Holiness is the goal of the growth of the church as the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:15). We are to grow together to the full maturity of Christ. We know that, when the Lord comes, we shall be made like Him (I John 3:2). For that reason, perhaps, evangelical Christians have discounted the importance of [...]
Archive for the ‘Clowney, Edmund’ Category
Holiness is the Goal of the Growth of the Church
Posted in Clowney, Edmund, tagged Ephesians 4, Holiness, I John 3, I Thessalonians 3, II Corinthians 11, Transformation on April 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Christians Must Favor a Limited Role for Government
Posted in Clowney, Edmund on April 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Christians must favor a limited role for government: to support life and restrain evil, but not to enforce the righteous living that is the standard of morality for Christ’s church. Salvation does not now come by the ‘redemption’ of the political order, but by the new birth that brings lost sinners into the kingdom of [...]
The Shadows of the Old Covenant
Posted in Clowney, Edmund, tagged Covenant, God's Plan, Hebrews 11, Matthew 13, Old Covenant, Salvation on April 14, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
[Hebrews 11:40] gives balance to our thinking. The key is God’s one plan, a plan that unfolds so that his later and better covenant does not invalidate the earlier, or exclude its participants. Rather, the greater blessings given to us are the very blessings they sought, and that they will receive together with us. The [...]
Jesus Christ Fulfills the Cultural Mandate
Posted in Clowney, Edmund, tagged Cultural Mandate, Ephesians 1, Ephesians 4, Genesis 1, Jesus Christ on April 13, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Jesus Christ, who comes to bring salvation, also fulfils the heart of the cultural mandate. Paul pointed declares that Christ not only has dominion over all things, but that he fills all things (Ephesians 1; 4:10; Genesis 1:28). The Second Adam has completed the calling of the first in both aspects. His dominion is shown, [...]
Greater Blessings to Come
Posted in Clowney, Edmund, tagged Blessings, Ezekiel 16, God, Grace, Hebrews 12, Hosea 11, Isaiah 63, Israel, Psalm 103, Psalm 119, Psalm 23, Psalm 32 on April 8, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
God’s fatherly instructing, directing, protecting, providing and correcting are constant themes as psalmists and prophets look back on God’s dealings with Israel, and promise greater blessings to come (Psalm 23; 32:8-9; 103:6-19; 119; Hosea 11:1-4, 8-11; Isaiah 63:7-19; Hebrews 12:5-11). God’s grace claims Israel as his child; his nurturing love seeks the response of delight [...]
The Church’s Primary Task
Posted in Clowney, Edmund, tagged Church, Great Commission, Make Disciples, Spiritual Gifts on April 8, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Great Commission is not a theme float for mission in a long parade of cultural triumphs. It is the marching orders of the Lord for his church. The Lord of the harvest calls us to call to him to thrust forth laborers into His harvest. He must send but he moves us to pray [...]
Spiritual Gifts Detached from Spiritual Fruit
Posted in Clowney, Edmund, tagged Church, Fruit of the Spirit, I Corinthians 13, Spiritual Gifts on April 5, 2009 | 1 Comment »
The Lord has fashioned his church as an organic body. The gifts he grants are not given for their own sake; their presence does not support pride, or their absence justify envy. When the gifts are in any way detached from the fruit of the Spirit in the service of love, they become distracting noise, [...]
Who, Then, Is the Heir of God’s Promises?
Posted in Clowney, Edmund, tagged Abraham's Seed, Galatians 3, Galatians 4, Genesis 12, Genesis 3, God's Promises, I Peter 1, II Samuel 7, Romans 15, Son of David, The Church on April 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Who, then, is the heir of God’s promises? Christ is the Son of the woman (Genesis 3:15), the Seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), the Son of David (II Samuel 7:12-16). He alone is the rightful heir, for he alone is without covenant-breaking sin. Those who are united to Christ are heirs in him of all [...]
God is not a God of Disorder
Posted in Clowney, Edmund, tagged God, I Corinthians 14, Sin, Spiritual Gifts, Worship on April 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
God is not a God of disorder, but of peace (I Corinthians 14:33). In worship, all things are to be done in a fitting and orderly way (I Corinthians 14:40). Paul instructs us in the Lord’s command (I Corinthians 14:37) precisely with regard to the use of Spiritual gifts. Good order will mean that the [...]
In Everything, the Ministry of the Word of God is Central
Posted in Clowney, Edmund, tagged Acts 12, Acts 19, ACts 6, Ministry of the Word, Mission if the Church, Praise, Worship on April 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
In every task of the church, the ministry of the Word of God is central. It is the Word that calls us to worship, addresses us in worship, teaches us how to worship and enables us to praise God and to encourage one another. By the Word we are given life and nurtured to maturity [...]
