GeoCreationism.com

1 Corinthians 1:21
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
I do not consider YECs fools personally, but (as a group) they are wonderfully faithful.  Now, I know Paul is not referring in this verse specifically to Creationism, but he is referring to philosophy and man’s infantile understanding of the universe in comparison to God’s; and I also believe that the foolishness he speaks of was intended to refer to actual truths that man cannot believe apart from faith in God.  So, from that perspective, Young Earth Creationism does not fall into the meaning that Paul probably meant …

 1Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Verses 1 and 2 are how I feel about a great many people I know, particularly many Jews and even many Christians.  They have what appears to be a relationship with …

 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.  

 11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of …

 Acts 24
25As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

 27When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

Acts 25
22Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”

Acts 26
5They have known me for a long …

Well, I have finally gotten through every verse in the NIS translation on Righteousness.  Now, I turn to the New Testament, and am pleasantly (and only a little) surprised to find Jesus picking right up where our study left off.  However, let me first set the stage.
 1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
   ”A voice of one calling in the desert,
   ’Prepare the way for the Lord,
      make straight paths for him.’ ”
Matthew is quoting Isaiah 40:3, a prophecy that would usher in the ministry of Jesus’ 1st …

 9 Because I have sinned against him,
       I will bear the LORD’s wrath,
       until he pleads my case
       and establishes my right.
       He will bring me out into the light;
       I will see his righteousness.
I like the resolve and the perspective here.

Micah knows he will see God’s justice, because he is resolved to bear whatever God will have him, and he knows that God will see that and plead his case… and he’s not waiting for God to his righteousness.  No, he is waiting to see God’s.

 12 Do horses run on the rocky crags?
       Does one plow there with oxen?
       But you have turned justice into poison
       and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness-

 13 you who rejoice in the conquest of Lo Debar
       and say, “Did we not take Karnaim by our own strength?”
There are certain things a man just doesn’t do.  You don’t drive your car to work on the sidewalk.  You don’t build a tree house on a city light pole… and you don’t brag about your ability to war when God is the one who gave you strength, and you merely an instrument for His justice.

I’ve written a lot about the use of war to achieve justice …

Yesterday, I posted on The Game of Life.  Well, the next scripture on righteousness explains to us some of the rules.
 11 The LORD thunders
       at the head of his army;
       his forces are beyond number,
       and mighty are those who obey his command.
       The day of the LORD is great;
       it is dreadful.
       Who can endure it?

- - -

 17 Let the priests, who minister before the LORD,
       weep between the temple porch and the altar.
       Let them say, “Spare your people, O LORD.
       Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
       a byword among the nations.
       Why should they say among the peoples,
       ‘Where …

Suppose two people are playing game.  Let’s say it is chess.  Each has 16 men on the board.  As the game proceeds, men are taken as each side tries to endanger the other’s king.  Eventually, one of the kings is in checkmate, and the game is over.  The players stand up and shake hands.  The loser has learned a lot and looks forward to the next game; the winner cannot believe what a loser his opponent was, and looks forward to humiliating him again in the future.

Suppose a group of people were playing a game of Monopoly.  They all start buying up properties and charging either other rent.  When all the properties are bought up one of them begins bargaining and trading, until he …

3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
I find it interesting that Daniel was told that we are too lead people to righteousness, and yet the goal of modern Judaism is not to do that, but to simply live righteously.  It is Christians who try and lead people to righteousness, specifically: belief, obedience, and zealousness for God’s name.

I believe this is one of the reasons God brought about the church.  It is sad to me, but as a rule my fellow Jews do not see it as their responsibility to add names to the book of life, except perhaps for …