Don Johnson Lately I’ve taken up walking as a means of exercise. My doctor says I must. Ten thousand steps a day sounded so simple in his office the other day! Reality is a different matter. One place I love to walk is a trail down below my home. My property borders on this trail, [...]
The Eclectic Web–Nov 29, 2012
November 29, 2012
An eclectic selection of links that may interest you: Biblical Interpretation Slow Down! A Different Perspective on Christ in the Old Testament Daniel Block answers questions about a popular approach to Old Testament interpretation. He urges interpreting the OT “Christotelically” rather than “Christocentrically”. While his remarks provide a welcome brake to some of the extremes [...]
Beginning Personal Bible Study
November 27, 2012
Linda Hull “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart” (Psalm 119:34). I have learned that the most important aspect of Bible study is to get started! Too often we believers get bogged down in our efforts to read our Bibles by worrying about the [...]
The Believer’s Responsibility in Sanctification
November 19, 2012
Mike Harding Paul’s framing of the paradox regarding divine sovereignty and human responsibility takes one of its most striking forms in Philippians 2:12-13. In order to soften the apparent contradiction between Paul’s imperative in Philippians 2:12 and the doctrine of justification, interpreters have sought to understand this passage in terms of the “sociology” of the [...]
Around the Web–Post Election and other news
November 8, 2012
The Election Do People Really Vote with Their Wallets? The New Moral Majority and the 2012 Election Michael Kruger (of Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC) with a very insightful perspective (in my opinion): “The reality is that America has changed drastically since the 1990’s. It’s hard to believe that the Defense of Marriage act [...]
Around the Web–10/29/12
October 29, 2012
Deuteronomy’s Riches: A Conversation with Ajith Fernando As a follow up on my series on sanctification, this interview brings some further emphasis on holiness and obedience that is often dismissed in the current climate. 5 of the most difficult challenges pastors face Thom S. Rainer Interesting article, especially the one about the challenge of preaching [...]
Distortions of Sanctification
October 10, 2012
Don Johnson An occasional series on the doctrine of sanctification: Part One; Part Two; Part Three. This is Part Four. In this essay, I’d like to address the tendency we have as Christians to fall into error by over-emphasizing a truth. When I say ‘error’, I don’t mean ‘heresy’. Heresy, according dictionary.com, is “an opinion [...]
The Certainty of Sanctification
September 4, 2012
by Don Johnson An occasional series on sanctification — Part 1 is here, Part 2 is here. We’ve covered two topics in this series so far, the Strategy of Sanctification (Rm 6) and the Struggle for Sanctification (Rm 7). God offers us the former and we generally experience the latter. When you get to the [...]
The Struggle of Sanctification
August 28, 2012
by Don Johnson An occasional series on sanctification — Part 1 is here. In my first article on sanctification, I discussed God’s Strategy for Sanctification, found in Romans 6. Four big words dominate the chapter: Know, Reckon, Yield, Obey. The strategy starts with Knowing something – the full meaning of your identification with the death [...]
Sanctification: God’s plan for the believer
August 1, 2012
By Don Johnson A lot of ink (and pixels) has been spilled over the years on the subject of sanctification. Having recently completed a lengthy series of messages on Romans 6-8, I am now taking my turn at bat. Sanctification can be considered under three aspects. There is the setting apart unto God at conversion, [...]
Let a Commentary Be Your Guide (3)
May 15, 2013