Something to Ponder...

"When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your calling, and peace has become sin; you must, at the price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your faith."

Cornelius Van Til

Total Depravity

Here is a great sermon regarding Total Depravity...

Session III - John MacArthur - The Sinner Neither Able Nor Willing: The Doctrine of Absolute Inability | Play Now | Download

What Does an Unwasted Life Look Like?

The Appearance of the Unwasted Life, Part 1

The Appearance of the Unwasted Life, Part 2

Every now and then I pull these messages by John Piper out of the archive,  and every time I do I find myself broken.  I know it might take about 2 hours to fully listen to these, but I don't think you will regret it.

Food for thought...

"A startling thing has happened among Western Christians.  Many of us habitually think and act as if there is no eternity - or as if what we do in this present life has no bearing on eternity... Being oblivious to eternity leaves us experts in the trivial, and novices in the significant.  We can name that tune, name that starting line-up, name that actor's movie debut, name that country's leading export, and detail the differences between computer models or types of four-wheel drives.  None of this is wrong, of course, but it is certainly revealing when we consider that most Christians, let alone the general public, do not even have an accurate picture of what the Bible says will happen to us after we die.  We major in the momentary and minor in the momentous."

Randy Alcorn

Where is our hope?

Is your Gospel “Me” Focused?

“I have often heard it said, ‘If I had been the only person on earth, Jesus would still have died for me.’ Although our Lord could still have given his life for just one person, it most certainly would not have been because the person was so valuable, but because God was so gracious. Such an occurrence should hardly, therefore, be regarded as a source of pride or self esteem. For me to argue that Jesus would have died for me if I were the only one person on earth simply indicates my sins alone, without the rest of you contributing your share, were sufficient to demand the severe punishment Jesus Christ vicariously assumed in my place. When faced with that reality, we ought to weep for the selfless sacrifice of our Lord instead of finding in it one more opportunity for feeling good about ourselves”

-Dan Mtzat-

It’s amazing how a small shift in perspective can change our entire outlook on self and the cross. To think that Christ died because of our innate self worth is abhorrent. Left to himself, man is a repugnant, egotistical, traitor that celebrates his treason against God. The Cross was the capstone of this disloyalty. It is also the one and only act that enables man to mourn over his betrayal and rejoice in the grace of God. If man has worth it is only because the Cross has applied it, and if this is the case it can hardly be called self worth.

So Much for The Gospel of Positive Thinking...

Having friends that are associated with the Crystal Cathedral in one way or another, I want to clarify that in no way am I trying to celebrate a rift between family members or a "church".  I also realize that not all people associated with the Crystal Cathedral proclaim a "Self Esteem" gospel.   However, the reason I am posting this article is because I do feel the "Self Esteem" gospel is heresy and therefore destructive to the Church. 

http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=2679

Where is the Guarantee?

I have never been one to get “stressed out”. Sure I have had times when I worried about a new job or had anxiety about a paper due in college, but for the most part I have always been able to keep it in check.

Recently, however, this hasn’t been the case. Maybe its too much evening news or the constant barrage of the media but I have found myself becoming concerned, almost worried, about the state of our world and my survival in it. With the economy in the craphole, the cost of gas and food rising, and the ever present cloud of fear that seems to be engulfing our culture, I have found myself asking questions such as: What will I do if I can’t afford gas? What will happen if I can no longer pay rent? What if I lose all the comfort and safety I have grown so accustomed to?

What if?

The question alone causes an avalanche of fear and insecurity. I want to have control so badly but when I realize I can’t, I look for comfort in blaming politics, parents, society, culture, or any other entity I can think of. Is this pleasing to God? After all, didn’t Jesus tell his disciples,“…do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34) Perhaps, instead of asking the question “What If”, I should be asking myself the question “Since When”

Since when did God promise me a nice comfortable life?
Since when was I assured protection from persecution or suffering?
Since when is the USA God’s chosen nation?
Since when am I guaranteed to even finish this blog post?

The Bible does give promises about this life, but they look more like this:

“You will be hated by all for my name's sake.” Like 21:17 (ESV)

“...If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” John 15:20 (ESV)

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” 2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)

My reward is not in the comforts of this life. It is not in money, hobbies, work, pleasure, success, power, freedom, safety, status quo, sports or swimming pools. My reward is only in the resurrection that is to come through faith in Christ.

Biblical Manhood and Biblical Womanhood

I have had a lot of conversations lately regarding Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Because of this, I thought I would post the Danvers statement, which I firmly stand behind. I realize some of you will agree, some will disagree and some just won’t care, but I believe this topic plays a major role in the future of the Church. You can find more information here. www.cbmw.org

Affirmations

Based on our understanding of Biblical teachings, we affirm the following:

1. Both Adam and Eve were created in God's image, equal before God as persons and distinct in their manhood and womanhood (Gen 1:26-27, 2:18).

2. Distinctions in masculine and feminine roles are ordained by God as part of the created order, and should find an echo in every human heart (Gen 2:18, 21-24; 1 Cor 11:7-9; 1 Tim 2:12-14).

3. Adam's headship in marriage was established by God before the Fall, and was not a result of sin (Gen 2:16-18, 21-24, 3:1-13; 1 Cor 11:7-9).

4. The Fall introduced distortions into the relationships between men and women (Gen 3:1-7, 12, 16).

In the home, the husband's loving, humble headship tends to be replaced by domination or passivity; the wife's intelligent,
willing submission tends to be replaced by usurpation or servility.

In the church, sin inclines men toward a worldly love of power or an abdication of spiritual responsibility, and inclines
women to resist limitations on their roles or to neglect the use of their gifts in appropriate ministries.

5. The Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, manifests the equally high value and dignity which God attached to the
roles of both men and women (Gen 1:26-27, 2:18; Gal 3:28). Both Old and New Testaments also affirm the principle of
male headship in the family and in the covenant community (Gen 2:18; Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:18-19; 1 Tim 2:11-15).

6. Redemption in Christ aims at removing the distortions introduced by the curse.

In the family, husbands should forsake harsh or selfish leadership and grow in love and care for their wives; wives should
forsake resistance to their husbands' authority and grow in willing, joyful submission to their husbands' leadership (Eph
5:21-33; Col 3:18-19; Tit 2:3-5; 1 Pet 3:1-7).

In the church, redemption in Christ gives men and women an equal share in the blessings of salvation; nevertheless, some
governing and teaching roles within the church are restricted to men (Gal 3:28; 1 Cor 11:2-16; 1 Tim 2:11-15).

7. In all of life Christ is the supreme authority and guide for men and women, so that no earthly submission-domestic, religious, or civil-ever implies a mandate to follow a human authority into sin (Dan 3:10-18; Acts 4:19-20, 5:27-29; 1 Pet 3:1-2).

8. In both men and women a heartfelt sense of call to ministry should never be used to set aside Biblical criteria for particular ministries (1 Tim 2:11-15, 3:1-13; Tit 1:5-9). Rather, Biblical teaching should remain the authority for testing our subjective discernment of God's will.

9. With half the world's population outside the reach of indigenous evangelism; with countless other lost people in those societies that have heard the gospel; with the stresses and miseries of sickness, malnutrition, homelessness, illiteracy, ignorance, aging, addiction, crime, incarceration, neuroses, and loneliness, no man or woman who feels a passion from God to make His grace known in word and deed need ever live without a fulfilling ministry for the glory of Christ and the good of this fallen world (1 Cor 12:7-21).

10. We are convinced that a denial or neglect of these principles will lead to increasingly destructive consequences in our families, our churches, and the culture at large.

What Did Paul Live For?

“If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Cor.15:19)

People can debate whether or not life after death exists, but you cannot debate whether or not Paul believed it. Everything about the way Paul lived shouted something better was to come. He believed that living for the Kingdom of God was more important than living for the kingdom of man, and that the reward of doing so outweighed any physical consequence on earth. He didn’t waste his life on the pursuit of wealth, power, prestige, influence, possessions, health, or business. There was no way he could say, “Well… true or not at least it was a comfortable life”. He didn’t live for comfort; he lived to see the Gospel proclaimed. He knew if he was wrong, he should be pitied more than any other man. What causes a man to go from a persecutor of the Church to someone who is persecuted for the church? I want the Gospel proclaimed, but confess I want to be comfortable doing it. I talk about loving the unloved and unlovely, but very little do I go out of my way to seek them out. I talk about the importance of serving the poor and the weak, but can’t seem to find myself putting much action to those words. What took place between Jesus and Paul (at the time Saul) that caused him to undergo such a radical change? So much of me wants that, and yet if I am honest, a part of me doesn’t.

How Does Jesus View The Church?

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27 (ESV)

We live in a society that says, “I love Jesus, but I don’t like the church.” Imagine a friend telling you the following: “I love to hang out with you but want nothing to do with your spouse.”* What would you say to that person? Do I think that the church is perfect? No, but what I think makes no difference in the matter. Jesus loves his church! This fact alone should cause us to love it as well. Please share your thoughts.


*As much as I would love to take credit for these thoughts most of them came from Matt Ford.

Essentials of Christian Faith

“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-6 (ESV)

What do you think, are these them?

Is the recog​nitio​n of sin impor​tant?​

In Mark Dever's book "The Gospel & Personal Evangelism" he has a quotation from a very famous TV evangelist, which caused me to stop and reflect. Here it is....

"I don'​t think​ that anyth​ing has been done in the name of Chris​t and under​ the banne​r of Chris​tiani​ty that has prove​n more destr​uctiv​e to human​ perso​nalit​y,​ and hence​ count​erpro​ducti​ve to the evang​elist​ic enter​prise​,​ than the unchr​istia​n,​ uncou​th strat​egy of attem​pting​ to make peopl​e aware​ of their​ lost and sinfu​l condi​tion"​

Does anyon​e else have a probl​em with this?​ Our great​est probl​em is that we are sinfu​l from birth​ and there​for enemi​es of God. Chris​t is our great​est need!​ In order​ for us to under​stand​ the neces​sity of Jesus​ Chris​t we need to under​stand​ why. The why is becau​se we are lost and sinfu​l.​ Our great​est need is not healt​h or wealt​h,​ it is not happi​ness,​ it is not even food or water​.​ Our great​est need is to be saved​ from the Wrath​ of God! If we teach that the recog​nitio​n of sin is not impor​tant are we not sayin​g that Chris​t died in vain?​