Click here to listen to The Misapplication of Romans 9 to Predestinarian Views as presented by Ray Faircloth, Apr 28th 2008, Atlanta Georgia. Commentary by John Obelenus
On the extreme Calvinistic side there are particular individuals who from “before the foundation of the world” are chosen to be ’saved’, and ‘damned’ by God. The complete and utter lack of free will. Ray explains that this paper is derived from the fact that Romans 9 is often used to support these ideas, when in fact this chapter does not uphold this idea whatsoever.
JAT Robinson: “But we must not press Paul’s analogies, here or elsewhere. He has brought it in for one purpose only to show that God has absolute freedom over his creatures: He is not concerned at this point to find one which will safeguard their freedom”. “To press” means to find all the answers in one analogy. Rather than finding one (or two) answers in one analogy, and then having multiple analogies.
Click here to listen to Jesus and Atonement delivered by John Obelenus, Apr 28th 2008, Atlanta Georgia. Commentary by Sean Finnegan.
John’s big idea is summarized in this statement, “We must make sense of Jesus’ crucifixion in light of his ministry, and his ministry in light of his crucifixion.”
His outline followed these points
- Jesus’ ministry defined by Isaiah
- Substitution from Isaiah
- Jesus’ actions as substitution
- Jesus’ claims about power in light of atonement
- Jesus’ authority challenge leads to trial
- Crucifixion as substitution
- Resurrection
- Conclusion
Jesus’ self understanding of his ministry is founded upon Isaiah 61 (as reflected both in his first sermon (Lk 4) and in his response to John the Baptist’s inquiry (Mt 11).
Click here to listen to No Resolution - No Peaceas delivered by Lennox Abrigo, Apr 28th 2008, Atlanta Georgia. Commentary by John Obelenus
Lennox’s thesis is that personal relationships are destroyed by fear and immorality, and built up by peace and family. Society is based upon personal relationships, therefore it is necessary for the benefit of us all that our personal relationships are “working”.
He notes the accepting air of society around our initial human ungodly and sinful state. This only enhances people’s ability to sustain their injustice and replacement of moral values to the detriment of order and chaos.
Click here to listen to Anabaptists/The Radical Reformers as delivered by Kent Ross, Apr 28th 2008, in Atlanta Georgia. Commentary by John Obelenus
Anabaptist, lit. to baptize again, refers to anyone outside the norm.
Heresy - “the minority opinion which those of the majority opinion have the power to suppress”
Kent tells us a story to warn us from letting tradition define our scriptural understanding. He asked his Ph.D professor at North Park Seminary where in the New Testament the Trinity is defined. The response was that New Testament scholarship is on your (Kent’s) side. But the councils have given us greater understanding.
He again warns us to take a look at our people in our own time, with divisions over women in ministry, baptism as essential, conscientious objection, historicism, futurism.
Click here to listen to The Sacrifice of the Son of God as delivered by Alex Hall, Apr 27, 2008 in Atlanta Georgia. Commentary by John Obelenus
In the introduction Alex brings up a good point about assumptions and how they guide how we assimilate information into our pre-existing belief structure.
Next he brings a strong counterpoint to the common belief that Jesus had to be God to die for our sins. Based on a survey of the New Testament, it is in fact Jesus’ humanity that was a necessity for forgiveness, not any divinity.
The Gnostic dualism of matter vs spirit influenced the doctrine of the Person of Jesus needing to be God. God, that is spirit, which is good, must be present to “save” the flesh, matter, which is bad. Only by God becoming Jesus (not Jesus being God) was anything accomplished.