Gospel and Mission: Part 3: What is the purpose of the Christian Life?

December 30, 2019 By Rob Dalrymple

I have been asking in this series of blogs, “what is the purpose of the Christian life?” To this point, I have been suggesting that it is to imitate and fulfill the mission of Jesus. In the last post I argued that the coming of Jesus was in fulfillment of all that the OT promised. In order to understand the mission of God’s people, however, we need to go deeper for a bit. God dwells among us The God of… Read more

“Pro-life” means “pro-all-life”

December 24, 2019 By Rob Dalrymple

Are “pro-life” evangelicals inconsistent in their ethic? The answer to question is, “yes.” We all are inconsistent in our ethic to some extent. What I intend to suggest is that “pro-life” evangelicals are, often unwittingly, radically inconsistent. Let me say at the outset that I am a “pro-life” evangelical. I often cringe when I hear my fellow evangelicals proclaim that they are voting for the “pro-life” candidate. I cringe because this seems to mean that they are voting for… Read more

The Gospel and Mission pt 2

December 23, 2019 By Rob Dalrymple

In my last post I asked the question: what is the purpose of the Christian life? I suggested that the purpose of the Christian life and the call of God’s people is to carry forth the work of Christ. In order, then, for us to understand our mission as the people of God, we must understand the mission of Jesus. The Mission of Jesus One way to comprehend the mission of Jesus is to recognize that in addition to His… Read more

Gospel and Mission part 1: “What is the Purpose of the Christian Life?”

December 16, 2019 By Rob Dalrymple

What if I said, “Jesus didn’t finish the job”? What is the purpose of the Christian life? In previous posts I have argued that the goal of the Christian life is to grow in the likeness of Christ. Now, I wish to address the question: what is the purpose of the Christian life? I am going to make a statement that may very well sound blasphemous. I assure you that it is not. So, before you cease reading, please allow… Read more

Women in the Church Part 5

November 25, 2019 By Rob Dalrymple

Imagine if, in our progressive culture, the church were leading the way in the area of women’s rights, how much it would potentially positively affect the spread of the Gospel! What does this all mean? I have argued that Paul has not given us a timeless edict. He has laid down a principle. One that should not be ignored: namely, that whoever serves as a pastor must be educated and prepared so that they are not easily deceived.This would apply… Read more

Women in the Church Part 4

November 20, 2019 By Rob Dalrymple

Doesn’t Paul say women can’t be Pastors? But what about 1 Timothy 2 were Paul seems to forbid women from teaching and having authority in the church and he appears to do so with abiding justifications and not culturally relevant ones? “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but… Read more

Women in the Church Part 3

November 18, 2019 By Rob Dalrymple

Women and the Kingdom of God There is no question that Jesus brought the Kingdom of God (KOG).[1] Now, the KOG is in its essence the restoration, redemption, and reconciliation of all creation. Though the kingdom of God is a central focus of Jesus’ teaching, it is in the description of the New Jerusalem in final two chapters of the book of Revelation (21-22) that we find the climax of the kingdom. One of the keys to understanding the Kingdom… Read more

Women in the church Part 2

November 13, 2019 By Rob Dalrymple

I find it ironic that I, as a man, can use something a women wrote in a sermon, but the author herself, simply because she is women, would not be permitted to do so in many churches. Can women serve equally with men in the church? Admittedly, the question is multi-faceted and the issues are complex. The complexities include at the most basic level whether or not women can teach in the church at all (including the teaching of children;… Read more

Women and the Church part 1

November 11, 2019 By Rob Dalrymple

Women around the world suffer significant oppression. They are, simply because of their gender, routinely deprived of education[1] and other opportunities afforded to men. In some countries, women are forced into unwanted marriages.[2] According to the World Health Organization 35% of women worldwide have experienced either intimate partner violence or non partner sexual violence in their lifetime.[3] One out of every three women have been a victim of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.[4] And it is… Read more

Is our current president an “instrument of righteousness”?

October 29, 2019 By Rob Dalrymple

When Christians take a stand politically and endorse people or laws it is imperative that we ask ourselves how will this affect my witness? This question was posed to me by an acquaintance. Let me state at the outset that I am answering this question as a biblical scholar and not in terms of the current political climate in the US. In other words, my answer would not change regardless of who the current president is, nor what… Read more

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