JESUS CUT THE GORDIAN KNOT — A LORD’S SUPPER MEDITATION The other day I was reading Romans 8:1-3 – “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life … Continue reading
THE BIBLE,THE CHURCH, AND CATHOLICISM Jack Cottrell – March 2015 QUESTION: My Roman Catholic friend says that the Bible is not our final authority. Rather, the Church itself (understood as the Catholic Church) is our final authority because the church … Continue reading
CALVINISM AND FOREKNOWLEDGE IN ROMANS 8:29 Jack Cottrell — March 2015 QUESTION: Romans 8:29 clearly says that God predestines people to heaven based on his foreknowledge. This seems to undermine the Calvinist view of unconditional election. But Calvinists argue that … Continue reading
DID JESUS KNOW HE WAS THE DIVINE MESSIAH? JACK COTTRELL – FEBRUARY 2015 Question: What did Jesus know about his own identity? Did he know he was the divine Messiah? Answer: This question is about an issue sometimes known as … Continue reading
MORE ABOUT JESUS’ OMNISCIENCE JACK COTTRELL – FEBRUARY 2015 Question: Did Jesus know himself to be the Son of God and the Messiah (Christ)? Answer: The question of Jesus’ “Messianic consciousness” has been raised and addressed for centuries: Did Jesus … Continue reading
DOES ROMANS 9 TEACH CALVINIST PREDESTINATION? Jack Cottrell – February 2015 QUESTION: I have a friend who argues that the story of Jacob and Esau supports the Calvinist doctrine of predestination. But Genesis 25:27-34 says that Esau forfeited his birthright … Continue reading
Question: Recently I saw an article that declared that Yahweh (Jehovah) in the Old Testament is God the Father only, and that he does not include the other persons of the Trinity. The article specifically said that Yahweh and Christ … Continue reading
During our recent Christmas season I noticed many references to JOY. Exactly what is “joy,” and why is it so closely connected with Christmas? We note first of all that on the night of Jesus’ birth, the angel of God … Continue reading
WHATEVER WHO WANTS?? A COMMUNION MEDITATION by JACK COTTRELL Christmas is a time when many of us focus on what WE want for ourselves. How many times do we hear (and ask) the question, “What do you want for Christmas?” … Continue reading
What Is Forgiveness? Jack Cottrell – November 2014 QUESTION: Must we or should we Christians forgive someone who sins against us and refuses to repent? Some people say that we must forgive regardless, but that does not mean we have … Continue reading