Teaching

WORDS OF LIFE (#8) The AMEN God – ’amen (and related words ’emunah, ’aman, ’emeth)

(March 16, 2017) Dr Jim McClure, noted theologian, concludes his series on selected Hebrew words…

Camping on sand is not a good idea!  Even though a tent may be sound and the ropes strong, unless the pegs are hammered in securely, the tent will collapse and may even be blow away. You need, therefore, a sound piece of ground into which the pegs can be driven.

This is the thought behind Isaiah 22:23, ‘I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will be a seat of honour for the house of his father’ (NIV). Unless a nail or peg is driven into something solid and dependable, it is of little value. The Hebrew word that is translated in this verse as ‘firm’ is ’aman which means ‘to be firm’ or ‘permanent’ – we are more familiar with this word as ‘Amen.’ It is found over 100 times in the Old Testament.

The first time the word is used in the Old Testament is Genesis 15:6 which states, ‘Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.’  ‘Believed’ is the word ’aman and it not only tells us simply that Abram believed God but also tells us something about the nature of Abram’s faith in God in that it was firm and secure. The statement means so much more than the fact that Abram believed God’s promise. (more…)

GRACE MISREPRESENTED!

Jim McClure(February 24, 2017) Dr Jim McClure, highly esteemed theologian, expounds a present danger…

A few years ago I wrote a book which I titled Grace Revisited. The reason behind my research on this subject and the writing of the book was the inadequate understanding that was prevalent concerning this most important word in the Christian faith.

The distinguished 16th century theologian, John Calvin, helpfully made clear varying aspects of grace, such as, Common Grace, Justifying Grace, Sanctifying Grace, Election Grace, Irresistible Grace, Unconditional Grace and Irrevocable Grace. (more…)

WORDS OF LIFE (#7) KINSMAN-REDEEMER – ‘GO’EL’

Jim McClure(February 15, 2017) Dr Jim McClure, noted theologian, continues his series on selected scripture words…

One of the great words of faith and theology is ‘Redeemer.’ There are three Hebrew words that may be translated as ‘redeemer’ –

First there is paraq which develops from the concept of ‘breaking off’ to ‘deliver’ or to ‘set free.’ This word is used 10 times in the Old Testament.  It is translated once with the idea of redeeming in Psalm 136:24 KJV, ‘And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth forever.’ (more…)

UNDERSTANDING ‘THE NEW CREATION’

Jim McClure(January 11, 2017) Dr Jim McClure, esteemed theologian, shares on this great truth…

The apostle Paul mentions the term ‘new creation’ twice.  In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we read, ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!’  And in Galatians 6:15, ‘Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.’

To help us understand the phrase ‘new creation’, let’s consider a couple of things about God:

  • Only God is the Creator
    In the first chapter of Genesis we see that he created all things – the stars, planets, earth and all that is on it including the sea, rivers, all vegetation and every animal, finishing with his creation of humankind.

Nothing has come into existence apart from him. And nothing can exist unless it has been created by God.

  • God is concerned about making things new

(more…)

WORDS OF LIFE (#6) JUBILEE – (YOBEL)

Jim McClure(January 9, 2017) Dr Jim McClure, respected theologian, continues his series on selected scripture words…

As we have just entered a New Year, it is appropriate to mention a very important year in the history of the people of Israel.

In Leviticus 25:8-10 we read God’s instructions to Moses Mount Sinai, ‘Count off seven sabbaths of years – seven times seven years – so that the seven sabbaths of years amount to a period of forty-nine years.  Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land.  Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you.’ 

Trumpets played a significant role in the Hebrew religion and different trumpets were employed for specific functions.  The Old Testament refers to two types of trumpet, the chatsotseroth and the shophar. (more…)

WORDS OF LIFE (#5) LOYAL LOVE – CHESED

Jim McClure(December 12, 2016) Dr Jim McClure, respected theologian, continues his series on selected scripture words…

The root of one of the most common Hebrew words for love is ‘aheb’ which occurs about 250 times in the Old Testament. In many ways its meaning is similar to the English word ‘love’ in that it has a wide range of applications.  However, our focus in this study is on another Hebrew word, ‘chesed’ which has been translated by a variety of words in the KJV including mercy, kindness, goodness, favour, pity and loving-kindness (a word made up by Miles Coverdale in the early 16th century).

Sometimes it has been translated as faithfulness, grace, leal-love, steadfast love and troth. The fact that so many words have been employed to translate ‘chesed’ reveals that it is extremely difficult to find an equivalent English word and every attempt is ultimately inadequate. (more…)

SEEING THE INVISIBLE GOD

Jim McClure(December 12, 2016) Dr Jim McClure, esteemed theologian, brings a Christmas reflection …

How often Christians have been mockingly dismissed as ‘people who believe in the invisible man upstairs.’

The implication, obviously, is that because God cannot be seen, He therefore does not exist! Apart from being patently false, the comment reflects not only an arrogance but also an ignorance of considered reflection. (more…)

WORDS OF LIFE (#4) REVEALING THE GLORY – KABOD

Jim McClure(November 18, 2016) Dr Jim McClure, respected theologian, continues his series on some scripture words…

In Exodus 33:18 Moses made this request of God: ‘Show me your glory.’ God’s reply was that no human being could see his face and live. He then instructed Moses to stand in the crevice of a rock from which Moses would see his back.

If the pure brilliancy of the glory of God were made visible, it would utterly destroy us. Matthew Henry makes this significant comment, ‘He will have us to know him by the glory of his mercy more than by the glory of his majesty.’

The word ‘glory’ is frequently used by Christians – but what does it really mean?  In the Lord’s Prayer is the phrase, ‘yours is the glory’ – but what does that mean?  At the birth of Jesus the angelic choir sang, ‘Glory to God in the highest …’ – but what does that mean?  While the glory of God will remain hidden from us on this side of eternity, we shall attempt to reveal the meaning of the word as it is used in the Bible.

dr-jim-1116a The Hebrew word (kabod – glory) has an interesting, if not unusual, development ranging from internal organs to a characteristic of God!  Let us examine how these apparently dissimilar things are related. (more…)

WHO CHANGED THE SABBATH DAY?

Jim McClure(November 14, 2016) Dr Jim McClure, esteemed theologian, brings insight to an important commandment …

Because the attempts of some Christians to Judaise Christianity, and in view of the insistence on Sabbath keeping by some, I decided to reflect on the significance of the Sabbath and its observance.
First of all it is acknowledged that ‘keeping the Sabbath holy’ is one of the Ten Commandments. The relevance and endorsement of some of the commandments are obvious, for example, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t commit adultery.

But what about the one regarding the keeping of the Sabbath day?  Is it relevant in the 21st century? Does it apply to Christians (even assuming that it applies to Jews)? Is Sunday the Christian Sabbath? Can it simply be ignored or rendered irrelevant by theological argument?

The following are some of the views held by various Christians today: (more…)

WORDS OF LIFE (#3) – PEACE (SHALOM)

Jim McClure(September 15, 2016) Dr Jim McClure, respected theologian, continues his series on some scripture words…

The Hebrew word shalom is familiar to many people apart from Jews.  Most people would say that it means ‘peace,’ and they would be right – up to a point! However, to consider shalom only in terms of the absence of war is to put severe limitations on this great word. For example, two nations may not be dropping missiles on each other, but they may still vent such hostility towards each other that the citizens of both nations may live constantly under the sense of threat and uncertainty.  This would not be a definition of shalom.   ‘Shalom’ means so much more than that.

When we examine how the word shalom is used in the Bible, we discover that ‘peace’ is a widely embracing word which has a plethora of meanings.  It is a word of interaction – with God, between people and, indeed, with all of life. It has to do with harmonious totality.  This study explores some of the depth and breadth of this most positive of Hebrew words. (more…)