Birth Pangs of Romans 8:22|A Church in Labor
Birth Pangs of A Church in Labor
What are the birth pangs of Romans 8 indicative of relative to the creation? This is a very significant term. It helps to set the context, time and significance of the events of Romans 8:18-23. The passage is related to an event which often is misunderstood and misapplied. Fortunately for us, we have a context in the Old covenant which sheds light on the meaning of the passage. We'll get to that in a moment.
At least four times in the New Testament, the inspired writers call attention to the birth pangs of the church. ...
Kingdom Parable of the Wedding Feast
June 11th, 2010 | Parables | No Comment
Kingdom Parable of the Wedding Feast
Matthew 22 contains the Kingdom Parable of the Wedding Feast. In these fourteen verses, much about man's relationship to God is summed up in this parable. Additionally, it is definitely an end times parable having much to say concerning the wedding feast.
The reader should notice that this kingdom parable is a direct commentary on Ephesian 5:23f and Revelation 19:7-8, where the marriage of the Lamb comes at the fall of Babylon. More on this later.
The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son. He sent invitations through his ...
Kingdom Parable of the Tares and Wheat
May 21st, 2010 | End of the World 2012 | 1 Comment
The kingdom parable of the tares and wheat follows the parable of the sower. As in the former, we have both the parable and its application and meaning. The text is found in Matthew 13: 24-51. In the parable of the sower, the kingdom was likened to the sowing of seed. In this parable it is likened to the "growing" of the seed and the weed, no pun intended.
There are a few facts that should readily be apparent. Seed grows incrementally over time. It is important not to miss that part of the parable. Secondly, while seed is growing, it ...
Parables of the Kingdom
May 19th, 2010 | Parables | No Comment
Parables of the Kingdom
The parables of the kingdom, are some of Jesus' most memorable teachings. One, because of they form short, memorable stories taken from the culture of His day. Secondly because of the clarity in which He expressed their simple truths. Another reason is that they engage the curiosity forcing one to contemplate and to think deeply about them.
Matthew chapter 13, contains many of His parables. They all are focused on the imminent arrival of the kingdom of God. One of the most well known is the parable of the sower. This story definitely focuses on the responsibility one ...
Olivet Discourse: Has the Kingdom of God Arrived?
January 4th, 2010 | Christian Eschatology | 10 Comments
Olivet Discourse: Has the Kingdom of God Arrived? Matthew, Mark and Luke, all record the Olivet Discourse. However, only one explicitly mention the coming of the kingdom of God. While all gospels speak of the coming kingdom, only Luke connected it with Jesus' address on the Mount of Olives.
The kingdom is the reign of God in men's hearts. Luke recorded Jesus' words that during the Roman conflagration of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the kingdom would be near. "So likewise you, when you see all these things, know that the kingdom of God has drawn near."
The question we ask is did ...