Josh Benner

Category: Commentary

  • You can’t love God if you don’t love people

    Originally published December 13, 2016 James says If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well” (James 2:8).  points Royal Law is an interesting phrase. That’s the only time it’s used in the entire Bible. James follows up mentioning this royal law…

  • Couldn’t God just forgive us? Why was the cross necessary?

    A person might look at the crucifixion, look at what the Lord did on the cross, and wonder “Why was that the only way? Why was that necessary? Couldn’t God simply forgive us?” No. This is an idea I’ve heard from Tim Keller before, and it’s an important idea on having a theology of forgiveness.…

  • The American Gospel and the meaning of Easter

    Originally posted April 6, 2012 Statistically, we know that the vast majority of Americans believe in some form of a higher power. There are relatively few who are atheists. Since people do believe that there is something, and since it’s so easy to think of the majority of Americans as Christians, many simply attach themselves…

  • Jesus and the Last Supper – more than just a meal

    Originally published April 13, 2017 As part of Holy Week, Maundy Thursday is recognized this evening. It was the night in which Jesus ate the Last Supper with his disciples. The time in which Jesus died corresponded with the Jewish holiday of Passover. And the Last Supper was the first night of Passover. An annual…

  • Life lessons from baseball

      Tomorrow is opening day of the 2018 Major League Baseball season. Between opening day and the end of the season in early November, more than 2,430 games will be played. Baseball’s regular season is the longest in American professional sports, nearly doubling the 82 games NBA and NHL seasons. I think about the baseball…