It was a Wednesday night at the Weyrauchs’ house, nearly fifty years ago. Dewey Bertolini stood by the brick fireplace and said something that has stayed with me ever since: *“In the Bible, numbers have meaning.”* Half a century later, here is what I have come to see about the patterns of grace.
James 2:13 contains one of the most striking sentences in the
New Testament: “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” But what does
that mean — and what does it not mean?
In our latest Bible study, we walk through James 2:8–13 with
both Greek precision and pastoral honesty, showing how the
royal law of love (v.8) and the triumph of mercy (v.13) form
a single ethical unit: the Law of Christ. For seekers, for
pastors, for small groups, for anyone tired of churches that
have forgotten how to be merciful without forgetting how to
be true.
Read or download below.
After eleven chapters of theology, Paul finally turns his pen to the
visible shape of grace. Romans 12:9-13 paints the portrait in twelve
quick brushstrokes — genuine love, recoiled-from evil, family
affection, outward honor, fervent zeal, patient hope, constant prayer,
shared resources, open doors. This study traces every line through
peshat, remez, drash, and sod.
The Apostle John says the commandment to love one another is
both old and new. Old, because it has been the heart of God’s
covenant from the beginning. New, because it has now been
embodied and made livable in Jesus Christ. In this study we
walk slowly through 1 John 2:7-14 — the Greek behind the text,
the historical setting, the Old Testament echoes, and the
quiet, costly invitation it still extends to us today.
