus fulfilled the law and we are hidden in Him (Colossians 3:1-3).
Posted by Randy Peterman on
I am starting to think about things that I haven’t thought about for a while: semantics. When people use the term ‘the church’ what do they convey? The word has various meanings in various contexts and I don’t want to try to force a singular meaning on it – that’d be just confusing and a lot of work for me to try to start an international campaign :) Instead I want to take a brief look at the uses and then suggest care in using it in some contexts.
Meanings:
- The Church
- A building in which people of a Christian denomination come together (in contrast to a temple, mosque or Community Center)
- The Church
- A group of people that are gathered together in a particular building or that area associated with a particular denomination’s meeting place. Example: The Assemblies of God Church in Carson City is called Capital Christian Center.
- The Church
- The bride of Christ as defined by being a believer in Christ and not being associated with a denomination or meeting location.
It is this last definition that most concerns me. I recently read a statement wherein the person said [roughly], “The church has been judgmental in the past.” This is a sticky wicket and I wouldn’t normally even want to touch it. Here’s my concern though: by using the singular, universal term for Christians throughout history regardless of denomination or adherence to the authority of scripture you are painting with too broad a brush. Also, by doing this you’re actually defining the church differently compared to how the Bible teaches it to be on a doctrinal level. Practicioners of a religion do not necessarily represent the religion in its pure, ideal form.
I’m not suggesting that we white-wash church history so as to always appear as if all believers throughout history were abiding in the Holy Spirit and acting as God’s messengers in all things, but I am suggesting that we be careful how we use the church. The Bride of Christ has been made perfect by her redeemer/groom, Christ. We are sanctified in Him, perfected in Him and presentable to Him (see Ephesians 5 for this last reference). Let us not forget this when trying to interact with people and how we use the term ‘church.’ I’m sure I need to be more careful myself, but I do want to remind believers that by representing the church as anything but a redeemed group we short sell our savior.
