The Surprising God

This post exegetes Galatians 5:1-25, providing context for the Epistles reading on 6/29/25. the third Sunday after Pentecost. Insights are drawn from "The Message of Galatians" by John Stott, "The IVP New Testament Commentary" by G. Walter Hansen, and "The Expositors Bible Commentary." "Walk in Step with the Spirit" (from Christianity.com) Introduction In Galatians chapter 5 Paul warns believers to turn away from legalism and license and instead rest in Christ’s triumphant work on the cross—living in the power and provision of the Holy Spirit. This is the life of Christian freedom. This is the gospel. An assertion and a command The chapter begins with a focal verse of the Epistle, which contains a profound assertion and a distinctive command. The assertion sums up what Paul has proclaimed about the gospel in chapters 3 and 4, while the command points toward how our lives will express this truth: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stan...

This post exegetes Galatians 3:15-29, providing context for the Epistles reading on 6/22/25. the second  Sunday after Pentecost. Insights are drawn from "The Message of Galatians" by John Stott. "St. Paul, the Apostle" (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction In the second half of Galatians chapter 3, Paul continues to make it clear that salvation is a free gift of God, received through faith in Christ crucified, apart from any human merit. He is emphasizing this because Judaizers were teaching that to be Christian a person must add to faith in Jesus 'the works of the law'—a phrase referring to being Torah-observant (including such things as circumcision, Sabbath-keeping, food laws, etc.). But Paul insists that Christians are not required to become Jews in order to be followers of Jesus. In fact, to use the Law of Moses as a sign of Christian identity and as a means to improve one’s standing with God is, ironically, a misuse of the Law itself.  To ...

This post exegetes Romans 5:1-11, providing context for the Epistles reading on Trinity Sunday (6/15/25. the first Sunday after Pentecost). Insights are drawn from "The Message of Romans: God's Good News for the World" by John Stott, and "The Expositor’s Bible Commentary." Introduction In Romans chapters 1-4 Paul proclaims that justification is God’s gift to all who put their trust in God (and not in anything else, including racial/ethnic identity or obedience to the Law of Moses) to deliver them from God’s judgment and to credit them with God’s righteousness. This justification, which comes through Christ, makes the believer one with God and one with all other believers (including Abraham, the ‘father’ of all who have this faith). Whether Jew or Gentile, circumcised or not, Law-observing or not, all believers are of one family on the basis of faith in Christ: all God’s people are united in Christ. This is Paul’s theme throughout Romans 5:1-6:23.   Paul begins t...

This post exegetes John chapter 14, providing context for the Gospel reading on Pentecost (6/8/25). Insights are drawn from "The Bible Expository Commentary" by Warren Wiersbe, "The New Bible Commentary," "The Parable of Joy" by Michael Card, and "The Gospel of John" by F.F. Bruce. "The Last Supper" by da Vinci (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction Before diving into John chapter 14, let's get some context in chapter 13: 13:36   Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later." 37 Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." 38 Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!     14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. John 14 ...

This post exegetes Revelation 22:6-21, providing context for one of the RCL readings on the seventh Sunday of Eastertide (6/1/25). Insights are drawn from Grant Osborne ("Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament") and George R. Beasley-Murray ("New Bible Commentary"). "Jesus' Appearing" (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction The final section of the Revelation serves as the book's concluding epilogue. It contains closing utterances from Jesus, warnings to evildoers, encouragements to the faithful, and sections on the authenticity of the book and the nearness of Jesus’ return. It mirrors the prologue in chapter 1, utilizing imagery that reflects the warnings and promises to the seven churches in chapters 2-3. This reminds us that the immediate context for Revelation is the situation in the seven churches, though we understand it to be relevant in every age, including our own. Authenticating the book  Revelation 22:6-7  6 The ange...