Jonathan Samuel's Pilgrim Thoughts
A thoughtful reflection on the grand narrative of the Holy Scriptures
recent posts
- “From Guilt to Glory: The Transformative Power of Justification and Reconciliation in Romans 5:1–11”
- The Hope of Resurrection in the Major Prophets: A Biblical and Evangelical Reflection
- Embracing God’s Mission: Christian Acceptance and Forgiveness in the Book of Philemon
- Bearing the Burden of Reconciliation: Learning from Paul’s Letter to Philemon
- The Personhood of Satan and Demons: A Biblical Call to Watchfulness
about
Category: Uncategorized
-
“From Guilt to Glory: The Transformative Power of Justification and Reconciliation in Romans 5:1–11”
The Turning Point of Redemption Romans 5:1–11 stands as a luminous doorway between the guilt of sin and the glory of salvation. After Paul’s sweeping exposition of human depravity and divine righteousness in chapters 1–4, he opens this section with a breathtaking announcement—justification not only changes our status before God; it changes our story with…
-
The story of the Bible is indeed the grand narrative of life triumphing over death, echoing throughout its pages and resonating deeply in the hearts of believers. From the very dust of Eden, where God breathed life into humanity, to the empty tomb of our Lord in Jerusalem, the Scriptures declare that God’s final word…
-
A Letter Beyond Its Time The small, personal letter of Paul to Philemon might at first seem insignificant compared to the doctrinal weight of Romans or the cosmic Christology of Colossians. Yet, nestled within its twenty-five verses is a timeless message of reconciliation. This short epistle is not merely about a runaway slave returning to…
-
The Beauty of the Gospel in Brokenness In nearly every church across the globe, one can sense the scars of division—strained relationships, misunderstandings, unresolved grievances, and even lingering bitterness. These fractures are not new to the life of God’s people. From the first century, the body of Christ wrestled with the challenge of living out…
-
Facing the Question of Reality From the beginning of time, people have asked: Is Satan truly real, or is he just a symbol of evil? Many in our modern age prefer to think of the devil and demons as cultural myths, psychological struggles, or abstract forces. Yet the Word of God tells us otherwise. Scripture…
-
The Ache of Barrenness Having trouble having children can be one of the heaviest burdens for a married couple. The Bible shares the sadness of this experience in the stories of Sarah (Gen. 11:30; 21:1–7), Rachel (Gen. 29:31; 30:1), Hannah (1 Sam. 1:2–11), and Elizabeth (Luke 1:7). Their pain was felt not just by them,…
-
“Show Me Your Glory!” – Humanity’s Ancient Cry From the earliest pages of Scripture, we see that a deep longing exists within every human heart: the desire to behold God. This desire is woven into our very being, showing just how much we yearn for a true connection with our Creator. When Moses asked God,…
-
One of the greatest blessings of the gospel is this: every believer in Christ is a priest. The Bible calls us a “royal priesthood” (1 Pet 2:9), and this truth lifts us into a life of dignity and responsibility. For Martin Luther and the Reformers, this truth was like a trumpet blast, stirring the hearts…
-
Etymology and Biblical Roots When we talk about the church, we are referring to something that belongs to Jesus Christ. The word church comes from the Greek word kyriakos (κυριακός), which means “belonging to the Lord.” Early on, this term referred to kyriakon oikos—“the Lord’s house” (Elwell 2001, 215). This tells us that the church…
-
In our Christian journey today, we encounter many struggles—trials, doubts, losses, and pressures that can feel heavy and lonely. For our spiritual growth and stability, we need strong faith, which acts like an anchor during tough times and a light of hope in darkness. Gennesaret, a small area noted in the Gospels (Matthew 14:34; Mark…
Jonathan Samuel's Pilgrim Thoughts 