As I said in a previous post, from time to time I will post a few things that have been a help and encouragement to me. Of late, these are a few of the places I have been frequenting.
1. Undeserved Grace - I have been spending a lot of time here. It is a Ning, which is a networking ring, sorta like Myspace, but group-oriented. I have been enjoying some good debates and discussions from people all over the reformed/evangelical spectrum. We have our own chat room as well, and there have been some good times there. Check it out!
2. Solid Food Media - This is a real gem! I have immensely enjoyed the material I have come across here: especially the series "How Christ Transforms the Ten Commandments". Give it a listen, and let me know what you think!
3. Sermonaudio.com - I find I don't use this resource as often as I used to, but it is a great place to hear many of the prevailing views in the Reformed, Evangelical, and Fundamentalist camps. Some of the preachers I like are Harold Chase, Thomas Gormley, Paul Washer, and Doug VanderMeulen. My brother-in-law, Ben Armstrong, can also be heard here.
4. Purgatorio - This is one of the places I go when I want a laugh. Divine Vinyl is pure genius!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
The Great, Great Love of God
Pastor Jon has been teaching through the Attributes of God. The most recent messages have been on the attribute of Love. God's love is a great mystery. Why would He, the ultimate expression of good, deign to set His affection on the meanest of the mean and the vilest of the low. Why would the Father choose a bride for His Son among the commonest of sinners? I wrote this CM poem while meditating on this matchless, boundless love.
Christ Jesus gave His all for me,
So great His wondrous love.
Though once from Him I tried to flee,
He sought me from above.
Though naught had I to offer Him,
Yet still He freely gave.
Though selfish and besot with sin,
Yet He my soul did save.
Through grace He op'ed my blinded eye,
His light He bid to see,
He raised from death where I did lie,
My soul gave liberty.
Love's fulness I can ne'er express,
Or sound the depth thereof;
But this I know and do confess:
How great is Jesus' love!
So great His wondrous love.
Though once from Him I tried to flee,
He sought me from above.
Though naught had I to offer Him,
Yet still He freely gave.
Though selfish and besot with sin,
Yet He my soul did save.
Through grace He op'ed my blinded eye,
His light He bid to see,
He raised from death where I did lie,
My soul gave liberty.
Love's fulness I can ne'er express,
Or sound the depth thereof;
But this I know and do confess:
How great is Jesus' love!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Arminianism in the Pilgrimage of the Soul
I posted this as an approving response to a friends blog post. If you cannot view her blog, try here for the article.
I think a very careful reading of the above post is extremely important. What is it that distinguishes a professed "reformed" or "Calvinistic" Christian from any of the other groups that claim Christ? Even an inattentive scanning of Murray's discussion reveals some very interesting thoughts concerning the matter.
For an example, in the very first paragraph of the post, Murray asks two pointed questions: "Who in this age, with its multitudinous problems of a very practical kind, has time or use for the fine points of a theological debate that is now three centuries old? Secondly, why should we even run the risk of making division among brethren over such issues?" These he answers with important, Scriptural, historical and yes, even personal insight.
Murray's next drive puts a finer point on the issue. "Arminians believe the Bible. They accept fundamental verities like the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, the Incarnation of the Eternal Son, the Virgin Birth, the Bodily Resurrection of Christ, Justification by Faith, the Resurrection of the Body, Heaven and Hell. Why should we, when confronted with common enemies like Modernism, Christian Science, and Mormonism, not to mention a host of other pagan philosophies and religions, engage in bickering controversy with those who are agreed on the great fundamentals?"
It is true that there are a set of very important and foundational doctrines that those who bear the label "Arminian" are in complete agreement with those called "Calvinist." Indeed, the Roman Catholic church would give assent to all the above named doctrines, but for that of "Justification by Faith". Why should we not then just join hand over the issues we agree on?
Here I digress from the post somewhat. All of these doctrines are vital, and I would say even necessary to hold to in order to define oneself as "Christian." I do not believe, for an example, that one can walk though their life and say "I am a follower of the Christ," and then deny His Deity, or the virgin birth, etc. I believe that one may not have full understanding of these things at their regeneration; true. I think, however, that God will reveal these things; yes, even unto babes in Him. (Matthew 11:25)
We come unto a sticky point, but one that must be considered. As I said before, the fundamentals are foundational to our system of faith; to deny these things are to deny the faith (I Corinthians 15:19, for an example). What, however, is that faith? It is this question that the Reformers of old struggled with. Are we to live our lives as Christians through works which induce us to faith, or to faith that bids us to work? Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and many others answered this question with the answer SOLA FIDE!!!, by faith alone (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Romans 3:28, Romans 5:1, Galatians 3:11, etc.) The church had strayed from this doctrine introducing a works based righteousness, confusing the act of justification with the work of sanctification.
Once the doctrine of Sola Fide was worked out, the reformers came across another dilemma. If faith, they reasoned, is initiated within man, could it not be said that the law is reduced down to one act of obedience? And would this not mean that faith is a work of righteousness? A problem indeed since the scripture is clear on this matter, "nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law" (Galatians 2:6) and "by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified." (ibid) Also, "For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment..." (Isaiah 64:6) Faith, it is then clear, cannot be a man induced work of righteousness; such are unacceptable to God.
The Reformers once again looked to Scripture. Here they found that salvic faith is only possible as a work of grace in man's heart. Grace, they showed from the Word of God, could only be initiated by the giver thereof. St. Paul had said, under the power of the Holy Spirit of God, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph 2:8-9 NASB) Grace and faith were gifts, not the works of man, but the result of God’s work.
It bears noting that hitherto, the apostle spoke of the work of grace being by the pleasure of God’s good will (Ephesians 1). He continued into chapter 2 with indicating that before salvation, believers were dead in sin, unable to do anything but after the pattern of Satan. “But God,” he said, “being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…” (Eph 2:4-5 NASB) Here is the crux - man does not and cannot initiate the work of salvation - it is all of grace, and faith only comes when grace is applied through the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5-7).
Thus the cry of the day became “SOLA GRATIA”, by grace alone, and “SOLA FIDE,” by faith alone. This is how the Reformers defined themselves and distinguished themselves from Rome; through their gospel. Rome had the fundamentals down: the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, the Incarnation of the Eternal Son, the Virgin Birth, the Bodily Resurrection of Christ, the Resurrection of the Body, Heaven and Hell. The Reformers were in agreement with these great and vital doctrines; they differed in areas of practice and in the area of the gospel of grace.
To put a finer point on things, I would ask this question of all: Does the gospel in which you believe and which you preach more closely resemble the Bible-based beliefs of the Reformers and the early Church? Or does it move closer to Rome, and her man-centered teachings? Our hope, as the song says, should be built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. If we look to ought else for our salvation, even the tiniest little thing we do on our own, our gospel should be called into question in light of the Scripture. There is only one true gospel, as Paul teaches (Galatians 1:6-10). For this reason it is vital we strive for accuracy in proclaiming it!
I think a very careful reading of the above post is extremely important. What is it that distinguishes a professed "reformed" or "Calvinistic" Christian from any of the other groups that claim Christ? Even an inattentive scanning of Murray's discussion reveals some very interesting thoughts concerning the matter.
For an example, in the very first paragraph of the post, Murray asks two pointed questions: "Who in this age, with its multitudinous problems of a very practical kind, has time or use for the fine points of a theological debate that is now three centuries old? Secondly, why should we even run the risk of making division among brethren over such issues?" These he answers with important, Scriptural, historical and yes, even personal insight.
Murray's next drive puts a finer point on the issue. "Arminians believe the Bible. They accept fundamental verities like the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, the Incarnation of the Eternal Son, the Virgin Birth, the Bodily Resurrection of Christ, Justification by Faith, the Resurrection of the Body, Heaven and Hell. Why should we, when confronted with common enemies like Modernism, Christian Science, and Mormonism, not to mention a host of other pagan philosophies and religions, engage in bickering controversy with those who are agreed on the great fundamentals?"
It is true that there are a set of very important and foundational doctrines that those who bear the label "Arminian" are in complete agreement with those called "Calvinist." Indeed, the Roman Catholic church would give assent to all the above named doctrines, but for that of "Justification by Faith". Why should we not then just join hand over the issues we agree on?
Here I digress from the post somewhat. All of these doctrines are vital, and I would say even necessary to hold to in order to define oneself as "Christian." I do not believe, for an example, that one can walk though their life and say "I am a follower of the Christ," and then deny His Deity, or the virgin birth, etc. I believe that one may not have full understanding of these things at their regeneration; true. I think, however, that God will reveal these things; yes, even unto babes in Him. (Matthew 11:25)
We come unto a sticky point, but one that must be considered. As I said before, the fundamentals are foundational to our system of faith; to deny these things are to deny the faith (I Corinthians 15:19, for an example). What, however, is that faith? It is this question that the Reformers of old struggled with. Are we to live our lives as Christians through works which induce us to faith, or to faith that bids us to work? Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and many others answered this question with the answer SOLA FIDE!!!, by faith alone (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Romans 3:28, Romans 5:1, Galatians 3:11, etc.) The church had strayed from this doctrine introducing a works based righteousness, confusing the act of justification with the work of sanctification.
Once the doctrine of Sola Fide was worked out, the reformers came across another dilemma. If faith, they reasoned, is initiated within man, could it not be said that the law is reduced down to one act of obedience? And would this not mean that faith is a work of righteousness? A problem indeed since the scripture is clear on this matter, "nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law" (Galatians 2:6) and "by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified." (ibid) Also, "For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment..." (Isaiah 64:6) Faith, it is then clear, cannot be a man induced work of righteousness; such are unacceptable to God.
The Reformers once again looked to Scripture. Here they found that salvic faith is only possible as a work of grace in man's heart. Grace, they showed from the Word of God, could only be initiated by the giver thereof. St. Paul had said, under the power of the Holy Spirit of God, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph 2:8-9 NASB) Grace and faith were gifts, not the works of man, but the result of God’s work.
It bears noting that hitherto, the apostle spoke of the work of grace being by the pleasure of God’s good will (Ephesians 1). He continued into chapter 2 with indicating that before salvation, believers were dead in sin, unable to do anything but after the pattern of Satan. “But God,” he said, “being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…” (Eph 2:4-5 NASB) Here is the crux - man does not and cannot initiate the work of salvation - it is all of grace, and faith only comes when grace is applied through the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5-7).
Thus the cry of the day became “SOLA GRATIA”, by grace alone, and “SOLA FIDE,” by faith alone. This is how the Reformers defined themselves and distinguished themselves from Rome; through their gospel. Rome had the fundamentals down: the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, the Incarnation of the Eternal Son, the Virgin Birth, the Bodily Resurrection of Christ, the Resurrection of the Body, Heaven and Hell. The Reformers were in agreement with these great and vital doctrines; they differed in areas of practice and in the area of the gospel of grace.
To put a finer point on things, I would ask this question of all: Does the gospel in which you believe and which you preach more closely resemble the Bible-based beliefs of the Reformers and the early Church? Or does it move closer to Rome, and her man-centered teachings? Our hope, as the song says, should be built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. If we look to ought else for our salvation, even the tiniest little thing we do on our own, our gospel should be called into question in light of the Scripture. There is only one true gospel, as Paul teaches (Galatians 1:6-10). For this reason it is vital we strive for accuracy in proclaiming it!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Calvin's Commentaries!
I am just so excited that I have to post! I was finally able to order Calvin's complete commentaries, and yesterday all 22 volumes came! I can't wait to begin using them in my daily devotions.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Jonah 2
Occasionally, I like to try to meter a passage of Scripture. This one is common meter. I like the tune Clairvaux which may be found here.
Distressed, I called unto the Lord:
In grace, He answered me-
When in the clutch of death I cried,
He heard my feeble plea.
For you, Oh Lord, my soul had cast
Into the seas' dark midst.
The deep-the current swallowed up,
The billows 'round me hissed.
'Twas then I said, "Though from Your sight,
It seems that I am cast,
Yet will I turn my eyes up toward
Your holy temple fast."
"Though brought unto the point of death,
By this Your watery deep-
Though weeds did choke and all the earth,
Did bear down over me-"
"Yet You have raised me from the pit,
Where life had ebbed away-
The LORD I now remember well,
To You my prayers I raise."
Your temple is the place of prayer-
False idols lead astray,
And those who follow after them,
Forsake the righteous way.
But I will sacrifice to You,
Thanksgiving will afford,
And what I vowed I will repay-
Salvation's of the LORD.
In grace, He answered me-
When in the clutch of death I cried,
He heard my feeble plea.
For you, Oh Lord, my soul had cast
Into the seas' dark midst.
The deep-the current swallowed up,
The billows 'round me hissed.
'Twas then I said, "Though from Your sight,
It seems that I am cast,
Yet will I turn my eyes up toward
Your holy temple fast."
"Though brought unto the point of death,
By this Your watery deep-
Though weeds did choke and all the earth,
Did bear down over me-"
"Yet You have raised me from the pit,
Where life had ebbed away-
The LORD I now remember well,
To You my prayers I raise."
Your temple is the place of prayer-
False idols lead astray,
And those who follow after them,
Forsake the righteous way.
But I will sacrifice to You,
Thanksgiving will afford,
And what I vowed I will repay-
Salvation's of the LORD.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Two Points of View
This afternoon Becky and I drove to South Bend to do some shopping. On the toll road, I read the first few chapters of the Gospel of John as she drove. The following passage sparked a little discussion:
"The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me.' Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.'" (Jn 1:43-45 NASB)
We thought a few points were of interest. First was the word 'purposed'. This means that Jesus' going into Galilee was according to His plan, by His will. This was not a chance happening. In Galilee He 'found' Philip and calls him to follow. The first thing that Philip does is find his friend, Nathaniel. Notice his words: "We have found Him."
This passage shows us two points of view. In the salvation of sinners, God purposes to save, seeks and finds them, and then calls them to Himself. Though God has done all there is to do, the newly saved individual still cries out "I have found Him!"
Spurgeon preached a sermon on this text, which can be found in its entirety here. In it he imparts a word of personal testimony that parallels the experience of Philip:
"Dear friends, I recollect very well that, after I had found the Lord, I did not at first fully understand the doctrines of grace. I had heard them preached; but I had not comprehended them. I think at the time I should have been very much puzzled with the doctrine of election, if anybody had spoken to me about it; but I was sitting down, one day, gratefully reflecting on what God had done for me. I knew that my sins were pardoned, I knew that I was accepted in Christ Jesus, and I knew that I was renewed in heart, and in one moment the revelation came to me, "All this is the work of God." The instant I saw that truth, I said to myself, "Yes, that is the fact, and God be glorified for it! But why has this great work been wrought in me?" I knew that there was no merit in me before the Lord had dealt in mercy with my soul, so I said to myself, "This is the effect of sovereign distinguishing grace." Then I understood in a moment how it is that God begins with us, and that it is God's will and God's eternal purpose, which, after all, lie deeper down than our will or our purpose; and God's will and God's eternal purpose must have the glory. What a revelation it was to me! I saw the doctrines of grace immediately; and I think that anybody who has been brought to find the Saviour, and who prayerfully studies the reasons for his salvation, can see the same truth that the Lord revealed to me." - C. H. Spurgeon
So it is, I think, with all of us. As John tells later on: ""The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (Jn 3:8 NASB) Though we see the effect of salvation, the full import thereof is often missed until later on.
"The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me.' Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.'" (Jn 1:43-45 NASB)
We thought a few points were of interest. First was the word 'purposed'. This means that Jesus' going into Galilee was according to His plan, by His will. This was not a chance happening. In Galilee He 'found' Philip and calls him to follow. The first thing that Philip does is find his friend, Nathaniel. Notice his words: "We have found Him."
This passage shows us two points of view. In the salvation of sinners, God purposes to save, seeks and finds them, and then calls them to Himself. Though God has done all there is to do, the newly saved individual still cries out "I have found Him!"
Spurgeon preached a sermon on this text, which can be found in its entirety here. In it he imparts a word of personal testimony that parallels the experience of Philip:
"Dear friends, I recollect very well that, after I had found the Lord, I did not at first fully understand the doctrines of grace. I had heard them preached; but I had not comprehended them. I think at the time I should have been very much puzzled with the doctrine of election, if anybody had spoken to me about it; but I was sitting down, one day, gratefully reflecting on what God had done for me. I knew that my sins were pardoned, I knew that I was accepted in Christ Jesus, and I knew that I was renewed in heart, and in one moment the revelation came to me, "All this is the work of God." The instant I saw that truth, I said to myself, "Yes, that is the fact, and God be glorified for it! But why has this great work been wrought in me?" I knew that there was no merit in me before the Lord had dealt in mercy with my soul, so I said to myself, "This is the effect of sovereign distinguishing grace." Then I understood in a moment how it is that God begins with us, and that it is God's will and God's eternal purpose, which, after all, lie deeper down than our will or our purpose; and God's will and God's eternal purpose must have the glory. What a revelation it was to me! I saw the doctrines of grace immediately; and I think that anybody who has been brought to find the Saviour, and who prayerfully studies the reasons for his salvation, can see the same truth that the Lord revealed to me." - C. H. Spurgeon
So it is, I think, with all of us. As John tells later on: ""The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (Jn 3:8 NASB) Though we see the effect of salvation, the full import thereof is often missed until later on.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Some Things that Help Me
The Lord has been so good to me. He has saved me, given me a great family, helped me find work, put me in a good church and has been teaching me many things. There are a great many things that He has given to help me live daily as a Christian. I will periodically discuss these things, and add links to their pertinent sites when appropriate.
1. One Year Bible OnLine - As I have mentioned before (see entry for January 10, 2008), I have difficulty reading my Bible daily. This site has helped me to focus on doing this. There are many versions available to study, and there is an option to have the Scriptures read aloud, which can be a real blessing.
2. The White Horse Inn - This site has some good articles and other resources, but what I go here for is the radio broadcasts. You can listen to the archives for the last six months or so here for free. Each year they theme their broadcasts around a specific topic and this year the series is on "Christless Christianity." This has been a compelling series, with some very salient points made concerning modern Christianity's priorities. As a bonus, first time listeners who sign their guestbook get free stuff, so be sure and check it out!
3. Monergism.com - This site is absolutely jam-packed with reformed theology resources. You can study up on whatever doctrine is stuck in your craw, or go to their bookstore and buy that hard to find addition to your library.
4. Christian Classics Ethereal Library - Administered by Calvin College in Grand Rapids, this site is loaded with writings of Church fathers, reformers, mystics and heretics. The main reason you'll find me here is for the searchable, downloadable, cut-and-pasteable, freely available complete Commentaries of John Calvin. This is good stuff my friends! As the prince of preachers said in his Commenting and Commentaries:
"It would not be possible for me too earnestly to press upon you the importance of reading the expositions of that prince among men, John Calvin! I am afraid that scant purses may debar you from their purchase, but if it be possible procure them, and meanwhile, since they are in the College library, use them diligently. I have often felt inclined to cry out with Father Simon, a Roman Catholic, "Calvin possessed a sublime genius", and with Scaliger, "Oh! how well has Calvin reached the meaning of the prophets--no one better." You will find forty two or more goodly volumes worth their weight in gold. Of all commentators I believe John Calvin to be the most candid. In his expositions he is not always what moderns would call Calvinistic; that is to say, where Scripture maintains the doctrine of predestination and grace he flinches in no degree, but inasmuch as some Scriptures bear the impress of human free action and responsibility, he does not shun to expound their meaning in all fairness and integrity. He was no trimmer and pruner of texts. He gave their meaning as far as he knew it. His honest intention was to translate the Hebrew and the Greek originals as accurately as he possibly could, and then to give the meaning which would naturally be conveyed by such Greek and Hebrew words: he laboured, in fact, to declare, not his own mind upon the Spirit's words, but the mind of the Spirit as couched in those words. Dr. King very truly says of him, "No writer ever dealt more fairly and honestly by the Word of God. He is scrupulously careful to let it speak for itself, and to guard against every tendency of his own mind to put upon it a questionable meaning for the sake of establishing some doctrine which he feels to be important, or some theory which he is anxious to uphold. This is one of his prime excellences. He will not maintain any doctrine, however orthodox and essential, by a text of Scripture which to him appears of doubtful application, or of inadequate force. For instance, firmly as he believed the doctrine of the Trinity, he refuses to derive an argument in its favour from the plural form of the name of God in the first chapter of Genesis. It were easy to multiply examples of this kind, which, whether we agree in his conclusion or not, cannot fail to produce the conviction that he is at least an honest commentator, and will not make any passage of Scripture speak more or less than, according to his view, its divine Author intended it to speak." - C. H. Spurgeon.
He has a great deal more to say on this subject, but I will leave you to check it out here.
Finally, I will leave you with a video that was of great encouragement to me this week:
1. One Year Bible OnLine - As I have mentioned before (see entry for January 10, 2008), I have difficulty reading my Bible daily. This site has helped me to focus on doing this. There are many versions available to study, and there is an option to have the Scriptures read aloud, which can be a real blessing.
2. The White Horse Inn - This site has some good articles and other resources, but what I go here for is the radio broadcasts. You can listen to the archives for the last six months or so here for free. Each year they theme their broadcasts around a specific topic and this year the series is on "Christless Christianity." This has been a compelling series, with some very salient points made concerning modern Christianity's priorities. As a bonus, first time listeners who sign their guestbook get free stuff, so be sure and check it out!
3. Monergism.com - This site is absolutely jam-packed with reformed theology resources. You can study up on whatever doctrine is stuck in your craw, or go to their bookstore and buy that hard to find addition to your library.
4. Christian Classics Ethereal Library - Administered by Calvin College in Grand Rapids, this site is loaded with writings of Church fathers, reformers, mystics and heretics. The main reason you'll find me here is for the searchable, downloadable, cut-and-pasteable, freely available complete Commentaries of John Calvin. This is good stuff my friends! As the prince of preachers said in his Commenting and Commentaries:
"It would not be possible for me too earnestly to press upon you the importance of reading the expositions of that prince among men, John Calvin! I am afraid that scant purses may debar you from their purchase, but if it be possible procure them, and meanwhile, since they are in the College library, use them diligently. I have often felt inclined to cry out with Father Simon, a Roman Catholic, "Calvin possessed a sublime genius", and with Scaliger, "Oh! how well has Calvin reached the meaning of the prophets--no one better." You will find forty two or more goodly volumes worth their weight in gold. Of all commentators I believe John Calvin to be the most candid. In his expositions he is not always what moderns would call Calvinistic; that is to say, where Scripture maintains the doctrine of predestination and grace he flinches in no degree, but inasmuch as some Scriptures bear the impress of human free action and responsibility, he does not shun to expound their meaning in all fairness and integrity. He was no trimmer and pruner of texts. He gave their meaning as far as he knew it. His honest intention was to translate the Hebrew and the Greek originals as accurately as he possibly could, and then to give the meaning which would naturally be conveyed by such Greek and Hebrew words: he laboured, in fact, to declare, not his own mind upon the Spirit's words, but the mind of the Spirit as couched in those words. Dr. King very truly says of him, "No writer ever dealt more fairly and honestly by the Word of God. He is scrupulously careful to let it speak for itself, and to guard against every tendency of his own mind to put upon it a questionable meaning for the sake of establishing some doctrine which he feels to be important, or some theory which he is anxious to uphold. This is one of his prime excellences. He will not maintain any doctrine, however orthodox and essential, by a text of Scripture which to him appears of doubtful application, or of inadequate force. For instance, firmly as he believed the doctrine of the Trinity, he refuses to derive an argument in its favour from the plural form of the name of God in the first chapter of Genesis. It were easy to multiply examples of this kind, which, whether we agree in his conclusion or not, cannot fail to produce the conviction that he is at least an honest commentator, and will not make any passage of Scripture speak more or less than, according to his view, its divine Author intended it to speak." - C. H. Spurgeon.
He has a great deal more to say on this subject, but I will leave you to check it out here.
Finally, I will leave you with a video that was of great encouragement to me this week:
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
God is Glorified in the Hardening of Sinners
Perhaps my Calvinism comes through strongly here. Today's Bible reading centered around the following passage for me: "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.'" (Exo 10:1-2)
So many times in Scripture we see God hardening Pharaoh as a means of showing forth His power. This is a thing that always used to bother me in the past. I would ask myself, "Didn't Pharaoh have a chance to be saved?" I would rely on passages such as Exodus 8:15 "But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them..." and "But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants." (Ex 9:34) My theory was when God said He would harden Pharaoh's heart, what he really meant was that Pharaoh would be allowed to harden his own heart.
This does not take into account that God predicts that He will harden Pharoah's heart from the get-go " The LORD said to Moses, 'When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.'" (Ex 4:21) Also we have the word of the apostle in Romans 9 "For He says to Moses, 'I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.' So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.' So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires." (Rom 9:15-18 - cf Ex 9:16)
I think what we have in this hardening is a twofold thing. First, we see God in His sovereignty; ruling all things (even the heart of the king - Proverbs 21:1) and ordaining all that is, was, and ever shall be (Ps 139:16). Second we see that man is ever responsible for his actions, thus - "Pharaoh...sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants." (Ex 9:34) This is why Paul says in Romans 9 "You will say to me then, 'Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?' On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, 'Why did you make me like this,' will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles." (Rom 9:19-24)
So many times in Scripture we see God hardening Pharaoh as a means of showing forth His power. This is a thing that always used to bother me in the past. I would ask myself, "Didn't Pharaoh have a chance to be saved?" I would rely on passages such as Exodus 8:15 "But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them..." and "But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants." (Ex 9:34) My theory was when God said He would harden Pharaoh's heart, what he really meant was that Pharaoh would be allowed to harden his own heart.
This does not take into account that God predicts that He will harden Pharoah's heart from the get-go " The LORD said to Moses, 'When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.'" (Ex 4:21) Also we have the word of the apostle in Romans 9 "For He says to Moses, 'I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.' So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.' So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires." (Rom 9:15-18 - cf Ex 9:16)
I think what we have in this hardening is a twofold thing. First, we see God in His sovereignty; ruling all things (even the heart of the king - Proverbs 21:1) and ordaining all that is, was, and ever shall be (Ps 139:16). Second we see that man is ever responsible for his actions, thus - "Pharaoh...sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants." (Ex 9:34) This is why Paul says in Romans 9 "You will say to me then, 'Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?' On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, 'Why did you make me like this,' will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles." (Rom 9:19-24)
Friday, January 25, 2008
Providence in Joseph's Life
God provides for His people through means which often seem evil when they occur. In today's Bible reading, I saw this evident in Joseph's life. "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." (Gen 50: 20 NASB)
What was Joseph referring to? Why, to his brothers' sordid mistreatment of him back in Dothan (Gen 37). They had cast him into a pit, sold him for a slave, and begun a chain reaction of misery and sadness that followed Joseph throughout his adult life. We often forget this as we see his victory over his woes coming in second in command of Egypt.
Imagine, if you will, how it felt to go from the favored son of a wealthy man to the status of a slave. Imagine being put in that position by your own family members, who only sold you because they would rather make a couple bucks off of you than kill you. Imagine working your way to the top of the slave pile, only to be slandered by your master's wife, and cast into prison for protecting what little honor she had. Imagine your status as a slave giving you no recourse for trial or appeal, with probably your only hope being the master selling you to someone else. Imagine all this, and then imagine trying to see God's hand in it all.
I think we often forget the humanity of Joseph's story. He didn't have Romans 8:28 for his comfort. He didn't even have a scrap of Scripture down in Egypt. He probably only had (literally) his dreams to go on. I'll bet those dreams grew more and more dim as his life wore on. Yet he persevered by God's grace.When the time came for vengeance he did not wreak it upon his tormentors. He merely said "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place?" (Gen 50:19 NASB) He knew that judgment belongs to the Lord. Besides, as he continued in verse 20, though they meant it for evil, God meant it for all their good. To cap it off, he went on to assure them of his good intent and to provide for their families! (Gen 50:21)
Joseph's example is set for us to follow. We also have the words of the Apostle Paul to the Romans for our comfort and edification. When, as William Cowper wrote, "Behind a frowning providence/ He hides a smiling face," we can look to the Scripture:
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:28-31 NKJV)
What was Joseph referring to? Why, to his brothers' sordid mistreatment of him back in Dothan (Gen 37). They had cast him into a pit, sold him for a slave, and begun a chain reaction of misery and sadness that followed Joseph throughout his adult life. We often forget this as we see his victory over his woes coming in second in command of Egypt.
Imagine, if you will, how it felt to go from the favored son of a wealthy man to the status of a slave. Imagine being put in that position by your own family members, who only sold you because they would rather make a couple bucks off of you than kill you. Imagine working your way to the top of the slave pile, only to be slandered by your master's wife, and cast into prison for protecting what little honor she had. Imagine your status as a slave giving you no recourse for trial or appeal, with probably your only hope being the master selling you to someone else. Imagine all this, and then imagine trying to see God's hand in it all.
I think we often forget the humanity of Joseph's story. He didn't have Romans 8:28 for his comfort. He didn't even have a scrap of Scripture down in Egypt. He probably only had (literally) his dreams to go on. I'll bet those dreams grew more and more dim as his life wore on. Yet he persevered by God's grace.When the time came for vengeance he did not wreak it upon his tormentors. He merely said "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place?" (Gen 50:19 NASB) He knew that judgment belongs to the Lord. Besides, as he continued in verse 20, though they meant it for evil, God meant it for all their good. To cap it off, he went on to assure them of his good intent and to provide for their families! (Gen 50:21)
Joseph's example is set for us to follow. We also have the words of the Apostle Paul to the Romans for our comfort and edification. When, as William Cowper wrote, "Behind a frowning providence/ He hides a smiling face," we can look to the Scripture:
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:28-31 NKJV)
Thursday, January 10, 2008
The Greatness of Our God
Today I was reminded of our God's omniscience. He knows all things, even to the innermost recesses of our hearts. "Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart." (Psa 44:21 NASB) This can be a torment to the sinner for God sees our thoughts and intentions (Heb 4:12). It is a grace to the righteous, for he hears our cry even before we call (Gen 24:45)
The sinner cannot stand the light of God, for sinners delight in evil. As the Scripture says, "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." (Jn 3:19, 20 NASB) We are reminded by the prophet “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings." (Jer 17:9, 10 NKJV)
Conversely, the righteous man can rejoice in this omniscience, for this means his God is an ever present help in time of need! (Psa 46:1) He need not verbally cry out, for God hears the inmost heart-cry. (I Sam 1:13, 17)
I was reminded of this today with my daily Bible reading. This is an area of personal struggle for me; I don't make time to spend in prayer and study. One of my resolutions is to read a little Scripture every day: ergo the One Year Bible side tab. Today's reading included Genesis 24. In it, Abraham's servant prays for help in finding a wife for Isaac.
What stuck me was the following passage: "So I came today to the spring, and said, 'O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now You will make my journey on which I go successful; behold, I am standing by the spring, and may it be that the maiden who comes out to draw, and to whom I say, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar"; and she will say to me, "You drink, and I will draw for your camels also"; let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.'
"Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder, and went down to the spring and drew, and I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'" (Gen 24:42-45 NASB)
I was thus reminded of God's great sovereignty in all things. Even the silent prayer of the servants heart was heard by our God. What an encouragement to press onward and daily talk to Him, even in the quietness of my spirit.
The sinner cannot stand the light of God, for sinners delight in evil. As the Scripture says, "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." (Jn 3:19, 20 NASB) We are reminded by the prophet “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings." (Jer 17:9, 10 NKJV)
Conversely, the righteous man can rejoice in this omniscience, for this means his God is an ever present help in time of need! (Psa 46:1) He need not verbally cry out, for God hears the inmost heart-cry. (I Sam 1:13, 17)
I was reminded of this today with my daily Bible reading. This is an area of personal struggle for me; I don't make time to spend in prayer and study. One of my resolutions is to read a little Scripture every day: ergo the One Year Bible side tab. Today's reading included Genesis 24. In it, Abraham's servant prays for help in finding a wife for Isaac.
What stuck me was the following passage: "So I came today to the spring, and said, 'O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now You will make my journey on which I go successful; behold, I am standing by the spring, and may it be that the maiden who comes out to draw, and to whom I say, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar"; and she will say to me, "You drink, and I will draw for your camels also"; let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.'
"Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder, and went down to the spring and drew, and I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'" (Gen 24:42-45 NASB)
I was thus reminded of God's great sovereignty in all things. Even the silent prayer of the servants heart was heard by our God. What an encouragement to press onward and daily talk to Him, even in the quietness of my spirit.
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