All posts filed under: Soteriology

Easter, a reflection

April 14, 2014
by rick
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Creation / Easter / Gospels / Holy Week / Jesus / Lectionary / New Testament / Religion / Soteriology / Year A

On the day of the resurrection, some of the followers of Jesus went to the tomb. They were going to make the final preparations of Jesus’ body, for he had been buried with haste. And when they got there, they were met with the amazing revelation that Jesus was…no longer dead. He was dead, but now he wasn’t anymore. He was very much alive. And different. Mary didn’t recognize him. He had to speak her […]

you know the commandments

July 7, 2013
by rick
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Jesus / Lectionary / New Testament / Religion / Soteriology / Theology / Year C

The following is a reflection on Luke 10:25-37, the Gospel Lesson appointed for Proper 10 Year C, according to the Revised Common Lectionary. The bulk of this post is also an excerpt from my book, Going to Hell. When Jesus is approached by the rich young ruler and asked, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” the answer Jesus gives is pretty stunning: You know the commandments: You shall not murder; You shall not […]

sin at yuletide – a reflection on Advent 2C

November 28, 2012
by rick
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Advent / Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament / Soteriology / Year C

The following is a reflection on Luke 1: 68-79 and Luke 3:1-6, the canticle and the Gospel lesson properly appointed for Advent 2C according to the Revised Common Lectionary. Most people don’t ever want to talk about “sins.” At least not their own. (Other people’s sins are always fair game for in-depth discussion, but that’s another story entirely.) The only things that might be able to drive the repulsion of “sin talk” even further out-of-bounds are […]

the bloody truth – a reflection on John 6:56-69

August 13, 2012
by rick
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Christology / Exodus / Gospels / New Testament / Old Testament / Pentateuch / Soteriology / Theology / Year B

The following is a reflection on John 6:56-69, the Gospel lesson appointed for Proper 16B, according to the Revised Common Lectionary. This post is from the tenth chapter of my book, “Going to Hell, Getting Saved.” Jesus told the people that his flesh was real food and that his blood was true drink—and to eat his flesh and drink his blood meant eternal life. And people stopped following him. The disciples grumbled about how hard […]

eat and live forever – a reflection on John 6:35, 41-51

July 17, 2012
by rick
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Christology / Creation / Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament / Soteriology / Year B

The following is a reflection on John 6:35, 41-51, the Gospel lesson for Proper 14B, according to the Revised Common Lectionary. There was one brief, shining moment in the Hebrew Bible where things were pretty good. We had safety, and security, we had the Presence of God walking among us. We had a nice garden. And then we blew it. We had only been given one “thou shalt not,” and we couldn’t manage the “not” […]

get up – a reflection on Mark 5:21-43

June 20, 2012
by rick
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Easter / Gospels / New Testament / Old Testament / Pentateuch / Proper 8B / Soteriology / Year B

The following is a reflection on Mark 5:21-43, the Gospel lesson appointed for Proper 8B, according to the Revised Common Lectionary. Last year I wrote a book, going to hell, getting saved, and what Jesus actually says, and this post is an excerpt from pages 164-169. In Mark 5:22-43, there are two different stories of healing woven together into a single story. While Jesus is on his way to heal and restore life to Jairus’ […]

swaddled and squinting – a reflection on 1 John 4:7-21

April 24, 2012
by rick
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Creation / Easter / Epistles / Lectionary / Soteriology / Year B

The following is a reflection on 1 John 4:7-21, the epistle lesson for the Fifth Sunday of Easter in Year B, according to the Revised Common Lectionary. I have very clear memories of holding each of my daughters, just moments after their births. Both times a nurse handed me those little swaddled bundles and then left the room to care for my wife, just recovering from the c-section. I remember experiencing a flood of emotion, […]

no formula makes you fall to your knees – a reflection on Good Friday

March 30, 2012
by rick
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Christology / Holy Week / Soteriology

In the history of Christian thought there have been many theories of how we are made at-one with God (atonement). One theory which we find referenced as early as the 500’s AD, called the “Ransom Theory,” or the”Classic Theory” suggests that because we are sinful that we actually belong to Satan. The Ransom theory, building itself on the verse from Paul, “you were bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20) identifies Jesus’ death with his […]

The Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

December 12, 2011
by rick
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Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament / Soteriology

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. God created every form of life that swims in the deep, which flies in the sky, and which walks on the land. God created us, molding us out of the dust of the ground, and breathing God’s holy breath into us. And, God created us in God’s image—that we might bear the Holy Image in all the world. God spoke to individuals, and God blessed […]