Category Archives: Faith

Sin, grace and freedom : Romans 7 and 8 Part 7: Jesus is Lord. Despite everything, he is Lord and he is our Lord I think that sin is a challenge to the lordship of Christ – and in my own understanding, I see increasingly clearly that his lordship is the be all and endContinue reading “Sin, grace and freedom : Romans 7 – 8. (Part 7)”

Sin, grace and freedom : Romans 7 and 8 Part 6: We have switched allegiance – from sin to Christ, and so are now on a new path Our Christian faith does bring us freedom in the Holy Spirit. The whole point of God’s saving work – and where we began our exploration – wasContinue reading “Sin, grace and freedom : Romans 7 – 8. (Part 6)”

Sin, grace and freedom : Romans 7 and 8 Part 5: The Holy Spirit is our guide and strength, but is the comforter who stands by us, not the one who takes over from us We must therefore now turn to our relationship with the Holy Spirit. There have certainly been a few times inContinue reading “Sin, grace and freedom : Romans 7 – 8. (Part 5)”

Sin, grace and freedom : Romans 7 and 8 Part 4: We are always debtors to grace – because Christ affirms our human nature and becomes the channel of grace whereby we find freedom However, Paul does see the correct solution to this dilemma -though it remains a painful situation. The key thing is notContinue reading “Sin, grace and freedom : Romans 7 – 8. (Part 4)”

Sin, grace and freedom : Romans 7 and 8 Part 3: We do not earn our salvation, it is given as a gift – but what happens next? Fundamentally, sin is a challenge to the lordship of Christ. In the first part of Paul’s letter to the Romans, he wrestles with a crucial problem: “HowContinue reading “Sin, grace and freedom : Romans 7 – 8. (Part 3)”

Sin, grace and freedom : Romans 7 and 8 Part 2: Who is in charge of me – I don’t think it’s me? Paul’s answer was insightful, but I’m not sure that I will support it. He decided that, as he did what he truly didn’t want to do, then, in an important way, itContinue reading “Sin, grace and freedom : Romans 7 – 8. (Part 2)”

This theological reflection – in 7 parts – explores key ideas that Paul raises in his letter to the Romans in chapters 7 and 8, and, in particular to a key passage in chapter 7, verses 15 – 20, which are worth quoting, so that we have them present in mind. I will add versesContinue reading “Sin, grace and freedom : Romans 7 – 8. (Part 1)”

(I am taking the liberty of posting my Easter sermon, and all in one go. The bible reading to go with it is John. 20. 1-18, which is the story of Mary Magdalene meeting the risen Christ after having gone early to attend to Jesus’ body for proper burial) Christianity is the most realistic andContinue reading “Easter sermon 2025 : Christianity is the most realistic and transformative faith we could possibly have.”

The strange distortions of secular ideology: My best possible life! Part 5: The mystery of God’s peace I believe that God has a way of putting everything right. However, I no longer see this as something that is done in heaven – and we will have to wait till then. I believe that the fulfilmentContinue reading “The strange distortions of secular ideology: My best possible life! (Part 5)”

The strange distortions of secular ideology: My best possible life! Part 4: We already have what we long for My answer to this, is (even if my hope of heaven is false) that the purpose of being a Christian is to enter into fullness of life now, in our current mortal life. The gifts receivedContinue reading “The strange distortions of secular ideology: My best possible life! (Part 4)”