Author Archives: David Cartledge

I used to receive teaching about God that began with the essence of God. This essence was defined in such a way that God appeared non-relational.   Relationships did not appear essential to God’s Being.  This impersonal divine essence would … Continue reading →

Paul tells us that he received his gospel as God revealed Christ in him. This dramatic encounter with the risen Jesus changed everything for Paul. He experienced a complete reorientation of thinking and living. Was this revelation given because Paul … Continue reading →

On the day of Pentecost, Peter declared, The God of Israel has made Jesus both Lord and Christ.  If Saul of Tarsus heard this, he would have been outraged.  For Saul, there was only one Lord, the God of Israel.  … Continue reading →

We confess from the heart that Jesus is Lord. But how do we come to this inner conviction and outer confession?  Only by the Spirit.  Paul says, “…no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit” (1 … Continue reading →

We give thanks to God for giving us the indescribable gift of his Son as human.  Nothing in us indicates that we were worthy to receive this gift. The gift was given to us freely even though we were hostile … Continue reading →

God came personally into our world as Jesus.  He came to rescue us from the present evil age and to bring us into a relationship with himself.  In coming to us this way, God revealed himself so that we can … Continue reading →

In the opening lines of Galatians Paul reminds us that it is by God’s gracious will that Jesus gave himself to rescue us from the present evil age.   Our religious self-effort plays no part at all in this rescue.  … Continue reading →

God created the world good.  However, his good creation has been invaded by the powers of darkness.  Now, the whole cosmos is under sin that reigns in death along with satan and his underlings.  Nevertheless, God has taken the initiative … Continue reading →

Jesus is God as human.  That is good news, for we can now say that God is not some distant being who is abstractly ‘over us’ or ‘above us,’. but rather God is always ‘among us,’ ‘with us,’ and ‘for … Continue reading →

The world is constantly moving away from the true God and so towards total ruin. And no one is able to turn things around. Indeed the world doesn’t even want to change its ways. Why?  It is in bondage under … Continue reading →