Reformo

Submersion or Immersion by pouring/sprinkling

2011-10-09T21:22:00.011-04:00

I posted this on a facebook group to address the mode of baptism. Hopefully it is helpful I made it quickly a month or two ago and never looked for grammatical errors:

Old Testament References
1 Corinthians 10:2 tells us that the nation of Israel was baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

1 Corinthians 10:1-2
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea

The sprinkling that this is referencing is from the psalmist in Psalm 77. It was through the sea and under the cloud that this baptism came. Psalm 77:14-20 tells of Israel going through the Red Sea between the waters and the rain falling down on them.

Psalm 77:14-20
You are the God who works wonders;
    you have made known your might among the peoples.
You with your arm redeemed your people,
    the children of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah
When the waters saw you, O God,
    when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
    indeed, the deep trembled.
The clouds poured out water;
    the skies gave forth thunder;
    your arrows flashed on every side.
The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
    your lightnings lighted up the world;
    the earth trembled and shook.
Your way was through the sea,
    your path through the great waters;
    yet your footprints were unseen.
You led your people like a flock
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Similarly the heavens opened when the waters fell upon Noah as he was saved through the water of the flood as Peter tells us.

1 Peter 3:18-21
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

The ungodly pagans were submersed in the waters of the flood into their death and the righteous household of Noah was saved through the waters and were immersed by the sprinkling of the heavens as it poured down on the ark.

Regarding the New Covenant
Ezekiel 36:25
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

In the Old Testament one of the signs of cleansing for ceremonial purposes was sprinkling

Numbers 19:20
But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person shall be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

The author of Hebrews makes reference to this cleansing

Hebrews 10:19-22
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

New Testament References
The last point regards Jesus' baptistm. This was a baptism into his priestly calling and ‘it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ The necessary requirements for being a priest under the Mosaic Covenant were the following: 1) be at least thirty years of age, 2) called by God through a Priest, and 3) be sprinkled to cleanse them.

The author of Hebrews says “And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.”

Numbers 4:1-4
The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, "Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their clans and their fathers’ houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who can come on duty, to do the work in the tent of meeting. This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: the most holy things.
Numbers 8:5-7
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and cleanse them. Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification upon them, and let them go with a razor over all their body, and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves.

As such Jesus was able to speak in the temples with the authority His Father through John the Baptist (son of a priest) gave him and by fulfilling the necessary requirements of the Law. Moreover he states in rebuke to the Pharisees questions the following:

Luke 20:2-6
Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority." He answered them, "I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?" And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'From man,' all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet."
Would Jesus need a baptism of repentance? If so what was he to repent of, but he would need a baptism unto high priestly calling by God.

Some Baptists turn to the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8) who was reading Isaiah (around Isaiah 52-53) and inquiring of baptism.

Part of the section of Isaiah that the Eunuch was reading said the following interestingly.
Isaiah 52:13-15
“Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
    he shall be high and lifted up,
    and shall be exalted.
As many were astonished at you—
    his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
    and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
so shall he sprinkle many nations;
    kings shall shut their mouths because of him;
for that which has not been told them they see,
    and that which they have not heard they understand.”

In the epistles of Paul, it is the washing of regeneration and the Spirit whom he poured out on us.

Titus 3:4-7
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

In conclusion, if we are to partake in the same baptism of Christ and be a “royal priesthood” as Peter spoke of then we most certainly are sprinkled. Now the mode is not of the utmost necessity and dipping is certainly permissible. As such the Westminster Confession of Faith concerning Baptism says the following:

WCF XXVIII.III
Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but Baptism is rightly administered by pouring, or sprinkling water upon the person

Hopefully this was helpful.

21st Century Christian Worship

2011-06-04T20:01:00.002-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf3BNRF9ICc&feature=share

DA Carson and the Westminster Rap

2011-03-08T22:43:00.001-05:00

Serious respect goes to D.A. Carson, this is the Westminster Rap.

The Lord's Day

2010-07-18T08:22:00.004-04:00

I have been convicted lately of my worship on the Lord's day and what constitutes necessity and mercy, while in the same manner understanding that as Christ said "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." Last weekend during our worship service my mind continued to think how I should not watch something I enjoy so much as a pastime, and that is (was) the World Cup. Does the world cup constitute mercy or necessity? Neither.

Moreover, the anger I expressed towards several lousy calls as well as an expletive or too is nothing but a poor example of what I profess on a day that is called holy. With all this being said, by the grace of God, I am hoping to change that context of my life and give unto God a day which is truly holy, a day in which I commune with His Church. The Westminster is correct in designating religious worship as "given to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and to Him alone."

My two meditations before

Wester minster Confession of Faith - Chapter 21.VIII.
"This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest, all the day, from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations, but also are taken up, the whole time, in the public and private exercises of His worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy."

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Philippians 4:8

P.S. God forgive me if this post was neither of mercy or necessity.

I like this song...

2010-06-12T23:44:00.001-04:00

Law can so often be easier than freedom...

A New Law
Don't teach me about politics and government
Just tell me who to vote for
Don't teach me about truth and beauty
Just label my music

Don't teach me how to live like a free man
Just give me a new law

I don't wanna know if the answers aren't easy
So just bring it down from the mountain to me

I want a new law
I want a new law
Gimme that new law

Don't teach me about moderation and liberty
I prefer a shot of grape juice

Don't teach me about loving my enemies

Don't teach me how to listen to the Spirit
Just give me a new law

What's the use in trading a law you can never keep
For one you can that cannot get you anything
Do not be afraid

Tim Keller on Criticism

2010-06-03T09:33:00.002-04:00

Here.

A Friend

2010-05-29T07:32:00.003-04:00

Something worth noting today is in regards to new birth. Conversion to the true religion is the result of a changed heart, the heart of stone is removed and a heart of flesh is inserted. This new birth has occurred for a friend of mine. This friend was raised in a conflicting religion where often free-thought is not encouraged. This friend has expressed the reality of God dragging her over the past three years towards the narrow path which culminated in a text message that said "I am converting."

I actually laughed when I read those three words thinking that it was a joke, a satire, or maybe even a mockery. But those three words were of the utmost sincerity. After a few weeks that friend has attended a church service with my roommate and I and has shown the most tremendous drive. It is amazing to see what happens in the life of someone when they give up to God the reigns of their life.

Yes there are some rough edges, but that is something that will need to be killed daily. This friend is an absolute inspiration as a person with what they have gone through and now as a new convert they have a true testimony the power of God. Things will not be easy due to tension with the conflicting religious views, but God promised to take our burden through His Son Jesus Christ.

I am beyond honoured to know that I was used even in a minimal way to nurture and water the ground where the seed of truth was planted. I cannot wait for church Sunday where I will be able to not only encounter Christ but see the growth a babe as my friend encounters Christ for the second time through a more formal means of grace.

Please keep my friend in your prayers as it will not be easy.

My past year....

2010-05-18T16:29:00.000-04:00

Where to begin? The initial parts of my story actually lead back over a year ago where I broke up with my girlfriend in March 2009. From March through November we attempted to maintain a friendship which unfortunately ended. In November 2009 I moved in with two friends of mine and one of which with whom I attended the same Baptist church. We had both been approaching a more orthodox reformed view regarding Covenant Theology and because of this there was clear contention with the Particular or Calvinistic Baptist position.

Because of our love for the members we postponed our departure to our own detriment. My roommate was severely busy with trials and I was equally as busy with school and work making September 2009 through to the spring quite busy and easy to avoid the responsibility of informing our church. After some very serious matters occurred with my ex-girlfriend I told her that I did not think we could be friends. Around the same time I was blessed to meet a friend of a friend who turned out to be my neighbour. This young woman was raised in a very orthodox Muslim household, but was non-practicing as many professing Christians are themselves.

We immediately developed a very strong friendship; we had extreme similarities and interests which made it very easy for us to get along. The whole time I knew the character of my ex-girlfriend and I did what I could to shield her from any heart-ache. Even though this was only a friendship I knew that she would jump to conclusions that were false. Over a period of six months my roommate and I had missed several Sundays due to work and/or school. Because of this our Pastor wanted to meet with us out of concern and we took this as our opportunity to tell him and by extension the church about our doctrinal differences. The Pastor was in shock about a change in theology and had expected us to admit to some sin that was in our lives. He asked if we would be willing to hear their side of the theology on Wednesday evening; even though we were thoroughly convinced of the reformed position out of respect we afforded them this opportunity.

The Wednesday before this all started he addressed the congregation and warned them that we were in a severely weakened spiritual state due to our lack of attendance (3 or 4 Sundays over six months) and that often this can result in false doctrine. In other words the members were primed in the regular Baptist fashion. We admitted wholly that even with work or school, we have no excuse but only reasons. The next week my ex-girlfriend contacted me and an argument broke out where she accused me of dating our neighbour and engaging in less than Christian behaviour. I of course rebutted that she was presenting false accusations and that from first-hand evidence I was aware of her behaviour (after she made a vain profession of faith, which God willing he will use for good). She erupted in anger and threatened me; I warned my roommate and she certainly followed through.

The first Wednesday of our doctrinal correction approached and when we arrived one of the elders spoke with my roommate and I privately (separately) before the meeting. Where he informed us that allegations about drunkenness, fornication, and God knows what else have been levelled against us. Needless to say our hearts and minds were distraught during the entire meeting. What was worse was that this was neither a debate nor a dialogue, but a witch trial. The pastor not only falsely represented reformed theology, but presented straw man arguments with the aid of red-herrings. Whenever I spoke up there was literal laughing, mocking and hissing. The result was very poor. Afterwards all the elders spoke with us. The teaching pastor showed the worst display of pastoral behaviour I have ever seen before. Without critically examining the evidence he took the witness of one person unbiblically to attack us. We denied the allegations to their shock. He was upset that as a pastor he would actually have to investigate this matter further.

The following week they met with my roommate at the law-office where they attempted to sacrifice me as a scapegoat. They confronted him that I was a manipulative person and that it was clear it was all me and that he should kick me out. Moreover, they should put aside the issue of doctrine and spend 5-6 months reconciling him. He was upset that they thought he was such a fool to be manipulated and that they were engaging in gossip instead of confronting me. He stood by my side throughout this to their anger.

Another week went by and by God’s grace we could not attend church due to our own personal matters and they again never contacted me. They spoke with my roommate and presented several witnesses, my ex-girlfriend, our old roommate (who is a whole other story), a really close friend, and even my father. He lied regarding my friend who told me how they manipulated all of his words. The roommate who has every reason to hate us had nothing to say. And my father on one occasion asked the pastor to pray for me due to my theological change not heinous sinful behaviour. I was at my limit and I officially withdrew my membership via email to the pastor. And in 4 weeks I have not heard from any of them.

That led us to re-contact the pastor of a Presbyterian church we attended, and I am proud to say after speaking with him last week we will be joining them this Sunday.

After all the negativity that occurred we see the glory of God’s providence not allowing us to remain in that church for any longer than we likely would have.

I am proud that God can use that which others mean for evil, for good. God has certainly used this to remind me of my dependence upon Him and His Church. I hope to write something amazing about that friend in the next post.

Not too late...

2010-05-17T12:27:00.004-04:00

It has been a long time since I have posted anything on my blog. Part of this has been due to the inconvenience of time and school, but some of it has been just an indifference. I hope to continue writing on here, and I will hopefully in short relay some of the crazy ordeals that have occurred over the past six months. I forgot to announce that my life now reflects my heart and mind; I am officially Presbyterian (once membership is worked out). I certainly waited far too long to leave the Baptist church I had been attending, but the friends there made it very hard.

Hopefully over the next few days I can take the time to explain the good, the bad, and the ugly of the past six months.

Prayer of Saint Basil the Great

2009-12-24T23:51:00.002-05:00

O God and Lord of the Powers, and Maker of all creation, Who, because of Thy clemency and incomparable mercy, didst send Thine Only-Begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of mankind, and with His venerable Cross didst tear asunder the record of our sins, and thereby didst conquer the rulers and powers of darkness; receive from us sinful people, O merciful Master, these prayers of gratitude and supplication, and deliver us from every destructive and gloomy transgression, and from all visible and invisible enemies who seek to injure us. Nail down our flesh with fear of Thee, and let not our hearts be inclined to words or thoughts of evil, but pierce our souls with Thy love, that ever contemplating Thee, being enlightened by Thee, and discerning Thee, the unapproachable and everlasting Light, we may unceasingly render confession and gratitude to Thee: The eternal Father, with Thine Only-Begotten Son, and with Thine All-Holy, Gracious, and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

It has been a long time since I have posted anything; unfortunately my life has been controlled by both school and work. The Lord knows my many worries in life and they very rarely revolve around school and work, but usually around past loves, current troubles, and future turmoils. I can often take such sweet joy in a moment of quiet thought on Christ, but when the world roars I can so easily be distracted.

There are but a few minutes until midnight strikes, and I celebrate another Christmas. I hope that this can day can be centred around the fact that God became man, the Word became flesh; our hope and redemption was sealed by the birth of Jesus through the Virgin Mary. What a proclamation we have as Christians, our God was born a child, grew up to be a man, died, rose again, and ascended on high that he may judge the dead. What beauty do we have in the grace of God upon such sorrowful sinners? God's grace be upon us all as we celebrate the birth of a saviour!

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Advent: O Come, O Come Emmanuel

2009-12-02T08:19:00.003-05:00

I am making an effort to focus upon the birth of our Lord and Saviour this advent; I and most of our most evangelical culture tend to neglect the season preceding Christmas whereas I hope to take these days that lead into the culmination of Jesus' birth with reverence.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear

REFRAIN: Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
(Refrain)

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
(Refrain)

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
(Refrain)

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
(Refrain)

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
(Refrain)

O come, Thou Root of Jesse's tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
(Refrain)

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Augustine, On The Trinity

2009-11-11T09:10:00.003-05:00

For the purpose of meditation and God willing sanctification into the image of the Son I am reading Augustine On the Trinity. I am always amazed at the articulate use of language Augustine was able to write with. I have read bits and pieces of On The Trinity before but I have never sat down to read it through and through. There is a section of Chapter II in the eighth book that I read on the bus this morning that has been running through my head. Augustine proposes that our thoughts and imaginations are limited due to not only our fallen state, but our finite state. He argues that the Trinity which is wholly God, wholly Truth, and wholly Good, can not be understood by bodily means. After extolling introductory thought concerning the character of the Godhead he writes concerning truth; it is precisely the following statement that has held my mind for the past hour:

Behold and see if you can, O soul bowed down by the corruptible body [Wisdom 9:15] and laden by many and various kinds of earthly thoughts, behold, and see if you can that God is Truth. For it is written that "God is light" [1 John 1:5] not as eyes see it, but as the heart sees it when it hears: "He is Truth" [John 14:6]. Do not ask: "What is Truth?" [John 18:38]. For at once the mists of bodily images and the clouds of phantasms will obstruct your view, and obscure the brightness which shone upon you at the first flash when I said "Truth." See, remain in that first flash in which you were dazzled as it were by its brightness, when it was said to you "Truth." Remain in it, if you can, but if you cannot, you will fall back into those wonted earthly thoughts. And what weight, pray, will finally cause you to fall back, if not the tenacity of the sinful desires that you have contracted and the errors of your earthly pilgrimage.

Augustine, On the Trinity, Book 8. Ch III

That is the central theme of my meditation today, not "What is Truth?", but "Truth!" God have mercy upon us as we strive to understand all that is love, truth and good, not that we may be great, but that we will recognize Your greatness. You are wholly God, plurality in unity; wholly love understood through Your Son; wholly good in all that you bring to pass. Make us holy as you are holy, grant that we may obey the Law of Christ in lives, action and motive. All to the glory of You, in the name of Your begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Jonathan Edwards, Light after Darkness

2009-11-10T11:14:00.002-05:00

I was reading a sermon by Jonathan Edward entitled "Hope and Comfort Usually Follow Genuine Humiliation and Repentance"; I was moved by the following words as I think over the condition of the Christian life, namely my own.

"... As the children of Israel, before they came to sing with joy after they came out of the land of Egypt, were under great trouble from their taskmasters, and sighed by reason of the hard bondage, and then were pursued, and put into dreadful fear at the Red sea. It was their taskmasters who made them all this trouble. So it is sin which makes all the trouble which a sinner suffers under awakenings. Their trouble for sin is no gracious, godly sorrow for sin; for that does not arise merely from fear, but from love. It is not an evangelical, but legal, repentance of which we are speaking, which is not from love to God, but only self love.

The end of this trouble in those to whom God designs mercy is to humble them. God leads them into the wilderness before he speaks comfortably to them, for the same cause that he led the children of Israel into the wilderness before he brought them into Canaan, which we are told was to humble them."

Jonathan Edwards, Hope and Comfort Usually Follow Genuine Humiliation and Repentance

Bavinck on Catholicism and Christian Living

2009-11-05T08:19:00.003-05:00

I read this interesting citation from Dutch Reformed theologian Herman Bavinck regarding relations with Catholicism:

“[W]e must remind ourselves that the Catholic righteousness by good works is vastly preferable to a protestant righteousness by good doctrine. At least righteousness by good works benefits one’s neighbour, whereas righteousness by good doctrine only produces lovelessness and pride. Furthermore, we must not blind ourselves to the tremendous faith, genuine repentance, complete surrender and the fervent love for God and neighbour evident in the lives and work of many Catholic Christians. The Christian life is so rich that it develops its full glory not just in a single form or within the walls of one church.”

(HT: CRCM-UWO)

St. Irenaeus on Scripture

2009-10-21T08:08:00.002-04:00

"We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the Gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith."

Against Heresies III.i.i, St. Irenaeus

"Our fathers...ate the same spiritual meat" - Part 2

2009-10-19T23:26:00.004-04:00

I am glad I still have this copy of this commentary which I borrowed from someone.
St. Augustine on Spiritual Meat

Now about the departure of Israel from Egypt let the apostle speak instead of me. I want you to know, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock which followed them, and the Rock was Christ. By explaining one passage he gives the key to the others. For if the rock was Christ because of its firmness, is not the manna also Christ since it is the living bread which came down from heaven (John 6:42)? Those who truly eat of it are spiritually alive. For those who received this figure only in the carnal sense are dead. But when the apostle says that all ate the same spiritual food, he shows that the manna is to be understood spiritually as Christ. Similarly, he explains why he calls their drink spiritual when he says the Rock was Christ, an explanation that clarifies the while...

Kovacs, Judith L., Corinthians: Interpreted by Early Church Commentators

"Our fathers...ate the same spiritual meat"

2009-10-19T20:59:00.004-04:00

Calvin and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper (Eucharist)

1 Corinthians 1:1-5
For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Commentary on verse 3

Farther, when he says that the fathers ate the same spiritual meat, he shows, first, what is the virtue and efficacy of the Sacraments, and, secondly, he declares, that the ancient Sacraments of the Law had the same virtue as ours have at this day. For, if the manna was spiritual food, it follows, that it is not bare emblems that are presented to us in the Sacraments, but that the thing represented is at the same time truly imparted, for God is not a deceiver to feed us with empty fancies. A sign, it is true, is a sign, and retains its essence, but, as Papists act a ridiculous part, who dream of transformations, (I know not of what sort,) so it is not for us to separate between the reality and the emblem which God has conjoined. Papists confound the reality and the sign: profane men, as, for example, Suenckfeldius, and the like, separate the signs from the realities. Let us maintain a middle course, or, in other words, let us observe the connection appointed by the Lord, but still keep them distinct, that we may not mistakingly transfer to the one what belongs to the other."

There seem to be so many debates raging among some contemporary blogs regarding the sacrament of the Lord's Table where we partake in his body and blood. Some prefer to side with the Jews of Christ's day ignoring His teaching and seeking the physical, whereas St. Paul and Holy Scripture teach just as Christ does that the flesh avail nothing whereas His words are Spirit. Praise God that we are lifted into the heavenly places not just by faith, but through His Spirit as we feast upon His very body and blood.

St. Paul on Anxiety and Prayer

2009-10-17T13:29:00.002-04:00

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7

A Tale of Two Cities

2009-10-11T20:14:00.002-04:00

I love the contrast Augustine writes of in his famous work City of God. I am suffering through a serious situation in my life right now as I sort out so many serious things. I loved this quote:

Two cities, then, have been created by two loves: that is, the earthly by love of self extending even to contempt of God, and the heavenly by love of God extending to contempt of self…In the Earthly City, princes are as much mastered by the lust for mastery as the nations which they subdue are by them; in the Heavenly, all serve one another in charity, rulers by their counsel and subject by their obedience.

I want to be characterized as a heavenly citizen by my love for God.

Arguments From Silence

2009-10-11T09:01:00.004-04:00

Recently a friend and I have been preparing a defense for our (may I say biblical) view regarding the sacrament of baptism. We are fearful of the eldership when we approach them about our views changing. But one conclusion I have reached with regard to the issue of baptism is that the bulk of arguments and proof are arguments from silence in the baptist position. It is not a matter of whether or not Scripture speaks explicitly about baptism, it is whether the key structure of the covenant has changed.

Each covenant in Scripture can be understood in light of the archetypal covenant found in Genesis, the Covenant of Works; in this covenant we see not only a head with whom the covenant is made, but the covenantal community (or family). This structure is seen over and over throughout Scripture, and therefore the weight of the argument is not upon paedobaptist's but upon credobaptists. Why is it that as Israel the covenantal people of God experienced the joys of the new covenant that God would now reveal his removal of the children from the blessings and promises of the covenant?

I always wondered as a Baptist why passages such as Matthew 19:14 were used in defense of baptism, but after carefully looking at the passage I can definitely see why: "But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Why is it that Christ our Lord, Saviour, and Redeemer would provide not only the remnant of Israel, but the world a way to salvation during one economy where he says "Let the children alone" and then suffer the pains of death only to rise saying "I never knew you!" This is the logical conclusion of the Baptist position when they do not distinguish their ecclesiology with their soteriology. They take the covenantal exclusivity of Jeremiah 31 to exclude the children of the covenant. They are seeking to purify the Church by only having wheats but this goes against everything Christ taught about the Kingdom of God. We are not to purify the Church for it would only hurt us, we are to allow Christ to separate the wheats from the tares, both now and at glory.

Why do I say the bulk of the proof is on the Baptist and not the rest of Christianity? If there was such a drastic change to the structure of a covenant than why is Scripture silent? Would not the 5000 on the Day of Pentecost include children? Would the believing parents not be holding their infants close to their chests as Peter tells them of their salvation? When they said to the Apostles "What shall we do?" Were they not thinking of their children as well? Does Peter not respond:

"Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

I am convinced that it is the Baptist who must explain why neither Peter, Paul, or John who wrote the bulk of the NT did not teach this new structure. I am also convinced that had baptism been for believers only than the Judaizers who sought to bind the will of men would argue for the baptism of children, but we see no opposition from Paul in his many polemics. It may simply be conjecture to assume this on my part, but I am compelled to think that if the Judaizers were seeking to circumcise their young (claiming the covenant in the old economy) they would also do this through baptism.

These are just some thoughts I have regarding the issue of Baptism. I realize that I need to prepare myself for the day I officially enter a new church. The funny thing is I am not even going to go to History unless I must. I think history is the most compelling piece of extrabiblical proof in the defense of Baptism. For if paedobaptism is truly a erroneous doctrine, than it a doctrine that infiltrated the entire church within a century with absolutely no opposition. It is truly the word heresy to ever befall the Church for it never received any serious opposition until the 16th century. (I said serious, I am aware of the Donatists)

Anyways I am off to church to take part in the glory of Christ present in his body and blood. I hope and pray that the reality of that blessing can be a reality in my life today as I could truly use the strength of another.

The Sovereignty of Man

2009-10-09T16:26:00.003-04:00

This is a slight rant which should not be a rant at all. I sometimes get sick of the death-bed principle that people will "find" or "experience" God in their own way, and in their own time. It is such an astonishing thing to hear. When Christ lived he would never accept the idea of "waiting on man." Christ said let the dead bury the dead, and other such remarks. Christ commands belief, repentance, and obedience; I understand these only come by the grace of God, but honestly how highly do people think of themselves?

Matthew 8:22 Allow the dead to bury their dead.

By these words Christ does not condemn burial: for it would have been shameful and cruel to throw away the bodies of the dead unburied, and we know that the custom of burying originated in a divine command, and was practiced by the saints, in order to strengthen the hope of the last resurrection. He intended only to show, that what ever withdraws us from the right course, or retards us in it, deserves no other name than death Those only live, he tells us, who devote all their thoughts, and every part of their life, to obedience to God; while those who do not rise above the world, — who devote themselves to pleasing men, and forget God, — are like dead men, who are idly and uselessly employed in taking care of the dead.
- John Calvin

Calvin, Psalm 51:1 and the Mercy of God

2009-10-07T22:40:00.000-04:00

Have mercy upon me. David begins, as I have already remarked, by praying for pardon; and his sin having been of an aggravated description, he prays with unwonted earnestness. He does not satisfy himself with one petition. Having mentioned the loving-kindness of the Lord, he adds the multitude of his compassions, to intimate that mercy of an ordinary kind would not suffice for so great a sinner. Had he prayed God to be favorable, simply according to his clemency or goodness, even that would have amounted to a confession that his case was a bad one; but when he speaks of his sin as remissible, only through the countless multitude of the compassions of God, he represents it as peculiarly atrocious. There is an implied antithesis between the greatness of the mercies sought for, and the greatness of the transgression which required them.
John Calvin - Commentary on Psalms - Volume 2

Pleasing news...

2009-10-03T12:20:00.003-04:00

I attend a school of around 30,000+ students; out of this school I sometimes presume that I am the only Christian of the Reformed tradition. Now I know this is a blanket presumption since I hardly know even a percent of a percent of the population, but in Canada the Reformed tradition is seriously weak. With exception to a Calvinistic Baptist church that I am attending (which I will refrain from calling reformed), and the odd Dutch Reformed churches, London is very lacking.

I was very pleased to find out that there is a chaplain on the main campus from the Dutch Reformed tradition. As far as I am aware he is of a more historic position regarding reformed doctrines; I contacted him through email to inquire of this and he invited me out for coffee. Nothing would please me greater than to meet some people on campus who adhere to those beautiful doctrines of the Reformation. So I am really looking forward to our conversation next week.

Who knows maybe there is a collection of saints at this school that I was just simply unaware of until today. :) With exception to sin in my life, which God willing He will give me the strength to overcome I feel as if things are falling into place theologically for me like never before. I never thought I would say this, but may God bless Western and by His grace He would produce fruit for His Church.

Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues...

2009-09-28T11:12:00.000-04:00

The pain of loss is truly one of the greatest aches the body can feel. Last night I laid in bed thinking about the pain and anguish God must feel towards his creation. I thought of the sin in my life, the vast and numerous sins I have committed in my short lifetime, and how there are times I can be very unforgiving. Forgiveness is something that I am not only working on, but putting into practice. It is one of the hardest things in the world to be wronged by someone you love so dearly, to feel the pain and anguish of the soul torn in two, but what can be that much harder is to put them first and forgive. I would never be so naive as to forgive and forget, but I certainly do want to forgive.

This is what led my thoughts to God, if as humans we can feel such pain; how much greater does God suffer? Isaiah speaks of God weeping over the Moabites with whom he destroyed. I can only imagine the love and pain felt in Christian who sins. My life is not what it ought to be, but I want to push forward. I found this quote by St. Augustine surprisingly calming as I read it this morning: Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.

As I live out my life in Christ, my goals are set, love Christ, love the Church, love others, and to have these character traits held together by His Spirit, and through humility and forgiveness. I am becoming so cold as I learn more, because I am not allowing the growth to be inward, but simply in the mind. God have mercy upon me, and thank you for the work of Your Son on the cross. He died for someone as wretched as me, so that I may live.

Ryle on True Holiness

2009-09-28T08:37:00.000-04:00

When people talk of having received "such a blessing," and of having found "the higher life," after hearing some earnest advocate of "holiness by faith and self-consecration," while their family and friends see no improvement and no increased sanctity in their daily tempers and behavior, immense harm is done to the cause of Christ. True holiness, we surely ought to remember, does not consist merely of inward sensations and impressions. It is much more then tears, and sighs, and bodily excitement, and a quickened pulse, and a passionate feeling of attachment to our favorite preachers and our own religious party, and a readiness to quarrel with everyone who does not agree with us. It is something of "the image of Christ." which can be seen and observed by others in our private life, and habits, and character, and doings.

The Church, High or Low View?

2009-09-27T08:18:00.005-04:00

In a very short and brief conversation with someone last night through facebook messaging a statement was made:

The realization that covenant membership is not equivalent to regeneration was a watershed for me theologically. I was never interested in ecclesiology prior to that understanding, because in my mind ecclesiology was equivalent to soteriology. Now I can't stop studying the wonderful doctrine of the church. This has changed my life significantly.

It is amazing that over the past six months I have begun to come to these conclusions and my view of Christ's Church truly has changed significantly. I have a much higher view of her than I did before; God willing it will continue to grow.

One change was that I told a friend his baptism was absolutely invalid and an affront to Christ and the Spirit. This friend was baptized in the Orthodox church as a child, later in life I believe he was baptized at some church camp, and finally after being confronted with the gospel in his 20's he truly believed (regenerate) and was baptized. Now which baptism did I say was invalid? The last two. He has been coming to similar conclusions as I have with regard to this sacrament; he was not offended at all. I never would have thought the day would come when I accepted these truths.

Now what of all those friends I have suggested be baptized, believe, repent (of course by God's grace) who were baptized as infants? Some of them were baptized in hideous churches such as Roman, Eastern, or United Church? Well they were baptized into the Christian Church. I struggled over the issue thinking about the Corinthians passage dealing with a believing parent. The Westminster Standard was alluded and referenced, specifically:

WLC Question 166: Unto whom is Baptism to be administered?
Answer: Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, and so strangers from the covenant of promise, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him, but infants descending from parents, either both, or but one of them, professing faith in Christ, and obedience to him, are in that respect within the covenant, and to be baptized.

So those friends who were baptized as children were truly baptized into the Church of Christ. But what of them now? Now they have forsaken that very body, they have left the Church, and they have spurred the Son of God. All that is left for them is judgment apart from God's grace. What do I advise them now? They need to be obedient and return home. Nothing more.

I had a relationship end because of "differing ideologies", but the reality is that it was not differing ideologies, it was that I was inside the Church and she was not. She had forsaken the cross, the Church, and all therein for the world. It had nothing at all to do with ideologies. What should she do? She should repent, believe, and enter back into the Church; seek the mercy of God and the grace found in His Church.

The Glory Stored in Repentance

2009-09-22T17:23:00.007-04:00

I read Luke chapter fifteen today; this is definitely one of my favourite chapters of this book. I think one of the reasons I love this chapter so much is that it gives hope to a sinner no matter how great! I love the imagery the Lord uses to call those to repentance; and the also the strong language he uses to contrast that with the righteous. I know in the context of the Jewish culture the "righteous" would be Pharisee type, but today I see it as the moralist who has no sin in their life. It is generally the last few lines of the parables that I find the most heart piercing.

Luke 15:7 "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."

Luke 15:10 "Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

The culmination of these two parables is in the story the Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-32. This is a piece of Scripture that almost unanimously I always feel the strings of my heart being stretched when I read it. I can not think of the times this has brought me to my knees, or simply just a single tear drops down my cheek. What a graceful and merciful God we have that instead of rejecting us he accepts us; instead of turning aside he runs to us; instead of striking down he lifts up. As I have already said, I think one of the reasons this chapter is so influential upon me is as a source of hope. The hope is in such a glorious and merciful God who can spare me. There are times I feel like a Prodigal, and there is nothing more I would love to do is run towards that bridegroom we call Jesus Christ.

What beauty is stored up in this simple paragraph; we are presented with a son who approaches his father in humility. After spending his inheritance on food, women and all sins under the son he comes back in humility. What does the father do?

But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:17-24

Those Who Live Between the Two

2009-09-19T20:42:00.002-04:00

I just finished a post that dealt with serious issues in my own life with sin, belief, and unbelief. I started reading the works of a third century father named Commodianus, and what he wrote made me think of someone I have held close to my heart for a while. What he writes strikes right to the core of the issue of unbelief, those moralist who hold to a form of God while denying the power. Those who "believe" in God, but do not repent, do not believe, and reject the Church. Those who stand outside the beauty, the joy, the harmony of the Church of Christ. The Church was and is truly a whore, but she is being turned into the most beautiful of creations, the righteousness of God. Commodianus wrote this for those who stand outside the gates of Heaven (Church) in unbelief but a vain profession:

Of Those Who Live Between the Two.
Thou who thinkest that, by living doubtfully between the two, thou art on thy guard, goest on thy way stript of law, broken down by luxury. Thou art looking forward vainly to so many things, why seekest thou unjust things? And whatever thou hast done shall there remain to thee when dead. Consider, thou foolish one, thou wast not, and lo, thou art seen. Thou knowest not whence thou hast proceeded, nor whence thou art nourished. Thou avoidest the excellent and benignant God of thy life, and thy Governor, who would rather wish thee to live. Thou turnest thyself to thyself, and givest thy back to God. Thou drownest thyself in darkness, whilst thou thinkest thou art abiding in light. Why runnest thou in the synagogue to the Pharisees, that He may become merciful to thee, whom thou of thy own accord deniest? Thence thou goest abroad again; thou seekest healthful things. Thou wishest to live between both ways, but thence thou shalt perish. And, moreover, thou sayest, Who is He who has redeemed from death, that we may believe in Him, since there punishments are awarded? Ah! not thus, O malignant man, shall it be as thou thinkest. For to him who has lived well there is advantage after death. Thou, however, when one day thou diest, shalt be taken away in an evil place. But they who believe in Christ shall be led into a good place, and those to whom that delight is given are caressed; but to you who are of a double mind, against you is punishment without the body. The course of the tormentor stirs you up to cry out against your brother.

Even though I do not portray it outwardly as often as I should; there is a joy stored in the person of Jesus Christ that not even angels can understand, but we have been blessed by the remission of sins can see our God for who He is in Jesus Christ. I could never stress how important it is to seek after Christ, to run with arms wide open into the loving arms of a God who can and will forgive the sins of the greatest sinners. Apart from God's love is only God's hate, and His love cannot be divorced from the Church, for she is the dispenser of this great and glorious love. Many rest as Commodianus wrote "by living doubtfully between the two" and thinking that they are safe, but there is only safety inside the Church. Those who profess the true religion should live it within the Church.

I hope that the Lord will have mercy upon me and grant me the peace found in obedience to His ways. I pray that the Lord would have mercy upon any who read this; that they would understand a holy fear of the Lord and run into washing waters of baptism and the Church of Christ. Faith truly does justify, but it will remain dead and unfruitful without obedience.

Am I living in unbelief?

2009-09-18T19:50:00.003-04:00

"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

Now I would like to think that in my life wealth is not an idol, but I certainly know that I have many other different types. As it stands this piece of scripture certainly speaks volumes to me. Over the past three months I have placed so many idols in my life that I feel the only option I have is to run away from the world. I am always seeking easy ways out of my life, some days I ask God to remove my idols, other days I ask God to change them into God-honouring virtues, and others I would rather hide in a cave with my fingers in my ears until either my own death or the return of the Lord.

Lately I have been contemplating the concept of mortal sin; the only place in scripture where an explicit reference to "mortal sin" is found is in the epistle of First John,

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.

Now I am Reformed and not Lutheran in my approach, and I would suggest that ultimately there is only one sin that leads unto death for those in the Church and that is unbelief. This bears the question, how can someone within the Church fall into unbelief? At one time I would answer it is impossible. Now I would answer that there are many in the Church that can and do fall into unbelief; they are the tares.

A beautiful picture of the Church is given by Christ in the Gospels:

"The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn" (Mt. 13:24-30).

With this I understand the Kingdom of God (the Church) to be a mixed bunch, some wheat and some tare; as student of the Reformed tradition I would argue that only the wheat's persevere unto salvation. Now what of the tares? Some remain in the Church from birth until death, and others will be given over to Satan either through excommunication or willing apostasy. Ultimately I believe that only this group can fall into the mortal sin of unbelief, but could I be wrong?

I was reading a Lutheran journal recently that remarked that a common tradition is that a list of mortal sins can be found in Galatians where Paul wrote:

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21).

I can honestly stand in doubt and fear before God that if these truly are mortal sins then I am condemned, because I have certainly fallen into these sins before. But is it just simply the act of sin, or a life of sin?

If I do not repent of "sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like" then I show myself to be in utter disobedience to the gospel message of Christ.

I sincerely want to live an obedient life, trusting and walking in the Spirit, but I tend to fear I will continue in the flesh. There are times I pray to God for the salvation of my family, friends, and those I hold very dear to my heart, but I wonder if I should be praying for my own soul first? I would like to share two passages of Scripture, the former will be the fear of my flesh, and the latter that cry of my heart.

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God
Hebrews 10:26-31.

and

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
    blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    and cleanse me from my sin!

For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
    and blameless in your judgment.
...
Psalm 51

My Life in a Nutshell

2009-09-15T10:02:00.002-04:00

Romans 7:15-19

1Tm:1:15: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Teacher of the Faith

2009-09-13T09:14:00.003-04:00

John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, Teacher of the Faith, 407

According to the Church of England's and Roman Catholic liturgical calender of Saints, today is the day of St. John Chrysostom. This Saint has been a definite blessing to my life with regard to some of his works on the Christian life. I have found his writing very relevant even for a modern day. I guess it goes to show that truth truly does transcend time and culture. I was looking over some of his works, and could not think of what to read this morning, but I ended up just reading over some of his homilies on St. John which I always appreciate reading.

It is the first time in a month I was at communion, due to work I had missed church for 3 services. I felt so alone not being around my brothers and sisters for the month, and it was such a joyous feeling to see them and partake in the cup with them.

May everyone have a blessed day.

The Annoyance of Individualistic Moralism and the Self-Righteous

2009-09-11T07:15:00.003-04:00

I woke up this morning with two things running through my mind... "Moralism!" and "Individual Responsibility!"

I often see Christianity proper rejected under the guise of "Fundamentalism" or out-of-date, when neither is the case. I will then see it re-invented without the name with the only dogma being moralism. And really this is just an individualistic moralism for the 21st century.

It baffles my mind when I think about the Gospel accounts when a sick person, a scared person, a possessed person, or a sinner is brought before Christ and the simplicity found in His response is almost always, "repent and believe!" We do not see Jesus saying hold unto your moralism, follow the "Law", but "repent" and "believe!"

I recently had a conversation with someone where I started going off on a rant about myself, and as I phrased it "the show that is my hypocritical life!" I remember thinking about all the righteous Jews of Christ's time; (when I use the term righteous I am speaking very earthly) they make sure to keep all their sins hidden, but give off an image of holiness. That is all we modern moralist do is hide the bad sins in the closet and just make sure that we show off enough of the good virtues of life.

I have been told "I wish things were different" and in the context my only assumption is that the person wished they "understood what I understood", or "felt what I felt" with regard to God. But even then I still see it as the weakness of individual moralism, the person doesn't see Christ because they do not need Christ. I need Christ, and that is why I see Him. I desperately need Christ, I need His strength, I need His body, and His blood. I have not been holy communion in 4 weeks, I have barely seen my brothers, I feel lost without the Body.

I sometimes think to myself, "You are calling Christ a liar!" If someone "truly" wished thing to be different they would seek after the only source of change that is available.

And that brings me to what I was thinking of last, and that is sin. How weak a view as a society do we have of sin? We relish and bathe in sine very single day of our lives, whether it be what we say, we do, we watch, or we think. But it does not bother us at all. I think that person does not see the need for Christ, because they feel they have no need for a saviour. Moralism is simply just another idol that replaces God. Why would I need a saviour, when outwardly I am righteous? That is the crux of the issue, but Christ himself said I came for the sinners not the righteous.

Thank you for putting up with my rant, may God by His grace open all are eyes to sin so that we may understand the fullest pleasure of Christ a Saviour. Remember what was written "her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much." May we love much.

Daily Goal

2009-09-08T07:57:00.003-04:00

Love God first, love the Church second, love the world third, and love myself last.

I want to keep that as my order of priorities. I know I will fail miserably, but I want to try. So often I switch the order around so that usually the last two are the first two. Above all I cannot let the lives of those outside the Church affect me as much as they do. I have some dear friendships with those who live outside the Church, friendships I would give my life for. But they live their lives under a different authority, under a life of self, and individualism. They seek pleasure through this world, whereas those of the Church seek it in the heavenly places.

I am getting sick of hearing "I wish..." or "if only" with regard to the way I live my "existential" existence. Christianity, the very gospel is about freedom in Jesus Christ, the penalty paid for sin, His death on the cross in our stay, but it is also about human responsibility. Jesus Christ is King, and anyone outside the Church is a criminal with the wrath of a holy and just King upon their heads. I am sick of the weakness of human will, repent and believe.

This is definitely turning into a rant, and one of those things most people would recommend ripping up (or deleting) when they are done, but I just don't care. I truly want to learn indifference to the sinful lives of others; (I just cannot let it bring my down the way it does. I have friends that I worry about far too often, and it causes such a torment upon my soul thinking about them. But at the end of the day, unless God so work in their heart, they will just sit in the mud of their sinful lives. I do not wish to ignore the lost, for they are in need of a saviour, and we have such a great saviour, but I do not want to let it yoke my life that I am in constant turmoil over their actions and decisions.

My prayer this morning is this,

God and Father in Heaven, you took us out of the world and placed in your Son. We know that we are no better then anyone, apart from your grace we would be like dogs feasting upon our own vomit. You are the God of grace, You are the source of our salvation. God you know the desires of my heart are selfish, and you know I seek the salvation of those closest to me. Please God would you take the life of that one I hold dearest to my heart and enable her to seek You, give her a desire to long after Your Son. Give her the desire to not only seek after Your Son, but the Word of Scripture, the Church, other Christians, and in faith enter back into Your Sons domain, His kingdom. Apart from your grace God I would fall hard upon this world, and I know I would be given over to all forms of sinfulness, but it is by your grace that life goes forward one day at a time. I ask this all for Your glory, and that the saints and angels may rejoice over the repentance and belief of another soul. In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, I pray this, amen.

Lord, take my weakness and enable to use your strength throughout the day.

The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future."

2009-09-06T09:37:00.004-04:00

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Our Father, which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done,
in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.

Father, forgive me, cleanse me of my sin, and further Your Kingdom even if it is by crushing me. Please by Your Spirit sanctify me, for I am in need of Your ever-flowing grace. Teach me by Your Spirit to trust in the strength of Your Son, and to know that apart from that grace I can do nothing.

...All morning I was thinking of this passage of Scripture where St. Paul writes:
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:5-8

May everyone have a blessed Lord's Day. May God have mercy upon His people.

St. Augustine and Limited Atonement

2009-09-04T08:43:00.004-04:00

I have not posted anything in nearly three weeks; I would like to blame that on the fact that I started a new job, but the reality is that I have felt distracted and restless. I will deal with this myself.(God willing by anther's strength) I have seen the recent polemics among the Reformed (Jared @ Dead Theologians) and the Roman Catholic (Andrew @ Theology of Andrew).

One thing I find very amusing about Roman Catholics is their claim to unity in faith and doctrine, but when you ask a Roman Catholic about doctrine the results are either complete ignorance or their own opinion. I see so many answers, and as long as it alludes to the primacy of Rome, mariology, or something it is "official." Now I know this is a bit of a straw-men against the hard-working catholics who study and refer to Catechisms and Council documents, but on a superficial level this is what I often see.

As for this post, I was thinking about a homily I read by Augustine on 1 John. I was thinking about a verse which can cause much contention about the atonement of Christ among different traditions. Now I stand with Jared, the Reformers, and the Apostles in line with the teaching that Christ suffered and died for His Church. It is quite interesting to see the way Augustine answers this question which he clearly understands to be very serious. Augustine unlike many of the day takes the idea of propitiation very seriously, and would never fall into the fallacious universalist idea that Christ propitiated the "whole world" even though Scripture says "whole world."

Augustine on 1 John 2:2:

For he that has said, “We have Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins:” having an eye to those who would divide themselves, and would say, “Lo, here is Christ, lo, there;” Matthew 24:23 and would show Him in a part who bought the whole and possesses the whole, he immediately goes on to say, “Not our sins only, but also the sins of the whole world.” What is this, brethren? Certainly “we have found it in the fields of the woods,” we have found the Church in all nations. Behold, Christ “is the propitiation for our sins; not ours only, but also the sins of the whole world.” Behold, you have the Church throughout the whole world; do not follow false justifiers who in truth are cutters off. Be in that mountain which has filled the whole earth: because “Christ is the propitiation for our sins; not only ours, but also the sins of the whole world,” which He has bought with His blood.

It would appear that Augustine uses the reference of whole world to refer to the whole world of the wheat's (good sheep, good fruit, etc) whereas the tares (unbelieving) live among us.

James 2, and Personal Thoughts

2009-08-17T22:23:00.005-04:00

But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
James 2:18-26

This is not a post with a hidden polemic as the agenda, but simply my own silly thoughts. I often think that I am the worst Christian in the world, I have faith (or belief), but I often look at my works with disgust. I am not speaking of the benefits or merits of good works such as devotion to the Church, Scripture, and the world around us, but of bad works. (i.e. sin) I can often echo with David the repentant cry of mercy to God, "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned..."

I think it is dreadfully important for our sin to be understand vertically and not horizontally; by this I mean that all sin is against God not merely against ourselves, mankind or nature. We should strive to work out salvation before God, for He is holy and in an abundance of mercy for those who love Him. I sometimes rest to easily in the fact that doubt presupposes faith, but a faith without works is an unjustifiable faith and dead. Often in life we will blame ourselves, or worry about others, without looking further to the root cause, which is sin. I would go even further that the root cause is not just sin, but our sinful nature.

A guilty conscience and remorse will only go so far without repentance. I sometimes think about the times I have "attempted", and I must stress "attempted" to witness to friends and family about the grace and love stored up in Jesus Christ. I neither doubt the love nor the grace but I often doubt my own motives, intentions and desires. Even worse is when I see myself as a hypocrite who says one thing but does another.

I realize that I am a very indifferent person, I would rather sit back and sin. Either a direct sin or a sin of omission, I prefer to sit idly by instead of leading a life of contention against those who need to hear the truth of God's Word. God's Word whether the written or the living preached a Gospel of Truth, the Truth that Christ came to save the ungodly, and the the forgiveness of sins is found through Him alone. But that has a natural antithesis, which is the damnation according to the Word of God which comes through an unrepentant heart and a sinful nature.

Ultimately my hope is stored in the resurrection and my hope for an eternity with my Lord and King. I pray to the Father of mercy that as David said "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!"

Calvin on Romans 7

2009-08-16T08:39:00.003-04:00

Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Romans 7:13-25

Calvin, on 7:15

"For not what I desire, etc. You must not understand that it was always the case with him, that he could not do good; but what he complains of is only this — that he could not perform what he wished, so that he pursued not what was good with that alacrity which was meet, because he was held in a manner bound, and that he also failed in what he wished to do, because he halted through the weakness of the flesh. Hence the pious mind performs not the good it desires to do, because it proceeds not with due activity, and doeth the evil which it would not; for while it desires to stand, it falls, or at least it staggers. But the expressions to will and not to will must be applied to the Spirit, which ought to hold the first place in all the faithful. The flesh indeed has also its own will, but Paul calls that the will which is the chief desire of the heart; and that which militates with it he represents as being contrary to his will."

Sayings of Christ

2009-08-12T07:03:00.001-04:00

This is completely random, but it felt nice to go through these sayings. I went through the Sermon on the Mount and found some sayings of Christ, that specifically for this moment mean a lot to me. Either due to past, present, and likely future issues, or because God's grace is enough! I think the most telling saying for me has always been: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." The deaf and dumb read that ignorantly, while the child of God realizes their weakness before God with regard to this; praise be to Him who died for all our sins, weaknesses, hypocrisies, and omissions!

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done,"

"The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ... And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."

Spurgeon, Thou, O Lord, art my lamp

2009-08-12T06:46:00.000-04:00

I know I have not posted anything of any worth, but I am reading two books right now that are pretty cool, one is by Pelikan called Divine Rhetoric, it shows the relationship between Rhetoric and the Sermon on the mount for Augustine, Chrysostom, and Luther. The second is a work on the thirteenth century theologians Duns Scotus. I was reading this devotional by Spurgeon this morning, and was amazed by the reality that it point straight to the only light, the only hope, and that is Jesus Christ and may the glory be all His!

For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness. (2 Samuel 22:29)

Am I in the light? Then Thou, O Lord, art my lamp. Take Thee away and my joy would be gone; but as long as Thou art with me, I can do without the torches of time and the candles of created comfort. What a light the presence of God casts on all things! We heard of a lighthouse which could be seen for twenty miles, but our Jehovah is not only a God at hand, but far off is He seen, even in the enemy's country. O Lord, I am as happy as an angel when Thy love fills my heart. Thou art all my desire.

Am I in the dark? Then thou, O Lord, wilt lighten my darkness. Before long things will change. Affairs may grow more and more dreary and cloud may be piled upon cloud; but if it grow so dark that I cannot see my own hand, still I shall see the hand of the Lord. When I cannot find a light within me, or among my friends, or in the whole world, the Lord, who said, "Let there be light," and there was light, can say the same again. He will speak me into the sunshine yet. I shall not die but live. The day is already breaking. This sweet text shines like a morning star. I shall clap my hands for joy ere many hours are passed.

Owen, Mortification of Sin

2009-08-04T17:47:00.004-04:00

“Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.”
- John Owen

It is funny (but not really) that there are certain times in life that God with His divine sovereignty will look down upon an insolent creation, a creation He very well calls His, and says "I am God!" I can love and hate when I realize God's utter control. No matter how much I confess God is my sovereign, I want to be in control. God will and can teach humility to His people, fear the day it comes upon you!

Augustine on Matthew 16:18

2009-08-02T20:51:00.000-04:00

Augustine in his Retractions speaking about Matthew 16:18 and the "rock" in which the Church will be built upon:

"In a passage in this book, I said about the Apostle Peter: ‘On him as on a rock the Church was built’...But I know that very frequently at a later time, I so explained what the Lord said: ‘Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church,’ that it be understood as built upon Him whom Peter confessed saying: ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,’ and so Peter, called after this rock, represented the person of the Church which is built upon this rock, and has received ‘the keys of the kingdom of heaven.’ For, ‘Thou art Peter’ and not ‘Thou art the rock’ was said to him. But ‘the rock was Christ,’ in confessing whom, as also the whole Church confesses, Simon was called Peter. But let the reader decide which of these two opinions is the more probable."

Mathetes on the catholic Church

2009-08-01T19:48:00.003-04:00

I was bored sitting in my bed and realizing how little I read Scripture these days. And my eyes glanced to the Ante-Nicene Fathers, so instead of reading Sacred Scripture, I read the fathers. I was reading a letter dated to the first quarter of the second century by an anonymous writer given the name "Mathetes" who is presumed to be a "Student of the Apostles"; with what has been deemed a Pauline influence. I found the unity of the catholic Church summed up quite well by his words:

To sum up all in one word— what the soul is in the body, that are Christians in the world. The soul is dispersed through all the members of the body, and Christians are scattered through all the cities of the world. The soul dwells in the body, yet is not of the body; and Christians dwell in the world, yet are not of the world. The invisible soul is guarded by the visible body, and Christians are known indeed to be in the world, but their godliness remains invisible.
Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus.VI

Rant: Fundamentalists Bug Me

2009-07-30T21:45:00.003-04:00

I honestly cannot stand them! I was in a conversation with one who kept grabbing random biblical "proof texts" to make a point. All of which are out of context non-sense used to further the KJV-onlyist Fundamentalist cause which is just modern-day Judaizers. I believe Paul would stand firm with me, and throw out anathemas on them! Scripture makes clear we cannot follow the Law of Moses, and Fundamentalists seek to make a brand new law!@

The last bit of the conversation was the common Fundamentalist argument, that anyone but a Fundamentalist relies upon the traditions of men. Their self-defeating statement is not worth my time, what I laughed at was when he would not accept the clear testimony of Scripture and quotes Paul exhorting Timothy: (1 Tim 5:1 KJV) "Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;"

After I explained to him the context of which Paul, Timothy and the Ephesus elders were a part of I said that it is not a proof text to avoid the issues. I said that you are simply deflecting the issue and running away like a coward. At which point I said, I can also quote Scripture: Eccl 4:13 (ESV) "Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice."

I am done venting! I can assure you I am not as angry as I appear, I just get sick of these stuck in the mud older generation fundamentalists, who HATE any form of knowledge. Who would rather pass of Spiritual and Theological knowledge as elitist or liberal. I HATE IT! How else are we to know our God apart from the study of His Word? Christ Himself as Paul said is the fullness of knowledge! They really are modern-day Judaizers, and I pray to God the next generation does not have as many Fundamentalists in them. At one point in my childhood I may have called myself a fundamentalist, but it was by my own definition, "I believe the fundamentals!" That is clearly not what a modern-day Judaizing Fundamentalist is! I will never stand with them in the ignorance of their legalism.

...Now that I am done, I beg you Father teach me through the Spirit and by Your Son to love His Bride. Teach me to love her as Your Son loves her! I am weak in this regard, I want to love the Church more than I do, but it can be so hard! She is an adulterous whore at the best of times, but you called her out of the muck to be pure as snow! Please progress Your Kingdom which we take part in through the cross of Your Son. Amen.

Spurgeon, Meditations on John 6:37

2009-07-29T12:21:00.000-04:00

"All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me."—John 6:37.
THIS declaration involves the doctrine of election: there are some whom the Father gave to Christ. It involves the doctrine of effectual calling: these who are given must and shall come; however stoutly they may set themselves against it, yet they shall be brought out of darkness into God's marvellous light. It teaches us the indispensable necessity of faith; for even those who are given to Christ are not saved except they come to Jesus. Even they must come, for there is no other way to heaven but by the door, Christ Jesus. All that the Father gives to our Redeemer must come to Him, therefore none can come to heaven except they come to Christ.

Oh! the power and majesty which rest in the words "shall come." He does not say they have power to come, nor they may come if they will, but they "shall come." The Lord Jesus doth by His messengers, His word, and His Spirit, sweetly and graciously compel men to come in that they may eat of His marriage supper; and this He does, not by any violation of the free agency of man, but by the power of His grace. I may exercise power over another man's will, and yet that other man's will may be perfectly free, because the constraint is exercised in a manner accordant with the laws of the human mind. Jehovah Jesus knows how, by irresistible arguments addressed to the understanding, by mighty reasons appealing to the affections, and by the mysterious influence of His Holy Spirit operating upon all the powers and passions of the soul, so to subdue the whole man, that whereas he was once rebellious, he yields cheerfully to His government, subdued by sovereign love. But how shall those be known whom God hath chosen? By this result: that they do willingly and joyfully accept Christ, and come to Him with simple and unfeigned faith, resting upon Him as all their salvation and all their desire. Reader, have you thus come to Jesus?

Sermon on the Mount

2009-07-27T22:33:00.003-04:00

I think I need to read the Sermon on the Mount more often in my Christian life; the words of Christ are too powerful not to read this work. I really do believe its a necessity in any Christians walk to take time and read these striking passages in self-reflection, prayer, and meditation.

Matthew 5-7 - Sermon on the Mount

Prayer

2009-07-26T09:09:00.006-04:00

This is an area of my life I want to seriously improve upon. I am sick of how pathetic my prayer life is with God. I am not going to say anymore other than that I hope to look into Scripture, specifically the Psalms for examples of worship, blessings, and prayers. I was looking at the High-Priestly prayer of Christ:

"Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
John 17

Catholics must hate when Christ says: "I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them." I am just being a jerk, forgive! I haven't taken any jabs in a while.

Sola Scriptura?

2009-07-26T08:30:00.006-04:00

I have not posted anything in a while on the blog; this is not due to extraneous activities or a busy social life, but simply lack of motivation and nothing to think upon. I have only had around five to six hours of sleep which for me is a lot these days, so I do not expect the beauty of thought to proceed from my mind as I write this morning.

I was hoping to focus upon the Lord's Table, the sacrament of the Eucharist, communion with the body and blood of Christ. Unfortunately to my dismay, my mind which if you know me runs awful fast in three of four different directions at once, took off! I was thinking about my last post on baptism, on a discussion through facebook on "sola scriptura", about my own actions and character in life and the list goes on.

I decided to write about "sola scriptura"! This has been an area of contention for me now for more than a year, and even more so than before. Very often I hear about the self-authenticating nature of the Holy Scripture, and I do not doubt this very self-authentication, very often I hear that Scripture by necessity must be self-declarative in authority, and it is either directly or indirectly through the Old and New Testament of Holy Scripture. But where is my area of trouble? I believe that ultimately lies in the formation of canon.

I agree while at the exact same time cringe at the R.C. Sproul quote: "The Bible is a fallible collection of infallible books." The logical fallacies of such a statement make it both a contradiction and self-defeating. Now before any of my Roman Catholic friends comment in victory, I also believe they fallibly believe in the infallible of the Magisterium, which is equally self-defeating. I sometimes think it is just the detachment we have as rationalist enlightenment folk! We are not able to understand the underlying presuppositions of the Reformers as well as we want, our own bias' creep up, our own twisting of tradition creeps up, and our own presuppositions force outcomes that are not consistent with the past. I wish I could think the way Luther, Zwingli, Melanchthon, Calvin, Bucer, Knox, or Bullinger thought; I would love to have an upbringing of such a classical education of thought that produced a mind such as theirs. But I do not think as they do, however much I agree with some propositional truths of Scripture and however much I may agree with some logical ends, I do not think as they do!

That is why I have trouble with Sola Scriptura sometimes. I have no issue confessing Scripture as a final authority over matters of life and the faith. Within Scripture we have the very revelation of God to man, the very revelation that points to Jesus Christ whom we serve. We know Christ is the fullness of deity in the Godhead and the fullness of all knowledge because of the testimony of Scripture and the Spirit, but I have an issue with it! I realize very often when I speak with either family or friends about doctrines of Scripture, whether the sacraments, sin, the trinity, the person and work of Christ, or the church, I will directly turn not only to Scripture, but to traditions of the Church as revealed through church history. Now clearly I am not giving Scripture its due place as final and sola authority, but that is where I think our mindset is incorrect.

Today many of the "evangelicals" and so-called "conservative Christians" adhere to some Anabaptist doctrine of "solo scriptura." The lone-ranger Christian lives outside the church with his bible and Jesus as his friend. The bible-picking Christian uses his bible to prove any doctrine however legalistic or heretical. The pseudo-Christian millenarian's will use their Bible and the newspaper to show who the Anti-Christ is and the exact date he will setup his kingdom! I hate it!

For a long time I have struggled with the reality that maybe I adhere to a "historically" reformed view of Sola Scriptura, while in the modern context of our world, what we call Christendom, I adhere more to Prima Scriptura; where Scripture is the prime authority thereof. I rely upon traditions in many cases as a tool whereby I interpret the Scripture, at the end of the day the Spirit of God is the only authority that will bind my conscience, but I do not want to sit alone, read my bible, and pick and decide. It "must" be weighed against that 2,000 years of history we call ours!

This has turned into a rant against Anabaptists, conservatives, millenarians, and evangelicals. So I want to end with I am a Baptist (not Anabaptist), I am socially conservative, politically Burkean Conservative, I believe in a millennium (a-, Christ is currently ruling as King), and I do believe in evangelism, just not the modern non-sense.

Soli Deo Gloria!
End Rant

P.S. I hope to produce something worth actually reading.

Baptism

2009-07-16T08:54:00.009-04:00

I attend a Baptist church which strives to follow the Reformed traditions; many would call a Reformed Baptist an oxymoron, but I still believe we have a claim to the Reformed tradition. We emerged with the congregationalists as dissenters of the Church of England in the 17th century, but unfortunately another namesake of Baptist grew like wildfire and there was a need to distinguish between the two. This coming Sunday two men will be entering into the Body of Christ through their baptism. I have been honoured, pleased, and edified over the past year at this church through their elders. They have stressed the necessity for high-views of Christ, Church, and Ordinance, and because of this I want to see the stress and mode by which they perform baptism upon two converts.

Baptism is one of those areas of doctrine where I am almost avoid like the plague. I avoid the doctrine in fear of what conclusions I will come to and the effects therein. I am proud to walk hand in hand with my paedobaptist brethren, for many of them have a much higher view of baptism than Baptist's who claim the only biblical means.

What does Baptism do? This was a question I was asking myself this morning, and as I was looking through Scripture I am amazed at what it teaches for this sacrament of Christ's Church. A few passages I absolutely adore with regard to Baptism, which I actually plan on passing on to these young men are the following:

Titus 3:5
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but) according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Galatians 3:27
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:13a
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body

Romans 6:3-4
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Or how Paul connects circumcision with Baptism (and faith):

Colossians 2:11-12
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Lastly, my mind jumps to the Prophets for some simple passages that at best allude and foreshadow the need for cleansing by the holy waters of baptism.

Isaiah 1:16
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,
Psalm 51:2,7
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,and cleanse me from my sin!
...
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

And lastly the New Covenant, the means by which Christ cleanses His people:

Ezekiel 36:24-26
I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

I hope the best for these brothers in Christ, for as they profess and are baptized in the name of the Lord, they enter through the water into His Church. May He hold them until that day by which He comes to baptize the world through flames.

St. Augustine, Rest in the Lord

2009-07-14T21:29:00.002-04:00

“Lord, you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee.”
- St. Augustine

Inexpressible Joy

2009-07-14T20:00:00.000-04:00

I was reading 1 Peter, and I absolutely adore this little snippet of the first chapter:

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:6-9

New Book: The Reformation

2009-07-12T20:57:00.002-04:00

I started reading a book entitled The Reformation by Diarmaid MacCulloch, and I made this post because of the stimulating introduction to the work. I sincerely loved this opening paragraph of the book, it proposes to answer the question "Who or what is a Catholic?"

Who or what is a Catholic? The Greek word has become one of the chief battlegrounds in western Latin Christianity, for it is used in different ways that outside observers of Christian foibles find thoroughly confusing. The word "Catholic" is the linguistic equivalent of a Russian doll. It may describe the whole Christian Church founded two thousand years ago in Palestine, or the western half of the Church that split from mainstream eastern Christianity a thousand years ago, or that part of the western half that remained loyal to the bishop of Rome (the pope) after the sixteenth century, or a Protestant European Christian who thought that the bishop of Rome was the Antichrist, or a modern Anglo-Catholic faction within the Anglican communion. How can the word describe all of these things and still have any meaning?

Job, the Light of Life, and my eucharistic thoughts...

2009-07-12T09:05:00.008-04:00

Often when I approach Scripture it is very cold, and systematic, but there are times when I approach the Sacred Scripture we cherish as Christians and feel my very being torn asunder. I can relate to what the author of Hebrews wrote in a very personal way:

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12-13

There are days in which I very ignorantly would place faith in an expression or a feeling, when my heart, mind, and soul should rest wholly upon Christ alone. Today I felt the pangs of my soul as I approached Scripture. My mind was a daze thinking about who I am, who God is, and everything therein. I opened a piece of literature within Scripture that I often fear to read, Job. I hate how often I can relate to Job in the day to day life of a man who strives to fear God. Job was righteous before God, whereas I feel unrighteous, but the rebukes that Job receives from Elihu and God weigh heavy upon myself.

This morning I was reading some of the final words of Job's dialogue with his three friends before Elihu enters the conversation. There is so much to comment on with regard to Job, but I sadly found myself echoing these words:

"If I have walked with falsehood
    and my foot has hastened to deceit;
(Let me be weighed in a just balance,
    and let God know my integrity!)
if my step has turned aside from the way
    and my heart has gone after my eyes,
    and if any spot has stuck to my hands,
then let me sow, and another eat,
    and let what grows for me be rooted out."
Job 31:5-8

I can see the pain Job feels in his life when he question's God, and I can relate. I do not know how often I have quested God over the past few weeks, to the past few months, to the past few years. But I know that in my flesh, in my sinful nature I will always question His authority. My flesh seeks autonomy, whereas my spirit seeks peace. Within all the rebuke young Elihu lays against Job, I found these words the most telling for myself, "Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man." I even think of some close to me, my grandparents, loved ones, and even nominal friends. I think of how God can draw those to Him through their very life.

"Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed
    and with continual strife in his bones,
so that his life loathes bread,
    and his appetite the choicest food.
His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,
    and his bones that were not seen stick out.
    His soul draws nearthe pit,
    and his life to those who bring death.
...
then man prays to God, and he accepts him;
    he sees his face with a shout of joy,
and he restores to man his righteousness.
He sings before men and says:
'I sinned and perverted what was right,
    and it was not repaid to me.
He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit,
    and my life shall look upon the light.'

"Behold, God does all these things,
    twice, three times, with a man,
to bring back his soul from the pit,
    that he may be lighted with the light of life.

I am amazed at the mercy and grace of God; God is a creator whose creation lives in contradiction to His rule. We rebel, we disobey, we murder, we lie, we fornicate, and we become drunk in our sense of self-worth, but God is still God, and "He is still greater than man." God uses the beauty of relationships, His Church, prayer, and as the Book of Job says the pains of death to call His creation unto repentance. I have never truly been confronted with death, but I think that death is the confrontation with life. We can never understand life apart from death, and death without life is empty. If we are confronted with the reality of death whether direct or indirect we should realize that God is a God of obedience, and calling all unto repentance. If we are confronted with death, and simply ignore it, we are ignoring the very God whom ordained our very existence. "God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life." That light is clearly the only Light of Life, Jesus Christ. I do know Him as I should, I realize fallaciously that I attempt to live in neutrality, when I am really siding with the world. I need Christ first, I need His Church, I need His sacraments, and I need to obey. He is above all, for he is still greater than man.

Father, I seek your mercy upon me, You are God, you are greater than man. According to your steadfast and undeserved love, and according to your abundant mercy, I would ask you to blot out my transgressions. What I pass off as small and large, offend you infinitely. Whether I sin in thought, deed, or naivety, I seek your mercy. You crushed Your Son that we may understand Life, that we may be lighted with the Light of Life. God there are days I feel I should not take partake in the body and blood of Your Son, but I need Him for life. My very being seeks the cup, without I feel weak. O, wretched man that I am, please make me white as snow. You took up the cross that I may overcome death, and the cause of death, sin. Please, make me an example worthy of the name Christian. God, as I partake in Your Son this very morning, both through the community we know as the Church, and through the sacrament of the Lord's Table, I ask that you would keep my thoughts and prayers close to You. Please Lord progress Your Son's kingdom, please bring in those close to us, because we love them as brothers and sisters. Please would You bless our family and friends with the glory and beauty found in the Gospel of Your Son. Father I thank you for the Church, for the Sacrament, for Your Son's death and resurrection, for our salvation, and for Your Holy Spirit. In the name of Your Son I ask that you would be with us, amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, how great a sinner I am, thank You for Your work, come soon!

Rick James as a Calvinist

2009-07-11T08:12:00.004-04:00

Well last night we were out for dinner and talking about the most random of subjects; one topic that came to surface over and over again was Dave Chapelle and his show. When we left the restaurant we got talking about the Rick James and Charlie Murphy skits, and I dont know how but we started joking around about Rick James as a calvinist. I am sure no one will get this as it is out of context, but I hope you can laugh. We certainly did.

RickJamesCalvin: Charlie Murphy! What did the five fingers say to the face?
TULIP! HAHA
DESTINYYYY
HAHA
I CANT STOP MYSELF CHARLIE MURPHY, ORDAINED BIATCH, ITS PREDESTINED...LOOK AT ME I CANT STOP MYSELF...HAHAH SLAP!

Youtube video if you want an idea of what the original is. We spliced from different skits in our improv. It was just a bunch of reformered guys joking around and a funny way to end the night.

Happy Birthday Calvin

2009-07-10T23:59:00.001-04:00

Happy 500th Birthday! You were definitely a force to be had during the years that followed the Reformation. As a friend said, he doesn't look a day over 480!

John Calvin and Predestination

2009-07-08T23:26:00.001-04:00

Now no one doubts that humility lies at the bottom of all true religion, and is the mother of all virtues. But how shall he be humble who will not hear of the original sin and misery from which he has been delivered? And who, by extending the saving mercy of God to all, without difference, lessens, as much as in him lies, the glory of that mercy? Those most certainly are the farthest from glorifying the grace of God, according to its greatness, who declare that it is indeed common to all men; but that it rests effectually in him, because they have embraced it by faith. The cause of faith itself, however, they would keep buried all the time out of sight, which is this: that the children of God who are chosen to be sons are afterwards blessed with the spirit of adoption. Now, what kind of gratitude is that in me if, being endowed with so pre-eminent a benefit, I consider myself no greater a debtor than he who hath not received one hundredth part of it? Wherefore, if, to praise the goodness of God worthily, it is necessary to bear in mind how much we are indebted to Him, those are malignant towards Him and rob Him of His glory who reject and will not endure the doctrine of eternal election, which being buried out of sight, one half of the grace of God must of necessity vanish with it.
- John Calvin, A Treatise of the Eternal Predestination of God

Christ remembers thee every hour

2009-07-07T20:11:00.003-04:00

I love theology! But when I need the strength of Christ in a source other than Scripture I often turn to an old Baptist divine by the name of Charles Spurgeon. Theologically I align myself with Reformed Baptist's even though I am quite critical of many Baptist doctrines. (i.e. Baptism, Covenants, etc.) But when I need to see the truth of the Gospel expounded by a preacher I tend to always turn to Spurgeon. He has been a blessing to me on a number of occasions, as I am sure he will be for the future. I was confronted with an issue of trust today (as I am everyday) and I was just thinking about Scripture and the confidence Paul has in the risen Lord. I want to just taste the strength Paul had, and I know the source of that strength, it is Christ. I personally found this very edifying and wanted to share this on the blog. I was hoping to isolate the next few days to thoughts on Calvin, but for my own needs I felt this necessary.

Oh, poor, disconsolate mourner, Christ remembers thee every hour. Thy sighs are his sighs; thy groans are his groans; thy prayers are his prayers:—

"He in his measure feels afresh,
What every member bears."

Crucified he is when thou art crucified; he dies when thou diest; thou livest in him, and he lives in thee, and because he lives shalt thou live also: thou shalt rise in him, and thou shalt sit together in the heavenly places with him. Oh, never was husband nearer to his wife, and never head nearer to the members, and never soul nearer to the body of this flesh, than Christ is unto thee, and while it is so, think not that heaven and earth are divided. They are but kindred worlds; two ships moored close to one another, and one short plank of death will enable you to step from one into the other ... I tell thee, man, the ship of heaven is moored side by side with the ship of earth, and rock though this ship may, and careen though she will on stormy winds and tempests, yet the invisible and golden ship of heaven sails by her side never sundered, never divided, always ready, in order that when the hour shall come, thou mayest leap from the black, dark ship, and step upon the golden deck of that thrice happy one in which thou shalt sail for ever.
- Sermon on July 4, 1858, Charles Spurgeon

John Calvin, Without the Gospel everything is vain

2009-07-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

With less then half of a week until the celebration of that reformation divine, John Calvin, I thought it would be quite proper to take time and submit some Calvin-centred posts over the next few days. I found this quotation this morning and I believe that is stresses the urgency, necessity and importance of the gospel. I think if one were to come across this post and be unaware of the serious nature of the gospel, the importance of Christ, and the necessity of what it teaches, they should take some serious time thinking on the person of Christ and what He taught. I hope to do that myself!

“Without the gospel everything is useless and vain; without the gospel we are not Christians; without the gospel all riches is poverty, all wisdom folly before God; strength is weakness, and all the justice of man is under the condemnation of God. But by the knowledge of the gospel we are made children of God, brothers of Jesus Christ, fellow townsmen with the saints, citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, heirs of God with Jesus Christ, by whom the poor are made rich, the weak strong, the fools wise, the sinner justified, the desolate comforted, the doubting sure, and slaves free. It is the power of God for the salvation of all those who believe …”
- John Calvin

(HT: Miscellanies)

John Calvin and the Necessity of the Cross

2009-07-06T21:00:00.000-04:00

With the 500th birthday of John Calvin approaching and my longing to be in Geneva celebrating with the numerous conferences I have been contemplating over some of the pastoral sermons of Calvin. I found this section quite valuable on the necessity of Christ and the work on the cross:

So let us be advised so to walk in the fear of God that, after having tasted His Word, we may receive it with reverence and obey our Lord Jesus Christ Who is presented to us there. ... But He had to endure in His person to acquire for us salvation. Why, then, did our Lord Jesus not spare Himself? Why did He endure a death so bitter and so shameful, unless it was necessary in order that we might be delivered through such a ransom. We have, then, to defy all agents of Satan, and all his villains who vomited up such blasphemies as the Gospel-writer describes, and to be all the more sure that we really have a King Who preferred our salvation to His own life, and suffered everything that was required for our redemption, and had no other consideration except to redeem what was lost. For we would have been devoid of all hope if the Son of God had left us in our estate and condition. But when He was so swallowed up in death, that is where our deliverance lies. When He endured everything so patiently, that is the cause why God now extends His hand and His power to help us in time of need. Our Lord Jesus, then, had to be there, as it were, abandoned by God in order that today we may feel that He watches for our salvation, and He will always be ready to aid us in necessity when we require it.

Spurgeon Quote

2009-07-02T09:37:00.003-04:00

Blessed is he who expects little, for he shall have but little disappointment. Remember never to set thy desires very high. He that has aspirations to the moon, will be disappointed if he only reaches half as high; whereas, if he had aspired lower, he would be agreeably disappointed when he found himself mounting higher than he first expected.
- Charles Spurgeon

Calvin on Romans 2:4

2009-06-29T23:33:00.004-04:00

Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Romans 2:3-5

Not knowing that the goodness of God, etc. For the Lord by his kindness shows to us, that it is he to whom we ought turn, if we desire to secure our wellbeing, and at the same time he strengthens our confidence in expecting mercy. If we use not God’s bounty for this end, we abuse it. But yet it is not to be viewed always in the same light; for when the Lord deals favorably with his servants and gives them earthly blessings, he makes known to them by symbols of this kind his own benevolence, and trains them up at the same time to seek the sum and substance of all good things in himself alone: when he treats the transgressors of his law with the same indulgence, his object is to soften by his kindness their perverseness; he yet does not testify that he is already propitious to them, but, on the contrary, invites them to repentance. But if any one brings this objection — that the Lord sings to the deaf as long as he does not touch inwardly their hearts; we must answer — that no fault can be found in this case except with our own depravity. But I prefer rendering the word which Paul here uses, leads, rather than invites, for it is more significant; I do not, however, take it in the sense of driving, but of leading as it were by the hand.
- John Calvin, Commentary on Romans 2

Spurgeon, Faith Check: Suitable for Today

2009-06-27T08:09:00.004-04:00

Thank Him; Dwell Acceptably
Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence. (Psalm 140:13)
Oh, that my heart may be upright, that I may always be able to bless the name of the Lord! He is so good to those that be good, that I would fain be among them and feel myself full of thankfulness every day. Perhaps, for a moment, the righteous are staggered when their integrity results in severe trial; but assuredly the day shall come when they shall bless their God that they did not yield to evil suggestions and adopt a shifty policy. In the long run true men will thank the God of the right for leading them by a right way. Oh, that I may be among them!

What a promise is implied in this second clause, "The upright shall dwell in thy presence!" They shall stand accepted where others appear only to be condemned. They shall be the courtiers of the great King, indulged with audience whensoever they desire it. They shall be favored ones upon whom Jehovah smiles and with whom He graciously communes. Lord, I covet this high honor, this precious privilege. It will be heaven on earth to me to enjoy it. Make me in all things upright, that I may today and tomorrow and every day stand in Thy heavenly presence. Then will I give thanks unto Thy name evermore. Amen.

I found this very edifying, especially where Spurgeon writes, "He is so good to those that be good." My mind shot directly to the hand of Paul in Romans 8, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good." Lately more than ever I have been questioning myself what it means to love God, to love Jesus, and to submit to Their Spirit? Christ simply says, if you love Me keep my commandments. I see obedience and submission to Christ as head as a form of valid love. I am realizing my disobedience whether it be outward or inward is an affront to God, and disobedience is of the world, not of Heaven. How else can I love Christ? I can love His bride, the Church. I was just thinking of the lyrics from a Derek Webb song about the Church:

I am a whore I do confess
But I put you on just like a wedding dress
and I run down the aisle
and I run down the aisle

I know she is not perfect, but she is beautiful, because He is beautiful. I want to love Christ.

God, Father, You are blessed for You are the one and the many, the alpha and the omega. Your Son is the fullness of Deity and in Him we have life, apart from Him we have death. You have always been a God to Your people, You have always called us out of the world, into the Church, and been our God. You gave us the Church, You gave us our home, our family, our hope, and Body. Teach us to love Her more than the world, teach us to love the world more than ourselves, and above all may we love You as the centre of our very existence. You freed us from the slavery of sin, not so that we would relish in lawless disobedience, but that we would be sanctified, made holy, and that would be conform to Your image with every passing day. God the desires of the world have hardened my heart, have broken my bones, have soaked my sheets with tears, and have loosened my mind. I am an utter wreck due to my own disobedience, a disobedience I sometimes long for in the hope of a happy life. I cursed you, and I beg your forgiveness God. You know the desires of my heart God, and I doubt that desire will ever change. God would you please help a child to walk as you walk, to take foot in your footing, and to love as you love. Lord if I have any hope for the Spirit of God to work in those I love, I must first submit to Your will, Your purpose, and Your Law. How can I expect you oh God of the Heavens to submit to my will, when I make a joke of Your name through my actions? Please God, humble me, enhance the fear that is in my heart! I love you Father, I love Your Son, and I want to continue in strength when I am weak. Please Father I beg you, teach me through Your Spirit! In Christ's name I ask, amen.

Spurgeon, Trouble in a Believer

2009-06-22T07:21:00.004-04:00

"Severe trouble in a true believer has the effect of loosening the roots of his soul earthward and tightening the anchor-hold of his heart heavenward."
- C.H. Spurgeon

Communion Service: Vanity under the Sun

2009-06-21T18:44:00.002-04:00

Over the past few weeks we have been going through Ecclesiastes for our Communion Service. I just wanted to share the last few verses of Ecclesiastes 6 as they have rung through my head all day. I am doing what I can do avoid the vanity of life, and just enjoy life with a joy and peace of mind only God can author. All I want to do is obey God and love Christ. If I could do that again I would be happy no matter what this world throws at me.

Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? or who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?
Eccl 6:10-12

I wish I were a Deist

2009-06-20T17:19:00.008-04:00

There are times I hate the Reformed Tradition; there are times I wish I was a Deist. How is it that I can confess the sovereignty of a God who upholds all creation, but never feel His presence? How is it I can confess a Holy Spirit that comes forth from the Father and Son of the Trinity, and yet so often doubt my own conversion? I know all the answers to these questions, and it does not help anything. I know disbelief, disobedience, and sin are what separate me from God.

For the first time in what seems like months if not years, I felt the holy hand of God upon my life. It reminded me of my "experience" when I believed and truly did repent of sin, but in reality all I repented of was breaking the Law externally. I was converted into a hypocrite who generally kept quiet, because I felt condemned when I looked at the lust of the world. For the longest time I avoided the principle Paul explains in his second letter to Corinth:

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

I was "converted" from sin and yet remained unequally yoked with so many aspects of the world, my job, relationships, friends, etc. I did not forsake a damned thing, but relished and bathed myself in it.

I often asked myself the question "How does one know they are saved?" Catholics will say through the Church administering the Sacraments, Protestants will say by faith alone in Christ Jesus. But honestly now at the end of the day all this theology means nothing when it comes to a Sovereign God. I am holding back while I type, but seriously now. I could care less, when it hits the fan it is not our theology that justifies us before a holy God. It is amazing how little things ingrain into our minds, and when it comes to conversion, and justification I think of a post Jay Bennett made quoting, Ferguson:

Regeneration creates new desires to worship God, know his truth, meet his people, serve his kingdom and love and honour his Son. These aspirations are not perfect. They ebb and flow. At times we lament their weakness. But however short we confess ourselves to have fallen from what we ought to be, we are not what we once were.

I would like to think that echos my life. I do what I can to serve His Kingdom, I know that I desire to worship God, know His truth, and I love His people, but yet I hold unto sin. I boastfully said to someone yesterday that they are not a Christian, and the response was that "faith in Jesus saves", but what about repentance? What about works? How can someone claim salvation and yet not desire worship God, know his truth, meet his people, serve his kingdom and love and honour His Son? The simple answer is that they cannot claim that. I did not say what I said because of boastful pride or joy, it hurt me to say that to someone I love so dearly. I told them that they forsake the Church they claim to be a part of, and the author of Hebrews leaves only one path for those who forsake Christ:

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

And this was the root of my anger and hatred towards God today, this was the root of my utter and venomous slander at the One on High. I could not believe in the sovereignty I confess. As much as I may want those I love to repent and believe, I cannot change their hearts only God can, and as long as I hold unto sin I will never be in communion with God. I don't know what tomorrow holds for me, whether I myself will forsake the assembly of God, but I know that I have nothing to offer God except the pleading of a pitiful and stupid creature looking up to the Molder and begging forgiveness. God can and will use all to His glory, please God help me to realize that soon. God help my unbelief that in it I may see the glory of Your Son and the gospel that saves and redeems. You are Lord, may I make it a realization, and turn from the sin that consumes me. To Your glory. Amen

"The hearing of the gospel involves the hearer in responsibility. It is a great privilege to hear the gospel. You may smile and think there is nothing very great in it. The damned in hell know. Oh, what would they give if they could hear the gospel now? If they could come back and entertain but the shadow of a hope that they might escape from the wrath to come? The saved in heaven estimate this privilege at a high rate, for, having obtained salvation through the preaching of this gospel, they can never cease to bless their God for calling them by his word of truth. O that you knew it! On your dying beds the listening to a gospel sermon will seem another thing than it seems now."
Charles Spurgeon

1637 Scottish Book of Common Prayer: Sickness and God's Mercy

2009-06-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

I am a firm believer that God works through many different means both inside the Church and apart from the Church. God's glory an grace is rained down from Heaven upon the righteous and the unrighteous. Both the righteous and the unrighteous suffer, sorrow, and die in life. Both groups experience the mercy of God upon their lives, both to His glory, but only one to His name. The only times in life I was ever confronted with death either through an accident or someone passing was at an early age. It is awe-inspiring to see God work in the lives of different people for different purposes, and death is the one thing that unites all mankind. We are united by death, for we all die. Sometimes death sneaks up behind us and confronts us, either directly or indirectly.

I believe death is the reminder that there is nothing we can do to stop the decay of our mortal flesh, but a fresh reminder that our spiritual lives above all else need birth lest death become an eternal snare. A friend of mine said to me several months ago with regard to death, "Believe it or not I view this as a positive event. It is God's clear and present reminder that He is there."

Tonight I was thinking about a few different things such as sickness, death, and God's glorious mercy. I was so pleased to visit my grandparents with whom I realize the necessity for constant visitation. They are getting old, sick and will die. My prayer goes out to them as much as it goes out to someone who is fearful because of a possible sudden ailment. I do hope and pray to God that these events will turn out positively for her. I was reading through the 1637 Scottish Book of Prayer with regard to the visitation of the sick; I want my mind to echo this prayer to God, seeking His divine mercy:

O LORD, look down from heaven, behold, visit and relieve this thy servant. Look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy, give him comfort and sure confidence in thee, defend him from the danger of the enemie, and keep him in perpetuall peace and safety through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hear us, Almighty and most mercifull God and Saviour, extend thy accustomed goodness to this thy servant, which is grieved with sicknesse: visit him, O Lord, as thou didst visit Peters wives mother, and the captains servant. So visit and restore unto this sick person his former health (if it be thy will) or else give him grace so to take thy visitation, that after this painfull life ended, he may dwell with thee in life everlasting. Amen.

I know you are merciful and gracious God and Father, from before the creation of the world you set apart your people, for Your glory. Make Your name known and graciously give birth and mercifully push away the sickness. Father please remind us of our weaknesses through death, and the necessity we have for you as a God. You are the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, we are but a speck. As St. James said, "You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." God you stand forever, we are that vapour, may we be lifted up to Your merciful and bountiful presence. God please would your blessing be upon those who need you, both for the sickness of the body and the soul. Amen.

Piper, Mortification of Sin

2009-06-19T01:08:00.005-04:00

"The true mortification of our carnal nature is not a simple matter of denial and discipline. It is an internal, spiritual matter of finding more contentment in Christ than in food."
- John Piper

God knows I wish I could hunger and feed of His Son more than I do my own desires. I am growing more and more to realize the reality of self-deception, and the myth of neutrality. Most life is 'black and white'; Christ said you are either for me or against me, there is no middle ground.

I am see the reality of Christ in many outlets of life the Word, the sacraments: Baptism and Lord's Supper, in fellowship with other believers and in prayer. Lately I have felt very detatched from God, and I know why. It is because I separate myself from His means of grace, I separate myself from His Church, I separate myself from His flesh and blood. Either I am feeding upon Christ or I am feeding upon the world, there is no middle ground.

VanTil on the non-Christian Epistemology

2009-06-18T10:58:00.002-04:00

“If one does not make human knowledge wholly dependent upon the original self-knowledge and consequent revelation of God to man, then man will have to seek knowledge within himself as the final reference point. Then he will have to seek an exhaustive understanding of reality. He will have to hold that if he cannot attain to such an exhaustive understanding of reality he has no true knowledge of anything at all. Either man must then know everything or he knows nothing. This is the dilemma that confronts every form of non-Christian epistemology.”
- Cornelius Van Til

Cool Guys Don't Look At Explosions

2009-06-14T10:23:00.000-04:00

This is quite an irrelivant post, but because I love Star Trek and Lost I wanted to post this video. After watching this video I have an increased love and respect for Mr. J.J. Abrams!

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel

2009-06-14T09:29:00.003-04:00

I have been making a concerted effort to approach God in a worship worthy of His name, that which we call reverent and holy. I am approaching the poetry and hymn of the Psalms and seeking to see the praise they emphasized upon in their worship. I believe today my focus will be upon this doxology that concluded the first book of the Psalms. The Psalter presents our God who is gracious, even when a close friend lifts their heel against us.

Psalm 41:9-13
     Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
         who ate my bread
         has lifted his heel against me.

     But you, O LORD, be gracious to me,
         and raise me up,
         that I may repay them!

     By this I know that you delight in me:
         my enemy will not shout in triumph over me
     But you have upheld me because of my integrity,
         and set me in your presence forever.

     Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
         from everlasting to everlasting!

         Amen and Amen.

Calvin on "The blood of Christ"

2009-06-11T10:22:00.004-04:00

After a recent discussion with Jared of Dead Theologians which I found very helpful, I noticed a post following a similar nature. I would say an honourary thanks is in order; as he posted on 1 Corinthians 11 and I will be posting on 1 Corinthians 10. Jared posted on the principle of "this is My body" from Calvin's commentary, I want to focus on the principle as taught on the "cup of blessing."

The cup of blessing -- While the sacred Supper of Christ has two elements — bread and wine — he begins with the second. He calls it, the cup of blessing, as having been set apart for a mystical benediction. For I do not agree with those who understand blessing to mean thanksgiving, and interpret the verb to bless, as meaning to give thanks I acknowledge, indeed, that it is sometimes employed in this sense, but never in the construction that Paul has here made use of, for the idea of Erasmus, as to supplying a preposition, is exceedingly forced. On the other hand, the meaning that I adopt is easy, and has nothing of intricacy.

To bless the cup, then, is to set it apart for this purpose, that it may be to us an emblem of the blood of Christ. This is done by the word of promise, when believers meet together according to Christ’s appointment to celebrate the remembrance of his death in this Sacrament. The consecration, however, which the Papists make use of, is a kind of sorcery derived from heathens, which has nothing in common with the pure rite observed by Christians. Everything, it is true, that we eat is sanctified by the word of God, as Paul himself elsewhere bears witness, (1 Timothy 4:5;) but that blessing is for a different purpose — that our use of the gifts of God may be pure, and may tend to the glory of their Author, and to our advantage. On the other hand, the design of the mystical blessing in the Supper is, that the wine may be no longer a common beverage, but set apart for the spiritual nourishment of the soul, while it is an emblem of the blood of Christ.
...
Now, when the cup is called a participation, the expression, I acknowledge, is figurative, provided that the truth held forth in the figure is not taken away, or, in other words, provided that the reality itself is also present, and that the soul has as truly communion in the blood, as we drink wine with the mouth.
- John Calvin, Commentary on 1 Corinthians 10:16

Piper, Great Video!

2009-06-10T09:02:00.002-04:00

HT: Light and Heat

Please watch, this is awesome, and needed:

Owen, Sin is Never Less Quiet

2009-06-10T08:31:00.002-04:00

Sin doth not only still abide in us, but is still acting, still labouring to bring forth the deeds of the flesh. When sin lets us alone we may let sin alone; but as sin is never less quiet than when it seems to be most quiet, and its waters are for the most part deep when they are still, so ought our contrivances against it to be vigorous at all times and in all conditions, even where there is least suspicion.
- John Owen, Mortification of Sin

Book of Common Prayer: A General Thanksgiving

2009-06-08T11:40:00.003-04:00

I was reading through the 1662 Church of England, Book of Common Prayer; in light of some reflection of something that happened today, it is a truly worthy praise and prayer to God. I often feel humility to God and spite at myself when good happens. I know perfectly well that both the sun and the rain fall upon the righteous and the unrighteous, but whenever good happens to me whether direct or indirect, I feel unworthy of it. I think of an unconfessed sin, an unrepentant attitude, and my very unbelief, wondering why God would show kindness to a creature that often does not show the proper regard for his Creator. I hope that my heart can echo the sentiment and thanksgiving of this prayer.

ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us, and to all men; [*particularly to those who desire now to offer up their praises and thanksgivings for thy late mercies vouchsafed unto them.] We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we shew forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

Augustine, The Problem of Evil

2009-06-07T16:55:00.005-04:00

Isaiah 45:7
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

“Either God is not able to abolish evil or not willing; if he is not able then he is not all-powerful; if he is not willing then he is not all-good.”
Confessions, St. Augustine.

Or a third, that God is glorified in all things under the sun, including evil. God does use evil for His ultimate glory. To say that God is sovereign and yet somehow passive or indifferent to evil goes against His very nature. God used evil men to crucify His Son and bring about the redemption of mankind. God used evil to defeat evil, God used death to defeat death, and God uses all for His glory, His purpose, His will, and His design.

God sovereignly ordained the very evil means by which He would bring a crushing defeat to death, sin, and evil. All to His glory.

Piper, Sovereignty of God and the Power of Evil

2009-06-06T20:48:00.004-04:00

An elder at my church will be dealing with a discussion group in a few months on the topic of the problem of evil, and the effects therein on a believer, unbeliever, and everything under the Sun. He has been reading a relatively new book by John Piper, entitled "Spectacular Sins." This book's premise is to ultimately approach the problem of evil and the sovereignty of God. The second chapter deals with the glory of Christ and His sovereignty over all creation, and Piper vividly captures the beauty of Christ as King:

All that came into being exists for Christ—that is, everything exists to display the greatness of Christ. Nothing—nothing!—in the universe exists for its own sake. Everything—from the bottom of the oceans to the top of the mountains, from the smallest particle to the biggest star, from the most boring school subject to the most fascinating science, from the ugliest cockroach to the most beautiful human, from the greatest saint to the most wicked genocidal dictator—everything that exists, exists to make the greatness of Christ more fully known—including you, and the person you have the hardest time liking.

This is a very humbling statement of the rightful lowliness of man and the heights by which Christ is as a King and Creator. Piper faithfully approaches Holy Scripture as he expounds upon the depth by which St. Paul extols Christ's sovereignty. Christ, the Son of God, and Lord of Creation is Sovereign over all creation, everything under the sun; God is not impotent before the evil and unholiness of Sin, His sovereignty and purpose is over all. Piper continues with:

But of all the things—the millions of things Paul could have mentioned that Christ made and that exist for his glory—he chose to mention these: thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. Verse 16: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—[even these] were created through him and for him.”

Now Paul knows that these “rulers” and “authorities” include evil supernatural powers...

He continues:

So where do these evil supernatural powers come from and why do they exist? Colossians 1:16 gives a decisive part of the answer. Not the whole answer, but the part we need to know. They come from Christ. “By him [by Christ, the Son of God!] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities....” That’s where they came from. They were created by Christ. And why do they exist? Verse 16b: “All things were created through him and for him.” They exist for Christ. They exist to make his glories known—to display his infinite beauty and immeasurable worth.

It seems as if many of the narratives of Scripture are ignored in light of modern culture. We serve a God who is personal, and by whom all is ordained even the evil, bad, and suffering. We live in a fallen and corrupt world, but our God is holy and just. Lest we forget the character of Job whom God gave into Satan's reign.

I must remember for those who God loves and love Him, may not have their best life now, but all will be revealed in glory in Heaven with a King who is a brother, friend, and Lord.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Summer Book List: (re-hashed Aquinas Edition)

2009-06-05T18:32:00.005-04:00

In the anticipation and hopes of taking a Thomistic Philosophy class I feel the need to catch up on some well needed Thomistic thought and literature. So these are the books I am hoping to at least skim through with the intent of even minimal insight into the thought, philosophy, and theology of Thomas Aquinas:

Thomas Aquinas The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas

Pasnau, Robert. Thomas Aquinas on human nature : a philosophical study of Summa theologiae 1a, 75-89
(Cambridge University Press)

Clarke, W. Norris The One and the Many: A Contemporary Thomistic Metaphysics
(University of Notre Dame Press)

Translated by Ralph McInerny Thomas Aquinas: Selected Writings
(New York: Penquin Books)

Translated by A.C. Pegis Selected Writings of St. Thomas Aquinas
(New York: Modern Library)

Ralph M. McInerny Aquinas on Human Action
(Washington,D.C.: The University of America Press)

Wawrykow, Joseph P. God's Grace and Human Action: 'Merit' in the Theology of Thomas Aquinas
(Univ. of Notre Dame)

Davies, Brian The Thought of Thomas Aquinas
(USA: Oxford University Press)

Davies, Brian Thomas Aquinas: Contemporary Philosophical Perspectives
(USA: Oxford University Press)

McInerny, Ralph M. Ethica Thomistica: The Moral Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas
(Catholic University of America Press)

Edited and Translated by Atkins, E.M., and Williams, Thomas Thomas Aquinas: Disputed Questions on the Virtues
(Cambridge University Pres)

I realize I will never get through this entire list, but I certainly hope that I will be able to get from this literature as much as I put into it.

What's my tradition?

2009-06-04T11:19:00.003-04:00

I remember doing this poll around six months to a year ago, and my top three were: Reformed Baptist, Presbyterian, and Anglican. I was satisfied with those results, but it is amazing the change the second time I have taken the poll:

     (100%) 1: Presbyterian/Reformed
     (82%) 2: Eastern Orthodox
     (78%) 3: Anglican/Episcopal/Church of England
     (74%) 4: Congregational/United Church of Christ
     (70%) 5: Lutheran
     (62%) 6: Roman Catholic
     (61%) 7: Baptist (Reformed/Particular/Calvinistic)
     (37%) 8: Church of Christ/Campbellite
     (30%) 9: Methodist/Wesleyan/Nazarene
     (22%) 10: Seventh-Day Adventist
     (20%) 11: Baptist (non-Calvinistic)/Plymouth Brethren/Fundamentalist
     (12%) 12: Pentecostal/Charismatic/Assemblies of God
     (6%) 13: Anabaptist (Mennonite/Quaker etc.)

I am more Roman Catholic than Baptist! OH MY GOD! SAVE MY SOUL!
(I was however extremely pleased to see Anabaptist at the very bottom!!)

Poetry: A Hymne to God the Father

2009-06-03T07:55:00.003-04:00

A Hymne to God the Father (1640-1641)
by: Ben Johnson

HEARE mee, O God !
A broken heart,
Is my best part :
Use still thy rod,
That I may prove
Therein, thy Love.

If thou hadst not
Beene stern to mee,
But left me free,
I had forgot
My selfe and thee.

For sin's so sweet,
As minds ill bent
Rarely repent,
Until they meet
Their punishment.

Who more can crave
Than thou hast done :
That gav'st a Sonne,
To free a slave?
First made of nought ;
With All since bought.

Sinne, Death, and Hell,
His glorious Name
Quite overcame,
Yet I rebell,
And slight the same.

But, I'll come in,
Before my losse,
Me farther tosse,
As sure to win.
Under his Crosse.

Which Version?

2009-06-02T10:07:00.003-04:00

This is pretty funny!

Hymns: NT Fragmented Hymns,

2009-06-01T09:00:00.002-04:00

1 Corinthians 8:6
yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

I was looking at this verse out of Paul's letter to the Corinthians and I loved the early hints of trinitarian thought; scholars have shown that this passage was likely a fragmented hymns of the early church. I truly love the linguistic structure of this hymn as it represents what I feel is the beauty of the Old and the New Testament; Israel the nation and Israel in Christ. The hymn starts with the overtones of Jewish nationalism very reminiscent of the שמע (shema), which faithful Jews would recite multiple times daily:

Hear O Israel, The Lord our God is one

This affirmation of the Deity whom Israel worshiped is paralleled by Paul, where he records, "there is but one God, the Father."

The next phrase is as much an affirmation of the New as it is of the Old; the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scripture entitled the Septuagint was a translation Paul was very familiar with from his youth. Within the Septuagint the holy name of God was translated κύριος (kyrios) or Lord in English; this very title is applied to Christ in latter half of this hymn. There is a plurality found within the unity of this hymn, the declaration that God is indeed one, but sharing unity with Christ as Lord. Both God, the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are one.

It is from the Father and by the Son for "whom are all things and we exist"; our existence is uphold in unity for the Father and through the Son.

This passage really projected my thought towards the ineffable knowledge of God, and true praise that He has revealed anything to such a low creation. I marvel at the revelation God has given the Church first, and the world second. All creation can marvel at the creator through creation, but we are truly blessed to experience God through His Sacred Scripture and the Church on earth. This is our God, He is One, but Many; we as Christians profess the unity and plurality found in our God who is three in one, and the Church which has many parts yet one body.

Poetry: Geerhardus Vos, Power of Praying

2009-05-31T09:00:00.001-04:00

POWER OF PRAYING
At dusk, before thee kneeling,
Could I confess it all,
In one complete revealing,
The things both great and small,
Were room left for confiding,
With deep humility,
That, in great love abiding,
Thy heart would pardon me?

Words written may bring censure,
Estranging miles between,
But speech will win its venture,
Let eye to eye be seen.
Prayer overclimbs the mountains,
Till it has found the place
Where spring the mystic fountains
Of woman’s sovereign grace.

Faith will, to force repairing,
God no release accord,
As showed with dauntless daring
Jacob at Jabbok’s ford.
Firm hold on Him retaining,
It fights while sinews last;
What cords endure such straining
These hold forever fast.
- Geerhardus Vos (1862 - 1949)

D.A. Carson, Th' eternal Word...

2009-05-30T21:00:00.002-04:00

(HT: Between Two Worlds) This is an unpublished poem written by D.A. Carson, for more information click the aforementioned link, otherwise please enjoy:

The Prologue

Before there was a universe,
     Before a star or planet,
When time had still not yet begun --
     I scarcely understand it --
Th' eternal Word was with his God,
     God's very Self-Expression;
Th' eternal Word was God himself --
     And God had planned redemption.

The Word became our flesh and blood --
     The stuff of his creation --
The Word was God, the Word was flesh,
     Astounding incarnation!
But when he came to visit us,
     We did not recognize him.
Although we owed him everything
     We haughtily despised him.

In days gone by God showed himself
     In grace and truth to Moses;
But in the Word of God made flesh
     Their climax he discloses.
For grace and truth in fullness came
     And showed the Father's glory
When Jesus donned our flesh and died:
     This is the gospel story.

All who delighted in his name,
     All those who did receive him,
All who by grace were born of God,
     All who in truth believed him --
To them he gave a stunning right:
     Becoming God's dear children!
Here will I stay in grateful trust;
     Here will I fix my vision.

Before there was a universe,
     Before a star or planet,
When time had still not yet begun --
     I scarcely understand it --
Th' eternal Word was with his God,
     God's very Self-Expression;
Th' eternal Word was God himself --
     And God had planned redemption.

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

2009-05-30T09:00:00.001-04:00

I was dealing with some Hebrew poetry recently, and this passage out of the minor prophets struck me as quite telling of joy in the face of turmoil.

Although the fig tree shall not blossom,
    neither shall fruit be in the vines;
        the labour of the olive shall fail,
            and the fields shall yield no meat;
                the flock shall be cut off from the fold,
                    and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (KJV)

John Donne, "What if this present were the world's last night?"

2009-05-29T19:51:00.002-04:00

What if this present were the world's last night?
Mark in my heart, O soul, where thou dost dwell,
The picture of Christ crucified, and tell
Whether that countenance can thee affright,
Tears in his eyes quench the amazing light,
Blood fills his frowns, which from his pierced head fell.
And can that tongue adjudge thee unto hell,
Which prayed forgiveness for his foes' fierce spite?
No, no; but as in my idolatry
I said to all my profane mistresses,
Beauty, of pity, foulness only is
A sign of rigour: so I say to thee,
To wicked spirits are horrid shapes assigned,
This beauteous form assures a piteous mind.
- John Donne (1572 - 1631)

Augustine: Whats the Difference?

2009-05-24T09:16:00.004-04:00

Today is a day whereby I partake in the Body of Christ; I forsake the sin I live in, forsake the lusts of this world, and forsake my very flesh which rages against my spirit. It is in all this that I hope to taste the divine, to take part in Jesus Christ present both in the gathered elect, and in the bread and wine (sadly grape juice I haven't convinced them to use wine yet). I love seeing the contrast in Augustine's City of God, and the contrast made ever so vivid between those who are earthly minded and those who are heavenly minded; the former living only unto themselves even if in deception they would call out Lord, Lord, and the latter living only unto the Heavenly city, and all that pleased God. I can honestly stand here today and say I do not know which camp I fall within. The doubt has risen to the surface, where I want to forsake the very cup that gives life out of fear of judgement. I am so weak and yet I relish in my weakness, I do not seek a remedy -- which is found only in the Spirit of Christ -- for my ailment, but I sip on the proverbial dung of society and sin. My doubt and unbelief does not come from the mind or the intellect, for I very much believe that God is triune, that Jesus Christ lived, died, and was resurrected, but it lies within repentance and the Lordship of Christ.

As James makes evidently clear, the very demons who have no hope believe the Lord is risen and deity, and in their state of hatred revere Him still, because they shutter. I however when it matters most will not bend a knee to my King with whom I profess. Most of what I speak is inward, I fear the evil of my heart, more than my actions. I do not stand innocent with my actions, but I think of what Jesus said, "out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." I fear for my heart much more than I do my actions. I could truly stand blameless before the Law of God just as Paul did, but in Christ I am weak and guilty beyond measure. Where the Law said 'do not commit murder', Christ said do not hate; I commit murder every day; where the Law said 'do not commit adultary', Christ said do not lust; I commit adultery every day. I am guilty before Christ because of my very thoughts, how can I in my doubt forsake this and enter the realm of the heavenly?

I remember someone I hold dear, and would profess Christ said (and I paraphrase), "In an earthly manner if I was thinking of King Henry, he is the King, you must obey, or you die." This is very much the case with Christ, He is the King, and He is the Lord of all creation, He commanded not just to believe in Him, but to obey Him in repentance.

My prayer for this day of the sacrament and word follow:
Heavenly God and Father, your Kingdom transcends this planet and spreads forth into eternity. Your body is made up of different parts which have come forth out of all the nations. I ask that by your Spirit and the work of Your Son that today I may take part in His body and blood. I ask that You would procure a state of assurance, and that I may realize that in my doubt and unbelief I presuppose faith. May I forsake my desires and seek Yours, May I forsake my flesh and seek Yours, May I forsake this world and seek Yours. Your Son died for the very ungodly, unrighteous, and sinful of this world. May I realize that as the years go forward and I mature into Your Son's body that I must daily mortify my sin. I ask and beg that you that you would enable me the ability to realize the truthfulness of Your promises which are fulfilled in Christ. I seek only to believe through my very thoughts, words, and deeds.

May the Church catholic be blessed today as those who unite in plurality before You worship. Please forgive the Church for her weaknesses and please guide her into maturity until the last of Yours is saved and Your Son tarries no longer. All this that Your name and that of Your Son, our Lord may be gloried and praised, Amen.

Book 19. CHAP. 17.
What Produces Peace, And What Discord, Between The Heavenly And Earthly Cities.

But the families which do not live by faith seek their peace in the earthly advantages of this life; while the families which live by faith look for those eternal blessings which are promised, and use as pilgrims such advantages of time and of earth as do not fascinate and divert them from God, but rather aid them to endure with greater ease, and to keep down the number of those burdens of the corruptible body which weigh upon the soul. Thus the things necessary for this mortal life are used by both kinds of men and families alike, but each has its own peculiar and widely different aim in using them. The earthly city, which does not live by faith, seeks an earthly peace, and the end it proposes, in the well-ordered concord of civic obedience and rule, is the combination of men's wills to attain the things which are helpful to this life. The heavenly city, or rather the part of it which sojourns on earth and lives by faith, makes use of this peace only because it must, until this mortal condition which necessitates it shall pass away. Consequently, so long as it lives like a captive and a stranger in the earthly city, though it has already received the promise of redemption, and the gift of the Spirit as the earnest of it, it makes no scruple to obey the laws of the earthly city, whereby the things necessary for the maintenance of this mortal life are administered; and thus, as this life is common to both cities, so there is a harmony between them in regard to what belongs to it. ... This heavenly city, then, while it sojourns on earth, calls citizens out of all nations, and gathers together a society of pilgrims of all languages, not scrupling about diversities in the manners, laws, and institutions whereby earthly peace is secured and maintained, but recognizing that, however various these are, they all tend to one and the same end of earthly peace. It therefore is so far from rescinding and abolishing these diversities, that it even preserves and adopts them, so long only as no hindrance to the worship of the one supreme and true God is thus introduced. Even the heavenly city, therefore, while in its state of pilgrimage, avails itself of the peace of earth, and, so far as it can without injuring faith and godliness, desires and maintains a common agreement among men regarding the acquisition of the necessaries of life, and makes this earthly peace bear upon the peace of heaven; for this alone can be truly called and esteemed the peace of the reasonable creatures, consisting as it does in the perfectly ordered and harmonious enjoyment of God and of one another in God. When we shall have reached that peace, this mortal life shall give place to one that is eternal, and our body shall be no more this animal body which by its corruption weighs down the soul, but a spiritual body feeling no want, and in all its members subjected to the will. In its pilgrim state the heavenly city possesses this peace by faith; and by this faith it lives righteously when it refers to the attainment of that peace every good action towards God and man; for the life of the city is a social life.

Examine Yourself

2009-05-23T11:33:00.003-04:00

This is a great sermon directed at nominal Christians, a need for biblical testing and assurance. The primary focus of the sermon is biblical perseverance; testing ourselves not by emotions, or arbitrary thought, but by biblical patterns. I certainly know I fall in to this category quite often, doubt, unbelief, unrepentance and sin plague my mind so often. I think of Paul writing in Romans 7, "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." I know certainly that "nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh."

Please feel free to listen, I would almost challenge you to listen, Click Here.

Perseverance and the works involved of salvation often cause distress within my life. I am quite aware I can bring nothing worthy or holy to the throne of Christ, but my greatest hope is that I would do that which is good not apart from the Spirit of God, but with Him.

Have a blessed weekend,
Matt

Augustines: A Tale of Two Cities

2009-05-21T21:25:00.003-04:00

Book XIV Chap. 28
Of The Nature Of The Two Cities, The Earthly And The Heavenly.

Accordingly, two cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly by the love of self, even to the contempt of God; the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self. The former, in a word, glories in itself, the latter in the Lord. For the one seeks glory from men; but the greatest glory of the other is God, the witness of conscience. The one lifts up its head in its own glory; the other says to its God, "Thou art my glory, and the lifter up of mine head." In the one, the princes and the nations it subdues are ruled by the love of ruling; in the other, the princes and the subjects serve one another in love, the latter obeying, while the former take thought for all. The one delights in its own strength, represented in the persons of its rulers; the other says to its God, "I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength." And therefore the wise men of the one city, living according to man, have sought for profit to their own bodies or souls, or both, and those who have known God "glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened; professing themselves to be wise,"--that is, glorying in their own wisdom, and being possessed by pride,--"they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things." For they were either leaders or followers of the people in adoring images, "and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever." But in the other city there is no human wisdom, but only godliness, which offers due worship to the true God, and looks for its reward in the society of the saints, of holy angels as well as holy men, "that God may be all in all."

What struck me the most was the opening lines: "the earthly by the love of self, even to the contempt of God; the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self. The former, in a word, glories in itself, the latter in the Lord." One thing I have grown to realize as a Christian is that our true love should be Christ, but very often we focus upon the earthly and love self. This world around us scoffs at spiritual growth; the enumerable times I have been referred to as negative or self-loathing when I simply want to grow and overcome the bondage of sin surprises me.

Is it wrong to be negative with that which is inherently negative? I find it quite unlikely and ironic that negative speech with regard to a murderer or a rapist is quite acceptable and applauded, however talk of the darkness of this age whether: sex, drunkenness, selfishness, etc. etc. is frowned upon. I am not looking to vent or point fingers, I just wish I had the love for God that Christ has and showed through His willing obedience and servitude. I know I have fallen and only seek to be lifted up to the heavens by the very Spirit of Christ, but far too often I rely solely upon my own desires, my only flesh, and my own lusts all to my own destruction.

Tomorrow I hope I can focus upon two principles that sprouted out of the reformation, Solus Christus and Soli Deo Gloria; Christ alone and glory to God alone.

James Montgomery, The Lord's Prayer

2009-05-18T20:56:00.004-04:00

Recently I read a post from Dead Theologians that dealt with the topic of the Lord's Prayer. Within this address a personalized prayer was applied from the original. The reason I bring this up is because while reading and searching out different poetry and hymns today I came across a 18th century poem by James Montgomery entitled "Our heavenly Father, hear our prayer"; this poem shows the same thought and attitude applying thought to the heavenly example our Lord Jesus Christ gave us in the Gospels.

Our heavenly Father, hear our prayer
James Montgomery (1771-1854)

Our heavenly Father! hear our prayer;
Thy name be hallowed every where;
Thy Kingdom come; Thy perfect will,
In earth as heaven, may all fulfil;--

Give this day's bread, that we may live;
Forgive our sins as we forgive;
Lead us temptation's snares to shun,
And save us from the Evil One:

Now, and for ever, unto Thee,
The kingdom, power, and glory be!
Thus, as our Saviour taught to say,
In truth and spirit, let us pray.

John Donne, Batter my heart, three-person'd God

2009-05-18T17:43:00.009-04:00

Recently I found the need to turn to the psalms, hymns, and poetry for a release from this world that we live within. I am amazed at the beauty that can be contained within these different mediums, and the depth of soul these men had to express the nuances of their thought. I found this poem quite moving when I read it today.

Holy Sonnets: Batter my heart, three-person'd God
John Donne (1572-1631)

Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you
   As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
   Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town to'another due,
   Labor to'admit you, but oh, to no end;
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
   But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly'I love you, and would be lov'd fain,
   But am betroth'd unto your enemy;
Divorce me,'untie or break that knot again,
   Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you'enthrall me, never shall be free,
   Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

Vanity on Earth, Fullness of Christ in the Heavens

2009-05-17T13:19:00.008-04:00

The focus of our Eucharistic sermon was upon the first chapter of Ecclesiastes and the vanity found in all things under the sun, or under the heavens. My Pastor stressed the need to not see Solomon in this, but to see Christ; the truest form form of wisdom, joy, and love comes not in vanity but in the purest form of wisdom which Solomon typifies of Christ. After the communion at the table we proceeded to fellowship and our main service. Following some hymns one of our liturgical reading and the focus of exposition was Philippians 3. I have found that this reading was very beneficial in light of some personal issues of doubt and unbelief. I love this epistle, or as it is rightly titled, the Epistle of Joy.

This epistle has such hearty application to the life of a Christian, and the need to see Christ and live Christ. I look at the example of Paul who is a Hebrew among Hebrews, zealous not just in law but in persecution, and when confronted with the Law, blameless. Paul truly has much to boast in from an earthly view, but in light of the knowledge of Christ he writes: "I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." It is amazing to see man so brilliant, zealous, and "righteous" throwing it all to the dogs in light of just the knowledge of Jesus Christ. I wanted to share a chapter of Scripture that we should all know quite well:

Philippians 3
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

May God bless your day as I pray he bless mine in the fullness and knowledge that only comes through my Lord Jesus Christ. Have a blessed Lord's Day!

Personal Thoughts, and Jonathan Edwards

2009-05-16T19:12:00.006-04:00

I have been thinking about a number of things recently with regard to my own salvation (past, present and future) and the twofold nature of the gospel message. I realize far to often how I fall into unbelief; no matter how often I profess a creed my actions speak contrary to the very power unto salvation. I recently confronted two people I hold dear to my heart and asked them, "How do you know you are a Christian?" From the first I received several responses that all amounted to "a feeling", and from the second I received a number of doctrinal answers that amounted to "belief." To the first I said feelings are irrational and amount to nothing, and to the second I said the demons believe and they shutter. The point I was trying to drive home was neither doctrine, creed, nor feeling saves us whereas a changed life is the evidence of good fruit.

As a protestant I realize that we fought hard for the principle of the reformation we call "sola fidei", but that does not rule out repentance. Ultimately it is not belief, but works that "justify" us in an earthly sense. I can quote Scripture, doctrine and tradition until the return of Christ, but this will not save me. Salvation is not as much from an eternal condemnation, that is simply the end result, it is salvation from the means to this damnation. The power of sin and the effects therein are what we are saved from through faith in Christ.

But how do we know we have true faith? It is in repentance of sin and the Lordship of Christ as King over our lives. The Law said do not commit adultery, Christ said do not lust, the Law said do not commit murder, Christ said do not hate your brother, and so forth. I realize daily that I cannot hit the bar, but the question I keep asking myself is "Am I going forward or falling back?"

Recently I was confronted by someone with regard to the historical nature of Jonathan Edward's famous sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God". This man distorted both the means of the sermon and Edwards himself, and I did my best to reconcile any truth regarding the historical nature of this famous sermon.

I am often amazed at the vivid imagery found within this sermon, and the striking effects it had on the converted and uncovered whom wept while he preached on that July Sunday. I have decided to pull out a few quotes from the sermon which I hope will shake my very soul into a daily repentant attitude of mortification of my sins.

Edwards writes of the sinners whether strong or weak, that they cannot hold back the hand of God, because they deserve such punishment.

They deserve to be cast into hell; so that divine justice never stands in the way, it makes no objection against God's using his power at any moment to destroy them. Yea, on the contrary, justice calls aloud for an infinite punishment of their sins. Divine justice says of the tree that brings forth such grapes of Sodom, "Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground?" Luke 13:7. The sword of divine justice is every moment brandished over their heads, and it is nothing but the hand of arbitrary mercy, and God's mere will, that holds it back.

Not only does God's hand, mercy, and desire hold back the sinner from the pits of Hell, but his very anger is on them just as it is upon the sinner who suffers for their sins:

They are now the objects of that very same anger and wrath of God, that is expressed in the torments of hell. And the reason why they do not go down to hell at each moment, is not because God, in whose power they are, is not then very angry with them; as he is with many miserable creatures now tormented in hell, who there feel and bear the fierceness of his wrath. Yea, God is a great deal more angry with great numbers that are now on earth: yea, doubtless, with many that are now in this congregation, who it may be are at ease, than he is with many of those who are now in the flames of hell.

The imagery here is far to strong and I can only fathom that those unconverted souls sitting in the pews felt their hearts break as Edwards not only shows their condemnation through Scripture, but presents to them the reality of God:

So that, thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of God, over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it; and God is dreadfully provoked, his anger is as great towards them as to those that are actually suffering the executions of the fierceness of his wrath in hell, and they have done nothing in the least to appease or abate that anger, neither is God in the least bound by any promise to hold them up one moment; the devil is waiting for them, hell is gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them, and would fain lay hold on them, and swallow them up; the fire pent up in their own hearts is struggling to break out: and they have no interest in any Mediator, there are no means within reach that can be any security to them. In short, they have no refuge, nothing to take hold of; all that preserves them every moment is the mere arbitrary will, and uncovenanted, unobliged forbearance of an incensed God.

I find that Edward's application causes far more effect then the vivid and descriptive imagery of God's sovereign hand:
The use of this awful subject may be for awakening unconverted persons in this congregation. This that you have heard is the case of every one of you that are out of Christ. -- That world of misery, that lake of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you. There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is hell's wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, nor any thing to take hold of; there is nothing between you and hell but the air; it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.

You probably are not sensible of this; you find you are kept out of hell, but do not see the hand of God in it; but look at other things, as the good state of your bodily constitution, your care of your own life, and the means you use for your own preservation. But indeed these things are nothing; if God should withdraw his hand, they would avail no more to keep you from falling, than the thin air to hold up a person that is suspended in it.

Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider's web would have to stop a falling rock. Were it not for the sovereign pleasure of God, the earth would not bear you one moment; for you are a burden to it; the creation groans with you; the creature is made subject to the bondage of your corruption, not willingly; the sun does not willingly shine upon you to give you light to serve sin and Satan; the earth does not willingly yield her increase to satisfy your lusts; nor is it willingly a stage for your wickedness to be acted upon; the air does not willingly serve you for breath to maintain the flame of life in your vitals, while you spend your life in the service of God's enemies...

Further application:

The wrath of God is like great waters that are dammed for the present; they increase more and more, and rise higher and higher, till an outlet is given; and the longer the stream is stopped, the more rapid and mighty is its course, when once it is let loose. It is true, that judgment against your evil works has not been executed hitherto; the floods of God's vengeance have been withheld; but your guilt in the mean time is constantly increasing, and you are every day treasuring up more wrath; the waters are constantly rising, and waxing more and more mighty; and there is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, that holds the waters back, that are unwilling to be stopped, and press hard to go forward. If God should only withdraw his hand from the flood-gate, it would immediately fly open, and the fiery floods of the fierceness and wrath of God, would rush forth with inconceivable fury, and would come upon you with omnipotent power; and if your strength were ten thousand times greater than it is, yea, ten thousand times greater than the strength of the stoutest, sturdiest devil in hell, it would be nothing to withstand or endure it.

I could go further, but I do not want to exhaust this blog post further then I already have with these long quotations. My point is not to strike fear solely into the hearts of the uncovered, while I would hope they would see the need for repentance, but so that I can cause fear to stir within my own heart. I want to fear God and love Him.

John Owen, Obedience brings Peace

2009-05-13T07:45:00.004-04:00

"See in the meantime that your faith brings forth obedience, and God in due time will cause it to bring forth peace."
- John Owen

"How can we possibly believe the promises concerning Heaven, immortality, and glory, when we do not believe the promises concerning our present life? And how can we be trusted when we say we believe these promises but make no effort to experience them ourselves? It is just here that men deceive themselves. It is not that they do not want the Gospel privileges of joy, peace and assurance, but they are not prepared to repent of their evil attitudes and careless life-styles. Some have even attempted to reconcile these things and ruined their souls. But without the diligent exercise of the grace of obedience, we shall never enjoy the graces of joy, peace and assurance."
- John Owen

I read these two quotes regarding John Owen, the former simple and direct and the latter convicting; I hope I can put these to heart today.

Spurgeon on Joy in Christ

2009-05-09T08:47:00.003-04:00

Recently I have felt the need to get my life in check. I do not want to allow my flesh to control my actions, thoughts, and words while at the same time I want to trust that the Spirit of God will enable the good that I want to do. Last night I provided a book on the need for a relationship and personal holiness to a brother and was explaining the need in my own life. I woke up this morning with the inclination to prayer and slight devotional. I had a copy of Charles Spurgeon's Faith's Check Book and I opened it to today's entry. One bit I found quite moving as it focused on the passage of "For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name." (Psalm 33:21) is what he said about joy:

The root of faith produces the flower of heart-joy. We may not at the first rejoice, but it comes in due time. We trust the Lord when we are sad, and in due season He so answers our confidence that our faith turns to fruition, and we rejoice in the Lord. Doubt breeds distress, but trust means joy in the long run.
- Charles Spurgeon

Recently I have been thinking about how I put God second in my life to a vast number of different activities, people, and thoughts. I am abhored at the fact that I do not put Him first, primarily because I fear the ends if I maintain this life. It is not a fear of condemnation that scares me but the thought of not being in Christ. If Christ were to condemn me to the pits of Hell for all eternity I know I deserve this as much as I may fear it. I think about all those people who do not make time for God either in prayer, reading, church, etc and I can relate, because we break the first two commandments:

1. You shall have no other gods before me
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol

It is far too easy to make an idol out of not just ourselves, but our own desires, interests and fulfilments in life, while giving God the back-seat. Idolatry was condemnable by death in the Law of Moses and is condemnable by death in the greater governing Law of God. I hope that I find joy in a justifiable faith that I may be in Christ; His strength can overcome by weaknesses and idols.

Reading List: Summer

2009-05-08T13:27:00.011-04:00

Summer Reading List:

Bettenson, Henry & Maunder, Chris Documents of the Christian Church, Third Edition
(USA: Oxford University Press)

Dunn, James, The Theology of Paul the Apostle
(Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company)

Dunn, James, The New Perspective on Paul, Revised Edition
(Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company)

Sanders, E. P., Paul & Palestinian Judaism
(Augsburg Fortress Publishers)

Waters, Guy Prentiss, Justification And The New Perspectives On Paul: A Review And Response
(P & R Publishing)

Ferguson, Sinclair B. , The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction
(Banner of Truth)

Barth, Karl, The Epistle to the Romans
(USA: Oxford University Press)

Letham, Robert The Lord's Supper: Eternal Word in Broken Bread
(P & R Publishing)

Clark, R Scott, Recovering the Reformed Confession: Our Theology, Piety, and Practice
(P & R Publishing)

Cunningham, William, Historical Theology (2 Volumes)
(Banner of Truth)

I had the honour at a conference last spring to meet Dr. Waters who resides at Reformed Theological Seminary, after some great dialogue and conversations I picked up his book and said I would read it. God willing I can keep my word almost a year later!

John Owen and the Unmortified Sin of the Unbeliever

2009-04-28T17:00:00.004-04:00

Here John Owen is speaking of the effects unregenerate professors have upon themselves and specifically in the following quotation upon others. Vain professions produce bad fruit, hardened hearts will never seek God or His ways, but only their own. God help me in my unbelief that I may overcome my own weaknesses, realizing I do suffer with doubt, because of my own flawed life. I pray I do not rest in doubt, but realize that my very doubt presupposes faith. It is amazing the parallels I see with the unbelievers of this day as their hearts are hardened. No care for sin, for God's Law or for an intimate knowledge of Him as revealed in Scripture; they seem more apt to rest certain in the god who is made in their image through their traditions, which are vain and lead unto death.

It hardens them by begetting in them a persuasion that they are in as good condition as the best professors. Whatever they see in them is so stained, for want of this mortification, that it is of no value with them. They have zeal for religion; but it is accompanied with want of forbearance and universal righteousness. They deny prodigality, but with worldliness: they separate from the world, but live wholly to themselves, taking no care to exorcize lovingkindess in the earth. Or they talk spiritually, and live vainly; mention communion with God, and every way conformed to the world; boasting of forgiveness of sin, and never forgiving others: and with such considerations do poor creatures harden their hearts in their unregeneracy.
John Owen - Mortification of Sin

Chalcedonian Creed

2009-04-28T16:46:00.001-04:00

I was thinking of the state of Protestant Christianity today and the lack of regard for intellectualism, creeds, confessions, etc. I felt compelled to look over this creed of the early church. I am grateful and proud of the work the saints of the early church did in the name of Christ. A fine example is found in this creed which deals with the person of Christ:

The Chalcedonian Creed or the Confession of Chalcedonian:

Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance [homoousious] with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer [Theotokos] one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized IN TWO NATURES, WITHOUT CONFUSION, WITHOUT CHANGE, WITHOUT DIVISION, WITHOUT SEPARATION; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person [prosopon] and subsistence [hypostasis], not as parted or separated into two persons [prosopa], but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and as our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the Fathers has delivered to us.

McGrath and the Continuity Between the Reformation and Medieval Doctrine of Scripture

2009-04-27T11:49:00.007-04:00

The more I investigate the relations between the early church medieval church and reformation church I am both shocked, intrigued and compelled. I admit my own fallacies and biases as I approach these sources, but I will still always be compelled when studying. An aid as of recently as I have studied medieval theology has been Alister McGrath. As I finish his work The Intellectual Origins of the European Reformation, I am seriously inclined to read more of this man's great scholarly works. (I am anticipating reading The Genesis of Doctrine shortly thereafter I finish the aforementioned work)

Enjoy this citation from the portion of his work that dealt with the Sources and Methods of medieval and Reformation theology in regards to scripture and tradition.

One of the most enduring, if not endearing, stereotypes of the relations between the Reformation and the late medieval period is that the latter is characterized by an appeal to both scripture and tradition as the theological sources, whereas the former appealed to scripture alone (sola scriptura). The Council of Trent, in its decree on scripture and tradition, has generally been regarded as endorsing the medieval view in recognizing these two distinct theological sources. The Reformation, therefore may be regarded as marking a break with the medieval period in this important respect... In fact, however, it is becoming increasingly clear that the medieval period in general was characterized by its conviction that scripture was the sole material base of Christian theology, thus forcing us to reconsider what, if anything, was distinctive concerning the Reformation principle of sola scriptura.

Recent studies have indicated a general medieval consensus on the material sufficiency of scripture -- in other words, that scripture contained all that is necessary for salvation. Thus Duns Scotus affirms that 'theology does not concern anything except what is contained in scripture, and what be drawn (elici) from this', the latter being 'contained there virtualiter'. Indeed, it is evident from even the most superficial reading of late medieval sources that scripture, and scripture alone, was regarded as the materially sufficient source and norm of Christian theology. No other theological source could be regarded as having this status. is not this what is expressed by the Reformation principle of sola scriptura?
- Alister McGrath, Intellectual Origins of the European Reformation

The Table and the Preaching of the Word

2009-04-26T09:08:00.004-04:00

I am about to go forth today for both the sacrament of the holy eucharist at the table of the Lord, and to be under the preaching of the word of God. Both are a means to an end, sanctification and God's glory, I pray that as I feed upon Christ I will grow further into his body and farther away from the world, or as Paul said from this "crooked and twisted generation!" I was reading the words of the Psalter today before I leave for church, and would like to share them:

Psalm 55
Give ear to my prayer, O God,
    and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
Attend to me, and answer me;
    I am restless in my complaint and I moan,
because of the noise of the enemy,
    because of the oppression of the wicked.
For they drop trouble upon me,
    and in anger they bear a grudge against me.

My heart is in anguish within me;
    the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fear and trembling come upon me,
    and horror overwhelms me.
And I say, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
    I would fly away and be at rest;
yes, I would wander far away;
    I would lodge in the wilderness;
                Selah

I would hurry to find a shelter
    from the raging wind and tempest."

Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues;
    for I see violence and strife in the city.
Day and night they go around it
    on its walls,
and iniquity and trouble are within it;
    ruin is in its midst;
    oppression and fraud
    do not depart from its marketplace.

For it is not an enemy who taunts me—
    then I could bear it;
it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—
    then I could hide from him.
But it is you, a man, my equal,
    my companion, my familiar friend.
We used to take sweet counsel together;
    within God’s house we walked in the throng.
Let death steal over them;
    let them go down to Sheol alive;
    for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.

But I call to God,
    and the LORD will save me.
Evening and morning and at noon
    I utter my complaint and moan,
    and he hears my voice.
He redeems my soul in safety
    from the battle that I wage,
    for many are arrayed against me.
God will give ear and humble them,
    he who is enthroned from of old,
                Selah

because they do not change
    and do not fear God.

My companion stretched out his hand against his friends;
    he violated his covenant.
His speech was smooth as butter,
    yet war was in his heart;
his words were softer than oil,
    yet they were drawn swords.

Cast your burden on the LORD,
    and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
    the righteous to be moved.

But you, O God, will cast them down
    into the pit of destruction;
men of blood and treachery
    shall not live out half their days.
But I will trust in you.

God please bless this day in all effects all to Your glory and none other; the name of Your Son should be worshiped, praised, and lifted up, for in that You are given the glory. God you are my Father and I can approach you through Christ and call you that, and as your child, your son, I ask you as a Father to feel pity and mercy upon my feeble hopes. Just as a child would look to an earthly father with hopes, I turn to You my heavenly Father. All to your glory, may the word and the body of Your Son be given the honour today.
Amen

Jonathan Edwards: All true Christian grace tends to holy practice.

2009-04-24T23:18:00.002-04:00

All true Christian grace tends to holy practice.
That redemption by which grace is purchased, is to that end. The redemption of Christ, or that purchase which he has made, is the next ground of the bestowment of grace to election. Christ, by the great things which he did and suffered in the world, has purchased grace and holiness for the elect. John 17:19, "For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." And Christ thus redeemed the elect and purchased grace for them to that end, that they might walk in holy practice. He has reconciled them to God by his death to redeem them from wicked works, that they might be holy and unblamable in their lives. Colossians 1:21–22, "And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight." When the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, Christ's reputed father, he told him that he should call his name Jesus because he should save his people from their sins, Matthew 1:21. And holy practice is declared to be the end of his redemption in Tit 2:14, "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." So we are told Christ died for us to this end, 2 Corinthians 5:15, "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." And for this end Christ is said to have offered himself without spot to God. Hebrews 9:14, "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God?" The most remarkable type of redemption which we have in all the history of the Old Testament was the redemption of the children of Israel out of Egypt. But the holy practice of his people was the end of that redemption, as God often signifies to Pharaoh, as he says from time to time to him, "Let my people go, that they may serve me"; as Exodus 4:23 and Exodus 7:16 and Exodus 8:1, Exodus 7:20 and Exodus 9:1, Exodus 7:13 and Exodus 10:3. And we have a like expression concerning Christ's redemption in the New Testament in Luke 1:74–75, "That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our lives."
- Jonathan Edwards, Ethical Writings

John Owen and the Evidences of Faith

2009-04-23T07:36:00.003-04:00

The Pastor at my church is a very big John Owen fan, and I believe this is evident just in his daily speech; the effects of Owen's writings on his mind has in some cases displaced him from contemporary society, and many at the church will join him in jest. Of course this does not mean he is detached, for I find more wealth of knowledge and treasures in the dead saints of the past than I do in contemporary theologians. We call ourselves trinitarians but unfortunately our society specifically christendom has lost the reality that the trinity is everywhere around us. We have embraced the plurality of opinion, options, theologies, religions, etc. while ignoring the unity. Christ's body is one, Christ's Spirit is one, and all that encompass that body are those whom have believed in the name of Jesus Christ and obeyed His word.

I sound very exclusive to condemn all who do not believe in the name of the Son of God, but this is not out of spite or arrogance, but out of the divine decree of God. God ordained a means of salvation, and that means is the sacrifice and resurrection of His Son. I am not presenting my opinion, but that of Christ as evident in Holy Scripture:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."

Now this is not a polemic of Sola Fidei, but a consideration for myself more than anyone about the nature of salvation. I find the words of John very striking and the imagery of Hebrews comes to mind about the Word of God being "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." I believe that is exactly what this passage of John does to the believer and the unbeliever; the separation occurs because of God's Word both His Son and His Scripture.

I sometimes do not realize the burden of the Law of God, and I think this is because of what I hope is a faith and hope in the risen Lord. If I have been justified through the risen Lord and sit with Him presently in Heaven, then the burden of that Law has been lifted (even though the burden and the weight of sin will never leave). But I think about some of those around me who would scoff at my life, or reject a need for personal holiness, because of the weight on their life. Simply put the unbeliever cannot take on the yoke of the Mosaic Law because they hate it; their works are evil and they are exposed in light of true believers. I believe myself to be a poor witness of character sometimes, but God knows I want to persevere in the character of His Son, God knows I must persevere in the character of His Son.

I surely have digressed greatly in what I hoped to post today, and that is a section from a work of John Owen dealing with the evidences of faith.

A soul enlightened with the knowledge of the truth, and made sensible of its own condition by spiritual conviction, has two predominant desires and aims, whereby it is wholly regulated, — the one is, that God may be gloried; and the other, that itself may be eternally saved. Nor can it forego either of these desires, nor are they separable in any enlightened soul. It can never cease in either of these desires, and that to the highest degree. The whole world cannot dispossess an enlightened mind of either of them. Profligate sinners have no concernment in the former; no, nor yet those who are under legal convictions, if they have wherewithal received no spiritual light. They would be saved; but for the glory of God therein, he may look to that himself, — they are not concerned in it: for that which they mean by salvation is nothing but a freedom from external misery. This they would have, whether God be [glorified] or no; of what is salvation truly they have no desire.
John Owen,