ArmchairAdventists

 The Sabbath in Hebrews 4; shadow or sign? [By M. L] In this blog I want to take a look at a very significant part of scripture which talks about the Sabbath.  In Hebrews the author (which I will assume to be Paul) gives us the clear meaing of the Sabbath. Often this is quoted to prove that Christ is our Sabbath and that the Sabbath as it is written plainly in the ten commandments is therefore abolished. They argue that the Sabbath must therefore be part of the 'shadow of things to come' that Colossians 2 talks about.  But as we will see Paul never once says Christ is our Sabbath. He never  says the gospel is the Sabbath neither does he give any indication that it is therefore abolished.  This is quite different than for example the passover. He very clearly calls Christ our passover. He calls Christ the Firstfruits. He calls Christ the sacrifice and High priest.  But he does not call Christ the Sabbath.  What he does say however is that there is a ver...

Dead to the Law—alive to Christ [By Servant7]  ”Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.“ Romans   7 : 1 - 4   KJV   What does Paul mean? What does it mean to be “dead to the law” Before we explore Paul’s  husband-wife analogy, let’s understand this central thing, Paul did not write:  “t...

 Romans 9 and the election; an allegory [By M. L] Romans 9 is probably the strongest chapter for calvinistic thinking. In this blog we will examine whether or not it is right to conclude unconditional election from this chapter or if it is saying something else. I hope the calvinist hasn't clicked away yet since I do believe Romans 9 to be quite important even from my view.  Before we really get into Romans 9 I want to take a look at the previous chapter. Sometimes people tend to dissect Romans 9 from the previous chapters as if Paul starts an entirely new subject. As we will see this is not the case. Romans 3-6 talk in great detail about justification by faith and it's relation to sanctification is explored in Romans 6-8. In Romans 9 Paul doesn't change subject. We will see that his main point is justification by faith without works.  Romans 8 however gives us an even better hint at what Romans 9 will be talking about: [Romans 8:15-17 KJV] "15 For ye have not received...