I teach that there is one Law for all citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, that those who have been grafted into Israel are subject to the same statutes and moral standards as those who were born into Israel. One common–and reasonable–objection is that if the law didn’t apply to gentiles prior to Yeshua’s incarnation, …
Continue reading “One Law or Two?”
The late R. C. Sproul once said that you should read the Bible like you would read any other book. There is plenty in that statement to argue with if you’re looking for argument—The Bible isn’t like any other book!—but if you step back and try to understand what Sproul meant by it, you’ll find …
Continue reading “Read the Bible Just Like You’d Read Any Other Book”
Even as long ago as the first century, synagogues were well ordered places of worship, learning, and ancient tradition. There were rules about which direction the building should face, how the interiors should be arranged, and even what could be done with the land if a newer synagogue were to be constructed. The conduct of …
Continue reading “The Betrayal of Mashiach ben Yosef”
Oh, you’re not a member of the club? In the pevious lesson, I discussed distractions and how interesting little factoids in and about Scripture can lead you far off the track of things that really matter. In this message, I want to tell you about a second way that Bible students can be lured off …
Continue reading “Super Secret Bible Study Clubs! Shhh…”
Everybody knows that Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, but it seems that few people know why (see here) and fewer still know the real meaning behind the day. The primary source passages for the day are Leviticus 23:23-25 and Numbers 29:1-6. “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on …
Continue reading “Remember These Five Things”
It All Started When… My parents accepted Jesus as their savior when I was a baby, and I grew up in church. Sunday School, Sunday morning worship, church services again on Sunday night and Wednesday night, and sometimes a mid-week Bible study in someone’s living room. Starting in third grade, I attended Christian schools and …
Continue reading “About Jay Carper”
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven… You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. …
Continue reading “When Love Requires Violence”
God wants obedience. He said that if we love him, we will keep his commandments. Yet, Moses and Elijah both appear to have disobeyed God and were honored for it. Although God had said that the only place authorized for making sacrifices was at the place where he would “put his name” (Deuteronomy 12:11), Elijah …
Continue reading “Balancing Torah”
He said to them, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’” So they laid it aside till …
Continue reading “Every Journey Begins with a Single…Day?”
Last week we celebrated Sukkot with our small community in Brenham, Texas. If you aren’t familiar with Sukkot, you might know it better by the name Feast of Tabernacles. (See Lev 23:34-43.) “Sukkot” is Hebrew for “tabernacles”. “Sukkah” is the singular form. The themes of Sukkot appear over and over in the writings of the …
Continue reading “You Are the Tabernacle of God”