(Nehemiah 3:29) The East Gate has several names: Golden Gate; The Beautiful Gate; or The Gate of Mercy. This Gate is the closest in proximity to the Temple whereby worshippers would enter bringing their gifts and offerings. This Gate faces the Mt of Olives, and would have been in direct line of sight when Jesus... Continue Reading →
In the fragmented and demented culture wars of today, Christians have a Victor and it is only in Jesus Christ that we can survive and thrive in these strange days. Luke 4:1-13 The Plan: Stone-to-bread = self-feeding (Material Temptation) Worship of nations = self-exalting (Sociological Temptation) Jump-off-temple = controlling God (Theological Temptation) The three application... Continue Reading →
(Nehemiah 3:28) In the ancient world, horses were symbols of power and instruments of war. In Deuteronomy 17:16, God warns that any future King of Israel must not acquire too many horses. We may ask why, but the biblical reason given time and again is plain: The more we trust in our own might and... Continue Reading →
John Anderson, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia for 6 years between 1999 and 2005 under John Howard, enjoys a long conversation with Douglas Wilson on culture wars, American politics, what it means to be a Christian, and whether Christians can be nationalists. Doug Wilson is a theologian, minister of Christ Church Moscow (Idaho), ex-Navy,... Continue Reading →
In the massive volume 'The Modern Theologians - an introduction to Christian Theology since 1918' (3rd ed. 2011), editor David Ford offers an Epilogue: Twelve Thesis for Christian Theology in the Twenty-first Century. They are: God is the One who blesses and loves in wisdom. Theology is done for the sake of God and the... Continue Reading →
(Nehemiah 3:26) Following the life-giving regenerative power of the Fountain Gate, we come to the Water Gate. The Old Testament often symbolised water so as to sybolise the Holy Spirit. This is the singular fact that enables a believer to live a holy life under God’s saving grace. For without the Holy Spirit, we have... Continue Reading →
Nehemiah 3:15. The Fountain Gate is located very close to the Dung Gate at the southernmost point of the wall. In the spiritual life, the great promise of salvation is intrinsic to getting rid of our sin - or the rubbish that accumulates and hinders our relationship with our Holy God - and the Dung... Continue Reading →
Nehemiah 3:14. When a person has been through the valley of the shadow of death, or in some other way, experienced a season of being in the valley of the dark night of the soul, there will be a sense that God has sharpened, or pruned or weaned us off what was either sinful or... Continue Reading →
One of my major influences in Christian Theology is Anthony Thiselton, and I am saddened to learn of his death yesterday. He has featured many times on this blog and has been instrumental in my own theological formation, especially since one of my best friends is arguably Thiselton's ableist interpreter. His scholarly work was for... Continue Reading →
Nehemiah 3:13 Moving on from the Old Gate, we come to the Valley Gate, which is located at the “pinch point” of the Old City walls, with the Water Gate being directly opposite it. Once we have learned that Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd (Sheep Gate) and the Saviour of the world to whom... Continue Reading →
Gralefrit Theology 