“Saved by works or saved by faith?”: It is one of the oldest debates in Christianity (albeit not the most helpful). By now, I hope it is becoming clearer that the idea of “being saved” refers to far more than simply one’s fate after death and relies neither on obedience to a divine law nor...
Tag: Bible
Understanding the Bible 24: The Transfiguration and Jesus’s Messianic Identity
“Who do you say that I am?” This questions forms a turning point in the Gospel narratives and remains a central question for students of the Bible in every generation. Precisely who is this Jesus of Nazareth? As we’ve discussed before, those who encountered Jesus would have understood him as a prophet (one sent...
Understanding the Bible 21: Jesus and the Forgiveness of Sins
An elemental consequence of sin is alienation – alienation between people, between humanity and creation, and, most profoundly, alienation between humanity and God (see part 2 of this series for more detail). And thus central to the project of salvation is reconciliation – bringing creation back to healthy, loving relationship, beginning with the relationship between God...