Sunday, February 14, 2010
DEFINITIONS DEFINE
God is God. Man is Man. Definitions Define. God can be incarnate and become a God-man. Man cannot be deity and become man-god. God is free according to His nature. Man is free according to his nature. God's nature is free. Man's nature is not free. To say: definitions do not define, is infact a creation of a definition.
GOD'S FREEWILL
God is God. Man is Man. Definitions Define. God can be incarnate and become a God-man. Man cannot be deity and become man-god. God is free according to His nature. Man is free according to his nature. God's nature is free. Man's nature is not free. To say: definitions do not define, is infact a creation of a definition.
Freedom. Does not mean "freedom from definition" otherwise, it is impossible to define what "freedom" is. (attempt to define freedom without a defintion, it is impossible). Thus it would be impossible to articulate what it means for "God to have a free will." (free being an adjective modifiying the will)
So Freedom has a definition. "x" and thus "freedom" cannot be "negative x" nor "z".
God's will is free, as free is defined. ... See More
Man's will is not free, as free is defined.
Freedom is not defined by doing ABSOLUTELY anything, because then it means one is free to ABSOLUTELY declare freedom to be "-x" or "z", but in doing so, one has erased the definition of "freedom."
In such a world, then "freedom" would mean now freedom means enslavement, or nothing, or void of definition. To assert first freedom has definition, and can mean absolutely anything, thus allowing someone else to say: Freedom has no definition, and can mean absolutely nothing---is totaly insanity and irrationality. Thisi would be calling Truth a Lie, and Lie a Truth. This would be calling Wisdom, Ignorance, and Ignorance, wisdom. etc.
A=A, A cannot = non-A. Freedom cannot mean EVERYTHING, because if it means EVERYTHING, then it also means NOTHING, but if it means NOTHING, then freedom means nothing, which it is then impossible for freedom to mean anything. Freedom cannot mean enslavement.
Freedom cannot mean God is both God and non-god.
Freedom cannot mean man is both man and non-man.
Someone asked me where I got my defintion of freedom from, so I replied....
I made it up. If it is wrong, what is the defiinition of freedom? Whatever it is, it MUST be bound by the definition, thus the very term is not absolutely free.
To which I responded:
So the term freedom is not free to completely contradict that definition and show no resemblance to that definition.
Freedom cannot mean lacking the power or condition of acting without compulsion. Freedom isn't free, freedom is within and under the power and condition and the compulsion of the definition. Here: The term freedom is under the power, condition, and compulsion of Mr. Webster. So the very word "freedom" has no freedom.
My goal is not to define freedom in this thread.
My goal is the explaining that God does not have freedom to act contrary to his nature, but such confines, is in no level demeaning to God, and should never be presented as such.
For example, My goal is not to define what "death" is, but to merely explain that saying Jesus dies, is not an evidence of his limitations or weakness. You are asking me to define "death" in essence, which is not my point;
My point is anyone who goes around tauting "Jesus dies" as a slur to Jesus , is totally miscontruing the matter, likewise anyone who goes around and says, "God does not have a will free from his nature" as an attempted slur to God, is also missing the point on the issue.
Freedom. Does not mean "freedom from definition" otherwise, it is impossible to define what "freedom" is. (attempt to define freedom without a defintion, it is impossible). Thus it would be impossible to articulate what it means for "God to have a free will." (free being an adjective modifiying the will)
So Freedom has a definition. "x" and thus "freedom" cannot be "negative x" nor "z".
God's will is free, as free is defined. ... See More
Man's will is not free, as free is defined.
Freedom is not defined by doing ABSOLUTELY anything, because then it means one is free to ABSOLUTELY declare freedom to be "-x" or "z", but in doing so, one has erased the definition of "freedom."
In such a world, then "freedom" would mean now freedom means enslavement, or nothing, or void of definition. To assert first freedom has definition, and can mean absolutely anything, thus allowing someone else to say: Freedom has no definition, and can mean absolutely nothing---is totaly insanity and irrationality. Thisi would be calling Truth a Lie, and Lie a Truth. This would be calling Wisdom, Ignorance, and Ignorance, wisdom. etc.
A=A, A cannot = non-A. Freedom cannot mean EVERYTHING, because if it means EVERYTHING, then it also means NOTHING, but if it means NOTHING, then freedom means nothing, which it is then impossible for freedom to mean anything. Freedom cannot mean enslavement.
Freedom cannot mean God is both God and non-god.
Freedom cannot mean man is both man and non-man.
Someone asked me where I got my defintion of freedom from, so I replied....
I made it up. If it is wrong, what is the defiinition of freedom? Whatever it is, it MUST be bound by the definition, thus the very term is not absolutely free.
He replied:
Webster: freedom, the power or condition of acting without
compulsion. freedom has a broad range of application from total absence of
restraint to merely a sense of not being unduly hampered or frustrated. This
makes sense to me...
To which I responded:
So the term freedom is not free to completely contradict that definition and show no resemblance to that definition.
Freedom cannot mean lacking the power or condition of acting without compulsion. Freedom isn't free, freedom is within and under the power and condition and the compulsion of the definition. Here: The term freedom is under the power, condition, and compulsion of Mr. Webster. So the very word "freedom" has no freedom.
My goal is not to define freedom in this thread.
My goal is the explaining that God does not have freedom to act contrary to his nature, but such confines, is in no level demeaning to God, and should never be presented as such.
For example, My goal is not to define what "death" is, but to merely explain that saying Jesus dies, is not an evidence of his limitations or weakness. You are asking me to define "death" in essence, which is not my point;
My point is anyone who goes around tauting "Jesus dies" as a slur to Jesus , is totally miscontruing the matter, likewise anyone who goes around and says, "God does not have a will free from his nature" as an attempted slur to God, is also missing the point on the issue.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
THE DISPOSAL
[W]henever God is pleased to make way for his providence, he even in external matters so turns and bends the wills of men, that whatever the freedom of their choice may be, it is still subject to the disposal of God. (Inst. 2.4.7)
John Calvin
John Calvin
FROM FOR BY
"God saved you from Himself, God saved you for himself, and God saved you by himself."
-Paul Washer
-Paul Washer
Friday, February 12, 2010
HE MOURNS
"The holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness which remains in him."
-Charles Haddon Spurgeon
-Charles Haddon Spurgeon
PREVENTING GRACE
Until we are tested, we think that we are living on our own strength. It is, however, God alone who keeps us from falling by his preventing grace. We might say, “All men may do this or that, but we will not!” When the trial comes, however, we quickly see that only God’s preservation upholds us. So it was with Abimelech (Gen. 20:6), God withheld him from sinning. God also reveals his renewing grace through our testings. Paul in his prayer for deliverance from his thorn in the flesh, found God’s sufficiency and renewing grace (2 Cor. 12:9).
We do not realize the power and strength that God puts forth on our behalf, and the sufficiency of his grace, until we compare our trials with our weaknesses. God’s power and grace are then seen clearly in our lives. The effectiveness of an antidote is not realized until one has been exposed to the poison. The preciousness of a medicine is revealed by the presence of the disease. We will not know the power of grace until we feel the power of testing. We must be tried, to realize the glory of being preserved.
—John Owen “Temptation”
We do not realize the power and strength that God puts forth on our behalf, and the sufficiency of his grace, until we compare our trials with our weaknesses. God’s power and grace are then seen clearly in our lives. The effectiveness of an antidote is not realized until one has been exposed to the poison. The preciousness of a medicine is revealed by the presence of the disease. We will not know the power of grace until we feel the power of testing. We must be tried, to realize the glory of being preserved.
—John Owen “Temptation”
Thursday, February 11, 2010
LET NO MAN SAY
Let no man say then, that because God is so famous in his mercy and
patience, in this day of his grace, that therefore he will not be fierce, and
dreadful in his justice, in the day of judgment; for judgment and justice, are
the last things that God intends to bring upon the stage, which will then be
to the full, as terrible, as now his goodness and patience, and long-sufferance
are admirable.
John Bunyan
patience, in this day of his grace, that therefore he will not be fierce, and
dreadful in his justice, in the day of judgment; for judgment and justice, are
the last things that God intends to bring upon the stage, which will then be
to the full, as terrible, as now his goodness and patience, and long-sufferance
are admirable.
John Bunyan
NOT I WHO LIVE
"The spiritual life which I have is not my own. I did not induce it, and I cannot maintain it. It is only and solely the work of Christ. It is not I who live, but Christ lives in me. My whole life is His alone."
John Owen
John Owen
CULTURE
In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centering on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome where it became an institution. Next, it moved to Europe , where it became a culture. And, finally, it moved to America where... it became an enterprise."
---Richard Halverson
THEN SOMEBODY ADDED:
"An enterprise. That's a business." "A business? But isn't it supposed to be a body?" "Yes." "But when a body becomes a business, isn't that a prostitute?"
---Richard Halverson
THEN SOMEBODY ADDED:
"An enterprise. That's a business." "A business? But isn't it supposed to be a body?" "Yes." "But when a body becomes a business, isn't that a prostitute?"
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
NOTHING BUT
"Before God's effectual call, a humbling work passes upon the soul. A man is convinced of sin; he sees he is a sinner and nothing but a sinner... Such as were never convinced are never called."
- Thomas Watson
- Thomas Watson
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
MEASURE
Crises of Faith Are Yardsticks for Growth
By J. I. Packer
How does one measure spiritual growth?
The question assumes that we do grow spiritually, that there is something to be measured. But can I take that for granted? Scripture tells us to grow—“grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,” says Peter. But I suspect that, with all our passion for bodybuilding and personal development, very few of us are seeking to grow in the way that Peter tells us to. So very few of us are actually doing so.
Human parents would be very upset if five or ten or 20 or 40 years after birth their babies were still babies; it must also grieve our heavenly Father when his born-again children are content to mark time in immaturity rather than aim at spiritual advance.
May God joggle our consciences, and joggle them hard, about this! Meantime, however, back to my original question: how may growth in grace be discerned? How may we know that we grow?
To get a handle on this question, we must start by asking: what are the changes in a person’s life that show sanctification in progress? This is a bigger question than can be properly answered here, but we can point to at least three areas of necessary change. Each is double-barreled.
First, growth in grace means increase in humility, and in the passion for praise. A pair-of-scales effect operates here. The closer one walks with God, the more sensitive one becomes to sin. One’s estimate of oneself sinks lower because of the depths of sinfulness that one now sees within oneself. As one’s view of oneself goes down, so one’s gratitude for God’s love in salvation raises up in greater adoration.
Those who are growing spiritually tread in their inner life the path of punctured pride and passionate praise, and become ever more ardent in effacing themselves in order to exalt their Savior-God.
Second, growth in grace means increase in faith that will forfeit worldly security.
Fifteen years ago a man in an electronics shop said to me, “what you have faith in is what you’d bet your life on.” He was right! Growing in faith in the God of all grace produces willingness at his call to enter situations of material insecurity and, by human thinking, of risk. Once it is clear that the call really is from God and is not just a foolhardy fancy of one’s own, those who are growing in grace will obey the summons and, as Oswald Chambers put it, “smilingly wash their hands of the consequences. “That is not irresponsibility; it is, rather, faith in action, the kind of faith by which, we are told in Hebrews, “Abraham obeyed when he was called . . . and . . . went out, not knowing where he was to go.” Such faith sees obedience as top priority, and trusts God’s care. It embraces the path of obedience as the place of real and ultimate safety, however hazardous and indeed ruinous it may look from outside. In this sense all who grow in grace bet their lives on God constantly.
Third, growth in grace means increase in love that gives. Folk wisdom divides humanity into two classes, the givers and the takers, and many born-again Christians seem to remain takers rather than becoming givers. But those who are advancing into Christ-likeness renounce self-absorbed self-seeking. They actively love God and others, giving up to the limit of their time, talents, and treasure to honor God and help humans. Cheerful self-denying generosity, that gives and goes on giving even then, marks all who are growing in grace.
On now to crunch-point. Physical growth is discerned by measuring height and weight; how is spiritual growth measured?
The true answer is that it cannot be measured. Growth in grace is a mystery of grace, which it is beyond us to monitor in either ourselves or others. Observables, like zeal, knowledge, self-image, and behavior patterns, are ambiguous: they may be carnal at bottom, though spiritual-looking on the surface. The heart of growth is growth in the heart, which only God can search and know.
However, something of our spiritual stature may be discerned by our responses to what we call crises of decisions and Scripture calls temptations. Those who deal with crises, or temptations, better than they once did show that they have grown in grace in the interim.
Example: Abraham. Twice, early on in his life of faith, to save his skin he passed off his wife as his sister, free flesh ripe for the royal harem. Neither humility nor adoration nor obedience nor faith nor love was expressed in that action. But some decades later Abraham was ready at God’s call to sacrifice Isaac. The difference between that first response and later response to crises of decision showed that over the years Abraham had grown in grace.
Do you and I really grow in grace? I wonder.
This article was previously published in Eternity Magazine, January 1989.
By J. I. Packer
How does one measure spiritual growth?
The question assumes that we do grow spiritually, that there is something to be measured. But can I take that for granted? Scripture tells us to grow—“grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,” says Peter. But I suspect that, with all our passion for bodybuilding and personal development, very few of us are seeking to grow in the way that Peter tells us to. So very few of us are actually doing so.
Human parents would be very upset if five or ten or 20 or 40 years after birth their babies were still babies; it must also grieve our heavenly Father when his born-again children are content to mark time in immaturity rather than aim at spiritual advance.
May God joggle our consciences, and joggle them hard, about this! Meantime, however, back to my original question: how may growth in grace be discerned? How may we know that we grow?
To get a handle on this question, we must start by asking: what are the changes in a person’s life that show sanctification in progress? This is a bigger question than can be properly answered here, but we can point to at least three areas of necessary change. Each is double-barreled.
First, growth in grace means increase in humility, and in the passion for praise. A pair-of-scales effect operates here. The closer one walks with God, the more sensitive one becomes to sin. One’s estimate of oneself sinks lower because of the depths of sinfulness that one now sees within oneself. As one’s view of oneself goes down, so one’s gratitude for God’s love in salvation raises up in greater adoration.
Those who are growing spiritually tread in their inner life the path of punctured pride and passionate praise, and become ever more ardent in effacing themselves in order to exalt their Savior-God.
Second, growth in grace means increase in faith that will forfeit worldly security.
Fifteen years ago a man in an electronics shop said to me, “what you have faith in is what you’d bet your life on.” He was right! Growing in faith in the God of all grace produces willingness at his call to enter situations of material insecurity and, by human thinking, of risk. Once it is clear that the call really is from God and is not just a foolhardy fancy of one’s own, those who are growing in grace will obey the summons and, as Oswald Chambers put it, “smilingly wash their hands of the consequences. “That is not irresponsibility; it is, rather, faith in action, the kind of faith by which, we are told in Hebrews, “Abraham obeyed when he was called . . . and . . . went out, not knowing where he was to go.” Such faith sees obedience as top priority, and trusts God’s care. It embraces the path of obedience as the place of real and ultimate safety, however hazardous and indeed ruinous it may look from outside. In this sense all who grow in grace bet their lives on God constantly.
Third, growth in grace means increase in love that gives. Folk wisdom divides humanity into two classes, the givers and the takers, and many born-again Christians seem to remain takers rather than becoming givers. But those who are advancing into Christ-likeness renounce self-absorbed self-seeking. They actively love God and others, giving up to the limit of their time, talents, and treasure to honor God and help humans. Cheerful self-denying generosity, that gives and goes on giving even then, marks all who are growing in grace.
On now to crunch-point. Physical growth is discerned by measuring height and weight; how is spiritual growth measured?
The true answer is that it cannot be measured. Growth in grace is a mystery of grace, which it is beyond us to monitor in either ourselves or others. Observables, like zeal, knowledge, self-image, and behavior patterns, are ambiguous: they may be carnal at bottom, though spiritual-looking on the surface. The heart of growth is growth in the heart, which only God can search and know.
However, something of our spiritual stature may be discerned by our responses to what we call crises of decisions and Scripture calls temptations. Those who deal with crises, or temptations, better than they once did show that they have grown in grace in the interim.
Example: Abraham. Twice, early on in his life of faith, to save his skin he passed off his wife as his sister, free flesh ripe for the royal harem. Neither humility nor adoration nor obedience nor faith nor love was expressed in that action. But some decades later Abraham was ready at God’s call to sacrifice Isaac. The difference between that first response and later response to crises of decision showed that over the years Abraham had grown in grace.
Do you and I really grow in grace? I wonder.
This article was previously published in Eternity Magazine, January 1989.
EMOTIONS
"Enthusiasm, euphoria, fervor, excitement, and emotion - all the things [some] tend to equate with spiritual intensity - have no power to restrain lust, pride, selfishness, or greed...gaiety is no substitute for godliness. And real godliness does not always carry with it an emotional high.
"According to Scripture, the Spirit-filled person pursues righteousness with a burning sense of conviction and with a deep awareness of his or her own sin. Where the Spirit is at work, there is deep joy; but there is also profound sorrow."
- John MacArthur
"According to Scripture, the Spirit-filled person pursues righteousness with a burning sense of conviction and with a deep awareness of his or her own sin. Where the Spirit is at work, there is deep joy; but there is also profound sorrow."
- John MacArthur
Our Joy
Our Joy is Jesus; not sinful men.
Our Joy is Jesus; not the reactions or responses of sinners to our message.
Our Joy is Jesus; not the attention of sinful men to our message.
Our motivation is Jesus; not sinful men.
Our motivation is Jesus; not the reactions or responses of sinners to our message.
Our movitation is Jesus; not the attention of sinful men to our message.
Our joy and motivation is Jesus completing the work, not us adding to it either through sanctification or evangelism, these are only displays of our complete joy in Him, not causes of it.
Our Joy is Jesus; not the reactions or responses of sinners to our message.
Our Joy is Jesus; not the attention of sinful men to our message.
Our motivation is Jesus; not sinful men.
Our motivation is Jesus; not the reactions or responses of sinners to our message.
Our movitation is Jesus; not the attention of sinful men to our message.
Our joy and motivation is Jesus completing the work, not us adding to it either through sanctification or evangelism, these are only displays of our complete joy in Him, not causes of it.
LEARNING TO LEARN
Learn, but also learn to not make an idol of learning, learning is to point us to a person: Jesus, not to us: our recall and wit.
Monday, February 8, 2010
VERY TIMELY
His name, ah, I am sick of the way in which they use His name today! Shame on some that are called Christian ministers! They believe in Christ, but it is a Christ without His crown, His atonement, His judgment seat, or even His Godhead. They mock us with orthodox phrases, from which the essential truth is gone. They pretend that they believe in the atonement, and when we listen to their atonement we find that it does not effectually atone for anyone. It is a mere fiction, and not a fact. It saves nobody, but is a mere sham. They have eviscerated the gospel, and then they hold up the empty carcass, and claim that they are Christians still.
Christians who have murdered Christianity! Believers who doubt whether there is anything to be believed! Yet we are entreated in our charity to hug such traitors to our bosom. We shall do nothing of the kind. We would sooner believe in infidels outright than in those who pretend to be Christians and are infidels at heart. “Modern thought” is a more evil thing than downright atheism; even as a wolf in a sheep’s skin is worse than a wolf in his natural form.
There are pretty things said of our Lord Jesus by those who deny the faith which are sickening to me. I loathe to hear our true Lord praised by false lips. They deny the doctrines which He taught, and yet prate about believing Him. It is a shallow trick, but yet it deceives shallow souls. Poor, weak minds say, “The man speaks so beautifully of Jesus, surely he cannot be in error.” I tell you it is the old Judas trick--the Son of man is betrayed with a kiss. How nauseating their praises must be to Him whom they are betraying.
Think not that they are honest; their designs are far other than appear upon the surface. They laud Him as man that they may dishonor Him as God: they cry up His life, and His example, that they may cast His atoning sacrifice into the ditch. They lift up one part of the divine revelation with no other intention than that they may dash down the other: they crouch at His feet that they may stab at His heart."
C.H. Spurgeon
Christians who have murdered Christianity! Believers who doubt whether there is anything to be believed! Yet we are entreated in our charity to hug such traitors to our bosom. We shall do nothing of the kind. We would sooner believe in infidels outright than in those who pretend to be Christians and are infidels at heart. “Modern thought” is a more evil thing than downright atheism; even as a wolf in a sheep’s skin is worse than a wolf in his natural form.
There are pretty things said of our Lord Jesus by those who deny the faith which are sickening to me. I loathe to hear our true Lord praised by false lips. They deny the doctrines which He taught, and yet prate about believing Him. It is a shallow trick, but yet it deceives shallow souls. Poor, weak minds say, “The man speaks so beautifully of Jesus, surely he cannot be in error.” I tell you it is the old Judas trick--the Son of man is betrayed with a kiss. How nauseating their praises must be to Him whom they are betraying.
Think not that they are honest; their designs are far other than appear upon the surface. They laud Him as man that they may dishonor Him as God: they cry up His life, and His example, that they may cast His atoning sacrifice into the ditch. They lift up one part of the divine revelation with no other intention than that they may dash down the other: they crouch at His feet that they may stab at His heart."
C.H. Spurgeon
Laboring
Strive for the Highest Quality of Labor for the Glory of God, but not for the glory of the Labor or the laborer.// The opposite of "not laboring for self" is not "sloth", but rather is-- "laboring for God"// and again this laboring is always a fruit of grace, never a cause of grace.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
GREATER GLORY
The glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former. Hag 2:9
Hebrews 3:1-6 (ESV)
Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, [2] who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. [3] For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. [4] (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) [5] Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, [6] but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Hebrews 3:1-6 (ESV)
Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, [2] who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. [3] For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. [4] (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) [5] Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, [6] but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
PERSONAL MATURING
Personal maturing; God has not gifted Sproul like SCC, nor gifted SCC like Sproul; I do not have to compete and strive to be someone I am not. Albeit, I more identify with the blessings of Methibosheth. Develop your gifts for God, but do not covet the gifts of others.
WHY US
Fallen men strive for prominence through musical abilities, athletics abilities, intellectual abilities, entertainment abilities, or overall wealth; Angels covered their eyes day and night, never imgaining ever drawing attention for themselves, and certainly bewildered that God would be mindful of us--- the worms, vapors, lepers, and ungodly.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
JOHN 6
from www.reformationtheology.com or www.monergism.com
John 6:66, “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked with Him no more”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, preaching on this passage (on 2/5/1882) said:
"The defection in this case was on account of doctrine... The truth was too hard for them, it was not to be borne with. “It is a hard saying. Who can hear it?” A true disciple sits at the feet of his Master, and believes what he is told even when he cannot quite comprehend the meaning, or see the reasons for what his Master utters; but these men had not the essential spirit of a disciple, and consequently when their Instructor began to unfold the innermost parts of the roll of truth, they would not listen to His reading of it. They would believe as far as they could understand, but when they could not comprehend they turned on their heel and left the school of the Great Teacher.
Besides, the Lord Jesus Christ had taught the doctrine of the sovereignty of God, and of the need of the Spirit of God, that men should be led to Him, “for Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.” Here our Lord uttered a bit of old-fashioned free-grace doctrine, such as people nowadays do not like.
They call it “Calvinism”, and put it aside among the old exploded tenets which this enlightened age knows nothing of. What right they have to ascribe to the Genevan reformer a doctrine as old as the hills I do not know. But our Lord Jesus never hesitated to fling that truth into the face of His enemies. He told them, “Ye believe not because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.” “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” Here he tells them plainly that they could not come unto Him unless the Father gave them the grace to come. This humbling doctrine they could not receive, and so they went aside." (Sermons, 28, 111-2)
John 6:66, “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked with Him no more”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, preaching on this passage (on 2/5/1882) said:
"The defection in this case was on account of doctrine... The truth was too hard for them, it was not to be borne with. “It is a hard saying. Who can hear it?” A true disciple sits at the feet of his Master, and believes what he is told even when he cannot quite comprehend the meaning, or see the reasons for what his Master utters; but these men had not the essential spirit of a disciple, and consequently when their Instructor began to unfold the innermost parts of the roll of truth, they would not listen to His reading of it. They would believe as far as they could understand, but when they could not comprehend they turned on their heel and left the school of the Great Teacher.
Besides, the Lord Jesus Christ had taught the doctrine of the sovereignty of God, and of the need of the Spirit of God, that men should be led to Him, “for Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.” Here our Lord uttered a bit of old-fashioned free-grace doctrine, such as people nowadays do not like.
They call it “Calvinism”, and put it aside among the old exploded tenets which this enlightened age knows nothing of. What right they have to ascribe to the Genevan reformer a doctrine as old as the hills I do not know. But our Lord Jesus never hesitated to fling that truth into the face of His enemies. He told them, “Ye believe not because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.” “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” Here he tells them plainly that they could not come unto Him unless the Father gave them the grace to come. This humbling doctrine they could not receive, and so they went aside." (Sermons, 28, 111-2)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM
If you believe in friendship Evangelism, go to North Korea, and work your charm. Yes we are friendly, yes we evangelize, but never think that draws goats. We are a savor of death unto death...(and to others a savor of life to life).
All the unregenerate are God haters, enemies of God, and would crucify Him if given the opportunity; There is no middle ground.
Jesus was the friendliest evangelist ever in the infinity of time, life, and existence. And He was hated without a cause, crucified, mocked, spat upon, called a Demon, and they shouted all the louder, "We have no King but Ceasar, Crucify Him!! Crucify Him!!" Crucify this friendly evangelist, and release Barabbas who has never cured a leper, raised the dead, or forgiven sins.
The car was travelling 87 mph in a 55 mph zone, after a 30 minute chase, the car was finally boxed in and brought to a halt. The Cop asked, "Why were you speeding, and why didn't you pull over when I turned on the siren??" The speeder: Honestly, neither you nor the goverment are friendly ENOUGH so I am not interested in what your government, your laws, or even you have to say."
The solution was not "Friendship Evangelism":
2 Cor. 4:8-11 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; [9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; [10] always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. [11] For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
2 Cor. 1:8-10 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. [9] Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. [10] He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.
2 Cor. 11:23-33 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. [24] Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; [26] on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; [27] in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. [28] And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. [29] Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
[30] If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. [31] The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. [32] At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, [33] but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.
All the unregenerate are God haters, enemies of God, and would crucify Him if given the opportunity; There is no middle ground.
Jesus was the friendliest evangelist ever in the infinity of time, life, and existence. And He was hated without a cause, crucified, mocked, spat upon, called a Demon, and they shouted all the louder, "We have no King but Ceasar, Crucify Him!! Crucify Him!!" Crucify this friendly evangelist, and release Barabbas who has never cured a leper, raised the dead, or forgiven sins.
The car was travelling 87 mph in a 55 mph zone, after a 30 minute chase, the car was finally boxed in and brought to a halt. The Cop asked, "Why were you speeding, and why didn't you pull over when I turned on the siren??" The speeder: Honestly, neither you nor the goverment are friendly ENOUGH so I am not interested in what your government, your laws, or even you have to say."
The solution was not "Friendship Evangelism":
2 Cor. 4:8-11 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; [9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; [10] always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. [11] For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
2 Cor. 1:8-10 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. [9] Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. [10] He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.
2 Cor. 11:23-33 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. [24] Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; [26] on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; [27] in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. [28] And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. [29] Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
[30] If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. [31] The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. [32] At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, [33] but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
NOT OUR FEELINGS
If we try to get up warm feelings and good dispositions in order to remove some fancied remainder of distance, we shall fail; not simply because these actings of ours cannot do what we are trying to do, but because there is no need of any such effort. The thing is done already. God has brought his righteousness nigh to the sinner.
Horatius Bonar
Horatius Bonar
EVIL IDOLATERS
But the most abominable form of idolatry in the world is that which Paul calls “will worship,” the worship of yourself (Colossians 2:23).
Those who attribute salvation in whole or in part to the will, work, or worth of man are the most abominably evil idolaters in the world, for they worship themselves. Freewillism is the worship of self. Legalism is the worship self. Free-will works religion makes man his own savior, for it makes the will, work, or worth of man the determining factor in salvation. Now hear me well. — If your salvation, in whole or in part, is looked upon by you as something that is dependent upon or determined by your will or your works, you are a lost, Christless soul, an idolater. You may talk about God and grace, Christ and redemption, the Holy Spirit and regeneration; but you really worship yourself. You trust in your own decision. Your confidence is in your personal goodness. Your peace is derived not from what Christ has done, but from what you have done.
Don Fortner
Those who attribute salvation in whole or in part to the will, work, or worth of man are the most abominably evil idolaters in the world, for they worship themselves. Freewillism is the worship of self. Legalism is the worship self. Free-will works religion makes man his own savior, for it makes the will, work, or worth of man the determining factor in salvation. Now hear me well. — If your salvation, in whole or in part, is looked upon by you as something that is dependent upon or determined by your will or your works, you are a lost, Christless soul, an idolater. You may talk about God and grace, Christ and redemption, the Holy Spirit and regeneration; but you really worship yourself. You trust in your own decision. Your confidence is in your personal goodness. Your peace is derived not from what Christ has done, but from what you have done.
Don Fortner
MOTIVATION NOTE #1
I have 11 pages of thick notes that I have compiled on the core of Christian motivation, among many fundamental concepts, here is a primary one:
God. God is my motivation. God's Glory, God's Grace, His "Person", God's Attributes, God's Presence.
Angels cry day and night, "Holy, Holy, Holy", there motivation is NOT based on the reactions of other angels, or mankind, nor of even a reaction from God Himself. Merely the Holiness of God and the Presence of God's "Person and Being" ... See Moremotivates them, yea utterly compels them to bear their testimony aloud. May we do the same, by beholding the person of Jesus by faith alone, by grace alone, by the Power of the Holy Spirit alone.
Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
God. God is my motivation. God's Glory, God's Grace, His "Person", God's Attributes, God's Presence.
Angels cry day and night, "Holy, Holy, Holy", there motivation is NOT based on the reactions of other angels, or mankind, nor of even a reaction from God Himself. Merely the Holiness of God and the Presence of God's "Person and Being" ... See Moremotivates them, yea utterly compels them to bear their testimony aloud. May we do the same, by beholding the person of Jesus by faith alone, by grace alone, by the Power of the Holy Spirit alone.
Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
NOT US AT ALL
The power of preaching is the Holy Spirit using the public reading of the Holy Scripture with nothing added. Yes pastors talk thereafter, but their talking is likened to the movement of the priests. The priests had to move inorder to sprinkle the blood on the altar, but the power was not in their movement, but in the blood.
God is so Sovereign, that like Philip, God could cause me to appear in another place, like North Korea, and with one sermon like Peter, God could regenerate the entire political and military membership, though I have never studied a syllable of the Korean language, nor have access to a translator.--and all with the same ease as the centurion admitted:
Mat 8:8 But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
God is so Sovereign, that like Philip, God could cause me to appear in another place, like North Korea, and with one sermon like Peter, God could regenerate the entire political and military membership, though I have never studied a syllable of the Korean language, nor have access to a translator.--and all with the same ease as the centurion admitted:
Mat 8:8 But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
Saturday, January 30, 2010
ONLY TO DIVINE MAJESTY
More by Luther on free will...
""free-will" is obviously a term applicable only to Divine Majesty; for only He can do, and does (as the Psalmist sings) "whatever he wills in heaven and earth" [Psalms135:6]. If "free-will" is ascribed to men, it is ascribed with no more propriety than divinity itself would be - and no blasphemy... See More could exceed that! So it befits theologians to refrain from using the term when they want to speak of human ability, and to leave it to be applied to God only."
--Martin Luther
""free-will" is obviously a term applicable only to Divine Majesty; for only He can do, and does (as the Psalmist sings) "whatever he wills in heaven and earth" [Psalms135:6]. If "free-will" is ascribed to men, it is ascribed with no more propriety than divinity itself would be - and no blasphemy... See More could exceed that! So it befits theologians to refrain from using the term when they want to speak of human ability, and to leave it to be applied to God only."
--Martin Luther
WHY MOPE
Maybe lack of motivation stems from an absence of humility and thankfulness. If you gave me a million dollars I'd jump, shout, hollar, "wow this is great, this is too much." But if God gets me out of bed, I merely whine, "ho-hum, nothing to do" Do I deserve the health to walk and live? Life is more important than a million dollars, and God sustains that each day. So why mope???
Friday, January 29, 2010
ONLY IF
Apart from Christ, we are dead in sin (Eph. 2:1) and wholly disposed to hate God. We only want darkness, and so we freely choose to reject Him. We freely choose to love and to serve Jesus only if the Spirit changes our hearts (John 3:1-8). Otherwise we remain lost.
- Tabletalk, Feb 23, 2007
- Tabletalk, Feb 23, 2007
EARLY CHURCH
"The early church was married to poverty, prisons and persecutions. Today, the church is married to prosperity, personality, and popularity."
- Leonard Ravenhill
I am not sure that Ravenhill held to Reformed theology, but this particular quote is true nonetheless.
- Leonard Ravenhill
I am not sure that Ravenhill held to Reformed theology, but this particular quote is true nonetheless.
DRIVEN MAD
"If any man could see his own heart as it is by nature, he would be driven mad: the sight of our disease is not to be born unless we also see the remedy."
~CH Spurgeon.
The remedy is not man himself but Christ Alone. from Shawn Waugh
~CH Spurgeon.
The remedy is not man himself but Christ Alone. from Shawn Waugh
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
QUICKENS
"Christ quickens none but the dead. Why do not the papists attain to this grace of justification? They never see themselves wholly dead, but join some life to the natural estate of man. Therefore Christ quickens them not."
- Richard Sibbes
- Richard Sibbes
ALL THINGS
"Has God decreed all things that come to pass? Then there is nothing that falls out by chance, nor are we to ascribe what we meet with either to good or ill luck and fortune. There are many events in the world which men look upon as mere accidents, yet all these come by the counsel and appointment of Heaven."
-Thomas Boston
-Thomas Boston
GIVES YOU
"I frequently hear persons exhorted to give their hearts to Christ...But that is not the Gospel. Salvation comes from something that Christ gives you, not something that you give to Christ."
~Charles Spurgeon
~Charles Spurgeon
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
I DID.
Puzzling. How were you born again?
God told me to repent. I did.
God told me to believe. I did.
God told me to be baptized. I did.
God told me to trust Jesus. I did.
God told me to confess my sins. I did.
God told me to accept his offer. I did.
How were you born again? Because of what I did.
Pieces all fit together: Works Salvation.
God told me to repent. I did.
God told me to believe. I did.
God told me to be baptized. I did.
God told me to trust Jesus. I did.
God told me to confess my sins. I did.
God told me to accept his offer. I did.
How were you born again? Because of what I did.
Pieces all fit together: Works Salvation.
WHOSOEVER
Whosever is sinless needs not a redeemer, says nothing to man's ability to be sinless. Whosoever is in hell is hurting, it says nothing more than describe the results; Believers do not perish, that is the point, jew or gentile. Can dead men believe on their own?
Some hide behind this word, "Whosoever"; and I fully agree, "whosover" bears X, gains Z. However, the term says nothing about who ever can bear X. Whosoever gets pregnant gains weight, this does not indicate that men can get pregnant. So the usage in the Bible does not entail man's ability.
Some hide behind this word, "Whosoever"; and I fully agree, "whosover" bears X, gains Z. However, the term says nothing about who ever can bear X. Whosoever gets pregnant gains weight, this does not indicate that men can get pregnant. So the usage in the Bible does not entail man's ability.
LIGHT AND HEAT
We are light to the world, but yet to a blind world. So we shine for Him, not for them. They may be warmed by the light, and benefit in that regard, yet clueless on whom we are shining towards. Truly light (a candle) can dispel the darkness of a room, but never has darkness dispelled the light of the candle. Our light cannot be put out by the scoffing of the dark.
EYE UPWARD AND INWARD
"He who would walk aright must have one eye upward to Jesus Christ, and another inward to the corruption of his own nature. It is not enough that we look about us, we must also look within us."
-Thomas Boston-
-Thomas Boston-
Monday, January 25, 2010
LITTLE ENOUGH
When God wants to do His great works He trains someone to be quiet enough and little enough, then He uses that person."
--J. Hudson Taylor
--J. Hudson Taylor
OUT OF NOTHING
"God creates out of nothing. Therefore, until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him."
--Martin Luther
--Martin Luther
NOT IN SELF
"God is not looking for brilliant men, is not depending upon eloquent men, is not shut up to the use of talented men in sending His gospel out into the world. God is looking for broken men who have judged themselves in light of the cross of Christ. When He wants anything done, He takes up men who have come to the end of themselves, whose confidence is not in themselves, but in God."
--H. A. Ironside
--H. A. Ironside
Sunday, January 24, 2010
CLASSIC OWEN
"The Father imposed His wrath due unto, and the Son underwent punishment for, either: 1. All the sins of all men. 2. All the sins of some men. 3. Some of the sins of some men. In which case it may be said: a. That if the last be true, all men have some sins to answer for, and so none are saved. b. That if the second be true, then Christ, in their stead suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the whole world, and this is the truth. c. But if the first be the case, why are not all men free from the punishment due unto their sins? You answer, Because of unbelief. I ask, Is this unbelief a sin, or is it not? If it be, then Christ suffered the punishment due unto it, or He did not. If He did, why must that hinder them more than their other sins for which He died? If He did not, He did not die for all their sins!"
- John Owen
- John Owen
Saturday, January 23, 2010
NO FEAR OF GOD
Romans 3:9-18 is not merely a description of those without the OT and those without a prophet sent from God to explain things in voice and text and time; but even of the Jews with a text, prophet, voice, and time; Even so these things were true of their mind and heart, and the fruit of their decisions:
Romans 3:Romans 3:9-18 (ESV)
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, [10] as it is written:
"None is righteous, no, not one;
[11] no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
[12] All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one."
[13] "Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive."
"The venom of asps is under their lips."
[14] "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."
[15] "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
[16] in their paths are ruin and misery,
[17] and the way of peace they have not known."
[18] "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Romans 3:Romans 3:9-18 (ESV)
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, [10] as it is written:
"None is righteous, no, not one;
[11] no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
[12] All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one."
[13] "Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive."
"The venom of asps is under their lips."
[14] "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."
[15] "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
[16] in their paths are ruin and misery,
[17] and the way of peace they have not known."
[18] "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
WHY RAINBOWS
The question is not "Why Haiti?" the question is "Why Rainbows?" Gen 8:21, Gen 9:12-17;
Friday, January 22, 2010
NO BASIS
God made man upright the first time by His own power. Adam has no basis to think his own decision was the basis of his standing. God makes the sheep new creations the second time by His own power. Sinners have no basis to think their own decision was the basis of their new standing, [rather, so much the less (basis).]
GARMENTS OF SKIN
Gen 3:21 And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
What did Adam do to deserve this skin covering? Some good work? Some response to an offer? Make a Decision?
What did Adam do to deserve this skin covering? Some good work? Some response to an offer? Make a Decision?
RAINBOW
Gen 8:21 And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. //
What did men do to deserve this mercy of continued life? Make a Decision? Accept an offer? Do a Good work?
What did men do to deserve this mercy of continued life? Make a Decision? Accept an offer? Do a Good work?
CAIN
Gen 4:15 Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. // What did murderous Cain do to deserve this protection from God??? Some good works??? Some response to an offer of God???
NO HELP NEEDED
If man has a free-will, then he should not need ANY help from the Holy Spirit, not regeneration, not illumination, not a divinely transmitted offer, and not even a divinely inspired book.
LINE OF GLORY
The focus is not on the object of grace, but the Author of Grace, and if the Author has reflected His Glory from Himself, to an object, and back to Himself, then it is fitting to follow that line of glory from beginning to finish;
EVIDENCE OF EQUAL
The Arminian cannot say God is trying "equally" to each individual to elicit their faith in Jesus. This would mean each individual would "equally" get the 3 years of visual, physical exposure to Jesus just like Thomas, and then also an evening to see the nail prints in his wrist, like Doubting Thomas was graced with.
Explain what Joshua showed the gentiles in the conquest that is equal to the effort of Jesus to Thomas;; If you come up with a scenario at all, then even so, you have killed evangelism, because God has already assured equal effort and any lack on our part cannot undermine that real fair balance to all 6 billion plus (on top of previous generations.)
Explain what Joshua showed the gentiles in the conquest that is equal to the effort of Jesus to Thomas;; If you come up with a scenario at all, then even so, you have killed evangelism, because God has already assured equal effort and any lack on our part cannot undermine that real fair balance to all 6 billion plus (on top of previous generations.)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
God saves whom He will, when He will, and where He will. I feel persuaded that I shall never fathom the depths of my own natural depravity–nor climb to the tops of the mountains of God’s eternal love. I feel constrained day by day to fall flat down upon His promises, and leave my soul in Jesus’ safe keeping.
~.C.H. Spurgeon
~.C.H. Spurgeon
IRRELEVANT
6900 languages spoken on planet Earth; 2393 languages have no Bible translated into their language;;
Question for those rejecting Calvinism: Overall is it not irrelevant since Man's free-will cannot be hampered by the fact, since God is ensuring to try equally to each individual to save them and make them an offer?
Question for those rejecting Calvinism: Overall is it not irrelevant since Man's free-will cannot be hampered by the fact, since God is ensuring to try equally to each individual to save them and make them an offer?
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
MAKES YOU DIFFER
The only thing that makes you differ (Octavius Winslow, "Jesus, Full of Grace") "But by the grace of God I am what I am." 1 Cor. 15:10 Christian! the only thing that makes you differ from the vilest being that pollutes the earth, or from the darkest fiend that gnaws his chains in hell, is the free grace of God!
FALSE PREMISE
Andrea Pia Yates (born July 2, 1964) a former Houston, Texas resident, is known for killing her five young children on June 20, 2001 by drowning them in the bathtub in her house.[1]--- God flooded the world in Noah's day; It must be safe to say either Yates loved her children, or else God is also insane. Neither is true, because the premise is false.
POINTLESS
But it is pointless to claim and hold fast to the promises of God as given in his Word, if they are made by One who is in fact not sovereign, and therefore not sure to keep them, being bound by the free-will man has been given, which God will never invade. No!...we claim them because their Author is our sovereign Lord himself.
-- Cheeseman/Gardner/Sadgrove/Wright.
-- Cheeseman/Gardner/Sadgrove/Wright.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
G96 adokimos
G96 ἀδόκιμος adokimos (ad-ok'-ee-mos) adj.
1. unapproved, i.e. rejected
2. (by implication) worthless
{literally or morally}
[from G1 (as a negative particle) and G1384]... See More
KJV: castaway, rejected, reprobate
Occurs at least 7x in the bible, and the concept is taught more than the specific word usage.
Jeremiah 6:30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.
Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
2 Corinthians 13:6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
2 Corinthians 13:7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
1. unapproved, i.e. rejected
2. (by implication) worthless
{literally or morally}
[from G1 (as a negative particle) and G1384]... See More
KJV: castaway, rejected, reprobate
Occurs at least 7x in the bible, and the concept is taught more than the specific word usage.
Jeremiah 6:30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.
Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
2 Corinthians 13:6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
2 Corinthians 13:7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Friday, January 15, 2010
GREATEST GOOD
Look as our greatest good comes through the sufferings of Christ, so God's greatest glory that He hath from His saints comes through their sufferings.
-- Thomas Brooks.
from: APuritan At Heart
-- Thomas Brooks.
from: APuritan At Heart
ENDURE; ONLY GOD;
During a time of discouragement due to not seeing anyone converted despite best efforts Jim Elliot says this, "It would be easy to slip into the business world and just be a good guy with a lot of religion rather than a producing son of God in enemy territory."
We all face the same type of discouragements if we truly seek to be used of God in bringing souls to Christ. Let us take heart that men of God in the past have face the same discouragements - but did not give into them. They kept praying and pressing in. Some of them (like Jim Elliot) did not see the fruit in their own lifetime. "Except a corn of wheat fall into the earth and die ..."
I believe God allows us to face these discouragements to make us realize that we cannot accomplish anything in our own strength. We must be brought to an end of ourselves (and this is usually a painful process), so that we can begin to experience the life and power of the Holy Spirit flowing through us bringing deliverance to the captives, sight to the blind, healing to the brokenhearted and LIFE to those who are DEAD in trespasses and sins.
Preaching the gospel requires the same sort of supernatural power attending to the spoken word as what was evident when Jesus said "Lazerus come forth!" Our commission is to raise the dead. That is why Paul said "our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction". ONLY GOD can accomplish this!
We all face the same type of discouragements if we truly seek to be used of God in bringing souls to Christ. Let us take heart that men of God in the past have face the same discouragements - but did not give into them. They kept praying and pressing in. Some of them (like Jim Elliot) did not see the fruit in their own lifetime. "Except a corn of wheat fall into the earth and die ..."
I believe God allows us to face these discouragements to make us realize that we cannot accomplish anything in our own strength. We must be brought to an end of ourselves (and this is usually a painful process), so that we can begin to experience the life and power of the Holy Spirit flowing through us bringing deliverance to the captives, sight to the blind, healing to the brokenhearted and LIFE to those who are DEAD in trespasses and sins.
Preaching the gospel requires the same sort of supernatural power attending to the spoken word as what was evident when Jesus said "Lazerus come forth!" Our commission is to raise the dead. That is why Paul said "our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction". ONLY GOD can accomplish this!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Passion, Truth, Love.
Passion on a topic is not an attempt to be rude, but an attempt to emphasize the importance of the matter. Yet hopefully in sharing my view, I can highlight the importance of the matter with passion...yet without being rude. As the Bible says, Speak the truth in love, and..... whatever we do, do heartily.
TWO ISSUSES
Jesus did not die for fallen angels. Fallen angels do not have an offer of redemption. They have no choice to be redeemed. Jesus did not die for the goats. Goats do not have an offer of redemption. They have no choice to be redeemed. God can command Holiness and Honor to Jesus of any creature regardless if redemption is provided or not.
The elect angels were never put in the garden with an option of things they could eat and a command of what they could not to eat; Adam was never placed in the realm of elect angels and kept from ever being in a Garden thus to avoid the cirucmstance of having a choice of the allowed food and forbidden fruit-- as granted to the elect angels.
God can command Holiness and Honor to Jesus of every creature, even if that creature has not been provided a Redeemer. God's right to command Holiness and Honor to Jesus of every creature is not derived from first providing a Redeemer to that creature, but is derived from being Holy God.
The elect angels were never put in the garden with an option of things they could eat and a command of what they could not to eat; Adam was never placed in the realm of elect angels and kept from ever being in a Garden thus to avoid the cirucmstance of having a choice of the allowed food and forbidden fruit-- as granted to the elect angels.
God can command Holiness and Honor to Jesus of every creature, even if that creature has not been provided a Redeemer. God's right to command Holiness and Honor to Jesus of every creature is not derived from first providing a Redeemer to that creature, but is derived from being Holy God.
God is Free
God is free to kill and not be a sinner, for it is righteous judgment. Man is not free to kill and be declared not a sinner, for man does not know righteous judgment. If man had a free-will he could kill and not be a sinner, just as God has a free-will and can kill any time he wants.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Titus 3
Titus 3:10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
False Converts
I am more afraid of a false revival, than I'm afraid of no revival. False Gospel, False Evangelists, False Converts, False Joy. I'm more afraid of that, than I am of no revival. We'd be better off with no revival a' tall, than the wrong kind. And you had better have your eyes open for that because some of it will seem so genuine as to decieve the very elect if they could. Church leaders will endorse it, and other good people were not there to oppose it, for fear they'll be fighting against God. And the farther we get from reality the more we go even in the Church into make-believe, that's why drama will flourish. The more the church goes into drama the farther away she gets from real religion. Because not having the real thing she specializes on pretending. That's why some of 'em have become glorified night-clubs. And others they worship the great god enterntainment. And how frantically we plunge in all directions today trying popularize the gospel.
Vance Havner
Vance Havner
Atonement post 1.13
Jesus justifies, the Holy Spirit regenerates, Jesus atones, Jesus forgives, Jesus resurrects, Jesus judges. The timing and application of those things are various, but still selective in purpose and recipients. Jesus died not for sinners, but for the Father. Jesus did not satisfy the will of sinners, but the will of the Father. Now either Jesus satisfied the will of the Father or He didjn't. If he didn't, then what must we add to make the difference
Jesus died in place of the sheep, even though the sheep are not all born yet. Atonement is not needed for the righteous, but for the unrighteous. So the sheep are unrighteous and dead in trepasses and sins, and thus need atonement, and do recieve atonement from Christ which is presented to the Father. The Father accepts the atoning work of Christ for the Sheep because of Christ's identity, merits, and blood, and decision, not because of man's decision.
The blood on the door post was effective without the response of the infant. And there was no message about a lamb or blood ever given to the Egyptians or slaves across the globe. Moses doesn't deserve a burning bush, yet Pharaoh is not given one. Saul doesn't deserve a blinding light, yet Pilate is not given one. Doubting Thomas does not deserve the nail scarred wrist, yet Herod is not given them. The gloomy on the Emmaus Road did not deserve a meal with the resurrected God-Man, yet Felix is not given one. Isaac did not deserve to be the son of Abraham, yet Goliath was not Abraham's child.
Jesus died in place of the sheep, even though the sheep are not all born yet. Atonement is not needed for the righteous, but for the unrighteous. So the sheep are unrighteous and dead in trepasses and sins, and thus need atonement, and do recieve atonement from Christ which is presented to the Father. The Father accepts the atoning work of Christ for the Sheep because of Christ's identity, merits, and blood, and decision, not because of man's decision.
The blood on the door post was effective without the response of the infant. And there was no message about a lamb or blood ever given to the Egyptians or slaves across the globe. Moses doesn't deserve a burning bush, yet Pharaoh is not given one. Saul doesn't deserve a blinding light, yet Pilate is not given one. Doubting Thomas does not deserve the nail scarred wrist, yet Herod is not given them. The gloomy on the Emmaus Road did not deserve a meal with the resurrected God-Man, yet Felix is not given one. Isaac did not deserve to be the son of Abraham, yet Goliath was not Abraham's child.
Exodus Atonement
Exodus 29:37 Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.
Don't "try" to atone, atone.
Don't "intend" to atone, atone.
Don't make atonement "possible", atone.... See More
Don't defer the atonement's effect on the decision, response of the altar, atone.
The altar was atoned, not by the choice of the altar, but by the work of the Priest, the sheep are not atoned by the choice of the sheep, but by the work of THE High Priest.
Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
It can be clearly shown that the "we" in Romans 5, is only the saints, not all mankind.
Will God accept "I tried to Repent, I tried to obey, I intended to Repent, I intended to obey, I intended to believe." Nor will Jesus say, "I tried to save all, I intended to save all" Nor will the Holy Spirit say, "I tried to regenerate all, I intended to regenerate all."
Don't "try" to atone, atone.
Don't "intend" to atone, atone.
Don't make atonement "possible", atone.... See More
Don't defer the atonement's effect on the decision, response of the altar, atone.
The altar was atoned, not by the choice of the altar, but by the work of the Priest, the sheep are not atoned by the choice of the sheep, but by the work of THE High Priest.
Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
It can be clearly shown that the "we" in Romans 5, is only the saints, not all mankind.
Will God accept "I tried to Repent, I tried to obey, I intended to Repent, I intended to obey, I intended to believe." Nor will Jesus say, "I tried to save all, I intended to save all" Nor will the Holy Spirit say, "I tried to regenerate all, I intended to regenerate all."
Redemption
Holding to Particular Redemption, or Definite Atonement, I will stop using the characterization of another positon as "General Atonement" but rather from hence forth "Universal Atonement". Either Christ Atoned or He did not. Since Christ did Atone, it must be either Universal or Particular.
IRONY OF JUDGING
It seems maybe you are continually judging him for juding someone else, have you considered stop judging him. Everytime you bring it up to constantly tell him to stop, is everytime you are judging him for judging someone else; If you can repeatedly tell him to stop judging since it is a sin, then he can repeatedly tell someon to stop fornicating since it is a sin.
Monday, January 11, 2010
NEITHER NOR
"But the gospel is neither moralism nor relativism and so it is equally offensive to the moral and the irreligious. So Christ calls us to repent of both our good and bad works, for we have no righteousness of our own."
- John Hendryx
- John Hendryx
GOOD CONFLICT
"Avoiding conflict is not always the right thing. Sometimes it is downright sinful. Particularly in times like these, when almost no error is deemed too serious to be excluded from the evangelical conversation, and while the Lord’s flock is being infiltrated by wolves dressed like prophets, declaring visions of peace w...hen there is no peace (Ezekiel 13:16)."...Even the kindest, gentlest shepherd sometimes needs to throw rocks at the wolves who come in sheep’s clothing."
- John MacArthur
- John MacArthur
Sunday, January 10, 2010
NONSENSE
"An honest belief in the sovereignty of God in salvation would bring an end to a lot of the nonsense that is going on in the church."
—John MacArthur
—John MacArthur
Saturday, January 9, 2010
CERTAIN
A person is upset that I am so certain about my theology, yet at the same time is himself so certain about theology being so uncertain. Is it not a double standard that he grants himself certainity in asserting everything is uncertain, but then certainly denies me the right to be certain that some things are certain.
TAKE NOTE
It seems that Jesus brings about events in our lives that will reveal our insufficiency so that we might find Him. For as long as we pridefully think all we can help ourselves He remains hidden. But take note, it is by the grace of God we are what we are, which means that even the very humility needed to recognize the truth and excellency of Jesus does not come naturally. It is a gift of grace.
John Hendryx
John Hendryx
Friday, January 8, 2010
HIGHER PURPOSE
"His saving of sinners is not an end in itself, for God would have been no loser had every one of them eternally perished. No, His saving of sinners is but a means unto an end—"to the praise of the glory of His grace!" (Eph. 1:6)."
~ A.W. Pink
~ A.W. Pink
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Proverbs for the Week
Proverbs 17: 10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.
Proverbs 26: 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.
Proverbs 26: 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.
God Predestined
God predestined the fall, and though, as Supreme Ruler, he executes his plan even by means of sin; nevertheless, he remains holy and righteous; of his own accord man falls and sins: the guilt is his alone. “Man falls according to the appointment of divine providence, but he falls by his own fault.”
-Herman Blavinck
-Herman Blavinck
God may and God does
So then, God may reprobate, may suffer the reprobate to sin, may fore-determine his infallible damnation, through the pro-consideration of him in sin, and may also forbear to work that effectual work in his soul that would infallibly bring him out of this condition, and yet neither be the author, contriver, nor means of man’s sin and misery.
-John Bunyan
-John Bunyan
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
BE READY
When you have overcome one temptation, you must be ready to enter the lists with another. As distrust, in some sense, is the mother of safety, so security is the gate of danger. A man had need to fear this most of all, that he fears not at all. --
-Thomas Brooks
(source: Covenanted Reformation on FB)
-Thomas Brooks
(source: Covenanted Reformation on FB)
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
ATONED ONCE AND FOR EVER
"If God has laid your sins upon the Son of His love, you may rest assured that He will never lay them a second time upon you; since, if Christ has borne them and atoned for them to Divine justice, they never again can be found."
- Octavius Winslow
- Octavius Winslow
Monday, January 4, 2010
Nothing
Quoting Aashik Rao:
To evolutionists, I say: You are all gigantic blobs of carbon and oxygen. Your words are random vibrations produced by a random vocal chord. Your atheist manifestos, are random movements of your randomly made hands. Your scientific observation is just the random movement of chemicals through random synapses into a random brain. Sure, you can say you believe in evolution - but that means nothing. Belief is random too.
To evolutionists, I say: You are all gigantic blobs of carbon and oxygen. Your words are random vibrations produced by a random vocal chord. Your atheist manifestos, are random movements of your randomly made hands. Your scientific observation is just the random movement of chemicals through random synapses into a random brain. Sure, you can say you believe in evolution - but that means nothing. Belief is random too.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
A Denial
"Anything which claims to be Christianity without having Christ at the beginning and the center and the end is a denial of Christianity, call it what you will."
Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Saturday, January 2, 2010
RELYING ON SELF
In particular, the denial of free will was to Luther the foundation of the Biblical doctrine of grace, and a hearty endorsement of that denial was the first step for anyone who would understand the Gospel and come to faith in God. The man who has not yet practically and experimentally learned the bondage of his will in sin has not yet comprehended any part of the Gospel" (44-45,).
"Justification by faith only is a truth that needs interpretation. The principle of sola fide [by faith alone] is not rightly understood till it is seen as anchored in the broader principle of sola gratia [by grace alone]; . . for to rely on one’s self for faith is not different in principle from relying on one’s self for works" (59,).
"[John] the Baptist's word means that man can receive nothing unless given him from above; so that free-will is nothing!" Martin Luther,
Martin Luther, Bondage of the Will
"Justification by faith only is a truth that needs interpretation. The principle of sola fide [by faith alone] is not rightly understood till it is seen as anchored in the broader principle of sola gratia [by grace alone]; . . for to rely on one’s self for faith is not different in principle from relying on one’s self for works" (59,).
"[John] the Baptist's word means that man can receive nothing unless given him from above; so that free-will is nothing!" Martin Luther,
Martin Luther, Bondage of the Will
OVERTHROW
“To say that we are able by our own efforts to think good thoughts or give God spiritual obedience before we are spiritually regenerate is to overthrow the gospel and the faith of the universal church in all ages.”
- John Owen
- John Owen
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