Yesterday (Jun 19th, 2022) was Father's Day, which led me again to J. I. Packer's (1926-2020) great chapter titled "Sons of God" (Packer, Knowing God. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2004 [1973]). The chapter begins with the following line: "What is a Christian? The question can be answered in many ways, but the richest answer I … Continue reading I Am a Child of God
Arrogant Sin of Rejecting Christ
Imagine traveling from Canada to, say, Japan by a paper plane. It is impossible. We need a passenger jet. Even with it, it will take more than ten hours. Imagine then you're flying from Toronto to Tokyo with your friends. One of them--let's call him Tom--however, shows up at the airport with a bag of … Continue reading Arrogant Sin of Rejecting Christ
Sin (罪)
Who likes to talk about sin? None. Because it makes us uncomfortable. I think that the Apostle Paul was adamant in discussing the sin issue that severed us from God. Sin is not a popular topic and it never has been. It, however, seems to me that both "New Perspective on Paul" and "Paul within … Continue reading Sin (罪)
Three Perspectives on Paul’s Relationship to Judaism
The traditional view (Old Perspective) presents Paul as being in a hostile relation to Second Temple Judaism; according to the Old, the Apostle Paul left Judaism because Judaism was legalistic. So, in the Old Perspective, Judaism and Christianity parted ways and exist as distinct entities. The so-called New Perspective, too, pits Paul against Judaism, but … Continue reading Three Perspectives on Paul’s Relationship to Judaism