Tag Archives: Gospel

Faith and Signs a lesson from the Cross of Jesus

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Dawkins at the University of Texas at Austin

What is faith? Many define faith as “blind trust” or irrational beliefs:

[Faith] means blind trust, in the absence of evidence, even in the teeth of evidence. … The meme for blind faith secures its own perpetuation by the simple unconscious expedient of discouraging rational inquiry. Blind faith can justify anything. (Dawkins, the Selfish Gene, 198)

Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence (Dawkins)

Is faith really blind? Continue reading →

Simply Jesus: On Miracles

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A miracle is a violation of the laws of nature, and as a firm and unalterable experience has established these laws, the proof against a miracle, from the very nature of the fact, is as entire as could possibly be imagined. … Nothing is esteemed a miracle, if it ever happen in the common course of nature. … There must, therefore, be a uniform experience against every miraculous event, otherwise the event would not merit that appellation. – David Hume (On Miracles)

In chapters 6 and 7, Wright explores Jesus’ miracles and asks us to consider what they mean? Before tackling their meaning, Continue reading →

10 Reasons we need Jesus [Colossians]

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As I was reading through Colossians I kept seeing the amazing things that Jesus is able to do for us. I compiled this list from the book.

#1 We did not exist

But Jesus created us along with all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible (1:16).

#2 We are deceived by human tradition, empty deceit, and false philosophies

But Jesus is able to provide us with true wisdom, knowledge, and philosophy (2:3, 8)

#3 We are enemies, alienated from God

But Jesus is able to reconcile us to himself, making peace by the blood of His cross (1:20-22).

#4 We are unholy and cannot stand before God

But Jesus is able to present us holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation (1:22)

#5 We are in the kingdom of darkness and are not qualified to enter the kingdom or to have a part in the inheritance

But Jesus is able to qualify us so that we can be brought into His kingdom and receive the inheritance (1:12-13, 3:24)

#6 We are guilty and a slave to sin

But Jesus is able to redeem us and forgive us of our sins (1:14, 2:13)

#7 We are condemned and owe a debt we cannot pay

But Jesus is able to cancel our debt by nailing it to the cross (2:13-14)

#8 We are dead in our trespasses and sins

But Jesus is able to raise us up with Him and give us life (2:11-13; 3:5-17)

#9 We are alive to the world and our flesh

But Jesus is able to make us die to the world and the flesh (2:16-23, 3:3)

#10 We are going to face God’s wrath

But Jesus is coming and we can appear with Him in glory (3:4)

Jesus is able to do all of these things – if indeed we continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that we heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven (1:23 ESV).