Are The Spiritual Gifts in the Bible Operative Tod...
August 5th, 2011 | Spiritual Gifts | 3 Comments
Spiritual Gifts in the Bible
Are the spiritual gifts in the Bible operative today? We must offer caution as we answer this question. First, we must define what we mean by operative. If by operative we mean can believers today perform miracles the we may get one answer. If we mean are the miracles in the Bible operative today, we may get another answer.
So, let us be more specific.
Are Spiritual Gifts Performed by Believers Today?
Depending on who you ask that question, obviously, you'll get different answers. So, we want to ask, whether the Bible addresses the question of whether believers can ...
Baptism and Resurrection in Colossians 2
July 15th, 2011 | Eschatology | No Comment
Baptism and Resurrection
In our previous study, we focused on baptism and resurrection in Romans, pointing out the eschatological future of resurrection. Common church of Christ beliefs are that baptism was both a burial and resurrection. In many of their presentations, they cite the mode of baptism as the dying and rising with Christ using texts such as Romans 6:3-4 and Colossians 2 as proof.
However, as we've shown in the former study on baptism and eschatology, baptism and resurrection are not synonymous in Romans 6. Nor is it synonymous in Colossians 2. The distinction between baptism and resurrection is once again ...
A House of Prayer for All Nations
April 11th, 2011 | Eschatology | No Comment
House of Prayer
One might think that eschatology has nothing to do with the house of prayer, but that would be incorrect. We have established the relationship of the body of Christ, i.e. the Christian church as the hope of Israel (Col. 2:17; Eph. 1:13-14; 3:21) and the local church as having continued relevance in the present church age (Zech 4:1-2; Rev. 1:19).
This naturally leads us to ask questions about worship? Should we worship? Does worship and prayer have any relevance in the kingdom today? In prophecy, God spoke of the inclusive body of Christ as the house of prayer.
During the ...
Law of Moses and Amillennial Eschatology
August 9th, 2010 | Eschatology | 2 Comments
Law of Moses and Amillennial Eschatology
In the previous study on 2 Corinthians Chapter 3, we discussed the Law of Moses showing that it continued beyond Jesus' death on the cross in A.D. 3. We also demonstrated that it was yet in the process of being fulfilled when Paul wrote the second epistle. Thirdly, we demonstrated that the fulfillment of the Law of Moses was Paul's hope. There is but one hope of the gospel (Eph. 4:5). Therefore, the fulfillment of the Law of Moses fulfills the gospel hope.
A Personal Update:
Since my last post I had a major computer crash due ...
The Law of Moses in 2 Corinthians 3
July 29th, 2010 | Fulfilled Prophecy | No Comment
The Law of Moses in 2 Corinthians 3
No discussion on the fulfillment of eschatology should omit the study of the Law of Moses in 2 Corinthians 3. It is such a rich text on the background of Israel's experience under Torah, the events of Sinai and their application to a then present transition. In most Amillennial studies, the law of Moses ends at the cross, is completely fulfilled then, with nothing to be heard of it from that time forward.
This is the view of most. In their defense of that position, texts from John 19:30, Eph. 2:15, and Col. 2:14 ...