The prize of Christianity is not the transformation of the world. It is Jesus himself. Our job on earth is to prove that he is our prize above everything and everybody in this world (1 Pet. 1:7). Then, at the right time, God will give us, along with him, all things (Rom. 8:32). -Roland Baker

Paul’s faith in Jesus of Nazareth as the Jewish Messiah (and those events associated with that messiahship) generated his emphasis on the Parousia of Christ. -John P. Harrigan

The universal proclamation of divine mercy in light of the Jewish apocalyptic hope of eternal life thus defines the trajectory of Paul’s mission and discipleship of the Gentiles. Without these realities held in tandem, Judaism and the hope of Israel simply become the background of Paul’s novel missiology instead of its fundamental framework.  -John P. Harrigan

Repelled by this reality, and entrenched in a Neoplatonic post-Enlightenment worldview, the church has historically theologized around and away from Israel’s election, relegating her to being God’s ex-wife, and installing the church as God’s new and everlasting beloved. The name for this alleged divine divorce and remarriage is supersessionism. - Stuart  Dauermann

The Parousia of Jesus, resurrection of the dead, and eternal life comprise Paul’s hope, which is attained by the propitiative, justificative, and redemptive death of Jesus for our sins—two heterogeneous sides of one gospel coin.   -John P. Harrigan

Paul and the apostles framed the death of Jesus as an objective sacrificial exchange concerning divine appeasement, acquittal, and payment. -John P. Harrigan

At its core, judgment is simply the establishment of a standard of righteousness. In this way the divine Judge establishes righteousness upon the earth: “When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness” (Isa. 26:9, niv). And God will ultimately be vindicated in his gubernatorial role, for “he has established his throne for judgment” (Ps. 9:7, csb). The Psalms are replete with similar declarations: “He will judge the world with righteousness” (Ps. 98:9); “He will judge the peoples with equity” (Ps. 96:10); “He will execute judgment among the nations” (Ps. 110:6), “for he comes to judge the earth” (Ps. 96:13)—leading to the cry, “Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!” (Ps. 82:8). Thus, projecting eschatologically, Isaiah declares: “The Lord will execute judgment on all people with his fiery sword” (Isa. 66:16, csb). - John P. Harrigan

2022 Summer

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. - Psalm 96

Maranatha

Jesus is used to living in a place where there is incessant thunder and lightning (Rev 4:5). He relaxes in storms (Matt 8:24). - Bob Sorge

I want to die being really soft before the Lord, and having my wife and kids think I’m pretty great. Nothing else matters. -Joel Richardson

Righteousness is fulfilled only at Calvary and in Gehenna. Where humanity will be found on that day is the great choice facing each individual. - John P. Harrigan

Therefore be sober... 1 Peter 4:7

“And so all Israel will be saved.” The context indicates that Paul must be speaking of the Jewish people. He does not mean every Jew that ever lived, but the nation of Israel. Now why do I say that ‘Israel’ in this phrase refers to the Jews? All through his discussion Paul is talking about Israel in part: part of Israel has been blinded, part of Israel has been cut away, part of Israel has been stubborn, part of Israel has been excluded from the kingdom of God and its blessings. The Jews as a people are presently under judgment. But as there was a national judgment, so there will be a national restoration. Their rejection, even though it was a national rejection, did not include the rejection of every individual. So the restoration doesn’t necessarily mean that every individual Jew will be saved, but the nation as a nation will be restored to God. - RC Sproul

Exaltation does not come from the east or the west, for God is the Judge: He brings down one and exalts another. For there is a cup in the Lord’s hand, and he pours from it. All the wicked of the earth will drink, draining it to the dregs. - Psalm 75

Flee the coming wrath.

-Joshua Reese

On the holy mount stands the city he founded; the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. - Psalm 87

And glorious things will be spoken of her again. Maranatha!

-Joshua Reese

As a pledge of this, and of the truth of the whole Scripture, we have, what may be called a standing miracle continually before our eyes. I mean the state of the Jews, who, though dispersed far and wide among many nations, are everywhere preserved a distinct and separate people. The history of the world affords no other instance of the kind. The great monarchies, by which they were successively conquered and scattered, have successively perished. Only the names of them remain. But the people whom they despised, and endeavoured to exterminate, subsist to this day; and though sifted like corn over the earth, and apparently forsaken of God, are still preserved by this wonderful Providence, unaffected by the changes and customs around them; still tenacious of the law of Moses, though the observance of it is rendered impracticable. Many days, many ages they have lived, as the prophets foretold they should, without a temple, without sacrifice or priest (Hosea 3:4, 5) . As yet, many heathen nations are permitted to walk in their own ways. But at length the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in, and all Israel shall be saved (Romans 11:25, 26) . The revolutions and commotions in kingdoms and nations, which astonish and perplex politicians, are all bringing forward this great event. The plan of the human drama, to us, who only see a single scene, is dark and intricate but the catastrophe is approaching; and in the close of the whole, the manifold wisdom of God will be admired and adored, and all holy and happy intelligences will acknowledge with transport, He has done all things well. - John Newton

"Nothing is more certainly foretold than the national conversion of the Jews is in the eleventh chapter of Romans. And there are also many passages of the Old Testament that cannot be interpreted in any other sense." -Jonathan Edwards

“From first to last, and not merely in the epilogue, Christianity is eschatology, is hope, forward looking and forward moving, and therefore also revolutionizing and transforming the present. The eschatological is not one element of Christianity, but it is the medium of Christian faith as such, the key in which everything in it is set, the glow that suffuses everything here in the dawn of an expected new day. . . . A proper theology would therefore have to be constructed in the light of its future goal. Eschatology should not be its end, but its beginning” (Moltmann, Theology of Hope, 16).

In my judgment they are the happiest, who have the lowest thoughts of themselves, and in whose eyes Jesus is most glorious and precious. -John Newton

"In the context of Romans 9-11 there's no warrant for construing 'all Israel' to mean the Church. It must mean ethnic Israel. ....There is a glorious future for them." -John Piper, "There Shall Be a Fountain Opened" (1982 sermon)

My teaching on Jesus, The King Priest from Psalm 110. Notes. Audio 1, Audio 2

The secret of praying is praying in secret. -Leonard Ravenhill

“Theology, scholarship and a devotional spirit are the prime requisites of a commentary.” -Martyn Lloyd-Jones

The study of God is the highest science,the loftiest pursuit,and the mightiest discipline. - Charles Spurgeon

...the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze... But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. - Malachi 4

Maranatha

"The story of Jesus has been, is, and will be the story of the world." - John Eldridge

Looking at the Hebrew prophets, two things stand out today:

1) Prophetic expectation of prosperity and peace to Israel is never static. It isn't an end, it is the means to an end. 2) World redemption isn't envisioned without a headquarters.

The Gospel is Israel/Zion-centric. -Bill Scofield

When Messiah was born, the people that should have tuned into His coming (the priests and spiritual leaders) didn’t, and a childless widow curled up on the floor of the temple did. - Bob Sorge

You cannot separate Jesus from Israel.

You cannot separate Jesus from the Jewish people. You cannot separate His return from Israel’s corporate resurrection. (Romans 11:15)

-TJB Sewob

“Hope does not spring out of the unknown nor impel us into what is accidental. It has its roots in Christ, and even among us Christians of the late twentieth century it demands the expectation of his second coming” -Johannes Baptist Metz

The man who isolates himself from the local church suffocates his own faith, robs God’s people of edification, and forfeits Christian obedience. Individualistic discipleship is altogether a misnomer. It is a contradiction of the worst kind, for “we are members of one another.” -BA Purtle

Beleaguered Christian: All of the holiness that you desire; all of the humility, all of the joy, all of the steadfastness and wisdom, all of the love and godliness that you ache to grow up into— it is found in Christ, and Christ alone.

Look not unto yourself. “Look unto Jesus.” - BA Purtle

"God's judgments are not the most controversial thing about God. It's actually His mercy." —Samuel Whitefield

The ascension of the last Adam is greater than the fall of the first. -BA Purtle

"Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once and He volunteered." - R.C. Sproul

“If I had preached any other than the doctrine of Christ crucified, I should years ago have scattered my audience to the winds of heaven. But the old theme is always new, always fresh, always attractive.

Preach Jesus Christ.” -Charles Spurgeon

The definition of every Jewish festival: They tried to destroy us. They failed. Let’s eat. - Bob Sorge

If any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him, for you are worse than he thinks you to be. — Spurgeon

My teaching on the divinity of Jesus from Psalm 110. Notes. Audio 1, Audio 2

We are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at His unspeakable love.- John Owen

I heard someone speaking to me from the temple. He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet, where I will dwell among the Israelites forever. - Ezekiel 43

Forever. Maranatha.

It was impossible for the apostles of Jesus to conceive of God's faithfulness apart from the covenants he made with the Jewish people. God had confirmed the promises he made to the patriarchs, and they lived (and died) in light of their soon fulfillment. // Rom 15:8, 2 Pet 1:19 -Josh Hawkins

On both sides of the river’s banks, every kind of tree will grow...Their leaves will not wither nor will their fruit fail, but they will bear fruit..because their water source flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing. - Ezekiel 47

“If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Spirit guides us, He will do it according to the Scriptures, and never contrary to them.” -George Müller

Prison will make a good man better and a bad man bitter. - Bob Sorge

“You cannot win people by preaching against their church or pastor. If you get to preaching against churches, you will find that sweet spirit of Christ is lacking and a harsh judging spirit takes place.” — William Seymour

He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7

Jesus, fire, and angels. It's the only solution. -John P. Harrigan

The Lord goes out like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his zeal; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes. For a long time I have held my peace; I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out...

- Isaiah 42 Maranatha.

The Bible- not conspiracy theories, political rhetoric or therapeutic morality—needs to be the primary message from the church’s pulpit. -Tyler Luedke

The Greater Moses will lead His people out of bondage by greater plagues, signs, wonders.

The Greater Joshua will invade the Land and conquer it. The Greater David will subdue all enemies and take His throne. The Greater Solomon will judge the nations with wisdom, power and glory. -Gabe Cali

Maranatha!