Closing Statement: Debate on Calvinism

Okay last video I promise, but this is great!

RHB Deal

Check out RHB’s deal, only left for four more hours!

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The Sovereignty of God

Daniel 4:34-35 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

Ephesians 1:11-12 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

The sovereignty of God must be boasted in because God, being in control over all creation, reveals His pre-eminence and shows the limitedness of humanity in its ability to know and control things.

Of all the doctrines regarding the attributes of God, His sovereignty is by far the most needed for the understanding of His character.  As believers, this is crucial to living a life of glorifying God to His utmost height. The understanding that God is in control over all creation makes life easy to boast in Him. Without the understanding of His control, there is no room for boasting in God. Not knowing that the God who created all things is in control of all things can build a huge wall into the ability of boasting in His control. Being able to boast in such a divine truth that God is in control and is overlord of all things brings the believer to his knees in worship of the Creator’s supremacy over everything. In A.W. Pink’s great work called The Sovereignty of God, he states this:

The sovereignty of God! What do we mean by this expression? We mean the supremacy of God, the kingship of God, the Godhead of God. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that God is God. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the Most High, doing according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, so that none can stay His hand or say unto Him, What does Thou?

This gospel truth of the character of God provokes nothing but humility in man. God is the only being that has total control over all things, and therefore deserves to be boasted in higher than anything else in this world. Man must lose sight of himself in troubles, afflictions, trials and suffering.  To grasp the concept that God is in control over these areas of life brings only the most glory to His being.

To boast in God’s sovereignty is not only to understand or know that God is in control and appoints all things for a reason, but more so, to find it satisfying to the soul.  This is how believers can grow in the gospel, knowing that their Creator has purpose for the glorification of Himself. When life’s struggles come into play and start to eat away the soul, a gospel-centered individual will first look at the sovereignty of God. No matter what health concerns men may have, they still have the sovereignty of God. No matter what financial concerns may come in the life of believers, they still trust in God’s perfect control of everything on this earth. No matter what they lost – house, pets, kids, parents, spouse, etc., God knows, and has allowed all of this, to give Himself the glory so that they would find Him – the highest treasure in the midst of all events, good or bad. One of the greatest areas to boast of in the sovereignty of God is the fact that humans do not always have control. Knowing that there is a Maker of the heavens and earth, and that He holds them in His hand, deserves the uttermost glorifications. As Abraham Kuyper famously said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”  God’s sovereignty must be boasted in because man’s nature cannot – nor will ever – have the ability to be in control over all events, issues and circumstances in life. Realizing that God has allowed suffering and hardship for the sake of His name is when boasting in the sovereignty of God best glorifies Him. God, therefore, allows hardships, trials, suffering, and situations in which every man does not want to deal with, because only then can they see God in control over all things and there find gratification in knowing that they can enjoy the sovereignty of God.

No Post becuase the Flood

Due to my apartment flooding there will be no post today!

So instead of the sermon of the week, here’s and article for you to read.

New Ideas for the Blog

I have been wondering what to do for the summer on my blog. I usually write papers, articles about what I read, etc. because I am in seminary, but this summer I am only taking Greek I & II, and I am sure that no one is that interested or wants to see my homework. So, I have started a schedule of daily post that will be done for certain days of the week. I will continue in the future to write articles dealing with the Gospel, The Reformation, and plan to do several articles in dealing with Old Testament Theology and Hermeneutics next fall. But for now here is a list of the days and what post will be given for each day of the week. If you happen to have any ideas, please be sure to share them and let me know. Thanks!

Sunday– Sunday’s with Spurgeon– This posting will be an article, journaling writing, or section, or sometimes just a quote from the late Charles H. Spurgeon. 

Monday– You might be a Calvinist if…– This will be a way for those of you die-hard Calvinist to see if you are truly a Calvinist at heart. The idea came from, Jeff Foxworthy who is well known for his TV show Are you smarter then a 5th grader and his classic jokes, “You might be redneck if…” 

Tuesday– Where is Christ in the Culture Today?– This post will be a post of dealing with how Christians and the secular world as most call them, refers, sees, knows, talks about, watches, and deals with Christ today in the 21st century. Should be a fun post, I’m sure. 

Wednesday– Gospel quote of the Week– This post will be a simply one sentence to one paragraph from anyone who knows the Gospel well. Sometimes I may include my thoughts if i have time, over the quote. 

Thursday– Sermon of the Week– This post will be my favorite sermon that I have/had listen to in the past week of posting. Thoughts once again may be included at times. 

Friday– Book of the Week– A post of a Book that I had read and enjoyed doing so during that week. I would also like to begin doing book reviews of the book I post on, but we will see and time will tell to what I will be able to do. 

Saturday–Video of the Week– A YouTube video that caught my eye during the week as I was surfing the web. 

Oprah Exposed

This is nuts! I was going through videos on youtube.com and came across these two. videos. I never had any idea of this, check it out!

Brown better then Sanders

I am just making a quick post for my old roomie Nick. Make sure you read it here. 

Bad News

My computer just crashed, so therefore i will no longer be blogging for the rest of the week.

3 Compaq’s, 4 Gateways and 1 Mac in 18 months… I am blog-less, type-less and speechless.  

Sunday’s with Spurgeon

This Body Fashioned Anew

Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.

Often when we are racked with pain, and unable to think or worship, we feel that this indeed is “the body of our humiliation,” and when we are tempted by the passions which rise from the flesh we do not think the word “vile” at all too vigorous a translation. Our bodies humble us; and that is about the best thing they do for us. Oh, that we were duly lowly, because our bodies ally us with animals, and even link us with the dust! But our Savior, the Lord Jesus, shall change all this. We shall be fashioned like His own body of glory. This will take place in all who believe in Jesus. By faith their souls have been transformed, and their bodies will undergo such a renewal as shall fit them for their regenerated spirits. How soon this grand transformation will happen we cannot tell; but the thought of it should help us to bear the trials of today, and all the woes of the flesh, In a little while we shall be as Jesus now is. No more aching brows, no more swollen limbs, no more dim eyes, no more fainting hearts. The old man shall be no more a bundle of infirmities, nor the sick man a mass of agony. “Like unto his glorious body.” What an expression! Even our flesh shall rest in hope of such a resurrection!