Sunday, March 17, 2024

ORTHODOX HEAD, REBELLIOUS HEART

  "How tragic to have an orthodox head wedded to a rebellious heart!" Dr. James Montgomery Boice

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Refer it Back to God

 But we are short-sighted creatures, not only unworthy--but unable to rightly choose for ourselves.


If the choice was left to us
--it would be our wisdom to refer it back to God.

We may be sure that He does not willingly grieve or afflict us. He takes no pleasure in seeing us weep and mourn--rather, every day brings us ten thousand proofs that He delights in our prosperity.

Whenever we are in heaviness, therefore, there is a need-be for it--faithful are the wounds of such a Friend! Our trials are made no sooner, nor longer--than the necessity of the case requires. He who wounds--has promised likewise to heal. He is all sufficient, and can give more than He will ever take away from His redeemed people. I trust she will find power to commit herself, and her every concern, into His hands; and that she will have reason to acknowledge, from day to day, that He does all things well!

Whatever the outcome may be--our Lord is wise and good in all His dealings. His mercies to us are new every morning--and as numerous as the minutes of our lives!


One of the excerpts from John Newton's Letters.

I CANNOT PRAY

  I cannot pray, except I sin. I cannot preach, but I sin. I cannot administer, nor receive the holy sacrament, but I sin. My very repentance needs to be repented of and the tears I shed need washing in the blood of Christ.

~ William Beveridge

Don Green Adversity

  From Don Green.


At the recommendation of the incomparable Phil Johnson, last year I read an older biography of Charles Spurgeon by W. Y. Fullerton. It was superb and a privilege to read.

Spurgeon, as most know, was often opposed during the course of his ministry. As I prepare for an online session to encourage pastors and elders on February 10, I give you this quote from Spurgeon as a preview of coming attractions:

"If we never offended, it would be proof positive that we did not preach the Gospel. They who can please man will find it quite another thing to have pleased God. Do you suppose that men will love those who faithfully rebuke them? If you make the sinner's heart to groan, and waken his conscience, do you think he will pay you, court and thank you for it?"

My brothers, your adversity in ministry is a sign of approval and blessing, not a cause for discouragement and resignation. Better and more noble men than us have walked rocky paths in ministry, only to enter glory triumphantly (albeit with scarred feet) as a result. They would all tell you it was worth the cost.

So look up for grace and persevere below. You must. And by grace, you will stand, for Christ is able to make you stand.

So preach with all your heart tomorrow, and may the Lord send His blessing on the Word as you do. I, for one, am on your side.

"Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:3).

The Blood Cleanses

 That blood that hath cleansed so many from sin, and from such multitudes of sin, in their several capacities, can cleanse you from 𝘢𝘭𝘭 your sins, were they as great as all those jointly that have been cleansed by it from the beginning of the world.

—Stephen Charnock, 3:531

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Double Imputation

 John Owen – Double Imputation

These two things, then, complete our grace of acceptation. Sin being removed, and righteousness bestowed, we have peace with God—are continually accepted before him. There is not any thing to charge us with: that which was, is taken out of the way by Christ, and nailed to his cross—made fast there; yea, publicly and legally cancelled, that it can never be admitted again as an evidence. What court among men would admit of evidence that has been publicly cancelled and nailed up for all to see it? So has Christ dealt with that which was against us; and not only so, but also he puts that upon us for which we are received into favor. He makes us comely through his beauty; gives us white raiment to stand before the Lord. This is the first part of purchased grace wherein the saints have communion with Jesus Christ. In remission of sin and imputation of righteousness does it consist; from the death of Christ, as a price, sacrifice, and a punishment—from the life of Christ spent in obedience to the law, does it arise. The great product it is of the Father’s righteousness, wisdom, love, and grace—the great and astonishable fruit of the love and condescension of the Son—the great discovery of the Holy Ghost in the revelation of the mystery of the gospel.
~John Owen~

Saturday, December 30, 2023

FIVE MOTIVES FOR KILLING SIN

 Puritan Thomas Brooks, on the best motive for killing sin:


“There were five monks that were studying what was the best means to mortify sin. One said, to meditate on death; the second, to meditate on judgement; the third, to meditate on the joys of heaven; the fourth, to meditate on the torments of hell;

the fifth, to meditate on the blood and sufferings of Jesus Christ: and certainly, the last is the 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵 and 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 motive of all to the mortifying of sin.”

—The Works of Thomas Brooks, 2:379

Saturday, December 23, 2023

Define the Good News in 10 Words.

 As always, this material can be altered, edited, improved, critiqued, expanded, and not hastily embraced, but I asked chatgpt: Give 10 definitions of the gospel but only use 10 words per definition. And this is what I was given back.


1. **Good News:** God's redemption through Christ's atoning sacrifice for sinners.
2. **Salvation:** Grace-fueled reconciliation with God, not earned but freely received.
3. **Repentance:** Turning from sin, embracing Christ for forgiveness and transformation.
4. **Faith:** Trusting Christ alone for salvation, abandoning self-righteousness and works.
5. **Regeneration:** Holy Spirit's renewal, birthing a new life in believers.
6. **Atonement:** Jesus' substitutionary death, satisfying divine justice for human sin.
7. **Adoption:** Believers becoming God's children, heirs of eternal promises.
8. **Justification:** God declaring the guilty righteous through faith in Christ.
9. **Reconciliation:** Restored relationship with God, ending enmity through Christ's mediation.
10. **Eternal Life:** Gift of unending communion with God for redeemed believers 10 more.

1. **Holiness:** Transformation to Christlikeness, empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit. 2. **Grace:** Undeserved favor, God's unmerited kindness freely bestowed on sinners. 3. **Kingdom:** God's reign established, inaugurated by Christ's redemptive work. 4. **Resurrection:** Christ's triumph over death, assuring believers' future resurrection. 5. **Mission:** Spreading Gospel globally, making disciples for Christ's kingdom expansion. 6. **Sanctification:** Ongoing process, believers becoming more like Christ through Spirit's work. 7. **Sacrifice:** Christ's selfless offering, securing forgiveness and reconciliation with God. 8. **Testimony:** Believers' witness, sharing transformed lives through the Gospel's power. 9. **Commission:** Christ's directive to proclaim Gospel, making disciples of all nations. 10. **Hope:** Confident expectation, rooted in Christ's return and eternal promises.

Monday, December 11, 2023

Demoralization

 In weeks ahead it would be a great Christian ministry to provide Biblical responses to all these categories as the pressures we will face through life will come from multiple directions.

Question: What does it mean to be demoralized? Answer: To be demoralized generally refers to a state of losing confidence, hope, or morale. In the context of personal or societal aspects, it can be characterized by a sense of discouragement, disheartenment, or a decline in motivation.
Here's a list of factors that might lead to demoralization:
Repetitive Failures: Facing consistent setbacks and failures in personal or professional endeavors.
Financial Struggles: Experiencing economic challenges, job loss, or financial instability.
Health Issues: Coping with chronic illness, disability, or persistent health concerns.
Relationship Problems: Navigating difficulties in interpersonal relationships, such as conflicts or breakups.
Unemployment: Dealing with the stress and uncertainty associated with being unemployed.
Educational Challenges: Struggling academically, feeling overwhelmed, or facing learning difficulties.
Isolation: Feeling socially isolated or lacking meaningful connections with others.
Loss of Loved Ones: Grieving the death of family members or close friends.
Burnout: Experiencing emotional and physical exhaustion due to prolonged stress or overwork.
Discrimination: Facing prejudice or discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or other factors.
Existential Crisis: Questioning the meaning and purpose of life, especially during major life transitions.
Loneliness: Feeling a lack of companionship and meaningful relationships.
Trauma: Coping with the aftermath of traumatic events, such as accidents, violence, or abuse.
Crisis of Identity: Struggling with self-identity and a sense of purpose in life.
Social Comparison: Constantly comparing oneself to others and feeling inadequate.
Perceived Injustice: Witnessing or experiencing injustice and feeling powerless to address it.
Global Issues: Overwhelm and despair stemming from global challenges like climate change, pandemics, or geopolitical tensions.
Cultural Pressures: Navigating societal expectations and pressures that conflict with personal values.
Lack of Fulfillment: Feeling unfulfilled in career, hobbies, or personal pursuits.
Aging Concerns: Coping with the challenges and changes associated with aging.
Imposter Syndrome: Feeling like a fraud or doubting one's abilities and accomplishments.
Lack of Control: Experiencing situations beyond one's control and feeling helpless.
Uncertain Future: Facing an uncertain and unpredictable future.
Technology Overload: Feeling overwhelmed by the constant connectivity and information overload in the digital age.
Natural Disasters: Dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters and their impact on personal and community well-being.
May we renew our mind with God's grace, faithfulness, power, love, promise, and sovereignty; Looking unto Jesus and feeding upon His Word. Greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world.

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Jonathan Edwards the Reader

Found on Twitter post, but I would like to find published sources to verify details. 

Jonathan Edwards is world famous for preaching and theology, but his biggest impact is often overlooked.

Jonathan Edwards is often remembered for the Great Awakening that sermons like, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," came from. But this ability to preach did not come from nowhere. He attended Yale at 13 and after he graduated, his grandfather gave him ten hours a day of reading to do until he was ready to join the church. Can you imagine graduating Yale and your grandpa thinking you were still that far behind in your studies? Yet his grandfather wanted to make sure he was well read and well studied for his upper class church in New England. Early on Edwards' preaching was considered great. There were the beginning of flames of a revival. But tragedy struck when Edwards' uncle, who attended his church, committed suicide. Edwards' was devastated. People had accused him of being too fiery and fierce in his sermons. He saw his uncle's hopelessness as a result of this. This might have been the end of Edwards' story, but the most famous pastor in the world at that time had heard about the revival in New England and wanted to help. This man, George Whitefield came to Edwards' church and preached strong, Godly truth. Edwards was said to have bawled in the pew. He was renewed for his purpose. He returned to preaching with confidence and soon revival swept New England. The sermon "Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God," was preached at a congregation that was known to be resistant to the revival. Try as they might, no one had been able to break through this nearly impossible fortress against God. Many people preached that day before Edwards did. When Edwards preached that sermon he was not able to finish it over the sound of men and women whose stone-cold hearts had melted at the power of the Gospel. They wailed and shouted, "Stop! We can't handle any more!" Soon he was a well known and famous man. His books and theology became top notch. But this was not the end of his story. After chastising some of the kids in his congregation for looking at and making lewd comments towards an anatomy book, he got into trouble with his church. The kids were children of the elders. He saw them fit for discipline. The elders saw him as being too strict. This led to a massive fight in his church that eventually got him ousted. He went out to the outskirts of New England and preached there. He also held services for the local native Americans. The story of a world-famous preacher seemed to be coming to a quiet end. But he had already done something that would change history. For a few years before a man, ragged and sick, came to his home. David Brainerd had been a missionary to the Native Americans in the area. He had been at it for years, and it was a tough, terrible job. While staying at Edwards' house, it became clear that he had tuberculosis. This didn't stop him from becoming close, even romantic (despite his terribly poor condition) with Jerusha Edwards', Jonathan's daughter. Rumors even existed that they had become engaged. David Brainerd died in the care of the Edwards' family. But not before he had passed the Tuberculosis onto Jonathan's daughter, which would eventually kill her, too. Brainerd had shared his journal with Jonathan. Jonathan thought it was a powerful testimony, and asked for permission to publish it. He thought the world might be inspired to follow his lead. Brainerd gave it. Even though this man's disease had led to the death of his daughter, and even though Jonathan was in the midst of a massive struggle with his church that would eventually lead to his ousting, he published the book. It became Edwards' best selling book. By a mile. In the 1700s you would have been far more likely to have that book than any other book by Edwards'. This book changed the world. John Wesley in England specifically said, "'Let every preacher read carefully over the Life of David Brainerd." And went out of his way to give copies of it to the world. Missionaries who changed and inspired the world such as William Carey, Adoniram Judson, and Jim Elliot cited it as books that sent them to the field. One surprising influence was Asahel Nettleton who pointed to Brainerd and Edwards as the reason he became converted. Not well known today, he was the man whose sermon sparked the Second Great Awakening. He broke with the radical elements of the Second Great Awakening, but this means that Edwards' not only helped spark the First Great Awakening but a person converted by his writings started the second one. The Great Awakening, the Second Great Awakening, and in many ways the great century of missions can trace much of their founding back to one man who remained faithful despite terrible circumstances: Jonathan Edwards. His book on David Brainerd begins with the following sentence which is the reason ALL should study Church History: "There are two ways of representing and recommending true religion and virtue to the world; the one, by doctrine and precept; the other, by instance and example." Although today Edwards' is famous for teaching doctrine, in his day and to this day, the book that showed a man's example is what left the biggest impact. And his own example of faithfulness and boldness can teach us today, too.

Warfield on Faith

 Of faith's subjective nature we have what is almost a formal definition in the description of it as an ‘assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen’ (Heb. 11:1). It obviously contains in it, therefore, an element of knowledge (Heb. 11:6), and it as obviously issues in conduct (Heb. 11:8, cf. 5:9, 1 Pet. 1:22). But it consists neither in assent nor in obedience, but in a reliant trust in the invisible Author of all good (Heb. 11:27), in which the mind is set upon the things that are above and not on the things that are upon the earth (Col. 3:2, cf. 2 Cor. 4:16–18, Mt. 6:25.


The examples cited in Heb. 11 are themselves enough to show that the faith there commended is not a mere belief in God’s existence and justice and goodness, or crediting of His word and promises, but a practical counting of Him faithful (11:11), with a trust so profound that no trial can shake it (11:35), and so absolute that it survives the loss of even its own pledge (11:17).

So little is faith in its biblical conception merely a conviction of the understanding, that, when that is called faith, the true idea of faith needs to be built up above this word (Jas. 2:14 ff.). It is a movement of the whole inner man (Rom. 10:9, 10), and is set in contrast with an unbelief that is akin, not to ignorance but to disobedience (Heb. 3:18, 19, Jn. 3:36, Rom. 11:20, 30, 15:31, 1 Thess. 1:8, Heb. 4:2, 6, 1 Pet. 1:7, 8, 3:1, 20, 4:18, Acts 14:2, 19:9), and that grows out of, not lack of information, but that aversion of the heart from God (Heb. 3:12) which takes pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thess. 2:12), and is so unsparingly exposed by our Lord (Jn. 3:19, 5:44, 8:47, 10:26).

In the breadth of its idea, it is thus the going out of the heart from itself and its resting on God in confident trust for all good. But the scriptural revelation has to do with, and is directed to the needs of, not man in the abstract, but sinful man; and for sinful man this hearty reliance on God necessarily becomes humble trust in Him for the fundamental need of the sinner—forgiveness of sins and reception into favor.

In response to the revelations of His grace and the provisions of His mercy, it commits itself without reserve and with abnegation (renouncing) of all self-dependence, to Him as its sole and sufficient Savior, and thus, in one act, empties itself of all claim on God and casts itself upon His grace alone for salvation.

Benjamin B. Warfield, The Works of Benjamin B. Warfield: Biblical Doctrines, vol. 2 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2008), 501–502.