Beyond Zaphon

The Beauty and Love of Christ Illustrated

2012-01-19T10:53:00.000-08:00

“Father: My Son, here is a company of poor miserable souls that have utterly undone themselves and now lie open to my justice! Justice demands satisfaction for them or will satisfy itself in the eternal ruin of them. What shall be done for these souls?

Son: O my Father, such is my love to and pity for them that, rather than they shall perish eternally, I will be responsible for them as their Surety. Bring in all thy bills, that I may see what they owe thee. Lord, bring them all in, that there may be no after-reckonings with them. At my hand shalt thou require it. I will rather choose to suffer thy wrath than they should suffer it. Upon me, my Father, upon me be all their debt.

Father: But my Son, if thou undertake for them, thou must reckon to pay the last mite. Expect no abatements. If I spare them, I will not spare thee.

Son: Content, Father. Let it be so. Charge it all upon me. I am able to discharge it. And though it prove a kind of undoing to me, though it impoverish all my riches, empty all my treasures, yet I am content to undertake it.”

… “Blush, ungrateful believers. O let shame cover your faces. Judge in yourselves now, hath Christ deserved that you should stand with him for trifles, that you should shrink at a few petty difficulties and complain, ‘This is hard, and that is harsh’? O if you knew the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in this his wonderful condescension to you, you could not do it.”

John Flavel, Works

Christianity Today

2011-09-02T18:02:00.000-07:00

"Christianity today is man-centered, not God-centered. God is made to wait patiently, even respectfully, on the whims of men. The image of God currently popular is that of a distracted Father, struggling in heartbroken desperation to get people to accept a Saviour of whom they feel no need and in whom they have very little interest.
To persuade these self-sufficient souls to respond to His generous offers God will do almost anything, even using salesmanship methods and talking down to them in the chummiest way imaginable. This view of things is, of course, a kind of religious romanticism which, while it often uses flattering and sometimes embarrassing terms in praise of God, manages nevertheless to make man the star of the show." (A.W. Tozer Man: The Dwelling Place of God)

The Reliability of the New Testament Text (Dr. James White)

2011-06-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

Live like you obey Christ

2011-06-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

I have heard it said "Work like you are an Armenian and sleep like you are a Calvinist."

While I understand the sentiment behind this statement, I whole-heartedly disagree!! Work like a Calvinist.....understanding God has saved men an women from ALL over the world from the justice we deserve, and sleep like a Calvinist, knowing God will accomplish His purposes through you, through His Church.

In other words, live like you obey Christ and sleep like you believe Him.

1Timothy 2:4

2011-03-09T14:05:00.000-08:00

The Narrow and Complete Bridge

2011-03-05T11:43:00.001-08:00

"Let there be no misunderstanding at this point. The Arminian limits the atonement as certainly as does the Calvinist. The Calvinist limits the extent of it in that he says it does not apply to all persons (although as has already been shown, he believes that it is efficacious for the salvation of the large proportion of the human race); while the Arminian limits the power of it, for he says that in itself it does not actually save anybody. The Calvinist limits it quantitatively, but not qualitatively; the Arminian limits it qualitatively, but not quantitatively. For the Calvinist it is like a narrow bridge which goes all the way across the stream; for the Arminian it is like a great wide bridge which goes only half-way across…."

- Loraine Boettner

Don't be a Slave

2011-02-13T12:42:00.000-08:00

Most of us have been indoctrinated with government schools version of morality, the University's version of morality, Hollywood's version of morality (all of which are the same) and then claim it as our own! May God's grace free our minds to think with originality...... with purity.

Potential Saviour?

2010-10-19T15:37:00.000-07:00

I don't understand why there are SO MANY professing Christians who call Jesus "Saviour", yet only believe Jesus came to make salvation "possible". Possible for all but certain for none. They should say " Jesus is 'potential saviour' and 'potential Lord' "

Christian.... understand Jesus IS Saviour. He actually did save people on the cross.

Have You Been Nailed To The Cross?

2010-08-14T04:12:00.000-07:00

"This is what the conversion of the dying thief shows us. What could he do? He could not walk in the paths of righteousness for there was a nail through either foot. He could not perform any good works for there was a nail through either hand. He could not turn over a new leaf and live a better life for he was dying.

And, my reader, those hands of yours which are so ready for self-righteous acting, and those feet of yours which are so swift to run in the way of legal obedience, must be nailed to the cross. The sinner has to be cut off from his own workings and be made willing to be saved by Christ.

A realization of your sinful condition, of your lost condition, of your helpless condition, is nothing more or less than old-fashioned conviction of sin, and this is the sole prerequisite for coming to Christ for salvation, for Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

A.W. Pink

Of "death-bed" conversions.... Well said the Puritans of old - "There is one such case recorded that none need despair, but only one, in scripture, that none might presume".

Light in and of the Lord

2010-08-08T18:35:00.000-07:00

"for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord." Eph 5:8

True light of sanctification is dependent on justification as the light of the moon is dependent on the Sun. Just a thought I had while taking a walk this evening.

An accidental Collision

2010-07-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

“If the solar system was brought about by an accidental collision, then the appearance of organic life on this planet was also an accident, and the whole evolution of Man was an accident too. If so, then all our present thoughts are mere accidents–the accidental by-product of the movement of atoms. And this holds for the thoughts of the materialists and astronomers as well as for anyone else’s. But if their thoughts–i.e. of materialism and astronomy–are merely accidental by-products, why should we believe them to be true? I see no reason for believing that one accident should be able to give me a correct account of all the other accidents. It’s like expecting that the accidental shape taken by the splash when you upset a milkjug should give you a correct account of how the jug was made and why it was upset.

C.S. Lewis

Abounding Grace

2010-06-30T19:08:00.000-07:00

“One day as I was passing into the field . . . this sentence fell upon my soul. Thy righteousness is in heaven. And methought, withal, I saw with the eyes of my soul Jesus Christ at God’s right hand; there, I say, was my righteousness; so that wherever I was, or whatever I was doing, God could not say of me, he wants [lacks] my righteousness, for that was just before him. I also saw, moreover, that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse, for my righteousness was Jesus Christ himself, “The same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8. Now did my chains fall off my legs indeed. I was loosed from my afflictions and irons. . . . Now went I also home rejoicing for the grace and love of God.”

John Bunyan
Grace Abounding

Who really Gets the Glory

2010-05-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

The biggest question any semi-Pelagian or Arminian has to face at the practical level is this: Why did I choose to believe the gospel and commit my life to Christ when my neighbor, who heard the same gospel, chose to reject it? That question has been answered in many ways. We might speculate that the reason why one person chooses to respond positively to the gospel and to Christ, while another one doesn’t, is because the person who responded positively was more intelligent than the other one. If that were the case, then God would still be the ultimate provider of salvation because the intelligence is His gift, and it could be explained that God did not give the same intelligence to the neighbor who rejected the gospel. But that explanation is obviously absurd.

The other possibility that one must consider is this: that the reason one person responds positively to the gospel and his neighbor does not is because the one who responded was a better person. That is, that person who made the right choice and the good choice did it because he was more righteous than his neighbor. In this case, the flesh not only availed something, it availed everything. This is the view that is held by the majority of evangelical Christians, namely, the reason why they are saved and others are not is that they made the right response to God’s grace while the others made the wrong response.

RC Sproul

Sin

2010-05-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

I saw a camera today at several stores and stop light....why?

I have to sign a contract when I refinance my mortgage next month.....why?

I read the news this morning and people are being murdered all over the city, state, country and world....why?

I notice that laws are not adequate, but we need police to enforce them...why?

I pay extra every time I shop due to theft.....why?

I have to type at least three different passwords at work everyday: I have to type passwords to view my bank account, to manage this blog....why?

We need to get filters for the internet to keep out inappropriate sights.....why?

I have locks on all my doors at home.... why?

I had to lock my car doors when I went on a walk for cystic fybrosis today.....why (5 cars were broken into at the fundraiser today)

I look out the window every few minutes at my daughter playing in the back yard.....why?

We need protection from one another. We don't trust one another. The world is a giant Jerry Springer Show....why?

SIN!

Satisfaction Guarantied

2010-05-02T18:53:00.000-07:00

Christ was a propitiation for the the sins of the world. In Christ, satisfaction was made to the wrath of God for all the sins of His people. The Gospel is a statement of the aspects of this atonement.

1 Cor 15:3-4 "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,"

It is also important to include the ascension of Christ to the right hand of God where He sits and intercedes on behalf of those for whom He died. (Isa 53:12 and Hebrews 7-10).

The elect of God were in a very real sense experiencing everything in Christ as He accomplished this satisfaction.

Gal 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ"
Rom 6:8 - "we have died with Christ"
Col 2:12 - "having been buried with him in baptism"
Eph 2:6 - "and raised us up with him"
Eph 2:6 - " seated us with him in the heavenly places"

Being "in Christ" is one the most important doctrines that I am currently trying to get my head around. I want to comprehend the importance of this truth. This beautifully knits together so many essential doctrines. The incarnation, the deity of Christ, the substitutionary atonement, ect, ect. more to follow........

Great Is The Mystery

2010-04-27T19:51:00.000-07:00

"Great is the mystery of godliness" (1 Tim. 3:16). Amazing beyond all finite conception is that transaction which was consummated at Golgotha. There we behold the Prince of Life dying. There we gaze upon the Lord of Glory made a spectacle of unutterable shame. There we see the Holy One of God made sin for His people.

There we witness the Author of all blessing made a curse for worms of the earth. It is the mystery of mysteries that He who is none other than Immanuel, should stoop so low as to join together the infinite majesty of Deity with the lowest degree of abasement that was possible to descend into. He could not have gone lower and be God. Well did the Puritan Sibbes say, "God, to show His love to us, showed Himself God in this: that He could be God and go so low as to die" (Vol. 5, p. 327).

AW pink

There Can Be No Failure With the Work of Christ

2010-04-11T13:21:00.000-07:00

Over 2000 Years Ago Today

2010-04-02T18:05:00.000-07:00

Because He said "It is finished"; I can say "life has begun" Jn 1:13

Because He said "My God My God, why have you forsaken me?"; I can say "Father God, why have you chosen me?" Eph 1:1-12

Because He said "I thirst": I can say "I may 'buy wine and milk without money and without price'" Isa 55:1

Because He said "Behold your Son"; I can say "Behold my Father" Eph 4:6

Because He said "Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit"; I can say "Father, into your hands you have committed my spirit." Rom 8:29-30

Diluting Man's Depravity

2010-03-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

“Free-will doctrine – what does it do? It magnifies man into God; it declares God’s purposes a nullity, since they cannot be carried out unless men are willing. It makes God’s will a waiting servant to the will of man, and the whole covenant of grace dependent upon human action. Denying election on the ground of injustice it holds God to be a debtor to sinners so that if He gives grace to one He is bound to do so to all. It teaches that the blood of Christ was shed equally for all men and since some are lost, this doctrine ascribes the difference to man’s own will, thus making the atonement itself a powerless thing until the will of man gives it efficacy. Those sentiments dilute the scriptural description of man’s depravity, and by imputing strength to fallen humanity, rob the Spirit of the glory of His effectual grace: this theory says in effect that it is of him that willeth, and of him that runneth, and not of God that showeth mercy.”

Charles Spurgeon

Repent of My Repentance

2010-02-27T10:27:00.000-08:00

O God of grace,
T hou hast imputed my sin to my substitute,
and hast imputed his righteousness
to my soul,
clothing me with a bridegroom’s robe,
decking me with jewels of holiness.
But in my Christian walk I am still in rags;
my best prayers are stained with sin;
my penitential tears are so much impurity;
my confessions of wrong are so many
aggravations of sin;
my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with
selfishness.

I need to repent of my repentance;
I need my tears to be washed;
I have no robe to bring to cover my sins,
no loom to weave my own righteousness;
I am always standing clothed in filthy garments,
and by grace am always receiving change of
raiment,
for thou dost always justify the ungodly;
I am always going into the far country,
and always returning home as a prodigal,
always saying, Father, forgive me,
and thou art always bringing forth
the best robe.
Every morning let me wear it,
every evening return in it,
go out to the day’s work in it,
be married in it,
be wound in death in it,
stand before the great white throne in it,
enter heaven in it shining as the sun.

Grant me never to lose sight of
the exceeding sinfulness of sin,
the exceeding righteousness of salvation,
the exceeding glory of Christ,
the exceeding beauty of holiness,
the exceeding wonder of grace.

From "Valley of Vision" Banner of truth

Irresistible

2010-02-16T15:51:00.000-08:00

I have been pondering how God's grace is irresistible. How does God bring people to heaven without making them puppets? The way I describe this to myself is by using an illustration. While a sinner is still dead in their sins, God regenerates them. He does this by giving them a new heart. With their new heart they now can see the desperate situation they are in, being hostile rebels against a thrice holy God.

The new creation is irresistibly drawn to Christ like a drowning man under the darkness of water swims toward the light. They are dying and they know it. They must head toward the light of life. The new believer, of their own new self-will chooses to head toward the light of their salvation. The beauty of Christ's life-giving sacrifice compels them.

Just some rather random thoughts and I felt I need to do some blog updating.

Be Astonished!...Be Very Astonished!

2009-11-17T13:39:00.000-08:00

After being told by an angel that Lord Christ has risen from the dead Mark records this of the women:

" And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid."

This is where the earliest manuscripts of the Gospel end (interesting place for Mark to end, don't you think?)

Here are a few observations about these women; They were probably the most faithful followers of Christ at that time, they were filled with tremendous love for their teacher/savior and they were very courageous women (at least compared to the disciples who at this time had fled in fear.)

These faithful followers of Christ were stricken with awe, astonishment and fear at the historical event of the resurrection.

How does this event effect today's church? How does effect me? How does it effect you? Have we become too "familiar" with this event?
Much of today's church simply "emerge". What I mean is they put their feet up (shod with flip flops), sip on their starbucks, take a bite of their scone, and at the same time offer their praise to the Lord for the resurrection.

Perhaps some of us would do well to stand in bewildered awe at the resurrected savior....to stand in fear of God and think biblically about what happened at the cross. Let the awesomeness and amazement of this event astonish us.

(I am not saying we should not rejoice and be filled with unspeakable joy) Thoughts inspired by a sermon I heard from Covenant Presbyterian Church in St Louis.

What Is This?

2009-11-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

The crowd - "Our Fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Jn 6:31

Manna in Hebrew literally means "What is this?"

1. It by the free grace of God we are saved from sin, through faith. It is not by endeavoring to meet certain criteria or to have our "good" deeds outweigh our bad deeds. What!?.....What is this?

2. The triune God allowed wretched men to strip, humiliate, mock, slap, spit upon, scourge and nail him to a tree. What!?.......What is this?

3. The infinitely holy God came down veiled in human flesh and was made sin that we might be made the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21) What!?.....What is this?

4. The perfectly pure God came to this earth and was made a curse in order to redeem his beloved from the curse of the law. (Gal 3:13) Huh?!.......What is this?

5. The altogether lovely and beautiful Holy One became a worm in order to rescue his people from sin. (Psalm 22:6) What is this?

6. He chose a peculiar people for himself before the foundations of the earth to love, to predestine, to call, to justify and to glorify. (Eph 1, Rom 8) based on nothing done, thought or spoken by these unworthy sinners. What is this?.

This is a stumbling block to the self-righteous...
This is foolishness to them that are perishing...

This is love, this is truth, this is life, this is the way, this is where mercy and truth kissed......This is Jesus.

"I am the bread of life" Jn 6:36

Atonement Perfectly Performed

2009-10-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they, shall hear my voice" (John 10:16). Equally positive is this. This is no uncertainty, no contingency. There is no (if) they are willing to listen." How miserably man perverts the truth of God, yea, how wickedly he denies it! It is not difficult to understand what is the cause of it; it is lack of faith to believe what the Scriptures so plainly teach.

These "other sheep" Christ must bring because necessity was laid upon Him. He had covenanted with the Father to redeem them. And they would be brought, they would hear His voice, for there can be no failure with Him. The work which the Father gave His Son to do shall be perfectly performed and successfully accomplished. Neither man’s stubbornness nor the Devil’s malice can hinder Him. Not a single one of that favored company given to Christ by the Father shall perish. Each of these shall hear His voice, because they were predestinated so to do, and it is written, "As many as were ordained to eternal life believed" (Acts 13:48). "They shall hear my voice" was both a promise and a prophecy.

A.W. Pink

Sufficient Grace

2009-10-20T15:16:00.000-07:00

"Sing amazing grace all you want. If the grace you're singing about is insufficient to save, if it's not powerful enough to save without additions... I'm not sure how amazing it really is. And the amazing grace of The Reformation was a grace that saved completely."

James White

Taught by God

2009-09-19T21:27:00.000-07:00

After probably about six years of being consciously reformed (Calvinistic), I have been sorting out some of my thoughts regarding this very Biblical theology. Calvinism has come to be defined by five points (TULIP). While I am in complete accord with the so-called five points of Calvinism, I have recently been steering away from using these five truths to define Reformed theology.

Calvinism is not simply a response to the five points of the Remonstrants. It is a Biblical theology that exalts God. It elevates God's holiness, freedom and glory; while at the same time radically eliminating man's contribution to anything worthy of praise. The more I understand the attributes of God, the more Christ increases and the more I "decrease".

When "taught by God" (Jn 6:45), this God-honoring, Christ-exalting and flesh-withering (to borrow language from Pink) theology serves to make my worship pure, sweet, emotional, rational and truthful. What a great blessing to be able to render to God, by His grace, the honor due Him.

Condescension

2009-08-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

His dwelling place was beauty passed description. - Yet He was born in a stable for beasts.

His garment was glorious light and the train of His robe filled the temple (Isa 6:1); He has girded about His chest a golden band (Rev 1:13). - He hung naked, in the likeness of sinful flesh (Rom 8:3) cursed from a tree. (Gal 3:13)

His hair, which is white a wool and white as snow. (Rev 1:14) - Was soaked red from His blood caused by His afflicters.

His eyes, which had ever beheld worship and the adoration of the hosts of heaven. (Isa 6:3) - Were filled with spit from those He came to save. (Matt 26:67)

His ears, which had eternally received worthy praise and adoration from the citizens of Heaven. (Isa 6:3) - Were filled with blasphemy, a mocking laughter and cursing from those He created.

His voice, which is as the sound of many waters (Rev 1:15) and spoke into existence all of creation. (Gen 1) - Uttered "My God My God why have you forsaken me." (Matt 27:46) His mouth had gall and vinegar thrust into it.

His head, which is crowned with many crowns and crowned with glory. - was crowned with thorns, shoved on His head by sinful tormentors.

His hands which brought healing to anyone He touched. - were pierced through by those for whom He cried out "forgive them, for they know not what they do."

His feet, which are like fine brass refined in the furnace (Rev 1:15) which walked on streets of gold, whose shoes no one, no created being is worthy to untie. - had nails pounded through them.....nails were hammered though these feet worthy to be washed with tears!

His back, that at the very sight of, caused Moses' hair to turn white. - was scourged by wicked hands.

God the Son emptied Himself, walked on this earth and gave His life. The redeemed of God will seek to understand and will marvel at the humiliation of Jesus for eternity.

Please Listen to This

2009-08-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

Do You Desire God? - Paul Washer from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

Behold Your God

2009-07-16T18:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some things we need to understand about God. He alone is Holy. God is altogether separate from all of creation. God is perfect and perfectly content in Himself. The triune God needs no creature of earth nor creature of heaven to add anything to His self-actualization. When God created men and angels it did not add to His perfection.

Humankind has sinned against this infinitely Holy and beautiful God. God could be absolutely content if He left all of humanity to suffer the consequences of their rebellion against Him. (eternal damnation) In fact, God would get glory in the just punishment for their sins. The Bible teaches the citizens of Heaven rejoice when God executes His justice. (Rev 15:3-4, 16:4-6)Perhaps in a similar (yet I hate to compare the economy of God to men) way citizens of earth rejoice when a convicted criminal gets a just sentence for his crime. Even man in is fallen state salutes justice and is disturbed when the punishment does not fit the crime.

I will say it again, God would be content, worshipped, and glorified were He to pardon no human.

“But God”......what sweet words to a regenerate heart. God had a plan since before the foundation of the earth that would display His glory in a way never before comprehended by the company of angels. Out of pure and holy love, God chose to save a people for Himself..... a bride to God the Son. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died.” (Rom 5:8) Ephesians 1 teaches us we were loved by God before He made us, before He forgave us....”just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.......by which He made us accepted in the BELOVED”
God, wanting to “make known the riches of His Glory on vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory” (Rom 9:23) willed the salvation of many out of every tribe, tongue, and nation. The angels had never seen anything like this....God would become man in a hypostatic union and die.....yes the divine Son would suffer wrath, suffer the penalty due for these scornful rebels. No Savior was provided for the rebellious angels of ancient who sinned against God.....no redemption, no reconciliation, just righteous judgement. No wonder “angels desire to look into” (1 Pet 1:12) these matters. They had never beheld the glory of the father in any fashion near this....Ever!

I will say it again, the infinitely holy God the Son died to save unworthy sinners. But let us know this...He rose again for our justification. He is the song of the angels, He is the melody of the church....He is the praise of all creation. If rocks could cry out, believe me they would. Behold your God....Behold His Glory!

Flat Christianity

2009-06-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

Most of today's American Christianity can be compared to a bottle of non-alcoholic ale, that has been left open for two days.

1) It is lukewarm having lost their first love.

2) It's teaching is stale, unflavorful words of men. Dull in their effect on sin.

3) It has lost it's fizz and no longer bubbles with the living water of Christ and His word. It lacks biblical passion.

4) It offers no Godly pleasure of gladened heart, resting joyously in the finished work of Christ.

Gethsemane

2009-06-18T16:55:00.001-07:00

The Christ "began to be sorrowful and troubled" (Matt 26:37) as He went to a place called Gethsemane. He looked at the "cup" he was to drink and the distress was overwhelming. This man...this God....this man beheld the fiery of God's wrath in a more immediate sense than he had up to this point and he sweat blood. My goodness.... he sweat blood thinking of what he was to endure; "he fell to the ground" (Mk 14:35) pondering the weight! What did his divine mind's eye see? What caused the theo-anthropos such unthinkable anguish?

The Captain of my salvation "began to be sore amazed and to be very heavy" Mark (14:33) as he peered over the consuming fire, the place where he would utter "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?" My Lord....my savior.....oh my Christ..... what did you see......what did you see!? What could possibly cause you to ask this cup to pass?

My Prince of Glory "being in agony he prayed more earnestly". (Luke22:44) What does this mean? What suffering was he swimming in at the very thought of the torment soon to be upon him? Help me to understand this solemn truth and worship Jesus!

The King beheld his decided destiny and took the cup and drank it. Why did he do it, what emotion, what unction caused him to drink every last drop? It was love. It was "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross". (Heb 12:2) The love for his bride, and the joy of their redemption.

Words can't paint the feelings this historical seen causes me to experience when I, by grace, embrace it.

Cabin Fever

2009-06-17T14:42:00.000-07:00

Enemies of the Truth have once again been slithering their way into “Evangelical” Christianity. This first segment of Cabin Fever is going to very briefly mention the doctrine of penal substitution. Two of the fastest growing movements under the umbrella of evangelicalism have recently slandered this foundational truth. Shack-o-philes and The Emergent Church.

Of late I listened as William Young, author of The Shack, flatter himself as he openly rejected the Biblical teaching that Christ suffered the wrath of God while He hung on the tree. Young’s false god in the Shack teaches that she does not need to punish sin because the consequences of sin in our lives are punishment enough. One person rightly responded to this error by stating...according to Young, humans have already satisfied the punishment for sin, therefore Young’s unjust and unloving god would simply arbitrarily be sending an unbeliever to hell, as everyone has atoned for their own sin.

Another apostle of error, Steve Chalke (an Emergent Church Leader) likens penal substitution to some kind of “cosmic child abuse”. This reference is so full of folly, words can’t correctly state how excuseless it is to make such a comparison.

These attackers, along with countless others throughout the history of Christianity, all seem to get worked up about God punishing His innocent Son. They do not like the idea and do not believe the Bible would teach... that in God’s court, in God’s economy...He has found His Son innocent but has proclaimed and treated Him guilty.

Here is a thought....in the annuls of human history and human courts....can anyone think of a man whom the court found innocent, but proclaimed guilty and treated as such?

The Subtlest of All Satan's Snares

2009-06-16T19:57:00.002-07:00

In Ephesians 1:3 we are told that God "hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ," and not the least of these is faith!....In Philippians 1:29 we read, "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake."

The second error is in separating the Spirit’s communication of faith from the merits of Christ’s sacrifice. "Why did we at first believe? Why do we still exercise that faith and walk by it? Only because it was covenanted for on our behalf when Christ undertook to die for us. It should help us to pray better, ‘Lord, increase our faith’ when we remember at what a cost that faith was procured for us. And certainly this alone will keep us from one of the subtlest of all Satan’s snares, pride of faith. . . . How easy it is to live proudly on faith! Faith will do as well as works for Satan’s purpose of leading us to give to man the glory that is Christ’s" (From Papers of the Sovereign Grace Union Conference, 1923).

Impenitence and unbelief are the thick clouds which dissolve under the blessed beams of the Sun of Righteousness.

Via AW Pink

Foreknowledge

2009-06-11T14:53:00.000-07:00

I recently had a discussion with a friend of mine who believes God predestines people to salvation based on knowing beforehand they would believe rather than on God's sovereign freedom. Part of the discussion went something like this....

Me-- "So....do you consider it better to believe the Gospel than not to believe?"

Friend-- "Yes...of course it is better to believe"

Me -- "Let me ask you this....Do you think it is wise to believe the gospel?"

Friend --"Yes"

Me-- "Well one more question....Do you think it is virtuous to believe?"

Friend --"Yes"

Me-- "So let me get this straight. Your argument is that God looked into the future and saw that you were better, more wise and more virtuous than the person sitting next to you in the pew who does not believe, and presdestined you accordingly?"

Friend.................ahhhhhhh.....well......I am not saying that..................................

Brothers and sisters... Let us embrace God's Grace and stop making the Gospel dependent on man for God to save people.

Cursed

2009-05-26T19:13:00.000-07:00

"As the fatal sin which diffused the curse over the human race was connected with the forbidden ‘tree,’ God wisely ordered that the last Adam should expiate sin by being suspended on a tree: and He appointed in the law (Deut. 21:22, 23) such a symbol of the curse as reminded all men of the origin of the Divine curse on the world. He would not have the curse removed in any other way" .

G. Smeaton : Via The Satisfaction of Christ (studies on the atonement) AW Pink

Additionally, I find it interesting that our Lord wore a crown of thorns as He satisfied God's wrath on the cross....since part of God's curse after the fall was the land would bring forth thorns and thistles. ( Gen 3:18) Just an observation I have heard.

It's Just the Truth

2009-05-08T19:35:00.000-07:00

IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT HEARD

2009-05-06T17:03:00.001-07:00

Let me begin by saying God is a Holy God. Among other things, that means He is altogether different, altogether perfect, and altogether righteous. God, in His wisdom has given humans a moral law to obey. You are conscience of this law, which is why you get upset at things like injustice. (for if there is not an absolute right and wrong who cares how somebody treats someone else.) God has commanded absolute perfect obedience to His law.

You have disobeyed a holy God. You have broken almost every single moral commandment He has uttered. Read Matthew 5-7 if you disbelieve me. God is more than simply displeased with sinners. He has a holy, intentional, and steady anger that everything He has commanded has been violated. The consequence for your unholy behavior is eternal condemnation.

This is a just sentence. I look at it this way....the severity of the punishment is in proportion to the authority of the one giving the law. Think of the consequence of disobeying an order from a child verses a Federal Marshall. You have transgressed the law of one whose authority is infinite, earning yourself infinite/eternal consequences. Let me reiterate that this way...A Hopeless Eternity.

God is not only just, He is loving. He chose to come down to this earth, veiled in flesh (Jesus) and suffer the consequence of sin (on the cross)for an unworthy people. Jesus, being the infinite God, was able to pay the price for anyone and everyone He wanted to. He commands everyone and everywhere to repent, which means turn away from sin, and believe that Jesus died for sinners, was buried and rose again for their justification.

To learn more about repentance and belief, pick up a Bible and read it. Find a good church and attend. Learn how Jesus came to this earth and intended to save people from theirs sins. Learn how He actually accomplished this purpose when came to earth. He did not come to make salvation possible, but rather came to make it certain, for those He foreknew.

Raising the Pandemic Alert to Phase Five

2009-05-02T12:48:00.005-07:00

The Non-Worldly Health Organization (an organization I am starting up ;-)) urges being in Christ, diligent prayer and study to combat this emerging plague. I recommend reading Ephesians six.

Do You Kiss the Word!?

2009-03-18T18:24:00.002-07:00

"In France, there once lived a poor, blind girl who obtained the Gospel of Mark in raised letters and learned to read it with the tips of her fingers. By constant reading, her fingers became calloused, and consequently her sense of touch decreased until she could no longer distinguish the letters & words. She became so desperate for the Word of God that she literally cut the calloused skin from the ends of her fingers in an attempt to restore sense of touch, but in so doing actually resulted in completely destroying her sense of touch.

Faced with the inevitable reality that she must now give up her beloved Book, with weeping & tears she pressed the Braille copy of Mark to her lips, saying “Farewell, farewell, sweet word of my Heavenly Father!” To her surprise, she discovered that her lips were even more sensitive to touch than her fingers had been & she was able to distinguish the individual letters. All night she "perused" the Word of God with her lips and overflowed with joy at this amazing provision from her LORD."

Via; http://www.preceptaustin.org/inductive_bible_study.htm

I confess,tears welled up in my eyes after reading this.........for many reasons.

Some Considerable Sense of Evil

2009-03-15T19:31:00.000-07:00

Here are some quotes I put together from the renowned Jonathan Edwards' Religious Affections

"Surely it cannot be unreasonable to suppose, that before God delivers persons from a state of sin and exposedness to eternal destruction, he should give them some considerable sense of the evil he delivers from; that they may be delivered sensibly, and understand their own salvation, and know something of what God does for them."...

"The woman that had the issue of blood twelve years, was not delivered, until she had first "spent all her living on earthly physicians, and could not be healed of any," and so was left helpless, having no more money to spend; and then she came to the great Physician, without any money or price, and was healed by him, Luke 8:43, 44

Before Christ would answer the request of the woman of Canaan, he first seemed utterly to deny her, and humbled her, and brought her to own herself worthy to be called a dog; and then he showed her mercy, and received her as a dear child, Matt. 15:22

The Apostle Paul, before a remarkable deliverance, was "pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that he despaired even of life; but had the sentence of death in himself, that he might not trust in himself, but in God that raiseth the dead," 2 Cor. 1:8, 9, 10.

The leper, before he is cleansed, must have his mouth stopped, by a covering on his upper lip, and was to acknowledge his great misery and utter uncleannesss by rending his clothes, and crying, "Unclean, unclean," Lev. 13:45.

There was first a great tempest, and the ship was covered with the waves, and just ready to sink, find the disciples were brought to cry to Jesus, "Lord save us, we perish;" and then the winds and seas were rebuked, and there was a great calm, Matt. 8:24, 25, 26. "

A Weeping Prophet?

2009-02-18T18:26:00.000-08:00

Not a Prophet "proper"....but definitely one from whom the word of God "sounds forth". 1 Thess 1:8
By the way, on a side note...Does the the Word of God sound forth from you??? Does it sound forth from me?

The Most Hated Doctrine

2009-02-12T16:24:00.000-08:00

"I am going to speak tonight on one of the most hated doctrines of the Bible, namely that of God's sovereign election,"

"God's sovereign election is the truth most loathed and reviled by the majority of those claiming to be believers. Let it be plainly announced that salvation originated not in the will of man but in the will of God that were it not so none would or could be saved. For as the result of the Fall man has lost all desire and will unto that which is good and that even the elect themselves have to be made willing and loud will be the cries of indignation against such teaching."

"Merit‑mongers will not allow the supremacy of the divine will and the impotency of the human will. Consequently they who are the most bitter in denouncing election by the sovereign pleasure of God are the warmest in crying up the free will of fallen man,"

-A.W. Pink

via reformed voices

I Don't even Like Hip-Hop

2009-02-11T16:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.recoverthegospel.com/?p=2153

check out the second youtube. The words are so doctrinely pure it brought tears to my eyes.

The Trouble with God

2009-02-08T13:09:00.000-08:00

Psalm 77:3 “I remembered God and was troubled;”

This morning at church Associate Pastor Jason Alligood exhorted the people that they pay attention to some of the verses of the sweet hymn “It is Well with My Soul”. As I meditated on these words I delved into the mystery of the atonement. I thought of the triune God and was filled with “joy unspeakable” at the oblation of Jesus Christ and His sin-bearing, curse-becoming, world-reconciling, ransom-paying, justice-satisfying, mercy seat-sitting, death on the cross.

I think perhaps I was overwhelmed with adoration partly because earlier in the week I spent much time “remembering God and (being) troubled.” I remembered God when I was making a truce, as it were, with sin. When I laid down my spiritual weapons and let “carnal” attitudes start to creep into my mind.

May I remember God and be “troubled” more and more when I allow myself to be unrighteously angry, when I “laugh at Satan’s jokes”, when I choose complaining over gratitude, when I entertain the lust eyes and flesh. I think there is not enough groaning and being troubled at the thought of our omniscient and thrice holy God.

The trouble of God can be intense and borderline terrifying, even for the elect. My sin is serious and had a serious...no infinite price that had to be paid. It was paid.....It was paid. I think I will just end my post with that.

The God of Maudlin Sentimentality?

2009-01-29T17:27:00.000-08:00

"The God of the twentieth century is a helpless, effeminate being who commands the respect of no really thoughtful man. The God of the popular mind is the creation of a maudlin sentimentality. The God of many a present-day pulpit is an object of pity rather than of awe-inspiring reverence.

To say that God the Father has purposed the salvation of all mankind, that God the Son died with the express intention of saving the whole human race, and that God the Holy Spirit is now seeking to win the world to Christ; when, as a matter of common observation, it is apparent that the great majority of our fellow-men are dying in sin, and passing into a hopeless eternity: is to say that God the Father is disappointed, that God the Son is dissatisfied, and that God the Holy Spirit is defeated.

We have stated the issue baldly, but there is no escaping the conclusion. To argue that God is "trying His best" to save all mankind, but that the majority of men will not let Him save them, is to insist that the will of the Creator is impotent, and that the will of the creature is omnipotent."

AW Pink

Arthur Pink has described the god of much the Evangelical world I see around me. This is the god of "seeker sensitive" churches, the god of the Word of Faith foolishness darkening the air waves and the emerging god of much of the postmodern young people. The Bible declares an Almighty God. Sovereign in the world, sovereign in our daily lives and sovereign in Salvation.

Superstitious Nonsense

2009-01-14T16:11:00.000-08:00

"I'm going to tell you this, on judgment day, I would rather be standing in the group of liberal politicians waiting to receive my judgment than I would be wanting to stand in the group with conservative pastors in the United States of America, and I mean that.

You can thump this bible all day long, you can talk all sorts of things, but when you stand up and you can't even give a biblical invitation do not talk to me about the inspiration of Scripture. When you deal with men's hearts with trivial little credal prayers and superstitious nonsense, don't talk to me about the infallibility of Scripture unless you're going to also say its sufficient to teach me how to invite men to Christ."

Paul Washer
Via Reformedvoices.com

We Need to Cast the First Stone

2009-01-13T19:26:00.000-08:00

How narrow is the way of truth! How many diverging paths there are, at each turning of which Satan stands, clothed as an angel of light, quoting Scripture with all the aptness and eloquence of an apostle! But God will never release us from the obligation of "striving against sin".

-the believer is to cast the first stone at his corruptions; he is to take the initiative in the great work of mortifying and slaying the cherished sin.

The work of the Spirit is not, and never was designed to be, a substitute for the personal work of the believer. His influence, indispensable and sovereign though it is, does not release from human and individual responsibility. "Work out your own salvation," "Keep yourselves in the love of God," "Building up yourselves," are exhortations which emphatically and distinctly recognize the obligation of personal effort and human responsibility. The reasoning which bids me defer the work of battling with my heart's corruptions, of mortifying the deeds of the body, until the Spirit performs his part, argues an unhealthy Christianity, and betrays a kind of truce with sin, which must on no account for a moment be entertained.

Quotes from Octavius Winslow
No Condemnation in Christ Jesus

Be "Magnetized"

2009-01-01T13:13:00.000-08:00

"Only a sight of his glory, and nothing else, will truly satisfy God's people. The hearts of believers are like a magnetized needle which cannot rest until it is pointing north. So also a believer, magnetized by the love of Christ, will always be restless until he or she comes to Christ and beholds his glory. The soul which can be satisfied without beholding the glory of Christ, that cannot be eternally satisfied with beholding the glory of Christ, is not a soul for whom Christ prays." (see Jn 17)

Puritan pastor and theologian

John Owen

And Then?

2008-12-29T19:20:00.004-08:00

A young man, whom he had known as a boy, came to an aged Professor of a distinguished continental University, with a face beaming with delight, and informed him that the long and fondly-cherished desire of his heart was at length fulfilled- his parents having given their consent to his studying the profession of the law. As the University presided over by his friend was a distinguished one, he had repaired to its law school, and was resolved to spare no labor or expense in getting through his studies as quickly and ably as possible.

In this strain he continued for some time; and when he paused, the old man, who had been listening to him with great patience and kindness, gently said, "Well! and when you have finished your career of study, what do you mean to do then?" "Then I shall take my degree," answered the young man. "And then?" asked his venerable friend. "And then," continued the youth, "I shall have a number of difficult and knotty cases to manage: shall attract notice by my eloquence, and wit, and acuteness, and win a great reputation." "And then?" repeated the holy man.

"And then!" replied the youth, "why then there cannot be a question- I shall be promoted to some high office in the state, and I shall become rich." "And then?" "And then," pursued the young lawyer, "then I shall live comfortably and honorably in wealth and respect, and look forward to a quiet and happy old age." "And then?" repeated the old man.

"And then," said the youth, "and then- and then- and then I shall die." Here his venerable listener lifted up his voice, and again asked, with solemnity and emphasis– "And then?" Whereupon the aspiring student made no answer, but cast down his head, and in silence and thoughtfulness retired. This last "And then?"

A sobering illustration from
Octavius Winslow

The Supreme Bent of Your Mind

2008-12-28T13:31:00.000-08:00

"For those who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but those who are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." Romans viii. 5.

"What, reader, is the habitual and supreme bent of your mind? Is it that which is spiritual, or that which is carnal? Judge of your preparation for death, in the near view of its approaching solemnities. Decide upon your state for eternity, in the rapid progress of its deepening shadows. Ascertain the real state of your case for the judgment, in the certain arrival of its dread scrutiny.

You have your mind either set upon the things of the flesh, or upon the things of the Spirit. You are either born again from above, or are groveling in things below. You are either sanctified, or you are unholy. You are for the Lord, or you are against him. You are either Satan's slave, or Christ's freeman. Which? You inquire, "How may I know that I am of the Spirit?"

We answer, by your producing the fruits of the Spirit. A broken heart for sin- a felt conviction of the hidden plague- a humble and a contrite spirit- an utter rejection of a human righteousness- a simple, believing reception of the Lord Jesus- and a breathing after Divine conformity, are evidences of a renewed and sanctified state. If these are yours in any degree, then you are of the Spirit.

But rest not here. Be exhorted to walk in the Spirit. Do not be satisfied with having the question decided in your favor- with just barely knowing that you have crossed the line that separates the regenerate from the unregenerate- death from life. Remain not where you are: go forward."

Octavius Winslow

Is Faith a Work?

2008-12-17T17:13:00.000-08:00

Most professing Christians believe that a person can not earn their salvation by works. (Which is true). "Works" can be defined many ways, but a safe definition may be: Some actions or thoughts that God tells us in His Word to do or not do. I have been pondering a statement a friend of mine made a while back. We were discussing the doctrines of Grace at my church's Men's Conference and I stated "We are not given eternal life as a reward for our faith. You don't earn your salvation through being moral enough to believe the Gospel." My friend responded "I never considered 'faith' a work."

I am wondering if on some level faith is a "work". We are commanded to believe the Gospel...it is not a suggestion. For example, in Acts 17:30 men are commanded everywhere to repent. Other places the Gospel is presented as something to be obeyed: 2 Thes 1:8 "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:" again 1 Pet 4:17 "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" another place.. Gal 5:7 "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?"

1 John describes it this way in 3:23 "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment."

Well... if the Bible clearly teaches we are not saved as a result of works, and on some level faith and repentance are works, how can the Bible state we are saved, "through faith" Eph 2:8? I think the answer may be in the fact that both repentance and faith are gifts from God. This "work" of repentance and faith is not something of ourselves, except after God gives us a new heart, grants us faith and draws us to Himself. The Bible teaches He loses none that He draws....again I say NONE. Jn 6

Allow me this disclaimer (as I did not take the time the research the exact context of the scriptures quoted)...be a Berean and Search the scriptures. Acts 17:11

The Glorious Head of Election

2008-12-13T05:29:00.000-08:00

" The decrees of God, His eternal purpose, the inscrutable counsels of His will, are indeed a great deep; yet this we know, that from first to last they have a definite relation to Christ, for He is the Alpha and the Omega in all covenant transactions. Beautifully did Spurgeon express it: 'Search for the celestial fountain, from which the divine streams of grace flow to us, and you will find Jesus Christ the well-spring in covenant love. If your eyes shall ever see the covenant roll, if you shall ever be permitted in a future state to see the whole plan of redemption as it was mapped out in the chambers of eternity, you shall see the blood-red line of atoning sacrifice running across the margin of every page, and you shall see that from the beginning to the end one object was always in view—the glory of the Son of God.' It therefore seems strange that many who see that election is the foundation of salvation, yet overlook the glorious Head of election, in whom the elect were chosen and from whom they receive all blessings."

AW Pink

Pride-withering clip

2008-12-08T19:14:00.001-08:00

"All the disputes between us and the Arminians may be reduced to these two questions:

1. Is God dependent on man, or is man dependent on God?

2. Is man a debtor to God or God a debtor to man?"

- Augustus Toplady (1740-1778)

What do many American Christians think God owes them for...?

1) Good deeds..."I am not that bad"
2) Participation in church, in partaking of sacraments like baptism.
3) In having learned good doctrine. "I am a good supra-lapsinarian, well indoctrinated with proper Calvinistic soteriology, comprehending justification, sanctification, adoption, glorification, premillenial eschatology..ect"
4) In faith in their faith...."I made the virtuous decision to except Christ of my own "free-will", unlike those fools who haven't made that choice."
5) In a superstitious prayer they said years ago at the end of a "Roman Road".

Sinners are bent on finding a way to boast in their salvation. May we continually recognize that "salvation is of the Lord". It is Christ who saves, It is Christ's work on the cross that made salvation certain for many scattered throughout the entire world.

Heresy

2008-12-02T16:01:00.000-08:00

This is one of the most ridiculous, sad and angering youtube's I have seen. What shallow American Christianity has done to the Gospel is past deplorable...it is an abomination.

The problem is many "Christian" leaders do the exact same thing as this video in one form or another, but they would be the first to tell you this technique is not the best....Why...why do evangelists do this and things like it???.....because we do not know the Gospel....we do not know what happened on the cross.....it was just some fantasy event that should not have happened, but because it did happen, now all we need to do is recite some superstitious formula and we are "saved".

Click here.

Metro-Spiritual Christianity is Light and Backbonless

2008-11-28T17:45:00.000-08:00

"Healthy Christianity can only be maintained where the balance is properly preserved between a faithful exposition of the holy Law of God and a pressing of its claims upon the conscience, and by tenderly preaching the Gospel and applying its balm to stricken hearts.

Where the former predominates to the virtual exclusion of the latter, self-righteous pharisaism is fostered; and where the proclamation of the Gospel ousts the requirements of the Law, antinomian licentiousness is engendered.

During the past 100 years Christendom has probably heard fifty Gospel sermons to one on the Law, and the consequence has indeed been disastrous and deplorable: a light and backboneless religion, with loose and careless walking."

The Esteemed Arthur Pink

Imputed and Imparted Righteousness

2008-11-25T19:34:00.000-08:00

"'For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.' Matthew 5:20

There are three kinds of righteousness spoken of in the Scriptures. First, inherent righteousness, which none possess by nature today.(Eccles 7:29) Second, imputed righteousness (Romans 4:6), which is the whole of our justification before God. Third imparted righteousness (Eph 4:24), when God the Spirit makes us new creatures.......We agree with J.C. Philpot when he pointed out Matt 5:20 'Christ did not mean an external righteousness wrought out by obedience to the Law for them, but an internal righteousness wrought out by the Holy Spirit in them.'

...The righteousness which will bring men to heaven is not a bare imputed one, but an imputed righteousness which is accompanied by an imparted one. Justification and Sanctification must never be severed: where the former be pronounced, the other (in its fundamental aspect) has already been bestowed.....as the tree is known by its fruits so imputed righteousness can be recognized in no other way than by inward righteousness with its effects in the life."

Arthur Pink

The Wrath of God

2008-11-19T16:15:00.000-08:00

"(A) doctrine cannot be true nor agreeable to the gospel which strikes at the root of gospel faith, and plucks away the foundation of all that strong consolation which God is so abundantly willing we should receive; but such is that of denying the satisfaction made by Christ, His answering the justice and undergoing the wrath of His Father.

...We do affirm that our Saviour underwent the wrath of God.

1st, The punishment due sin is the wrath of God...But Jesus underwent punishment due sin: 2 Cor 5:21 "Made sin for us" Isa 53:6 "Iniquity was laid on Him" 1 Pet 2:24 "He bore our sins in His own body on the tree"

2nd, The curse of the law is the wrath off God...But Jesus underwent the curse of the law Duet 24:20: Gal 3:13 "made a curse for us"

3rd, The death that sinners undergo is the wrath of God. (The wages of sin is death): Jesus did taste of that death which sinners themselves undergo; (1 Cor 15)."

John Owen

May the truth that the Prince of Glory underwent God's wrath on behalf of His chosen people humble Christians and cause us to weep...rejoice....and worship.

Christian "Victimists"

2008-10-30T16:41:00.000-07:00

"...nothing in the modern church is more anti-Christian than those Christians and Christian leaders in public life who play the politics of resentment and pass their followers off as 'a small, persecuted minority' when they are not.

....Shame on such a deliberately chosen strategy! The merciless persecution of Christians in many parts of the non-western world, simply for confessing Christ, is a crime. And, there is unquestionably a good deal of anti-Christian bias and prejudice in parts of Western society today...But a strategy of victim playing to defend the latter should be unthinkable for followers of Christ. Put simply, it is factually misleading, morally hypocritical, politically ineffective and psychologically dangerous."

Os Guinness

Be God-taught

2008-10-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

"The Holy Spirit (the supplier by whom believers should be God-taught, Jer 31:34:Jn 6:45; 1 Jn 2:27) does not render the Scripture less necessary. He is not given to us in order to introduce new revelations, but to impress the written word on our hearts; so that here the word must never be separated from the Spirit (Is 59:21).

The former works objectively, the latter efficiently: the former strikes the ears from without, the latter opens the heart within. The Spirit is the teacher; the Scripture is the doctrine which he teaches us."

The distinguished
Francis Turretin
Institutes of Elenctic Theology

WINE AND TRADITION

2008-10-09T16:33:00.000-07:00

Allow me to begin this post by stating what it is not about. It is not about whether Christians should abstain from moderate drinking or not. One will not see any "carrying on" about how Jesus turned water into wine and how the psalmist praises God for wine "which makes glad the heart of man." (psalm 104); nor read discussion about how first century wine had less alcohol and about not "causing your brother to stumble" (Rom 14)

This post is about communion and the tradition that has evolved in the last 100 years or so where-by the Church has changed wine into grape juice. Over the last five or six years I have been examining many of the traditions in the American Church. I have found most erroneous, some good, and some neutral. I am simply writing some of my thoughts on this tradition to assist me sorting this issue out.

I have been to many, many, communions at different churches and all except one has used grape juice for the Lord's Supper. This I find interesting....why??...because the specific instructions regarding this sacrament involve bread and wine. Where I am in my Christian walk, I must say, whenever there is a depart from the plain meaning of the text....I need to see good reasons, if any.

Why use grape juice? Well first of all communion is simply a symbol. So why does it really matter what one uses as long as while we partake of it, we remember the sacrifice of Jesus? Another reason: I asked one at my church whom I respect, who has considerable knowledge of the Bible and he stated that there are alcoholics and it may cause them to be tempted. He also stated grape-juice is juice of "the vine" so it is a suitable substitute. Giving more reasons, this godly man stated wine was not as strong back then so it is okay.

Some objections to reasons for grape-juice: Jesus used wine and not grape juice. There were alcoholics in Biblical times (in fact the proverbs have strong rebukes against it), yet Paul in Corinthians after rebuking drunkenness at the Lord's table did not state use grape juice instead. As for wine being less strong? Well... people evidently were still getting drunk. Regarding juice from the vine...well I think that is a reasonable answer at this point.

Why use wine? It is what was used by Jesus and is what we are instructed to use in the Bible. The Holy Spirit would have stated to use grape juice since people where getting drunk at the Lord's supper if He did not intend wine. Perhaps Jesus had a deeper significance in the use of wine....something along the lines of wine being used as a drink offering in the Old Testament, or wine causing a sense of relaxed peace when drinking, or again, perhaps something to do with the chemistry of wine and how yeast is "dead" but comes to life again or how the pH of wine does not allow harmful bacteria to grow in it.

Some objections to reasons for wine: No answer to the fact it is what was used. As for what the Holy Spirit did not say...I must state...I think it is a bad practice to build doctrine on "what was not said". Regarding deeper meanings...indeed...that too is very dangerous to build doctrine upon. Many heresies are out there based on "deeper meanings."

I think I will keep praying and thinking about this one. This tradition will remain "neutral" for now.

Is Unbelief a Sin?

2008-09-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

Via Symphony of Scriptures

The World According to John Owen

2008-09-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

Most professing Christians interpret John 3:16 something like this: God so affectionately, and salvifically, loves everyone who has ever and will ever exist, that He gave His only Son, that those people who are virtuous enough to believe will be elected by God to receive eternal life.

This interpretation is odd because, while God affectionately and salvifically loved all those people who lived before Christ, He allowed them no chance for salvation. Nor does it trouble them that a large percentage of people who have lived since the Christ, have had no chance to hear the gospel.

Some like Billy Graham have gotten around this by falsely proclaiming one does not need to hear the gospel to be saved, but simply must respond to the light given them. As Dr. Graham states here, (please note that he says its true)"because I believe it"...note not because the Bible teaches it. I believe this error is grievious.

John Owen states the following:
"If every one in the world be intended, why doth not the Lord, in pursuit of this love, reveal Jesus Christ to every one whom he so loved?...."

He later states regarding the erroneous view of "world"

":secondly, The love of God towards innumerable (is) fruitless and vain: thirdly, the Son of God to be given to them who, first, never hear word of Him:secondly, have no power granted to believe in him;

fourthly, That God is mutable in His love or else He still loveth those that be in hell: fifthly, That he doth not give all things to them to whom He gives the Son, contrary to Romans 8:32: sixthly that He knows not certainly beforehand who shall be saved:

unless, I say all these blasphemies and absurdities be granted, it cannot be maintained that by the world here is meant all and everyone of mankind, but only men in common scattered throughout the world, which are the elect."

I suggest an error in the American Church today is that we somehow think God owes us a chance. We have not got our minds around God's infinite holiness, and our sinfulness by nature and choice.

What in the World is "World"?

2008-09-25T15:18:00.001-07:00

This post was inspired by Alan's blog which I highly recommend reading. It is full of intelligent questions and Alan demonstrates eloquence and humility in posting and responding.

John 3:16, in my humble opinion is one of the most recklessly thrown around verses in the Bible. This short post will focus on one word. I have been most heavily influenced by James White, Jim McClarty, Arthur Pink, and John Owens, in the forming of how I interpret "world" in that famous verse. After much research, it is a plain as day what the verse means.

We must interpret the Bible with the Bible. James White outlined my first scripture reference quite nicely and I use his technique.(see his website) Let us compare John 3:16 to 1Jn 4:9

John 3:16- For God so loved the world
1 John 4:9- By this the love of God was manifested in us

John 3:16- that He gave His only begotten Son
1 John 4:9- that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world

John 3:16- that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life
1 John 4:9- so that we might live through Him

Both verses were written by John and I think this gives great insight in to "world". (find out who "us" is)

Next let us look at what the John says of God the Son in John 13:1 "...His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end."

Who is "His own"? This verse gives good insight into the "world" God loves.

Let us look at John 3:17....yes the next verse. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world though Him might be saved"

Unless one believes in universalism, I think the very next verse gives wonderful clarity.

John 14:21 reads "..And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father.."

One more verse for now: 2 Cor 5:19 "that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself..." Unless one believes in universalism I also think this helps define world.

I would recommend reading or listening to the men I mentioned earlier for in depth exegesis, and to see why those who believe "world" in Jn 3:16 is the "believing" world, are not reading something into the passage that is not there.

Nets or Lures?

2008-09-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matt 4:19

If disciples of Jesus are to be fishers of men, how ought we go about fishing. I can imagine that near my justification, a voice said in heaven "That side is yielding nothing, cast your nets on the right side of the boat." (ref Jn 21:6) Soon thereafter I was caught in the net and drawn in.

If we are to fish with a "net" then I would say the net is the proclamation of the Gospel. For it is the power of God unto salvation. God's net takes no initiative of the fish. They are simply "drawn" (John 6:44) in by this net...irresistibly shall we say.

Much of today's evangelism uses the unbiblical approach of dangling lures. The only problem is these lures don't have any hooks. Allow me to present some examples:

"Come to Jesus because our church doesn't really mention sin, is entertaining and relaxed. Our youth group is more fun than Six Flags"------No hooks--- Matthew 13 speaks of people who hear the word of the kingdom but don't understand it...the seed is snatched away by the birds.

"Come to Jesus because you will receive health, prosperity and an improved self image." -----no hook ---- Matthew 13 speaks of people who hear the word but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke it.

"Come to Jesus as we don't bother with doctrine, but we simply love the Lord and worship with good music." ---- no hook --- Matthew 13 speaks of people who hear the word, receive it with joy, but have no root, so when trials and tribulations come they stumble.

Rather than having fish swim around with "hookless" lures which will eventually be spit out, God's method is the net or hook of His effectual call. One may say "You can't get any fish that way". The scriptures present God's sovereignty differently. God can have a ministry overflowing with fish at His word (Luke 5:6-8) or God can send one fish with a piece of money in its mouth. (Matt 7:27)

Lets us throw the "net" everywhere and often. God will bring His own to respond.

Transient Thrills

2008-09-08T17:23:00.000-07:00

"Faith persuades us not to give up God's sure mercies for Satan's transient thrills....

Now is it not better to swim by faith through an ocean of trouble and get safely to heaven than to sit in the lap of sinful pleasures until we drown in hell's gulf?

Sin's enjoyment cannot last long because it is not natural. Whatever is not natural soon decays. The nature of sugar, for example, is to be sweet and therefore it holds its sweetness; but artificially sweetened wine loses it good taste in just a few days. The pleasure of sin is foreign to its nature and will corrupt the life it touches.

None of the sweetness which now satisfies sinners will be tasted in hell; only bitterness will spice the sinner's cup there.

Another reason sin's exhilaration must be short-lived is that life itself does not last long, and they both end together."

From William Gurnall's Puritan Classic: The Christian in Complete Armour.

I pray that last sentence will permeate deep into our hearts and minds.

Misbelieving, Unbaptized, Slave of Darkness

2008-09-07T16:15:00.000-07:00

At one time I was a misbelieveing, unbaptized, slave of darkness. I did not know God, want to know God or seek God. If asked I may have said the opposite, but the truth is simply I had formed an image in my mind of what I thought God should be like and I pursued that image.

I would venture to say that many people filling the pews in much of the church in America are as I was. Seeking a fictitious God they created, based on what their sinful flesh, the world, and the enemy convinced them God should be like.

This false notion of God has given fodder to the creation of "seeker-sensitive" churches. Books and programs have been crafted telling ministers how to make church more appealing to seekers, which will increase their "decisions" for Christ.

The Bible teaches there is only one seeker and His name is God. Pastor Jerry Marshall spoke today in church about these matters and discussed how Christians are actually "the sought". Perhaps I will write a book about how to have a "Sought-Sensitive" church. A church that ministers to the sheep and not the goats....Wait...it has already been written...it is called The Bible.

The Height of Folly

2008-08-28T16:21:00.000-07:00

Why preach the gospel if the Bible clearly teaches man is incapable of response?

Reply; "We do not preach the Gospel because we believe that men are free moral agents, and therefore capable of receiving Christ, but we preach it because we are commanded to do so (Mark 16:15); and though to them that perish it is foolishness, yet 'unto us which are saved it is the power of God'...

To fleshly wisdom (and worldly Christianity) it appears the height of folly to preach the Gospel to those that are dead, and therefore beyond the reach of doing anything themselves. Yes, but God's ways are different from ours. It pleases God, 'by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.' (Cor 1:21)

Man may deem it folly to prophesy to 'dead bones' and say unto them, 'O, ye dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord' (Ezek 37:4) Ah! but then it is the Word of the Lord, and the words He speaks 'they are spirit, and they are life' (John 6:63)"

The eloquent in words and mighty in Scripture: A.W. Pink

Let those Christians who adhere to the biblical doctrines of grace go forth and preach. Let our confidence in the Lord increase, and may we never stop telling people what Christ did on the cross in order "to save His people from their sins."

Proof Texts Aside

2008-08-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

"Where the Arminian says 'I owe my election to my faith,' the Calvinist says:'I owe my faith to my election.' Clearly these two concepts of election are very far apart.

Christ's work of redemption was defined by the Arminians as the removing of an obstacle which stood in the way of God's offering pardon to sinners, as He desired to do on condition they believe....

Calvinist, however, define redemption as Christ's actual substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of specified sinners, through which God was reconciled to them, their liability to punishment was for ever destroyed, and a title to eternal life secured for them."

J.I. Packer

Proof texts aside.... How do you define redemption? What took place on the cross? Does your theology limit the effectiveness of what took place at Calvary meaning the Lord actually accomplished nothing without the participation of man? Or does it simply limit the extent meaning Christ finished what He set out to do and actually saved a specified people?

Can I be Justified Today?

2008-08-24T14:14:00.000-07:00

I don't know....

Has God so worked in your heart that the sin you once loved you now hate? (the publican)

Do you realize you are dead because of your sin...in a tomb with no way of resurrecting yourself? (Lazarus)

Do you realize you are blind because of sin and unable to see the path to God? (the Blind man)

Do you realize you are paralyzed, without strength and unable to move toward God? (the paraplegic)

Do you realize you are so diseased with sin you are as repulsive and incurable as a leper? (the lepers)

Do you realize even your good works are as filthy rags? (women of Canaan)

Do you want to rid yourself of your hatred and indifference toward a Holy God?

If you say yes to the above then you lack one thing....
BELIEVE the gospel of Jesus Christ....that He was crucified, buried, and rose again in order to pay the ransom for an unworthy people.

Find a Bible based church and discover what it means to be saved from the pleasure, penalty, power, and presence of sin.

Appointed Life

2008-08-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

"...and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed." Acts 13:48

A.W Pink commenting on this verse states the following;

"Here we learn four things: First that believing is the consequence and not the cause of God's decree. Second, that a limited number only are '(appointed) to eternal life', for if all men without exception were thus ordained by God, then the words 'as many' are a meaningless qualification. Third, that this 'ordination' of God is not to mere external privileges but to eternal life, not to service but to salvation itself. Fourth, that all -'as many as' not one less- who are thus (appointed) by God to eternal life will most certainly believe."

I imagine all manner of exegetical-acrobats have been attempted to make this text mean something else, but the plain meaning of the text is what it is. This verse makes sense with Acts 18:9-10

"And the Lord said, 'Do not be afraid, but go on speaking....., for I have many in this city who are my people."

These truths bring Christians much peace and courage when sharing the Gospel. Upside-down theology causes gimmicks and fads which lead to fictitious Christians believing in a fictitious gospel.

What Can I Do to Get Elected?

2008-08-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

All professing believers believe in election because the Bible clearly teaches it. False Doctrine and 90% of "Christianity" today teaches God looks through the corridors of time and foreknows those who are righteous and wise enough to believe in Jesus and on the basis of their virtuous belief.....God becomes their debtor and elects them to salvation.

The Bible teaches that one is elected not because they are more righteous than "lessor mortals" who are not wise enough to believe, but because of God's grace.

You see the Bible plainly teaches even our faith is a gift from God.

Eph 2:8 "for it is by Grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God."

If that is not enough, how about
Phil 1:29 "For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake."

Yet another....
Acts 13:48 "And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed"

Well.... one more
Heb 12:2 "looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."

Let us humble ourselves and except the the pride-withering doctrine of election as the Bible presents it and not as our prideful flesh wishes it was.

Affections Proper

2008-08-15T16:46:00.000-07:00

"How (men) can sit and hear of the infinite height, and depth, and length, and breadth of the love of God in Christ Jesus, of His giving His infinitely dear son, to be offered up a sacrifice for the sins of men, and of the unparalleled love of the innocent, and holy, and tender Lamb of God, manifested in His dying agonies, His bloody sweat, His loud and bitter cries, and bleeding heart and all this for enemies, to redeem them from deserved, eternal burnings, and to bring to unspeakable and everlasting joy and glory; yet be cold, and heavy, insensible, and regardless! Where are the exercises of our affections proper, if not here?"

The renowned Jonathon Edwards

Like Paul the beloved apostle, I wonder if anyone taught him what a period is!! :-)

A Well-Attested Truth

2008-08-14T17:35:00.000-07:00

"The Godly are the chosen of God, and are, by distinguishing grace, set apart and separated from among men. Election is a doctrine which unrenewed men cannot endure, but nevertheless, it is a glorious and well-attested truth, and one which should comfort the tempted believer. Election is the guarantee of complete salvation, and an argument for success at the throne of grace. He who chose us for Himself will surely hear our prayers."

Charles Spurgeon via Foundations of Grace (Steve Lawson)

What pretend comfort those who believe they are partly and synergisticly responsible for their own salvation by their virtuous choice to believe have. They must conclude that God may need their assistance in answering prayer as well. That is a lamentable and grace-insulting frame of mind.

Propitiation

2008-08-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

We are not saved because of what the Romans and Jews did in torturing and crucifying Jesus at Calvary. We are saved because of what God did to Jesus. We are saved because while Jesus hung on that tree His own Father crushed Him and poured out His fierce anger and wrath at sin on Him.

- thoughts drawn from a sermon by Paul Washer

The Certainty of Salvation

2008-08-13T16:47:00.000-07:00

"There we find God saying, 'When thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed," that 'He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied,' and that God's righteous servant 'should justify many'. But here we would pause and ask, How could it be certain that Christ should 'see His seed', and 'see the travail of His souls and be satisfied,' unless the salvation of certain members of the human race had been Divinely decreed, and therefore was sure?

....Christ died not merely to make possible the salvation of all mankind, but to make certain the salvation of all that the Father had given Him. (Jn 6), Christ died not simply to render sins pardonable, but 'to put away sin by sacrifice of Himself' (Heb 9:26)"

A.W. Pink

God's Love-Gift

2008-07-05T19:20:00.000-07:00

The plan of God from eternity past was to redeem a segment of fallen humanity through the work of the Son and for the glory of the Son. (2Tim 4:18) There was a moment in eternity past (if we might so feebly speak of eternity in temporal terms) when the Father desired to express His perfect and incomprehensible love for the Son.
To do this, He chose to give to the Son a redeemed humanity as a love gift - a company of men and women whose purpose would be, throughout all the eons of eternity, to praise and glorify the Son, and to serve Him perfectly. Angels alone would not suffice in this regard, as there are characteristics of the Son for which angels cannot properly praise Him since they have never experienced redemption. But a redeemed humanity, as the direct recipients of His unmerited favor, would stand forever as an eternal testament to the infinite greatness of His mercy and grace.

John MacArthur

When Dr. MacArthur uses the word unmerited, he uses unmerited-proper. In other words not merited by one's wise, righteous, spiritual freewill decision to have faith. Salvation is of the Lord.

SUFFICIENCY OF GRACE

2008-06-19T16:35:00.000-07:00

All manner of error and unbiblical Christianity affirm the necessity of Grace. They simply teach one needs to add to grace something of human effort.

Arminianism (Most of the world's "protestant" Christianity) - "We need God's grace...yes. We simply need to add to it the righteous, spiritual, wise, intelligent, 'free-will' decision to have faith. Our faith is so sublimely virtueous, it out-weighs our sin and sets the scale in our favor. Therefore our reward for our faith is eternal life."

Catholicism - "We need God's grace...yes. We simply need to add to it the sacraments of baptism and mass, confession, a little purging of our sins after death, and our 'free-will' decision to believe."

Mormonism - "We need God's grace...yes. We simply need to add to it a little works and our 'free-will' decision to believe.

Jehovah's Witness - We need God's grace yes. We simply need to add to it a little works and our 'free-will decision to believe.

Ect. Ect. Ect.

Biblical Christianity/Doctrines of Grace - Not by grace you are saved and faith, but "by grace you are saved, through faith.." Grace is Sufficient.

Creator verses Creature Centered Theology

2008-06-12T18:07:00.000-07:00

"Preachers today are so thoroughly imbued with free-willism that they have departed almost wholly from that sound evangelism which marked our forefathers. The radical difference between Arminianism and Calvinism is that the system of the former revolves around the creature, whereas the system of the latter has the Creator for the center of its orbit. The Arminian allots to man the first place, the Calvinist gives God that position of honour. Thus the Arminian begins his discussion of salvation with justification, for the sinner must believe before he can be forgiven; further back he will not go, for he is unwilling that man should be made nothing of. But the instructed Calvinist begins with election, descends to regeneration, and then shows that being born again (by the sovereign act of God, in which the creature has no part) the sinner is made capable of savingly believing the Gospel."

A.W. Pink

Arminianism is "Natural"

2008-06-11T16:35:00.000-07:00

Certainly, Arminianism is "natural" in one sense, in that it represents a characteristic perversion of biblical teaching by the fallen mind of man, who even in salvation cannot bear to renounce the delusion of being master of his fate and captain of his soul.....As long as the fallen human mind is what it is, the Arminian way of thinking will continue as a natural type of mistake.

J.I. Packer
Introductory essay to The Death of Death in the Death of Christ

Divorced from Scriptual Doctine

2008-06-04T18:13:00.000-07:00

During the last two or three generations the pulpit has given less and less prominence to doctrinal preaching, until today, with very rare exceptions, it has no place at all. In some quarters the cry from the pew was, ‘we want living experience and not dry doctrine’; in others, ‘we need practical sermons and not metaphysical dogmas’; and yet others, Give us Christ and not theology. Sad to say, such senseless cries were generally heeded: ’senseless’ we say, for there is no other safe way of testing experience, as there is no foundation for practicals to be built upon if they be divorced from Scriptural doctrine; while Christ cannot be known unless he be preached (1Cor.1:23), and he certainly cannot be ‘preached’ if doctrine is shelved. Various reasons may be given for the lamentable failure of the pulpit, chief among them being laziness, desire for popularity, superficial and lop-sided evangelism, and love of the sensational’.

A.W. Pink

God, Sin and the Cross

2008-05-19T16:28:00.000-07:00

"Suppose a farmer discovers three boys drowning in his pond where he had placed signs clearly forbidding swimming. Further, noting their blatant disobedience he says to himself, "They have violated the warning and have broken the law, and they have brought these deserved consequences on themselves" Thus far he is manifesting his sense of Justice. But if the farmer proceeds to say, " I will make no attempt to rescue them," we would immediately perceive that something is lacking in his love, and suppose by some inexplicable whim he should declare: "even though the boys are drowning as a consequence of their own disobedience, nonetheless, out of the goodness of my heart I will save one of them and let the other two drown." In such a case we would surely consider his love to be partial and imperfect."

Norman Geisler argues this picture represents Calvinism is his book Chosen but Free.

In my opinion, this picture can be used to perfectly illustrate the difference between Calvinism and the false Gospel being preached by most churches today in three important areas. The nature of God, the nature of sin, and the nature of redemption.

(borrowing heavily from insights from James White and C. Samuel Storms) See the Potter's Freedom

1) GOD

False Gospel - God is "Farmer God" ... you know.... one you can wear shorts at his house, put your feet up, drink some coffee and eat a donut during worship.

Calvinism - God is the King of Kings. A better, but very inadequate comparison would be the President of the United States. God is thrice Holy.

2) SIN

False Gospel - Sin is tantamount to pool hopping.

Calvinism - Sin would be better illustrated as the President coming home to see his family raped and murdered. To see the murderers robbing and vandalizing his home. In the process of tearing the house down it catches on fire and the people are now going to burn to death.

3) REDEMPTION

False Gospel - I will attempt to rescue them. ( Perhaps throwing a line and the willing will grab hold)

Calvinism - The President elects and chooses to save some. This must be accomplished by sending His son inside to be burned to death in the process of perfectly saving the appointed ones. ( this demonstrates love and this message has power)

What is the Question?

2008-05-13T18:47:00.000-07:00

The issue that is fundamentally wrong with today's "gospel" message is that it asks: "What are you going to do with Jesus?" The real question, the humbling question, the question that causes us to shut our mouths is: "What is Jesus going to do with you?"

I thought of this after I heard a clip from Dr. White on reformedvoices.com, when he framed a similar yet not so similar question.

Grace-insulting Doctrines Invented by Man

2008-05-12T17:20:00.000-07:00

"The fallen sons and daughters of Adam are most adept at finding ways to promote creaturely freedom at the cost of God's freedom, while at the same time promoting the servitude of God to the whims and will of man. It would be humorous if it were not so serious..."

James White
The Potter's Freedom

I have begun to dig into this most illuminating polemic discourse, and I am finding myself humbled and edified. I understand well the sinful desire to add to God's grace. Certainly, the true doctrines of God's grace are the most pride-withering doctrines the Bible teaches.

God is "Mercying" the Elect

2008-05-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

Regarding Romans 9:14-16

"We must understand, in light of the prevailing attitude of the world around us, that God's mercy, if it is to be mercy at all, must be free. Literally the text speaks of 'mercying' and 'compassioning,' again verbs of action that find their subject in God and their object in those chosen by His decision. It does not say, 'I will have mercy on those who fulfill the conditions I have laid down as the prerequisite of my plan of salvation.' Both the 'source' of compassion and mercy and the individual application find their ultimate ground only in the free choice of God, not of man."

-James R. White, The Potter's Freedom p210

Via: Reformedvoices.com : As I have not had the opportunity to read this book yet. I read this quote on Reformedvoices.com, and truly God is free. Which reminds me....can God sin? If he can't, is He free by many Christians erroneous definition of "freewill". Or is freedom, as Pink argues, perhaps being able to choose what one ought to do?

The Sacrifice (Oblation) and Intercession Of Jesus

2008-05-05T18:21:00.000-07:00

"These two, then, oblation and intercession, must in respect of their objects be of equal extent, and can by no means be separated. And here, by the way, (the thing being by this argument, in my apprehension, made so clear), I cannot but demand of those who oppose us about the death of Christ, whether they will sustain that he intercedeth for all or no;- if not, then they make him but half a priest; if they will, they must be necessitated either to defend this error, that all shall be saved, or own this blasphemy, that Christ is not heard of his Father, nor can he prevail in his intercession...."

John Owen
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ

A PROMISE AND A PROPHECY

2008-05-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice" Jn (10:16). Equally positive is this. This is no uncertainty, no contingency. There is no "if they are willing to listen." How miserably man perverts the truth of God, yea, how wickedly he denies it! It is not difficult to understand what is the cause of it; it is lack of faith to believe what the Scriptures so plainly teach. These "other sheep" Christ must bring because necessity was laid upon Him. He had covenanted with the Father to redeem them. And they would be brought, they would hear His voice, for there can be no failure with Him. The work which the Father gave His Son to do shall be perfectly performed and successfully accomplished. Neither man's stubbornness nor the Devil's malice can hinder Him....."As many as were ordained to eternal life believed" (Acts 13:48)

A. W. Pink
Exposition of the Gospel of John

Good Quote Good Laugh

2008-04-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine was harkening back to the early days of his Christian pilgrimage. He was recalling reading the Bible for one of the first times in his life and how he felt after reading an exchange between God and Moses. He said the following and it still makes me grin, thinking about his intelligent mind being illuminated and beginning to comprehend the holiness of God in relation to his own being:

"I was reading "God answered 'Tell them I AM sent you.'...(pause)...I AM??? ....I AM???...Well if 'You Are', than what the heck am I!?"

Did Lord Christ lay down His life for the goats as well?

2008-04-10T18:37:00.000-07:00

"Once again, if it was Christ's intention to save all men, how deplorably has He been disappointed, for we have His own testimony that there is a lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, and into that pit of woe have been cast some of the very persons who, according to the theory of universal redemption, were bought with His blood. That seems to me a conception a thousand times more repulsive than any of those consequences which are said to be associated with the Calvinistic and Christian doctrine of special and particular redemption. To think that my Saviour died for men who were or are in hell, seems a supposition too horrible for me to entertain. To imagine for a moment that He was the Substitute for all the sons of men, and that God, having first punished the Substitute, afterwards punished the sinners themselves, seems to conflict with all my ideas of Divine justice"

Charles Spurgeon
A Defense of Calvinism

Don't be a Seasick Christian

2008-04-10T15:24:00.000-07:00

"Weak faith will surely take the Christian to heaven as strong faith; for it is impossible that the least ounce of true grace should perish, since it is all incorruptible seed. But the doubting Christian will not have as pleasant a voyage there as will the believer with strong faith. Although everyone aboard the ship will arrive safely at the shore, yet the seasick traveler will not have so comfortable a trip as the man healthy. The sick person misses pleasant surprises during the delightful parts of the journey. But the strong man views it all with abundance of expectation; and while he wishes with all his heart he were already home, yet the joy he has shortens and sweetens his way to him."

William Gurnall
The Christian in Complete Armour

Is Eternal Damnation Just?

2008-03-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

"The fault of disobeying another, is greater or less, as any one is under greater or less obligations to obey him. And therefore if there be any being that we are under infinite obligations to love, and honour, and obey, the contrary towards him must be infinitely faulty. Our obligation to love, honour, and obey any being, is in proportion to his loveliness, honourableness, and authority; for that is the very meaning of the words. When we say any one is very lovely, it is the same as to say, that he is one very much to be loved....

But God is a being infinitely lovely, because he hath infinite excellency and beauty. To have infinite excellency and beauty, is the same thing as to have infinite loveliness. He is a being of infinite greatness, majesty, and glory; and therefore he is infinitely honourable. He is infinitely exalted above the greatest potentates of the earth, and highest angels in heaven....

So that sin against God, being a violation of infinite obligations, must be a crime infinitely heinous, and so deserving of infinite punishment"

Jonathan Edwards
The Justice of God in the Damnation of Sinners

The Sheep know the Shepherd's Voice

2008-03-26T17:42:00.000-07:00

"I pray for them: I pray not for the world; but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine" (John 17:9). ..... How this should bow our hearts in adoring worship! What thanksgivings it calls for! Oh what an inestimable privilege to be one of the objects of Christ’s intercession. Millions passed by unprayed for by Him; but those who belong to the "little flock" (Luke 12:32) are held up by Him before the throne of grace. One of the disciples asked Him, "Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" (John 14:22).

So may we ask, "How is it that Thou wilt pray for us, and not for the world?" Others more accomplished, with more pleasing dispositions, who daily put us to shame in many ways, left out, and we taken in! The finite mind, yea the renewed mind, can discover no answer. All that we can say is, it was the sovereign grace of the sovereign God who singled us out to be the objects of His distinguishing favors. Let the world call it selfishness in us if they will, but let us express in praise to God our profoundest gratitude, and seek to live as becometh His elect ones.

A.W. Pink
Exposition of the Gospel of John

Coming to Christ

2008-03-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

"For the sinner to come to Christ that he might have life, is for him to realize the awful danger of his situation; is for him to see that the sword of Divine justice is suspended over his head; is to awaken to the fact that there is but a step betwixt him and death, and that after death is the "judgment; " and in consequence of this discovery, is for him to be in real earnest to escape, and in such earnestness that he shall flee from the wrath to come, cry unto God for mercy, and agonize to enter in at the "strait gate."
To come to Christ for life, is for the sinner to feel and acknowledge that he is utterly destitute of any claim upon God’s favor; is to see himself as "without strength," lost and undone; is to admit that he is deserving of nothing but eternal death, thus taking side with God against himself; it is for him to cast himself into the dust before God, and humbly sue for Divine mercy.
To come to Christ for life, is for the sinner to abandon his own righteousness and be ready to be made the righteousness of God in Christ; it is to disown his own wisdom and be guided by His; it is to repudiate his own will and be ruled by His; it is to unreservedly receive the Lord Jesus as his Saviour and Lord, as his All in all.
Such, in part and in brief, is what is implied and involved in 'Coming to Christ' "

A.W. Pink
The Sovereignty of God