She could have said "no," you understand. It was a sacrifice unheard of -- a call to trust and submission unprecedented in human history. This young Jewish virgin sees an angel, who tells her that she will miraculously conceive the Son of God who will reign on David's throne (Luke 1:26-35). But who will believe her? Joseph, to whom she is betrothed? Her parents? The villagers in Nazareth? Rumors will fly. There will be furtive looks -- and obvious stares. A virginal conception. Right. But Mary is full of faith. "Behold, the bondslave of the LORD," she replies. "Be it done to me according to … [Read more...]
THREE ANGELIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Luke was a practicing physician, a prudent man -- and his Christmas story is sober truth. It is sobering truth as well. For it says that approximately 2,000 years ago, on days that were otherwise inconspicuous, in an obscure sliver of the globe three angelic visitations occurred, each announcing the coming of the Savior of the world. The first visitation was to an old priest named Zacharias (Luke 1:5-22), the second to a young virgin named Mary (1:26-38), the third to a group of humble shepherds (2:8-20). As we might expect with sudden visits from angels, the recipients in each instance … [Read more...]
SALVATION HISTORY RENEWED
The Bible relates the story of God's activities in human space and time, by which he intends to rescue very many people from judgment, death and all the consequences of human sin. The British refer to this divine agenda as "the scheme of redemption." Americans call it "the plan of salvation." The Germans label it "salvation history." Scripture writers speak of God's "purpose" or "good will." This salvation history is both earthly and heavenly -- it happens on earth, but with heavenly power and with a heavenly goal. God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary results. The Old … [Read more...]
ISAIAH, LUKE AND US
Can you think of a book with two major divisions and 66 smaller parts? The first division contains 39 parts and the second has 27. The second division begins with "a voice in the wilderness" and ends with "new heavens and earth." In the middle it tells of an innocent man who dies for the sins of others. The Bible? Yes -- but also the Book of Isaiah, one of the three Old Testament books most quoted by New Testament authors (the other two are Deuteronomy and Psalms). Of all New Testament writers, Luke pays most attention to Isaiah. Dr. Luke was the only New Testament author who was not a Jew, … [Read more...]
WHAT ABOUT ADVENT?
Someone asks what Advent means in the Christian calendar, where it is found in the Bible, and whether Christians ought to observe it. * * * Within 300-400 years after Christ, many Christians set aside an Advent season as a time for fasting, reflection and penitence to prepare for Epiphany, a day celebrating Christ's "epiphany" or appearance to the Wise Men (in the Western church) or his baptism (in the Eastern church). With the evolution of Christmas as a special day on December 25, the focus of Advent gradually moved from Epiphany to the "coming" (adventus in Latin) of Christ at his … [Read more...]
“Propitiation/atonement”: LXX background to a NT verb
In Hebrews 2:17, the unknown author says that Jesus identified with his people as their high priest, “to make propitiation” for their sins. The Greek verb here (hilaskomai), which many English versions translate as “to make propitiation,” brings to the New Testament an interesting biblical background. That background comes from the Septuagint, the Greek Old Testament that was the first “Bible” of the early church. Propitiation = atonement The verb hilaskomai, which is translated “to make propitiation” in Hebrews 2:17, appears 12 times in the Septuagint (Hatch-Redpath, 684). Three of … [Read more...]
ATONEMENT THEORIES – 3
Christians affirm that through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God forgives sinful human beings and restores them to right relationship with himself. However, when asked to explain exactly how this atonement occurred, they have offered a variety of theories. A gracEmail subscriber requests more detail concerning these different explanations. * * * The penal substitution explanation of Jesus' atonement rests on such scripture passages as Isaiah 53:4-6, Romans 3:23-26; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21 and 1 Peter 2:24, plus the Old Testament sacrificial system which Jesus fulfilled in … [Read more...]
ATONEMENT THEORIES – 2
Christians affirm that through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God forgives sinful human beings and restores them to right relationship with himself. However, when asked to explain exactly how this atonement occurred, they have offered a variety of theories. A gracEmail subscriber requests more detail concerning these different explanations. * * * Moral influence. This view was made popular by Peter Abelard, a French philosopher/theologian who offered it as an alternative to the satisfaction theory proposed by his older contemporary, Anselm of Canterbury, and to the ransom … [Read more...]
ATONEMENT THEORIES – 1
Christians affirm that through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God forgives sinful human beings and restores them to right relationship with himself. However, when asked to explain exactly how this atonement occurred, they have offered a variety of theories. A gracEmail subscriber requests more detail concerning these different explanations. * * * New Testament writers do not try to explain the inner workings of God's accomplishments in Jesus. Instead, they tell the story of Jesus and call attention to the blessings, obligations and warnings that flow from it. Along the … [Read more...]
ATONEMENT: REALITY AND THEORIES
A gracEmail subscriber writes: "I recently came across some of C. S. Lewis’ comments concerning his denial of the 'penal, substitutionary' view of atonement. I have never heard atonement explained in any other way. This led me to research a former and greatly respected professor who also basically denies the 'penal substitutionary' view. Is this just a minor disagreement or does it involve an essential truth of the Christian faith?" * * * Christians everywhere proclaim that through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the holy God forgives sinful human beings and restores them to … [Read more...]