Re-imagining TULIP

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Anyone who has a smattering of theological knowledge will have heard of the TULIP acronym:-

T = total depravity
U = unconditional election
L = limited atonement
I = irresistible grace
P = perseverance of the saints

As a summary of Calvinistic beliefs, it is pretty inadequate.  For one thing, it is couched in terminology that almost entirely negative, and therefore does not lend itself to the heartfelt doxology that good theology should always engender.  For another thing, it was never intended as a summary of Calvinism, but rather as a response to the ‘five points of remonstrance’ that the followers of Arminius had previously raised against the prevalent Protestant theology of the day.  …

Education in Israel

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1. It was God-centred and God-commanded, Gen 18:19; Ex 10:2; 12:26-27; 13:14-16; Deut 4:9-10; 6:7,9; 11:19; 32:46; Isa 38:19; etc.

2. Its content and purpose centred on the fear of the Lord, Pr 1:7; 9:10; Ec 12:13.

3. It was home-based.

4. Children were required to honour and obey their parents Pr 1:8; 6:20; Ex 20:12; 21:15-17; Le 20:9; Deut 21:18; Pr 30:17; cf Eph 6:1-3.

5. Children were viewed as sinful by nature, Ps 51:5.…

Before the creation of the world

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1. The Son shared glory with the Father, Jn 17:5.
2. The Father loved the Son, Jn 17:24
3. God purposed to call us and save us by grace, 2 Tim 1:9.
4. God destined a secret and hidden wisdom, 1 Cor 2:7.
5. Eternal life was promised, Tit 1:2.
6. The sacrificial death of Christ was destined, 1 Pet 1:20.
7. God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless before him, Eph 1:4.…

Godly parents

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  1. Abraham, Gen 18:19
  2. Joshua, Jos 24:15
  3. Job, Job 1:5
  4. Lydia, Acts 16:15
  5. Lois, 2 Tim 1:5
…

Motives for obedience

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Wayne Grudem comments that Christians sometimes fail to appreciate the range of NT teaching regarding motives for obedience to God:-

  1. A desire to please God and express of love to him, Jn 14:15, 21; cf. 1 John 5:3.
  2. The need to keep a clear conscience before God Rom. 13:5; 1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 2 Tim. 1:3; 1 Peter 3:16.
  3. The desire to be effective in the work of God’s kingdom, 2 Tim. 2:20–21.
  4. The desire to see unbelievers come to faith in Christ through observing our lives, 1 Peter 3:1–2, 15–16).
…

N.T. Wright on ‘dikaiosune theou’

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‘I became convinced many years ago, and time and exegesis have confirmed this again and again, that Paul always uses this phrase to denote, not the status which God’s people have from him or in his presence, but the righteousness of God himself. This is not to say that there is no such thing as a righteous status held by believers. There is. It is to deny that this is the referent of Paul’s phrase dikaiosune theou.main…

Adoption – questions for self-assessment

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To help us realize more adequately who and what, as children of God, we are and are called to be, here are some questions by which we do well to examine ourselves again and again.

Do I understand my adoption? Do I value it? Do I daily remind myself of my privilege as a child of God?

Have I sought full assurance of my adoption? Do I daily dwell on the love of God to me?…

The sanctifying work of the Spirit

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John Stott suggests a ‘5-D’ summary of the steps in the sanctifying activity of the Holy Spirit:-

1.  The Holy Spirit operates first in our mind, enabling us to discern the will of God;

2.  Then in our conscience, enablish us to distinguish between right and wrong;

3.  Next in our heart, enablish us to desire God’s way ardently;

4.  Then in our will, enablish us to determine resolutely to follow God’s will;

5.  Only then can we do his will.…

The kingdom of God in Acts

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Jesus ‘spoke about the kingdom of God’ throughout his post-resurrection ministry, Acts 1:3. The kingdom is the ‘good news’ which Philip proclaimed to the Samaritans, Acts 8:12.

God’s rule originates in past eternity, as the words ‘appointed’, ‘plan’, ‘purpose’, ‘ordained’, ‘predestined’, and ‘foreknowledge’ suggest. (Ac 2:23; 4:28; 3:20; 20:27; 21:14; 13:48-49 )

It extends to the control of nations, Acts 17:26-27; and to the providential support of all human life, Acts 14:17; 17:25-26. But it is especially apparent in God’s provision of salvation; for it is God who calls men, Acts 2:39; adds to the church, Acts 2:47; turns men from wickedness, Acts 3:26; grants repentance and forgiveness, Acts 5:31; 13:48.…