Pursuing the Fruit of the Spirit

The Delusion of Autonomy

2011-12-08T23:18:00.015-05:00

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones made an observation 60 years ago regarding 'the suppression of truth in unrighteousness' (Romans 1:18) of the modern man. He noticed the rampant 'worship of the creature rather than Creator' (Romans 1:25) that existed and pointed to the continued relevance of the first chapter in Paul's epistle to the Romans. Lloyd-Jones identified the downward spiral of society due to the efforts of the 'natural man' (1 Corinthians 2:14) to esteem himself more highly than he ought. Ironically, the pursuit of human autonomy cultivates the exact opposite effect that it sets out to obtain; namely societal downgrade. He offers a comparison of the self-deceptive anthropocentric social climate of the early 20th century with a nobler time in which the fear of God was more prevalent in daily life.

In light of our observation of the dependence of societal quality on the centrality of God in civilization, Lloyd-Jones explains:

"the same thing is seen if we look at the way in which men spend their time, and contrast it with what was true when men believed in God and worshiped Him. Apart from the enormity of sin, I hate it and protest against it because of the way in which it insults man and debases all his powers and especially his highest powers. While men believed in God, they spent their time in a manner that was ennobling and uplifting. They were out to improve their minds. They read the best books they could find, and their conversation had reference to theology, politics, and other matters which called for the exercise of intelligence... Is there anything which is more tragic than to compare and to contrast the average man of, say, fifty years ago and the corresponding man of today?"

We might ask the same question. When comparing our time with that of Lloyd-Jones' (60 years ago), have we as a society made progress or have we continued further down the anthropocentric spiral of idolatry?

Genetico-Synthetic Methodology & Sola Scriptura

2011-12-07T16:08:00.008-05:00

The Proper Method for Engaging in Systematic Theology:

"The 'Genetico-Synthetic' method of Dogmatics... proceeds on the assumption that the divine self-revelation in Scripture is the principium cognoscendi externum [the external principle of knowing] of theology. The presupposition is that God, and not religion, is the object of theology, and that the object can be known only because, and in so far as, it has revealed itself... the data with which theology deals are not given in the Christian consciousness, but in the objective special revelation of God. This self-revelation only can give us absolutely reliable knowledge of God. Whatever knowledge may be derived from other sources, such as nature and the Christian consciousness, must be tested by the Word of God." (Louis Berkhof, "Systematic Theology" p. 71)

Credo Magazine Book Giveaway...

2011-11-21T23:42:00.005-05:00

Credo Magazine is giving away a copy of Gregg Allison's "Historical Theology"...

"This book presents the history of various doctrines in identical order to their appearance in Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology. Rather than following the history of Christianity and learning about various doctrines as they arise, readers can trace the development of vital Christian theology topic by topic.

Most historical theology texts follow Christian beliefs chronologically, discussing notable doctrinal developments for all areas of theology according to their historical appearance. And while this may be good history, it can make for confusing theology, with the classic theological loci scattered throughout various time periods, movements, and controversies.

In Historical Theology, Gregg Allison offers students the opportunity to study the historical development of theology according to a topical-chronological arrangement, setting out the history of Christian doctrine one theological element at a time. Such an approach allows readers to concentrate on one tenet of Christianity and its formulation in the early church, through the Middle Ages, Reformation, and post-Reformation era, and into the modern period. The text includes a generous mix of primary source material as well, citing the words of Cyprian, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Barth, and others. Allison references the most accessible editions of these notable theologians’ work so that readers can continue their study of historical theology through Christian history’s most important contributors. Historical Theology is a superb resource for those familiar with Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology or interested in understanding the development of Christian theology." (Publisher's Description)

To enter the contest, CLICK HERE.

The True Gospel

2011-11-19T12:40:00.008-05:00

I recently had an exchange with a fellow Christian wherein they made the comment:

"The gospel in 3 words is love. Make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ."

Now, I am not certain if they were saying that the Gospel is love, or if they were saying that the three-tiered "friend" model they presented is girded with love. What I am certain of is, that although the Gospel is rooted in the love of God, it is not merely "love" as a stationary concept or emotion. Nor is it, "Make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ." We Christians should adamantly oppose and labor to correct such misrepresentations of the Gospel.

Here is my response:

"The gospel is not something we do, but it is [an announcement of] something that has been done... and so we proclaim a message of something that has occurred in a historical context."

The good news is not that we do something. In fact, it is not good news if my efforts are the primary thrust (especially since our best efforts fall short, no matter who we are). Furthermore, a continuous action is not a message. A message is information that is proclaimed. With regard to the good news of the Gospel message, it is the historical information about God, Humanity, Holiness, Sin, Redemption, Judgment, Reconciliation, and Reprobation (though, this is not an exhaustive list, nor an infallible recipe) according to the Bible. The Gospel, therefore, is an informative message (though much more than a mere message) about a variety of biblical subjects; the good news of salvation that follows the reality of human depravity and the need of Christ Jesus the Savior.

While there is much to be said of God's sovereignty in salvation (with regard to predestination, election, regeneration, conversion, faith, etc.), the aim here is to present the external elements and communication of the Gospel, not to plumb the depths of soteriology. That being said, I usually find that people who speak of the Gospel also point to the response of the recipient of the message. This is also considered by many as an aspect of the good news, since the free offer of the Gospel is available to all persons (which is really good news). Many present this response as an essential aspect of the Gospel message. In many cases, however, if the Gospel is proclaimed accurately, a response is implied and not necessarily an explicit element. Furthermore, without going into too much detail, I would argue that Scripture is clear that any human response is a secondary cause... that is to say, the Holy Spirit, according to His sovereign will, 'causes' us to respond to the Gospel (in a way). Nonetheless, all people who have been confronted with the Gospel respond... either positively or negatively.

The following is the presentation of the Gospel (along with a call for response) that I declared to the person mentioned above. I humbly pray that the Holy Spirit not only uses it to inform and instruct Christians as to what the Gospel is, but also that if any unbelievers may read it, that He would give them an understanding and grant them repentance and faith in Christ Jesus for His glory and their joy.

"The all-powerful, sovereign, holy and majestic God, who has no beginning or end, Created the earth and humanity with it. He created man upright and in His image; they had a perfect relationship. Man committed treason by sinning against God when he and his wife were deceived... they disobeyed God and attempted to usurp His position of authority and steal His glory. God cursed the man and woman, the serpent who deceived them, and the earth. Adam and Eve were now separated from God and spiritually dead, and would see physical death as a punishment for their sin. Adam was the representative or federal head of all of humanity, and so we are guilty of the same sin. We have inherited the fallen nature of him... we are not sinners because we sin, rather, we sin because we are sinners by nature. Fortunately, God promised that the Seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent, and thus, save us from the penalty of sin. He maintained the bloodline through history through Adam to Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to Moses to David and all the way to Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Mary and Joseph. Jesus, who is the Messiah that the Law and Prophets in the Old Testament refer to is God in the flesh... the incarnation of the second person of the Trinity: the eternally begotten Son of God who was the agent of Creation. He lived a perfectly obedient life under the Law, following it completely. He was fully man and truly God... He is a man, because only a man can atone for the sins of humanity; likewise, He is God because only God is perfect and righteous. He willingly laid down His life as a substitution for the penalty of sin. The sin of he/she who believes in Him is covered and removed by His work on the cross. The wrath of God that is justly deserved for sin is satisfied by Jesus' sacrifice. His righteousness, by the application of the Holy Spirit through the instrumental means of faith, is accredited to those who believe in Him as Lord and Savior. We who trust in Jesus and what He has done are declared righteous according to His merits and not our own. He died, putting to death the power of sin... but He was raised to life by the same power of God that gives us faith and new life in Christ by the Holy Spirit. Though we die physically, we will be resurrected and inherit imperishable bodies so that we may live forever according to promises of God in Jesus. The person and work of Christ is the only way sinful humanity is reconciled with their holy and loving Father and Creator. There must be a response to what God has done in Christ... Deny Him, and you will be judged for your sin and incur the just penalty of the eternal wrath of God in the lake of fire... a conscience state of infinite torment and bodily agony/anguish. Respond with repentance (a perpetual lifestyle of turning away from sin and turning toward God) and faith (believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Savior and trust in the Triune God alone as worthy of praise and adoration; treasure Him above all things and live obediently) and you will be reconciled with your Creator and enjoy fellowship with Him for eternity in the place where there is no sin, no pain nor sadness... where every tear will be wiped away."

I welcome your comments, so... if you would like Scripture references, if you have prayer requests or questions, if you disagree or think I missed something crucial, or if you have any suggestions as to how this presentation can be improved (with regard to biblical fidelity)... please leave a comment.

Recommended books on the Gospel:

Election and Perseverance

2011-11-01T14:42:00.030-04:00

I've been deeply encouraged and blessed by the books I've had the opportunity to read by God's grace. Lately, there are two that have providentially worked together in order to strengthen the knowledge of the gospel and the doctrines of grace in my life. Not only have they solidified my understanding of distinct doctrines, they have helped shape my comprehension of the way these truths are connected and inseparable. Most specifically, the areas of interest regarding my recent study are the doctrines of election and perseverance... two of the most comforting truths of Scripture, when understood rightly.

"What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles." (Romans 9:22-24)

"The vessels of mercy 'were by nature the children of wrath, even as others'. Both kinds of vessels were clay 'of the same lump'. What did God do toward saving the vessels of wrath? He 'endured them with much long-suffering'. Does not this show tenderness and compassion? Why did He not do more toward their salvation? Because He was 'willing to show His wrath, and to make known His power'. He saw it best, after exhibiting His long-suffering patience and His gracious readiness to pardon them on condition of penitence, to leave some sinners to reap the just rewards of their iniquity, in order that He might thus display His wrath against sin, and demonstrate His power to deal with it as it deserves. He does these sinners no wrong, simply permits them to work out their own destruction; but at the same time He furnishes a lesson to the universe on the hatefulness of sin, and the stable foundation on which the kingdom of holiness rests, not withstanding the efforts of wicked men and of devils to destroy it...

God wishes to 'make known the riches of His glory', and to this end He makes some vessels of mercy, 'preparing them afore unto glory'. We may say, in a word, that when God looked upon the lump of sinful humanity He decided to deal with it in the way which would best serve the purpose of displaying all the attributes of His glorious character, and thus promote the highest ends of His moral government. He might destroy the whole lump; He might transform the whole lump; or He might divide it, and make some vessels unto honor, and others to dishonor. His justice calls for the first course; His benevolence calls for the second; His wisdom calls for the third. By this course He illustrates both His justice and benevolence, and at the same time secures the highest ends of His unerring wisdom. In the case of those who are lost, God permits their self-destruction despite the entreaties of His benevolence. In the case of the saved, God, by the invincible power of His grace, rescues them despite the demands of His justice. In the case of both classes, the compassionate Christ is 'over all, God blessed for evermore' (Romans 9:5)...

Salvation is all of grace, and that it can, therefore, be no reflection on any attribute of God's perfect character if He decline to put forth His saving power on behalf of any given sinner, or number of sinners." (R.C. Reed, "The Gospel as Taught by Calvin", pp. 111-113).

"The faith that saves (a gift of God, according to Ephesians 2:8-9) is so nurtured and cared for by the Spirit of God that no genuine believer apostatizes... it is precisely because the power of God is manifested in preserving the Christian's faith that he can be assured of never losing his salvation...

In describing Christ's work as the Mediator of our salvation, Calvin explains how we are heirs according to God's pledge:

'[The Mediator's] task was to restore us to God's grace as to make of the children of men, children of God; of the heirs of Gehenna, heirs of the Heavenly Kingdom. Who could have done this had not the self-same Son of God become the Son of man, and had not so taken what was ours as to impart what was His to us, and to make what was His by nature ours by grace? Therefore, relying on this pledge, we trust that we are sons of God.' (The Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2.12.2)

The perseverance of believers in the faith is also clearly taught in John 17:

"Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, 'Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.'" (John 17)

Here we are privileged to listen in on what has been called the High Priestly Prayer of Christ. In it, He speaks of believers becoming 'one' so that 'the world may believe that You have sent Me' (v. 21). This prayer has been consistently understood by liberals (and, sadly, of late by conservatives, as well) as teaching that organic union (or, at least, corporate expressions of unity) among Christians will lead the world to believe in Christ. If that were true, then Jesus' prayer has never been answered in the affirmative. Indeed, it could only be declared an utter failure...

The unity for which He prayed was not a horizontal unity among men; rather, He prayed for a vertical unity with Himself, as He is one with the Father... The entire prayer is a petition that genuine believers may not be 'lost' as Judas was (v. 12). Since Christ was about to leave His own, He prayed that God would continue to 'guard' them, just as He previously had 'kept' them under His watchful care (v. 12). And He prayed not only for the apostles, but also for those who would come to believe under their preaching (v. 20). The kind of guarding that Jesus had in mind is explained in verse 21: 'that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.'

The unity involved in these words is a unity with the Father and the Son, a unity that is as inseparable as that which these members of the Trinity enjoy...

God doesn't make a promise, then change His mind. He never hands us something with one hand, only to take it back with the other. He would never give eternal life to a person and then later kill him spiritually. Eternal life is just that—life that lasts eternally in God's presence. God is true to His word.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified." (Romans 8:28-30)

Calvin writes:

"Those whom He appointed beforehand, He also called; those whom He called, He also justified' [Romans 8:30] that He might sometime glorify them. Although in choosing His own the Lord already has adopted them as His children, we see that they do not come into possession of so great a good except when they are called; conversely, that when they are called, they already enjoy some share of their election. For this reason, Paul calls the Spirit, whom they receive, both 'Spirit of adoption' [Romans 8:15] and the 'seal' and 'guarantee of the inheritance to come' [Ephesians 1:13-14]; cf. 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5]. For He surely establishes and seals in their hearts by His testimony the assurance of the adoption to come." (The Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3.24.1)

A very important verse that makes the truth about apostasy clear:

"They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us." (1 John 2:19)

John is addressing the fact that certain gnostic teachers who had been in the fold had left and had begun teaching their heresy. Previously, they had seemed to be true Christians, because they gave no outward indication of their heretical belief. But their false views of the nature of Christ solidified and came to the fore, and they found that they could no longer fellowship with genuine Christians...

We must maintain that those who denounce the faith never had true faith in the first place. They may have been among believers, but they were not of them...

True believers remain in the faith and in the church. They endure to the end.

"For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned." (Hebrews 6:4-9)

"For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10:26-29)

While he knew that true believers would not repudiate their Savior, the writer recognized the possibility that some among his readers might not be genuine Christians after all. Therefore, he shows that people may become a part of the visible body of Christ, participating in all of God's wonderful benefits that are provided for the life of the church, but eventually turn their backs on everything they have experienced. There is no way to renew such people to a genuine profession of faith, he says, because there is only one true message—the very one they have rejected. So he describes how great a dishonor to Christ it is for one to hear and taste the gospel only to reject it, and how terrible are the consequences...

To teach that a saved person may be lost is to impugn the fatherhood of God. It is to say that He so poorly raises His children that many become delinquents who 'drop out' or must be disowned by Him... Hebrews says that the Lord 'disciplines' each of His children in order to bring them into line when they go the wrong way; if they receive no discipline, the book teaches, they are illegitimate:

"and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, 'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.' It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom His father does not discipline?" (Hebrews 12:5-7; cf. Proverbs 3:11-12)

God disciplines all of His legitimate children, and His discipline gets positive results. God does not allow rebellious children to wander away from the family or become so incorrigible that He must put them out. Those members who leave, or who are permanently put out of the church, as we have seen, are false professors. Calvin writes:

"Wherever punishment is for vengeance, there the curse and wrath of God manifest themselves, and these he always withholds from believers. On the other hand, chastisement is a blessing of God and also bears witness to His love, as Scripture teaches (Job 5:17; Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:5-6)." (The Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3.4.32)

Perseverance is the result of true faith, nourished and maintained by the Spirit. But the believer himself must continue to exercise it. He may never sit back and say, 'I'm saved, I may do as I please, since I can never be lost.' To think that way indicates either that he has received very faulty teaching or that he is not a believer.

This precious doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, coming down to us from the Reformation, must be preserved at all costs. We may neither abandon it nor compromise with those who would do so. The certainty of salvation, which Calvin so dearly wished His congregation to know and which he bequeathed to subsequent generations, must not be lost." (Jay E. Adams, "A Certain Inheritance", chapter 15 in "John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine and Doxology", ed. by Burk Parsons)

So, as we have seen from these pastors (in light of Calvin's instruction), these two inseparable doctrines are beautifully and terribly interwoven. The beauty? Christ has, by His active and passive obedience, secured salvation for His sheep. As a Christian, you are the beloved of God, chosen before the foundation of the world to be justified by the gracious instrumentation of faith, which has united you with Christ and set you apart to persevere through sanctifying discipline en route to future glorification. If you confess Christ as your Lord and Savior and have repented of your sin—if you continue to stand firm in the faith and live a life of perpetual repentance that is worthy of gospel—strive to finish the race, for while there are trials, there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. The terror? If you do not believe the gospel—if you do not trust in Jesus Christ as truly man and fully God... as your Savior from sin... as the one and only Mediator between God and man—you are outside of Christ and are on a treacherous path to destruction. The trials you experience are quite possibly a manifestation of the wrath of God and you are dead in your trespasses and sins. If the undeserved gracious atonement of Christ has not been applied to you through faith, the just wrath of God in future condemnation awaits you.

If you, the reader, identify yourself with the former, may the biblical doctrines of election and perseverance be an encouragement to you. Rest in the accomplished work of Christ and look to Him as the author and perfecter of your faith. He has conquered death and our life is inseparably hid with Christ on high. If you identify yourself with the latter, I implore you... repent of your sin, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and rest in His death, burial and resurrection. He lived a perfect and sinless life of obedience under the Law, and willingly laid down His life to be crucified as a substitution for those who trust in Him. While all of mankind is sinful, and all of mankind is deserving of death (the penalty for sin), He was without sin and yet punished for it, so those who are united with Him in His death/resurrection (through faith) would be considered righteous by God and looked upon as they were the sinless Christ. Trust in Jesus, abide with persevering faith, and by the sanctifying Spirit make your calling and election sure.

The Supremacy of Christ in All of Scripture

2011-10-30T20:33:00.010-04:00

"The inscripturated word centers its attention on Jesus Christ. He is the seed of the woman who will crush the serpent's head (Gen. 3:15). He is the ark to rescue the people of God (Gen. 7-8). He is the holy Angel of Yahweh (Gen. 16; Gen. 22; Gen. 24; Ex. 3; Num. 20; Num. 22; Jud. 2; Jud. 6; Jud. 13; Ps. 34). He is the seed of Abraham in whom all the families of the earth will be blessed (Gen. 12; Gen. 15). He is the passover lamb (Ex. 12; Lev. 23; Deut. 16; 2 Chron. 30; 2 Chron. 35; Ezra 6; Ezek. 45; Matt. 26; 1 Cor. 5:7b). He is the prophet greater than Moses (Deut. 18:18-19). He is the pillar of fire in the wilderness (Ex. 13-14; Num. 14; Neh. 9). He is the rock struck by Moses (Ex. 17; Num. 20). He is the heir to the Davidic throne (2 Sam. 7:16; Ps. 110; Zech. 12; Matt. 1; Luke 1:67-75). He is the thrice holy Lord of Isaiah 6. He is the great shepherd of Ezekiel 34. He is Mary's baby (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:39-56; Luke 2:1-40), Herod's enemy (Matt. 2:13-23), and Simeon's joy (Luke 2:25-35). He is the twelve-year-old boy in the temple (Luke 2:41-52) and the beloved Son to be baptized (Matt. 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-22; Mark 1:9-11; John 1:29-34). He is the healer of the blind (John 9), the provider for the hungry (Mark 6; Mark 8), and the friend of the outcast (Matt. 9; Rom. 5:8). He is the new temple (Rev. 21:22), the source of living water (John 4; Rev. 22:1-5), the manna that gives life (Ex. 16:1-7; John 6:26-40), the light of the world (John 1:4-5, 9-13; John 3:19-21; John 8:12-20; John 9:5; John 12:34-50; 2 Cor. 4:1-6), the resurrection and the life (John 11:17-27; 1 Cor. 15; Eph. 1:18-23; Phil. 3:7-11; 1 Pet. 1:3-9; 1 Pet. 3:18-22), and the Father's true vine (John 15). He is the spotless lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Gen. 22; John 1:27-37) and the resurrected lion from the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5). He is the ascended Lord (Psalm 110; Mark 16:19; Luke 22:69; Acts 2:32-33; Rom. 8:33-35; Eph. 1:19b-23; Col. 3:1-4; Heb. 1:1-4; Heb. 8:1-6; Heb. 1o:11-13; Heb. 12:1-3), the ruler of the Church (1 Cor. 11:2-3; Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 5:22-30), and the returning Judge of all men (Acts 10:38-43; 2 Tim. 4:1-2; 1 Pet. 4:1-6). The sacred scriptures are the instrument by which the Spirit of the living God glorifies Jesus Christ." (Arturo Azurdia III, "Spirit-Empowered Preaching," p. 61) [scripture references in parentheses added]

A Reader's Review of "365 Great Bible Stories"

2011-10-21T13:39:00.021-04:00

My wife and I are expecting our first child in February and we are thankful to our gracious God for blessing us with such a beautiful gift that is a daughter. We are committed to raising her in a Christian household, where the Bible is brought to bear upon our hearts and the truths of the Gospel permeate every area of our lives. In light of the recent news of our pregnancy, I am happy to be reviewing this children's book. I believe it is important to have a good selection of biblical resources in the home and we will be looking for the best biblical teaching resources for our children as we partner together in raising God-fearing disciples of Jesus.

To start, I must say that I was completely unfamiliar with the author... which is uncharacteristic of my reading habits. What was reassuring for me in this endeavor was the fact that this is author Carine Mackenzie's 150th book... and not only has she written a large number, but she has over 3 million books sold! If any of her other books are as Christ-centered as this one, I am sure I will have no lack of children's resources for my own little ones.

Christian Focus, the publisher, has four "imprints" that they produce books through. I own several different books from each of the other three imprints and have listed a few below that I recommend...

Christian Focus (Popular Adult Titles)

Christian Heritage (Classic Books)

Mentor (Books for More Detailed Study)

"365 Great Bible Stories" is my first book from Christian Focus' "CF4K" imprint (books for children)... but I am sure this will not be the last. To read an excerpt, CLICK HERE.

The first thing I noticed about the book when it arrived in the mail was the quality of its production. The binding and paper are both impressive; a lot of care was put into the manufacturing of this book. It is a large, hardback book with a built in bookmark and appears to be very durable (which is important for a children's book).

On page 4, the author shows us "How To Use This Book"... she writes:

"In this book you will find enough stories for you to read one a day for the whole year, even if it is a leap year... because although the book is called 365 Great Bible Stories, we've tagged on an extra story at the end. Of course you might like to read several stories all at once and that's fine too. You might start at Genesis and go all the way through to Revelation in one sitting, or it might take you several goes.

Whatever way you want to read the truth of God's Word is fine. But it's a good thing to remember Who it is you are reading about and that He has got something to say to you. The book that these stories come from, the Bible, was written by God. It has no errors in it and is absolutely truthful.

Now if you find that you want to mix things up and bit and want to read a bit differently for a change, look over at the opposite page. There you will find different themes for you to follow. Flick through the book and when you spot a lamb picture - that's a salvation story. When you spot a dove picture that's a story about the Holy Spirit. Look out for the scroll - that's going to be a story about God's Word. If you see a little road winding into the distance someone's going traveling. If you see a sword or some armor then you'll know that story has got a fight or a battle mentioned in it."

There are a few important things to note here: First, she points out that this book is a collection of stories from Genesis to Revelation. The Bible, though categorized by two different sets of writings (Old Testament and New Testament), is the completely unified revelation of God. This book is, to an extent, an introduction to Biblical Theology for children. It helps children understand that God's divine authorship in the Scriptures encompasses all 66 books; He reveals Himself in Creation through Consummation. Second, she points us to the God that is revealed in the Scriptures... not just to the Bible. Often times, we are in danger of looking to the Scriptures without looking for the God who is the One revealed in them. His Word directs us to Him, but is not an end in and of itself. We are to worship the Lord, and while we are commanded to obey His Word and hold it sacred, we are not to worship it as the personal God it points to. Third, she rightly points out that this Word of God, these Scriptures that He has "breathed-out," are without error and "absolutely truthful." This is an extremely important lesson to pass on to children... a crucial part of their biblical education and discipling is an understanding of the authority, inspiration, and veracity of the Bible. Lastly, Mackenzie shows us a "map key" to reading the book. Amidst the pages of this book are thematic elements symbolized by easily identifiable pictures, which are useful in teaching children about major biblical concepts than are prevalent throughout the Bible.

Chapter 1 is entitled "Creation, the Fall, the Flood, and the Exodus" and mainly covers the first two books of the Old Testament. Some important themes in this chapter are ex nihilo creation, imago Dei, original righteousness, sin, The Trinity, judgment, covenant, aseity, transcendence, immutability, omnipotence, sovereignty, providence, inerrancy, atonement, etc. One of my favorite things about the first chapter, is how the author points us to Christ in Genesis and Exodus. Here are a few examples:

Genesis 1: "THINK: The Word of God is powerful. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is called the Word. By Him the light was produced. He is the true light, the Light of the World," (p. 8).

Genesis 3: "THINK: God has to punish sin. But He made a way of escape. When God punished the serpent - the devil - He spoke of him being defeated by the seed of the woman. This points us to Jesus who defeated the devil when He died on the cross," (p. 15).

Genesis 6-7: "THINK: Only eight people were saved from the flood. Only those who are trusting in the Lord Jesus are safe from the destruction which our sin deserves," (p. 6-7).

Genesis 22: "THINK: God provided a ram for the sacrifice. But later He provided a lamb for another sacrifice. He provided Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God to be the perfect sacrifice for sin on the cross of Calvary; PRAY: Thank the Lord for every gift that He has given you. Thank Him most of all for the gift of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners," (p. 28).

Exodus 12: "THINK: The blood on the doorposts reminds us of another great escape. Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross at Calvary so that His people would escape eternal death. Jesus ate the Passover Feast with His disciples the night before He died on the cross," (p.64).

Exodus 12-13: "THINK: God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt. He rescues His people today from slavery to sin, through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. All who trust in Him are freed from slavery to sin," (p. 65).

Chapter 2 is called, "Joshua, Judges, and the Kings" and Mackenzie lists the topics the reader will learn about:

"The Promised Land, Joshua, Crossing the Jordan, Battles, Victories and Defeats, Ehud and Eglon, Deborah and Barak, Jael and Sisera, Gideon, Samson, Ruth, Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, and The Divided Kingdom"

One thing I find interesting is her inclusion of some of the more obscure stories in the time of the Judges... such as Ehud's assassination of Eglon (Judges 3:12-30); and Jael's pounding a tent stake through the temple of Sisera (Judges 4:17-22).

The Christocentric teaching of the author continues throughout this chapter as well. This is what she writes in story 89 regarding Judges 6:

"God used Gideon, the least important in his family, to win a great victory for the nation. The angel of God appeared to him and assured him of his peace. Gideon called the place, 'The LORD is Peace'. God asks us to pray about everything and give thanks. Those who love the LORD God and trust in Him are promised this gift of peace. Even if life is full of trouble and worry, God's own peace can calm our hearts. This peace is only possible through the Lord Jesus who took our punishment and gained our salvation from sin. When we trust in Him in faith, we have peace with God.

THINK: Jesus gave a special message to His disciples, as he promised that the Holy Spirit would be with them. 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid,' John 14:27," (p.98).

In story 98, she teaches about "Jesus the Redeemer" from Ruth 4 (cf. Matthew 1):

"Ruth's baby was important. He became the grandfather of the great king David, who wrote most of the lovely Psalms in the Bible. But the most important descendant of Boaz and Ruth was the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born in Bethlehem many years later. Boaz was a redeemer for Ruth. Jesus Christ is the Redeemer for His people. His people are redeemed from a life of sin and misery. The price He paid was not money but His own precious blood. Jesus Christ gave His life as a redemption payment, when He died on the cross.

PRAY: Thank the Lord for sending His Son into this world to be the Redeemer for those who trust in Him," (p. 107).

Chapter 3, "Prophets, a Prophetess, a Queen and a Priest" covers mainly the Major Prophets and the Exile. One notable section is Isaiah's Messianic prophecies. Mackenzie writes in story 164 concerning Isaiah 9 and Isaiah 53:

"Isaiah's message pointed to the coming Messiah - the special king that the Jews expected God to send. Isaiah told of his birth 'To us a child is born, to us a Son is given... He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.' Isaiah's words came true when the Lord Jesus was born. He is God the Son who reigns over all the world, a Prince and a Savior. Isaiah also prophesied about Jesus' death. His suffering and pain and rejection are all detailed. He explains that His death was a sacrifice to bring forgiveness to His people. 'He was pierced for our transgressions,' says Isaiah, 'He was bruised for our iniquities.' Isaiah even foretold that Jesus would die along with wicked men and that His grave would belong to a rich man. Jesus died on the cross between two thieves and laid in the tomb belonging to rich Joseph of Arimathea," (p. 175).

In stories 189-193, the author teaches about Jonah. There is a rich gospel message in her teaching from Jonah 4. She writes:

"THINK: If we received what our sins deserve, we would all be destroyed. God tells us that the wages of sin is death. Our loving God delights to show mercy to his people. He does not give what our sins deserve. He gives the wonderful gift of eternal life, because of the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done on the cross to take the punishment to Himself that is due to us for our sin. A good prayer for us is 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner," (p. 204).

Chapter 4 is essentially a harmony of the gospels. Stories 195-299 cover the birth, life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The topics we read about in this chapter are:

"Jesus' birth, Jesus' Baptism, Jesus' Early Ministry, The Disciples, Jesus' Miracles, Jesus' Teaching, The Parables, The Transfiguration, The Triumphal Entry, The Crucifixion, The Resurrection, and The Ascension"

The stories in this chapter include all of the major teachings of the gospel accounts. Mackenzie does an excellent job showing the humanity and deity of Christ, as well as His matchless power. She explains Jesus' teachings from the Sermon on the Mount (and urges the reader to memorize the model prayer) and His parables in a way that is easy for children to understand. She ends the chapter with story 299 about The Great Commission, in which she reminds us that "Jesus' disciples are all over the world today. Jesus is with each one of them by His Spirit," (p. 312); and story 300 about Jesus' Ascension, where she gives instruction reminiscent of question one of The Westminster Catechism: "THINK: We are made to worship God and to enjoy Him forever," (p. 313).

In chapter 5, Mackenzie takes a historical journey through the Acts of the Apostles, describing the ministry of the 1st century church. She lays out a beginner's ecclesiology and a call to prayer in story 304:

"These people who trusted in Jesus loved listening to the apostles teaching about the Word of God. They learned more and more about Jesus. They met together to pray. They spoke together and had meals together... The people who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are known as 'the church.'

PRAY: Thank God for your church family who meet together for prayer, worship and teaching about the Word of God," (p. 319).

Stories 311-315 record the Apostle Paul's conversion (Acts 7-9), and his missionary journeys begin in story 323. The author does not withhold much detail in her retelling of Acts 13:

"On the first trip Paul went with Barnabas, who had been his first friend in Jerusalem after his conversion, and a young helper, John Mark. They traveled through the island of Cyprus, preaching the gospel in the synagogue. They faced stiff opposition but God the Holy Spirit helped them to be strong. The governor of the island was so impressed by the teaching about the Lord that he believed in Jesus for himself.

From Cypress they sailed across to the area we now call Turkey. John Mark left them at this point to go back home to Jerusalem," (p. 338).

This chapter ends with Paul's journey to Rome (stories 343-354) from Acts 22-28 and sets up the next section by introducing Paul's epistles to the reader.

The last chapter of the book, chapter 6, finishes out the New Testament. Though it is unfortunate that the author does not include any teachings from the epistle to the Romans, she does summarize the apostle's other general epistles.

In her teaching about Paul's letters to the Corinthians, she draws out his teaching about love (chapter 13) and reminds her readers:

"THINK: Remember that if we love God, it is because He has first loved us," (p.372)

She focuses on the whole armor of God from Ephesians 6 (story 356), prayer in 1&2 Thessalonians (story 357), and gives a summary of Philippians (story 358) regarding joy, anxiety, prayer and the victory of Christ.

Mackenzie concludes the book with a brief teaching on heaven from Revelation 21:

"John saw a vision of heaven and he described what he saw. In heaven, there will be no tears, no death, no sorrow, no crying, no pain. The city wall is of jasper, a precious stone. The city is made of pure gold. The foundations of the city are adorned with precious jewels. The twelve gates are made of pearls. The street is pure gold. John did not see a temple in his vision of the city because the Lord Almighty and the Lamb (Jesus Christ) are the temple. There was no need for sun or moon because the glory of God illuminated it. Nothing wicked will enter heaven - only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life - those who are trusting in Christ alone for their salvation. Jesus will return one day. He will judge the world and take his people to be with Himself in heaven," (p. 380).

Next, she presents a teaching on The Trinity from 2 Corinthians 13:

"The Bible tells us that there is only one God. There are three different persons in this one God, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. They exist together but we must worship them as one God... This is a great mystery which should make us worship God.

THINK: There is only one true and living God. However there are three persons in this one God. They are one God, the same in substance and equal in power and glory," (p. 381).

The 365th story presents to us a teaching on The Atonement from Hebrews 10:

"God had a wonderful plan to save His people from sin. All through their history, God taught the people of Israel about His plan. He instructed them to make sacrifices of unblemished animals because they were sinners. The blood of these animals could not take away sin. But it was a picture of what would happen in the future when God's Son would die for sinners. His sacrifice would be the perfect sacrifice. The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to be the real and only worthwhile sacrifice for sin. His sacrifice did not need to be repeated again and again. He died once and for all, on the cross at Calvary," (p. 382).

Finally, the extra "leap year" story (as mentioned in the introduction) directs the readers to "The Best Book of All":

"The Bible is like a lamp giving light and guidance on our journey through life. The Bible is like a sword, a mighty weapon to help us fight against our enemy, the devil. The Bible is like food - milk for a little baby or meat for a big man - the nourishment needed for our souls no matter how young or old we are. The Bible teaches the truth, shows us what is wrong in our lives, corrects us and helps us to do what is right.

THINK: The Bible is the power of God for salvation for all who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ," (p. 383).

"365 Great Bible Stories: The Good News of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation" by Carine Mackenzie is a fantastic book, not just for young children, but for people of all ages. I happily welcome this addition to my library and I look forward to reading it to my daughter and any other children the Lord may bless us with. I trust that this book will entertain young children as it is read aloud, and also inform children as they read it for themselves. This is no mere storybook, there are important truths strewn throughout; this is truly a premier discipleship resource full of sound theology and practical wisdom.

Effective December 1, 2009, Federal Trade Commission guidelines state that bloggers receiving any kind of compensation should disclose that information clearly on their blog when posting a review of the product... that being said: I RECEIVED A FREE HARDCOVER COPY OF THE BOOK. CLEAR ENOUGH?

A Reader's Review of "Awaiting a Savior"

2011-10-13T19:18:00.008-04:00

When I was given the opportunity to review Aaron Armstrong's book, "Awaiting a Savior," I confess that I did not know what the book was about. What I did know, however, was that Armstrong was a blogger ("Blogging Theologically") from Ontario who consistently provides much edification via his blog posts and tweets (@AaronStrongarm). I was also aware of the publisher of the book (Cruciform Press), a relatively small company that continues to bless the church by releasing solid gospel-centered titles by sound authors (Al Martin, Brian Hedges, Joe Coffey, Dan Cruver, Greg Lucas, Tim Challies, Joel Beeke, and others) in the midst of an industry that peddles fluff and doctrinally weak material. I'm not only impressed by Cruciform's depth chart and selection of books... but I am also intrigued by their business model, creativity and marketing strategies. I look forward to reading more of their titles in the future.

Since I have never written a book review, I was unsure about how exactly I would go about it. Though the past few months have been hectic with moving, doctor's appointments (my wife and I are expecting a daughter in February!), trying to get plugged in to a local church, and illness, I have finally finished reading and reviewing it (with the help of Adobe Acrobat on my smart phone). I hope you enjoy my review and recommendation of Aaron Armstrong's "Awaiting a Savior: The Gospel, the New Creation, and the End of Poverty".

As I mentioned before, my knowledge of this book was limited, and it was not until I received it and read the subtitle that I knew what it was about. When I saw the word "poverty" in the subtitle, a number of things came to mind. I thought about the current "missional" phenomenon in American Evangelicalism, I thought about the "health, wealth, and prosperity" heresy and I thought about the "social gospel" (which is a false gospel... in fact, no gospel at all) amongst other things. Some of my concerns were alleviated as I read David Murray's endorsement. Murray writes, "Aaron Armstrong has not only thought hard about alleviating poverty, he’s also worked hard at it." Armstrong explains further in the book, "This is no academic exercise for me. As an employee of a Christian charity that works with the Church to care for the poor, I have seen real poverty firsthand—and I have seen the rich hope that the gospel brings to those who live in it," (p. 10). This experience, coupled with an understanding of the truth of gospel-transformation, is a recipe for a biblical and practical treatise on the subject of poverty.

Whenever I read a book, I pay careful attention to the endorsements... who wrote them, and what is said about that particular book. "Awaiting a Savior" is endorsed by several people whom I consider brothers in Christ... and though I do not know them personally, these are brothers that are influential, biblically-oriented and gifted servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what some of them have to say:

"Awaiting a Savior reorients our mercy ministry around the gospel, seeking to show how a life of love is the overflow of a grace-filled heart.” (Trevin Wax)

"This biblical theology of poverty is a mixture of pessimism, optimism, and realism. He’s rightly pessimistic about humanistic solutions, he’s brightly optimistic about God’s ultimate solution, and he’s practically realistic about the best and most the Church can do in this present age.” (David Murray)

"Awaiting a Savior is that it empowers us to care for the poor by making much of Jesus.” (Dan Cruver)

So, a synthesis of these statements indicate that the book is a gospel-centered biblical theology of poverty that makes much of Jesus... I like the sound of that.

Armstrong begins by rightly assessing the plight of man and the limitations of humanity (even those who are regenerate) in attempting to eradicate poverty. He asserts that, "as Christians, we need to be very clear about something. Resources and awareness and policies are important, but poverty is not fundamentally about any of these things. The root cause of poverty is sin," (p. 9). He points to the unfortunate fact that "the pervasiveness and nature of sin is missing completely from most of today’s discussion surrounding poverty. The idea that we can wipe out injustice and inequality for good overlooks the fundamental problem of our sinful nature. Therefore, the basic premise of this book is that our good faith efforts to address legitimate questions of poverty and injustice must never lose sight of the fact that poverty will persist as long as the heart of man is ruled by sin," (pp. 9-10). This is not surprising when we read the apostle Paul's teaching on what theologians call the "noetic effects" of sin in 1 Corinthians 2:12-16.

With a biblical-theological trajectory, the author begins with the doctrine of original sin to show how our lives are affected by the "cosmic treason" of Adam and Eve, with regard to poverty. He writes, "Everything about Adam and Eve’s fall makes economic prosperity difficult and elusive. In fact, the fall has made poverty the default setting, an ever-present gravitational pull intent on dragging us down. This is true not only because it is now harder to produce material wealth but also because the fall triggered an ongoing cascade of relational challenges characterized by blame-shifting and excuses about our sin, as well as an ongoing desire in each of us to play God over one another," (p. 20). This is clearly seen in Genesis 3, when God curses both the earth and humanity. When we understand the implications of the curse, we view the world we live in correctly. As Armstrong puts it, "Today, as it has been since the fall of Adam and Eve, all our efforts to provide and prosper meet with opposition. From subsistence farmers in forgotten corners of the globe to CEOs in corner offices, all progress requires toil. The curse on labor is still in effect, and this has extensive implications for how we understand and respond to poverty," (pp. 18-19). He adds, frankly..."If you don’t understand what happened in the Garden of Eden, you are missing the single biggest factor that contributes to poverty," (p. 20).

The main premise of this book, "poverty is the result of sin," should not be misunderstood as, "the poor suffer due to a specific manifestation of God's judgment upon their individual sin." Rather, Armstrong clarifies, "I am not saying that material poverty comes when God punishes particular individuals or particular people for particular sins. At times, God may choose to discipline people through material means, but a 'punishment' view of poverty is not necessary to account for the poverty we see. We live in a fallen world, a world living under a curse as the direct result of Adam and Eve’s sin, and that in itself is more than enough to account for the world’s poverty," (p. 23). Since all of mankind has sinned in Adam, as the apostle Paul writes in Romans 5, and the guilt of and penalty for sin has been imputed to them as well, we are in a helpless state and spiraling downward... and it is not just an external reality; the depths of depravity run deep: "Sin is not an environmental condition or something that varies in its essence from one person to another. It’s a universal heart issue," (p.26). The universality of the effects are indeed personally deep, but they are also interpersonally broad: "Sin has marred our identity as God’s image bearers and crippled our relationship with God, one another, and the world around us. Sin thus not only causes poverty but also poisons our attitude toward those suffering within it," (p. 46).

In light of these aspects of the curse, the identification of the underlying problem is laid bare. The tragedy of poverty, as well as the motivation for the solution of it, are both "heart-issues." Armstrong points out that "the issue before God is not whether you understand the essential challenges underlying poverty. The issue is your heart motivation for pursuing its eradication," (p. 32). Sin is so pervasive, that even our noble efforts to combat poverty might be motivated by evil desires. The author is aware of this and addresses the internal motive as well as the external act: "My concern is not that people are calling attention to the plight of the global poor. If anything, we may need to be reminded more often, not less. My concern, and even my fear, is whether we have gotten off-track and become more concerned with our own legacies and our own kingdoms than with Christ’s... We must carefully and prayerfully examine our hearts and motives when considering our approach to caring for the poor," (p. 33).

The dangers of neglecting God's providence in and sovereignty over poverty is stark. "We want to wrestle control of our destinies away from God," writes Armstrong, "Being the only creatures called to exercise dominion on God’s behalf isn’t quite enough for us. We don’t want to settle for being God’s representatives, we want to be more “like God” than that—we want control... this desire to force outcomes and control destinies has come to dominate much of the antipoverty movement," (p. 17). As the author shows, even a good thing like the fight to end poverty, can be fueled by sinful desire. The idolatry of humanism, while often camouflaged by good intentions, creates a Babel-esque atmosphere: "When Adam and Eve sinned, it was because they wanted to be like God. As humanity multiplied and filled the earth, sin multiplied with them. Our desire for significance, twisted by sin, always drives us to rob God of his glory and make a name for ourselves instead. This pursuit will always fail, and quite often we will do substantial harm to our fellow man in the process," (pp. 37-38; cf. Genesis 11).

So what is the solution, if any, to the problem of global poverty? The author explains: "The ultimate answer to poverty is circumcised hearts, hearts that know the God who forms and keeps covenant with poor, undeserving sinners," (p. 47). He continues to expound upon the lovingkindness of God in relation to His covenant children... and their response to His gospel of love: "Covenant faithfulness is obedience—obedience motivated not out of obligation or duty or a desire to score points with God but out of love for God," (p. 55; cf. 1 John 4:10). The Lord Jesus commands His followers to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind," and to "love your neighbor as yourself," (Matthew 22:37-40). Armstrong then presents to us the reality of our Savior's teaching: "Loving our neighbor in real, tangible ways is as much a 'proof' of our salvation as anything else. How we relate to God directly affects how we relate to others. Unfaithfulness to the Lord will lead to a lack of concern for our neighbor—but the opposite should also be true," (p. 56). "Covenant faithfulness," he adds, "always leads to ethical faithfulness. The faithful will seek to care for the poor around them, to 'share [their] bread with the hungry', to 'cover the naked', and to 'let the oppressed go free.' They will 'bear fruit in keeping with repentance.' They will pursue justice in the full biblical sense of the term," (p. 56-57).

This is the power of the gospel. The good news of Jesus Christ's substitutionary atonement as a wrath-satisfying sacrifice on behalf of sinners frees us to properly approach the tragedy of poverty. "If we expect to end poverty, we need to deal with our sin problem first. To deal with our sin problem, we need a heart that’s inclined toward the Lord. And this heart is something only God can give us," (p. 59). Yes! We need a new heart, and only God can give us that heart (Ezekiel 36:22-32)... only God can change our negative disposition towards Him and correct our misplaced motives in interpersonal relationships by the power of His Spirit. Poverty is not chiefly an ethical issue, it is a spiritual issue... and by the grace of God we are given new life in Christ.

This irresistible and unmerited favor is unconditional and beckons humble adoration of the One who gives it. Armstrong describes the results of grace: "Grace kills our hypocrisy and our desire for the approval of man. Grace destroys our plan to try to meet God’s demands out of our own will. Grace sweeps away our anxiety. Grace allows us to persevere in prayer, trusting that the Father will give good gifts to those who ask. Grace allows us to be careful of how we judge, examining our own hearts before passing judgment on another. Grace allows us to put others before ourselves, doing to them what we would have them do to us," (p. 66). We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and submit to His authoritative Word, but this impossible prior to being graced with His Spirit. We must not put the cart before the horse... "We must recognize that before Jesus ever offers ethics, he offers grace," writes Armstrong, "If we don’t see that ... we will use the Sermon on the Mount as a hammer, a means of trying to force ourselves or others to act in a way we never could act without the grace of the Holy Spirit. This legalism is the natural inclination of our hearts. We want law, not gospel. We want deeds, not creeds. We want the demands of the law—even if it’s just so we can disobey them. But the good news of the gospel includes the fact that grace always comes before the demands of the kingdom. Jesus is not telling us what is required to earn blessing. He’s telling us what to do in light of the fact that we are already blessed," (pp. 65-66).

Armstrong hits the nail on the head concerning the poverty issue... the gospel is where we need to begin. He shows that "Caring for the poor starts with understanding the grace Jesus has given to those who believe in him. We must get this straight in our heads—and in our hearts," (p. 66-67). When we understand grace in our heads and hearts, it should be transferred and implemented by our hands. He continues to explain, "What we do is the fruit of what we believe about Jesus... it’s not enough that the Christian care for the needs of the poor—you don’t have to be a Christian to want to help the unfortunate. As we seek to help in genuine, meaningful ways, through it all we have a greater goal: the glory of Jesus Christ," (p. 67). We should not see our fight against poverty as an end in itself; our end should be the glory of God through the means of helping the poor: "We are called to care for the poor because God is glorified in our doing so. We care for the poor because we know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of grace," (p. 68).

One of my favorite parts of the book is at the end of chapter 5. Armstrong gives a clear gospel presentation and shares how we should live in light of the gospel with regard to the impoverished:

"Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father, then took the punishment we deserved by dying on the cross for our sins. Jesus took our sinfulness and gave us his righteousness so that we, on the Day of Judgment, can stand confidently before God and spend eternity with him.
That is the grace he offers. That is the grace that frees us from guilt and shame over our sin. That is the grace that sustains us even in the midst of difficulty. That is the grace that enables us to consider others as greater and more important than ourselves. And that is the grace that we share when we begin to invest in the lives of the poor," (p. 68)

Another intriguing part of the book is the author's retelling of John 12... specifically when Jesus says, "the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me," (v. 8). Armstrong explains, "In telling the disciples that the poor would always be among them (and us), Jesus does us all a great service, freeing us... to serve the poor with a biblical attitude," (p. 73). The perpetual existence of poverty is an opportunity for us to serve; to bring glory to Christ by proclaiming Him to the poor and needy while offering tangible assistance to their material needs. In fact, "caring for the poor is a worship issue... The poor always with us means we have virtually endless opportunities to practically worship Christ, expressing our love for God through caring for the poor of this world," (pp. 74-75). Again, we must not see the means of worship as the end... the worshipful means of serving the poor to the glory of God should see that glory most richly manifest in the conversion and discipleship of the sinner. In other words, "Humanistic goals like ending extreme global poverty within our lifetime add a condition to our caring for the poor. Ministry that should be focused on people instead becomes focused on targets. Targets aren’t bad in themselves, but they can be devastating to those we’re trying to help, and to Christian service in general. As Christians, our agenda should be to see rebellious sinners reconciled to the Father. That includes doing what we can to minister to the poor amid their suffering, but it obviously goes well beyond it as well. Our ultimate desire should be to see God glorified as he becomes their Savior," (p. 74).

Finally, Armstrong points us to the eschatological reality that awaits us and how we are to live in the present evil age...

"Without the hope of the coming of the new creation, we have nothing to offer those who suffer in poverty. It is this hope we must share, whether we’re working for relief, development, or social reform. We must bring immediate relief to those suffering from severe drought and famine, but we must also bring them the promise that there is one who will someday relieve all their suffering. We must give the young man who has been trapped in a familial cycle of crime and poverty the skills he needs to leave the system, but we must also offer him the promise of a new identity that comes from the one who died for his sins. We must confront a social system that abuses and breaks the backs of its people, but we must also share the promise of a world where perfect peace and justice will reign forever... It is the best of all possible hopes we can offer the poor. The hope for an eternal end to poverty—one not found in human effort, but in the return of Jesus, when he will make all things new and wipe away every tear from every eye." (pp. 97-98)

"Awaiting a Savior" is an immensely practical book; but it is also theologically-oriented. It is a product of biblical study/prayer/meditation coupled with faithful application by doing the word and not just hearing it. I highly recommend this book to those who suffer from legalistic methods of performance, those who find it difficult to put their faith into action, and also those who are already worshiping Christ by serving the poor to the glory of God.

In conclusion, I'd like to present some practical wisdom/advice from the author. My prayer is that it stirs you, the reader, up to good works and that people see the fruit of your labor and glorify God:

"I want you to see the unique opportunities God has placed before you—opportunities to serve others for his glory and your joy. Maybe a place to start is by taking one night this week to help at your local street mission, intentionally getting to know one person being assisted there. Maybe it’s talking to the local men’s or women’s shelters about how you or your church can be a resource. Maybe it’s supporting a child who lives in poverty through a reputable Christian organization. If you stop and look, the opportunities are virtually limitless." (p. 78)

Effective December 1, 2009, Federal Trade Commission guidelines state that bloggers receiving any kind of compensation should disclose that information clearly on their blog when posting a review of the product... that being said: I RECEIVED A FREE PDF VERSION OF THE BOOK. CLEAR ENOUGH?

Matthias Media: Two Ways to Live

2011-08-04T18:31:00.005-04:00

Two Ways to Live: Know and Share the Gospel (DVD)

This evangelism resource is currently on sale at Westminster Bookstore (63% OFF!)... it is an easy-to-learn explanation of the gospel, and while I believe a greater emphasis on the Deity of Christ and repentance is needed, it is redemptive-historical, and a useful teaching resource for short-form gospel presentations...

click image for details

The Two Ways to Live: Know and share the gospel course stems from the conviction that every Christian should know and understand the gospel clearly, and be able to explain their faith effectively when the opportunity arises. However, the beauty of this course is that it does not assume that every Christian will have the same gifts or opportunities to share the gospel.

Participants spend some time looking at what the Bible says about sharing the gospel, and at the attitudes, motivations and methods that should accompany it. They learn not only what the gospel actually is, but how to share it simply and naturally with others. This involves learning to adapt a basic gospel outline to their own conversational style, and practising this skill in different contexts. They also spend time reflecting on the content and theology of the gospel outline, through listening to two talks (contained on their participant's CD-ROM), and discussing them in the group.

After this seven-week course, participants should come away with:

a sound and thorough knowledge of what the gospel is, and

the ability to share it with someone clearly and naturally when the opportunity arises.

To get a feel for the difference this course can make, please watch the two "conversations" below.

This Training DVD is an optional, but highly recommended, resource containing extra input for the leader as well as role plays and demonstrations to use throughout the course.

Christian Focus Giveaway

2011-07-25T21:41:00.006-04:00

Christian Focus Publications is hosting a book giveaway, (click here to enter) offering three of Carl Trueman's books:

Do you have an opinion?

There is an increasing tendency in Evangelical circles to regard disagreement in our allegedly post-modern world as inherently oppressive. Too many people sit on the fence and ignore, or are unaware of, the fact that Christianity is an historical religion. As Laurence Peter once said "History repeats itself because nobody listens."

The point of having a debate is not to have a debate and then agree to differ (sitting around in a mutually affirming love-fest) - the point of debate, as the Apostle Paul clearly demonstrates time and again in the book of Acts, is to establish which position is best.

Carl Trueman's intends to provoke you with this collection of essays into thinking for yourself and to have an opinion on THINGS THAT MATTER!

Theological essays are dusty, humorless affairs aren't they? Well, they don't have to be! This is the second collection of essays by Carl Trueman. His first collection was received with enthusiasm. On the radar this time is Chick Lit, Adolf Eichman, the iPod, Roger Beckwith, the Blues, Watership Down, American Idol, Nietzsche, zen-calvinism, Augustine and ferrets(!).

If you want to inform your mind and chuckle at the same time - Carl's your man!

Dr. Trueman examines the origins of contemporary Reformed theology in the Reformation world of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. After tracing how this heritage shaped and transformed the intervening period, he then describes some of the major challenges being faced by the evangelical church at the present time and suggests ways of responding which remain faithful to the Scriptures and the theology of the Reformers drawn from it and points towards a future that embraces and disseminates these wonderful doctrines of grace.

Terms and Conditions:

This contest is limited to residents of the 48 state continental United States and the UK.
Contestants may submit five entries as outlined under contest details.
We are awarding one prize that includes the three books by Carl Trueman noted above.
The contest will run through end of day July 31, 2011.
The winner will be announced August 1, 2011.

Fresh Picked Daily (02 June 2011)

2011-06-02T11:10:00.010-04:00

Contests, free stuff, blogs and good deals. The "Fresh Picked" today is about free books, getting a great deal on books and of course... blogs.

CBD Giveaways: There is always a contest going on over at Christian Book Distributors and while many of the items are what I consider to be "fluffy" and/or even possibly heretical, they do occasionally have some items that motivate me to enter the contest. Currently, one can enter to win three black & grey simulated leather Holman Christian Standard Apologetics Bible s, a hardcover Biblia de Estudio de Apologética (Apologetics Study Bible in Spanish), Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger's "Simple Church", a brown simulated leather Holman Christian Standard Hand-Size Giant Print Reference Bible, and a 1611 Commemorative 400th Anniversary Edition King James Bible. Head on over and enter to win!

FREE Audio Book: I am really grateful to ChristianAudio for offering a free audio book every month. This month's pick is "A Place for Healing" by Joni Eareckson Tada. Joni (pronounced "Jah-Nee") has been quadriplegic for over forty years and a great source of insight and encouragement to many persons with disabilities. This particular book "is not an ivory-tower treatise on suffering. It’s an intimate look into the life of a mature woman of God. Whether readers are enduring physical pain, financial loss, or relational grief, Joni invites them to process their suffering with her. Together, they will navigate the distance between God’s magnificent yes and heartbreaking no—and find new hope for thriving in-between." [Publisher's Note]

Top 200 Christian Blogs: I was recently made aware of Kent Shaffer's list of the most popular Christian blogs. According to Shaffer, " these are the world’s most popular church blogs written by many of today’s most influential church leaders, journalists, theologians, and Christ followers." Some notables are Justin Taylor (#1), The Resurgence (#3), Kevin DeYoung (#5), Scot McKnight (#6), Internet Monk (#8), Pyromaniacs (#9), Albert Mohler (#10), The Gospel Coalition (#12), Ray Ortlund (#15), Thabiti Anyabwile (#16), Ligonier (#18), Parchment & Pen (#21), Tullian Tchividjian (#23), Reformation21 (#25), Desiring God (#27), Trevin Wax (#29), Tim Challies (#30), Josh Harris (#32), Evangel (#36), Ed Stetzer (#39), Zach Nielsen (#42), Reformation Theology (#42), Bob Kauflin (#43), Steve McCoy (#52), Peter Leithart (#60), 9Marks (#70), Matt Perman (#73), Darrel Bock (#75), Andy Naselli (#78), Tom Ascol (#91), Jared Wilson (#92), Timmy Brister (#96), Nathan Bingham (#115), Phil Gons (#159), Joe Thorn (#162), and Feeding on Christ (#172). My list would have been much different... but what do I know? I'm not a celebrity blogger, nor am I even on the top 5,000 list! ;b

Kindle Book Sale: Over 600 books are currently on sale for less than $3. I recommend you pick up "What Is the Gospel?" by Greg Gilbert, "On Who Is God?" by Mark Driscoll, and "Affirming the Apostles' Creed" by J.I. Packer (only $1); "Don' t Waste Your Life" by John Piper, "I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist" by Normal Geisler & Frank Turek, "Thriving at College" by Alex Chediak, "Seeds of Turmoil" by Bryant Wright, "To the One Who Conquers" by Sam Storms (only $2); and "Think" by John Piper, and "Church Planter" by Darrin Patrick (only $3).

That does it for this book & blog edition of "Fresh Picked Daily"... make sure to follow me on Twitter and find me on Facebook for updates. I am also on The City. Soli Deo Gloria!

Triple-Fresh Picked Daily (26 May 2011)

2011-05-24T10:21:00.014-04:00

This is "triple-fresh" picked... I was unable to post the past three days, so I've combined them all into one large edition:

Foundations: The new edition of this international journal of Evangelical theology published by Affinity (formerly The British Evangelical Council) is here... with articles by Carl Trueman and G.K. Beale (of Westminster Theological Seminary), Hywel R. Jones (of Westminster Seminary California) and more!

Graça Para Vocé: I am so thankful for the work of translators in converting articles and books from English to other languages. Grace to You lists several translations at their site... and I've just been made aware of two books that have been translated into Portuguese have been made available by Editoria Fiel (Faithful Publishing House) for free download. "Charismatic Chaos" and "The Gospel According to the Apostles" by John MacArthur are available in PDF format. Be sure to share these with your Portuguese-speaking friends and family.

Who is Harold John Ockenga?: I didn't know the answer to that question until today, but thankful that I do now. He was the minister of Park Street Church (Boston, MA) from 1936-1969, the founding president of The National Association of Evangelicals, and the founding president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Owen Strachan, (who is writing his doctoral dissertation on Ockenga) was interviewed by Nathan Finn (of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) about this founding "neo-evangelical", pastor-theologians, and The Gospel Coalition. Read the interview here: [Part 1] [Part 2]

Imputed A: I am so grateful for the active obedience of Christ and the imputation of His righteousness to those who believe in Him. The heart of the gospel is that we can do nothing to earn God's favor and cannot satisfy the just wrath that is necessary payment for sins. Jesus has fulfilled the law perfectly (active obedience) and gave Himself as a propitiatory (wrath-satisfying) sacrifice by dying for us (passive obedience)... now THAT is good news. Tullian Tchividjian (of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL) shares a story that is analogous of redemptive imputation over at The Gospel Coalition. Now, all analogies break down eventually... so by pressing this one too far, one might think that we are merely "virtually" saved that we might work harder to atone for our sins... but our salvation is definite and rests on the objective person and work of Jesus Christ: "Because we are, right now, under the completely sufficient imputed righteousness of Christ... threat of failure, judgment, and condemnation has been removed."

A Great Week for Battle: We live in a culture that is constantly challenging the biblical worldview. In order to prepare ourselves for spiritual warfare and defend the truth we hold dear, we must be biblically literate and equipped with weaponry that destroys strongholds and arguments and lofty opinions raised against the knowledge of God. "The Battle Belongs to the Lord: The Power of Scripture for Defending Our Faith" by K. Scott Oliphint (Professor of Apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary) is a great resource for such preparation and equipping... and it is only $5 this week (only 3 days left) at Westminster Bookstore! Pick up a copy for yourself (or several... to give to others) in order to better contend for the faith with gentleness and respect.

Ligonier Q&A: On May 19th, a few days before Harold Camping's (newest) rapture predictions fell short (again), R.C. Sproul hosted a panel discussion dealing with various controversial topics with guests Sinclair Ferguson, W. Robert Godfrey, Steven Lawson and R.C. Sproul, Jr. These pastor-theologians discussed dispensationalism, Harold Camping, regeneration, election, predestination, the sovereignty of God, postmodernism, and inerrancy.

Red Like Blood Giveaway: Win an ESV Compact Bible, three copies of "Red Like Blood: Confrontations with Grace" by Joe Coffey & Bob Bevington. Entries close at 6pm EST on Memorial Day.

That does it for this triple-shot edition of "Fresh Picked Daily"... make sure to follow me on Twitter and find me on Facebook for updates. I am also on The City. Soli Deo Gloria!

Fresh Picked Daily (23 May 2011)

2011-05-20T23:49:00.011-04:00

The Monday edition of "Fresh Picked Daily" is about pastoral education, evangelism, church membership and church history. Enjoy!

On Choosing a Seminary: Over at Reformation 21, William B. Evans of Erskine College provides some wisdom for those called to ministry considering pastoral education... "Prospective students choosing a seminary need to recognize that schools differ, that there is no such thing as 'generic seminary education.' Just as students need to be concerned about 'fit' when they choose a college or university, so also they need to pay close attention to the distinctives of the seminaries they are considering." It is the task of institutes devoted to pastoral education and training to balance theology and practice, catechesis and critical thinking, and ecumenical breadth and confessional depth.

Its a Matter of Time: At The Gospel Coalition, Petar Nenadov of Lakeside Christian Church in Akron, Ohio recently interviewed Rico Tice of All Souls Church in London, England on the subject of evangelism. Tice, who is known for his book entitled "Christianity Explored" (a Christological study of Mark's Gospel) explains the importance of evangelism and prayer in the life and preaching of the pastor, collective relational evangelism, and balancing church work (administration) with the work of the church (making disciples).

Church Membership: In the latest issue of 9Marks' E-Journal, Matt Chandler of The Village Church in Highland Village, Texas examines what the Bible says about church membership. Starting with Hebrews 13:17, he poses a number of questions regarding pastoral responsibility (care & discipline) and the obedience/submission of believers under elders. Next, Chandler provides biblical evidence for the need of fellowship and service for the sake of building up the body of Christ and postulates a divine mandate for membership in a local church.

Historical Theology: I have created a resource page for the study of church history. My plan is to have pages dedicated to Systematic Theology, Biblical Theology, Exegetical Theology, Pastoral Theology and Apologetics. I hope to update the pages regularly with links, books, PDFs, articles, etc. If you have any books, articles or online resources to share... I would love to hear from you!

That does it for "Fresh Picked Daily"... make sure to follow me on Twitter and find me on Facebook for updates. I am also on The City. Soli Deo Gloria!

Fresh Picked Daily (20 May 2011)

2011-05-20T13:47:00.013-04:00

The "fresh picked" for today are a few items that peaked my interest recently. Practical advice, antiquarian promotion, a birthday and breaking news in the SBC...

A Called Man: For those (like me) who believe they are called to Pastoral Ministry. Darrin Patrick, author of "Church Planter: The man, The Message, The Mission" and vice President of the Acts 29 Network shares the two ditches that church leaders can fall into as they help confirm a man’s calling.

Old School: An interesting thought... "In the age of digitized books, some might be hesitant to invest in an original copy of a judicious old divine or celebrated scholar from a previous age when you can download a digital copy from almost anywhere. However, it’s the book itself that takes you on the journey, not just the bare text. The book is the place where people congregate to find shared experience and fresh ideas." If you enjoy books (like me), if you really enjoy theological works (like me), if you appreciate the history and production of actual bounding and pages (like me), and if you have enough money to buy rare, antique books (not like me)... this site is for you. Thanks to Nicholas Batzig from Feeding on Christ for letting me know about this site.

Happy Birthday, Robert Murray M'Cheyne: He was born one hundred ninety-eight years ago (tomorrow), and lived to be only thirty years old, but M'Cheyne is fondly remembered partly due to his good friend and biographer Andrew Bonar (youngest brother of Horatius Bonar... check out "The Everlasting Righteousness" free e-book). Robert Murray M'Cheyne, though called home to be with the Lord at a relatively young age, lived his life pointing others to Christ and had a fruitful Spirit-empowered pulpit ministry. Let us look to him as an example; that we might "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12c) and "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14), for life is short and our days are numbered.

"Exciting Days Ahead!": Tom Elliff (President of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board) announced today in a tweet that Chuck Lawless has been named as the IMB's VP for Global Theological Advance. Lawless is the Dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Please pray for Dr. Lawless in this time of transition as well as the SBC, SBTS, IMB and any other acronyms I have forgotten.

That does it for "Fresh Picked Daily"... make sure to follow me on Twitter and find me on Facebook for updates. I am also on The City. Soli Deo Gloria!

Fresh Picked Daily: A Cluster of Camping

2011-05-19T18:18:00.005-04:00

I have decided to pick some fresh Harold Camping (Family Radio) links for today's "Fresh Picked". By now, most people know who Camping is and probably even more people know his claims that the rapture will occur on May 21st (this Saturday).

Here are the latest and greatest responses to Camping's wild predictions...

R. Albert Mohler, Jr: AlbertMohler.com...
"The End is Near? The False Teaching of Harold Camping"

W. Robert Godfrey: Valiant for Truth (Westminster Seminary California)...
"The End of the World According to Harold Camping" Part I|Part II|Part III|Part IV|Part V

James R. White: Alpha and Omega Ministries...
Harold Camping/Family Radio Resource List

Russell D. Moore: Moore to the Point...
"A Pre-Tribulational Rapture?"

TurretinFan: Thoughts of Francis Turretin & Reformed Apologetics...
The latest posts on Harold Camping

James Swan: Beggars All Reformation & Apologetics...
"I Remember Harold: Memories of Family Radio"

Dan Phillips: Pyromaniacs/Biblical Christianity...
"Harold Camping Glorifies God: Seventeen Ways"
"Harold Camping, the True Gospel, and Hedged Bets"

Ken Silva: Apprising Ministries...
"Harold Camping Prepares 4 Judgment Day"

R.C. Sproul, Jr: Ligonier Ministries...
"Harold Camping: False Prophet?"

Gene Clyatt: A Squirrel in Babylon...
"Family Radio's Camping Trip"

Robert Brady: Reformation21...
"The Folly of Setting Dates"

John Samson: Effectual Grace...
"Only the Father Knows..."

Charlie Campbell: Truthbomb Apologetics...
"Is Judgment Day May 21, 2011? A Response to Harold Camping"

Michael Acidr i: Twisted Crown of Thorns...
"Harold Goes Camping"

Defending. Contending.
Harold Camping Resources

That does it for "Fresh Picked Daily"... make sure to follow me on Twitter and find me on Facebook for updates. I am also on The City. Soli Deo Gloria!

GC(squared) Monthly Meeting (May 2011)

2011-05-19T02:17:00.014-04:00

I attended the monthly meeting of The Greater Columbus Gospel Coalition this morning. What a blessing it is to spend time in fellowship with several gospel-oriented church leaders. I cherish these times of fellowship, study, discipleship and worship and I'm grateful to be a part of God's work in the greater Columbus area.

Today we read, meditated upon and discussed 1 Thessalonians 2 & Proverbs 29...

Some of the themes that stood out to me in this passage of Paul's epistle to the church at Thessalonica are: suffering & conflict, boldness & purity of heart in gospel proclamation, love for the flock (vv. 1-8); the balance of administration, proclamation and application in ministry leadership (vv. 9-12); the origin, efficacy & authority of the word of God, perseverance in persecution, the manifestation of God's wrath in the present evil age (vv. 13-16); and the proper posture of a minister's heart & reason for joy in servant-leadership (vv. 17-19).

In Proverbs 29, the main theme appears to be wise leadership/discipleship. Besides the traditional use of "parallelisms" in wisdom literature, the theme is also highlighted by interweaving various relational themes such as king/subject (vv. 2; 4-14; 18; ), father/son (vv. 3; 15-17 & vassal/servant (vv. 19-21) roles. There also seems to be general observations and exhortations that transcend these relationships (vv. 1; 22-25; 27).

After our time in the Scriptures, Greg Blosser of Grace Central Presbyterian Church in the Short North shared with us their long-term ministry vision for a six location multi-site assembly in the heart of Columbus. Currently, Grace Central is expanding their ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ to Grandview Heights; a church plant lead by elder Joe Haack. Please pray for the Blosser and Haack families as well as the power of the gospel being manifest in the city of Columbus in and through the efforts of Grace Central.

Steve Resch of Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church in Gahanna, OH provided positive book reviews/endorsements of three books authored by women. I appreciate his reasoning in selecting these books... most of his books are written by dead guys; but most of the books the women in his assembly read are not systematic theologies or exegetical commentaries, but rather books written from a feminine perspective. These are the books he commended to us:

The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones: Even adults love to read this Christological children's bible. Lloyd-Jones, using a redemptive-historical presentation of the truths of the grand narrative of the Bible, helps you to share Christ to children in a clear and simple way.

From Fear to Freedom by Rose Marie Miller: An honest account of one woman's spiritual crisis presents the transforming power of God's grace in the midst of weakness. Readers will be encouraged to relinquish the role of spiritual "orphan" and embrace a forgiving heavenly Father.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers: An adaptation of the book of Hosea, this novel about a prostitute and the upright and kind farmer who marries her also functions as a reminder of God's unconditional love for his people.

We closed by discussing The Gospel Coalition vision for ministry...

The Integration of Faith and Work (Article V; Section 4):

"The good news of the Bible is not only individual forgiveness but the renewal of the whole creation. God put humanity in the garden to cultivate the material world for his own glory and for the flourishing of nature and the human community. The Spirit of God not only converts individuals (e.g., John 16:8) but also renews and cultivates the face of the earth (e.g., Gen 1:2; Psalm 104:30). Therefore Christians glorify God not only through the ministry of the Word, but also through their vocations of agriculture, art, business, government, scholarship—all for God’s glory and the furtherance of the public good. Too many Christians have learned to seal off their faith–beliefs from the way they work in their vocation. The gospel is seen as a means of finding individual peace and not as the foundation of a worldview—a comprehensive interpretation of reality affecting all that we do. But we have a vision for a church that equips its people to think out the implications of the gospel on how we do carpentry, plumbing, data–entry, nursing, art, business, government, journalism, entertainment, and scholarship. Such a church will not only support Christians’ engagement with culture, but will also help them work with distinctiveness, excellence, and accountability in their trades and professions. Developing humane yet creative and excellent business environments out of our understanding of the gospel is part of the work of bringing a measure of healing to God’s creation in the power of the Spirit. Bringing Christian joy, hope, and truth to embodiment in the arts is also part of this work. We do all of this because the gospel of God leads us to it, even while we recognize that the ultimate restoration of all things awaits the personal and bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ (CS–[13])."

For the Sake of the Gospel 2011: "The Nowism of the Gospel" w/ Paul David Tripp

Simeon Trust Workshop: The Gospel of Matthew w/ Doug O'Donnell & Sparky Pritchard

Fresh Picked Daily (18 May 2011)

2011-05-18T02:01:00.006-04:00

This is the inaugural post of a new concept here at Pursuing the Fruit entitled "Fresh Picked Daily". As I am somewhat new to the blogosphere and certainly post significantly less than my cohorts, I am hoping this will be an easy and efficient way of using this blog to promote other blogs and report current events that catch my attention. My hope is that it gets me motivated to update this site on a regular basis.

This idea is not original, in fact, those that are veterans to this medium implement the same kind of concept... this is one reason I decided to produce "Fresh Picked". The other reason is practicality... I am constantly on the lookout for products, news and resources that are consistent with the reformed evangelical worldview (and I often have dozens of tabs open in my Internet browser that eventually get deleted since I am obsessive compulsive about organizing bookmarks); this is an effective way of consolidating my findings.

So without further adieu, I present to you... The Fresh Picked Daily:

Lectio Continua Expository Commentary: Kim Riddlebarger (The Riddleblog) has posted the lineup for a New Testament Commentary series set to be released in 2012. I'm excited about this because some of my favorite pastor-theologians will be providing pulpit-experience to their respective editions. Daniel R. Hyde (Matthew), Iain D. Campbell (Luke), J.V. Fesko (Romans), Sinclair Ferguson (Colossians), Hywel R. Jones (1-3 John), Kim Riddlebarger (Jude-2 Peter) and Joel R. Beeke (Revelation) are amongst the contributors.

Free Kindle Books: Over at "Bring the Books" Adam Parker has been providing links to download classic works from Puritan and Reformed authors such as Bavinck and Ridderbos; Machen; Rutherford, Sibbes and Watson; Goodwin, Gurnall, Luther, Manton and Owen; Perkins; Bunyan, Kuyper, Pink and Spurgeon; Anselm, Augustine, Dickson and Taylor and more! If you have a Kindle or an E-Reader... I highly suggest you head over there and take up this great offer.

Top Commentaries: Keith Mathison has compiled a list of his top 5 commentaries for each book of the Bible. Tim Challies has provided that list for us over at Ligonier. If you are thinking about buying a commentary to fortify your study of Scripture, consult this list prayerfully before you purchase one.

The Gospel Coalition: Since there are a few things I would like to highlight from TCG, I thought I would have a general category. First off, the latest issue of Themelios has arrived (you can find back-issues here). Also, all of the audio and video is now available from The Gospel Coalition's 2011 National Conference. Make sure you check out The Gospel Coalition Albuquerque (audio is available for their 2011 Gospel Coalition Regional Conference (Clarus) featuring G.K. Beale and Carl Trueman) and The Greater Columbus Gospel Coalition (who will be having Paul David Tripp as the plenary speaker in their 2011 For the Sake of the Gospel Conference in November).

Founders Breakfast: On June 14, 2011, Wayne Grudem will be addressing themes from his book "Politics According to the Bible" at the Founders Breakfast in Phoenix, AZ. Tickets for "You, Your Church and Your Government" are $20 and the registration deadline is June 6. Founders is a ministry of Tom Ascol, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, FL (Founders Blog).

That does it for "Fresh Picked Daily"... make sure to follow me on Twitter and find me on Facebook for updates. I am also on The City. Soli Deo Gloria!

Complacent: Risking Souls in the Name of Tolerance

2011-01-07T21:58:00.012-05:00

I recently read an article over at The Christian Post called "Bible Believers Can't Shake Intolerant Image, Says Atheist". I read a few things I disagree with and thought I would offer a brief commentary and critique of some of the comments. I just started following tweets from @ChristianPost and this is one of a few current articles that I've read with questionable content, so there may be more posts like this in the future. Let me say to those at Christian Post (as if any of them will read this), that I am unaware of the vision or mission of your establishment and this post is in no way a critique of the author or publication, rather a dissection of statements made therein...

"Joe Zamecki [Texas State Director of the American Atheists] believes that it is impossible for Christians to take a softer stance on issues such as homosexuality while adhering to the Bible..."

I wholeheartedly agree... and if you do take a softer stance, you don't esteem the Bible as the Word of God and probably aren't a Christian.

"...He cites staunch edicts issued by God in Leviticus as examples of how God is hateful and how His followers must be the same. Trying to adopt any other approach is, as he expressed, an act of hypocrisy."

Here we go again. An angry atheist taking the words of God (Leviticus 20:13) out of context to launch a futile ad hominem attack against the very God he claims he doesn't believe in. The problem is twofold... He is incapable of understanding: "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor. 2:14) nor can he discern the hatefulness in allowing sexually immoral behavior in the name of tolerance; and his arguments are inconsistent: “If you ever want that friendly church, then throw out the book" (along with the aforementioned "I don't believe in God, but God is hateful" argument). It isn't a church if the Word isn't brought to bear, true hypocrisy is ignoring sin in the name of love; ignoring or dismissing sin and calling it tolerance is not love.

‎"CFC [Changing the Face of Christianity] Founder R. Brad White, a former atheist, rejected Zamecki’s notion of disowning the Bible in order to reverse negative stereotypes. He said, as an unbeliever, Zamecki can’t 'grasp the complexities' of the Bible."

What about the doctrine of perspicuity? Scripture is clear. It does not withhold truth, but reveals it. It is light applied to the darkened mind by the Holy Spirit. True, Zamecki is (and always has been) an unbeliever, but the reason he can't grasp Scripture is because he is unregenerate. He lacks the Holy Spirit, and thus lacks the application of the Spirit's ministry of revelation or illumination in his mind and heart.

Another serious flaw in White's reasoning, besides "pushing for a [return] to real Christianity” (like it hasn't been around and we need to discover it) is that he confuses tolerance with complacency. I agree with him that we should "evangelize non-believers through honest, meaningful relationships" but it doesn't stop there, and when he calls for "leaving the judgment up to God" he misunderstands the concept of judgment. Of course we are not to "use [proof texts] as leverage to hate people" (one thinks of Westboro Baptist) or condemn them, but instead, speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) and expound the authoritative Word of God. Now, there are many who have a judgmental spirit towards non-believers (especially defiant sinners and homosexuals), and I agree with the approach of "asking what [one] can do to help him or her overcome the situation " but he limits this to inside the church. Part of evangelism and outreach is to confront people on the outside with their sin, preach forgiveness in Christ, call for repentance and faith, and disciple them.

What really gets on my nerves? The last statement: "Salvation is 'a two-way street,' he insisted, and the unbeliever needs to make the first step." Wow! Remarkable. Now, in all fairness, White prefaces that statement: "If we really want them to connect to us to the point that they trust us and care what we think, [they must be] the one to ask [about salvation]." Regardless, the unbeliever doesn't make the first step... in fact, without God acting first, an unbeliever wouldn't ask about salvation let alone incline himself toward God. The gospel isn't connecting to people with hope that they ask you about Christ... we need to preach the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and pray that the Holy Spirit gives them ears to hear the truth and eyes to see the glorious supremacy of Christ in all things. We need to speak the truth of sin and impending judgment, demand repentance in the name of Christ and preach Him crucified. Other than that, may the sovereign Spirit use our biblical faithfulness to produce effectual transformation for His glory.

From Everlasting To Everlasting

2010-11-04T18:46:00.008-04:00

I recently wrote a paper for my Biblical Theology class on the outline of the Bible. I've posted it below...

"From Everlasting To Everlasting"

by Timothy Harris

Everything finds its beginning with God. The Bible says that God exists "from everlasting to everlasting" (Ps. 90:2, emphasis added) and since He has no beginning or end (Rev. 1:8) He operates outside of the finite human categories of time and space. There is one God in three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) who is Creator of all (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 40:28), and this God is transcendent, which means that He is "distinct from His creation. He is not part of it, for He has made it and rules over it... God is much greater than creation... He is independent of it," (Grudem, 267). Though God is independent of His creation, He is not completely removed from it. He is also immanent, which is a term that describes God's engaging with that which He has created. While the Creator of all things maintains His transcendant holiness, being completely "other" than His creatures, He is also personally interested and involved with His creation. God is particularly mindful of human beings, whom He created in His likeness and image (Gen. 1:26, 27). He has, according to His lovingkindness and for His glory, condescended to make Himself known to mankind through the Holy Scriptures. This collection of writings that was written over the course of about 1,500 years is not just a compilation of ordinary literature, but the very word of God revealed to man by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (1 Tim. 3:16; 1 Thes. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:19), the third person of the triune Godhead. The word of God (The Bible) is authoritative and inerrant; it is "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart," (Heb. 4:12). The Westminster Confession of Faith describes the Bible as "the whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life," (Chapter I; Article VI). So, since the Bible is the means by which God historically reveals Himself to humanity, and is also sufficient revelation of His will for all people everywhere for all time, it follows that our understanding of His revelation is recognized in a historically comprehensive and progressive manner.

"God is to be praised as Creator, by reason of the marvelous order, variety, and beauty of his works... God is to be trusted as the sovereign LORD, with an eternal plan covering all events and destinies without exception, and with power to redeem, re-create and renew; such trust becomes rational when we remember that it is the almighty Creator that we are trusting. Realizing our moment-by-moment dependence on God the Creator for our very existence makes it appropriate to live lives of devotion, commitment, gratitude, and loyalty toward him... Godliness starts here, with God the sovereign Creator as the first focus of our thoughts." (Packer, 22). At the beginning of time as we know it, God began His work of creation (Gen. 1:1). The Bible describes the creation account as a series of events spanning six days, in which God generated the heavens and earth and all that fills them (Gen. 1). He made everything ex nihilo (out of nothing), including man (Gen. 2:7), the crowning achievement of His creatures, whom He created on the sixth day. God saw that everything He made was good, and rested on the seventh day (Gen. 1:31; Gen. 2:1-2). He instituted the created order and placed man in the Garden of Eden to work and care for it (Gen. 2:8, 15). An established system of roles, responsibilities and relationships were given to mankind with regard to God and to the rest of the creation. Adam and Eve lived in perfect fellowship with God; humanity was created upright and was fully capable of unhindered worship. Humanity was pure and pleasing to God, and God was supremely desireable to the man and his bride, who were capable of enjoying Him and His glory fully.

"The tempter came from the spirit world with the suggestion that man, by placing himself in opposition to God, might become like God. Adam yielded to the temptation and committed the first sin by eating of the forbidden fruit. But the matter did not stop there, for by that first sin Adam became the bond-servant of sin. That sin carried permanent pollution with it, and a pollution, which, because of the solidarity of the human race, would affect not only Adam but all his descendants as well," (Berkhof, 221). The perfect harmony in the created order—the holy fellowship between God and man—eventually turns to disorder and darkness. One of God's angelic creatures defied the Almighty God and was cast down from the heavens. This fallen-angel then set forth an attack on the harmony of the created order by distorting the truth of God. A serpent, which was "both a real serpent and a demonic power, who made use of the former to carry out his plan" (Vos, 34), appeared in the Garden of Eden, deceived Eve and tempted Adam to willfully sin against God (Gen. 3:1-7). God pronounced a curse upon both the serpent and humanity (Gen. 3:14-24), but He would not leave His creation to ruin. With the penalty of death for sinning against God came His grace—the protoevangelium (first gospel). God promised that the Seed of the woman would set things right (Gen. 3:15). "The promise is, that somehow out of the human race a fatal blow will come which shall crush the head of the serpent." (Vos, 43). According to God's infinite wisdom and good pleasure, and for the supremacy of His glory, He predestined an elaborate plan of restoration for His creation. Before the creation event, God sovereignly decreed the intricate arrangement of His will for all things, including sin (which He did not author, but allowed temporarily) for the demonstration of His glory in His redemptive purposes.

"It is the nature of God that moves him to make His promises, and in keeping the promises which He makes, God does not take anyone into partnership. He is not only totally able to keep His promises without assistance, but He insists upon doing doing so. As these promises emerge they are focused upon the central theme of salvation. The God of the covenant is revealed as God the Savior. The point of the promises is that He pledges Himself to a total work of salvation," (Motyer, 2). After Adam and Eve were removed from the Garden of Eden by God (Gen. 3:24), they had children (Gen. 4). The sin of man endured as the oldest son of Adam and Eve murdered the younger (Genesis 4:8). The wickedness of man continued through the next several generations, but God chose to extend grace to a man named Noah (Gen. 6:8) and his family by revealing His plan for a global flood and establishing a covenant with him (Gen. 7-9:17). Though God saved humanity through Noah, sinful man again attempted to steal God's glory, but the plans were thwarted and God scattered them and confused their language (Gen. 9:1-9). Several generations later, Abram was called out of his country by God and given the covenantal promises of land, seed, and blessing (Gen. 12-23). He believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3). Abraham (God changed his name from Abram) and his wife Sarah had a son, Isaac to whom the covenant promises were extended (Gen. 24-25:1-23). Likewise, Isaac and his wife Rebekah had a son (Jacob), to whom the covenant promises were also extended (Gen. 26-35). Jacob's son Joseph, was sold into slavery by his brothers (Gen. 37:12-36), but God blesses him so that he becomes mighty in Egypt (Gen. 39:2-6; Gen. 41:37-57). The favor of God towards the Israelites (descendants of Jacob) eventually becomes a reason of envy and hatred by Egypt and Pharaoh oppresses them (Ex. 1:8-22). God calls the nation of Israel out of bondage with signs and wonders through the leadership of Moses and enters into a covenant with Israel (Ex. 2-15). The Lord gives them the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai and establishes laws to govern them by and instructs them to make an ark and a tabernacle for Him to "dwell" in (Ex. 19-27). A priesthood and formal system of sacrificies is instituted as well, so that atonement is made for sin (Ex. 28-29; Lev.). The first generation (with the exception of Joshua and Caleb) wandered in the desert for forty years and the Lord condemned them to death, but Joshua led the second generation into the promised land (Deut. 31:7-8; Num. 14:20-38). Israel continued to rebel against their leadership, so God appointed them Judges like Joshua (Josh. 1) and Samuel (1 Sam. 3) to govern them. The nation desired a king like their neighbors, so God gave them Saul (1 Sam. 9-10). He ruled well for a time, but disobeyed God and was replaced by David (1 Sam. 15-16). God then made another covenant, this time with David and His bloodline (2 Sam. 7). David's kingship was passed to his son Solomon (1 Kings 1), but the kingdom was eventually divided into the tribes of the northern and southern kingdoms (1 Kings 12:16-24). Over the next few hundred years, both kingdoms would be taken into captivity (Jer. 24). When the nation was freed, many went home to rebuild, but a large number stayed in the land where they were taken captive (Ezra 1-2). Wars raged throughout the land, dynasties rose and fell, and the people of God were in utter ruin; their hope in God dwindling. While the future of God's chosen race seemed uncertain and their outcome bleek, the Lord God, whose word is true, would show His faithfulness in keeping His promise perfectly.

"Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after His incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof were communicated unto the elect, in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein He was revealed, and signified to be the seed of the woman which should bruise the serpent's head; and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world; being yesterday and today the same, and forever," (The Westminster Confession of Faith: Chapter VIII; Article VI). After about four hundred years the second person of the Holy Trinity, condescended and took on flesh to fulfill the covenant promises (Luke 2). God the Father sent His Holy Spirit upon a virgin and she conceived a child and named him Jesus (Jehovah is salvation). Born of the Davidic bloodline (Isaiah 11; Matt. 1; Rom. 1:2-4), this "Lion of the Tribe of Judah" (Gen. 49:8-12; Rev. 5:5) fulfilled all that was foretold of Him in the law and the prophets (Luke 24), and performed signs and wonders. Jesus of Nazareth, who was fully God and fully man, was born under the law and lived a perfectly righteous and sinless life (1 John 3:5). This God-man, came into the world to provide salvation to sinners by propitiating (atoning or satisfying) God's wrath on sin (Rom. 3; Heb. 2).Though He was betrayed by one of His disciples, and unjustly tried, imprisoned, and sentenced to death, this was not unknown to Him, for He prophesied about His crucifixion (Matt. 16:21-23). The cross of Christ was an event that demonstrated the glory of God by simultaneously showing His justice and mercy. "The most spectacular display of God's glory is in a bloody instrument of torture because that is where God's goodness was most displayed," (Carson, 115). Not only did Christ know about it beforehand, but He and the other members of the Holy Trinity foreordained it. This was an integral part of God’s plan of redemption. The gospel of Jesus Christ, who lived and died, and was raised and exalted to the right hand of the Father, was the message of redemption and reconciliation that the Old Testament institutions and promises pointed to. The salvation of sinners has now been fulfilled by His substitutionary atonement on the cross. He died, was buried for three days, and conquered death by rising victoriously from the grave (1 Cor. 15:1-4). While His atoning work is finished, Christ lives and intercedes for us now. As was promised, He poured out His Spirit upon the leaders of the church in the first century and that Spirit continues to minister to believers today in a variety of ways.

"Finding all of our supreme joy and contentment in the God who is there, this God who discloses Himself forever and perfectly, inexhaustibly, before His own blood-bought people, means that all of the culture of the new heaven and the new earth will be suffused with shalom, with the well-being, the flourishing, the social peace whose measureless source is the one who sits on the throne, and the Lamb," (Carson, 222). There will soon be a day when Christ shall return to defeat the enemies of His kingdom and bring His people home to rest (1 Thes. 3:11-13; Rev. 19). It shall be a terrific and awesome day when the Lord returns; while His people will be saved from eternal torment, those who are not His will be justly condemned (Rev. 20:11-14) "When the time comes and the Lord Himself swings His sickle, time as we know it will be no more, and judgment will be final... you move into the new heaven and the new earth—or you move into hell itself—and you remain in principle what you are already. If as a Christian you are already seen as righteous in Christ, if you have already been increasingly conformed to the likeness of Christ, you move into a new heaven and a new earth, and righteousness becomes yours..." (Carson, 209-210). Everything finds its fulfillment with God. That which He has made serves its ultimate purpose according to His will. Human beings, in particular, will either be freely justified by faith and reconciled to the Creator, or justly condemned and eternally separated from the Almighty God for denying Him. We will either experience the terror of hell and inherit death for the wages of sin, or positional fulfillment of God's promise to His children; namely, that they will rest in a land of their own in His presence doing what they were made for: worship. "The heavens are the LORD’s heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man. The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence. But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!" (Ps. 115:16-18).

Bibliography:
Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology: New Combined Edition; Grand Rapids; Eerdmans (1996) p. 221
Carson, D.A. The God Who is There: Finding Your Place in God's Story; Grand Rapids; Baker (2010) pp. 115; 209-210; 222
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine; Grand Rapids; Zondervan (1995) p. 267
Motyer, J. Alec. "Covenant and Promise"; Evangel: The British Evangelical Review; Vol. 1:1 (1983) p. 2
Packer, J.I. Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs; Wheaton; Tyndale House (1993) p. 22
Vos, Geerhardus. Biblical Theology: Old and New Testament; Banner of Truth (1975) p. 34
The Westminster Confession of Faith. (1646) Chapters I.VI; VIII.VI

All Scripture references are from the ESV (English Standard Version).

LOGOS Software free giveaway... again!

2010-09-30T20:06:00.006-04:00

The folks over at LOGOS Bible Software are at it again... offering a great contest to promote their release of the new LOGOS 4 Mac.

Enter here: LOGOS 4 Mac Ship Day Giveaway

On another note... they have recently added one of my favorite authors to their "pre-pub" list...

The Michael Barrett Collection

The Anthropocentric Truth-Suppression of Feminism

2010-08-11T18:45:00.018-04:00

I was reading Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist World by Carolyn McCulley this past weekend and found her coverage of some of the more well-known feminists very intriguing. I have but a surface-level knowledge of the subject of feminism, so to learn more about the origin and history of the movement as well as the presuppositions and theories of the most well-known figures was very profitable. I was, for obvious reasons, fascinated by the theological issues surrounding some of the biographical accounts. Take for example this excerpt about Elizabeth Cady Stanton (colleague of Susan B. Anthony, co-founder of the National Women's Sufferage Association, and author of The Woman's Bible):

"Her activism started with marriage reform and sufferage and then migrated to religion. Stanton developed her atheistic beliefs as a young woman in reaction to the revival meetings of evangelist Charles Finney. After hearing Finney preach, Stanton was terrified of damnation: 'Fear of judgment seized my soul. Visions of the lost haunted my dreams. Mental anguish prostrated my health. Dethronement of my reason was apprehended by my friends... Returning at night, I often at night roused my father from his slumbers to pray for me, lest I should be cast into the bottomless pit before morning.'

But this conviction did not last long. Her family convinced her to ignore Finney's preaching and took her away on holiday to Niagara Falls in order to clear her mind. Following this vacation, she wrote:

'Thus, after many months of weary wandering in the intellectual labyrinth of 'The Fall of Man,' 'Original Sin,' 'Total Depravity,' 'God's Wrath,' 'Satan's Triumph,' I found my way out of the darkness into the clear sunlight of Truth. My religious superstitions gave place to rational ideas based on scientific facts, and in proportion, as I looked at everything from a new standpoint, I grew more and more happy, day by day... I view it as one of the greatest crimes to shadow the minds of the young with these gloomy superstitions; and with fears of the unknown and the unknowable to poison all their joy in life."

God is sovereign, and He knows His people (John 10:14). None can come to Jesus unless the Father draws them (John 6:4). To wonder, "what if?" in the case of Elizabeth Cady Stanton is not very wise... our resources would be put to better use by learning from this example and applying what we have learned in future situations. Though regeneration is monergistic, God has given us a great duty and opportunity to proclaim His Gospel, so that His people will be drawn to Him by the Spirit. Let us maintain and defend the biblical Gospel and seek to evangelize and disciple according to Scripture. Yes, God will save those whom He has elected, but we must labor over truth in our evangelistic efforts in order to produce maturing disciples, who will be equipped to continue that blessed and honorable duty of magnifying Christ.

...as if we could smile our way out of treason.

2010-07-26T18:19:00.009-04:00

I just started reading "Marks of the Messenger: Knowing, Living and Speaking the Gospel " by J. Mack Stiles... I am in search of good evangelism material so I can better prepare myself for sharing the gospel with others. It was a gift at Together for the Gospel and I have heard good things about the book, so I decided to give it a go... and I am enjoying it. The following is an excerpt I just read:

"...we were born rotten sinners to the core. We may be upright physically, but spiritually, we're dead on arrival. Left to ourselves we have no hope (Romans 5:19; Ephesians 2:1, 12).

It's not that we can't do loving or even amazing things—after all, long ago we were made in the image of God. But these are fleeting and inconsistent moments, and no part of anything we do remains unstained by sin (Luke 18:19; Romans 7:18). We think acts of worldly goodness can mask sin, but they only add to our debt since worldly deeds fill us with superficial self-righteous pride (Isaiah 64:6), as if we could smile our way out of treason. Our own meager good works could never help us avoid the death sentence that has been pronounced on us. We are chained to sin; we can't help but sin, for it is in our nature (Romans 7:5). And this sin cuts us off from God. In our natural state we rebel against God and all His ways (Isaiah 59:2; Ephesians 4:18)—and this wickedness spits in the face of God (Isaiah 50:6; Mark 14:65). We are as attractive to God as a corpse at a dinner party (Matthew 23:27).

Tough sell, huh?

That's one hard package to market. After all, it's not exactly the generous orthodoxy that speaks to the postmodern world today. Not exactly a message that's going to win friends and influence people, you say. Since this message is difficult to swallow, you can see why pragmatic evangelists leave it out and focus on other parts of the message.

But wait, there's more...

As we shake out fist (Job 15:25) at this Creator God, this perfect Holy God, and scheme against His rule, we inflame His wrath and judgment. It's God alone who deals with our lives as he sees fit (Isaiah 45:9; Romans 9:21; Revelation 2:27). But when things go wrong, we get it exactly backwards: we accuse God of evil and act as if it's our right to treat people as a choice—a choice to snub and exploit, and murder. As we speak against God, we breath out the fumes of rotting flesh, and death hangs about our necks (Romans 3:13).

These pitiful, self-justifying accusations against the Creator God add to our affront with God—as if we could put God on trial. Every time we accuse God, we reenact the kangaroo court before Pontius Pilate... with the same results: the murder of an innocent (John 19:6, 11). We are treasonous rebels who, without constraints, would murder and destroy God Himself to establish ourselves as God in His place (John 19:15). The astounding story of that trial before Pontius Pilate and subsequent crucifixion is that we are the ones on trial, not Jesus. It's a story of all of us. Don't miss that at the cross we see ourselves in all our sin and evil and wickedness (Isaiah 53:5-6; Romans 3:12, 19). All of us: from Mother Theresa to the lowest, vilest child molester. What awaits us—what we're all earned—is hell.

Does that offend you? Are you angry at these comments? Do you say, 'It's not true. I've never been in rebellion with God! It can't be that bad. I'm a good person. What about Gandhi? I love God we're friends; I'm spiritual; 'My god' would never say such things.'

But I contend that if this news, this bad news, offends rather than humbles, you are the one most in danger. For it's not said to offend but to instruct and to warn about a reality—the same warning my doctor might bring of a grave illness, but with far, far greater consequences.

Neither are these merely my opinions. Every thought in these paragraphs comes from the Bible, and these are but samples from an avalanche of indictments about our condition from the Scriptures...

...we must press home twin truths: our hopeless situation ('apart from Me you can do nothing,' John 15:5) and amazing grace ('He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy,' Titus 3:5). I think the sad tendency of well-meaning Christians who want to share their faith is to water down both. They say we're not so bad (you actually can clean up your act), and God doesn't really mean it when He says that the unconverted are enemies of God (tut, tut, boys will be boys).

There is a tendency to think that our sins are bigger than our sin—maybe because it's that rare case of language when the plural is smaller than the singular. Sins are those individual acts of rebellion—symptoms of the bigger problem. Our sin is the bigger problem: it's our condition or state which is in hideous rebellion toward a holy and good God. When Christians feel that sins (acts) are bigger than sin (condition), they see evangelism as an effort or moral reform rather than explaining the steps that need to take place to rip out our wicked hearts and replace them with new hearts—that amazing work of God that Jesus called being born again.

God would be perfectly just to let us stumble along in life, trying as best we could to eek out pleasure from the world and then, at death, face His punishment. The fact is we are under God's judgment already (John 3:36). But this God is not a God of justice alone. He is love (1 John 4:8).

God's love is His most magnificent characteristic. This is so assumed in Western culture it's practically lost all meaning, but one thing that distinguishes God's love is how His love, His perfect, tender self-sacrificing love, holds back His red-hot, scorching wrath.

He does this not by simply sweeping our sin under the rug. There's too much brokenness crying out for His justice for that to happen. Think how many have called to God for justice.

No, He demonstrates His love by sending His Son, Jesus, the Son He loves who is fully God, to live as a man, identify with our human condition, demonstrate through His earthly life as a man what God is like, and then bear the weight of our sin in His own body on the cross (John 3:16).

We see God's holiness satisfied when His love was nailed to the cross. It's the place where God's wrath and love come together—perfectly. Jesus died our death in our place; it was a substitution, a ransom, and act agreed upon by the Father and the Son to pay for the sins of the world, since Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. Jesus became a perfect blood sacrifice for all who would put their faith in Him. This is how we gain [receive] His forgiveness and His righteousness as well...

...After Jesus' death by crucifixion, He was buried in a borrowed grave, and in three days He rose from the dead. His new body bore scars from the crucifixion. The New Testament writers marked His bodily resurrection from the dead as a historical event, and they knew it to be the fulfillment of repeated biblical prophecies over thousands of years.

Today He demonstrates His great love and mercy by reaching into our world, personally, with an offer of life—an offer to individuals to be set free from the bondage of sin and death. It's the offer of life to the dying, those dying under God's judgment, so that the One who would slay us laid down His life to set us free (Romans 5:9)."

Reviews of Stiles' book...
Dan Phillips of Pyromaniacs
Mark Tubbs of Discerning Reader
Mark Lamprecht of "Here I Blog"

Receive the Implanted Word

2010-06-24T20:06:00.006-04:00

"Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21)

Matthew Henry comments on The Epistle of James:

"In hearing the word of God, we are to receive it—assent to the truths of it—consent to the laws of it; receive it as the stock does the graft; so as that the fruit which is produced may be, not according to the nature of the sour stock, but according to the nature of that word of the gospel which is engrafted into our souls. We must therefore yield ourselves to the word of God, with most submissive, humble, and tractable tempers: this is to 'receive it with meekness'. Being willing to hear of our faults, and taking it not only patiently, but thankfully, desiring also to be molded and formed by the doctrines and precepts of the gospel. In all our hearing we should aim at the salvation of our souls. It is the design of the word of God to make us wise to salvation; and those who propose any meaner or lower ends to themselves in attending upon it dishonour the gospel and disappoint their souls. We should come to the word of God (both to read it and hear it), as those who know it is 'the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth' (Romans 1:16)."
(Matthew Henry)

For the Sake of the Gospel Summary

2010-06-07T22:08:00.007-04:00

This is what Mike Pohlman at the The Gospel Coalition blog had to say about The Greater Columbus Gospel Coalition's conference (featuring Alistair Begg)...

"By the grace of God, the event was a tremendous success... We are very excited about what God is doing in the greater Columbus area for the advance of the gospel."

Here are the messages:

What is the Gospel? How Does it Impact Ministry? [Romans 1:16-17]

Communicating the Exclusivity of the Gospel to Inclusivists [Acts 4:1-22]

What is a Gospel-Centered Church? [Colossians 3:1-17]

The Greater Columbus Gospel Coalition...

2010-05-22T20:40:00.014-04:00

Web:
The Greater Columbus Gospel Coalition

Blogs:

The Gospel Coalition

Ex Vilis Cathedra: From the Cheap Seats

FaceBook:

For the Sake of the Gospel
The Greater Columbus Gospel Coalition

The City:

Become a Member of the Gospel Coalition Network

The History, Purpose, and Values of (GC)2:

Machen: The Liberalization of Education

2010-05-18T20:40:00.007-04:00

"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

Love and Justice Combined

2010-05-12T22:07:00.006-04:00

"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

2010-05-12T20:02:00.015-04:00

"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

Embrace the Gospel and Beware of Self-Deceit

2010-05-11T18:49:00.011-04:00

"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)

Manton's Exposition of Psalm 119:9

2010-05-10T10:28:00.009-04:00

"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

The Wisdom of Manton

2010-05-05T18:49:00.006-04:00

"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)

Update

2010-05-01T14:42:00.006-04:00

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!

Discipleship: Psalm 119

2009-09-27T16:30:00.002-04:00

Strange... it doesn't feel like I have been meeting with my elder for discipleship for over 18 weeks. How the time flies! The focus of this week's study was "Pe"... a passage that consists of verses 129-136.

"Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, because I long for Your commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your way with those who love Your name. Keep steady my steps according to Your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts. Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep Your law. (Psalm 119:129-136, ESV)

129 Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.

Question: How many people agree with the Psalmist; that God's testimonies (i.e. His Word, the Bible, the Law, the Gospel, etc. etc.) are WONDERFUL? Furthermore... how many professing "believers" or self-proclaimed Christians echo his sentiments? If we are truly regenerate, we should have a hunger for God's testimonies. We should crave the precepts of the Lord. A Christian should have an appetite for Scripture; it should be pleasing to him or her. One should have a desire to delve into it for "reproof, correction, and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16) amongst other things.

One constant problem I encounter amongst "evangelicals" is the erosion of inerrancy (borrowing the term from a G.K. Beale book that I look forward to reading; click for more information). There is an ongoing attack on the authority and inerrancy of Scripture and one of the most dangerous protagonists are cloak-and-dagger "evangelicals"... false believers who make God in their own culturally relative image. The fact that our sovereign God has magnified His name and His word above all things should make us tremble with reverence when we approach his wonderful testimonies.

For a reformed perspective, that is to say biblical orthodoxy... see the Westminster.

"the sublime and admirable wisdom which he found comprehended in the divine law led him to regard it with reverence... " (John Calvin)

"Its effects upon the consciences of men, both for conviction and comfort, are wonderful; and it is a sign that we are not acquainted with God's testimonies, or do not understand them, if we do not admire them." (Matthew Henry)

It should also be noted that it is not of our volition to delight in God's testimonies. A person can not "decide" to love Scripture... one can not voluntarily consider the Bible to be truly wonderful. The regenerative power of the Holy Spirit in "the new birth" (John 3), creating "a new being" (2 Corinthians 5:17) with "a new heart and spirit" (Ezekiel 36:26) causes us to walk in God's statutes, obey His commands (Ezekiel 36:27) ... and thus, consider His testimonies to be wonderful.

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13, ESV)

"it is impossible for any man to keep the law of God from the heart, unless he contemplate it with feelings of reverence: for reverence is the beginning of pure and right subjection. Accordingly, I have said that many despise God's Word, because they think it inferior to the acuteness of their own understandings. Yea, many are led to break forth more audaciously into this heaven-daring contempt, from the vanity of showing their own ingenuity. But, although worldly men may flatter themselves in that proud disdain of the divine law, yet the commendation which the Prophet pronounces upon it still holds true, that it comprehends mysteries which far transcend all the conceptions of the human mind." (John Calvin)

"Those that see God's word to be admirable will prize it highly and preserve it carefully, as that which they promise themselves great things from." (Matthew Henry)

"It is wonderful that God should have borne testimony at all to sinful men, and more wonderful still that his testimony should be of such a character, so clear, so full, so gracious, so mighty... Their wonderful character so impressed itself upon his mind that he kept them in his memory: their wonderful excellence so charmed his heart that he kept them in his life... his religion was soul work; not with head and hand alone did he keep the testimonies; but his soul, his truest and most real self, held fast to them." (Charles Spurgeon)

130 The unfolding [entrance] of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

"If we begin at the beginning, and take it before us, we shall find that the very first verses of the Bible give us surprising and yet satisfying discoveries of the origin of the universe, about which, without that, the world is utterly in the dark. As soon as the word of God enters into us, and has a place in us, it enlightens us; we find we begin to see when we begin to study the word of God." (Matthew Henry)

"when the words of God enter into the chambers of the heart then light is scattered on all sides. The word finds no entrance into some minds because they are blocked up with self conceit, or prejudice, or indifference; but where due attention is given, divine illumination must surely follow upon a knowledge of the mind of God." (Charles Spurgeon)

Light...

"As soon as a man enters upon reading the Scriptures, if he has any degree of understanding of the things in them, they immediately throw light into his mind; or, however, as soon as ever the word has an entrance into the heart, and through the Spirit, power, and grace of God, makes its way and has a place there, that being opened by the Lord for that purpose, light arises in darkness." (John GIll)

"And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:3-4, ESV)

"This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5, ESV)

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it... The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him." (John 1:4-5, 9-10, ESV)

"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12, ESV)

"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6, ESV)

"The great use for which the word of God was intended, to give light, that is, to give understanding, to give us to understand that which will be of use to us in our travels through this world; and it is the outward and ordinary means by which the Spirit of God enlightens the understanding of all that are sanctified." (Matthew Henry)

"Christ by his Spirit opens their understandings, that they may understand the Scriptures; and by means of them gives them an understanding of himself, and of those things which make them wise unto salvation, and make for their spiritual peace and comfort, and their eternal welfare." (John Gill)

"The sincere and candid are the true disciples of the word. To such it gives not only knowledge, but understanding." (Charles Spurgeon)

"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple" (Psalm 19:7, ESV)

"They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading." (Nehemiah 8:8, ESV)

131 I open my mouth and pant, because I long for Your commandments.

"Here the Holy Spirit teaches with what earnestness of soul the knowledge of divine truth is to be sought." (John Calvin)

"whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14, ESV) [see also Isaiah 55)

"As a person out of breath does, through walking or running; he stops and pants, and opens his mouth, to draw in air to his relief: or as hungry and thirsty persons pant for food and drink, and open their mouths to receive it, before it can well be brought to them." (John Gill)

"As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for You, O God." (Psalm 42:1, ESV}

"My soul is consumed with longing for Your rules at all times." (Psalm 119:20, ESV)

132 Turn to [look upon] me and be gracious [merciful] to me, as is Your way with those who [are custom to] love Your name.

It is God who looks upon man and not the other way around... the Lord unconditionally grants mercy according to His will, and will continue to do so to those He has been gracious towards (both divine forbearance and redemption). The Psalmist recognizes that grace and mercy are of the Lord, much like justice... and he understands that the wrath of God is the result of justice for the payment of the sin debt (Romans 6:23), which he deserves. But God, being rich in mercy (see Ephesians 2), grants unmerited favor (and faith, love for His name, etc.) to those that he foreordained for salvation and was pleased to punish His Son, Jesus, the second Person of the triune God as a substitution for sinners.

"This, then, is the prayer of an afflicted man, who, when apparently destitute of all help, and unable to come to any other conclusion than that he is neglected and forsaken of God, yet reflects with himself, that, for God to forsake him, was foreign to his nature and to his usual manner of procedure... the Prophet's sole ground of confidence in asking this from God is his free goodness. Whence we gather that, although he was a man of eminent sanctity, yet the undeserved grace of God was his only refuge." (John Calvin)

"He asks not for the operations of God's hand... a good look is enough; and for that he does not plead merit, but implores mercy." (Matthew Henry)

"Not as in himself; a sinful creature will not bear looking upon by the Lord, especially with the strict eye of justice; but as in Christ, and clothed with his righteousness; and so not merely in a providential way, though that is a favour, but in a way of special grace and mercy... the Lord had turned from him, and had hid his face, which had given him trouble; and therefore he desires he would turn again to him, and show him his face and favour." (John Gill)

"Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted." (Psalm 25:16, ESV)

"If he looked in stern justice his eyes would not endure us, but looking in mercy he spares and blesses us." (Charles Spurgeon)

"The dealings of God with those that love him are such that a man needs not desire to be any better dealt with, for he will make them truly and eternally happy." (Matthew Henry)

Those who love God's name (see Psalm 138:2b) love His attributes (loving, sovereign, holy, righteous, etc.)

"...we must perceive the very clear testimonies by which he fortifies our faith, so that we need not doubt that all the godly are the objects of his regard; only we must endeavor to be among the number of those who love his name. By this title is meant genuine believers; for those who only slavishly fear God are not worthy of being reckoned among his servants. He requires a voluntary obedience from us, so that nothing may be more delightful to us than to follow whithersoever he calls us. It is, however, at the same time to be observed, that this love proceeds from faith; yea, the Prophet here commends the grand effect of faith, by separating the godly, who lean upon the grace of God, from worldly men, who, having given their hearts to the enticements of the world, never lift up their minds towards heaven." (John Calvin)

133 Keep steady [direct] my steps according to Your promise [by Your word], and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

"Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping [directed to keep] Your statutes!" (Psalm 119:5, ESV)

"Lead me in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it." (Psalm 119:35, ESV)

"...the only rule of living well is for men to regulate themselves wholly by the law of God... God deals bountifully with men, when he invites them to himself by his word and doctrine... all this is lifeless and unprofitable, until he govern by his Spirit those whom he has already taught by his word." (John Calvin)

"We ought to walk by rule; all the motions of the soul must not only be kept within the bounds prescribed by the word, so as not to transgress them, but carried out in the paths prescribed by the word, so as not to trifle in them. And therefore we must beg of God that by his good Spirit he would order our steps accordingly." (Matthew Henry)

"...it is not in the power of man to order and direct his steps: this is done by the Lord; and such who acknowledge him in their ways, and apply to him for direction, are and shall be thus favoured by him." (John Gill)

"I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps" (Jeremiah 10:23, ESV)

God can "prevent" people from sinning...

"Then God said to him [Abimelech] in the dream, 'Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against Me. Therefore I did not let you touch her [Abraham's wife, Sarah]." (Genesis 20:6, ESV)

"The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in His way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand." (Psalm 37:23-24, ESV)

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV)

"The freedom of the godly consists solely in this—that they are governed by the Spirit of God, and thus preserved from succumbing to iniquity, although harassed with hard and painful conflicts." (John Calvin)

"The dominion of sin is to be dreaded and deprecated by every one of us; and, if in sincerity we pray against it, we may receive that promise as an answer to the prayer." (Matthew Henry)

"For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14, ESV)

"It is a sad thing to be enslaved to any lust or sin, be it what it will: sin reigns over wicked men even unto death; and it oftentimes has great power over good men, puts them upon doing that which is evil, and hinders them from doing that which is good..." (John Gill)

"Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression." (Psalm 19:13, ESV)

134 Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts.

Believers are redeemed (bought), out of slavery to sin, by the blood of Christ. The Psalmist is praying for God's redemption from external oppression (sinful men oppressing him) or internal oppression (his own sinful nature's oppressive bondage), so that he may better live according to God's will.

"When he was overwhelmed on all sides with injuries, he betook himself to God as his deliverer... We are taught from this passage, that when engaged in contest with the wicked, we ought not to suffer our minds to be actuated by malice, but that, however violently and unjustly they may assault us, we should rest; contented with the deliverance which God bestows, and with that alone; and again, that every instance in which we experience the grace of God in delivering us, should be a spur to incite us to follow after uprightness." (John We are taught from this passage, that when engaged in contest with the wicked, we ought not to suffer our minds to be actuated by malice, but that, however violently and unjustly they may assault us, we should rest; contented with the delivers. nee which God bestows, and with that alone; and again, that every instance in which we experience the grace of God in delivering us, should be a spur to incite us to follow after uprightness." (John Calvin)

"David prays that he might live a quiet and peaceable life, and might not be harassed and discomposed by those that studied to be vexatious... whom God can control, and whose power is limited." (Matthew Henry)

"Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men!" (Psalm 9:20, ESV)

"Some render it, 'from the oppression of Adam'... of the sin of Adam, and as a prayer to be delivered or redeemed from it; as the Lord's people are by the blood of Christ..." (John Gill)

"So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy." (Psalm 106:10, ESV)

"Give Your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me." (Psalm 119:122, ESV)

"Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God." (Psalm 119:115, ESV)

"The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil." (Zephaniah 3:15, ESV)

"It is said that oppression makes a wise man mad, and no doubt it has made many a righteous man sinful. Oppression is in itself wicked, and it drives men to wickedness. We little know how much of our virtue is due to our liberty; if we had been in bonds under haughty tyrants we might have yielded to them, and instead of being confessors we might now have been apostates." (Charles Spurgeon)

135 Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.

"he seeks to win the fatherly favor of God—for nothing is to be hoped for from Him unless we have an interest in his favor—but he at the same time, shows the greatness of the blessing." (John Calvin)

"He is very ambitious of his Master's favour, accounting that his happiness and chief good." (Matthew Henry)

"Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your way with those who love Your name." (Psalm 119:132, ESV)

"the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you" (Numbers 6:25, ESV)

"...he seeks for no favour from others, but only from his own Lord and Master." (Charles Spurgeon)

"...only when God illumines the minds of his believing people with the true knowledge of the law, that he delights them with the beams of his favor." (John Calvin)

"If God hides his face from us, it is because we have been careless in keeping his statutes; and therefore, that we may be qualified for the returns of his favour, we must pray for wisdom to do our duty." (Matthew Henry)

"The most favoured believer needs teaching; even when he walks in the light of God's countenance he has still to be taught the divine statutes or he will transgress." (Charles Spurgeon)

[see vv. 12, 26, 33, 73, 104, 124]

136 My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.

We should, as Christians, be sorrowful over sin. Sorrowful not merely due to our own transgressions; penitence for disobedience... but Christians should also grieve the sins of others; the ignorant, apathetic, and reprobate alike.

Please take a look at the Westminster Confession of Faith; Chapter 6

"You cannot be sorrowful for others' sins unless you be first sorrowful for your own sins... It is hypocrisy to pitch upon other men's sins and neglect your own ; as some will zealously declaim against public disorders, yet neglect their own hearts; as the crafty lapwing will go up and down fluttering and crying to draw the fowler from her own nest. We have a nest of sin of our own, and we are loath it should be rifled and exposed to public view... True zeal for injuries done to God would ease itself by tears rather than anger. True penitents will not satisfy themselves only with public humiliation, to which law, custom, and example may draw them; but will make conscience of this duty in their families, yea, in secret, where no eye seeth them but God's." (Thomas Manton)

"Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." (Romans 1:32, ESV)

"...discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways." (Proverbs 2:11-15, ESV)

[Thank you to Rev. James O'Brien for commending to me The Complete Works of Manton]

"Wherever the Spirit of God reigns, he excites this ardent zeal, which burns the hearts of the godly when they see the commandment of the Most High God accounted as a thing of nought. It is not enough that each of us endeavor to please God; we must also desire that his law may be held in estimation by all men." (John Calvin)

"He wept not for his troubles, though they were many, but for the dishonour done to God... The sins of sinners are the sorrows of saints. We must mourn for that which we cannot mend." (Matthew Henry)

"He wept in sympathy with God to see the holy law despised and broken. He wept in pity for men who were thus drawing down upon themselves the fiery wrath of God. His grief was such that he could scarcely give it vent; his tears were not mere drops of sorrow, but torrents of woe... None are so affected by heavenly things as those who are much in the study of the word, and are thereby taught the truth and essence of things." (Charles Spurgeon)

[See Matthew 23:37-39]

Links...

Reformed Forum (A reformed theology media network)

Sola Scriptura (A.A. Hodge; Outlines of Theology: Chapter 5)

The Sufficiency of the Word of God (a sermon by James Montgomery Boice)

Daily Reading: Complete In Him

2009-09-23T16:33:00.002-04:00

I continue my study of Michael P.V. Barrett's "Complete In Him" in chapter 5...

Chapter 5: Union with Christ (The Security of the Gospel)

"To them [His saints] God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27, ESV)

"For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." (Colossians 2:9-10, ESV)

We should find our complete satisfaction in Christ. We have been filled with the supreme One... this is no mere fascination; it is consumption. We should be consumed and overwhelmed with Jesus.

"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3, ESV)

"Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us." (1 John 3:24, ESV)

"...we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit." (1 John 4:13, ESV)

"regardless of our personal failures, imperfections, and sins, the merit of Jesus Christ encompasses and subsumes all of our service to Him." (p. 94)

IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS

"The fact that our personal behavior neither adds to nor distracts from our acceptance before God in Christ is not license to sin or reason to abandon the pursuit of personal purity... Right thinking about the gospel produces right living in the gospel." (p. 95)

United to Christ Representatively

"Christ is the federal, covenant or representative Head of His people... [He] stands as our legal representative before God" (p. 96)

Adam; a representative man...

"For as in Adam all die..." (1 Corinthians 15:22a, KJV)

"Man needed a new representative who could and woul fulfill the requirements for life. God appointed His Son to that position. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only One divinely chosen and qualified to be the Savior of sinners." (p. 96)

"...even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22b, KJV)

"In His Incarnation, the eternal Son of God partook of the same flesh and bloof as those He came to represent—His brethren, the children given to Him." (p. 97)

"For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, 'I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.' And again, 'I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:11-14), KJV)

Psalm 8...

"a messianic song highlighting the greatness and grace of God and pointing to the Lord Jesus as the only means by which fallen man can come to the enjoyment and experience of the priveleged rank God assigned to man in creation." (p. 97)

"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet" (Psalm 8:4-6, KJV)

"The first word for 'man' emphasizes man's fr,ailty and mortality. The second expression, 'son of man' (Adam), also underscores man's inherent weakness and insignificance as earthy." (p. 97)

1 Corinthians 15...

"The apostle speaks of a man ('the last Adam', 'the second man') who, unlike the first man, honorably and unfailingly fulfilled the high station God intended for mankind." (p. 97)

"And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven." (1 Corinthians 15:45-47, KJV)

"the Seconf Person of the Eternal Trinity was temporarily diminished to a position lower than that of the angels [Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7] in order to perform the necessary obedience to merit and restore life to the race of which He was the Head." (p, 98)

"And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." (1 Corinthians 15:49, KJV)

Romans 5...

"unquestionably the most explicit bible exposition contrasting the corporate effect of Adam's disobedience with the corporate effect of Christ's obedience... God's just imputation of our guilt to Christ and His equally just imputation of Christ's righteousness to us are righteously legal acts because Christ is our covenant Head, our representative." (p. 98)

"I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages..." (Isaiah 49:8b, KJV) [see also Isaiah 42:6]

United to Christ Mystically

Mystical Theology: "Spiritual truth that surpasses human comprehension because of the transcendence of its nature and significance..." (p. 99)

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20, KJV)

A Spiritual Union

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love..." (Ephesians 3:17, KJV)

"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." (Colossians 2:12, KJV)

"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:20-22, KJV)

"As evidence that we have the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit not only that we are the children of God, but also that we share with Christ everything from His sufferings to His glorification (Romans 8:16-17)." (p. 101) [see also Romans 8:9]

A Spiriual Communion

Union with Chris's Death

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, KJV)

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Romans 6:4-6 KJV)

"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead" (2 Corinthians 5:14, KJV)

Colossians 3...

"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (v. 3)

"Mortify therefore your members..." (v. 5a)

"put on the new man..." (v. 10b)

Union of Christ's Resurrection

"By His death, our Savior 'abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel' (2 Timothy 1:10, KJV)." (p. 103)

"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved); And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:5-6, KJV)

"For if [since] we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection... Now if [since] we be dead [died] with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him" (Romans 6:5, 8, KJV)

"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses" (Colossians 2:12-13, KJV)

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." (Colossians 3:1, KJV) [see also John 14:19-20]

"It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him" ( 2 Timothy 2:11, KJV)

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:17, KJV) [see also 2 Timothy 2:12]

Colossians 3...

1. "We are to seek the things that are above where Christ sits at the right hand of God." (p. 104)

2. "We are to set our affections on things above.

Union with Christ's Session

"As part of His earned exaltation, after His resurrection He ascended into heaven and took His seat of honor at the right hand of His Father... inexplicably yet absolutely, so did we." (p. 104-105)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3, KJV)

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us... hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4, 6, KJV)

"WE OUGHT NOT TO LIVE ANY PART OF OUR LIFE HERE WITHOUT THE CONSCIOUSNESS THAT WE ARE IN REALITY THERE." (p. 105

That is all for this week's edition of Daily Reading... Have a great week, worship well... Soli Deo Gloria!

Links...

"Beginning at Moses" (Michael P.V. Barrett's book on Christ in the OT)

Election (an article by B.B. Warfield)

The Principle of Imputation (a sermon/lecture by Phil Johnson)