HAVE WE LEARNED TO THINK IN GRACE?

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HAVE WE LEARNED TO THINK IN GRACE? AN AID FOR SELF-EXAMINATION Jack Cottrell – June 2016 In Romans 6:14-15, Paul says we Christians are “not under law, but under grace.” I.e., we are not under the law system as a way of salvation; we are under the grace system. We know that we are still obligated to obey God’s law commands, but we realize that we are not saved by achieving a certain level of obedience to those commands. Rather, we are saved by the grace of God, through our sincere trust in the redemptive works of Christ. As believers … Continue reading →

BIBLE VERSIONS FOR BIBLE STUDY

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QUESTION: What Bible versions do you use for Bible study? ANSWER: When someone asked me what English versions of the Bible I prefer to use for Bible study purposes, here is how I answered that question. There is no substitute for knowing the basics of Greek when studying the New Testament (and the basics of Hebrew for the OT—but I will limit my comments to the NT). At a minimum you should go online and learn the Greek alphabet, including how to pronounce Greek words and look them up in reference works. Then you should have four things. First, you … Continue reading →

THE NEW PERSPECTIVE ON PAUL: WRIGHT IS WRONG

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THE NEW PERSPECTIVE ON PAUL: WRIGHT IS WRONG JACK COTTRELL — 2ND EDITION – JUNE 2016 I begin with this caveat: I am not an expert on this subject. I am pursuing it because it is one of the most significant CHALLENGES to traditional theology, and because it is being taught by one of the most respected and influential Biblical scholars of our day: Nicholas Thomas (N.T., Tom) Wright, who is sometimes credited with coining the expression,“New Perspective on Paul” [NPP] (Justification, 28). [Most quotes here are from Wright’s Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision (IVP 2009). Some are from … Continue reading →

THE CHRISTIAN’S SUMMUM BONUM

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THE CHRISTIAN’S SUMMUM BONUM [While sorting through old files I ran across this short piece I wrote for The Lookout on April 10, 1988.] Years ago a Cincinnati Enquirer reporter made a random survey, asking people about their concept of “the good life.” Here are some of their answers: “I don’t know. I’m new in town. A lot of money, I guess. To be left alone. Maybe she’ll know; ask my wife.” “First of all, the good life means being happy in what I’m doing. Having health for both myself and my family. And not necessarily having any economic woes.” … Continue reading →

IS BAPTISM THE FIRST STEP OF OBEDIENCE?

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IS BAPTISM THE FIRST STEP OF OBEDIENCE? (This is the second edition of an article by Jack Cottrell, first published in Christian Standard in April 10, 2005.) A church leader was recently asked to explain his convictions and practice concerning baptism. He replied, “I have always believed that when a person sincerely comes to trust Jesus Christ as leader, forgiver, and Savior, and repents, the first step of obedience is to be baptized into Christ. That is what I have always taught, believed, and practiced” (Christian Standard, 6/27/04, p. 6). What does it mean to think of baptism as “the … Continue reading →

THE MESSAGE OF ROMANS 1-8

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THE MESSAGE OF ROMANS 1-8 A DEVOTIONAL GIVEN BY JACK COTTRELL AT THE MAY 2016 MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CHRISTIAN RESTORATION ASSOCIATION I. INTRODUCTION. How can we discern what Paul is teaching in Romans 1-8, or what any other Biblical text means, for that matter? The issue is not just hermeneutics. Rather, to a great extent it depends on how we answer this question: who is the primary AUTHOR of the Bible? This is a watershed issue—in Christendom, in Evangelicalism, in the Restoration Movement, and in many colleges and seminaries. Christian orthodoxy usually agrees that Scripture … Continue reading →

DOES GOD CARE HOW WE VOTE?

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DOES GOD CARE HOW WE VOTE? A sermon preached by Jack Cottrell at First Church of Christ, Greendale, IN, May 22, 2016. Just so there is no misunderstanding, I am NOT posing the question, “Does God tell us FOR WHOM to vote?” I will not be revealing some secret method for discovering a hidden message tucked away in texts about TRUMPets or HILLs or any such things. Also, what I am saying here applies not just to voting for president, but to voting at all levels; and it applies not just in the U.S.A. in 2016 but to all times … Continue reading →

Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?

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DO MUSLIMS & CHRISTIANS WORSHIP THE SAME GOD? JACK COTTRELL (composed NOVEMBER 14, 2015) Islam is the world’s second largest religion, with around two billion adherents. This is nearly one-fourth of the world’s population. Fifty countries are mostly Muslim. Europe has around 50 million Muslims, and the USA around 7 million. These numbers are increasing rapidly. But isn’t that a good thing? Aren’t Muslims a religious people, and isn’t Islam similar to Christianity? Don’t we both trace our faith back to the Old Testament, to Abraham? Don’t Christians and Muslims worship the same God? In 2007 George W. Bush said, … Continue reading →

JOHN 6:65 AND CALVINISM

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JOHN 6:65 AND CALVINISM Jack Cottrell – November 2015 QUESTION: In John 6:65 Jesus says, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” This sounds a lot like Calvinism. How do you understand it? ANSWER: The sixth chapter of John might be described as the Calvinist’s “happy hunting ground.” Verse 65 (cited above, NASB), plus verse 44 (“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him”), are proof texts usually cited to establish such Calvinist doctrines as monergism, total … Continue reading →

IN WHAT SENSE IS JESUS ETERNAL?

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QUESTION. What does the Bible teach about the eternality of Jesus, and especially his eternal sonship? ANSWER. In answering this question it is necessary to remember that Jesus had (has) TWO natures; he is fully human and fully divine. His divine nature is the Logos, the second person of the Trinity (as we think of him). His human nature is the man Jesus of Nazareth. These two natures are combined into one person with one center of consciousness and one will. Here I will make three points, taking material mostly from chapter 13 (“The Person of Christ”) in my book, … Continue reading →