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Immediate Context of James' Faith/Works Pericope
James discusses the relationship of faith and works in a pericope with well-defined boundaries: the passage starts at James 2:14 and ends at James 2:26. We can see this from the signal, “my brethren,” which James uses repeatedly throughout the book in various forms to set off various pericopes. James uses it once in verse…
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Immediate Context of James’ Faith/Works Pericope
James discusses the relationship of faith and works in a pericope with well-defined boundaries: the passage starts at James 2:14 and ends at James 2:26. We can see this from the signal, “my brethren,” which James uses repeatedly throughout the book in various forms to set off various pericopes. James uses it once in verse…
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Not So Much Mystery, as Error
Per Cardinal Koch (link to report), the RCC affirms salvation through an explicit or even implicit faith in Christ and says that Jews can be saved without explicitly confessing Christ:“While affirming salvation through an explicit or even implicit faith in Christ, the Church does not question the continued love of God for the chosen people…
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Should We Pray to Michael the Archangel?
Pope Francis tweeted: “Let us ask the help of Saint Michael the Archangel to defend us from the snares of the devil.” (source)Paul, Apostle of Jesus, wrote: “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up…
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Early Father Worshiping with Icons?
I was listening to a recent panel discussion with William Albrecht and David Withun and a caller called in and asked if they could name any father before the 300s that used images in the church. Albrecht pointed to Tertullian, in his work on Modesty. In that work he makes reference to the image of…
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James as Wisdom Literature
It’s important to recognize that James is unlike most of Paul’s epistles. James, while a letter (James 1:1), is a book of wisdom in the category of the books of Proverbs or Ecclesiastes. The prologue (James 1:2-8) introduces wisdom in exactly the way wisdom literature would: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask…
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Faith Demonstrated – a Central Jacobian Theme
After a brief greeting, James immediately begins his first of several brotherly admonitions. James 1:2-3 calls believers to be thankful for trials because the testing of faith works patience. James 1:12 promises the crown of life to those who endures temptations. James then approaches the same point another way. He points out that the…
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Infants and the Millenium – a Pre-Millenial Quadralemma (Guest Post by Ben. W)
The following guest post by Ben W. presents a question to our premillennial brothers and sisters:*** Guest Post ***What happens to babies born during the millennial reign after the return of Christ? Babies are born and some believe in Christ and are saved, others do not and are damned. 2. Babies are born but none…
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James White: The Same Sex Marriage Debate vs Codrington
Dr. White debated Graeme Codrington on the topic of same sex marriage (link to debate on SermonAudio). I agreed with Codrington that Dr. White did an excellent job defending the “traditional” view. I wanted to mention a few points that occurred to me in listening to the debate, while encouraging you, my reader, to go…
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What does Christ mediate to non-elect covenant members?
The title question is sometimes asked of those who hold to Calvin/Turretin’s view of Covenant Theology. I respond that the question seems to contain two flawed premises. First, a mediator is a person who reconciles two parties. Christ does not serve as a mediator for the non-elect, only for the elect. On the other hand,…