James's Weblog

Today. With me. In paradise

Tue, 11/12/2007 - 17:08 -- James Oakley

“I tell you the truth, today you wll be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

So said Jesus, on the cross, to “the other criminal”. A saying that has been precious to me for some time, not least because of the implications for the way in which God saves by grace not works. The model sinner, whose saving faith could not be accompanied by any good works. Such a verse makes very clear that God does not save us because of our works (as instrumental cause), but by faith. James 2 makes clear that genuine faith will be accompanied by good works, but Luke 23 makes clear that such good works are the outworking of faith in space and time not an essential component of it.

But I want to reflect on this verse from another angle today. What we can learn from this verse about what awaits the believer after they die.

Blog Category: 
Luke

New colour scheme?

Mon, 03/12/2007 - 17:05 -- James Oakley

Yes – but it’s no big deal!

Partly, I can’t quite decide what I like.

Partly, Edible Words is nearly ready to launch, and the colour scheme I chose for myself was converging a little too close to the scheme for that site. My scheme was chosen on a whim. The scheme for Edible Words was chosen quite deliberately (if you’ve been there you’ll know why Burgundy Red and Ripe-Grain Gold were the two colours I went for). So mine was the one to budge.

But I still can’t quite decide what I like, so this may not be the end of it…

Blog Category: 
Technology

Leviticus in a nutshell to the glory of God

Mon, 12/11/2007 - 19:50 -- James Oakley

Baffled by Leviticus? Struggle to see how it is a part of the Christian Scriptures?

David Field has posted a blogpost entitled Leviticus – an eight para intro which introduces, summarises and gives to us the book of Leviticus in just 8 paragraphs.

The last paragraph of David’s 8 shows us how the book points us to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, and ends in praise to that God.

Enjoy David’s summary. So enjoy the book of Leviticus. So enjoy the God of whom it speaks.

Blog Category: 
Leviticus

Preaching simply

Tue, 06/11/2007 - 19:45 -- James Oakley

“If we love them, our objective will not be to impress them with our learning but to help them with theirs.”

A brief and very helpful reminder from Doug Wilson (quoting and summarising Stott) about the vital necessity of preaching with simplicity and clarity. [Edit: Wilson’s blog post is a paragraph long. The post is, indeed, brief – but not as brief as the sentence I’ve quoted above. Just to make clear!]

Blog Category: 
Pastoral Ministry

Avoid divisions

Wed, 03/10/2007 - 10:04 -- James Oakley

“Avoid divisions!”, say the closing three chapters of Romans. And I don’t know one Christian who doesn’t agree with that. We all hate division in church life. It is ugly. It distracts from evangelism. It causes personal pain and grief.

The important thing to notice is that Romans 14-16 offers us two very different ways in which division might arise, and therefore two very different ways of avoiding it.

Version 1

Blog Category: 
Romans
Church Life

Does God know the future?

Sun, 30/09/2007 - 09:49 -- James Oakley

That depends on which God you are talking about.

People who embrace a set of views known as “open theism” like to say that God does not know the future (either his own, or that of his world, or both – there are different versions).

I’m reading Isaiah 41-44 again, and am freshly struck by what is here. God sets out one test or characteristic that will distinguish him, the true God, from an idol or false God.

God can tell you what is going to happen; an idol cannot

Here is the test, for example, in 44:7

“Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.

Blog Category: 
Isaiah
Theology

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