Christmas Tree or No?
Posted: December 15, 2008 Filed under: You Might be a Calvinist if..., You might be a Fundamentalist if Leave a commentYou might be a Calvinist if… you do not have a Christmas Tree in your house right now.
You might be a Fundamentalist if… you have decorated your Christmas Tree in Track-hand outs.
Spurgeon on Adoption
Posted: December 14, 2008 Filed under: Sundays with Spurgeon Leave a commentQuestion: What is adoption?
Answer: Adoption is an act of God’s free grace (1 Jn. 3:1), whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God (Jn. 1:12; Rom. 8:17).
Thankful
Posted: December 13, 2008 Filed under: Just for Fun Leave a commentOften the Lord places men that have mentored you and help teach you in becoming a man of God? These are mine in no particular order just the ones that came to my mine that I am thankful for.
Dan Cruver
Joel Beeke
Wayne Mullet
Shane Miller
Who is yours?
John Owen on Apostasy – Part Three
Posted: December 12, 2008 Filed under: John Owen, John Owen on Apostasy 2 CommentsII. Partial apostasy from the gospel- pretences of the Church of Rome against the charge of this evil examined and rejected
Theses:
“Apostasy from the gospel is either total or partial. Of the former we have treated in a high and signal instance. When men willfully and maliciously (for they cannot do it willfully but they must do it maliciously) renounce Jesus Christ as a seducer and malefactor, going over in their suffrage unto the Jews, by whom he was crucified, they enter into that part of hell and darkness which properly constitutes this sin.”
Summary:
In chapter two John Owen deals with the idea of “partial apostasy.” This addresses how believers continue their lives claiming to be in Christ, but not leading a life of obedience to the gospel. Here Owen shows how tradition and man’s own reasoning often lead to people calling themselves believers of the gospel, but lose its value in everyday living, and as a result, fall into the deep waters of sin. Namely, Owen is speaking of the Roman Catholic Church and their claims as believers while still using their owns means to justify one’s sin. Owen describes the privileges that Rome says they have in the gospel, then comes back to this in a defense of how Rome has ruined Christianity and discusses the wickedness that has been committed by the Catholic Church. From there Owen deals with the issue of how the Roman Catholic Church uses unity – specifically, being unified under one catholic pope – and how they “allow” one to be forgiven by man’s means, which in the end ultimately results in creating apostasy. Owen then looks at the truth that the believer of the gospel is truly united under Christ alone, and that is where true forgiveness is given. Owen ends with the responses that Rome gives to his representation of them. Here he reveals the truth that lies under Rome’s means of unity and that their creating apostates from the truth that is bedded in the gospel does nothing but rob Christ.
Outline:
I. Partial Apostasy
A. Christ Suffers Still
B. The Claim of the Roman Catholic Church
1. The Special Privileges of Rome
2. The Seriousness of Rome
3. The Unity of Rome
C. Replies of Rome
1. The Spirit of Rome
2. The Truth of Rome
Summarize the practice of Puritan meditation in terms of its…
Posted: December 12, 2008 Filed under: Puritans 1 Comment1. Kinds – was the way that mediations were done. The puritans had two, occasional and deliberate. One was to be done shortly, off the top of the head, and can be done with group. The daily was to be planned, taken time, deep study of the Bible.
2. Manner – was the time that once spent in the devotion and how many times a day of the devotion as well.
3. Subjects – was the way that study was categorized. Every thing fell under systematical theology and in those 7 areas.
4. Benefits – This was for the believer then after study to enjoy, love and cherish their Savior knowing him deeper then when they started.
5. Obstacles – these were areas in which at times could have been hard for the Puritans. For example is on does not know the Scripture, nor what it is speaking about, it can be hard, but still God remains the same, and remains right always. Getting this past man’s mind was always hard.
RHB’s December Deal(s)
Posted: December 11, 2008 Filed under: Calvinism Leave a commentLooking for a Calvinist Christmas present? This would be what I’d want!
Living For God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism
John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology
Can you be an Apostate without being an Actual Believer?
Posted: December 11, 2008 Filed under: Apostasy Leave a comment
365 Days with Calvin
Posted: December 11, 2008 Filed under: RHB's Deal of the Week Leave a commentSweet RHB Deal here.
The Puritan Thought of Pilgrim Mentality
Posted: December 10, 2008 Filed under: Puritans Leave a commentBiblicist – was a walk of Christian life that lived out a life being centered on the Scriptures and what they taught.
Pietist – was a walk that remained pure and stayed away from worldliness. They lives lived out a holiness in all things, church, society, living, family and the church.
Churchly – was a walk that saw the church as a group of people that was to walk along side of one another in this world. They saw this as an importance because of those who would try to live among this world alone, and fall into sin and away from the gospel.
Two-worldly – was a walk that would keep one eye on heaven and the other upon living in this world.
Warfaring – was the walk of the Christian life that the puritan looked, and must I say looked closely at his own life watching himself that he was living for the glory of God.
Methodical Outlook – was the walk that the church and state was to work in online. The Puritans loved the 3rd use of the law that it could bring about holy living and good to the culture of their time.
Are You Single?
Posted: December 8, 2008 Filed under: You Might be a Calvinist if... 1 Comment
You might be a Calvinist if… you find your wife or husband on Sovereign Grace Singles. As they say,
“As Calvinists we worship, it seems, a different God, or at least, we have a much different God-concept. Have you ever become frustrated because it is hard to find someone Theologically/Philosophically like-minded?… Does this strike a chord with you? Agree? So do I!! “
A Real and Lasting Revival
Posted: December 7, 2008 Filed under: Sundays with Spurgeon Leave a commentI am glad of any signs of life, even if they should be feverish and transient, and I am slow to judge any well intended movement, but I am very fearful that many so called revivals in the long run wrought more harm than good. A species of religious gambling has fascinated many men, and given them a distaste for the sober business of true godliness.
But if I would nail down counterfeits upon the counter, I do not therefore undervalue true gold. Far from it. It is to be desired beyond measure that the Lord would send a real and lasting revival of spiritual life.
We need a work of the Holy Spirit of a supernatural kind, putting power into the preaching of the Word, inspiring all believers with heavenly energy, and solemnly affecting the hearts of the careless, so that they turn to God and live. We would not be drunk with the wine of carnal excitement, but we would be filled with the Spirit. We would behold the fire descending from heaven in answer to the effectual fervent prayers of righteous men. Can we not entreat the Lord our God to make bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the people in this day of declension and vanity?
2008 Latest Edition – Did You Know 3.0 – From Meeting in Rome this Year
Posted: December 6, 2008 Filed under: Video of the Week Leave a commentJohn Owen on Apostasy – Part Two
Posted: December 5, 2008 Filed under: Apostasy, John Owen on Apostasy Leave a commentFor the next 13 to 14 weeks, my plan is to go through John Owen’s work on Apostasy and address each Chapter the following way:
Thesis – Will be John Owens own thesis from taken from each individual section.
Outline – Will be an outline showing the importance of John Owens points tin each chapter in dealing with apostasy.
Summary – Will be a brief summary giving a rundown over each individual chapter.
I. The nature of apostasy from the gospel declared, in an exposition of Hebrews 6:4-6
Theses:
“Intending an inquiry into the nature, causes, and occasions of the present defection that is in the world from the truth, holiness, and worship of the gospel, I shall lay the foundation of my whole discourse in an exposition of that passage in the Epistle of Paul the apostle unto the Hebrews, wherein he gives an account both of the nature of apostasy and of the punishment due unto apostates; for as this will lead us naturally unto what is designed, so an endeavor to free the context from the difficulties wherewith it is generally supposed to be attended, and to explain the mind of the Holy Ghost therein, may be neither unacceptable nor unuseful.”
Summary:
In his first chapter, John Owen gives an introduction to the background and history of the Nature and Cause of Apostasy from Hebrews 6:4-6. Out of all 13 chapters, this is the longest and the one with the most substance due to its framework which it lays out for the continuing 12 chapters. He begins with giving the context and the description of how apostates had once been touched by the gospel, but leaving it in this way they could never come back to constitutional rights of the gospel. Owen then gives the characteristics, obedience, and faithfulness that one is to live by as a believer, and continues on to the rights, privileges, and blessings that the believer is to have – including illumination, a tasting of the gospel, receiving the Holy Spirit, receiving the Word of God, and being able to stand against the powers of the world.
Owen then begins dealing with the text of Hebrews 6:4-6 itself, detailing a number of areas that are often mentioned in debate, such as: are these true believers, spiritual privileges, and if they fall away. Here Owen works with exactly what this text says of apostasy and how it is impossible to bring one back from it to repentance. He focuses on three major areas in this section: all events depend on God, things are impossible because of who God is, and, things are possible and impossible with God who appoints all things to happen. In these sections Owen deals with both issues of how it is possible for one to come back to the gospel after leaving it, and how one cannot come back to the gospel, both emphasizing God being in control over all things for His reasoning only. Lastly, Owen ends with an explanation about the fact that if man alone tries to bring the one who has left the gospel back to it, no matter what man may do, it is impossible. He points out that one cannot “renew” another back to right relationship with God, unless God Himself has done the work of the gospel inside the one who had tasted it. Owen finishes with 2 final thoughts: to continue always to preach the gospel and make that gospel clear to all men, and how man alone cannot come to repentance of his apostasy.
Outline:
I. The Nature of Apostasy (Exegesis of Hebrews 6:4-6)
A. The History of Apostasy
B. Exegesis of Hebrews 6:4-6
1. Context of the Passage
2. Apostasy Described
1. Characteristics of Salvation
2. Believers Follow in Obedience
3. Believers Live by Faithfulness of God
C. The Great Privileges
1. Having Spiritual Illumination
2. Tasting the Heavenly Gift
3. Partakers of the Holy Spirit
4. Tasting the Word
5. Powers Over the Coming Age of this World
D. Apostasy and the Text of Hebrew 6:4-6
1. All Future Events Depend Alone on God
2. Some May never Return to the Gospel
3. The True Believer Should Help to Renew Those who Fall
E. Bringing Apostasy to Repentance
1. Preaching the Gospel Clear
2. Renewing Fallen Individuals to the Gospel
Reasoning, Prohibitions, & Inauguration of the Sabbath (Thought #3)
Posted: December 4, 2008 Filed under: Sabbath Study Leave a commentI have not posted many thoughts due to studies in seminary and my workload at the time. I however took an hour to set a side this week to look once more at the issue of the Sabbath, and issues within the Sabbath. Below is a list of assessments I made this week on the Sabbath and just my thoughts on it.
Reasoning behind the Sabbath – It seems from Scripture that the Sabbath was made by religious and social concerns. Meaning that the Lord made the commandment in Exodus to his people to show a timetable. This timetable is that the Lord’s people follow the seven-day week that the Lord had made at creation. However it as well is not only a social but also a sign. The Sabbath mentioned in Exodus is a covenant made between God and his people.
Prohibitions – Seems once more from the Scriptures that work, all occupational work is to be ceased.
Inauguration of the Sabbath – Now I know that I may get a lot of flack for this, matter of fact I can assure you that many of my dear brothers my get quite upset at my thoughts at this section. However the question basically boils down to two areas of thought:
1. Is the Sabbath a universal institution given at creation by ordinances from the Creator, given to all of mankind?
2. Is the Sabbath Israelite institution based on a pattern and eschatological stance in which has purpose and goal in it to fulfill?
At this point in life, study, and seminary I have seen many faults in Dispensationalism and even yes, Reformed Theology. Now I happen to yes learn one way more than the other, but by no means do I stand on one ground or the other. And every time I do, usually that side I stand upon ends up kicking me out. However I see clearly from the Scriptures my own position on the above questions and will end today’s thoughts here.
Traditional Reformed, The Puritans, and many others believe that at creation God was setting ordinance that were to be followed for all of creation, man, animal, etc. They see that the day of rest given at creation was a divine plan of creation in order to make the creation ordinance.
To this my thoughts… that this world has yes come from the hand of God, and been ruined by that of man’s hand. This logic would only lead one to then see, that today’s world is not exactly that of creation itself nor is what God intended as the final plan. Today’s world does not have that of which finality will hold. So, the term “creation ordinance” is inadequate. Why is it not? Simply the divine rest is not made for all of mankind, so therefore how can the Sabbath shadow that of what Christ offers? I hear oh so often that Genesis 2 was given to all of mankind, however when I look at the text, I see nothing given of a “Sabbath”, nothing of a religious festival, nothing mentioned of a moral law, no actual command given to be kept in anyway. No, all we are given is simply this, God finished his creation and rested (not Sabbath) and ceasing from all activities that day blessing it. Yes, God did bless the 7th day, and now I often then hear, “that the language is the same from Gen. 2 and Ex. 20.” However the similarities are not identical, nor is the reasoning for mentioning the day the same. Matter of fact my thought is that yes at creation god blessed the day, then commanded that later to Israel so that if they kept it, then they would be blessed because he had already done previously.
None the less I end with this, that the Sabbath day can in now way be given perfectly in human terms but can finds its end goal in revelation in the New Testament in the gospel of Jesus Christ what it foreshadowed. I end with two thoughts:
1. Gen. 1-2 was to proclaim the creation of God, showing his holiness, sovereignty, majesty, and power, which he truly is. The act of creation was not “man-centered” so to speak but centered on the glory of God.
2. Therefore, Genesis 2 does not speak of a “creation ordinance” nor does it speak of the actual “Sabbath” that was given to Israel in Exodus 20. This mention of the day of rest in which God took was a day that yes was based on the account of creation, in which would become a sign (Exodus 20) of God’s redemptive goal for mankind, namely the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Be sure to check out the next thoughts on the Sabbath dealing with the Sign, Promise, and Observance of the Sabbath.
You Use Twitter?
Posted: December 3, 2008 Filed under: Just for Fun Leave a commentIf you happen to use Twitter, please let me know either through email, comments, facebook or whatever means you’d like. If you are not using Twitter, please join then tell me.
How to Mark a Book
Posted: December 3, 2008 Filed under: Just for Fun 2 CommentsA friend shared this on twitter and I found it quite helpful (right away)!
By Mortimer J. Adler, Ph.D.
There are all kinds of devices for marking a book intelligently and fruitfully. Here’s the way I do it:
- Underlining (or highlighting): of major points, of important or forceful statements.
- Vertical lines at the margin: to emphasize a statement already underlined.
- Star, asterisk, or other doo-dad at the margin: to be used sparingly, to emphasize the ten or twenty most important statements in the book. (You may want to fold the bottom comer of each page on which you use such marks. It won’t hurt the sturdy paper on which most modern books are printed, and you will be able take the book off the shelf at any time and, by opening it at the folded-corner page, refresh your recollection of the book.)
- Numbers in the margin: to indicate the sequence of points the author makes in developing a single argument.
- Numbers of other pages in the margin: to indicate where else in the book the author made points relevant to the point marked; to tie up the ideas in a book, which, though they may be separated by many pages, belong together.
- Circling or highlighting of key words or phrases.
- Writing in the margin, or at the top or bottom of the page, for the sake of: recording questions (and perhaps answers) which a passage raised in your mind; reducing a complicated discussion to a simple statement; recording the sequence of major points right through the books. I use the end-papers at the back of the book to make a personal index of the author’s points in the order of their appearance.
Read the whole article here.
The Importance of Hell
Posted: December 2, 2008 Filed under: Tim Keller Leave a commentTim Keller who often gets a lot of junk for his views or thoughts on “Hell” has a nice article here.
Divergences of the gospels
Posted: December 2, 2008 Filed under: Catholic questions on the Gospel, The Gospel Leave a commentQuestion: What is the Divergences of the gospels to the Roman Catholic Church?
Answer: The existence of numerous and, at times, considerable differences between the four canonical Gospels is a fact which has long been noticed and which all scholars readily admit. Unbelievers of all ages have greatly exaggerated the importance of this fact, and have represented many of the actual variations between theEvangelical narratives as positive contradictions, in order to disprove the historical value and the inspiredcharacter of the sacred records of Christ’s life. Over against this contention, sometimes maintained with a great display of erudition, the Church of God, which is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), has always proclaimed her belief in the historical accuracy and consequent real harmony of the canonicalGospels; and her doctors (notably Eusebius of Cæsarea, St. Jerome, and St. Augustine) and commentatorshave invariably professed that belief. As can readily be seen, variations are naturally to be expected in four distinct, and in many ways independent, accounts of Christ’s words and deeds, so that their presence, instead of going against, rather makes for the substantial value of the Evangelical narratives. From among the various answers which have been given to the alleged contradictions of the Evangelists we simply mention the following. Many a time the variations are due to the fact that not one but two really distinct events are described, or two distinct sayings recorded, in the parallel passages of the Gospels. At other times, as is indeed very often the case, the supposed contradictions, when closely examined, turn out to be simply differences naturally entailed, and therefore distinctly accounted for, by the literary methods of the sacredwriters, and more particularly, by the respective purpose of the Evangelists in setting forth Christ’s words anddeeds. Lastly, and in a more general way, the Gospels should manifestly be treated with the same fairness and equity as are invariably used with regard to other historical records.
To borrow an illustration from classical literature, the ‘Memoirs’ of the Apostles are treated [by unbelievers] by a method which no critic would apply to the ‘Memoirs’ of Xenophon. The [Rationalistic] scholar admits the truthfulness of the different pictures of Socrates which were drawn by the philosopher, the moralist, and the man of the world, and combines them into one figure instinct with a noble life, half hidden and half revealed, as men viewed it from different points; but he seems often to forget his art when he studies the records of the Saviour’s work. Hence it is that superficial differences are detached from the context which explains them. It is urged as an objection that parallel narratives are not identical. Variety of details is taken for discrepancy. The evidence may be wanting which might harmonize narratives apparently discordant; but experience shows that it is as rash to deny the probability of reconciliation as it is to fix the exact method by which it may be made out. If, as a general rule, we can follow the lawwhich regulates the characteristic peculiarities of each Evangelist, and see in what way they answer to different aspects of one truth, and combine as complementary elements in the full representation of it, we may be well contented to acquiesce in the existence of some difficulties which at present admit of no exact solution, though they may be a necessary consequence of that independence of the Gospels which, in other cases, is the source of their united power (Westcott).
Time in a Postmodern Culture
Posted: December 1, 2008 Filed under: Just for Fun Leave a commentI often read that some of reformers/puritans would study the Scriptures 16-20 hours a day. What life would be without sports, computers, blogs, twitter, facebook, myspace, movies, TV, video games and the massive publications of books…
Puritan Thanksgiving
Posted: December 1, 2008 Filed under: You Might be a Calvinist if..., You might be a Fundamentalist if Leave a commentYou might be a Calvinist if… you dressed like this for Thanksgiving.
You might be a fundamentalist if… you dressed like this…
Gospel-Centered Musings 