The Prophetic Presbyterian & His Narrow Way

What does the Bible say about marriage and family?   Many people think this question is irrelevant. But as a Judeo-Christian voter, you understand that God’s Word reveals how He designed the world, including the family.  Although not always lived out in this fallen world, God’s design is still the basis for developing the beliefs on which you vote.  And your votes influence how our government values and treats marriage and the family. This is mostly true.     However, God’s design is more rightly to be understood as God’s moral will, Just because God created people male & female, it does not therefore follow that God’s decretal will provides a moral template for sexual ethics.  What is the purpose of the Created Order?According to Romans 1, the Created Order exists to reflect God’s existence, attributes, & authority.   What does “natural” mean in Romans 1:27?    It most certainly does NOT refer to heterosexuality/heteronormativit...

It appears that, in response to an issue that has cropped up on The Christian Post, I need to repost an article I wrote in 2006 at Triablogue using my slave name (after all Steve Hays was a bit of martinet at times).  The Chicken or the Egg-Which Comes First-Regeneration or Faith, That's the Real Question Nice post, but I disagree. You fail to see that the text answers how the Father draws people to Jesus. In v. 45 Jesus says, "Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me." Those that are drawn by the Father are those that listen to and learn from the teachings of Jesus for he speaks the words of the Father. These are the ones that come to believe in Jesus as opposed to those who will only believe if He does a miraculous sign. It is still a matter of choice, and Judas chose poorly.# posted by Daniel Partin : 2/02/2006 9:13 AM That's a nice sentiment, but it reverses the text. It would end up saying that we are given because we come, chosen becaus...

  Daniel 9:1–19 (ESV): In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.   3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 To you...

This is the general outline of a suzerain covenant. Preamble Historical Prologue General Stipulations Specific Stipulations  Renewal, Document Clause Witnesses This outline appears repeatedly in Scripture.    It makes for a helpful Study Guide.     We ought to pay careful attention when this outline appears, insofar as every major biblical covenant takes this form.    Here are some helpful thoughts. The Bible teaches the 3 uses of the Law (& Gospel).     Understanding the 3 uses of the Law helps us as we study Deuteronomy & the Sermon on the Mount.   As Moses delivered God’s Law from Sinai, so Yeshua reveals God’s Law with a Gospel slant from the Mount of Olives.  Deuteronomy :  Preamble (1:1-5) Historical Prologue (1:6 - 4:43) General Stipulations (4:44 - 11:32) Decalogue 5 : 1 - 21  Specific Stipulations (12:1 - 26:19) Renewal, Document Clause (27:1 - 30:20)  Witnesses & Victory  ( 31...