Can we be good without God?

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In the course of a thought-provoking article, Glen Tinder writes:

The idealism of the man-god does not, of course, bring as an immediate and obvious consequence a collapse into unrestrained nihilism. We all know many people who do not believe in God and yet are decent and admirable. Western societies, as highly secularized as they are, retain many humane features. Not even tacitly has our sole governing maxim become the one Dostoevsky thought was bound to follow the denial of the God-man: “Everything is permitted.”…

The joy of Jesus Christ

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Jesus Christ’s joy originates in God

From his intimate relationship with his Father and the Spirit Lk 10:21 pp Mt 11:25-26 See also Isa 11:2-3; Mt 3:16-17 pp Mk 1:10-11 pp Lk 3:22; Mt 12:18; Isa 42:1; Ac 2:28; Ps 16:11

From his awareness of God’s purposes Heb 12:2 See also Jn 8:29

Jesus Christ’s coming brings great joy

His birth Lk 2:10-11 See also Mt 2:10; Lk 1:44; 2:20,28-32

His resurrection and ascension Jn 16:20-22 See also Mt 28:8-9; Lk 24:40-41,50-53; Jn 20:20

Jesus Christ gives joy to his people

He brings joy to his disciples Jn 17:13 See also Isa 61:1-3; Jn 15:11; Ro 12:12; Php 1:26

Being in his presence is likened to the joy of a wedding Mt 22:1-10 See also Mt 9:14-15 pp Mk 2:18-19 pp Lk 5:33-34; Mt 25:1-10; Jn 3:29; Rev 19:7,9

To know Jesus Christ brings great joy to others Lk 15:7 See also Mt 8:11; Lk 15:10,22-24,31-32; Jn 8:56

(Dictionary of Bible Themes, Martin Manser)…

Mary a source for John’s Gospel?

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John 19:25 Now standing beside Jesus’ cross were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 19:26 So when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, look, here is your son!” 19:27 He then said to his disciple, “Look, here is your mother!” From that very time the disciple took her into his own home.

Garrett Ham discusses the idea that this short passage implies that Mary was an important source for the Fourth Gospel.…

‘Believing that’ and ‘believing in’

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The verb ‘to believe’ (pisteuō) occurs nearly 100 times in John’s Gospel.  For this reasons, this has sometimes been call ‘the Gospel of belief’.

Sometimes, the verb refers to facts (‘believing that’, as in Jn 9:18; 16:27) or things (Jn 4:50).  Often, it refers to a person, where it can mean ‘believe what I say’ (Jn 4:21) or ‘entrust oneself to’ (Jn 5:24).

But the most characteristic Johannine usage is ‘believe in’, where the verb pisteuō is followed by the preposition eis. …

Mary and Jesus: mother and son

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Murray Harris (Navigating Tough Texts, p75f) points out that Jesus speaks directly to Mary, his mother, on just three recorded occasions:

Lk 2:48f – ‘His mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” 2:49 But he replied [to them], “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”’

Jn 2:3f – ‘When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine left.”…

The reality of angels

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‘It is not only Christians, Jews and Muslims who believe in angels. Pagans have believed in them as well. Aristotle, for example, argued that there are immaterial beings responsible for the motion of the heavens (see Metaphysics 12:8), and Plotinus said that there are “guardian spirits” (see Enneads 3:4). Why has it seemed to so many, whatever their religious convictions (or lack of them), that the class of intelligent beings is not exhausted by us humans: that there ought to exist intelligences “other” and “higher” than our own?…

Mt 21:18–22; Mk 11:12–14, 20–25 – Why did Jesus curse the fig tree?

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Mt 21:18 Now early in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry. 21:19 After noticing a fig tree by the road he went to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. He said to it, “Never again will there be fruit from you!” And the fig tree withered at once. 21:20 When the disciples saw it they were amazed, saying, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” 21:21 Jesus answered them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.…

Ryle on encouragements to prayer

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God has provided us with powerful encouragements to prayer (writes J.C. Ryle in Practical Religion).

I summarise.

  1. We have a way opened up for us by Jesus Christ.  ‘The name of Jesus is a never-failing passport to our prayers. In that name a man may draw near to God with boldness, and ask with confidence. God has engaged to hear him.’
  2. We have an advocate and intercessor presenting out prayers to the throne of grace. 
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The spirituality of Colossians

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Here are thirty lessons on spirituality, drawn from Peter Adam’s study of Colossians:

  1. Spirituality is not for the elite, but for all.  It is for ‘the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, Col 1:2.
  2. Authentic Christianity is marked by faith, love and hope, Col 1:4f.
  3. Faith, love and hope are the fruit of the gospel, Col 1:6.
  4. We honour those who bring this message to us, Col 1:7.
  5. Unceasing, thankful prayer is fundamental to true spirituality. 
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Preach like Jesus

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I have returned, from time to time, to the question of what the preacher can learn from the greatest teacher of them all.

Mark Stibbe explores this in his chapter ‘Learning from Jesus’ in Preach the Word! (ed Greg Haslam, 2006, pp87-97).

Stibbe identifies ten characteristics of Jesus’ preaching.  Here’s a summary.

1. Revelatory in content

Notwithstanding some formal similarities with rabbinic teaching, in content Jesus’ message was completely original.  It came from the Father.

Jn 12:49f – “I have not spoken from my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak. 

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