Reformed Reasoning

The Deity of Christ

2009-07-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

Christian orthodoxy states that Christ is the Redeemer of men. So do many unorthodox groups who call themselves Christians, such as Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses. Yet many erroneously claim that He is not God incarnate. The Muslims state he is simply a prophet, like Mohammad. The Mormons believe he is the created brother of Lucifer. The Jehovah Witnesses believe he is the created archangel Michael. Muslims don't call themselves Christians, so I am not going to deal with them here specifically. And while Mormons and JW's claim to be Christians, we will see that they cannot make that claim since they don't know who the real Christ is.

Both the Mormons and the JW's claim that Christ is the redeemer of mankind, although their works also add to the equation. But can a creature redeem humanity? Is it possible for a created being to perfectly adhere to the moral law of God? Was Christ a mere man? Was he an angel? Without addressing the error of works salvation in this post, (which may be done in a future post since all religions apart from biblical Christianity believe this in one form or another), I would like to address the aspects of the nature of Jesus Christ and present some clear bible passages which affirm the deity of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1:23 "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,and they shall call his name Immanuel"(which means, God with us).

Matthew not only points to the fulfilled prophecy spoken of in Isaiah 7:14, but he also makes a vividly explicit statement to the meaning of this birth. The one who is conceived is "God with us".

John 1:1-5; 14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
...
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Here, John also makes an explicit claim to the deity of Christ. Not only does he state it clearly in verse 1 by stating "the Word was God", but he also attributes this abstract concept of the term "word" to a person. This "word" became flesh and tabernacled among us, according to verse 14. That person is Christ, the focus of John's gospel.

The reason John uses the phrase "and tabernacled (or dwelt) among us" is because that is how the Jews related to God. God dwelt among His people in the old testament. He would dwell among His people in the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35) and lead them by resting upon the tabernacle. The people would have seen the direct correlation being made by using that wording. Not only did this Word who is God become flesh, but He also dwelt among the people.

John also puts to rest the idea that the Son of God was a created being when he states in verse 3 that "all things were made through him and without him was not anything made that was made." That statement is pretty clear in affirming that NOTHING has been made apart from the Son. According to Mormons and JW's, the Son was a created being, but how can this be so? He cannot have created himself! That verse would have to read "except for him, not anything was made that was made."

If he was a created being, then he had to have played a role in his own creation, since nothing was made without him. This simply cannot be so.

Colossians 1:¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Again, verse 16 explicitly states that all things were created through him and for him. It does not say nearly all things, or all things besides himself. It shows that everything in heaven (that would include angels), and everything on earth was created through him. How? He is the Word of God. God spoke. Christ is the expression of the Father. This is a complex mystery of the relationship within the Godhead that I confess I do not fully comprehend. But I do see clearly that all created things were created through him and for him.

"But look, verse 15 says that he is 'firstborn' of all creation! See? He is created. It says it right there!" That is the canned answer to all who use this verse to attack the deity of Christ, but this doesn't take into account the cultural aspect of the term 'firstborn'. What did that mean to Paul? What did it mean to the Colossians to whom he was writing? We must take all of Scripture into account, so if one part says nothing was made without him, then this verse can't mean that something was made without him (namely himself). It means quite simply that Christ is the preeminent one. When the Jews would speak of being the firstborn, that term didn't mean merely that the child was the oldest in the family. When spoken of the male, it meant that he is the heir of the family possessions. They are entitled to all their father owns when he either dies, or gives it freely (as seen in the parable of the prodigal son).

Furthermore, we see in Psalm 89 the following:

Psalm 89:2-28
²⁶He shall cry to me, 'You are my Father,
my God, and the Rock of my salvation.'
²⁷And I will make him the firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth.²⁸My steadfast love I will keep for him forever,
and my covenant will stand firm for him.

David, speaking of Christ in a prophetic sense, states that the Father will make (establish, appoint) the Son the firstborn, and then in classic hebrew style, interprets himself in the next verse via parallelism by saying that firstborn means to be "highest of the kings of the earth." He will be established in his rightful place in inheriting all the Father owns. So using the proper technique of letting Scripture interpret Scripture, it can be plainly stated that when the term "firstborn" is used in Colossians 1:15, it is NOT speaking of his "spiritual birth" or any other such means of creation. It is speaking plainly about his position of authority OVER creation.

Now for the passage that prompted this blog entry.

Psalm 49:7-9
7 Truly no man can ransom another,
or give to God the price of his life,
8 for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,
9 that he should live on forever
and never see the pit.

These verses display the problem with simply acknowledging the humanity of Christ without taking into account his other nature, namely his deity. The psalm writer shows by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit his understanding of the price of sin. He acknowledges not only the heavy price for it, but the inability for a mere man to pay it. An infinitely holy God is infinitely offended by sin, therefore the finite man must pay an infinite price which he is unable to do for himself, let alone any others. If this is so (and it cannot be denied for any who believe Scripture is the inspired word of God), then if Jesus Christ were merely a mortal man, he would be unqualified to atone for the sins of anyone, let alone the myriad of people mentioned to be atoned by his blood in Scripture (Heb 9:14; 1Pet 1:2, 19; Rev 1:5). There has to be more to this Jesus than mortality and manhood.

So would being an angel make his atonement able to cover the sins of a multitude? Let us examine this point.

First of all, the word angel is the hebrew word mal'ak and the greek word aggelos. Both words simply mean "messenger". So the word angel is simply one who brings a message from someone. In the case of the Scriptures, that someone is God. Now Christ was much more than a mere messenger.

He was heralded in as the Redeemer and the Lamb of God by John the Baptist (John 1:29)
He was called the King of the Jews (Matt 2:2, 27:11)
He was known as the Messiah, which means 'Anointed One'. (John 1:41; 4:25)
He was the Son of God (Matt 8:29; 14:33)
He was the Son of Man (Jesus used this title for himself countless times)
He was the Son of David (Matt 9:27; 15:22)

Each one of these titles signifies a distinct purpose of Jesus. I will leave it up to the reader to look into each of these titles, since that is not the purpose of this article.

Was Christ nothing but an angel? Let us look at the letter to the Hebrews. In fact, the first two chapters deal specifically with this topic and I encourage you to read them right now. I shall take a few verses and expound on them here.

Heb 1:3-5
³ He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
⁵ For to which of the angels did God ever say,

"You are my Son,
today I have begotten you"?
Or again,

"I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son"?

Why does the writer state that he "became" more superior to angels? Was he simply an exalted angel? No. He was made lower than the angels first (Heb 2:7). And after his work was accomplished, he was raised up to the right hand of God, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Heb 1:6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

"Let all God’s angels worship him."

The angels are not worshiped in Scripture (Rev 19:10; 22:9). The only one worthy of worship is God Almighty. You might say "what about the angel of the LORD in the old testament?" But what or who is angel of the LORD? It was a theophany. A manifestation of the presence of God. The angel of the LORD is referred to AS God in Genesis 16:7-13, Genesis 22:11-17, Exodus 3:2-4, Judges 2:1-3, Judges 13:18-22, Psalms 34:7 and Zechariah 12:8. So this title "angel of the LORD" is not speaking merely of a created angel, but is more specifically speaking of a manifestation of God Himself.

So we have dealt with some of the explicit claims of his deity and some of the most common objections to it. Much more could be said, but this is, after all, a blog post and not a book!

I would gladly address any specific objections or points in the comments.

May God be glorified in this post. Amen

AN ADDRESS TO THE YOUNG READERS OF THIS CATECHISM

2009-07-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

Taken from:
An Essay Towards an Easy, Plain, Practical, and Extensive Explication
of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism

By John Brown

My dear young Ones, for whom my heart's desire and prayer to God is, that ye may be saved; Let me beseech you, while you read this, and especially while you read your Bible, or hear the precious truths contained in it preached to you, to 'hearken and hear for the time, for the eternity to come.' Now, now, in the most proper season of it, 'get wisdom as the principal thing;' and 'with all your getting, get understanding' of the important, the infinitely important, concerns of your salvation.

What! 'know ye not your own selves?'—For the Lord's sake, seriously think what souls ye have; immortal souls;—souls, one of which is inconceivably more worth than ten thousand worlds;—souls which are capable of enjoying an infinite God as their everlasting ALL IN ALL ;—souls which shall, which must, ere long, enter into an eternal state of inconceivable misery or happiness.—Alas! my young Friends, must souls formed by God himself—souls endowed with an understanding and will—souls formed to live for ever—souls formed for the everlasting and immediate service and enjoyment of God ; must souls which, by the mercy of God have been solemnly devoted to him in baptismal and other covenant engagements—souls, upon which parents, masters, and ministers, have bestowed so many prayers, instructions, and exhortations—souls, upon which God himself hath bestowed such instruction, warning, terrible alarms, and engaging allurements, and such striving of his Spirit,—be lost, for ever lost,—for ever damned, by you who possess them, in order to obtain some trifling, some carnal, some filthy, some pernicious gratification, that perhaps a beast would contemn?

O think, as before God, what state you are in, while ye remain careless and unconverted.—Being 'without Christ,' and 'strangers to the covenant of promise,' ye are altogether 'guilty before God, alienated from the life of God,' and enemies to him; cursed and condemned by God, because ye have not believed in his only begotten Son,—having no holiness 'no hope,' and 'without God, in the world.'—Being 'children of the devil,' your heart is 'filled with all unrighteousness, pride, debate, deceit, malignity,' hatred of God—is full of all ignorance, unbelief, 'subtlety and mischief.' It is 'deceitful, above all things, and desperately wicked.' Its 'carnal mind is enmity against God,' and 'is not subject to his law, neither indeed can be.' It is infected with every defiling, every ruinous, every damning plague; replenished with every sinful lust, in the reigning power of it, and inhabited by legions of devils, ready to tempt you to every thing wicked.—Out of it, as permitted by God, have, in all the past hours of your life, 'proceeded evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, idolatries, blasphemies.' Ye have lived 'after the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, who worketh in' you as 'children of disobedience.' Ye have hitherto been foolish and disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures; living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another;’—speaking and doing 'evil things as ye could.'— And, ah! what innumerable, what dreadful curses of Almighty God are inseparably annexed to all your sinful dispositions, thoughts, words, and actions! Alas! how those render all things, Christ and his Gospel not excepted, the 'savour of death unto death' unto you!—Dreadful thought! Eternal destruction is ready at your side. ‘God is angry with you every day;' his 'wrath abideth' on you; his 'sword is drawn’ and his 'bow bent,' and his 'arrows set’ to destroy you.—A sound of your approaching damnation roars aloud, had you ears to hear it, in every threatening of his word. Even while you hear this sentence, hell stands open to receive you, and devils stand ready to drag you into everlasting fire. Why then are you not afraid to think another careless thought? Why not afraid to shut your eyes, even in necessary sleep, lest you should open them in hell?

My dear children, O think, with grief, with shame, with trembling, think, with perseverance and deep concern, think how criminal and heinous before the Lord, are the sins of your youth, which ye look upon as mere trifles, as mere gaiety and sport. They are the accursed product of your inward, your original, and increased ignorance, pride, deceit, folly, filthiness, and enmity against God.—They are a most treacherous rebellion against his law, which is 'holy, just, and good.'—They are committed against his authority over you, and against all his warnings, counsels, promises, threatenings, mercies, and judgments.—They are ungratefully committed against all his peculiar favours in preserving and providing for you, while you could not help yourselves.—They are committed against all his peculiar calls, invitations, promises, and encouragements, to young ones.—They are a most base prostitution of the excellent talents, amiableness, and vigour, with which he hath endowed you in your youth.—They are a most perverse abuse of that peculiarly precious season of life, in which you ought to prepare for future usefulness and happiness.—They mightily increase and strengthen the original habits of corruption in you, and form in you many base acquired habits of vanity and lust.—They fearfully pervert the use of your tender affections, in opposition to God and his ways. —They are committed upon small and trifling temptations.—They strongly entice others around you to sin, or harden them in it.—They fling reproach upon God, your Maker, Preserver, and Saviour, as if he, his promises, laws, mercies, and judgments, were unworthy of your early regard, and did encourage you in sin.—They defame your parents, masters, and ministers, as if they had agreed to train you up for the devil.—They draw down reproach on yourselves, which ye must bear, either in deep convictions, or in everlasting punishment.—They deprive you of the most pleasant and profitable fellowship with God.—They forfeit for you the precious promises of long life and prosperity.—They expose you to fearful judgments in this life, and to the 'damnation of hell' in the next.—Are these light matters? will you reckon them such in the agonies of death, at the tribunal of Christ, or amidst the flames of hell?

Alas! why do ye, by your unconcern, your folly, your wickedness, take such pains, such early pains, to fit yourselves to be fuel for that 'everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels!' If God grant you repentance, how it will sting you to recollect what earnest offers, what eminent opportunities of receiving his grace, ye have contemned, neglected and abused; what infinite kindness, condescension, and love, ye have trampled under your feet; what fellowship with Christ, and his Father, and blessed Spirit, ye have despised and refused; what ravishing views of his glory, and of all the perfections of God in him, as manifested, and to be for ever manifested in your eternal salvation; what delightful tasting of his goodness, and what enriching reception of his fulness, you have rejected, for the sake of the meanest or the filthiest pleasure or profit on earth, which will entail grief and shame on you while you live, and draw multitudes, all around you, to hell before and after your death! If, provoked with your perseverance in folly and guilt, God give you up to your own heart's lusts, alas! how your wickedness will rob him and his Christ of his property in our land and nation, and consign yourselves, your companions, and posterity, nay, even the church and nation, the whole management of which will quickly be in the hands of the rising generation,—for who knows how long,—into the power of the devil, and the hand of an angry God!

My dear young ones, 'know ye the God of your fathers,'—the God who preserved, who guided, who blessed, who saved many of your fathers,—the God to whom your fathers dedicated you, and whom they have recommended to you,—the God who, in your fathers, took you into covenant with himself,—the God, 'whom to know is life eternal, and this life is in his Son.'—We tell you, our posterity, that ' this God is our God for ever,' and he 'will be our guide even unto death.'—We never found him a barren wilderness, nor a land of drought.—We have found infinitely more satisfaction in this God, as our God, given by himself to us, in his word, than could balance all the pleasures, all the wealth, all the honour of ten thousand worlds.—These words, THY GOD, and MY GOD, have been 'found' by us, and we have ' eaten them,' and they have been to us the 'joy and rejoicing of our heart.' There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who pardoneth iniquity, transgression, and sin, and who 'delighteth in mercy.' O how our hearts are ravished, when we think how 'this God,' this ' fountain of living' waters, 'shall be our eternal ALL IN ALL, the strength of our heart and portion for ever. If even on this sinful, this wretched earth, wisdom's ways be such ways of pleasantness, what must it be for ever to enter to the joy of our Lord ! 'We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. O 'come, taste and see that our God is good,' and that they who trust in him are blessed. O 'consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.' Come, behold our Surety, our Saviour, our Husband, whom our soul loveth, our King, 'meet and lowly,' bringing salvation. Behold our God-man, 'white and ruddy, the chief among ten thousand; fair, yea pleasant, most sweet,' and 'altogether lovely.' This is our Beloved, our Friend, our Mediator, our God, O ye 'sons and daughters of Jerusalem.'—Looking off all the vanities of creation, consider him in his unparalleled person, the only begotten Son of God in our nature; in his saving offices, his endearing relations, his incomparable excellences, services, sufferings, and glories; his unbounded fulness of grace and truth, and every good thing proper to be bestowed on us in time and eternity, and then tell us what ye think of our Christ.

Alas ! my dear boys and girls, Do you believe that there is a God, who made you, who gave you a law for your heart and life, and who will quickly call you to an account of every thought, word, and deed,—and never think of, never tremble at the view of your appearance before his tribunal, or of your lying for ever under his infinite wrath? Have ye not seen, tasted, and felt, 'that God is good?' Have ye not heard, have ye not known, what he hath done for the eternal salvation of sinful men? and will ye render him contempt and hatred for all his bounty and love ?—Have you a natural principle of regard to your own preservation and welfare,—and yet will ye counteract it, by a malicious and obstinate refusal of our infinitely lovely Lord Jesus, and all his everlasting righteousness, mercy and grace ? —Hath God implanted in your breast a tender compassion towards the very beasts that perish,—and yet will ye be so inhumanly cruel as to break the hearts of your godly parents, masters, ministers, or neighbours, — and, if possible, break the heart of our infinitely gracious Redeemer, and his Father and blessed Spirit, by your crucifying him afresh, trampling his covenant and blood under your feet, and murdering your own soul ?—Alas! will you employ your vigorous minds in thinking on, and learning every thing but Jesus Christ, and what relates to him ?—Will you readily believe every thing; but the excellent, the gracious words of a 'God who cannot lie,'—his 'faithful saying, worthy of all acceptation,' that 'Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners,' even 'the chief,'—'his record,' that in his Son, there is eternal life prepared for, and given to you?—Will you earnestly desire every thing but Jesus, the 'pearl of great price,' the 'unspeakable gift,' of God, and his great and everlasting salvation?—Will you comply with every thing but the offers of the glorious Gospel, and covenant of grace, 'well ordered in all things and sure?'—Will you thankfully receive every thing but God himself,—but the true bread of life, which the Lord your God giveth you from heaven ?—Why fond of every form of comeliness, but that of gracious conformity to God ?—Why fond of every pleasure, every joy, but that rejoicing in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, which is 'joy unspeakable and full of glory?

Suffer me to expostulate a little with you on God's behalf,—and on your own soul's behalf. Why, in your peculiar day of grace, do you indulge such ignorance of Jehovah and his law,—of Jesus and his salvation,—and of their necessity and usefulness for you?—Why indulge such contempt and unbelief of the gospel of the grace of God?—-Why encourage and promote such filthiness, and desperate hardness of heart?—Why cherish such superlative attachment to 'loss and dung,' —-to the perishing pleasures and profits of sin and sense?—Why cultivate such malice and enmity against Jesus Christ, and his Father, and blessed Spirit, as to 'make light of,' and 'neglect' his infinitely precious, necessary, and 'great salvation.'—Oh ! that you but felt 'the word of God quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of your soul and spirit,' joints and marrow, as 'a discerner of the thoughts and intents of your heart!'—Oh I that ye but knew the infinite sinfulness which is in, and on you, and the infinite and everlasting misery which awaits you!—Oh! that you would believe God's peremptory and infallible declarations of the absolute necessity of his supernatural change of your state and nature, that, 'Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven:—Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God:—Except a man be born of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God:—If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature: all old things are passed away, and all things are become new.—In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing, but a new creature.' Without holiness, 'no man shall see the Lord.'—We must be 'begotten again' by God, 'to lively hope, by the resurrection of Christ from the dead;—born again of incorruptible seed, by the word of God.'—And putting off the 'old man,' with his deceitful lusts, and putting on the 'new man,' which, after God, is created in 'knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness,' ye must as 'new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:'—For, 'if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.'—O that ye knew in this your days of youth, while your faculties are fresh and vigorous,—while your affections are tender and lively,—while your lusts are less powerful, your hearts less hardened, and your worldly cares less embarrassing, that fellowship with the Father, in his redeeming love, which ye so unthinkingly neglect;—with the Son in his blood and grace, which ye so wickedly despise; and with the Holy Ghost, in his influences, which ye so madly resist !—O that ye but knew the 'riches of the glory of the gospel, which is Christ in you the hope of glory!'—that ye but apprehended, with all saints, 'what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height,' and knew the power and the 'love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.' O think I with astonishment think, what kind of preparations God hath made for your everlasting salvation ;—how he 'so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life!—how he set him 'up from everlasting,' as our Surety, who engaged his heart to approach to the Lord, and delight to do his will in ransoming and saving us,— how, in his incarnation, he brought him into this world 'in the likeness of sinful flesh,' the 'man' his 'fellow,'—and our 'near kinsman and brother, born for adversity!'—how he 'made him under the law,' and exacted from him all the infinite debt of obedience and suffering due from us!—'that he might redeem us that were under the law!'—how 'he made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we, 'who knew nothing but sin,' might be made the righteousness of God in him!'—how he made him 'a curse for us,' that we men, we Gentiles, might be 'blessed in him with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places!'—how he put him to grief—to death —for us, that we might live through him, in the joy of the Lord!—how he 'delivered' him 'for our offences,' and 'raised' him 'again for our justification;'—'Gave him glory' for himself and unbounded fulness of gifts,' for men, yea, for the rebellious, that our faith and hope might be in God!'—and how he hath made, and in his gospel, and its influence, maketh him to us, 'wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption!'—And, O think with application think—with what infinite candour, and compassionate earnestness, Jehovah, Son, and Holy Ghost, by all his words, declarations, invitations, commands, promises, and threatenings;—by all his works, as therewith connected ;—by all his mercies and judgments;—by all his ordinances and ministers ;—by all your needs in time and eternity;—by all your desires—and by all your vows and engagements ;—calls, beseecheth, intreats, obtests, and expostulates with you, to receive himself, and all his full and everlasting salvation, offered to you in the gospel, 'freely, without money and without price!'

Alas! my dear young men and women, why are you so prone to hunt after, listen to, and comply with every temptation of Satan, your destroyer;—every enticement of your vain companions :—every suggestion of your foolish and wicked heart,—to your temporal and eternal ruin :—and yet so deaf, so averse to, and obstinate against the most earnest entreaties of the great God, your Saviour?—Do they love you more; or have they, or will they, or can they do more, for your everlasting welfare, than he?—Why, by your ready compliance with every thing ruinous—and by your obstinate resistance of all attempts to promote your true holiness and happiness,—do you labour to pull down everlasting destruction upon your own heads?—Why thus labour to extract your most dreadful ruin from all the perfections of a gracious God;—from all the persons of the Godhead;—from all his purposes, covenants, words, and works;—and from all persons, and their actions, with whom you are connected, or do converse?

Nay, my beloved children, whom I wish for my 'joy and crown in the day of the Lord.'—When so much of the best of your time is already spent in vanity and wrath;—when death, judgment, and eternity hasten to meet you;—when your judgment now of a long time 'lingereth not,' your ' damnation slumbereth not;'— why should you delay your deepest concern, about your eternal salvation, one moment more?—Why defer coming to an infinitely gracious Redeemer,—to the 'Lord God merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, and forgiving iniquity transgression, and sin?'—Why delay, when called 'from darkness' to God's 'marvellous light;' called to receive 'redemption through Jesus' blood;—to receive out of his fulness and grace for grace- called to the fellowship of God's Son;'—called to be 'heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ?'—Why lose another year, another month, another hour, another moment, without the enjoyment, the infinitely sweet enjoyment, of God in Christ, at your Father, Husband, Friend, and Portion? Why hide yourselves 'among the stuff' of vain or earthly cares, when a 'kingdom which cannot be moved,' is offered unto you?—Why, to render your eternal damnation more certain, and more dreadful, every moment, and your way of escape more difficult,— should you remain among devils, and carnal companions, and filthy lusts, when Jesus is lifting up his voice and crying, ' Whosoever will let him come unto me.— Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.—Arise my love, my polluted one, and come away. Come with me from Lebanon, with me from Lebanon.—Come ye to the waters; yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price. Incline your ear, and come unto me ; hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.' Eat ye 'that which is good,' and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 'Behold I stand at the door' of thine heart, 'and knock: Open to me, my sister, my love, my' defiled; 'for my head is filled with the dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.' When you hasten from storms, from trouble, from outward danger, why not make haste to Jesus, the refuge, the hope, set before you ?—When he saith, 'To-day if ye will hear my voice,' harden not 'your hearts; now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation;' why should you say, To-morrow? When he waits to be gracious, and exalteth himself to ' shew mercy,'—why tire out his patience till he 'shut up all his tender mercies in his wrath?' Is 'it a small thing for you to weary men,'—weary parents, and ministers? 'But will ye weary my God also?'

Lord Jesus, make haste to convince, to convert, to save, the rising generation in Britain. They perish—they perish! O Redeemer, make no tarrying. Now be an accepted time; now be a day of salvation. Save now, O Lord, we beseech thee; tend now prosperity.

Entire book here --> http://is.gd/1v3Ub

What is TULIP? The who, why and how of salvation.

2009-06-19T18:07:00.001-07:00

Arminianism and Calvinism

2009-06-17T05:54:00.000-07:00

This quote was taken from J.I. Packer's introduction to the Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen, and it sums up both Arminianism and Calvinism quite succinctly.

First, it should be observed that the “five points of Calvinism,” so-called, are simply the Calvinistic answer to a five-point manifesto (the Remonstrance) put out by certain “Belgic semi-Pelagians” in the early seventeenth century. The theology which it contained (known to history as Arminianism) stemmed from two philosophical principles: first, that divine sovereignty is not compatible with human freedom, nor therefore with human responsibility; second, that ability limits obligation. (The charge of semi-Pelagianism was thus fully justified.) From these principles, the Arminians drew two deductions: first that since the Bible regards faith as a free and responsible human act, it cannot be caused by God, but is exercised independently of Him; second, that since the Bible regards faith as obligatory on the part of all who hear the gospel, ability to believe must be universal. Hence, they maintained, Scripture must be interpreted as teaching the following positions: (1.) Man is never so completely corrupted by sin that he cannot savingly believe the gospel when it is put before him, nor (2.) is he ever so completely controlled by God that he cannot reject it. (3.) God’s election of those who shall be saved is prompted by His foreseeing that they will of their own accord believe. (4.) Christ’s death did not ensure the salvation of anyone, for it did not secure the gift of faith to anyone (there is no such gift); what it did was rather to create a possibility of salvation for everyone if they believe. (5.) It rests with believers to keep themselves in a state of grace by keeping up their faith; those who fail here fall away and are lost. Thus, Arminianism made man’s salvation depend ultimately on man himself, saving faith being viewed throughout as man’s own work and, because his own, not God’s in him.

The Synod of Dort was convened in 1618 to pronounce on this theology, and the “five points of Calvinism” represent its counter-affirmations. They stem from a very different principle—the biblical principle that “salvation is of the Lord”; and they may be summarized thus: (1.) Fallen man in his natural state lacks all power to believe the gospel, just as he lacks all power to believe the law, despite all external inducements that may be extended to him. (2.) God’s election is a free, sovereign, unconditional choice of sinners, as sinners, to be redeemed by Christ, given faith and brought to glory. (3.) The redeeming work of Christ had as its end and goal the salvation of the elect. (4.) The work of the Holy Spirit in bringing men to faith never fails to achieve its object. (5.) Believers are kept in faith and grace by the unconquerable power of God till they come to glory. These five points are conveniently denoted by the mnemonic TULIP: Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, Preservation of the saints.

Now, here are two coherent interpretations of the biblical gospel, which stand in evident opposition to each other. The difference between them is not primarily one of emphasis, but of content. One proclaims a God who saves; the other speaks of a God Who enables man to save himself. One view presents the three great acts of the Holy Trinity for the recovering of lost mankind—election by the Father, redemption by the Son, calling by the Spirit—as directed towards the same persons, and as securing their salvation infallibly. The other view gives each act a different reference (the objects of redemption being all mankind, of calling, those who hear the gospel, and of election, those hearers who respond), and denies that any man’s salvation is secured by any of them. The two theologies thus conceive the plan of salvation in quite different terms. One makes salvation depend on the work of God, the other on a work of man; one regards faith as part of God’s gift of salvation, the other as man’s own contribution to salvation; one gives all the glory of saving believers to God, the other divides the praise between God, Who, so to speak, built the machinery of salvation, and man, who by believing operated it. Plainly, these differences are important, and the permanent value of the “five points,” as a summary of Calvinism, is that they make clear the points at which, and the extent to which, these two conceptions are at variance.

However. it would not be correct simply to equate Calvinism with the “five points.” Five points of our own will make this clear.

To learn of a broader, more well defined definition of Calvinism (and much more), read the entire article here.

Pre-mil? Post mil? Amil? Rapture?

2009-06-05T08:38:00.000-07:00

Let me start right off with this disclaimer: I am not a Left Behind dispensationalist. I find that view to be far outside Scripture with very little basis in proper exegesis and hermeneutics. It makes for great Hollywood, but poor eschatology. For one thing, it dismisses the idea that God is no respecter of persons, because it separates national Israel as a uniquely favored group of people based on their nationality alone, and that view is strongly condemned in the NT epistles. I view the nation of Israel as a foreshadowing of things to come (as much of the OT is), specifically in Christ, and a microcosm of how men generally appear before God (stubborn and rebellious against God).

Having said that, I haven't landed firmly in any millennial camp yet, but I am hovering closely over amillennialism.

First, I think it's wise to give a brief description of the differing types of millennial views regarding Israel and the church.

Amillennialism: The church is the eschatological fulfillment of Israel.
Dispensational Premillennialism: Views church and Israel as two distinct peoples of God with two individual redemptive plans.
Historic Premillenialism: The church is the fulfillment of Israel.
Postmillennialism: The church is the fulfillment of Israel.

Handy Dandy chart: http://www.theologue.org/MillennialChart.html

I think that to distinguish Israel as a distinct nation is to miss the point Paul makes in Romans 9:6-7. Israel, in my estimation, is a TYPE while Christ (not the church) is the fulfillment of that type. In that regard, I disagree with each of these camps. See Matt 2:15 for one Scripture proof.

Now to argue the larger eschatological issue:

A while back, my pastor said in one of his sermons that amillennialists don't believe in a millennium. This is not exactly true. This camp does believe in a millennium, just not a literal 1,000 year period. We (they) believe it is a figurative number that describes a PERIOD of time, or an age. The reason I'm closing in on amillennialism is mainly because I believe we are now in this period of time, and the following is my reasoning from Scripture and history.

First of all, history. Regarding the tribulation of Christians: I recently listened to the Foxe's Book of Martyrs audio book, and if you would have told any Christian up until perhaps the founding of the United States that there would be a FUTURE tribulation of Christians, they would have called you naively uninformed at best and outright crazy at worst. The Christians of the first 17-1800 years underwent some of the most gruesome and inhumane tortures that man could devise. These faithful Christians endured through a VERY GREAT tribulation, and it is only now in this western comfort that we can complacently claim that there is a "still-to-come" tribulation. Even today, in many parts of the world, Christians are going through tribulations of terrible kinds! http://www.persecution.com/

Now from Scripture: This is by no means exhaustive, just preliminary. First of all, the tribulation has been going on since Stephen was stoned as recorded in Acts 7. John also said that he was in the tribulation at the time of his writing the letter at the end of the FIRST century. Rev 1:9a - "I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom..."

Next, I believe the first resurrection spoken of in Rev 20:5 is speaking of regeneration, or spiritual birth.

"Scripture teaches us of two principle resurrections of the dead. It speaks of the resurrection in Christ (John 11:25, Ephesians 2:5) which is the called the first. But it also speaks of another resurrection at the last day (John 11:24, 1st Corinthians 15:52). Only one can be the first resurrection of the saints. And I want to say that again for emphasis. ONLY ONE can be the first Resurrection. And that is what many theologians cannot seem to comprehend. You cannot have two separate events, both called the first resurrection in scripture. That is confusion and God is not the author of confusion. In Revelation 20:5, the First Resurrection refers to what has occurred that made those souls who have died able to live and reign with Christ, while the souls of those who were unsaved (the rest of the dead) could not go to live and reign with Christ. The rest of the dead (unsaved who died) "they lived not again" until the second resurrection when they must be raised from death to stand for judgment before the throne of God. What the chapter is doing is contrasting the souls of the saved, which though they are dead, yet they still live and reign with Christ in heaven, with the souls of the "rest of the dead" (the unsaved) who didn't have life again until the second Resurrection. The ones who reign with Christ after death are those who have had part in the first resurrection. The expression, the First Resurrection clearly refers to the souls of the saints that are raised first, in distinction from the raising of these wicked (rest of the dead) that occurs after the millennium. This is at the the second resurrection."

Source: http://is.gd/GPF3

Thirdly, I believe Christ's kingdom is not a literal physical kingdom as taught by premil dispensationalists: Christ Himself said so in John 18:36 - "Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.""

And to repeat, John believed he was in the kingdom as well in Rev 1:9a - "I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom..."

What kingdom do you suppose John was speaking of?

I also believe the rapture, a phrase coined by John Nelson Darby near the end of the American Civl War, is unbiblical. The text most commonly referred to in defense of this theory is 1 Thess 4:15-17. If I may, another quote regarding this text:

"the New Bible Commentary: Revised:
"'To meet the Lord' (Gk. 'eis apantesin tou
kyriou'): When a dignitary paid an official visit ...
to a city in Hellenistic times, the action of the
leading citizens in going out to meet him and
escorting him on the final stage of his journey was
called the 'apantesis'; it is similarly used in
[Matthew] 25:6; Acts 28:15. So the Lord is pictured
as escorted to the earth by His people--those newly
raised from death and those who have remained
alive.""

I believe this historical context helps paint a better picture of what Paul is referring to. He is saying that this second coming is the FINAL and ONLY second coming. What is commonly explained as "the rapture of the church" in 1 Thess 4:15-17 is imagery of the servants of the Lord meeting and joining with their King as he comes to reign and conquer His enemies. It is not a secret rapture which ushers in a tribulation, or predates the final second coming (how many second comings are there?) The coming of Christ in 1 Thess 4:15-17 IS THE second coming of Christ in judgment. That day is THE Day of the Lord.

This, of course, is just a primer on my view of end times. If it sparks discussion, then perhaps we can fill in some of the details (if anyone reads this blog, that is).

I'm also researching Covenant Theology, which I hope to do a blog entry on in the near future.

Soli Deo Gloria

Anxiety in my eyes ... a blessing in disguise?

2009-05-28T05:19:00.000-07:00

This economy is affecting everything. I've been worried sick for the last few weeks wondering if I'm going to have a job in the near future. I know for a fact that it's going to come down to one of two people .. one of them is me, and one is a veteran.

I don't know how this company is in regards to loyalty, and if that's their only stipulation, then I'm the next one to go. But if they take bang for the buck, then the wise choice would be to keep me. They know this, too, so it will be clear which way they lean when the decision's made. And if they keep Jack, I would respect that. Loyalty to a company's employees is a virtuous thing.

The blessing in disguise from all this is that the Lord has revealed to me where my own loyalties lie. I've been so anxious over this because I don't truly believe that the LORD is my provision. I believe it is my job -- and more specifically, my own labor. I've prayed for forgiveness from this sin, and know that He is faithful and just to forgive me of this sin and cleanse me from it (1 John 1.9). So in a sense, I'm grateful for this. I don't know if this lesson is going to be enough, or if God has more to reveal to me through a layoff, but I'm willing to suffer through it, if it will yield the fruit of righteousness.

This morning, I read a Grace Gem that was perfectly timed (I act surprised ...), and I'm going to share it here. While I believe this letter from John Newton to be speaking more of physical affliction, mental afflictions are just as precarious. And God can sympathize with the weaknesses of our flesh (Hebrews 4.15), for He Himself became flesh and made His dwelling with men (John 1.14). Praise God for His faithfulness!

Then they hiss and spit their venom!

(Letters of John Newton)

"I know, O Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness You have afflicted me!" Psalm 119:75

"God disciplines us for our good--that we may share in His holiness." Hebrews 12:10

In Scripture, we read much concerning the emptiness, vanity and uncertainty of the present world.

When our minds are enlightened by the Holy Spirit--then we receive and acknowledge what His Word declares to be truth. Yet if we remain long without changes and trials, and when our path is very smooth--we are for the most part but faintly affected with what we profess to believe. But when some of our dearest friends die, or we ourselves are brought low with pain and sickness--then we not only say, but feel that this world must not, cannot be our rest!

We know by experience, that though afflictions in themselves are not joyous--but grievous--yet in due season they yield the peaceful fruits of righteousness. Various are the blessed fruits which afflictions produce:

By affliction, prayer is quickened--for our prayers are very apt to grow languid and formal in a time of ease.

Affliction greatly helps us to understand the Scriptures, especially the promises; most of which are made to times of trouble. We cannot so well know their fullness, sweetness and certainty--as when we have been in the situation to which they are suited, have been enabled to trust and plead them, and found them fulfilled in our own case.

We are usually indebted to affliction--as the means or occasion of the most signal discoveries we are favored with--of the wisdom, power, and faithfulness of the Lord. These are best observed by the evident proofs we have--that He is near to support us under trouble, and that He can and does deliver us out of it.

Likewise, many of our graces cannot thrive or manifest themselves, without trials--such as resignation, patience, meekness and long-suffering. Strength of grace is not ordinarily acquired by those who sit still and live at ease.

Afflictions do us good likewise, as they make us more acquainted with what is in our own hearts, and thereby promote humiliation and self-abasement. There are abominations which, like nests of vipers, lie so quietly within our hearts, that we hardly suspect they are there--until the rod of affliction rouses them! Then they hiss and spit their venom! This discovery is indeed very distressing--yet, until it is made, we are prone to think ourselves much less vile than we really are, and cannot so heartily abhor ourselves and repent in dust and ashes.

I must write a sermon rather than a letter--if I would enumerate all the good fruits which, by the power of sanctifying grace, are produced from this bitter tree of affliction!

While we have such a depraved nature, and live in such a polluted world; while the roots of pride, vanity, self-dependence and self-seeking, are so strong within us--we need a variety of sharp afflictions to keep us from cleaving to the dust!

"Before I was afflicted I went astray--but now I obey Your Word." Psalm 119:67

Defeating Calvinism For Dummies

2009-05-16T11:12:00.001-07:00

Don't Waste Your Life

2009-05-06T10:49:00.001-07:00

God of gods

2009-05-02T19:40:00.001-07:00

The Nature of Apostasy

2009-04-30T05:58:00.000-07:00

This book by John Owen has an interesting subtitle. Read for yourself:

THE NATURE OF APOSTASY FROM THE
PROFESSION OF THE GOSPEL AND THE
PUNISHMENT OF APOSTATES DECLARED,

IN

AN EXPOSITION OF HEBREWS 6:4-6;

WITH

An Inquiry Into The Causes And Reasons Of The Decay Of The
Power Of Religion In The World, Or The Present General
Defection From The Truth, Holiness, And Worship Of The Gospel;
Also, Of The Proneness Of Churches And Persons Of All Sorts
Unto Apostasy.

WITH REMEDIES AND MEANS OF PREVENTION.

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES — JOHN 5:39.

To say nothing of the hilarious fact that the title is nearly a half page in itself (in typical Puritan fashion), I find the lowercase paragraph to be of utmost interest. It was written in 1676. I wonder what he'd say if he were alive today. He would probably say the second coming was imminent. And I would probably agree with him.

But that's just idle speculation ...

PS: A link to this book is in my Top Reads list to the right.

If you ever question the validity of a God who would suffer, ponder this;

2009-03-26T18:20:00.001-07:00

I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross. The only God I believe in is the One Nietzsche ridiculed as “God on the cross.” In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? ... [The God I worship is] that lonely, twisted, tortured figure on the cross, nails through hands and feet, back lacerated, limbs wrenched, brow bleeding from thorn-pricks, mouth dry and intolerably thirsty, plunged in God-forsaken darkness. That is the God for me! He laid aside his immunity to pain. He entered our world of flesh and blood, tears and death. He suffered for us. … There is still a question mark against human suffering, but over it we … stamp another mark, the cross, which symbolizes divine suffering.

--John R.W. Stott, in his book The Cross of Christ

Tim Keller quote

2009-03-25T06:05:00.000-07:00

"A looming crisis for all American evangelical churches is that they cannot thrive outside of the shrinking enclaves of conservative and traditional people and culture. We have not created the new ministry and communication... models that will flourish and grow in the coming post-Christian very secular Western world. Our vision should be to develop campus ministries, new churches, Christian education/discipleship systems that are effective in those fields in North America." - Tim Keller

A conversation about the article "The Coming Evangelical Collapse"

2009-03-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

I recently read this article, which has made it's rounds not only in the Christian world, but also in several political areas including the Hugh Hewitt show and the Drudge Report. I shared it with my pastor and asked him for his take on it. Here's the email conversation we had:

Hey Jim,

I read this article earlier this week and immediately thought of your own predictions of our Christian future. I'd like to hear your take on what this article says. It seems pretty relevant and "prophetic" in a sense. It's been making its rounds pretty rapidly. I'm hearing it referenced on secular talk radio (Hugh Hewitt) and seeing it on political websites (Drudge).

...

Hi John,

Thanks for passing along to me this excellent article. I had not seen it yet, but Olsie came across it yesterday and read it to Juli. The guy sounds like an echo. Although I have my doubts about some of his predictions (he agrees some will prove wrong), I think he is spot-on about evangelicalism coming unglued and agree in the main with his analysis of the reasons. One of the biggest causes, however, he slides by. It is not only that so-called evangelicals today are abysmally ignorant of their faith, but a huge part of the problem (related to the former) is that only a minority are radically living it. The difference between those 'out there' and those 'in here' is not obvious. Morally and ethically, the lines are too blurred.

Anyway, I personally think the 'collapse' is already in motion.

Thanks again, John . Will reprint this article for staff et al.
Jim

...

Thanks Jim. I think you're right about the not living it aspect, but why do you suppose so many aren't? I think it's because of the lack of sound doctrinal preaching and the seeker sensitivity of the more prominent churches (Rick Warren, Joel Osteen etc).

I actually think that the church universal won't collapse (the gates of hell will not prevail, right?) but the pretenders will be sifted out as things get tougher. To me, this article points to a purifying of the church, something that is long overdue from my human perspective. It encourages me to some degree, tho I have to admit I worry for my children what kind of world they'll grow up in. I worry about a return of Nero ... tho the persecution will be more legal than physical, I imagine (especially with the new administration). I have to remind myself to lean on the sovereignty of God.

Thanks again for looking that article over and getting back with me.

...

Right on all counts, I think, John. The answer to the underlying rot is complex.
First, the pervasiveness of 'easy believism'. It is and has been rampant in evangelical churches. Otherwise known as 'cheap grace' wherein people believe that because we are not saved by works, but by grace, they are free to live as they please. They do not understand that genuine faith is an obedient faith...it is not faith plus works, but a grateful faith that works (out of love).

Along with that goes pastors and church leaders who are more interested in building empires than making disciples, growing churches than growing people into conformity to Christ. They are totally Americanized in the sense that it is all about the marks of 'success' (usually gauged in statistical terms). So we spent all our leadership energies building and massaging the numbers rather than building up the saints.
The outcome of that is we have become so successful as religious entrepreneurs that we are skillful at getting the world into the church, but powerless in getting the world out of the church.
Then, too, our people are ignorant because our pastors and leaders not only are driven by a sorry value system, but, as fish rot from the top, pastors as a whole are not a whole lot ahead of their flocks in their own grasp of theology and biblical understand. They may use the Bible but they are generally speaking utterly inept at teaching it in meaningful way.
Underlying that liability is the fact that (I would guess) not even half (being generous) of the men who occupy our pulpits have ever known the call of God. I base that assessment on long experience and knowing the evidences of God's call. Besides, except for a precious few, the seminaries (and Bible colleges) are unfit for their task. Their mission is spelled S-U-R-V-I-V-A-L and finances trump convictions as they try to spread their tent pegs as wide and possible. On top of that, way too many of their teachers are a waste and do their students far more damage than good. I see it all as a sign of the judgment of God on the American church. Thank God for the few still drawing their lines in the right places.

Another big subverter (as I ramble on) is our cultural prosperity and influence. Prosperity (and political power) historically have always deadened and corrupted the saints and their institutions more than persecution. See Deuteronomy 8 where Moses expressed his fear of their prosperity in the land---one well based as it turned out.

Well, I could go on and on but these are some of the factors in play in our corruption and beginnings of implosion. We are being marginalized fast. Our enemies are coming out of the closet and getting bolder and bolder in their hostility. I am not looking forward to the hard times, but I fear we need it and it will help to some extent to clear the decks and separate hard core believers from all these make believers and militant churches from merely social or clubby churches that can't draw blood, only a largely carnal crowd.

Jim

...

Looks like we're cut from the same bolt, Jim. This last reply is a home run. Do you mind if I "publish" this conversation in my blog? It's pretty insightful.

...

That's OK, John. However, not very well written. Just shot it off 'stream of consciousness', you know. Jim

For a guy who just throws this off his 'stream of consciousness', you've got to admit the wisdom shows. He certainly has a grasp on the times we live in (much like Mike Spencer who wrote the article that spawned this conversation). I think the best line in here is this one:

"The outcome of that is we have become so successful as religious entrepreneurs that we are skillful at getting the world into the church, but powerless in getting the world out of the church."

He's right on the money. To be clear (for my Arminian brethren :P) the first "world" is unbelievers, while the second "world" is the world system.

Anyway, I thought someone might enjoy another supporting view

My friend, Tara's story

2009-03-13T06:36:00.001-07:00

I just learned how to create my own video player of all my videos!

2009-03-08T20:03:00.000-07:00

Here they are!

For all two of you who ever visit my site, this is a bit of my life.

God bless!

Are You Safe From God?

2009-02-19T06:12:00.000-08:00

Got kids?

2009-02-06T21:43:00.000-08:00

This is a kid-safe search engine. I threw in a few "adult" topics to see what would happen and got an "oops! try again" error message. Then I tried some real grown up topics (like science and monergism and John Calvin) and got good results. Looks promising!

http://www.kidrex.org/

Good for anyone with kids that use the net to do homework or anything else. Or if you just don't wanna run across smut in your own searches on the net. Bookmark it!

Matt Chandler

2009-02-05T18:21:00.000-08:00

I've found my new favorite speaker. Matt Chandler of The Village church. This guy is spot on and knows how to put it in such a way .. well, listen for yourself. These messages are a must listen for any man/husband/father.

The Role Of Men

Pt1-Defining Masculinity

Pt2-Men As Husbands

Pt3-Men As Fathers

Click here to go to the original download page.

Incidentally, I heard him first at the 2009 Desiring God conference (which you can listen to by clicking here). Piper spoke on the life of George Whitefield. An excellent lesson.

God bless!

Some Thoughts from Luther on Galatians 1:4

2009-02-03T05:59:00.000-08:00

Who gave himself for our sins.

Note especially the pronoun "our" and its significance. You will readily grant that Christ gave Himself for the sins of Peter, Paul, and others who were worthy of such grace. But feeling low, you find it hard to believe that Christ gave Himself for your sins. Our feelings shy at a personal application of the pronoun "our," and we refuse to have anything to do with God until we have made ourselves worthy by good deeds.

This attitude springs from a false conception of sin, the conception that sin is a small matter, easily taken care of by good works; that we must present ourselves unto God with a good conscience; that we must feel no sin before we may feel that Christ was given for our sins.

This attitude is universal and particularly developed in those who consider themselves better than others. Such readily confess that they are frequent sinners, but they regard their sins as of no such importance that they cannot easily be dissolved by some good action, or that they may not appear before the tribunal of Christ and demand the reward of eternal life for their righteousness. Meantime they pretend great humility and acknowledge a certain degree of sinfulness for which they soulfully join in the publican's prayer, "God be merciful to me a sinner." But the real significance and comfort of the words "for our sins" is lost upon them.

The genius of Christianity takes the words of Paul "who gave himself for our sins" as true and efficacious. We are not to look upon our sins as insignificant trifles. On the other hand, we are not to regard them as so terrible that we must despair. Learn to believe that Christ was given, not for picayune and imaginary transgressions, but for mountainous sins; not for one or two, but for all; not for sins that can be discarded, but for sins that are stubbornly ingrained.

Practice this knowledge and fortify yourself against despair, particularly in the last hour, when the memory of past sins assails the conscience. Say with confidence: "Christ, the Son of God, was given not for the righteous, but for sinners. If I had no sin I should not need Christ. No, Satan, you cannot delude me into thinking I am holy. The truth is, I am all sin. My sins are not imaginary transgressions, but sins against the first table, unbelief, doubt, despair, contempt, hatred, ignorance of God, ingratitude towards Him, misuse of His name, neglect of His Word, etc.; and sins against the second table, dishonor of parents, disobedience of government, coveting of another's possessions, etc. Granted that I have not committed murder, adultery, theft, and similar sins in deed, nevertheless I have committed them in the heart, and therefore I am a transgressor of all the commandments of God.

"Because my transgressions are multiplied and my own efforts at self-justification rather a hindrance than a furtherance, therefore Christ the Son of God gave Himself into death for my sins." To believe this is to have eternal life.

Let us equip ourselves against the accusations of Satan with this and similar passages of Holy Scripture. If he says, "Thou shalt be damned," you tell him: "No, for I fly to Christ who gave Himself for my sins. In accusing me of being a damnable sinner, you are cutting your own throat, Satan. You are reminding me of God's fatherly goodness toward me, that He so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. In calling me a sinner, Satan, you really comfort me above measure." With such heavenly cunning we are to meet the devil's craft and put from us the memory of sin.

St. Paul also presents a true picture of Christ as the virgin-born Son of God, delivered into death for our sins. To entertain a true conception of Christ is important, for the devil describes Christ as an exacting and cruel judge who condemns and punishes men. Tell him that his definition of Christ is wrong, that Christ has given Himself for our sins, that by His sacrifice He has taken away the sins of the whole world.

Make ample use of this pronoun "our." Be assured that Christ has canceled the sins, not of certain persons only, but your sins. Do not permit yourself to be robbed of this lovely conception of Christ. Christ is no Moses, no law-giver, no tyrant, but the Mediator for sins, the Giver of grace and life.

Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians (1535)
by Martin Luther

CrossTV videos

2009-02-01T10:14:00.000-08:00

This is a youtube playlist of 98 CrossTV videos. These videos by Mark Keilar hammer the theological head of the nail.

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=348B16F84EA1D84F

http://www.crosstv.com/ <-- home page for the series if you would like to purchase them at full length. Added bonus: Here's a link to the full length video on decisional regeneration.

A partial exegesis of Romans 12

2009-01-30T20:01:00.000-08:00

A while ago, on the way home from work, I was praying and found myself getting very distracted and unable to focus on anything to pray about. Then I remembered that praying Scripture back to God is a wonderful tool. Well, driving isn't the best time to be reading Scripture, so I decided to play the mp3's I have during the drive and pray them back to God. The one that stuck out to me was Romans 12. I thought "I'll pray Romans 12:1-2 back to God!" and as I was listening, I realized that there are more than TWO requests in that chapter .. there are over thirty! It is my intention to break that chapter down here. It is only a partial exegesis because my intention is to simply extract the imperatives from this chapter and reword them into prayers.

Romans 12.1-21

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Lord, by Your mercy I will present my body as a living sacrifice
Lord make me holy and acceptable to you
Lord, teach me to worship You in Spirit and in Truth (cf. John 4:24)

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Lord, help me not to conform to this world
It is my desire to be transformed FROM the ways of this world.
Lord, bring me opportunity and open my eyes to sound biblical teaching in order that I can renew my mind.
Lord, open my eyes and ears to discern Your will.
Show me what is good, acceptable and perfect in Your sight.

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Give me a spirit of humility in order that I will not think more highly of myself than I ought to think.
Lord, grant me sober judgment.
God, I thank You for the measure of faith which You have given me. I pray that You would increase my faith in the fullest.

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Father, thank You for Your Son, Jesus.
Father, thank You for the Church Universal and my home church specifically.
Father, grant me grace to see those in the Body as they are -- in Christ -- and not as they merely appear to my own eyes -- imperfect and sinful -- that I may honor You and build up the Body of Christ in His Church.

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

O Lord, thank You for the gifts You have given to Your children. I ask that in whatever way You desire I would be used to edify the Church to make the best use of the gifts given to me.
Father, be glorified in my acts of exhortation; in my efforts to encourage and strengthen those around me, may Your Spirit work through them to Your ultimate purpose.
I pray that I would see the fullness of the gifts You have given me, and that I would come to use them frequently by the power of the Spirit.

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Father, take away any pretense in my love. Help me to be genuine and sincere with others.
I pray that ALL evil would be completely forsaken in my life and in my heart.
Remind me to hold fast to what is good.
Father, teach me to love others with brotherly affection.
And in honor of the brethren, help me to excel.

11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Lord, keep me full of life and passion.
Embolden my spirit to serve You, Lord.

12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

May I rejoice in the hope I have in You, Lord Jesus.
Grant me both the patience to endure tribulation and the tribulation itself, according to Your divine purpose, for the testing of my faith produces steadfastness, which Your Word promises will make me perfect(mature) and complete (James 1:2-4).

13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Lord, make me generous and willing to open my house and life up to those who are in need.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Father, I am grateful that by Your Spirit I am able to do this. Let my light shine before men as a testimony to Your grace.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Lord, may my compassion be strong and help me to live out Your word in 2 Cor 1.3-7

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Father in Heaven, may peace pervade my spirit. Please help me to abide in Christ in order that I may bear the fruit of the Spirit.
Lord, remind me of the quote from CS Lewis; "Christian humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less," and help me to live it with those around me.
Lord, always keep me humble. Remind me that everything I've received, be it knowledge or strength or wisdom, are all gifts from You, the Giver of all good things (James 1.17)

17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20 To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."

Father, I trust that You, O Lord, are the Just One and that any injustice I receive will be dealt with by You.
I pray for a forgiving heart that overlooks the faults of others.
Thank You that you have saved me by Your grace, for in thinking on that, I realize that I am no better than another, for their evil done to me I have also done to You (in spades), and You forgave that debt of me. I also forgive the debts of others against me.
Lord, I pray for eyes to see the opportunities You present to me where I can help others. I likewise pray for the willingness and selflessness to act when I see these opportunities.
In all things, may You receive full credit and all glory for any of these offerings of service by me.

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Lord, I ask that Your Spirit would empower me to overlook all offenses and respond to them with the kindness, humility and love that Christ showed to His persecutors.

As I said, this is a partial exegesis (clearly!). I hope and pray that this will perhaps show someone how to pray Scripture back -- at least one way. I sure hope this gives you some good ideas to roll with! If you've got any feedback or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment.

Blessings in Christ,
John

Puritan Devotional

2009-01-30T06:30:00.000-08:00

A short five minute mp3 that could dramatically change your perspective on work.

Nothing which is done for Christ is lost!

10 Quotes Worth Mentioning

2009-01-30T06:25:00.000-08:00

Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.
-- John Owen

God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world ... Do you think such an exalted Lamb paid merely a small price with a meager sacrifice for our sins? Pray hard for you are quite a sinner.
-- Martin Luther

Ye have enemies? Good, good- that means ye've stood up for something, sometime in thy life....
-- Elminster of Shadowdale

Christian humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.
--C.S. Lewis

Those who hear not the music, think the dancers mad.
--Author Unknown

Those who understand the gospel cannot possibly look down on anyone, since they were saved by sheer grace, not by their perfect doctrine or strong moral character.
--Tim Keller

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
--Thomas Paine

Sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
--Paul, Romans 6.14

The devil is a better theologian than any of us and is a devil still.
--A.W. Tozer

No verse of Scripture yields its meaning to lazy people.
--Arthur Pink

Overview sermons of the bible

2009-01-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

I've been listening to this guy, Mark Dever, who put together an overview of the entire bible, the OT, the NT and each book in the bible.

And as he puts it, there are some things you can get from a greater height that you don't necessarily see up close. Well worth the investment of time, if you ask me.

Click me for the OT sermons

Click me for the NT sermons

May the LORD bless you as you study.

Self Denial

2008-12-27T10:27:00.001-08:00

I don't know about you, but I am a very selfish person. I don't mean that I won't share my stuff or I won't share my money, or any other 'things'. I mean I don't share my TIME. In that very phrase there is incrimination .... MY time. I pray the LORD will deliver me from this insidious sin.

I read a very insightful and convicting sermon this morning. I've never heard of Richard Baxter, but he nails it on the head with this short sermon:

http://www.reformedsermonarchives.com/bax1.htm

The home page has many wonderful sermons to read. (their home page link is broken, so click here) I've not read them all (there are over 300) but the one's I've read are very good indeed.

What is the Gospel?

2008-11-27T10:38:00.001-08:00

The Gospel is NOT the following:

God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life

Jesus died for you (speaking indiscriminately and randomly).

Believe that Jesus died for your sins and you will be saved.

The Gospel IS the following:

Rom 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."

1. Belief in God (but what are we to believe? This comes shortly)

Rom 4:10-11 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he [had been circumcised/had been baptized/confessed/preached/___]? It was not after, but before he [was circumcised/was baptized/confessed/preached/___]. 11 He received the sign of [circumcision/baptism/confession/preaching/____] as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised [unbaptized/unconfessed/had not preached/____].

2. Belief apart from any performance we do.

Romans 4:14-15 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

3. There is a PROMISE that is to be believed in. For this is what we are to have faith in (just as Abraham did).

Now read this thoughtfully and slowly:

Romans 4:16-25 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace [what is the promise?] and be guaranteed to all his offspring [those who have faith, and not another, see Romans 9.6-8]—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham [iow, Jews and Gentiles], who is the father of us all [Jews and Gentiles who have faith (this is what ALL meant to the Jews), for all are not descended from Abraham nor do all have faith], 17 as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope [what did he believe? ->], that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead ( since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." [what? No mention of Jesus???? How is this possible?] 23 But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also [this is just like other stories, where we draw out principles from Scripture and apply them to us today]. It will be counted to us who believe in him [who? Jesus? NO! The Father -- the One who GAVE the promise] who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification

Finally, one last verse that shows us WHAT the promise is:

Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

Let me state that what we are to believe is that GOD FULFILLED HIS PROMISE TO SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.

We are to believe that this was fulfilled in Jesus Christ and not another.

We are to believe that God has ACTUALLY DONE this.

For one to believe that the promise that God would save His people is a potential does NOT have the faith of Abraham, for Abraham's faith DID NOT WAVER in the FACT that God WOULD FULFILL His promise to give him an heir.

Soli Deo Gloria

Victory in Christ!

2008-10-31T22:04:00.000-07:00

So I gotta share something. Tonight my wife and I were fighting in the car. It was stupid, as most of them are, but my back really hurt tonight (a chronic problem for a while now), but it was on fire tonight ... like an ice pick in my back. Well, I was getting pretty frustrated because of this combination of things, and we were stuck in traffic, going somewhere I didn't really want to go. Well, I tried suppressing it. And it just got stronger. And the harder I resisted, the harder it became to control. I started snapping at my wife, then raising my voice in anger ... then we were both arguing pretty fiercely. Suffice it to say that I didn't act as a husband should.
Then I remembered some of the lyrics from the song "The Temptation" from Timothy Brindle's Killing Sin album (get it!). He was battling temptation and he used prayer and the Word. Well, duh.

But it motivated me to fight against this, even though my pride had arrived to the point of not caring anymore (anyone who's ever struggled with anger knows what this is). But I prayed and read the Word of God ... specifically Romans 6, which that song also referenced. And something changed .. I received the Word into my life this time. I read it as if GOD (not Paul) were speaking to ME (not "the church") and I believed it!

Romans 6.4-7
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.

I focused on the newness of life we have received. The unity we have with Christ because of His death and resurrection. My SIN WAS CRUCIFIED which means it is ALREADY defeated! I believe I am not a slave to sin because since I died with Christ, I've been set free from that sin. What wonderful news! How liberating this was!

Then down further:

Romans 6.13-14
Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

We're told to DO something with this knowledge. Not only are we to NOT present our members to sin to be used for unrighteousness, but we are TO present them to God to be used for righteousness. I focused on the FACT that sin does not dominate me because of Christ and His death, so it did not dominate me! I presented myself to God for HIM to use me for righteousness. I went into the house and humbly apologized to her, prayed with her, and we went on to have a pretty good night with some friends and a couple people I'd never met before.

Praise God for our victory over sin in Christ! I learned something new tonight. I pray this may be an encouragement to someone else too. Read the word and personalize it. Let everything be about Christ. Listen to this song and then realize what God actually did to save us:

Amen

John Owen on the Mortification of Sin

2008-10-28T05:48:00.000-07:00

This is what John Owen suggests as a practical application to mortify sin in one's life. It stopped me in my tracks. Especially the second paragraph.

(1.) Charge thy conscience with the guilt which appears in it from the rectitude and holiness of the law. Bring the holy law of God into thy conscience, lay thy corruption to it, pray that thou mayst be affected with it. Consider the holiness, spirituality, fiery severity, inwardness, absoluteness of the law, and see how thou canst stand before it. Be much, I say, in affecting thy conscience with the terror of the Lord in the law, and how righteous it is that every one of thy transgressions should receive a recompense of reward. Perhaps thy conscience will invent shifts and evasions to keep off the power of this consideration; -- as, that the condemning power of the law doth not belong to thee, thou are set free from it, and the like; and so, though thou be not conformable to it, yet thou needest not to be so much troubled at it. But, --

[1.] Tell thy conscience that it cannot manage any evidence to the purpose that thou art free from the condemning power of sin, whilst thy unmortified lust lies in thy heart; so that, perhaps, the law may make good its plea against thee for a full dominion, and then thou art a lost creature. Wherefore it is best to ponder to the utmost what it hath to say.
Assuredly, he that pleads in the most secret reserve of his heart that he is freed from the condemning power of the law, thereby secretly to countenance himself in giving the least allowance unto any sin or lust, is not able, on gospel grounds, to manage any evidence, unto any tolerable spiritual security, that indeed he is in a due manner freed from what he so pretends himself to be delivered.

-The Mortification of Sin; Ch XI Sec. 1

I've finally done it!

2008-10-27T21:06:00.000-07:00

I've learned how to fly! Isn't this sweet?

Yer jealous, aren't ya?

lol!

Reclaiming the Mind ministries

2008-10-25T16:03:00.000-07:00

An excellent theology resource. Got questions? They've answered 263 of 'em!

And here's the full length course, where the above questions were clipped from, that is a comprehensive and in-depth theological training program for lay people. Available in both streaming video and mp3 download.

Some fantastic material at this site! The webmaster, Michael Patton, also hosts a blog: Parchment and Pen. And if my children's pastor, Joel, ever reads this blog ... he's a Sooner. :)

Have a look!

Blessings

Holy Hip Hop

2008-10-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

Alright, I have a confession to make. I like rap. I used to listen to Eminem religiously before becoming a Christian. Was a step away from bleaching my hair ...

Well, I've found some tight rap that is an awesome substitute. Check this out:

Let's Kill Sin!
The Humility of Christ
My New Life
A Letter to My Friends

There's more at lampmode.com, but Timothy Brindle is my pick so far.

Update: I was going through the site looking for a place to buy his stuff and I found his grassroots album available for a free download! Click here to go to the download page and see some other cool stuff.

Update 2: I bought Brindle's Killing Sin album from Amazon.com and the songs I got from amazon are awesome! I think the lyrics are righteous, Christ-centered and call me to be wholly devoted to my Lord. Thanks Tim!

... but I will never buy mp3's from that site again. What a hassle, and I still haven't downloaded all the songs, because the first attempt failed (my computer crashed) and I have to contact them and wait for them to reinstate another attempt. I'll choose another method, next time.

Update 3: Thanks Andre for the heads up about Tre the Third. I'll be checking it out soon enough. And I like your phrase "holy hip hop" lol! I changed the title of this entry to show it, too!

Fruit flies!

2008-10-18T11:51:00.000-07:00

Ugg .. we've got fruit flies this season. Lots of em! You ever notice how these guys dive bomb your face? Like an inch away all the time, and you can't catch them! Man, that's annoying! So here's the practical way to get rid of them.

The soda bottle trap:

Remove the lid and label from a clean, empty plastic two-liter soda bottle.
Carefully remove the upper third of the bottle by cutting along its circumference at approximately where the top of the label used to be.
Put an attractive liquid such as orange juice or cider vinegar in the cup-shaped part of the now-severed bottle.
Turn the cone upside-down and insert it into the cup-shaped bottom part of the bottle. Seal the seam at the top of the bottle with duct tape.
Fruit flies find their way into the bottle, but they can't get back out. After most flies are trapped inside, simply seal the bottle in a plastic shopping bag and throw out.

I know ... a very Christ centered post, huh? I'm practical, too. Sue me :)

How do you talk about death to unbelievers?

2008-10-17T08:33:00.001-07:00

I just read an article in Christian News Northwest this morning about Preston, and it rekindled the mourning I've felt for him. It's also sparked some new conversations. And I find myself leaning on the "it's sad" excuse everytime I speak to unbelievers about Preston's death. Is this wrong? Should I be a beacon of hope to them? What about this causes me to fall on their sympathies rather than my own faith? Is that a sin?

I'm gonna try to examine these questions here.

First of all, I don't think it's wrong. Not really. At least not in the sense of being unexpected. I think it's natural to sympathize with the loss. Secondly, I can use it as a springboard to witness the gospel to them. I did this with my brother, and sorta used the respect that many unbelievers have given to me (isn't that funny?) who would normally tune me out or outright tell me they're not interested in "my religion". This tragedy has amazingly softened people's hearts. I've seen many people who would normally avoid any talk about religion being more open to hearing about my faith. It reminds me of Paul when he says "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. " (Romans 1.19-20)

And this ended up working out pretty well, actually. I spoke to my brother about death in general, and told him about the funeral, where there were so many people who were, while greiving, rejoicing at the same time because we KNOW that Preston is at home with our Lord. He asked me how I could know such a thing, and I was able to tell him about the resurrection of Christ. I spoke to him for quite a long time about 1Corinthians 15, and the actual witnesses (500 people saw Christ AFTER His crucifixion), and how that was a verifiable experience. Something more than just "blind faith" which he, and many others, think Christians have. It's not blind. It's based on facts and witnesses -- something I was able to share with him in depth. That's an amazing ice breaker!

As for whether or not it is sin to sympathize with the unbelievers who say "that's so tragic ... I'm sorry for your loss", and for me to reply with "ya it is .. he was a good guy, and we're gonna miss him" or some other trite reply like that. Yes. I believe it is. While I may not have directly denied my Lord, I said that the death of one of His saints was a bad thing. This denies the truths of Scripture when it speaks on this very topic:

Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

1 Corinthians 15:55 "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

Isn't this good news! Isn't this encouraging news? You bet it is. So why did I miss an opportunity to tell people this? Because I believed the sad news of death being a conquering victor over humanity rather than the fact of Christ's victory over death for all who believe. Death is the ultimate gospel message primer. To deny that is to deny the gospel itself. That is why it is sin to get on the mourning bandwagon with unbelievers. It is to BE an unbeliever at that moment in time. Thank God it is by the faith of Christ that I am saved. For if it were my own faulty faith, I would lose it to be sure. This is a concept relatively new to me, so I'm not dogmatic about it (perhaps I'll do a post on it in the future), but the kjv, a translation I normally don't find useful, translates Galatians 2.16 in a very interesting way:

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

So how are we saved? By our own faith? Or by the faith of the perfect One? I put my trust in HIS faith rather than my own, for my own is flawed and inconsistent. Does not God command us to believe, anyway? Does this not make it a Law? I believe it does. However, now we're getting off topic a bit and I think I've found my next topic to explore. I will say, however, that I cannot find another translation which translates it this way. Every other one translates it faith IN Christ. I'll leave you with this article to consider.

By the Faith of Christ, or our faith in Christ?
by Tony Warren

A good read, supported with an abundance of Scripture.

Having said all that, the death of Preston is glorifying God day by day. It is making an uncomfortable and un "PC" topic (religion) acceptable and is an excellent opportunity to share my faith. Now I need to act. For the glory of God.

Happy Birthday Ashley!

2008-10-16T21:15:00.000-07:00

I love you, honey. I know I don't write it down every time I think of you ... I find it easier sometimes to distract myself so it doesn't hurt as bad. Besides, I wouldn't have time to do much else if I did :)

You're eleven today. Wow! Eleven ... you had just turned three when I last saw you.

It still hurts that you're gone .. all the time. I trust that our Lord knows what He is doing (do you know Him?)

I hope you had a good time on your Day! I remember your first one. Right after you were born the doctors put you on mommy's chest. After she loved on you for a minute, it was my turn .. and when I held you and looked down, you looked up at me and smiled. The nurse had never seen a newborn smile before. Neither had I! You were so beautiful. I think there is (was) a picture of me holding you at that moment somewhere. Maybe your mom has it. I have a few pictures, but not enough. They're all 8 years old, anyway. I'd sure love to see how you look now.

I sure hope to see you soon. Everyone tells me that kids want to know who their real parents are and start asking questions. Do you ever wonder? Have you started asking questions? I pray for you all the time, sweetie. I pray for your Mom, too. Don't think I have any hard feelings against her. She did what she thought was best at the time. Some things are hard to let go of.

I can't wait for the day I get a letter or a call or a face to face from you (oh, how I wait for that day .. is it tomorrow?)

I love you with all the love a father can have for a child.
Love,
your Dad

AW Pink on 1 John 2:2

2008-10-15T21:57:00.000-07:00

And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world - I John 2.2

I just love how Arthur Pink has addressed this verse! I think he makes it so obvious. He has several solid points. Each of which validate the limited scope of the atonement in and of themselves, but this has got to be BY FAR the most convincing (I'd say compelling, but it's more than compelling) argument he raises. He does the unthinkable - he interprets Scripture with Scripture. And not only that, but he lets John interpret John. Have a look:

1 John 2:2	John 11:51, 52
"He is the propitiation for our (believing Israelites) sins".	"He prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation".
"And not for ours only".	"And not for that nation only".
"But also for the whole world"— That is, Gentile believers scattered throughout the earth.	"He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad".

Great quote

2008-10-12T21:14:00.001-07:00

Ye have enemies? Good, good- that means ye've stood up for something, sometime in thy life....

--Elminster of Shadowdale

As we move on ...

2008-10-12T07:25:00.000-07:00

It's been a couple weeks since our brother, Preston, went to be with our Lord. I was reading a devotional from one of his favorite pastors, John Piper (I've been spending a lot of time there lately). He wrote something when their congregation lost a member to a sudden heart attack. The thing that caught my eye first was the sermon that Pastor John was recently speaking on the night he heard of that saints death. It was Preston's life verse -- Philippians 1:21.

I continued to read, and the more I read, the more comfort I received from the Scripture references, so I decided to share:

Get Ready, O Please, Get Ready

By John Piper June 2, 1999

I got home on Tuesday, June 1, from speaking to a conference in Pennsylvania. One of my messages there was based on Philippians 1:21, "To live is Christ and to die is gain." The first news I heard after I got off the plane was that our much-loved choir member and former deacon, and husband and father and friend, Carl Fredericks, had suddenly died today of a heart attack.

As soon as I got home and had devotions with my family, I spoke with Yvonne, Carl's wife. She was, of course, overwhelmed by the utter unexpectedness of it all. There is no minimizing the pain. But there is the unwavering Lover of her soul. And he is a tender Rock.

Now I sit here numbed by the back-to-back departures of two of our great older saints, Muriel Sundberg and Carl Fredericks. For me, they framed the congregation visually. Bert and Muriel sat on the west side of the main floor on Sunday morning. Carl and Yvonne sat on the corresponding east side (when the choir wasn't singing). They were both of the hardy, solid, faithful stock that brings stability and strength. They both loved great music. And they both loved the people of Bethlehem. And now their places are empty. O, so empty.

I want to thank God publicly for these two gifts to Bethlehem. Who can calculate the price of a soul? Just last week the staff was away for two days of praying and fasting and seeking the Lord for the future of Bethlehem. One of the texts we lingered over was Psalm 116:15, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Another meaning of the Hebrew word behind "precious" is "costly." Both are true. To us, so costly. To God, so precious.

Why so precious? One reason is that God gave his own Son to die for Muriel and Carl. When Christ died, their death was defeated. "O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:55, KJV). In other words, because of Christ's suffering and the Father's sacrifice, the death of Muriel and Carl was robbed of its victory.

This means that the death of every saint is a demonstration to all creation that Christ's atoning death was gloriously successful. It was not in vain. Therefore, the arrival of every saved saint in heaven is another trumpet-tribute to the preciousness of Christ's life and death on this earth. He must (it seems to me) take each one by the hand, as it were, and lead the saint to the Father, and say, "Look! Another trophy! Another 'fruit of my travail.' Another sinner saved and soul made perfect. O Father, look what we have wrought! Is this not precious!"

And costly. O the tears of loss! No, not as those who have no hope, but tears nonetheless. I remember weeping until the heaves continued, but the eyes had no more fluid. Such is the overflowing effect of love, when it is robbed of the beloved.

Dear friends, God is speaking to us all in these sudden, unexpected and painful departures. Are you listening? I said to my family tonight during devotions: it could as easily have been me. Or you. Are we ready? O Bethlehem, are we ready? Do we trust him? Do we love him? Do we live for him? Is he our Love above all loves? Pursue him and know him. Live with him as if tomorrow you might meet him face to face.

Thank you, Lord, for the lives of Muriel and Carl. And thank for the heart-wrenching message of their precious and costly departures. O grant that we might say concerning ourselves - and because of them - "To live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).

Grieving with hope,

Pastor John

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Billy: The Early Years

2008-10-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

So apparently there's a movie out about the life of Billy Graham. Here's a clip:

And here's the official trailer:

I'm gonna see it!

http://www.billytheearlyyears.com/

RefTagger

2008-10-10T22:53:00.000-07:00

This is so cool! I just found this awesome script add on that takes any bible reference and not only links it to bible.logos.com, but brings a pop up window right above the verse when you hover over it! This is awesome! Check it out:

Romans 8:28

I didn't add a bit of html code to that reference. Not bad, eh?

Here's the link to add it to your blog:
http://blog.logos.com/archives/2008/06/adding_reftagger_to_a_blogger_blog.html

Here's the original location to add it to any website generally:
http://www.logos.com/reftagger

Scroll down to about the middle of the page for the instructions on how to put it into your webpage/blog.

Blessings

The I.O.U.S. of prayer

2008-10-10T05:24:00.000-07:00

This is an acronym from John Piper. While this is posted in his article How to Pray for the Pastoral Staff, (as well as mentioned in his series When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy, taken from the 2005 Regional Conference), I find that this is an excellent prayer to lift to the Lord before your own bible reading as well:

1. Ask God to give us an inclination to his Word and not to money or fame or power (Psalm 119:36), and to open our eyes to see wonderful things when we read his Word (Psalm 119:18), and to have hearts united in the fear of God rather than fragmented over a dozen concerns (Psalm 86:11), and to be satisfied in his steadfast love (Psalm 90:14). (This is the IOUS acronym I use almost every day in praying for those I love.)

Here they are for you to pray through:

Psalm 119:36 Incline my heart to your testimonies,

and not to selfish gain!

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of your law.

Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O Lord,

that I may walk in your truth;

unite my heart to fear your name.

Psalm 90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,

that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Grace to you

Romans 8 by Reformation Day

2008-10-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

I've resolved to memorize Romans 8 by Oct 31. I started on the third, so that gives me 4 weeks to do it. I've thought of some tips for anyone who wants to do this type of thing:

Use the same bible. You'll not only keep to the same version, you'll actually see the text in your head and remember the words based on the location of the text in your mind's eye.
Get an audio bible in the same version. I've got Max McLean's ESV bible, so it's really helpful. Listen to it as often as you can.
Get a buddy. Someone who can coach you through. You'd be surprised how much a prompt will trigger your recollection of the verse.
Read the chapter twice each time you sit to read it. First time read it through and don't pause to ponder or anything. The second time, slow down a bit and consider what is being said.
Trudge through the dry periods. There is bound to be a few days where it gets boring. Keep truckin' . Pray harder and pray for a deeper love of His Word.
Pray. Pray before every reading and pray after every reading. The enemy will fill your mind and life with distractions and doubts. Pray the armor of God. Pray for a love of His Word and an understanding of His Word.

I plan on doing this a lot more now. It's been so rewarding to have it stored in my mind and my heart. I recall it and it strengthens me.

May you be blessed!

The First and the Last

2008-09-27T10:37:00.000-07:00

The deity of Christ is explicit in many places throughout the Scriptures, but none so crystal clear as in the Revelation. Read this:

Revelation 1.4-20
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Alpha:
1 : the 1st letter of the Greek alphabet — see alphabet table
2 : something that is first : beginning

Omega:
1: the 24th and last letter of the Greek alphabet — see alphabet table
2: the extreme or final part : end

So what do we have? We have the Lord God being the Alpha (the first) and the Omega (the last). Furthermore, we have "the living one", "the one who died and is alive forevermore" describing himself as the first and the last. Who is speaking to us? Is it not the Lord Jesus Christ? He describes himself in the very same manner in which the Lord God describes Himself.

They are the same. Christ is in the Father and the Father is in Him. It is more than a tradition adopted by the church because of Constantine. The devil/adversary will do whatever he can to diminish the glory of the One who cast him out of heaven. What more diminishing thing could be done than to deny who He truly is?

To deny the deity of Christ is to be deceived by the adversary who roams the earth seeking someone to devour. But do not be afraid, for Christ has conquered him! Hallelujah, our God is an awesome God.
Amen

The loss of a good friend

2008-09-21T21:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to the funeral of my friend Preston Newby. He was the 24 year old youth pastor at my church. He died helping someone else. That doesn't surprise me one bit. That's the kind of man Preston was.

The thing that amazed me most was not that he died helping another (he truly lived his faith) or the amount of people who went to his funeral (there were hundreds) or the amount of news coverage (it's been the top story all week) or that the news hasn't edited the "Christianity" out of their news stories (they did when Damon Coates was shot). What amazed me the most was the impact that Preston had .. at only 24 years of age! It truly is a testimony to the way Christ can work through a single individual. Preston actually lived the life that many Christians merely say they live. His faith was a way of life for him, not just a talking point at dinner or a topic worthy of debate. That man is one of the most genuine, warm and Christ-honoring people I've ever had the priviledge of knowing. I do look forward to rejoicing with him together in front of the wonderful Savior we both have!

I'm so very proud of his wife, Tara. She's been showing such composure and grace through all this. It is truly a testimony to God's faithfulness. Our Lord promises that He will never leave us in His exhortation to be content with what we have (Hebrews 13.5). It is in those very times when we are at risk of NOT being content that the Lord fulfills His promise. Tara has lost half of herself and God has indeed kept His word! He has NOT left Tara! He has NOT forsaken her! He's given her a supernatural strength and an abundant outpouring of love from her family and church family.

Our church body has also done some amazing things over the last week. So many people have been so involved and supportive of everyone else. I've come closer to some people I've previously just waved at from across the room.

One thing I regret is not having known Preston as well as I would have liked. I call him a good friend, but only because he was a good friend to me. I wouldn't call myself a good friend of his, though he would wholly disagree. He was just that kind of guy. He put others first.

He and his wife have been over to our house, but it's been a while. We had dinner, talked theology, played guitar and sang a couple hymns, but ya know what .. I wish I would have spent more time with him. We always talked about it. We always said "ya, we should get together some time" ... and then just go on with our lives. How I hate those words now ... some time .. what does that mean? It means "not now because I'd rather do something else". That's not good enough any more. The one thing I'm going to take away from this is to turn "some time" into "this time". I'm going to set up a night -- once a month maybe -- where a bunch of guys I know will get together and go bowling or something (it's the first thought that came to my mind .. maybe we'll do different stuff). But I'm not going to just say "some day". I'm going to actually do this. Lord willing.

My God has glorified Himself in the death of Preston in such a way that I can't deny it. Oh wow. Such bonding. Such faithfulness. Such love. This is only the beginning. I love you, Preston. I'm gonna miss you. But we'll see each other soon enough. As soon as the Lord is done with me.

I was looking at his blog today and read this post he posted July 29th. It's so fitting that he would write something like this. And I am glad that he has finally received the reward he so longed for. He said:

I look forward to the day in eternity when I can actually do this perfectly... until then I trust in God's grace and mercy day by day to continue to help me grow and mature in Him until the day I see Him face to face!

My friend, you are there. As for the questions that some may ask. Questions like "where is God in all this?" Preston had also addressed that question. Read this post.

Preston, may your own words comfort those who are mourning.

Some thoughts on freewill

2008-08-17T19:49:00.000-07:00

A conversation about freewill went on between myself and another on a message board. He raised up a list of verses which he believes prove that men have a freewill (to choose to do God's will).

This was my reply:

People tend to start off on the wrong premise. I see all the time how many people think the will is self determining, but we must understand that the will is driven by something. Namely, our nature. We will to make choices, yes. I don't think anyone who argues against the freedom of the human will would disagree with this. The question, however, is what does natural, fallen man WANT to do? The answer ... SIN. Fallen man wills to sin rather than willing to be holy. If you deny this biblical precept, you must also deny salvation by grace alone. You must ... MUST admit that if natural man can sometimes be holy enough to please God (and that is the whole point of saying the will is in bondage) then natural man can make it into heaven based on his own performance.

In a nutshell, the human will is in BONDAGE ... either to sin unto death, or righteousness unto life.

Romans 6:16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

A.W. Pink:

1. The Nature of the Human Will.
What is the Will? We answer, the will is the faculty of choice, the immediate cause of all action. Choice necessarily implies the refusal of one thing and the acceptance of another. The positive and the negative must both be present to the mind before there can be any choice. In every act of the will there is a preference—the desiring of one thing rather than another. Where there is no preference, but complete indifference, there is no volition. To will is to choose, and to choose is to decide between two or more alternatives. But there is something which influences the choice; something which determines the decision. Hence the will cannot be sovereign because it is the servant of that something. The will cannot be both sovereign and servant. It cannot be both cause and effect. The will is not causative, because, as we have said, something causes it to choose, therefore that something must be the causative agent. Choice itself is affected by certain considerations, is determined by various influences brought to bear upon the individual himself, hence, volition is the effect of these considerations and influences, and if the effect, it must be their servant; and if the will is their servant then it is not sovereign, and if the will is not sovereign, we certainly cannot predicate absolute "freedom" of it. Acts of the will cannot come to pass of themselves—to say they can, is to postulate an uncaused effect. Ex nihilo nihil fit—nothing cannot produce something

...

2. The Bondage of the Human Will.
...In what does the sinner’s freedom consist? This question is naturally suggested by what we have just said above. The sinner is ‘free’ in the sense of being unforced from without. God never forces the sinner to sin. But the sinner is not free to do either good or evil, because an evil heart within is ever inclining him toward sin. Let us illustrate what we have in mind. I hold in my hand a book. I release it; what happens? It falls. In which direction? Downwards; always downwards. Why? Because, answering the law of gravity, its own weight sinks it. Suppose I desire that book to occupy a position three feet higher; then what? I must lift it; a power outside of that book must raise it. Such is the relationship which fallen man sustains toward God. Whilst Divine power upholds him, he is preserved from plunging still deeper into sin; let that power be withdrawn, and he falls—his own weight (of sin) drags him down. God does not push him down, anymore than I did that book. Let all Divine restraint be removed, and every man is capable of becoming, would become, a Cain, a Pharaoh, a Judas. How then is the sinner to move heavenwards? By an act of his own will? Not so. A power outside of himself must grasp hold of him and lift him every inch of the way. The sinner is free, but free in one direction only—free to fall, free to sin. As the Word expresses it: "For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness" (Rom. 6:20). The sinner is free to do as he pleases, always as he pleases (except as he is restrained by God), but his pleasure is to sin.

http://www.pbministries.org/books/pi...nty/sov_07.htm

Having said all that, I will address a few of your verses (in green):

Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

Please tell me where the will is involved in these verses? I only see a command given, not a choice made. Tell me ... what choice was made? This choice indicates that the nature of the person making the choice determined the outcome of their choice. Their will was a servant to their nature, which shows that their nature desired to disobey God rather than obey Him. The choice is our answer right here.

Genesis 4:6 The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it."

I refer you to the response above. IF you do well...is only a choice given, not a choice made. The command to rule over sin is given, but the will did only what the nature would allow. Did Cain rule over his sin? Obviously not. Why not? Because he willed not to. Why did he will not to? Because his nature was fallen into sin. His nature determined his willingness.

I hear it already ... why do some murder and not others? (or something like that) ... I answer: God uses sinners for His purposes. This is shown in Egypt in the story of Moses and Pharoah. God hardened Pharoah's heart. Why?

Romans 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

Now there are times where God does NOT use sinners to murder or imprison or whatever, but it is quite clear from Scripture that GOD moves the sinner just as He moves the Christian.

Exo 13:17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, "Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt."

Again ... a choice offered does not show a choice made.

As for your next set (Exodus 19:5-8), look at verse 4:

Exodus 19:4 You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel." 7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.

It seems to me that the offer they were given, was only accomplished because the LORD acted first.

Deuteronomy 1:43 So I spoke to you, and you would not listen; but you rebelled against the command of the LORD and presumptuously went up into the hill country.

So ... this goes with everything I have said all along. They only will to be in rebellion. If someone has a will that is free to choose either sin or righteousness APART from God's regenerating work in man's heart, what need is there for a Savior?

I'm going to skip down a few, so I can give you a flavor of everything you present. You present Psalm 32:8,9. I show you the entire chapter:

Psalm 32:1 A Maskil of David. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.
7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

It clearly speaks of one who has already been saved. One with whom God has declared righteous. Your proof text here seems to only show that the one who is teaching is the LORD. David is speaking in this psalm to God. So unless you think David is teaching God something, this is God teaching David.

Ecclesiastes 7:29 See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.

God made man without sin, but quite obviously not without the ability to sin. The only man God made upright is Adam. Everyone else has this iniquity inherently in them ... original sin. (Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:12)

Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

What does Jesus say the will of His Father is?

John 6:40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

The will of His Father, according to Jesus, is that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life. That's all the will of the Father is where the unregenerate is concerned. Who WILL believe?

John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

They believed BECAUSE they were born of God (I believe that this happened at the same time - the moment you are born again, you will believe), NOT of their own will...but of God. If you attempt to say that they were born again because they believed, then you are misreading this statement. Do we believe and then become born again? Quite clearly not. We are born of the will of God. Just as we have nothing to do with our physical birth, we have nothing to do with our spiritual birth.

John 7:17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

This confirms my previous conclusion. You will believe Jesus' words IF you are born again. If you are NOT born again, you will NOT believe. Who wills to do God's will?

Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

The natural man hates God and does not obey God. Those who do the will of God are those who have been born again.

1Corinthians 7:36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry--it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.

It is clear that Paul is speaking to Christians here. Where is the free will? It only shows that a man who has his desires under control should stay unmarried to better serve the Lord.

I would continue with this exercise, but to be honest, you would have to prove with Scripture that an unsaved heathen has chosen God APART from the working of the Spirit. Can you provide this evidence?

I end with this ... and please consider this. If man is free to choose, WHAT is he free to choose? Does man choose God? Or does God choose man?

Romans 11:5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

2Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

The steps:

We are (1) chosen by God, then we are (2) sanctified by the Spirit - set apart, then we (3) believe the truth.

Some are chosen to believe, while others are not. Does God not have this right to distinguish?

I submit that man will only choose that which he desires. And man, apart from God, does not desire God. Once God acts upon a man, gives him a new heart, and changes his nature from one desiring sin to one desiring righteousness, THEN and ONLY THEN will man choose God.

1John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

God bless

The purpose(s) of God's Word

2008-04-19T08:20:00.000-07:00

Psalm 119.105
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.

This verse means more than just that the word of God tells us where to go, it also teaches us that God's Word shows us where we are.

Let me explain. Imagine yourself walking in a dark forest with nothing but a lamp. Now, look at your feet, since, after all, you can see them because of the light. Does that tell you where to go? No. It shows you where you are at right at that very moment! The path shows you where you are going.

Here is another passage which supports this:

Romans 3.19-20
Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Through the Law, we see our sin. We see where we fall short of God's glory. I recently did a post about Law and Gospel hermeneutics, where we understand that there is law revealed even in the New Testament. We are taught by God's Word where we fall short in Paul's epistles as much as in the Ten Commandments. For instance, Philippians 2.14 commands us to do everything without complaining or arguing. But I doubt very highly that anybody can accomplish this.

Consider these two verses:

James 3.2
[W]e all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

How much clearer could it be?! So you see, God's Word is powerful. It reveals to us (those who have eyes to see and ears to hear) that we fall desperately short of God's moral standards. We must rely on the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5.17) and was the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2.2), thereby justifying all who believe (Romans 3.28, 5.1; Galatians 2.16, 3.24). That last verse (Galatians 3.24) shows us the very purpose of God's Law. That we will be driven to Christ to be cleansed by His shed blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin (Hebrews 9.22).

For all who may read this post who don't know what any of this means. Read the verses I've linked to and also read the beatitudes, found in Matthew 5.1-7.29. God has shown us how we miss His moral standards of PERFECTION by giving us the Law. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus accurately explains the Law of Moses (the Ten Commandments) and explains that God's moral standard is so high, NOBODY can reach it. That is what Romans 3.10-18 and Romans 3.23 mean.

THAT is why the Law is good. God has revealed to us our shortcomings, rather than simply judging us and rightfully condemning us. Do not be condemned by the Law, my friend. See it for what it is; a blessed gift of mercy to show us our shortcomings. For God could have simply written us off and punished each one of us for our sins. But He did not! He sent His one and only Son into the world to atone for our sins. To appease the wrath of God against a sinful, rebellious world. What a gracious act of divine mercy!

This, my friend, is the gospel:

1 Corinthians 15.1-4
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

The proof?

1 Corinthians 15.5-8
and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

When Paul wrote this letter, it was less than 30 years after the crucifixion. The claim "most of whom remain until now" means that most of the witnesses to the resurrection were STILL ALIVE when Paul wrote the Corinthian church! The claim was verifiable!

So what must YOU do to be saved?

Acts 16.31
Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved

Praise God!

Begging the Question

2008-04-18T14:56:00.000-07:00

One of my pet peeves is the improper use of a phrase, and this one is probably the most widely misused phrase, hands down. I hear it on the radio and tv, I read it in all sorts of news articles, and hear it just about everywhere I go.

What does it mean to "beg the question"? Does it mean, as many people incorrectly claim it to mean, that some particular situation or comment "begs" for a question to be asked?

NO!!

It is a logical term used in regards to arguments. To "beg" the question is to ask that the very point at issue be conceded. In other words, it is to say "I'm right and I don't need to support that assertion. This debate would go a lot faster if you would just admit that."

For more information on this (and many more logical fallacies) go here:

Begging the Question

Fallacy Files

There ... that's off my chest now. If this post informs just ONE person, I'll sleep well. lol

Blessings in Christ

A living lesson

2008-03-28T20:05:00.000-07:00

This morning I came dangerously close to reaping the consequences of my anger. I was crossing the street on this rainy Portland morning and saw a car out of the corner of my eye ... I thought "they'll slow down, I'm a pedestrian!" ... well, they didn't. The guy came within two feet of me and laid on his horn. Well, being a pedestrian, and having a right to cross the street at whatever pace I choose, I kicked the car. "Who does he think he is?! Doesn't he know I'm John?!"

Bad idea. He laid on his brakes and I could see right through the window ... two young men, mid twenties jumped out of the car and started yelling profanities and big threats. They both came charging at me and I thought "oh crap, that guy looks like he can punch real hard!" and started backing up. They both were aggressively charging at me and I was backing up ... terrified.

This yelling went on for a minute or two and I started realizing to myself "hey, if these guys were gonna do anything, they'd have done it by now". The smaller of the two guys (still bigger than me) came up to me while the driver examined his door, still yelling profanities at me. When the passenger approached, I looked at him and shoved him away from me. Then they both came charging again, so I dialed 911. It was more of a hopeful deterrent than anything ... by the time the cops got there to protect and serve, I would need an ambulance if anything was actually gonna happen. But it seemed to work. They gave me about ten feet of space, all the while yelling at me while I'm on the phone with the police.

Then my bus came and boy was I relieved to see it! I was so relieved that I got cocky. I looked at the two guys and smiled and said something to the effect of "have a nice day, guys. Don't be late to work!" How arrogant of me. Why did this happen? Is it because I kicked their car? Is it because they were "tough guys"? No. It happened because I believed I have the right to be wherever I am at whatever time I want to be there. "This is my road, don't they know that?"

I truly failed today. Not only did I act inappropriately, but I realized that not a single prayer went up. In that moment of decision, I chose to believe in what was happening ... not what my (my?) God can do to protect me. I'd like to examine myself this morning. My goal is to apply the knowledge I have of Scripture regarding anger and personal rights.

The book of Proverbs says this:

Proverbs 16.5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

Proverbs 21.4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
The lamp of the wicked, is sin.

I like the CEV version of this verse:

21.4 Evil people are proud and arrogant,
but sin is the only crop they produce.

15.25 The LORD tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow's boundaries.
16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

God, in response to Job's questioning, makes these statements:

Job 40.11-13
11 Show your furious anger!
Throw down and crush
12 all who are proud and evil.
13 Wrap them in grave clothes
and bury them together
in the dusty soil.

By implication, God is saying that this is what He does to those who are proud and evil. These warnings, just a few of many, cause me to shudder. In my pride, I was an abomination to the LORD. I was certainly punished. Immediately. And look at the second proverb there. A proud heart is the lamp of the wicked. It is what the unregenerate use to light their path. It is sinful and causes me to fall away from God in my walk.

But God never instructs us in His Word not to do something without offering a positive alternative. A beneficial solution:

Proverbs 14.3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
But the lips of the wise will protect them.

Here, God says "don't speak foolishly, but instead speak wise ... because that will protect you". God never gives us a command for no good reason. Sin destroys not only our relationship with God, but causes problems in our temporal life. Well, the flip side is that obedience BUILDS our relationship with God and PREVENTS problems in our temporal life.

Psalm 101.5 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy;
No one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure.

God will not endure one who is proud and arrogant. But instead, God again gives us the blessed alternative.

Psalm 101.6 My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me;
He who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me.

So what do I do with this information? The first thing to do is to remind myself of my position in Christ.

Colossians 1.9-14
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
...
21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-- 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven

Paul prayed for the Colossian church to be filled with the knowledge of His will so they would walk in a manner worthy of the Lord (v10). Then he reminds them (us) to give thanks to the Father. To give thanks to Him for He has transferred us from darkness to Light, so we no longer are condemned. We are redeemed and forgiven! I am forgiven! This incident was a lesson. I know this now. Look at vs 21-23. They further encourage me that although I may have fallen here, I have been reconciled through death. I WILL BE presented before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach. And not if I continue in "good works" ... but what? If I continue IN FAITH (in what?) in the gospel that I heard. What is the gospel? Paul tells us that it is a righteousness that is given to us from God.

Romans 1.16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

Praise God for HIS righteousness!

Hebrews 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.

I was disciplined, or taught about my pride through this. I was shown my erroneous attitude, as I myself show my son (though not perfectly, as my Father in heaven).

Proverbs 3:11-12
11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

The Lord DELIGHTS in me! He shows it with this very lesson in discipline! Praise God for His abundant mercy!

I know my heart is heading in the right direction as well because of God's Word:

Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

I indeed delight in this discipline. I desire to be rid of my pride once and for all. I truly believe I am one step closer because of this. However, I shall be cautious of becoming proud of my humility. Spiritual pride is deceptive.

Lord, forgive me for my pride. I acknowledge it is sin and know it is not pleasing to You. I know you have placed my sin on your Son at the cross. I have died with Him that day. I have been buried with Him and risen in baptism. Thank you that you have forgiven me. I thank you, LORD, that you have taken this opportunity to teach me about myself. You've shown me my pride (something I indeed did pray for just the other day), and you've shown me my faith in You is not as strong as I thought. Lord, please increase my faith and decrease my pride. I thank You for Your faithfulness and compassion.

Reformed Confessions on mp3

2008-03-23T16:43:00.000-07:00

http://urclearning.org/creeds-and-confessions-audio/

This link includes:

Apostles Creed
Nicene Creed
Athanasian Creed
Chalcedonian Creed
Heidelberg Catechism
Belgic Confession
Canons of Dordrecht (Dordt)

For the most part, I agree with these. There are a few points, such as infant baptism mentioned in the Heidelberg Catechism, which I don't understand enough to agree or disagree. For instance, I understand that it doesn't intend to be the same as the Catholic baptism. It seems to be more like the typical type of "dedication" only with water.

In fact, it is my understanding now that Calvin also believed in infant baptism. And I've found out that some reformers still practice it today. As a sort of covenant thing ... akin to circumcision. How odd.

I have yet to listen fully to the Belgic Confession, so I have no comment on that yet.

Psalm 42:3

2008-03-17T06:03:00.000-07:00

Ps 42.3
My tears have been my food day and night,
while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"

These were his companions saying this, not his enemies. He was traveling with a band of soldiers. They would have been the ones who spoke with him.

Be encouraged when the people closest to you doubt your faith. It is nothing new (Ecc 1.9), and you're in good company.

Blessings

Lessons on Romans

2007-12-19T12:46:00.000-08:00

This series, taught by Tom Browning - Arlington Presbyterian Church (PCA) - is a must have for any serious Christian.

One of the best teachings on the book I've heard. A series of 43 downloadable MP3's.

http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/mp3/romans_browning.html

Blessings

Free Christian Music

2007-12-03T21:39:00.000-08:00

I'd like to share two absolutely wonderful CD's I've found online.

The Living Sacrifice CD from Christ Our Life Ministries. I've provided links to the mp3's below for your convenience. The original site (click here) contains the sheet music (tablature) and lyric sheets.

John
Living Sacrifice
Fire of God
Man of Sorrows
Prophets Call
Cry Aloud
I Come to the Light
Now is the Time
You Love Righteousness
Let Me See Thy Face and Die
Psalm 23
Love Never Fails
From Death to Life
Resurrection Song
Beatitudes
Psalm 103

And Calvary Chapel Saving Grace from Firefighters for Christ. *(the top CD at this link is my personal choice). The mp3's of my favorites are below. (BTW, that site also has great mp3 sermons).

Faithful and True
Psalm 8
You Still Call Me Away
Walk In It
LORD, I Come to You
One Thing
Fly
I Will Wait
Tear Down These Walls
I Abide

All of these songs are either explicitly Scriptural or laced heavily with Scriptural themes. It is so cool to hear my kids singing along with these lyrics (they're 4 and 2). It's a great way to memorize Scripture and the truths contained within.

May these songs bless you as they have me and my family and friends.

Grace to you

UPDATE: There is now a second CD from Living Sacrifice (the first group of songs). Here is the link to the page, rather than putting each song up individually.

http://christourlife.ca/free_worship.html
http://christourlife.ca/worship_songs.html

Some of the songs are better than others ... you can really see them evolving in their talent. But the second link has more of the new "winners" on it, in my opinion. Enjoy!

The Athiests Riddle

2007-11-24T21:02:00.000-08:00

I ran across this article whilst stumbling: http://www.cosmicfingerprints.com/iidb.htm

The riddle is formed in a post on the IIDB discussion board;

Gentlemen:

The starting point of this discussion is my central thesis, which is:

1) DNA is not merely a molecule with a pattern; it is a code, a language, and an information storage mechanism.
2) All codes are created by a conscious mind; there is no natural process known to science that creates coded information.
3) Therefore DNA was designed by a mind.

If you can provide an empirical example of a code or language that occurs naturally, you've toppled my proof. All you need is one.

Perry Marshall

Here is the original article, with mp3 downloads (for people like me who like mp3 downloads): http://www.cosmicfingerprints.com/atheists_riddle.htm

Read the article and listen to the mp3's. It is provocative. And I challenge any athiests to consider it. And, if possible, come up with the empirical example requested. If you can, then you have silenced a strong argument for design. But if you cannot, then consider those implications. Because "If DNA is a code, then we have every reason to believe that it is designed."

Is accurate soteriology "too deep"?

2007-11-20T19:11:00.002-08:00

Is this thought "too deep" as our football throwing friend would have us believe? Or is this a question us Christians should consider? See, I'm a Calvinist who believes in the freewill of men. The freewill of men PROPERLY DEFINED, that is.

As Jonathan Edwards states, "the Will (without any metaphysical refining) is, that by which the mind chooses any thing."[a] I can't say it any better. So, our will is free to choose things. We can choose whether we will brush our teeth or not. We can choose to politely let that person in front of us on the highway or crowd them off. These choices are ours to make. There is not someone else making these choices for us.

The question of "freewill" as spoken of in Christian circles, comes when we are faced with the choice to receive Christ as our Lord and Savior, as we are commanded and exhorted to do in Scripture.

For brevity's sake, let me say that men ARE free to choose to believe Christ as Lord and Savior. The problem, however, does not lie in our ABILITY as much as it does in our DESIRE. Jesus states that men love darkness and run from the light (John 3:19-20). We must be spiritually reborn (John 3:3) in order to even SEE the kingdom of God. We are spiritually dead, being alienated and separated from God because of our sin. This intrinsic separation, this death to spiritual matters is what prevents us from willingly choosing to follow Christ. It is not that we CAN NOT do it ... it is simply that the unregenerated sinner does not WANT to. Therefore, he does not.

The Westminster Confession says this:

Chapter IX
Of Free Will
III. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation: [4] so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good,[5] and dead in sin, [6] is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto. [7]
IV. When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, He frees him from his natural bondage under sin;[8] and, by His grace alone, enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good;[9] yet so, as that by reason of his remaining corruption, he does not perfectly, or only, will that which is good, but does also will that which is evil.[10]

Where the comic above comes into play is that, for many people, this poses a problem when presented with the concept of election/predestination. If God elects us (which Scripture repeats numerous times, and in the context of salvation), and if we freely choose Christ (which every Calvinist confirms) then how can we reconcile it? Should we just cry "too deep" as this comic strip does? I'm afraid that too many people will do just that.

But what I believe the bible to teach is that, while all men are naturally unwilling to come to Christ, including the elect, God has hand-picked some on whom He will show mercy (Rom 9:18) and will grant them (and them alone) the grace sufficient to change their unwilling, hardened heart of stone into a willing, soft heart of flesh. The rest, He leaves to die in their sins. Read these verses from Ezekiel:

36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Do you see how God says that it is Him who will do all of these things? He is the one who will give us a new heart. He will put a new spirit within us. And verse 27 tells us exactly why. This process will move us to follow His decrees and keep His laws. In other words, this act of regeneration done to us by the giving us of a new spirit and heart will CAUSE us to obey God. And the foremost command in mind here is the command given to repent and believe the gospel. Once more, the Westminster Confession:

Chapter X
Of Effectual Calling
I. All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, He is pleased, in His appointed time, effectually to call,[1] by His Word and Spirit,[2] out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ;[3] enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God,[4] taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh;[5] renewing their wills, and, by His almighty power, determining them to that which is good,[6] and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ:[7] yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace.[8]

My advice is this: Believe it. The bible tells us exactly why some are chosen and not others. "In Christ we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will." (Eph 1:11). Just because we are unable to "reason out" why God chooses some and not others according to our limited understanding does not make it untrue. God says it is according to HIS will. And this should be good enough reason for any humble Christian. Who are we to question God's purposes? Who are we to say that God doesn't have a right to be merciful to some and just to others? Do not rely on a human idea of "fairness", because if God were fair, NONE would be saved. We are saved by merciful grace, not merit. Praise God for His merciful grace!

[a] Jonathan Edwards; Freedom of the Will; Part I; Section I
For WCF Scripture proofs for Chapter IX
http://www.the-highway.com/WCFChIX.html
For WCF Scripture proofs for Chapter X
http://www.the-highway.com/WCFChX.html

Why do you believe Scripture?

2007-10-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed

What caused you to believe (assuming you do) that the bible is the infallible Word of God? Did someone tell you that there is a prophecy in Isaiah that was fulfilled eight centuries later? Did someone disclose the coherency of the bible - how it is written by 40+ authors in three different languages over 1500 some-odd years, yet contains one main theme? Did your pastor tell you it is? Did you just grow up believing it? Are these the arguments which "convinced" you that the bible is indeed the Word of God and not just some work(s) of men?

This question is probably one of the most impactful questions one can consider. Because the answer which, if biblical, will not be any of these reasons. In Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, we see him quoting Isaiah and he tells us that the men who crucified our Lord, the religious scribes and pharisees, did not understand what was in Scripture, but Paul and his audience do. And how they understood what is written in Scripture is said to be because "God has revealed it to us by his Spirit" (1 Cor 2:10)

John Calvin puts it like this:

"Let it therefore be held as fixed, that those who are inwardly taught by the Holy Spirit acquiesce implicitly in Scripture; that Scripture, carrying its own evidence along with it, deigns not to submit to proofs and arguments, but owes the full conviction with which we ought to receive it to the testimony of the Spirit. Enlightened by him, we no longer believe, either on our own judgment or that of others, that the Scriptures are from God; but, in a way superior to human judgment, feel perfectly assured—as much so as if we beheld the divine image visibly impressed on it—that it came to us, by the instrumentality of men, from the very mouth of God." [1]

Furthermore, it is stated that our very belief in Christ comes from God as a gift. Many people disagree that Eph 2:8 (by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God) is speaking about faith being given to us. But that is precisely what is going on here. It is saying that the gift is two-fold. We are saved by the grace of God (that is the first gift) by being shown the truth of the gospel (that is the second gift). This fact is stated explicitly in Philippians 1:29 "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ .. to believe on him".

I know what you're thinking. "If it is God who causes someone believe, then what is the point of apologetics? Why not just sit around waiting for God to save whom He has chosen to save?" Paul was an example for us in Philippians where he said "for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me." (Phil 1:7b). Paul both defended and confirmed the gospel to his hearers.

God has also decreed means to accomplish His ends. Paul also says, in reference to salvation:

Romans 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent?

You see, God has not only determined the result of an event, but He has also ordained the cause. Who is going to believe that the bible is the Word of God if nobody proclaims it? The answer is 'nobody'. So, why are we not to sit around waiting for God to save whom he will? Because He saves through the proclamation of His Word. It is the GOSPEL which is the power of God unto salvation (Rom 1:16). It is the GOSPEL that reveals a righteousness which is from God (Rom 1:17).

This is an incredible relief! Oh, the times I've heard people (including myself) trying to convince someone that the bible is true by using the best apologetics, archaeological evidence, textual criticism, and you name it. The responsibility for convincing someone of the truth of the bible is not in our hands. It is in His. To quote again from the Institutes:

"If at any time, then, we are troubled at the small number of those who
believe, let us, on the other hand, call to mind, that none comprehend the
mysteries of God save those to whom it is given."[2]

This notion is confirmed with Scripture.

Ephesians 1:9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

and again:

Colossians 1:25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Salvation is an act of God from beginning to end. Praise God!

[1] Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book I, Ch VII, Sec V (emphasis added)
[2] ibid.

My daughter's birthday

2007-10-16T07:34:00.000-07:00

Today is my daughter's 10th birthday. There is a lot behind this testimony of mine. Perhaps someday I'll write it down. But for now, all I want to say is HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ASHLEY! I love you and think about you all the time.

Maybe one day you'll be able to read this.

For those of you who don't know, Ashley is my first daughter, born to my ex girlfriend, who's name is Miracle. She abducted my daughter 7 years ago, when she had just turned three, and disappeared. I found her two years ago, and when I tried to re-establish contact, she served me with adoption papers (she wanted her new husband to adopt her without my consent). I contested, but lost my case because of such a long absence.

As the LORD wills .. this trial is one which He used to bring me to my end and come to Christ. For that, I praise Him. I still miss her, tho. She's on my mind every single day. And I still depend on God to bring me through it. Every day.

I love you, little girl. Daddy misses you.

Mere Christianity

2007-10-16T07:26:00.000-07:00

I don't really like to read much ... I've got a short attention span and don't really get much quiet time other than early mornings, which I dedicate to reading Scripture. I prefer to listen to mp3's while I'm driving to work or, since I sit behind a desk and click mindlessly half the day, I listen during my day.

Well, I found Mere Christianity by CS Lewis online as a free mp3 download. You can download it here (<--- click to listen or right-click and save-as). I've read this book before, and it is a wonderful read! I hope everyone who stumbles across this blog takes this opportunity to be edified by this work.

Blessings in Christ

Law and Gospel hermeneutics

2007-10-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

Through my study of the Reformation (part of my study into Church history), I heard a profound message about how the Scriptures are to be delineated. You can download that message here (click to listen, or right-click to save to your hard drive)

Martin Luther puts it this way:

This difference between the Law and the Gospel is the height of knowledge in Christendom. Every person and all persons who assume or glory in the name of Christian should know and be able to state this difference. If this ability is lacking, one cannot tell a Christian from a heathen or a Jew; of such supreme importance is this differentiation. This is why St. Paul so strongly insists on a clean-cut and proper differentiating of these two doctrines.

Theodore Beza, Calvin's predecessor, likewise states:

We divide this Word into two principal parts or kinds: the one is called the "Law", the other the "Gospel". For, all the rest can be gathered under the one or the other of these two headings …

We must pay great attention to these things. For, with good reason, we can say that ignorance of this distinction between Law and Gospel is one of the principle sources of the abuses which corrupted and still corrupt Christianity.

Charles Spurgeon says:

There is no point upon which men make greater mistakes than upon the relation which exists between the law and the gospel. Some men put the law instead of the gospel: others put the gospel instead of the law; some modify the law and the gospel, and preach neither law nor gospel: and others entirely abrogate the law, by bringing in the gospel. Many there are who think that the law is the gospel, and who teach that men by good works of benevolence, honesty, righteousness, and sobriety, may be saved.

I had never really thought about this before. I knew that there were laws in the bible (the Ten Commandments, the ceremonial laws, even the "command" to repent and believe), but I had never considered that ALL imperatives could be considered to be just as much a Law as the obvious ones.

Let us consider a few:

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her

1 Thess 5: 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus

Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing

Now consider this. Do these passages speak peace to you? Or do they condemn you? They condemn me! I, for one, know that I do not always love my wife as I want to, how much shorter do I fall away from loving her as Christ loves us? Yes, it reveals to me where I am lacking.

I certainly don't thank God for everything. I thank Him for the good things, to be sure. But when my boss annoys me and causes me frustration and difficulty at work, I don't find myself thanking God for her.

To ask me to do everything without complaining just seems unfair to me .. because I find myself complaining when my kids won't listen, when the dog poops on the carpet, and even when there are too many commercials during my favorite show.

Now because these three examples convict me and rub me the wrong way, does this mean they are bad things? God forbid! As Paul states in his letter to the Romans:

Romans 3:19-20 (19) Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; (20) because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

This is the exact purpose of these verses! They are MEANT to reveal to me my shortcomings. This comforts me in a sense. It tells me that my conscience has not been seared and hardened against God's commands. If they did not bother me, then according to Paul, the Law would not be revealing my sin to me. What, then, is the purpose of this? Am I to be condemned by these laws? Am I to be burdened because I am unable to live up to the expectations God has for me? No. This is where the Gospel comes into play.

One purpose of the law, as we have seen above, is to reveal our sin to us. Another purpose is to do something much better.

Galatians 3:24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

The Law, according to Scripture, is not meant to bring life through obedience to it. It brings only death, otherwise righteousness would be through the law. It would be through our behavior and our actions. The Law drives us to Christ. It becomes our tutor. It causes us to rely upon the righteousness of Christ rather than our own. When we read an imperative in the bible (an imperative is simply a command), we should cry out “HOW!?” And the answer is always “Christ”. We receive the righteousness that is from God (Romans 1:17, 3:21) through faith in Jesus Christ. This is the Gospel

Romans 1:16-17 (16)I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. (17) For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Righteousness is FROM God. He is the only righteous One, so when we desire righteousness (Matthew 5:6), we must get it from God. Jesus tells us that we will be filled when we hunger and thirst for it, so the source is not ourselves. We are void of it and must be filled by an outward source … that source is God. The Gospel holds within it a righteousness that is from Him and for us. What good news!

When we are discouraged by our lack of performance, or our inability to live up to those high standards, don’t fear, dear Christian. Run to Christ! He is our righteousness, and takes away our condemnation (Romans 8:1). We are no longer under Law but under Grace (Romans 6:14). And because of this, we praise God and thank Him for sending His Son, Jesus Christ. Because of this, we love God.

And this love manifests itself not in our holding up of our hands, not in simply singing and not in producing “tears of joy”, but in obedience. Yes, we are still called to be obedient. But it is not out of fear or duty. It is out of thanks and love for the One who fulfilled the Law in our place. Jesus Christ the Righteous.

I challenge you, next time you read your bible, to try to determine which parts are Law, and which parts are the Gospel. I believe it will greatly strengthen your understanding and appreciation of what you read. When you read Law, let it drive you to Christ. When you read Gospel, let the praise for Christ rise up within you.

All praise and honor belong to Him.

Me and Kelly

2007-10-13T08:46:00.000-07:00

This is me and my wife, Kelly. We've been married since July 2001 and she's my helper, my encourager and my best friend. She's the mother of my two children, Dustin (4) and Jayden (2). She also puts up with me while I spend all my free time working, studying and now publishing this blog.

She's so patient :)

Well, here we go ...

2007-10-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about this for a little while now ... starting to record my thoughts in a blog for all to enjoy :)

I think that initially this blog is going to focus on resources that I've acquired that I'd like to share with you. Who knows? If God wills, this site will become a good resource for those who desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)

I also hope to have time to develop my own theology here. I want to see how my growth progresses over time, and this might be a good learning experience for me.

So let's get started ... I've been learning about the history of the church lately, and it has given me great insights into how God moves in and through His people. It has also given me insight into what happens when men put more emphasis on what they see and experience instead of what the word of God says.

Two resources:

Dr. David Calhoun of Covenant Theological Seminary

Ancient & Medieval Church History
Reformation & Modern Church History

Tom Browning of Arlington Presbyterian Church (PCA)

The History of the Reformation - How Christ Restored the Gospel to His Church

Blessings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ