Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | September 1, 2012
Humans live a non-divine form of “incarnation.” Jesus came to this existence to live as we do, dual beings, flesh and spirit – “God with us.” Just the name Immanuel, “God with us” suggests a partnership in duality. Our spirits are embodied in flesh (the meaning of incarnate); both claiming ownership as “I” as God […]
PHall | August 29, 2012
Finally, and as a wrap-around to our first point, each of the eight blessed pronouncements is spiritual in nature. Our society, much like every society that is not the kingdom of God, values the opposites. Materialism is a danger to every person, even Christians. That is why even though beginning His sermon with “blessed are […]
PHall | August 28, 2012
Studying the Beatitudes and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount leads to seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (6:33). In our spiritual infancy, we begin studying the text, asking what the text reveals about righteousness. We ask, “What does the text say?” – Technical Studying. Then maturing, we become uncomfortably self-aware of righteous […]
PHall | August 27, 2012
From Revelation back to Genesis one recurring theme is that the “all-everything,” perfect God enters into partnerships with His imperfect creation. These partnerships are called covenants from a legal perspective, or more personally, fellowship. These partnerships have at least one commonality, that God does what human beings cannot, but demands that we do all we […]
PHall | August 25, 2012
God created us to be social creatures. So this next point, just like the second one, will sound strange. Fifth, we discover even when we are happy because of the actions of others; it is not the action itself which makes us happy. In fact, we can be happy despite others and their actions. After […]
PHall | August 24, 2012
What do the Sermon on the Mount and Ecclesiastes have in common? Both are about the answer to true happiness. Ecclesiastes closes with the secret revealed, and the Sermon on the Mount opens with the answer. While there are different ways to translate and interpret Ecclesiastes 12:13, I prefer the one which is the most […]
PHall | August 24, 2012
God never intended citizens of His kingdom to just sit around “being and believing.” The Beatitudes are not yoga positions, nor breathing techniques. If you allow me a little linguistic leeway, Jesus begins His Sermon on the Mount with both BE-attitudes and DO-attitudes. Notice the BE-DO rhythm: BE – Poor in spirit; DO – Mourn; […]
PHall | August 22, 2012
From Jesus’ Beatitudes, we glean from that happiness is determined by what we are. Blessed are: the poor in spirit; the gentle; the merciful; the pure in heart. Have you ever heard someone say, “You can never run away from your troubles because wherever you are, you always take you with you.” Well, the reverse […]
PHall | August 21, 2012
Happiness depends upon me. That just seems scripturally wrong, even flagrantly arrogant. But just as everything Jesus said within the Sermon on the Mount must be taken with His context, this must too. This point is only true if the first point is true, that happiness comes from God. Listen carefully to the contextual answer. […]
PHall | August 19, 2012
Do you know who believes in salvation by works more than anyone else? You might be surprised. Within Christianity there has been a perpetual discussion and disagreement on the place of works and obedience. Protestants condemn Catholics for their “Hail Marys” and Evangelicals are split between those affirming and decrying “Lordship Salvation.” But I have […]