Something Greater

A Stiff-Necked People After an overview of Jewish history, emphasizing the faith of Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Joseph and Moses, Stephen points an accusing finger at the religious rulers who have arrested him for heresy and blasphemy: "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you." Acts 7:51 (ESV) Moses had delivered their forefathers from oppressive enslavement in Egypt, through powerfully miraculous demonstrations of God's power. They had been guided through the desert by God Almighty Himself, with a representation of His presence in the form of a richly furnished witness tent, the Tabernacle of Meeting . And they had repeatedly resisted God's rule over their life. They had repeatedly rejected Moses as God's appointed judge over them. As they had repeatedly rejected Christ. STIFF-NECKED: sklerotrachelos (hardnaped, obstinate); from skleros (dry, hard or tough; harsh or ...

Just the facts, ma'am... What are some of the facts that support Paul's case in Romans 4 that Abraham is said to be righteous solely because of his faith in the promise of God? Let's go through the fourth chapter of Paul's letter to the Roman church, listing just the facts: Abraham had nothing to boast about. Scripture says that Abraham believed God, and that it was counted to him as righteousness. Our society distinguishes between gifts and wages. David spoke of the blessings of God granting righteous status to even one who is lawless and sinful. Righteous status was granted to Abrahm before he was circumcised. Circumcision is a sign of undeserved righteousness. The promise of power and influence over the earth was given to Abraham and his descendents did not come through keeping the law. Law-keeping requires no faith. The purpose of the law was to reveal God's wrath. Without law, there is no sin. God has the power and privilege of gra...

The Point of Circumcision How did the Jews miss the point of what circumcision was all about? "But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth - you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised k...