Human beings love using metaphors, comparisons between two things that are unlike to bring out some special way in which they are alike. In I Peter 2:4-12, the author piled on a series of metaphors and quotations from the Old Testament to explain, first, who Christ is and, second, who Christians are. The first metaphor he used was that Christ is a living stone, the cornerstone in fact. Christians in turn are built upon him as living stones and are also a chosen race, a holy and royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, and God’s people. All of these privileges are the result of God’s mercy not of Christian’s merit.
As we begin a new series in the letter to the Galatians that will take us through most of the rest of this year,...
We left off the story at the end of Genesis with Joseph’s coffin in Egypt and his words about God visiting his people in...
Continuing the final conversation with his disciples in John 14:15-31, Jesus told them how to show their love for him and of the gifts...