Dr Paul Allen

English: Detail from stained glass in the church of St Mary and St Lambert in Stonham Aspal in Suffolk (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 7:24–29 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (v. 24). Some liberal scholars want us to believe that the Synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) do not share John’s understanding of Christ ’s authority (8:58; 10:30) since the first three evangelists record few, if any, of Jesus ’ self-identifications with Yahweh Himself. However, this “scholarly” assumption is false. In particular, Matthew records several teachings of Jesus that reveal the evangelist’s high view of our Lord ’s person and work ( Christology ). For example, Jesus claims for Himself the right to determine who will enter the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 7:21–23, and in the Old Testament only God Himself makes such judgments ( Eccl. 12:13–14). Furthermore, in the Sermon o...

Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglican Church  Why have Christmas at all? Why not arrive as an adult declare the gospel avoid the cross and return to heaven? Why is the cross needed? The paradox found in the Gospels gets as quizzical as it possibly can in Matthew 17:22 –23. God was going to save the world through the death of his Son. God, in his divine nature, doesn’t die. So how was God going to get this done? How was God going to be the Savior of the human race? He had to come to Earth as a human being to accomplish that task. And Jesus was the one to do it. Jesus said in Matthew 20:28 that he “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This is either the highest form of megalomania or it’s an example of somebody who really believes, as he said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). It was as if Jesus was saying, “I have the authority to speak for the Father; I have the power...

Angel 013 (Photo credit: Juliett-Foxtrott ) Much of the debate on the integrity of the Scriptures focuses specifically on those problems. When you have parallel accounts of something, you expect them to be consistent, particularly if you’re maintaining that these accounts are inspired by God the Holy Spirit . We know that God may use different authors to record the same or similar events, and the authors can describe the event from their perspective, with their respective languages and literary styles. But still we would expect agreement in the substance of what is being taught if all accounts are speaking under the superintendence of God the Holy Spirit. Very early in church history there were attempts to write harmonies of the Gospels . There are three synoptic Gospels — Matthew , Mark, and Luke—which give a biographical sketch of the life and ministry of Jesus . Many events are parallel among those three authors, though they don’t always agree in each detail—how many angels ...

Icon of Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator), a 6th-century encaustic icon from Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai. NB - slightly cut down - for full size see here (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 7:24-29 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock" ( v. 24 ). Some liberal scholars want us to believe that the Synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) do not share John's understanding of Christ 's authority (8:58; 10:30 ) since the first three evangelists record few, if any, of Jesus' self-identifications with Yahweh Himself. However, this "scholarly" assumption is false. In particular, Matthew records several teachings of Jesus that reveal the evangelist's high view of our Lord 's person and work (Christology). For example, Jesus claims for Himself the right to...

Image via Wikipedia Conversion may be defined as turning away from sin and turning to God . Perhaps the classic verse which captures this definition is  1 Thessalonians 1:9 : “For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” Here we see clearly the two elements of conversion, turning to God and turning away from idols. CONVERSION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT: FROM PROMISE TO REALITY The story of God’s triumph over the serpent promised in the Old Testament ( Gen. 3:15 ) becomes a reality in the New Testament . The Old Testament promised a new covenant, a new creation, a new exodus, and new hearts for God’s people. And there is an inaugurated fulfillment of all of these promises through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ , which is proclaimed in the New Testament. Conversion in the Synoptics In the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), the saving work of God promise...