Comments for Purgos http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com Building lives that make God look great Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:22:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 Comment on Comments on Calvinism and Total Depravity by Sarah http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/06/comments-on-calvinism-and-total-depravity/#comment-91 Sarah Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:00:41 +0000 http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/06/comments-on-calvinism-and-total-depravity/#comment-91 Thanks, Bryan. This does help clarify the point for me, a bit, particularly in the fact that there are undeniably "good" (moral, kind, etc.) unbelievers. Thanks, Bryan. This does help clarify the point for me, a bit, particularly in the fact that there are undeniably “good” (moral, kind, etc.) unbelievers.

]]> Comment on Questions to get us rolling by Andy http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/04/questions-to-get-us-rolling/#comment-17 Andy Fri, 30 May 2008 20:10:59 +0000 http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/04/questions-to-get-us-rolling/#comment-17 Bryan, Another one after you finish with Sarah's question. When Paul is in Athens on the Aeropagus he is speaking about the UNKNOWN GOD however near the end of his speech he makes this comment about God overlooking ignorance (in the form of Idolatry I believe) but now he will no longer over look it. What is Paul getting at specifically in Acts 17:30-31? 30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." (NIV) Bryan,

Another one after you finish with Sarah’s question.

When Paul is in Athens on the Aeropagus he is speaking about the UNKNOWN GOD however near the end of his speech he makes this comment about God overlooking ignorance (in the form of Idolatry I believe) but now he will no longer over look it. What is Paul getting at specifically in Acts 17:30-31?

30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” (NIV)

]]> Comment on Questions to get us rolling by Bryan http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/04/questions-to-get-us-rolling/#comment-12 Bryan Wed, 07 May 2008 23:20:18 +0000 http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/04/questions-to-get-us-rolling/#comment-12 Sarah, How about I take five entries over the next few weeks and summarize each of the five points, give you my take on them and then give you some recommended readings with each? Yep, that's what I'll do. Sarah,
How about I take five entries over the next few weeks and summarize each of the five points, give you my take on them and then give you some recommended readings with each? Yep, that’s what I’ll do.

]]> Comment on Questions to get us rolling by Sarah http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/04/questions-to-get-us-rolling/#comment-11 Sarah Tue, 06 May 2008 21:29:02 +0000 http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/04/questions-to-get-us-rolling/#comment-11 I'd love to get a clearer understanding of some of the parts of Calvinism that are summed up in TULIP, especially unconditional election, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints. I know these aren't small topics. If you have any accessible books you'd recommend, that would be great, too. I’d love to get a clearer understanding of some of the parts of Calvinism that are summed up in TULIP, especially unconditional election, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints.

I know these aren’t small topics. If you have any accessible books you’d recommend, that would be great, too.

]]> Comment on Questions to get us rolling by Bryan http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/04/questions-to-get-us-rolling/#comment-10 Bryan Tue, 06 May 2008 15:44:27 +0000 http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/04/questions-to-get-us-rolling/#comment-10 Andy, Great question. This is admittedly a difficult text but probably more so because of our desire to explain away what we typically think of when the concept of "taking up the sword" is mentioned. When we look at the disciples and later the first century church that they founded we see an attitude of non-violence. Certainly this is the case in the early church's response to persecution and in Jesus' response to Peter when he wields the sword and cuts of Malchus' ear. So we need to keep those texts in view because they tell us much about God's desire for the disposition of his people toward those who angrily and in hostility oppose them. But the question still remains, what then do we do with the reference to taking a sword with you, in this passage. This passage fits sometime right around the last supper. A large portion of his upper room discourse and his prayer for the disciples in John 17 is about the fact that they will be despised by the world but despised even after He is gone and the Spirit has come in his stead. His instructions are then simply very practical. He is not giving them a call to arms (ie. "take up the sword") but as one who has cared for them throughout his earthly journey he is now giving them counsel for life after he is gone. This, in part, entails practical advice particularly with the hostilities of the world in view. So he gives them three things to take, a moneybag, a knapsack, and a sword. He doesn't want them to misuse the sword anymore than he wants them to use the moneybag in a greedy, selfish manner. He is speaking of these things as three elements of provision. So in a sense the "sword" is used symbolically here, but not in an esoteric manner. Rather it, coupled with the other two show that he is essentially saying "take everything you need for provision because you are going out into a world that is no friend to you and has no desire to help you." Darrell Bock makes some good comments along these lines in his two volume commentary on Luke. Andy,
Great question. This is admittedly a difficult text but probably more so because of our desire to explain away what we typically think of when the concept of “taking up the sword” is mentioned. When we look at the disciples and later the first century church that they founded we see an attitude of non-violence. Certainly this is the case in the early church’s response to persecution and in Jesus’ response to Peter when he wields the sword and cuts of Malchus’ ear. So we need to keep those texts in view because they tell us much about God’s desire for the disposition of his people toward those who angrily and in hostility oppose them. But the question still remains, what then do we do with the reference to taking a sword with you, in this passage. This passage fits sometime right around the last supper. A large portion of his upper room discourse and his prayer for the disciples in John 17 is about the fact that they will be despised by the world but despised even after He is gone and the Spirit has come in his stead. His instructions are then simply very practical. He is not giving them a call to arms (ie. “take up the sword”) but as one who has cared for them throughout his earthly journey he is now giving them counsel for life after he is gone. This, in part, entails practical advice particularly with the hostilities of the world in view. So he gives them three things to take, a moneybag, a knapsack, and a sword. He doesn’t want them to misuse the sword anymore than he wants them to use the moneybag in a greedy, selfish manner. He is speaking of these things as three elements of provision. So in a sense the “sword” is used symbolically here, but not in an esoteric manner. Rather it, coupled with the other two show that he is essentially saying “take everything you need for provision because you are going out into a world that is no friend to you and has no desire to help you.” Darrell Bock makes some good comments along these lines in his two volume commentary on Luke.

]]> Comment on Questions to get us rolling by Andy http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/04/questions-to-get-us-rolling/#comment-9 Andy Mon, 05 May 2008 21:45:01 +0000 http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/04/questions-to-get-us-rolling/#comment-9 Ok I got one for you. Luke 22:36 36He said to them, "But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. (ESV) In reading this verse it seems plain that Jesus is telling his disciples to take up arms in defense. Yet in most of the commentaries that I have read they deny this idea and say that it is a metaphorical sword. So Jesus wanted them to sell a metaphorical cloak for a metaphorical sword? I have looked at the Greek but I am still not understanding why so many see this "sword" as not an actual sword. Thanks in advance, Andy Ok I got one for you. Luke 22:36 36He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. (ESV)

In reading this verse it seems plain that Jesus is telling his disciples to take up arms in defense. Yet in most of the commentaries that I have read they deny this idea and say that it is a metaphorical sword. So Jesus wanted them to sell a metaphorical cloak for a metaphorical sword? I have looked at the Greek but I am still not understanding why so many see this “sword” as not an actual sword.

Thanks in advance,

Andy

]]> Comment on Questions to get us rolling by bryan http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/04/questions-to-get-us-rolling/#comment-7 bryan Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:09:02 +0000 http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/04/questions-to-get-us-rolling/#comment-7 Stacie, Interseting question. There are a few issues to bring up from your question. First, how firmly should the law be divided into the categories of ceremonial, civil and moral. Certainly in Judaism there was some overlap, for example is remembering the Sabbath a moral component of the law (since it is one of the ten commandments) or is it a cermonial component (since it is most often linked in context with other festal or remembrance ceremonies)? Along the same lines the issues get blurred between the civil law and the moral law when dealing with issues of marriage, murder, rape and many other things. So my first response is that the categories that the law is often subdivided into are not really clear and I think usually unhelpful. I think instead we should see the law as it seems the New Testament does, and that is as a unit. So secondly then, when Jesus says in Matthew 5:17 that he came to fulfill the law it seems that he is saying he fulfills all of it. He fulfills the civil aspects of it by creating a new kingdom ethic to live in. His statement in Matthew 5 is at the beginning of his articulation of that ethic knwon as the sermon on the mount. So for example he revises the civil understanding of divorce and murder and makes principles that cut to the heart rather than rest on the legality of Old Testament civil legislation. So then part of fulfilling the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2) is living by the new ethic of Jesus in both moral and civil matters. Stacie,
Interseting question. There are a few issues to bring up from your question. First, how firmly should the law be divided into the categories of ceremonial, civil and moral. Certainly in Judaism there was some overlap, for example is remembering the Sabbath a moral component of the law (since it is one of the ten commandments) or is it a cermonial component (since it is most often linked in context with other festal or remembrance ceremonies)? Along the same lines the issues get blurred between the civil law and the moral law when dealing with issues of marriage, murder, rape and many other things. So my first response is that the categories that the law is often subdivided into are not really clear and I think usually unhelpful. I think instead we should see the law as it seems the New Testament does, and that is as a unit. So secondly then, when Jesus says in Matthew 5:17 that he came to fulfill the law it seems that he is saying he fulfills all of it. He fulfills the civil aspects of it by creating a new kingdom ethic to live in. His statement in Matthew 5 is at the beginning of his articulation of that ethic knwon as the sermon on the mount. So for example he revises the civil understanding of divorce and murder and makes principles that cut to the heart rather than rest on the legality of Old Testament civil legislation. So then part of fulfilling the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2) is living by the new ethic of Jesus in both moral and civil matters.

]]> Comment on Questions to get us rolling by Stacia Shafovaloff http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/04/questions-to-get-us-rolling/#comment-6 Stacia Shafovaloff Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:58:16 +0000 http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/04/questions-to-get-us-rolling/#comment-6 I've had this question for a while, and have never remembered to ask anyone. I was speaking to someone online and they really stumped me.... As Christians we always talk about how Christ's death and resurrection fulfilled the OT law and so we are no longer under it. I understand how Christ fulfilled the ceremonial law, and even somewhat the moral law, but I don't understand how Christ fulfilled the civil law theologically speaking. Can you explain that? or at least what "we" mean when we say it? I’ve had this question for a while, and have never remembered to ask anyone. I was speaking to someone online and they really stumped me….

As Christians we always talk about how Christ’s death and resurrection fulfilled the OT law and so we are no longer under it. I understand how Christ fulfilled the ceremonial law, and even somewhat the moral law, but I don’t understand how Christ fulfilled the civil law theologically speaking. Can you explain that? or at least what “we” mean when we say it?

]]> Comment on What does purgos mean? by Andy http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/03/what-does-purgos-mean/#comment-5 Andy Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:13:02 +0000 http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/03/what-does-purgos-mean/#comment-5 I love you Howser! I also agree wholeheartedly with Church Membership! I love you Howser!

I also agree wholeheartedly with Church Membership!

]]> Comment on What does purgos mean? by Housermania http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/03/what-does-purgos-mean/#comment-4 Housermania Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:46:57 +0000 http://blog.lifelinecommunity.com/2008/03/what-does-purgos-mean/#comment-4 I am kinda excited that we are going to start blogging. I look forward to the days you get Andy BLOG SCREAMING because he can't believe you think the earth may be older than a 10k years old. Oh yes, we will have some fun. If you want to get this blog going you need to get dangerous and throw out a topic like... membership. Just use the word membership and the folks will start blogging. (For the record, I am cool with membership at Lifeline.) Blog on P Bryan! Yeeeeehaaaa! I am kinda excited that we are going to start blogging. I look forward to the days you get Andy BLOG SCREAMING because he can’t believe you think the earth may be older than a 10k years old. Oh yes, we will have some fun.

If you want to get this blog going you need to get dangerous and throw out a topic like… membership. Just use the word membership and the folks will start blogging. (For the record, I am cool with membership at Lifeline.)

Blog on P Bryan! Yeeeeehaaaa!

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