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.
In the thanksgiving section of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he recognized their faith and love, which were based on their certain hope.
After three chapters describing God’s work in the church, Ephesians has three chapters that describe how we live up to our high calling as...
There is a stubborn fact of history that no one has been able to disprove, although many have tried. Jesus’ tomb was empty, and...