517 results for tag: Brad Jersak
Q&R with Brad Jersak – Is Noah’s flood story true?
Question
Is the narrative about Noah's ark in Genesis a true story?
Response
Oh, of course the *story* is *true*, just as the *story* of the Prodigal Son is *true,* which is to say, the story is telling us the *truth.* Discovering the truth the story is telling means honoring the genre the story is written in.
If we treat a parable as if it is not a parable, and literalize it when Jesus wasn't telling it that way, we may be treating a story as a fact and missing out on its truth. So, to demand a physical address for the Father's house, the names of the prodigal sons, and what type of cow they ate at the banquet would be untrue ...
Q&R with Brad Jersak – “Can we withhold God’s forgiveness?
Question
What is your take on John 20:23?
"If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Response
That's a very difficult verse. Of course, the first part seems easy enough. Up until that point, there was this sense that only God could forgive sin (Mark 2:7), so Jesus' critics were upset when he would announce (in the passive voice), "Your sins are forgiven." They claimed it was tantamount to blasphemy. But note, he didn't say, "I forgive you," but rather, spoke the words as the Son authorized by his Father. Even on the Cross, we hear Jesus praying, "Father, forgive ...
Q&R with Brad Jersak: Will Jesus be ashamed of me? Luke 9:26
Question
Brad, could you help me to see a more beautiful way of understanding Luke 9:26?
"If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory, and in the glory of his Father, and of the holy angels."
Response
That's a difficult passage, isn't it, especially coming from Jesus Christ, the epitome and Incarnation of God's grace and radical hospitality. So when we see a warning so jarring, so out of character with what we know of the Jesus Way, it's good we ask not only what Jesus said or meant, but what he's up to. What is he aiming at with these words? And how might his aim align ...
“God is Love BUT …” Brad Jersak
"Everything before the word 'BUT' is horse sh*t." - Game of Thrones
I've heard this statement elsewhere as "Nothing someone says before the word 'but' really counts," especially when an affirmation of love is immediately followed by its negations. The aphorism is loaded with wisdom and experience. Even if you feel that love compels you to bring a word of critique or correction, if you use love as your opening salvo to bring someone down, you'll bring love down with them. It's a big relational mistake... unless it's a case of deliberate 'gaslighting,' which is abusive.
How much more so with God! Does Jesus say, "God so love the world BUT..." ...
CWR video – “Why Did Jesus Die?” – Brad Jersak
Short video by Brad Jersak
The Cross: God’s Eternal Mercy Seat – Brad Jersak
The celebration of Easter this month once again places the Cross of Christ and his resurrection front and center of our faith, as they should be. These events comprise a hinge-point in the human story and what theologians have called “salvation history.” The New Testament witness not only records what occurred but also reflects upon the meaning of those occurrences as good news—our gospel.
Unveiling the meaning of the crucifixion is of particular importance to the apostles, because they are convinced that it spelled more than a tragic end to the life of Jesus. Somehow, the Cross is essential groundwork for the reconciliation of all ...
The Great Descent – “A Harrowing Exit” – Brad Jersak
The Great Descent
The Law, the Psalms and the Prophets forecast it.The Gospels and the Epistles allude to it.Ancient Christian hymns, liturgies and poetry announce it.It permeates both Eastern and Western theological tradition.It even has its own line in the Apostles’ Creed.
But only recently has Christ’s conquest of Hades caught the attention of moderns. It’s so central to the gospel message that its omission requires correction.
The same events go by various names—the great descent, the harrowing of hades, Christus Victor. But they all refer to the narrative that culminates in the resurrection of Christ before dawn on ...
Q&R: Why the Violent God of Joshua? Brad Jersak
QUESTION
Where might I find some good help reading the Book of Joshua? I have spent ten years changing my paradigm, coming to see that God is good. But then I read Joshua and have so many questions. I cannot believe this is a good God. Why the violence? Christians don't need more excuses for their bad behavior. Please help me find a good book that can explain some of this violence.
RESPONSE
Thank you for asking such an important question. While not a commentary, I think you’ll find that our CWR press book, A More Christlike God: A More Beautiful Gospel, addresses the bigger problem—particularly the central section, titled ...
Exclamation Point on God’s Love: Greg Albrecht with Brad Jersak
The following is a transcript of an interview with Brad Jersak by Greg Albrecht on the meaning of the Cross
Greg Albrecht: Hello everyone, this is Greg Albrecht. We're going to remember and discuss our Lord's ultimate sacrifice for us and reflect on his life, death, burial and of course the significance and meaning of his resurrection. Helping us with his insights and observations is Brad Jersak. Brad is Editor of our magazines and a Christ-centered professor, speaker and author.
Brad, in one sense it seems to me that these two events, the crucifixion and the ...
April 2022
CLICK HERE to read now
(PDF Format)
Brad Jersak: The Cross: God's Eternal Mercy Seat – pg. 2
Laura Urista: Trimming the Roses – pg. 5
Richard Rohr: The Saving Power of the Cross – pg. 6
Greg Albrecht: The Meaning(s) of the Cross – pg. 7
Q&R: Isaiah 45:7 – Does God cause evil?
Question
What do you make of Isaiah 45:7? Is seems to say that God is the cause of evil and calamity?
KJV: "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."
NASB: "The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating disaster; I am the LORD who does all these things."
NIV: "I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things."
ESV: "I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things.
MSG: "I form light and create darkness, I ...
More Christlike God Q & A: “Doesn’t Isaiah 59:2 clearly state that our sins separate us from God?” – Brad Jersak
QUESTION:
Dear Brad,I have had the privilege of hearing your teaching at my local church. I also love your book, Stricken by God? In it you dispel the idea that God cannot look on sin and I totally agree with your reasoning. But although you mention Habakkuk 1:13, you do not comment on Isaiah 59:2. It seems to be clearly stating that the people's sin had separated them from God and hidden his face from them. I would be most interested in your interpretation of this verse, if you have the time to answer.Thank you. May God bless you,
Sarah
RESPONSE:
What a great question, ...
Q&R: Intellectually Honest Bible Reading – Brad Jersak
Question
I am writing to ask for your expertise, advice and suggestions. Even though I have been studying the Church Fathers, your books and expositions on how to read Scripture “the Emmaus Way” for the past three years, I am still troubled by various OT Testament passages.How do we “ interpret” the Flood Story for example. How do we read the countless rather swift and brutal judgment passages related to the 40 years of Israelites wandering the desert? Whole people groups swallowed up in the ground or burned by fire?
Some of the above stories are also mentioned by Jesus, Paul or Peter in the NT accounts. I know this sounds maybe a ...
Amid the Brain Fog of Wartime – Brad Jersak
On Ash Wednesday, 2022, I write from a window-facing easy-chair, glancing over my laptop at the Northern Flicker pecking seed from a feeder, grasping for moments of stillness of heart. As an educator, I’m faced with the challenge of grading book reports and prepping lessons amid the brain fog of wartime, having spent an hour on Zoom on Tuesday, hearing the lament of a Ukrainian priest in Lviv between bomb shelter alarms. It’s hard to recall why what I do matters in the shadow of vacuum bombs and civilian casualties that have the stamp of approval from Christian nationalists. I’m tempted with despondency even as I recline in my place of ...
The Cross in David’s Confession (Psalm 51) – Brad Jersak
As I’ve stated in A More Christlike Word and previous articles, the Psalms often begin with what seem to be musical superscriptions. These ‘liner notes’ also frequently signal Messianic content, especially with the words, “To the end” (mistranslated “for the choir director” in many Bibles).
“To the end” or “Unto the telos” is like a dedication to the coming One—the Messiah—who would fulfill the words of the Psalm as Israel’s Deliverer, especially through the Cross of Christ. The Psalm will anticipate a telos—a completion or fulfillment—an “it is finished” through the good news ...
Grace Creed & the so-called “Old Testament God” – Brad Jersak
“THE OLD TESTAMENT GOD”
A great part of my spiritual journey has been learning how to read Scripture in light of Jesus’s revelation of ‘a more Christlike God.’ More Christlike than what? More Christlike than I had reckoned, given the hellfire preaching of the revivalists I endured in my childhood. More Christlike than the literalist hermeneutics of my training as a Biblical Studies major. And more Christlike than my impressions of the so-called “God of the Old Testament.” Note that I’ve italicized the word ‘my.’ Out of my personal experiences, training, and impressions, I ...
Q&R: Baldies, Bears & Cursing in God’s name – Brad Jersak
The Punishment of the Children who Mocked Elisha in Bethel; The Widow before Elisha; Unknown; Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany; about 1400 - 1410; Tempera colors, gold, silver paint, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 33.5 x 23.5 cm (13 3/16 x 9 1/4 in.); Ms. 33, fol. 229v
Question
Greetings! How are we to understand the young boys in the book of kings who mocked Elisha's bald head and were mauled to death by bears. Certainly this could not have come from the Lord. Elisha had cursed them in the name of the Lord when the bears came and mauled them.
Response
You are correct. I think what you are saying is obviously true: CERTAINLY, this could not ...
“Lower the Heat” (assuming faithfulness in disagreement) – Brad Jersak w/ Floris Kersloot
The following are my takeaways from advice I received from Dutch psychologist Floris Kersloot. The topic was on how to understand and respond as peace-builders when faced with angry reactions over theological (or political) convictions.
He who is slow to anger has great understanding but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.Proverbs 14:29
Even when (and especially when) sharing something so basic and central to Christianity as "God is love" or "Jesus calls us away from hatred into love," we often see people of good faith triggered into inexplicable anger and defensiveness. When our perspectives and opinions about God ...
Q & R – If we’re already forgiven, why strive to be good? Isn’t that salvation by works? –Brad Jersak
Q: If we’re already forgiven, why strive to be good? Isn’t that just “salvation by works”?
R: First, let’s examine each phrase of this question.
“If we’re already forgiven”—Yes, indeed we are. As Christ makes clear from the mercy seat of the Cross, “Father, forgive them,” is the once-for-all divine verdict for sinners. Paul concurs in Romans 5 when he says that when we were still sinners and enemies, Christ died for us, justified us and reconciled us to God.
“Why strive to be good”—Yes, as much as we believe and hope that our goodness is generated from within, the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5) ...
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