Let me start this article off by saying that I have no hard feelings against the writers of he Baptist Faith and Message or to those who hold to the BFM. As a mater of fact, I'm really excited to see Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. at this years Expositor's Conference in Mobile, AL. Which is being held at an SBC church that affirms the BFM. http://www.cfbcmobile.org/site/default.asp?sec_id=3078
I know I'm not a pastor, but they let me in last year, so I'm hoping they let me attend again.
For many years I attended an SBC church, 10 years as a false convert, and then almost 5 years as a born-again Christian. In my years there as a true Christian who was seeking to grow in my walk and my faith, I started looking into what the SBC believed. This lead me to the Baptist Faith and Message.
http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp
At first I was happy to have something to hang my hat on when it came to finding out what the Southern Baptist believed on a certain doctrinal or theological topic, but that happiness soon turned into frustration. Many of the topics that are covered; The Scriptures, God, Man, Salvation, etc., are covered in a very surface level way that leaves a ton wiggle room. My hopes of finding a document that helped answer my questions just led to more questions. ****I have to explain some of the background to my feelings here. I was attending Liberty University and taking Bible and Theology classes. Of course, a lot of bad theology can be found on Seminary college discussion boards. Many of these, budding bad theologians (Rob Bell's) claimed to belong to the SBC. Hence my interest into finding out exactly where the SBC stood on these topics.****
Most of the definitions and explanations in the BFM had tons of wiggle room for anyone in the SBC to fit their theology into it. (Although I doubt that most people in SBC churches have ever read the document let alone been asked to affirm it before membership) I freely admit that this might be a good Confession if the leadership of the SBC churches would at least cover it in their teaching and preaching. What is unfortunate, is that even though the confession is slim on theology and doctrine compared to some of the larger confessions of the past, it would greatly multiply the theology that normally comes from the pulpits on Sunday morning if they would at least read it to the congregation.
Look, I'm not saying that a Confession of Faith has to spell out every nuance of theology that there is, but for someone who was looking for a deeper understanding of what the denomination believed, I felt like the BFM left me hanging. This is just another symptom of the SBC going further down their "doctrine lite" path. To quote an old pastor of mine, They SBC is "not really big on theology, so they're is a lot of room for different beliefs on certain doctrine."
Now contrast the BFM with the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689. http://www.founders.org/library/bcf/bcf-26.html
There is a big difference in the amount of information that is given in this confession compared to the BFM. For someone who was looking for a little bit of substance, I feel like I found a ton in this document.
You can get a feeling of what I'm talking about by just looking at the chapter titles.
Here is the BFM of 2000
Here are the chapters of the London Baptist Confession of 1689
1. Of the Holy Scriptures
2. Of God and the Holy Trinity
3. Of God's Decree
4. Of Creation
5. Of Divine Providence
6. Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
7. Of God's Covenant
8. Of Christ the Mediator
9. Of Free Will
10. Of Effectual Calling
11. Of Justification
12. Of Adoption
13. Of Sanctification
14. Of Saving Faith
15. Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation
16. Of Good Works
17. Of the Perseverance of the Saints
18. Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
19. Of the Law of God
20. Of the Gospel and the Extent of Grace thereof
21. Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
22. Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day
23. Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
24. Of the Civil Magistrate
25. Of Marriage
26. Of the Church
27. Of the Communion of Saints
28. Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper
29. Of Baptism
30. Of the Lord's Supper
31. Of the State of Man after Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead
32. Of the Last Judgment
I appreciate brief and pithy, to the point statements, of the BFM but I don't think that we can be to clear when it comes to the doctrine and theology that the church claims to hold.
To try and compare one part of one confession to the other would just be a lesson in futility. They are almost completely different in their purposes. One of them, the 1689, seems to be purposefully as specific as it can be on almost all of the topics that it addresses. While the other, the BFM, tends to still be orthodox while trying to avoid drawing any really distinct lines. The feeling that there is a lot of wiggle room on Theology in the SBC could be why it's not so black and white.
Could this be why one of the most common descriptors for SBC churches today is that they are a mile wide and an inch deep, or is the BFM just a symptom of what is happening to the church as a whole? For my part, I think it is the later.
Brian
*I know that good is usually a term defined by the writer or person speaking, but all good things come from God (James 1:17) so if our confessions are to be "good" then we need to make sure that they conform to God's word.
About Me
- Brian Davis
- To Start everything off.......... I am the Husband of my high school sweet heart Breanna. We have been married 11 years in July. I am a father to my 7 year old son Landen, my 4 year old daughter Lily, and my 18 month old son Cohen. I am in the MS Air National Guard. It's a pretty good job and it gets the bills paid. God has blessed me with a job that allows my beautiful wife to stay home with the children and also home school my son Landen and my daughter Lily. There is nothing more that I love than being with my family. As I grow in Christ, and as I see my family following me in striving to glorify God, there is nothing that is more important in this stage of my life. My interests are serving the Lord of my life Jesus Christ, and leading my family.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The difference between God's mercy and His grace
God has often forgiven sinners, but He never forgives sin; and the sinner is only forgiven on the ground of Another having born his punishment: for "without shedding of blood is no remission" (Heb 9:22). - AW Pink "The Attributes of God" pg31
What is grace?
According to AW Pink - Divine grace is the sovereign and saving favor of God exercised in the bestowment of blessing upon those who have no merit in them and for which no compensation is demanded from them. Nay, more; it is the favor of God shown to those who not only have no positive deserts of their own, but who are thoroughly ill-deserving and hell-deserving. - pg 50
This grace is free and unmerited. There is nothing that man can do to receive it. If there was, then it would not be grace.
Romans 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
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,
When talking about God's mercy, AW Pink says that we need to keep in mind 3 distinctions when it comes to God's mercy.
First is the general mercy of God. This is the mercy that is extended to all creation. Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all,and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Secondly is God's special mercy, that is just toward mankind. God provides all the "necessities of life" for us. Matthew 5:45 For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. This mercy is limited, and it ends when the life of the man ends. Isaiah 27:11
Now some will say that this not fair. Doesn't Psalm 136:1 say that, "His mercy endures forever"? This is true, but God has control over the exercise, or the application, of this mercy. God always has the choice to extend whatever mercy that He wants to whomever He wants.
Romans 9:15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
All of us should pray for "tax collector" hearts. Broken over our sin and grateful to God for the forgiveness that is found in Christ.
I am grateful that AW Pink took the time in his book "The Attributes of God" to share with me the difference between God's grace and His mercy. It helps me to love and appreciate Him more.
Soli Deo gloria
What is grace?
According to AW Pink - Divine grace is the sovereign and saving favor of God exercised in the bestowment of blessing upon those who have no merit in them and for which no compensation is demanded from them. Nay, more; it is the favor of God shown to those who not only have no positive deserts of their own, but who are thoroughly ill-deserving and hell-deserving. - pg 50
This grace is free and unmerited. There is nothing that man can do to receive it. If there was, then it would not be grace.
Romans 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
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,
When talking about God's mercy, AW Pink says that we need to keep in mind 3 distinctions when it comes to God's mercy.
First is the general mercy of God. This is the mercy that is extended to all creation. Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all,and his mercy is over all that he has made.
And lastly there is God's sovereign mercy, and you guessed it, this mercy is only for the children (the elect) of God. God only provides this mercy through the finished work of His Son Jesus Christ, which is applied through the work of the Holy Spirit. This mercy continues for all eternity.
Romans 9:15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
Luke 18:9-14 The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
All of us should pray for "tax collector" hearts. Broken over our sin and grateful to God for the forgiveness that is found in Christ.
I am grateful that AW Pink took the time in his book "The Attributes of God" to share with me the difference between God's grace and His mercy. It helps me to love and appreciate Him more.
Soli Deo gloria
Sunday, April 17, 2011
The disciples in John 6 .....
and their reaction to the preaching of the Sovereignty of God in Salvation
Isn't it interesting how consistent the reaction is from people in the church when they hear about the sovereignty of God in salvation?
We can see that Jesus even had the same reaction with the church/disciples that were following Him. Look what happens when He starts to expound on the life giving work of God in salvation.
[60] When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” [61] But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? [62] Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? [63] It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. [64] But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)
[65] And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
[66] After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
In these verses Jesus tells us that it is God who gives life and grants the ability to come to Christ. To paraphrase......"You have no power in yourself to do this. Your flesh is corrupt and of no help at all in your spiritual life, v.63. You have to deny your flesh and rely completely on the work of God, v.65. Yet, you are still held accountable for your unbelief, v64." And look what happens in verse 66 when Jesus preaches a monergistic view of salvation, many turned their back on the savior of the world and no longer walked with him. What an outright, blatant, rejection of God! Yet, is there any difference when people in churches today trade down from a Sovereign God to a God who responds to man's every "decision" and whim? Many people in churches today will respond exactly like the disciples did in verse 66. They walk away from the true God, and harden their hearts to the truth and the true God of the Bible.
Do you think that these disciples in verse 66 became rank heathens and left the synagogue's? Or, do you think they went back to living their self-righteous lives and relying on their works to get them to heaven?
I would imagine that these disciples went right back under the yoke of works. They went right back under the legalism and the law that was supposed to point them to Christ.
This leaves me now with a profound question, "The people who walked away from this truth were false disciples. Does that mean that this same truth when preached always divides the true disciples from the false disciples? Do this mean that those who deny the sovereignty of God in salvation are turning their backs on Jesus?"
Oh how I pray that many people in the church would come to a correct understanding of Justification. Having a proper understanding of Justification will greatly increase your Sanctification. When you finally understand the lengths that God went to save a wretched sinner like you, it will cause you to fall more on your face each day and want to serve Him. The more you correctly understand Justification, the more you will submit yourself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
p.s.
God's Word is so amazing. He gives us an example of how He uses the truth to separate the wheat from the tares. He does it through preaching the truth of His word.
Here is a great clip from Dr. Erwin Lutzer about this very subject.
http://www.archive.org/download/TheologyBitesPart15/Lutzer_doctrineDevides.mp3
If you are a pastor, and you want to find out the "spiritual condition" of your congregation, then I would suggest that you preach all of the doctrine that is in the text. Go deep and pull out all of the meat from the Bible and serve it to your sheep. The goats will hate the taste of it, but the sheep will praise God for it and glorify Him.
Isn't it interesting how consistent the reaction is from people in the church when they hear about the sovereignty of God in salvation?
We can see that Jesus even had the same reaction with the church/disciples that were following Him. Look what happens when He starts to expound on the life giving work of God in salvation.
[60] When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” [61] But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? [62] Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? [63] It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. [64] But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)
[65] And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
[66] After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
In these verses Jesus tells us that it is God who gives life and grants the ability to come to Christ. To paraphrase......"You have no power in yourself to do this. Your flesh is corrupt and of no help at all in your spiritual life, v.63. You have to deny your flesh and rely completely on the work of God, v.65. Yet, you are still held accountable for your unbelief, v64." And look what happens in verse 66 when Jesus preaches a monergistic view of salvation, many turned their back on the savior of the world and no longer walked with him. What an outright, blatant, rejection of God! Yet, is there any difference when people in churches today trade down from a Sovereign God to a God who responds to man's every "decision" and whim? Many people in churches today will respond exactly like the disciples did in verse 66. They walk away from the true God, and harden their hearts to the truth and the true God of the Bible.
Do you think that these disciples in verse 66 became rank heathens and left the synagogue's? Or, do you think they went back to living their self-righteous lives and relying on their works to get them to heaven?
I would imagine that these disciples went right back under the yoke of works. They went right back under the legalism and the law that was supposed to point them to Christ.
This leaves me now with a profound question, "The people who walked away from this truth were false disciples. Does that mean that this same truth when preached always divides the true disciples from the false disciples? Do this mean that those who deny the sovereignty of God in salvation are turning their backs on Jesus?"
Oh how I pray that many people in the church would come to a correct understanding of Justification. Having a proper understanding of Justification will greatly increase your Sanctification. When you finally understand the lengths that God went to save a wretched sinner like you, it will cause you to fall more on your face each day and want to serve Him. The more you correctly understand Justification, the more you will submit yourself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
p.s.
God's Word is so amazing. He gives us an example of how He uses the truth to separate the wheat from the tares. He does it through preaching the truth of His word.
Here is a great clip from Dr. Erwin Lutzer about this very subject.
http://www.archive.org/download/TheologyBitesPart15/Lutzer_doctrineDevides.mp3
If you are a pastor, and you want to find out the "spiritual condition" of your congregation, then I would suggest that you preach all of the doctrine that is in the text. Go deep and pull out all of the meat from the Bible and serve it to your sheep. The goats will hate the taste of it, but the sheep will praise God for it and glorify Him.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
His immutable love
"His love no end nor measure knows,
No change can turn its course,
Eternally the same it flows
From one eternal source."
from AW Pink's The Attributes of God pg 65
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Why Me?
Why me? This is a simple but also a very deep question depending on what has happened to you or what someone has done for you. In the case of our salvation, this becomes a very deep theological question.
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44
I guess that answers the question doesn't it? Why me? Because the Father drew me to Christ. It was nothing that I did. It was not "a choice" that I made, contrary to a lot of popular teaching in the church today. If it was my choice, then I would have an answer to "Why me?" I could say that I walked the aisle, I prayed a prayer, I MADE A DECISION! But do you see where the focus lies in all of those answers? The focus is on what I did instead of what God has already done in Christ. The Bible doesn't talk this way about salvation, and we should not either.
If I truly try to answer the question, "Why did God save me?" I come up blank. I cannot think of one good things that I did that would cause God to look at me and then decide to wipe away all of my sin. The old sinful, selfish, and prideful man inside of me wants to give lots of reasons; but the born again man in me knows better.
A.W. Pink tells us why in his book The Attributes of God.
"If then the reader is a real Christian, he is so because God chose him in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4), and chose not because He foresaw you would believe, but chose simply because it pleased Him to choose; chose you notwithstanding your natural unbelief. This being so, all the glory and praise belongs alone to Him. You have no ground for taking any credit to yourself. You have 'believed through grace' (Acts 18:27), and that, because your very election was 'of grace' (Rom. 11:5)."
God has taken off the blinders that I willingly put over my eyes so that I could see the Son and believe (John 6:40).
Only God can remove the ear plugs that I jammed into my ears so that I could hear and learn from Him (John 6:45).
Praise God for doing what I could never do for myself. Praise God for changing this broken sinner, who loved his sin, into a redeemed believer, who still sins, but loves God and wants to kill the sin in his life.
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44
I guess that answers the question doesn't it? Why me? Because the Father drew me to Christ. It was nothing that I did. It was not "a choice" that I made, contrary to a lot of popular teaching in the church today. If it was my choice, then I would have an answer to "Why me?" I could say that I walked the aisle, I prayed a prayer, I MADE A DECISION! But do you see where the focus lies in all of those answers? The focus is on what I did instead of what God has already done in Christ. The Bible doesn't talk this way about salvation, and we should not either.
If I truly try to answer the question, "Why did God save me?" I come up blank. I cannot think of one good things that I did that would cause God to look at me and then decide to wipe away all of my sin. The old sinful, selfish, and prideful man inside of me wants to give lots of reasons; but the born again man in me knows better.
A.W. Pink tells us why in his book The Attributes of God.
"If then the reader is a real Christian, he is so because God chose him in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4), and chose not because He foresaw you would believe, but chose simply because it pleased Him to choose; chose you notwithstanding your natural unbelief. This being so, all the glory and praise belongs alone to Him. You have no ground for taking any credit to yourself. You have 'believed through grace' (Acts 18:27), and that, because your very election was 'of grace' (Rom. 11:5)."
God has taken off the blinders that I willingly put over my eyes so that I could see the Son and believe (John 6:40).
Sunday, March 20, 2011
A day at the Keesler Air Show
I got to spend most of the day with Landen and Lily at the Keesler AFB Air Show. There was a ton to do, and for the most part we all had a blast. Sitting and watching something that doesn't particularly entertain you is something that I've been working on myself, and the children. We are all growing through God's grace in this area.
We got there early enough to get a great parking spot, and within 2 minutes we got to see the Budwiser Clydesdales march by. Lily loved it.
They had a few of the other horses in their cages. The kids wanted to stop and see them.
After that we walked around for a bit and looked at some airplanes (we even got to go in a few), some tanks, and even a jeep.
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| Standing outside the C-130 |
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| sitting in the C-130 |
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| I love this picture. Lily striking a pose outside the C-17 |
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| Sitting in a C-17 |
I didn't get any good pictures of the planes. They were either to far away or going to fast. We had a great time and made some good memories though. I hope that someday I can take all 3 of my kids to an air show and make some more memories.
Friday, March 18, 2011
I am free of Facebook
Last week Tim Challies posted a blog entitled "Facebook Makes Us Miserable", you can read the full blog here http://www.challies.com/christian-living/facebook-makes-us-miserable#more.
My problem with Facebook is pride. Not all people have this problem, so don't think that I'm saying everyone on FB has a pride issue. Every time I made a post I automatically thought that I have something important to share with my FB friends (which may be true), but then I also assume that they want to hear it. Why is that? Because it's from me, that's why!
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After I posted something, I started to notice who comments or who "liked" my post.
I have in the past (here comes a confession) jumped to the conclusion that other peoples posts are covertly about something I have posted. Whether it was or not doesn't matter. What matters is why am I jumping to that conclusion? PRIDE!
Facebook let me create a persona and a world in which I got to recreate myself. You see it all the time with people who post wonderful things about their spouse. Why are they doing that? I think part of it is because we want to create a persona of our spouse that is untrue. Why do we need to brag on them, or tell our "friends" that our "spouse works so hard, or is such a great mother/father?" Because it's all a competition. I think that there has to be some sort of problem if your spouse (or whoever) has to get their self-esteem from something that people say about them on FB. The people who are close to them know the truth. That is all that matters, or it should be. The problem is that most of the time the people that are close to them don't recognize the persona that has been created on FB.
This is one of the reasons why I asked my wife not to ever post anything like that about me. Why create this awesome looking FB persona (or let my spouse do it) so that people get disappointed when they meet me in person? Why doesn't the bad stuff ever get put up there? Have you ever wondered that. "Brian came home today and yelled at the kids and then at me for no reason. I wish he would've just stayed at work." In the words of Adrian Rogers, "I can't get mad when somebody says something bad about me. I'm just thankful that he doesn't know anything else."
I will miss the connection that FB offers, but it's not worth the sin that it causes in my life. Goodbye FB. I wish I could say that it was for good, but with the new FB policy, your stuff can never really be deleted. It's always there for you to dive back into if you want it. Maybe one day, after God matures me some, I will be back.
UPDATE - as of 9 May
Well........I've been back on FB now for a few weeks. I really think that ready Tim Challies book helped me see that getting rid of FB altogether is definitely a good option, and one that may happen again, but there is also another down side to it. This is a major means of communication with people that I am really close to. My extended family and my church being just a few. Should I cut communications with them, or should I work to control the problems that I have with FB?
I have come to realize that I tend to get rid of things in my life that may cause me to stumble or sin, which is a good thing, but there is also another option too. I can grow in my faith and maturity and learn to control myself. I think when it comes to FB and other technology, I need to gain more self control. Doing away with it completely will not slow down the way that technology is becoming more and more of an everyday reality in our everyday lives.
So, to all of the FB friends that I de-friended and/or offended, I'm sorry.
Well........I've been back on FB now for a few weeks. I really think that ready Tim Challies book helped me see that getting rid of FB altogether is definitely a good option, and one that may happen again, but there is also another down side to it. This is a major means of communication with people that I am really close to. My extended family and my church being just a few. Should I cut communications with them, or should I work to control the problems that I have with FB?
I have come to realize that I tend to get rid of things in my life that may cause me to stumble or sin, which is a good thing, but there is also another option too. I can grow in my faith and maturity and learn to control myself. I think when it comes to FB and other technology, I need to gain more self control. Doing away with it completely will not slow down the way that technology is becoming more and more of an everyday reality in our everyday lives.
So, to all of the FB friends that I de-friended and/or offended, I'm sorry.
A powerful video by Grace Gems
We often look at power "natural disasters" and think about the wrath of God. Maybe you don't, but I do. I wonder, "Is God justly pouring out His wrath on mankind?" All of us our deserving of God's wrath. That is the starting point we should have whenever we look at pictures of earthquakes and tsunami's.
As you watch this video, remember that the ark was a type and shadow of the Messiah to come. Jesus is the ark. Jesus is the way of salvation for us, just like the ark was the way of salvation for man in the day of Noah. If we are in Him, we will be saved from the wrath of God.
As you watch this video, remember that the ark was a type and shadow of the Messiah to come. Jesus is the ark. Jesus is the way of salvation for us, just like the ark was the way of salvation for man in the day of Noah. If we are in Him, we will be saved from the wrath of God.
Is Faith a work?
Just to give some background. I am currently going through the book of John in my personal Bible study. I have RC Sproul's commentary, and I recently started using Calvin's commentary (which you can find for free online at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin?show=worksBy). I love the way RC has laid his commentary out. Each section of verses is covered in one short chapter. This gives me plenty of time to read the whole chapter, then read the Bible verses again, and then take my own notes. Calvin goes into more depth, which is wonderful and greatly needed in some sections of John.
I am currently in Romans 6 in the area of verses 25-34. Whend I came accross Calvin's commentary on verse 29, it struck a chord with me. I understand that we are not justified by our works or anything in us, but how does faith fit into all of this? I do understand that faith is a gift of God, Ephesians 2:8, but it is something that we must do to be saved. I know that I've probably heard this before many many times, but God used this commentary to open my mind a little more on the topic of faith this morning.
That you believe in him whom he hath sent. What is the import of the word believe, we have explained under the Third Chapter. It ought always to be remembered that, in order to have a full perception of the power of faith, we must understand what Christ is, in whom we believe, and why he was given to us by the Father. It is idle sophistry, under the pretext of this passage, to maintain that we are justified by works, if faith justifies, because it is likewise called a work First, it is plain enough that Christ does not speak with strict accuracy, when he calls faith a work, just as Paul makes a comparison between the law of faith and the law of works, (Romans 3:27.) Secondly, when we affirm that men are not justified by works, we mean works by the merit of which men may obtain favor with God. Now faith brings nothing to God, but, on the contrary, places man before God as empty and poor, that he may be filled with Christ and with his grace. It is, therefore, if we may be allowed the expression, a passive work, to which no reward can be paid, and it bestows on man no other righteousness than that which he receives from Christ. - From John Calvin's commentary on John 6:29
I am currently in Romans 6 in the area of verses 25-34. Whend I came accross Calvin's commentary on verse 29, it struck a chord with me. I understand that we are not justified by our works or anything in us, but how does faith fit into all of this? I do understand that faith is a gift of God, Ephesians 2:8, but it is something that we must do to be saved. I know that I've probably heard this before many many times, but God used this commentary to open my mind a little more on the topic of faith this morning.
That you believe in him whom he hath sent. What is the import of the word believe, we have explained under the Third Chapter. It ought always to be remembered that, in order to have a full perception of the power of faith, we must understand what Christ is, in whom we believe, and why he was given to us by the Father. It is idle sophistry, under the pretext of this passage, to maintain that we are justified by works, if faith justifies, because it is likewise called a work First, it is plain enough that Christ does not speak with strict accuracy, when he calls faith a work, just as Paul makes a comparison between the law of faith and the law of works, (Romans 3:27.) Secondly, when we affirm that men are not justified by works, we mean works by the merit of which men may obtain favor with God. Now faith brings nothing to God, but, on the contrary, places man before God as empty and poor, that he may be filled with Christ and with his grace. It is, therefore, if we may be allowed the expression, a passive work, to which no reward can be paid, and it bestows on man no other righteousness than that which he receives from Christ. - From John Calvin's commentary on John 6:29
Saturday, January 8, 2011
RC Sproul's lays out the love of God
I love RC Sproul’s response to those people who say that if God loves the whole world, He will provide multiple ways.
Suppose there actually is a God in heaven, and suppose this God created the world and everything in it. Suppose that, in the process of making myriad species of birds, fish, and animals, He formed human beings in His image and gave them the most exalted position in all of creation. Suppose He said, “You will be holy, even as I am holy,” and gave them only one command to obey – but fifteen minutes after He made them, these human beings revolted against Him by doing the very thing He had commanded them not to do. Suppose God then said, “I’m going to provide a way for you to escape My judgment,” and then He called Abraham out of paganism, brought him to Himself, and said, “I’m going to make you the father of a great nation.” Suppose that He blessed all the descendants of Abraham, expanded them to a whole nation, and said, “Through this nation I’m going to bless the whole world”- but this nation repeatedly turned against Him. Suppose God sent prophets to these people to tell them to come back to Him, just as an unfaithful spouse returns to his or her partner-but the people killed the prophets. Suppose God finally said, “I love you so much, even though you are a stiff-necked people, that I’m going to send My eternal, only begotten Son to you” – but the people rose up against His Son and crucified Him. Suppose that God loved the people enough in all of this that while they were in the very act of killing His Son, He transferred the sins of His people to His Son and said: “if you’ll put your trust in Him, if you’ll confess your sins and believe in Him, if you’ll turn your gaze upon Jesus, you will not experience death. I’m going to give you eternal life with no pain, no tears, no evil, and no darkness.” If God were to do all that, would you have the insolence to say to Him, “God, You haven’t done enough for this world that hates You?” 1
Our culture says “If God provides only one way of salvation, He doesn’t really love the world.”
REALLY?? How much more loving could God be? People today don’t understand the depths of God’s love and the depth of their depravity.
Has any other religious leader ever died for you? To even think that there may be some validity to those false religions is blasphemy. There is only one way and that is Jesus Christ.
[1] RC Sproul, “John” (Sheridan Books, Inc.) 45
Suppose there actually is a God in heaven, and suppose this God created the world and everything in it. Suppose that, in the process of making myriad species of birds, fish, and animals, He formed human beings in His image and gave them the most exalted position in all of creation. Suppose He said, “You will be holy, even as I am holy,” and gave them only one command to obey – but fifteen minutes after He made them, these human beings revolted against Him by doing the very thing He had commanded them not to do. Suppose God then said, “I’m going to provide a way for you to escape My judgment,” and then He called Abraham out of paganism, brought him to Himself, and said, “I’m going to make you the father of a great nation.” Suppose that He blessed all the descendants of Abraham, expanded them to a whole nation, and said, “Through this nation I’m going to bless the whole world”- but this nation repeatedly turned against Him. Suppose God sent prophets to these people to tell them to come back to Him, just as an unfaithful spouse returns to his or her partner-but the people killed the prophets. Suppose God finally said, “I love you so much, even though you are a stiff-necked people, that I’m going to send My eternal, only begotten Son to you” – but the people rose up against His Son and crucified Him. Suppose that God loved the people enough in all of this that while they were in the very act of killing His Son, He transferred the sins of His people to His Son and said: “if you’ll put your trust in Him, if you’ll confess your sins and believe in Him, if you’ll turn your gaze upon Jesus, you will not experience death. I’m going to give you eternal life with no pain, no tears, no evil, and no darkness.” If God were to do all that, would you have the insolence to say to Him, “God, You haven’t done enough for this world that hates You?” 1
Our culture says “If God provides only one way of salvation, He doesn’t really love the world.”
REALLY?? How much more loving could God be? People today don’t understand the depths of God’s love and the depth of their depravity.
Has any other religious leader ever died for you? To even think that there may be some validity to those false religions is blasphemy. There is only one way and that is Jesus Christ.
[1] RC Sproul, “John” (Sheridan Books, Inc.) 45
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The righteous anger of Jesus
John 2:13-17 (ESV)
[13 ] The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [14 ] In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. [15 ] And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. [16 ] And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” [17 ] His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
I wonder what Jesus would do if he walked into some of the churches on the Gulf Coast today.
I know how angry and disappointed I get with them and all of the man-centered preaching and teaching that goes on, but those feelings are still tinged with pride and sin. Here Jesus shows a pure and Holy anger. It strikes fear into me to imagine being in that temple that day. Just to catch a glimpse of the pure and just anger of God.
It's not that the money changers or the people who selling animals for the sacrifice were doing anything wrong in and of itself, but it was where they were doing it, or as RC Sproul puts it "Legitimate Activities, Inappropriate Place." What about us? Do we bring activities into the church that shouldn't be there? Do we turn the focus from hearing God through the preaching of His word onto other things that are more pleasent for us to hear?
Can you imagine coming into your church only to be bombarded by tons of things that steal your attention away from worshiping God?
Can you imagine if there were all sorts of things for your convenience located in the church so that you could focus on your comfort instead of worshiping God?
Can you Imagine if there were pep talks to make you feel good instead of sermons on the Scriptures?
Can you imagine if church was centered on the man instead of on the man's creator and the one who has saved Him from the judgment to come?
Can you imagine if the credit for your salvation was taken from God and given to man?
Do you think God would be angry?
[13 ] The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [14 ] In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. [15 ] And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. [16 ] And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” [17 ] His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
I wonder what Jesus would do if he walked into some of the churches on the Gulf Coast today.
I know how angry and disappointed I get with them and all of the man-centered preaching and teaching that goes on, but those feelings are still tinged with pride and sin. Here Jesus shows a pure and Holy anger. It strikes fear into me to imagine being in that temple that day. Just to catch a glimpse of the pure and just anger of God.
It's not that the money changers or the people who selling animals for the sacrifice were doing anything wrong in and of itself, but it was where they were doing it, or as RC Sproul puts it "Legitimate Activities, Inappropriate Place." What about us? Do we bring activities into the church that shouldn't be there? Do we turn the focus from hearing God through the preaching of His word onto other things that are more pleasent for us to hear?
Can you imagine coming into your church only to be bombarded by tons of things that steal your attention away from worshiping God?
Can you imagine if there were all sorts of things for your convenience located in the church so that you could focus on your comfort instead of worshiping God?
Can you Imagine if there were pep talks to make you feel good instead of sermons on the Scriptures?
Can you imagine if church was centered on the man instead of on the man's creator and the one who has saved Him from the judgment to come?
Can you imagine if the credit for your salvation was taken from God and given to man?
Do you think God would be angry?
Two Farmers
Two men owned farms side by side. One was a bitter atheist, the other a devout Christian. The atheist was constantly annoyed at the Christian for his trust in God. So one winter the atheist said to him, “Let’s plant our crops as usual this spring, each the same number of acres. We’ll both work hard, you your six days and I seven. You pray to your God and I’ll curse him. Then come October, let’s see who has the bigger crop.” When October came the atheist was delighted because his crop was larger. “See, you fool,” he taunted, “What do you have to say for your God now?” The other farmer replied, “My God doesn’t settle all His accounts in October.”
All accounts will be settled with God. No sin will ever go unpunished. You will either pay for your sins yourself in Hell, or Jesus will have paid for your sins on the cross. There are no other options. Do not tempt God by saying that you will put it off repentance until the later days of life. Death could be at your door tonight and then it will be too late.
All accounts will be settled with God. No sin will ever go unpunished. You will either pay for your sins yourself in Hell, or Jesus will have paid for your sins on the cross. There are no other options. Do not tempt God by saying that you will put it off repentance until the later days of life. Death could be at your door tonight and then it will be too late.
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