As in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
I Corinthians 15:22

The New England Primer was the basic reader for most Colonial American’s. Not only did it use phonics- it also incorporated Biblical lessons throughout its pages. It was important to the Puritan settler’s that their children understood the cause of sin and death. All sin, sickness, suffering and ultimately death is the direct result of Adam’s sin and our participation in it.

Today we explore the implications of original sin. What affects has it had on this world? On you and I personally? And more importantly- how can its effects be reversed? Additionally, when will it be reversed?

Evil is real. It is everywhere. It is within each of us as well as propagated by the Evil One. If you doubt the reality of evil just think of 911 and everything that flowed from that momentous day. The taking down of the world trade center towers was an act of pure evil. ISIS is evil. Evil is real. The reason for evil is a deep philosophical and theological question. Why would a pure and holy God allow it to enter His pure and perfect creation?

These questions and more will arise in the text before us. Let us seek the Holy Spirit’s wisdom as we direct our thoughts to these issues.

Because of grace,
Tim

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“What would it look like to stop treating Jesus as simply a role model and start serving Him as our sovereign king?” Blog post Reasonable Theology

Good Question.
Jesus is the ruling Monarch (Sovereign) of the universe.
His rule is established in His humanity by the fact that He was born of David. His rule is demonstrated by the fact that death could not hold Him. Death is man’s greatest foe-yet even death could not defeat Jesus.

So what does this mean to me?
When it comes to government, we Americans tend to think in terms of a constitutional Republic. We are grateful we have the chance to vote in our rulers to represent us (supposedly). We are grateful we have a voice in the establishment of laws that govern us. We are thankful we can even run for elected office if we so choose.

The Kingdom of Heaven is not a Constitutional Republic. Jesus doesn’t reign because we vote Him into office. Mankind can’t impeach Him either. He rules by the power of His own person- Jesus is King.

Now, in one sense His rule is not complete. Yes the battle has been won and the victory is His. But death is not yet completely abolished and so for now this earth is still enemy held territory (Hebrews 2). One day this will change- he will return and abolish death and win the final victory.

Until then how do we view Him? Kind of like a big brother that we look up to and is sort of a role-model for our behavior? Or rather as the Sovereign Lord who commands our allegiance. When He says “follow me” He’s not simply speaking like a big brother inviting us to follow in His shoes; no He is speaking like a battlefield general who leads His men over the top and into the fray.

Follow me is the command of the Sovereign Lord of the universe. Are we huddled in the trench fearing the conflict? Or are we climbing the ladder and leaving the trench and engaging the foe?

Because of grace,
Tim

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“Going into all the nations, make disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…” Matthew 28:19

Today we have a baby dedication and a baptism. Some may ask: “why does EBC dedicate babies and not baptize them?” I’m glad you asked- here’s the short answer.

It is clear from the Commission that Christ gave His disciples shortly before His ascension back to the Father, that baptism is a pivotal part of how the church “makes disciples.” Christ pronounces the formula under which His followers are to be baptized: “the Name” (singular) of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (plural persons).
This of course reveals the Trinitarian nature of the Godhead. However, it does more than that. It also teaches us that each member of the Trinity is active in our salvation.

The Father elects and instituted the plan, the Son condescends and dies for sin and sinners, and the Holy Spirit convicts and applies the redemption Christ provided.
Having said this we still haven’t addressed the who. Christ makes this clear as well: disciples are to be baptized.

A person is not made a disciple by baptizing them- no, a person becomes a disciple by personal faith and then is baptized as testimony to that fact.
To baptize someone who is not a disciple (a believer) is to get the cart before the horse. This is why all through the book of Acts as the Apostles carried out this commission the pattern consistently held true. “Those who received the word were baptized” (Acts 2:41).

Christ was preached crucified, The Holy Spirit worked conviction of sin and faith in Christ, the person was baptized. Read the book of Acts- this is the pattern and it consistently was practiced.
So EBC baptizes believers. End of story.

Because of grace,
Tim

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