18 May 2010

Machen: The Liberalization of Education

"The undergraduate student of the present day is being told that he need not take notes on what he hears in class, that the exercise of the memory is a rather childish and mechanical thing, and that what he is really in college to do is think for himself and to unify his world. He usually makes a poor business of unifying his world. And the reason is clear. He does not succeed in unifying his world for the simple reason that he has no world to unify. He had not acquired a knowledge of a sufficient number of facts in order even to learn the method of putting facts together. He is being told to practice the business of mental digestion; but the trouble is that he has no food to digest. The modern student, contrary to what is often said, is really being starved for want of facts."

(this is an excerpt from "What is Faith?" by J. Gresham Machen


For more on the subject by Machen...

J. Gresham Machen and Christian Education
The Importance of Christian Scholarship

12 May 2010

Love and Justice Combined

"If we represent the atonement as founded only in the righteousness and justice of God, we fail to do justice to the love of God as a moving cause of the atonement, and afford a pretext to those enemies of the satisfaction theory of the atonement who like to represent it as implying that God is a vindictive being, who is concerned only about His own honor. If, on the other hand, we consider the atonement purely as an expression of the love of God, we fail to do justice to the righteousness and veracity of God, and we reduce the sufferings and the death of Christ to an unexplained enigma."

Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (p. 368)


Christ Crucified: Absolute Propitiation Secured

"The Old Testament mercy seat was sprinkled with foreign blood; in Christ’s case the blood was that of the living mercy seat himself... Paul regarded the sacrificial aspect of our Lord’s death not as a secondary or figurative mode of viewing it, but as pertaining to its very essence, as most literally expressing its central significance. That propitiatory rite and that propitiatory place in which all Old Testament sacrificial functions culminated find their higher, their ideal counterpart in the crucified Savior. In this respect also He is the end of the law, not because He does away with the idea of sacrifice as something antiquated and imperfect, but because He embodies this idea in its highest conceivable, its absolute form in Himself, and thus, while rendering all previous forms superfluous, secures to it in His own Person everlasting reality."
(Geerhardus Vos)

To read more of Vos' works, please check out The Writings of Geerhardus Vos Project

11 May 2010

Embrace the Gospel and Beware of Self-Deceit

"The doctrine of the Gospel is not only true, to work upon the understanding, but it is good, so as to move and draw the will:

"It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all." (1 Timothy 1:15, NASB)

It is an excellent doctrine to ravish the will. Now, observe what a great deal of difference there is between men in believing...

Some that hear the Gospel, and have only a literal knowledge of it, so as to be able to talk of it, so as to understand the words and syllables, to know what it means; they may have some clearness of understanding this way, but there is not a sound assent.

There are others affected so with the Gospel, as by the common influence of the Spirit they may assent to the truths delivered concerning God and Christ, and salvation by him, yet do not give it entertainment in their hearts. These may be said to seek God, but not with the whole heart. A speculative, naked, and cold assent they may have, but that is not enough. It is not enough to see food that is wholesome, but you must eat it. Nor is it enough to understand the Gospel, and believe that it is true, but we must embrace it; it must be accepted, else we do not believe with the whole heart. The word is propounded to man as true. Now, the truth made known may cause a speculative assent. This may draw profession after it; and this we call historical faith, because we are no more affected with the Gospel than with an ordinary history which we read and believe. The word is propounded again as good, to move and excite the will.

Now, there is a twofold good—the good of happiness, and the good of holiness. The good of happiness, that which is profitable and sweet. Then there is the good of holiness. Now, there are many that look upon the Gospel as good and profitable, because it offereth pardon and eternal life; such comfort to the conscience, and such good to our whole souls. We may be affected with it as a good doctrine. Naturally, man hath not only a sense of religion, but he hath a hunger after immortality and everlasting blessedness. Therefore, since the Gospel doth so clearly promote happiness, it may be greedily catched hold of by those whose hearts are affected, while they look upon it under these notions; and they may be so far affected that they may for a while not only profess it out of danger, but when some danger doth arise they may defend their opinions with some care. Yet this is not with all the heart. Why? As soon as any great danger doth arise, out of which there is no escape... as soon as persecution arose, saith Christ, all this ardour and heat of spirit which they did formerly seem to have, comes to nothing. What is the reason it vanisheth? Because they receive the Gospel rather upon those notions of interest and profit, than of duty and holiness; and the impression of the profitableness of the Gospel, as a doctrine of happiness, was not so deeply rooted in them, not so durable, that the hope of the future good would be prevalent over the fear of present evil and danger.

There may be some desires of heaven in a carnal breast, but they are easily blotted out by worldly temptations; but the true desires of holiness are lasting, and will prevail over our lusts."
(Thomas Manton, 1620-1677)

(Thomas Manton's Exposition of Psalm 119:10)

10 May 2010

Manton's Exposition of Psalm 119:9

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping them according to Your Word." (Psalm 119:9)

"This is the way which we must take if we intend to come to our journey's end... there are several things supposed:

1. We are from the birth polluted with sin; for we must be cleansed. It is not, 'direct his way,' but 'cleanse his way.'

2. We should be, very early and in good time, sensible of this evil; for the question is propounded concerning the young man.

3. We should earnestly seek for a remedy how to dry up the issue of sin that runneth upon us.
That which is inquired after is, what remedy there is against it? what course is to be taken? So that the sum of the question is this: How shall a man that is impure, and naturally defiled with sin, be made able, as soon as he cometh to the use of reason, to purge out that natural corruption, and live a holy and pure life to God? The answer given is, 'By taking heed thereto according to thy Word.'

Two things are to be observed:

I. The remedy (The Word—by way of address to God, called thy Word; because if God had not given direction about it, we should have been at an utter loss).

God demandeth His right as soon as we are capable to understand it. And it concerneth every one, as soon as he cometh to the use of reason, presently to mind his work, both in regard of God and himself.

'Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, 'I have no delight in them'" (Ecclesiastes 12:1)...

We have nothing but what He gave us, and that for His own use and service. And therefore the vessel should be cleansed as soon as may be, that it may be 'fit for the master's use.' It is a kind of spiritual restitution for the neglects of childhood and the forgetfulness of infancy, when we were not in a capacity to know our Creator much less to serve Him. And therefore, as soon as we come to the use of reason, we should restore His right with advantage.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)...

When well principled and seasoned in youth, it sticketh by them, before sin and worldly lusts have gotten a deeper rooting.

The Word, as a remedy against natural uncleanness, is considerable two ways—as a rule, and as an instrument...

A. As the only rule of that holiness which God will accept... Nothing is holiness in God's account, how specious soever it be, unless it be according to the Word. What doth the Word do about all these as the rule? It showeth the only way of reconciliation with God, or being cleansed from the guilt of sin, and the only way of solid and true sanctification and subjection to God, which is our cleansing from the filthiness of sin.

It is the only rule to teach us how to obtain true peace of conscience... There was no course to recover men from their entanglements and perplexities of soul, how to pacify God for sin, but they were still left in a floating uncertainty, till God revealed Himself as reconciling the world to Himself in Christ. Now, no doctrine doth propound the way of reconciliation with God, and redemption from those fears of his angry justice which are so natural to us, with such rational advantages, and claimeth such a just title to human belief, as the doctrine of the Gospel.

It is the only rule of true holiness. Never was it stated and brought to such a pitch as it is in the scriptures, nor enforced by such arguments as are found there; it requireth such a holiness as standeth in conformity to God, and is determined by His will. Now it is but reason that He that is the Supreme Being should be the rule of all the rest. It is a holiness of another rate than the blind heart could find out; not an external devotion, nor a civil course, but such as transformeth the heart and subdueth it to the will of God [see Romans 2:15]. If a man would attain to the highest exactness that a rational creature is capable of, not to moral virtue only, but a true genuine respect to God and man, he must regard and love the law of God that is pure. A man that would be holy had need of an exact rule, for to be sure his practice will come short of his rule; and therefore, if the rule itself be short, there will no due provision be made for respects to God or man. But now this is a rule that reacheth not only to the way, but the thoughts; that converteth the soul [see Psalm 19:7]. Take the fairest draughts of that moral perfection which yet is of human recommendation, and you will find it defective and maimed in some parts, either as to God or men... not reaching to the full subjection of the soul to God.

B. The Word is considerable as an instrument which God maketh use of to cleanse the heart of man... The doctrine of the Scripture holds out the remedy and means of cleansing—Christ's blood; which is not only an argument or motive to move us to it [see 1 Peter 1:8]. It presseth holiness upon this argument. Why? God hath been at great cost to bring it about, therefore we must not content ourselves with some smooth morality, which might have been whether Christ had been, yea or nay. Again, the Word propounds it as a purchase, whereby grace is procured for us; so it is said, 'He hath purchased the Spirit to bless us, and turn us from our sins. And it exciteth faith to apply and improve this remedy, and so conveyeth the power of God into the soul... Purifying their hearts by faith' (1 John 1:7; Acts 15:9).

II. The manner how it is applied and made use of (By taking heed thereto... by studying and endeavouring a holy conformity to God's will)...

The manner how the Word is applied and made use of, 'If he take heed thereunto according to thy Word.' This implieth a studying of the Word, and the tendency and importance of it, which is necessary if the young man would have benefit by it... If men would grow wise to salvation, and get any skill in the practice of godliness, they must be much in this blessed book of God, which is given us for direction... It is not a slight acquaintance with the Word that will make a young man so successful as to defeat the temptations of Satan, and be too hard for his own lust; it is not a little notional irradiation, but to have the Word dwell in you, and abide in you richly... we are prone to error and all manner of carnal fancies by the natural temper and frame of our hearts; and therefore, from our very tender and infant-age we should be acquainted with the word of God [see Isaiah 58:2; 2 Timothy 3:15]. It may be children, by reading the Word, get nothing but a little memorable knowledge, but yet it is good to plant the field of the memory; in time they will soak into the judgment and conscience, and thence into the heart and affections.

It implieth a care and watchfulness over our hearts and ways, that our will and actions be conformed to the Word. This must be the young man's daily prayer and care, that there be a conformity between His will and the Word, that He may be a walking Bible, Christ's living epistle, copy out the Word in His life, that the truths of it may appear plainly in his conversation.

All that I have said issueth itself into three points:

1. That the great duty of youth, as soon as they come to the full use of reason, is to inquire and study how they may cleanse their hearts and ways from sin.

2. That the Word of God is the only rule sufficient and effectual to accomplish this work.

3. If we would have this efficacy, there is required much care and watchfulness, that we come to the direction of the Word in every tittle; not a loose and inattentive reflection upon the Word, careless inconsiderateness, but a taking heed thereunto."

The Thomas Manton Homepage

05 May 2010

The Wisdom of Manton

"for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God." (James 1:20, NASB)

"The righteousness of God is put for such righteousness as God requireth, God approveth, God effecteth; and in this sense in scripture things are said to be of God or of Christ which are effected by his power or commanded in his word: thus faith is said to be the work of God [John 6:29] because he commandeth we should labour in it, which plainly is the intent of that context..."

"The context speaketh of anger occasioned by differences about the word... should a meek religion be defended by our violences, and the God of peace served with wrathful affections, and the madness of an evil nature bewray itself in the best cause?... you cannot gratify Satan more than when you wrong the truth by an unseemly defence of it... Those engage most successfully that use the hardest arguments and the softest words; whereas railings and revilings, as they are without love, so they are without profit."

"All violent concitations of the spirit disturb reason, and hinder clearness of debate; and it is then with the soul as it is with men in a mutiny, the gravest cannot be heard; and there is in it somewhat of mist and darkness, by which reason, being beclouded, is rather made a party than a judge, and doth not only excuse our passion, but feed it, as being employed in representing the injury, rather than bridling our irrational excess."

(from The Complete Works of Dr. Thomas Manton, Volume 4)

01 May 2010

Update

I haven't blogged in a while... just a quick update:

1. Together for the Gospel was great! All the videos for the main sessions can be found here. I had a great time... met up with some friends old and new, including some whom I have only recently met through social media.

2. I just finished reading "Dont Waste Your Life" (click here for the free online version) by John Piper. We are using "DWYL" as a resource for the Youth Ministry at church. I plan on writing a review soon. A few brief comments about the book... I enjoy how Piper writes. He takes the main idea or focus of his book and attacks it from all angles (each chapter being a different angle). Also, it is a very practical book; filled with advice and encouragement on how not to waste your life and show Christ as preeminent in every facet.

3. I started reading by D.A. Carson. I am not even past chapter one and I love it. If you want to strengthen your Bible interpretation skills, I suggest you purchase it. Knowing Scripture is important, but understanding it is crucial... and while we have, in our language, a sufficient translation of the original languages, it is important to have some grasp of hermeneutical (hermeneutics = the study of interpretation) and exegetical (critical explanation and/or interpretation) principles. I have, in the past, been guilty of eisegeting (reading my own interpretation into the text) the Scriptures and in my pursuit for proper exegesis (reading and understanding the original author's intent and purpose in writing), I still make interpretive mistakes (i.e. contextual, historical/cultural, lexical, etc.). Hopefully, by God's grace, this book will help me grow.

4. Men's study switched to Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology (we were using Millard Erickson's). We are currently studying the doctrine of the Atonement.

5. Random...

New issue of Themelios at The Gospel Coalition

For the Sake of the Gospel (June 4th) with Alistair Begg & GC Squared

Michael Horton on "The New Calvinism"

Michael Horton on The 2010 Desiring God Conference Controversy

D3 Conference at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (June 28-July 1)

That's all for now. Soli Deo Gloria!