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Lent: Day 6 - Ignatius to the Magnesians

...he Jewish Law and how it relates to Christians, “For if we still live according to the Jewish Law,” Ignatius says, “we acknowledge that we have not received grace”, which you can see is a statement echoing Paul’s sentiments throughout his letters to the churches – “you are not under Law, but under grace” as he wrote in Romans 6:14 (and Rom 7:4,6; Gal 4:21 etc). This whole chapter is pretty much a short summary of Paul’s teaching on the Law and how we Christians are no longer bound by it; "You who want to be justified by the Law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace" (Gal 5:4), or as Ignatius phrases it, "it is a...

New Covenant Israel is no longer physical (nor literal)!

...he Mosaic Law still applies to Jews, but not to non-Jews, and that this is how the Jewish people attain salvation separate from Jesus. But I can't see how this is possible, given what the New Testament says. To be clear though, I'm not saying the Church replaced Israel, but rather it is the continuation of what Israel was always meant to be, and so will be the people group in whom the promises from God will be made complete. It's no longer about land or race, but Jesus's righteousness and faithfulness and an expanded plan to include all people – not simply the Jews. God didn't fail in his promises to bless the nations, his plan was just big...

So, where are we going?

...about the Law being written on our hearts so that we are without excuse - another verses often bandied about, but we must consider the full statement made by Paul and not stop short of it: Romans 2:14-16When Gentiles, who do not possess the Law, do instinctively what the Law requires, these, though not having the Law, are a Law to themselves. They show that what the Law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all. This is in line with Revelation...

Lent: Day 9 - Ignatius to the Philadelphians

...Day Nine: St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Philadelphians (full text) Who: Ignatius converted at a young age and later became Bishop of Antioch. A friend of Polycarp and fellow disciple of John, there is a long standing tradition that Ignatius was the child that Jesus held in his arms and blessed in Mark 10:13-16 What: As usual, a general call to remain in unity and heed their bishop. Also to avoid listening to Judaizers who would have them follow the Law. Why: Ignatius wrote a series of letters to the churches in Asia Minor whilst en route to Rome to face martyrdom by wild beasts in the Colosseum around 108 AD. When: Around 107-108 AD As with the re...

Women should be silent?

...rcing the Law when his other letters take so much time to explain our freedom from it (cf. Gal 3:1-14; Gal 5:1-15)? Cultural and historical explanations of this aside - and common explanations such as men and women sitting separately in Jewish synagogues which then followed through to the early church, (and women/wives then trying to shout across to their husbands causing havoc and Paul calling for order, not submission) - if some men and women, and some denominations in general, are taking Paul so literally on these points, do they sit in silence? And I mean TOTAL silence? Do the wives wait to get home to talk to their husbands about the service? Because rem...

What is Contemplative Prayer?

...on God's Law and commands, but also just about him. Psalms 63:6...I think of you on my bed,and meditate on you in the watches of the night Psalms 145:5On the glorious splendor of your majesty,and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.   Also in times of distress and need, meditating on God, waiting on his Spirit of comfort for answers and/or peace. Psalms 77:3I think of God, and I moan;I meditate, and my spirit faints. Psalms 77:6I commune with my heart in the night;I meditate and search my spirit [for answers]   Meditating on the things God has done in your life is also something we can do, or even just thinking about his...