Polygamy

Polygamy!    Is it morally acceptable to have 2 wives? To answer this question, we need to draw a proper distinction between that which is moral & that which is wise.  Matthew 5:27–28 (ESV): You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. As you can see, in the Sermon on the Mount, adultery is not defined merely by the fact that he or she is not your spouse. Adultery is defined by lustful intent. What is lust? Lust is, at its root, the failure to love God over & above everything & everyone else & your neighbor before yourself.  Loving yourself more than God & others is definitional to lust, & lust is what underwrites sexual sin - not the mere sex/gender of your target &/or the lack of marriage certificate.    Using Matt. 5:19 - or any text - to move the moral grounds of moral guil...

Covenant Theology In Outline Form (Part 2)

In Part 1, we noted that John follows the general outline of a suzerain covenant. 

Preamble (John 1:1 - 18)

Historical Prologue (John 1:19 - 2:25)

General Stipulations (John 3:1 - 12:50)

Specific Stipulations (John 13:1 - 18:40)

Renewal, Document Clause (John 19:1 - 19:42)

Witnesses & Victory  (John 20:1 - 21:25)



John 1:1–7 (ESV): 

Preamble 
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

Historical Prologue 
2 He was in the beginning with God.

General Stipulations 
3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 

Specific Stipulations 
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 

Renewal/Document Clause
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 

Witnesses
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 
The outline then repeats as follows: 

John 1:8 - 14 ((ESV): 

Preamble 

8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 


Historical Prologue 

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 


General Stipulations 

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.


Specific Stipulations 

11  He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.


Renewal, Document Clause 

12 John 1:12–13 (ESV): But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 


Witnesses & Victory

13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 


John 1:14 (ESV): And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 


It repeats a 3rd time: 


John 1:14 - 34 (ESV): 


Preamble 

John 1:14 (ESV): And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 


Historical Prologue 

15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) . 

General Stipulations 

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.


Specific Stipulations 

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 


Renewal, Document Clause 

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. 


Witnesses 

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”


20 •He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed•, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah•?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 •They asked him•••, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them•, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.  (John 1:20–28, ESV)


Victory Statement (1:29 - 34)

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness••: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water •said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain••, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the •Son of God.”  (John 1:29–34, ESV)



Part 3 is here.




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