One In Jesus

Hey, this is Chris again.  For those who were unable to attend my dad’s memorial service, the recording of the service is available here:

Thank you again for all your support and kind words!

Hey, this is Chris Guin, Jay’s oldest son.  I’m so sorry to report that my dad passed away at 12:30 pm today after a lengthy hospitalization following two surgeries.  We haven’t made any arrangements yet, but we will be sure to post them as soon as we have them. (UPDATE: On Wednesday, the family will be receiving friends at Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel from 5-8 pm.  The memorial service will be there at 2:00 pm Thursday.)

Thank you so much to everyone who has posted or sent in notes to us telling what my father meant to them.  My dad was very grateful to be so bathed in prayer and surrounded by love.  His ministry via this blog meant a lot to him as well, and we will be doing what we can to keep the resources here live so they can continue to be a blessing to anyone who wants them.

**If you’d like to send any words regarding how Jay influenced your ministry, or your personal walk, direct them to ejguin(at)gmail(dot)com with subject “jay”. Thanks-Erin (his daughter in law)

N. T. “Tom” Wright has just released another paradigm-shifting book suggesting a new, more scriptural way of understanding the atonement, The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus’s Crucifixion. Wright delves deeply into how the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus accomplish our salvation.

Romans 8:29-30, Part 3

(Rom. 8:29-30 ESV)  29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

“the image of his Son”

There’s a lot packed into these two verses, and we really can’t leave without discussing “image.” I mean, we tend to get so enamored of the arguments about Calvinism that we often fail to see other key lessons that may be far more important. Continue reading →

N. T. “Tom” Wright has just released another paradigm-shifting book suggesting a new, more scriptural way of understanding the atonement, The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus’s Crucifixion. Wright delves deeply into how the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus accomplish our salvation.

Romans 8:29-30, Part 2

(Rom. 8:29-30 ESV)  29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

“Predestined”

Of course, we’ve covered the heart of the predestination question in the previous two posts. But there are a few remaining points that need to be considered.

First, Paul clearly considers predestination distinct from foreknowledge. Many modern readers assume that foreknowledge necessarily triggers predestination, because there can be no foreknowledge if there is free will. But Paul plainly sees predestination as a blessing beyond foreknowledge — “those whom he foreknew he also predestined” — and so as the words are used by Paul, they are not logical equivalents. What’s the difference? Continue reading →

N. T. “Tom” Wright has just released another paradigm-shifting book suggesting a new, more scriptural way of understanding the atonement, The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus’s Crucifixion. Wright delves deeply into how the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus accomplish our salvation.

Romans 8:29-30, Part 1 

(Rom. 8:29-30 ESV)  29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

“Foreknew”

The first full-quarter Bible class I ever taught in church was in 1978. It was the college class, and somehow or other, the subject of predestination came up. I explained that I believe in predestination. The class was, of course, shocked.

But I read this passage as well as Eph 1:15, both of which speak very plainly of predestination. “If the Bible teaches predestination, then I believe in predestination. I just don’t believe it means what Calvin says it means. But we should believe it and we should teach it–but only in the sense in which Paul used the terms.” My opinion has not changed (on this question).

(By the way, the way you get college students to believe your teaching is to be honest even when it runs against conventional wisdom.)

Continue reading →

N. T. “Tom” Wright has just released another paradigm-shifting book suggesting a new, more scriptural way of understanding the atonement, The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus’s Crucifixion. Wright delves deeply into how the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus accomplish our salvation.

Romans 8:28, Part 2

(Rom. 8:28 ESV)  28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 

“Called according to his purpose”

“Called” is often used in the NT to refer to saved people. Calvinists argue that God only calls those unconditionally elected to salvation. Arminians argue that “call” means “efficacious call,” that is, a call that the lost person responds to either as a matter of free will or after receiving prevenient grace in the form of the Spirit allowing him to respond but not forcing him to respond. Hence, the issue always boils down to free will. Continue reading →

N. T. “Tom” Wright has just released another paradigm-shifting book suggesting a new, more scriptural way of understanding the atonement, The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus’s Crucifixion. Wright delves deeply into how the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus accomplish our salvation.

Romans 8:28, Part 1

(Rom. 8:28 ESV)  28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 

This is a difficult verse. I mean, we teach it to children and paste it on refrigerator magnets. But it seems to be tinged with Calvinism with this language about being “called”  — and Paul will soon be talking about predestination. And the fact is that bad things happen to good people — not always but often enough to make us want to question the usual way of reading this passage.

“Work together for the good”

One common reading of this phrase is that Paul essentially repeating the thought of Rom 8:18. Continue reading →

N. T. “Tom” Wright has just released another paradigm-shifting book suggesting a new, more scriptural way of understanding the atonement, The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus’s Crucifixion. Wright delves deeply into how the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus accomplish our salvation.

Romans 8:22-23

(Rom. 8:22-23 ESV)  22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 

“Groaning” 

I take Paul’s language regarding the Creation to be an anthropomorphism. That is, it’s poetic imagery to make a vivid point. I don’t think that the entire Creation is sentient or capable of emotion. But that doesn’t allow us to ignore Paul’s point. The Creation is in bondage (slavery), waiting to be set free. The heavens and the earth will be changed into something better — as freedom is better than slavery.

And it’s a result of humanity’s sinfulness. It’s not just Adam’s sin. He’s been dead for quite a long time. Our continued sin continues to enslave the Creation under the curse of Gen 3.  Continue reading →