Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Conforming: Magistrate (Matthew 5:33-48)

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Christ tells us not to take an oath, we are not to get vengeance, and we are called to a radical love.  If those things are not hard enough we hear that we are supposed to be perfect as our heavenly father is perfect.  How can we measure up to this standard?  Do we just ignore these commands because they are impossible?  Do we strive to keep them in the hopes that God will still accept us?  What do we do with these difficult commands?

Impartial to God’s Law (James 2:1-13)

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One of the challenges of the Christian life is not allowing our earthly perspective to get in the way of our heavenly perspective.  We are people called to arrive at heaven.  We are people called to have the orientation of heaven ever before us as we sojourn through this age.  So, how is this worked out?  On the one hand we are struggling sinners called to honor the Lord and on the other hand we are called by a perfect God.  So, how are we to live our the righteous requirements of the law in light of our sinful struggle?

What about Godly Discipline? (1 Timothy 4:6-10)

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If we are redeemed and united to Christ then how can we discipline ourselves?  It sounds as if Paul is saying that on the one level salvation is by grace, but now it is up to you to complete the work that has been started.  Is that what Paul is saying?  Is this how we go through life with this confidence that the Lord gives us enough grace to make it?  Or is Paul telling us something different that we need to heed?

The Mysterious Incarnation (1 Timothy 3:16 (BC 18)

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The incarnation of Christ is a very difficult doctrine for us to understand.  In fact, I would say that as human beings it is an impossible doctrine to fully understand. This doctrine teaches that Christ, who is from all eternity, took on real human flesh to ratify the promises of God. If this doctrine is so difficult to understand then why do we want to study this doctrine?  What could be beneficial about it regarding our day to day life?

The Ethics of a Fool (2 Corinthians 11:1-15)

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The Heidelberg Catechism teaches that the Christian life is a life of gratitude.  If we are saved by grace then why live in gratitude to God?  Why would we want to live in gratitude to God?  Why is Paul's foolish life so significant for our Christian life?