Applying the truth of God's Word to the difficult situations of real life.
Episode Highlights:
– Historical and theological background indicate that Paul was instructing against women showing overt signs of rebellion and promiscuity.
– Symbols that would be more meaningful in our culture–showing faithfulness/submission to one’s husband–would be wearing a wedding ring and dressing modestly.
Episode Highlights:
– There is evidence in the OT that it is not inherently ungodly for men to have long hair, and by inference, for women to have short hair. (Lev 10:6; 21:10; Num 6:5)
– It is likely that Paul’s comments regarding long and short hair are an application of the OT principle that the genders should be distinguishable – men should look like men, women should look like women. (Deut 22:5)
– If a woman can have shorter hair, while using her hair to look distinctively feminine, that is fine.
Episode Highlights:
– Having children doesn’t have to mean the functional end of your marriage. A commitment to prioritizing your spouse will make that closeness transcend the childrearing years.
– We need to think deeply about what it means for children to be a blessing. They are a good, enjoyable, delightful gift. What other blessings do we put off because we think we have something better?
– Practically-speaking, having and raising children only becomes more difficult as you get older.
Episode Highlights:
– This question pertains to the extent of the atonement: Did Christ’s death pay the penalty for all individuals without exception or only for the elect?
– A proper understanding of atonement itself excludes the possibility of a general or universal atonement.
– This doctrine, more accurately expressed as “particular redemption,” leads us to a right view of the power of Christ–He actually accomplished something on the cross–and of the love of God–it is a particular love that acts efficaciously upon its objects.
Episode Highlights:
– Where should be cautious about the gifts in the ways Scripture instructs, i.e. how tongues and prophecy are to function in corporate worship. We should not assume a posture of automatic suspicion, since the Bible teaches they are good and beneficial for the upbuilding of the church.
– We should not be merely “open” to the gifts, but obedient to the imperatives regarding them.
– The NT prophecy is not of the same character and function as OT prophecy. The NT assumes they are different. (1 Cor 14:29-30; 1 Thess 5:19-21).
Episode Highlights:
– Given that the issue of the gifts of the Spirit is a second or third tier issue, we should not consider it a reason to separate from one another. We can disagree.
– All gifts will cease when the Lord returns. (1 Cor 13:8-10)
– Until Christ returns, all gifts remain active because all serve the same purpose–they are for the common good (1 Cor 12:7). There is no biblical reason to identify some as having ceased.
Highlights:
– While passages teaching unconditional election abound, in addition to Romans 9 (covered in part 1), John 6, John 10, and Ephesians 1 are key.
– Practical implications of the doctrine of unconditional election are motivation to worship and motivation to evangelize.
– We must be careful this and other doctrines not to go where the Bible doesn’t. The Bible teaches unconditional election, yet does not thereby teach that man is not responsible if he is not elect. Nor does it teach that man should wait until acted upon before believing or obeying.
