God Speaks to Us

Repentance, Confession and the Textual Variant in James 5:16

Ian Johnson August 9, 2021 3 Comments

James 5:16 occurs in a context dealing with sick Christians and healing. In that context, it teaches that we are to agree with each other about the character flaws in our lives that lead to discrete sins, and pray for each other that these flaws–and the whole person–will be healed. This sensible reading is supported by the Byzantine New Testament text tradition, which is to be preferred for this verse.

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Of Assyria, Egypt, and God’s Sovereignty in My Life

Ian Johnson July 24, 2021 0 Comments

The continued existence of ethnic Coptic and Assyrian Christian minorities in Egypt and the Middle East demonstrates God’s faithfulness and the possibility of a literal fulfillment of Isaiah 19:23-25. If God can preserve these ethnic groups across two millennia of persecution in order to fulfill a prophecy, can he possibly need my “help” doing anything in my own life?

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Repentance in Jesus’ Early Message, Matthew 4:17-22 and Mark 1:14-20

Ian Johnson July 22, 2021 2 Comments

Jesus’ early preaching was that his hearers must repent. because the Kingdom had already arrived and was “at hand”–standing right in front of them, in his person. Therefore, they were to repent–change their behavior–and believe the good news (Gospel) he was preaching to them.

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Unrepentance and the Judgment Spoken Against Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum in Matthew 11:20-24

Ian Johnson July 18, 2021 1 Comment

When Jesus unfavorably compared the unrepentance of the Galilean towns where he had preached to the repentance Tyre, Sidon and Sodom would have shown to the same preaching. the repentance of which he spoke clearly included behavioral change.

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The “Curses” on Adam, Eve and the Serpent: Are Vexed Gender Relations, Meaningless Hard Work and Economic Oppression God’s Will?

Ian Johnson July 16, 2021 2 Comments

God did not curse Adam and Eve when they sinned. He told them what the mostly natural evil consequences of their decision to live apart from him would be. In doing this, he did NOT decree any of these evil consequences as things as a part of his perfect will. Sexual and class inequalities are evil consequences of sin, not God’s will.

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Adam and Eve–Idolatry in the Fall

Ian Johnson July 11, 2021 10 Comments

When the first humans, who already knew all good, chose to disobey God and experience evil, they initiated every kind of idolatry known to later generations. This included worship of created things, of themselves, their own wisdom and their own desires, of their bodies, and, most importantly, of a false picture of the true God as miserly and hostile toward us.

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Repentance of the Ninevites and Unrepentance of Israel in Matthew 12:41

Ian Johnson June 28, 2021 2 Comments

Jesus contrasted the Jewish leaders, who refused to hear his words, with the Ninevites who repented at the preaching of Jonah and put away their bloodshed and violence.

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Repentance, in the Weaker Sense, in the Parable of the Two Sons

Ian Johnson June 24, 2021 2 Comments

As the parable of the two sons in Matthew 21:28-32 shows, repentance is merely changing our minds so that we start to do what the Father asks. Repentance does not require remorse, payment of a penalty, or even in all cases a spoken apology, and the forgiveness that it produces cannot be sold.

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Matthew 5:8–Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Ian Johnson June 21, 2021 1 Comment

Matthew 5:6 and 5:8 speak of the state of hungering and thirsting for righteousness, which leads to purity of heart because God satisfies the hunger. The result of purity of heart is being able to to “see” God, to perceive his presence and work, even in the present time.

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God’s Working with Us is Not About Our Present, Temporary Happiness or Comfort

Ian Johnson June 16, 2021 11 Comments

To enter God’s kingdom, moment by moment, I must repent of my claims of ownership of my own life. Instead, I must be willing to do things His way, even if it is His will that I crash and burn in this world. He is reality. His unseen Kingdom will one day be seen, and it will eventually be obvious to everyone that His reward is more real than anything in this world.

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Repentance, Confession and the Textual Variant in James 5:16

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Of Assyria, Egypt, and God’s Sovereignty in My Life

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Repentance in Jesus’ Early Message, Matthew 4:17-22 and Mark 1:14-20

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Unrepentance and the Judgment Spoken Against Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum in Matthew 11:20-24

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Adam and Eve–Idolatry in the Fall

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Repentance of the Ninevites and Unrepentance of Israel in Matthew 12:41

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Repentance, in the Weaker Sense, in the Parable of the Two Sons

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Matthew 5:8–Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

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God’s Working with Us is Not About Our Present, Temporary Happiness or Comfort

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God Speaks to Us

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