| Author |
Message |
Carracio
Registered user
Username: Carracio
Post Number: 39
Registered: 3-2014
| | Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2014 - 3:24 am: |     |
We are thinking about buying this book by Tim Keller. Who has read it and what do you think of it? |
1john2v27nlt
Registered user
Username: 1john2v27nlt
Post Number: 533
Registered: 5-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2014 - 5:40 am: | |
Our discipleship group at the church God has connected me with is going to start this study this coming Tuesday night. I have not seen or heard any of it. But have done his Prodigal God study.
My pastor studied under Don Carson (for one) & is a solid expository bible preaching pastor. Tim Kellor I believe was a founder with Carson (& others) of the Gospel Coalition. You can find out more by googling. |
1john2v27nlt
Registered user
Username: 1john2v27nlt
Post Number: 534
Registered: 5-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2014 - 5:49 am: | |
I might add that in 2011 I took the advice of other Formers to read the entire book of Galatians DAILY for 30 days -- just read it. It was amazing what God opened to my understanding & what the Holy Spirit taught me. See my ID scripture for support of that. I can tell you that just doing that reading changed my life! I made notes in my journal as I went along so I can look back & reread. Doing this after & in conjunction with reading through the entire bible has been a wonderful adventure with God. I do not want to be subject to or dependent on what other people say the bible says. God declares in both the old & new testaments that He will teach us. Yes, we need other solid orthodox christians to teach & confirm. And we must go to scriptures for ourselves to see if what they teach is true to God's word.
God can be trusted with His word. And He will confirm it with you. I am looking forward to this study with other never-been-SDA believers. So that I can hear, question, & have confirmation of things that were missing in SDAism. |
Bskillet
Registered user
Username: Bskillet
Post Number: 1067
Registered: 8-2008
| | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 8:39 am: | |
The group I'm part of has just finished up this study. I was only there for the tail end of it.
One thing about Keller: He comes from a Reformed/Presbyterian background, so he believes in the ccontinuation of the 10Cs. |
Rocky
Registered user
Username: Rocky
Post Number: 175
Registered: 3-2012
| | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 1:14 pm: | |
1john2v27nit
thank you for the suggestion of reading Galations daily for a period of time- it is healing! and also a reason to be cautious and, as you have said "go to the scriptures for ourselves to see if what they teach is true to God's word."-
Rocky |
1john2v27nlt
Registered user
Username: 1john2v27nlt
Post Number: 535
Registered: 5-2009
| | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 8:04 pm: | |
Bskillet, thanks for the heads up on Keller & the 10Cs. I have to say though that my radar is sensitive to that -- like a red flag. I was not overly impressed with The Prodigal God, albeit it is an interesting perspective for further contemplation.
We are exhorted to study for ourselves, be convinced in our own minds, ready to give a reason for OUR faith.
Carracio, didn't mean to hijack your thread. All this does not really answer your inquiry -- i.e. has anyone here read this book?
Rocky, it's encouraging to hear your experience with reading Galatians. Glad you shared that! |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 14939
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2014 - 6:03 pm: | |
I haven't read the Keller book; I have seen some things by Keller that leave me slightly cautious about his leaning a tiny bit toward spiritual formation-ish stuff. I might not pick him as my first pick to recommend, but I'm not "blacklisting" him, either.
I agree with 1John2v27nit: just read Galatians every day for 30 days and ask God to show you what He wants you to know from it. It is clear, and the Holy Spirit is trustworthy to reveal His own meanings from His own Word! 
If you want to check on your understanding AFTER reading a passage, I would recommend Gary Inrig's studies in Galatians that are on YouTube. He just finished them this last week, and I can vouch for his very clear explanations and his commitment to teaching exactly what the text says. He also addresses directly the issue of the 10 Commandments in the new covenant and is clear that they do not continue as a rule of faith and practice for Christians. He takes questions from the audience, many of whom have never been SDA, and he is very clear and sticks to the text. (Gary is also a founding member of the Gospel Coalition.)
But read the book! It's clear, and Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit will teach God's word to us.
Here's the link to find Gary's Galatians studies: www.LomaLindaWordSearch.com
Click on "Media" and select "Galatians". The studies are in order from the bottom up!
Colleen |
Resjudicata
Registered user
Username: Resjudicata
Post Number: 318
Registered: 4-2014
| | Posted on Friday, October 03, 2014 - 9:14 am: | |
It couldn't be clearer that Galatians stomps a new mud hole into the Ten Commandments. It is so clear that any "rules" that seemingly bind Christians are used in an entirely different manner. The "rules" for Christians are more like "benchmarks" to determine if indeed, the Christian convert has become a container for the Holy Spirit. The question is not "are you following the Rules?" But rather "Let's see the proof that you have indeed been infused by the Holy Spirit."
We don't need "rules" that enforce outward behavior. We are on "autopilot" with the Holy Spirit in the driver's seat of a body no longer directed by the fallen human spirit. We are the "car" being driven by an expert "driver" now.
Speed Limits no longer apply. |
Philharris
Registered user
Username: Philharris
Post Number: 3067
Registered: 5-2007
| | Posted on Friday, October 03, 2014 - 9:43 am: | |
Res,
Amen!
You must be alluding to the Epistle of James and the current Quarterly lesson material. I would like to use that phrase; "a container for the Holy Spirit" as it says in only a few words just what I have been looking to say.
Phil |
Resjudicata
Registered user
Username: Resjudicata
Post Number: 319
Registered: 4-2014
| | Posted on Friday, October 03, 2014 - 11:07 am: | |
Phil,
I don't know anything about the current quarterly lessons, but clearly James was on to something. "Works" are the proof of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Adventists get it precisely backwards.
Much of my thinking on this comes from the "second-generation" Christians like St. Ignatius and Justin Martyr. Both of those men hotly denounced the Ten Commandments and any effort whatsoever to follow any part of the Old Testament Law. They both argued that Sabbath Keeping was actually a SIN for Christians, when our New Covenant relationship with the Holy Spirit is properly understood. They both lambasted Sabbath Keeping as "Exhibit A" that the practitioner had not received Grace.....And Grace is the essence of the New Covenant. Just as surely as Law was the essence of the Old Covenant. Both of them strenuously argued that the Old and New Covenants simply cannot be mixed, in any way shape or form. They are incompatible.
The First and Second Century Christians are a marked contrast with the Protestant Reformers, especially John Calvin, who unfortunately revived the moldy Ten Commandments from their well-deserved grave. (I plagiarize St. Paul, who called them a corpse, btw). |
Taluur
Registered user
Username: Taluur
Post Number: 42
Registered: 8-2012
| | Posted on Friday, October 03, 2014 - 2:50 pm: | |
I am unable to start a new topic. The "new topic" button seems to be missing.
I have a question. Do SDAs tend to vote for non-conservative political leaders? If so, could this be because such leaders are less likely to promote the passage of Sunday laws? |
Philharris
Registered user
Username: Philharris
Post Number: 3068
Registered: 5-2007
| | Posted on Friday, October 03, 2014 - 8:47 pm: | |
Taluur,
The 'start a new thread' tab is at the top of the page whereas the other tabs appear at the bottom.
PS
No, I think, at least the one I know, tend to be conservative.
Phil |
Resjudicata
Registered user
Username: Resjudicata
Post Number: 320
Registered: 4-2014
| | Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2014 - 7:58 am: | |
Phil,
I've been thinking of some other reasons why the Ten Commandments have been superseded by the New Covenant. Look at some of the Apostles:
a). Peter denied that he knew Jesus 3 times ("Bearing False Witness"), so Jesus called him "The Rock" that the Church was to be built upon;
b). Paul was an active murderer ("Thou Shalt Not Kill") of Christians, so he was called to be the Apostle to the Gentiles;
c). All of Christ's Disciples broke the Sabbath, following his lead;
So if anything, Galatians understates the case for the abolition of the Ten Commandments. It does not affirmatively advocate the active BREAKING of the Commandments like the lives of the Apostles clearly suggest. Only that trying to KEEP them is anti-Christian.
Trying to keep the Commandments is affirmative proof that you are not completely reliant on, or misunderstand that Grace is the goal of the Old Covenant finally achieved, once and for all. |
Capross
Registered user
Username: Capross
Post Number: 90
Registered: 7-2012
| | Posted on Monday, October 06, 2014 - 5:49 am: | |
Galatians 5 says to live by the Spirit and if we live by the Spirit we are not under the law.
This is why the law is no more. I guess if a person doesn't have the Spirit that person will still be judged under the law.
I remember that when I was an SDA the Holy Spirit was either ignored or downplayed. |
Mjcmcook
Registered user
Username: Mjcmcook
Post Number: 1588
Registered: 2-2011
| | Posted on Monday, October 06, 2014 - 12:44 pm: | |
Capross~
I Agree!
You have used Galatians chapter 5 as your reference point~ I would like to offer
the follow Scriptures not only from Galatians chapter 3, but also, Hebrews and 1Samuel.
"As many as are of the works of the Law are under a CURSE; for it is written, "CURSED" is EVERYONE who does not continue in ALL things which are written in the book of the Law, to do them. But that NO ONE is Justified by the Law in the sight of GOD is evident, for 'the JUST shall live by FAITH'. What purpose then does the Law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the SEED (CHRIST) should come to whom the Promise was made. GOD, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these 'last days' spoken to us by His SON."{CHRIST} (NOT~ Ellen G. White).
"Speak, LORD, for your servant hears."
Galatians 3:10,11,19; Hebrews 1:1,2. 1Samuel 3:9.
NKJV~ Capitalized letters, brackets, mine.
Now, the question is ..for anyone who is still 'on the fence' regarding what
is required to be Saved~~~Who are you going to put
your Faith and TRUST in? the Words of GOD?
or Ellen G. White?
People~~WAKE UP! WAKE UP!
Choose Life(in CHRIST Alone) or death~
~mj~ |
Capross
Registered user
Username: Capross
Post Number: 92
Registered: 7-2012
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2014 - 9:22 am: | |
~mj~
Excellent passages.
I would also add Isaiah 30:21.
I believe we were never meant to follow an external law but to follow the Holy Spirit living in us. |
Resjudicata
Registered user
Username: Resjudicata
Post Number: 321
Registered: 4-2014
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2014 - 11:42 am: | |
Capross,
I loved your statement "I believe we were never meant to follow an external law but to follow the Holy Spirit living in us."
That was clearly the original plan for Adam and Eve....to have nothing in the way of their relationship between them and God, most especially Law. The Law didn't come for several hundred years later.
In my opinion, the primary purpose of the Old Testament Law was to serve as an incubator for the Nation of Israel, whose ultimate purpose was to serve as an incubator of Jesus Christ. I love the image of a booster rocket, that falls back to the earth once the main space vehicle has enough velocity to enter outer space.
This is why Ellen White's constant harping refrain of "God's Law is Perfect" is so disingenuous. Sure it was perfect. So was the Garden of Eden. So were Adam and Eve.
So what? Why don't Christians then seek to replicate the Garden of Eden?
Nobody kept the law perfectly and certainly nobody developed that all-important rightly-restored relationship with God because of it. Not even Moses did. That wasn't what it was for.
The law is the "egg shell" that brought forth Jesus Christ. Christians have no more use of the law than the egg shells they so blithely discard into the trash can. |
Ric_b
Registered user
Username: Ric_b
Post Number: 2137
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 05, 2014 - 11:18 am: | |
Luther's commentary on Galatians remains fresh, and highly insightful.
I'm planning on picking up Douglas Moo's recent commentary on Galatians. Has anyone here already looked through it? |
Carracio
Registered user
Username: Carracio
Post Number: 44
Registered: 3-2014
| | Posted on Thursday, November 06, 2014 - 12:37 am: | |
What about John Stott on Galatians? |
