First Corinthians 15:28 has long been a crux interpretum for Christology and Trinitarian theology. Paul’s claim that “the Son himself will be subjected” has been read by some. They believe it implies eternal subordination within the Trinity. Some interpreters have taken Paul’s language in 1 Cor 15:28 in different ways. Some suggest it shows that … Continue reading “That God May Be All in All”: Messianic Subjection and Trinitarian Consummation in 1 Corinthians 15:28
Author: Donnie L. DeBord
The Church as the Visible People of God: An Exploration of Ecclesiology
Before the church ever gathers, organizes, sings, or sends, God has already acted. The church is not a humanly devised institution. It is a divinely constituted, visibly ordered people. They are brought into being by the gospel. They are structured by apostolic teaching and sustained by participation in Christ. Ecclesiology in the Churches of Christ … Continue reading The Church as the Visible People of God: An Exploration of Ecclesiology
Was There An Empty Seat in Heaven
Did heaven have an empty seat when Christ was born in Mary’s womb? Was the throne vacant when the Son cried in the manger? Was the Father away from the Son while he hang on the cross (Ps 22:24)? When the Son of God became man, did God step back from being God? The mystery … Continue reading Was There An Empty Seat in Heaven
The Triune Life as the Epitome of Blessedness
Divine blessedness is not a solitary perfection. It is the eternal, relational joy of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the fountain of every creaturely delight and the measure of all true happiness. Scripture locates God’s blessedness inside the triune relations. The Son is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint … Continue reading The Triune Life as the Epitome of Blessedness
Compatibilism and the Biblical Doctrine of Human Freedom and Divine Sovereignty
I. Introduction Debates concerning divine sovereignty and human freedom occupy a central place in Christian theology. Much of the contemporary conversation is shaped by philosophical categories borrowed from analytic philosophy, particularly libertarian versus compatibilist conceptions of human agency. Libertarianism defines freedom as the power to choose between genuine alternatives independent of determining causes. Compatibilism defines … Continue reading Compatibilism and the Biblical Doctrine of Human Freedom and Divine Sovereignty
Baptism, Forgiveness, and Incorporation into the Church:
Abstract This research seeks to establish a biblical and historically grounded theology of baptism in which the sacrament is understood as the moment of divine action in the forgiveness of sins and the incorporation of believers into the visible church. Beginning with close exegesis of the relevant New Testament texts, the study proceeds to the … Continue reading Baptism, Forgiveness, and Incorporation into the Church:
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
A right understanding of the gift of the Holy Spirit must begin with a right understanding of the Spirit Himself. Scripture never reduces the Spirit to a substance, or to a divine package of abilities, or to an impersonal influence that drifts into human experience. The Spirit is God. The Spirit is the third person … Continue reading The Gift of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit: God’s Gift of Life, Communion, and Hope
Scripture reveals the Spirit as the fully divine giver of life who eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son and unites believers to Christ, bringing regeneration, sanctification, illumination, mission, and eschatological hope. 1. The Question Before Us Christian theology eventually brings the reader to the living mystery of the Spirit. The Spirit is present … Continue reading The Holy Spirit: God’s Gift of Life, Communion, and Hope
Christ the Head of the Church: A Case for Congregational Order
Christ alone rules his church. Every congregation stands directly before him, ordered by apostolic teaching and not governed by distant structures or human hierarchies. Many discussions of church governance begin with denominational habits or institutional memory. Some Christians have lived under elaborate structures with councils and regional overseers. Others have followed churches that orbit around … Continue reading Christ the Head of the Church: A Case for Congregational Order
How Can Ordinary Congregations Become Extraordinary
Texts: Colossians 3:17; Philippians 1:9–11; Revelation 3:14–22 I. The Mystery of "Something Special" What separates great businesses from average businesses? What makes Buc-ee's better than all the other gas stations? It's not just the bathrooms (though they're immaculate). It's not just the snacks (though the selection is staggering). It's something else. It's the culture. Every … Continue reading How Can Ordinary Congregations Become Extraordinary
Donnie's Dogmatics 