FIVE COMMUNION MEDITATIONS ON 1 JOHN 2:1-2, NUMBER FOUR — CHRIST THE PROPITIATION FOR THE WORLD

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FIVE COMMUNION MEDITATIONS ON 1 JOHN 2:1-2 – NUMBER 4 CHRIST THE PROPITIATION FOR THE WORLD Jack Cottrell — Summer 2017 In First John 2:1-2 the Apostle John says that Jesus is our Advocate – our defense lawyer who helps us escape the punishment for our sins. He says Jesus is our Righteousness – the One who has satisfied the law’s requirement for punishment in our place. And he says Jesus is our Propitiation – the One who turned the Father’s wrath away from us by taking it on Himself. Here I want to call attention to something else John … Continue reading →

FIVE COMMUNION MEDITATIONS ON 1 JOHN 2:1-2, NUMBER THREE — CHRIST OUR PROPITIATION

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FIVE COMMUNION MEDITATIONS ON 1 JOHN 2:1-2 – NUMBER 3 CHRIST OUR PROPITIATION Jack Cottrell — Summer 2017 Notice how Jesus is described in these first two verses from the second chapter of First John — “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” In previous meditations I have explained how Jesus is our ADVOCATE, … Continue reading →

FIVE COMMUNION MEDITATIONS ON 1 JOHN 2:1-2, NUMBER TWO — CHRIST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

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FIVE COMMUNION MEDITATIONS ON 1 JOHN 2:1-2 – NUMBER 2 CHRIST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS Jack Cottrell — Summer 2017 An old familiar hymn goes like this: “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!” Another stanza in this hymn says: “This is all my hope and peace: nothing but the blood of Jesus! This is all my RIGHTEOUSNESS: nothing but the blood of Jesus!” Another hymn says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Another stanza puts it this way: … Continue reading →

FIVE COMMUNION MEDITATIONS ON 1 JOHN 2:1-2 — NUMBER ONE: “I NEED A LAWYER!”

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FIVE COMMUNION MEDITATIONS ON 1 JOHN 2:1-2 – NUMBER 1 “I NEED A LAWYER!” Jack Cottrell — Summer 2017 Crime stories are a popular genre for books and TV shows. From them we learn that when a suspect is arrested and is being questioned about a particular crime, one of the first things he or she says is “I need a lawyer!” The “right to counsel” is guaranteed in the U.S. by our Constitution. When charged with a crime, you have the constitutional right to have a lawyer to assist in your defense. The Sixth Amendment says (among other things), … Continue reading →

Reconciling Prophecies About John the Baptist

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RECONCILING PROPHECIES ABOUT JOHN THE BAPTIST Jack Cottrell – June 2017 QUESTION: There seem to be some discrepancies between the two OT prophecies about John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1), and Mark’s citation of them in Mark 1:2-3. Can you shed some light on this? ANSWER: The texts in view here are as follows (ESV translation): Isaiah 40:3 – A voice cries; “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Malachi 3:1 – “Behold I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me. And … Continue reading →

“THE BODY OF SIN” (ROMANS 6:6) — PART THREE

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[Continued from Part Two] [QUESTION. What does Paul mean by the phrase “body of sin” in Romans 6:6? Is he referring to the physical body? And if so, in what sense is it a body “of sin”?] ANSWER. In Romans six the Apostle Paul presents us with some very good news about what happened to us when we were baptized into Christ. In that moment, he says, our sin-corrupted souls died with Christ and were raised up to walk in new spiritual life. One great benefit of this is that our physical bodies, which in this life are under the … Continue reading →

“THE BODY OF SIN” (ROMANS 6:6) — PART TWO

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[Continued from Part One] [QUESTION. What does Paul mean by the phrase “body of sin” in Romans 6:6? Is he referring to the physical body? And if so, in what sense is it a body “of sin”?] ANSWER. As we saw in the previous part of this essay, because of the effects of sin upon the two parts of our human nature, and because of the singular focus of regeneration at the time of conversion, the Christian is a combination of a redeemed soul and an as-yet-unredeemed body. As a result, the Christian life is an on-going conflict between the … Continue reading →

“THE BODY OF SIN” (ROMANS 6:6) — PART ONE

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QUESTION. What does Paul mean by the phrase “body of sin” in Romans 6:6? Is he referring to the physical body? And if so, in what sense is it a body “of sin”? ANSWER. You have raised a question of crucial importance for our understanding of human nature as such, and especially for our understanding of the nature of salvation. In my answer I will draw from the entire section of Romans that includes chapters six through eight. When I wrote my commentary on Romans for College Press (2 volumes, 1996 & 1998; one volume condensed, 2005), I was surprised … Continue reading →

“WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL”

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QUESTION. In Luke 1:51-53, Mary appears to be speaking under inspiration when she says of God, “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away” (ESV, from which most quotes are taken here). My questions are these: do these words imply that God is against the rich? Do they imply that Christians should support a socialistic economic theory? Should we … Continue reading →

MUST ONE BELIEVE JESUS IS GOD IN ORDER TO BE SAVED?

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QUESTION: Does true saving faith in Jesus Christ necessarily include believing that he is God in the flesh? Must one believe that Jesus is God in order to be saved? Can one deny his deity and still be saved? ANSWER: True saving faith is indeed faith in Jesus Christ. When the Philippian jailer asked of Paul and Silas, “’Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved’” (Acts 16:30-31, NASB). Jesus himself had already made this clear: “’Whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life…. He … Continue reading →