Blog Search Results

Lent Day 40: Leo the Great: Sermon LXXII: ON THE LORD'S RESURRECTION, II

...ame under heaven by which we are saved (Acts 4:12)! A new meaning for Passover Quoting John 13:1, Leo reinterprets Passover as now meaning that it was about the time when Jesus should “pass out of this world unto the Father”. In terms of his nature at this time, he goes on to say that, “because the Word and the Flesh is one Person, the Assumed is not separated from the Assuming nature”, therefore it promotes our nature as one which will one day be glorified in the resurrection. And to “share in this unspeakable gift”, the Lord, ahead of his Passion prepared a “blessed passing over for His faithful ones” and the whole Church who were yet to co...

The Problem of Suffering and How We Approach it

...ingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Sometimes suffering can be used to test our faith to make us stronger, which we see an example of with Peter in the Gospels: Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” And also in James’ epistle: James 1:2-...

Spiritual Disciplines of the Early Church: Ancient Practices for the 21st Century

...upon the heaven of heavens toward the east’ (Ps 67.34 LXX [Ps. 68:33 – 34]). Didascalia, Ch. XII (c.250) The various spiritual benefits to fasting are marked throughout the Church Fathers' works on the subject, but I find this quote from Augustine sums it up succinctly: “Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, and kindles the true light of chastity. Enter again into yourself.” Augustine; Sermon, On Prayer and Fasting, LXXII (c. 393–430) Fasting was also not just total denial of food all day, but o...

26 Differences Between Muhammad and Jesus

...ngel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed!” (Gal 1:8). I’ll add more commentary at the end, so without further ado, here are 26 differences for your consideration: Muhammad said Allah hates those who don’t accept Islam. (Qur’an 3:32, 22:38, 30:45).  ? Jesus said God loves everyone, and he came to lay down his life for the world. (John 3:16; 10:11; 16:27; 1 John 3:16; 4:7–8) Muhammad said, “I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah” (Muslim 1:33)  ? Jesus said, “He...

The Coming of Jesus: The Olivet Discourse – Part 1

...igns from heaven" too. This, too, is also documented by Josephus, himself almost in disbelief about what seen, except that it was recounted by so many witnesses. Flavius Josephus, "The Jewish War" Book 6 chapter 5.3 Thus there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet, that continued a whole year. Thus also before the Jews’ rebellion, and before those commotions which preceded the war, when the people were come in great crowds to the feast of unleavened bread, on the eighth day of the month Xanthicus, and at the ninth hour of the night, so great a light shone round the altar and the holy house, that it appeared to be bright d...

The Coming of Jesus: Our Future Hope - What Now?

...nded unto heaven. Barnabas 15:8,9   An unexpected twist After an exploration through Revelation, comparing and contrasting with the Olivet Discourse and historical accounts, I found myself discovering things I didn't expect. Up to this point I was becoming fairly convinced that everything was fulfilled in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem, but the more I studied Revelation, even with this new perspective, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was still more.   As much as I read various commentaries and other Preterist studies and comments on Revelation, it was giving me the same feeling I had about Futurism: certain parts of Scripture were bein...