The Literary Curse

"Let us read and re-read the Scriptures, meditating on them day and night. They never grow old, they never lose their sap, they never run dry. Though it is right and profitable, as I have said, to read other books, if they are true and good, yet beware of reading too many. Do not let man's book thrust God's book into a corner. Do not let commentaries smother the text; nor let the true and the good shut out the truer and the better.

Specially beware of light reading. Shun novels; they are the literary curse of the age; they are to the soul what ardent spirits are to the body. If you be a parent, keep novels out of the way of your children. But whether you be a parent or not, neither read them yourself, nor set an example of novel-reading to others. Don't let novels lie on your table, or be seen in your hand, even in a railway carriage. The 'light reading for the rail' has done deep injury to many a young man and woman. The light literature of the day is working a world of harm; vitiating the taste of the young, enervating their minds, unfitting them for life's plain work, eating out their love of the Bible, teaching them a false morality, and creating in the soul an unreal standard of truth, and beauty, and love. Don't be too fond of the newspaper. Yet read it, that you may know both what man is doing and what God is doing; and extract out of all you read matter for thought and prayer. Avoid works which jest with what is right or wrong, lest you unconsciously adopt a false test of truth and duty, namely, ridicule, and so become afraid to do right for right's sake alone; dreading the world's sneer, and undervaluing a good conscience and the approving smile of God. Let your reading be always select; and whatever you read, begin with seeking God's blessing on it. But see that your relish for the Bible be above every other enjoyment, and the moment you begin to feel greater relish for any other book, lay it down till you have sought deliverance from such a snare, and obtained from the Holy Spirit an intenser relish, a keener appetite for the Word of God (Jer 15:16; Psa 19:7-10)."

Excerpt taken from "Follow the Lamb" by Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

Hagee's Slip of The Pen

Richard McGough over at the Bible Wheel has posted a review of John Hagee's new book In Defense of Israel, you should take the time to read the entire article here.

"In his book In Defense of Israel (2007), beginning in the section called "The Jews did not Reject Jesus as Messiah" (p. 132) John Hagee relentlessly twisted Scripture in his attempt to prove that Jesus Christ did not come "to be Messiah to the Jews." His denial of Jesus as the Christ (Messiah) cannot be overlooked as a mere "slip of his pen" because he repeated his assertion "seven ways from Sunday" as seen in this sample of seven quotes from his book:"

If God intended for Jesus to be the Messiah of Israel, why didn't he authorize Jesus to use supernatural signs to prove he was God's Messiah, just as Moses had done? (p. 137)

Jesus refused to produce a sign ... because it was not the Father's will, nor his, to be Messiah. (p 138)

If Jesus wanted to be Messiah, why did he repeatedly tell his disciples and followers to "tell no one" about his supernatural accomplishments? (p. 139)

The Jews were not rejecting Jesus as Messiah; it was Jesus who was refusing to be the Messiah to the Jews. (p. 140)

They wanted him to be their Messiah, but he flatly refused. (p. 141)

He refused to be their Messiah, choosing instead to be the Savior of the world (p. 143)

Jesus rejected to the last detail the role of Messiah in word or deed. (p. 145)

Iron Tonic

"Present-day conditions call loudly for a new examination and new presentation of God’s omnipotency, God’s sufficiency, God’s sovereignty. From every pulpit in the land it needs to be thundered forth that God still lives, that God still observes, that God still reigns. Faith is now in the crucible, it is being tested by fire, and there is no fixed and sufficient resting-place for the heart and mind but in the Throne of God. What is needed now, as never before, is a full, positive, constructive setting forth of the Godhood of God. Drastic diseases call for drastic remedies. People are weary of platitudes and mere generalizations—the call is for something definite and specific. Soothing-syrup may serve for peevish children, but an iron tonic is better suited for adults, and we know of nothing which is more calculated to infuse spiritual vigor into our frames than a scriptural apprehension of the full character of God." It is written, "The people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits" (Dan. 11:32). —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

Excerpt taken from The Sovereignty of God by Arthur W. Pink

Soul-Destroyers

“The churches of our day are in the shape they are in because the teachers, preachers and religious leaders of our day are self-serving false prophets who fleece the sheep rather than feeding the sheep, men who serve their own lusts and line their own pockets, sacrificing the souls of men to the idols they serve. The contemptible religion practiced in our day (And the religion of our day is contemptible!) is the result of blind men following blind preachers in the practice of idolatry. These “diviners,” as God calls them, are men of whom God speaks plainly. He tells us that they are blind, without understanding. They turn each to their own way, each one seeking his own gain. They care nothing for the flock, but make merchandise of the souls of men. They pretend to be great soul-winners, but are really soul-destroyers. They do not search for lost sheep, but for unsuspecting souls that can be easily duped. They do not seek the salvation of men’s souls, but the money in their pockets. Feeding themselves, they fleece the sheep, and heal their wounds slightly, saying, “Peace, peace, when there is no peace!” They willingly distort the Revelation of God and proclaim as the truth of God the false dreams of their own depraved hearts.” —Don Fortner

Don Fortner is the senior pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Danville, Ky. Excerpt taken from a sermon titled False Dreams and Vain Comforts.

Double Talk

I know I am about four days behind on this post but if you haven't taken the time to listen to the October 22nd broadcast of Way of the Master Radio with Todd Friel interviewing Doug Pagitt, emergent church leader and pastor of Solomon's Porch in Minneapolis, MN. You may not want to eat before listening or else it may come back up as you hear what its like trying to nail jello to the wall. You dear folks who attend Solomon's Porch and have to listen to Doug on a regularly basis I have some words of advice for you, RUN away from this man as fast as you can and don't look back your eternal destiny depends on it, not to mention your present sanity. Is it just me or does Mr. Pagitt seem to talk out of both sides of his mouth at the same time?

Download MP3

Psalm 36:3 "The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good."

Proverbs 10:14 "Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction."

Ecclesiastes 10:13 "The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness."

Matthew 5:37 "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."

1 Timothy 6:4 "He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,"

2 Timothy 2:16 "But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness."

Jude 1:16 "These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage."

Hagee Heresy

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." 1 John 2:22

(HT) The Contemporary Calvinist

The Work of God

"We must remember above all that salvation is a sovereign work of God. Biblically it is defined by what it produces, not by what one does to get it. Works are not necessary to earn salvation. But true salvation wrought by God will not fail to produce the good works that are its fruit (cf. Matt. 7:17). No aspect of salvation is merited by human works, but it is all the work of God (Titus 3:5-7). Thus salvation cannot be defective in any dimension. "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). As a part of His saving work, God will produce repentance, faith, sanctification, yieldedness, obedience, and ultimately glorification. Since He is not dependent on human effort in producing these elements, an experience that lacks any of them cannot be the saving work of God." —John MacArthur

Taken from the article titled True Faith and True Grace.

Whithersoever

Would the patrons of free-will who deny the five points of Calvinism please take the time and meditate on the verses below and then ask yourself; is God, God? Doesn't His sovereignty extend even over the heart and will of man? If you say no, then you have made God in your own image and you are denying the God of the Bible that has been revealed to us.

“What hast thou that thou didst not receive?” 1 Corinthians 4:7

“predestinated to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will,” Ephesians 1:5

“Many are called, but few are chosen,” Matthew 22:14

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom,” Luke 12:82

“ For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth,” Romans 9:11

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me,” John 6:37

“Not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” 2 Timothy 1:9

“He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy,” Ephesians 1:4

“Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” So that “nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:29, 30, 39

“ Our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased,” Psalm 115:3

“None can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” Daniel 4:35

“The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD,” Proverbs 16:1

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will,” Proverbs 21:1

“Thou hast wrought all our works in us,” Isaiah 26:12

“My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure,” Isaiah 46:10

Quote of the Day

"The first work necessary for true religion is to be convinced of our dreadful state without Christ." —John Owen (1616-1683)

Troubling Books

As Christians tend to get ruffled over every little thing that the unsaved try and do to reject God and the Bible in society, which shouldn't come to a shock to anybody for "can the leopard change his spots"? What troubles me even more is when I go into "Life Way" a Southern Baptist based Christian bookstore and find books like these. Perhaps Life Way directors should re-read the Baptist Faith and Message before they let Oneness Pentecostal preachers distribute their trinity denying, word of faith doctrines in their stores to unsuspecting Christians.

Distorted Grace

I was sent this cartoon a while back and after pondering the meaning behind this imagery I am troubled that Christians forward this type of stuff via email without ever considering the real message they are endorsing, what disturbs me most about this particular email is that I believe it perverts the doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone which "is the hinge by which all Christian theology swings." So ask yourself if this cartoon is a true depiction of Biblical justification or is it a distorted view of the grace and mercy of God? Does this present a religion of grace or works?

Romans 5:6 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."

Resurrect Yourself?

Weapons of War?

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,"

"A spiritual war, however, cannot be successfully fought with fleshly weapons. Therefore, the weapons in Paul's arsenal were not those of human ingenuity, human ideology, or human methodology. Human reason, wisdom, plans, strategies, organizations, skill, eloquence, marketing, religious showmanship, philosophical or psychological speculation, ritualism, pragmatism, or mysticism are all ineffective weapons against the forces of the kingdom of darkness, the "powers . . . world forces of this darkness . . . [and] spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12). They cannot rescue sinners from the "domain of darkness" (Col. 1:13) or transform believers into Christ's likeness. Such weapons gain only superficial, temporary, and deceptive victories at best." —John MacArthur

Taken from The MacArthur New Testament Commentary 2 Corinthians, Moody Publishing/Chicago, 2003. p. 328

Article V

Attention: If you are a Southern Baptist and you refute the doctrine of election, please note that you are denying the very doctrines of the Baptist Faith that you are claiming to represent and bringing shame upon yourself and confusion into our denomination. Please learn and understand the doctrines of our faith before you teach something we don't believe. If you don't agree with the doctrines of the Baptist Faith and Message then why are you a member of a Southern Baptist Church in the first place?

Baptist Faith and Message article V. God's Purpose of Grace
Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.

All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-8; 1 Samuel 8:4-7,19-22; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 31:31ff.; Matthew 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22,31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45,65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:6,12,17-18; Acts 20:32; Romans 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7,26-36; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Colossians 1:12-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2:10,19; Hebrews 11:39–12:2; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:2-5,13; 2:4-10; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.

Hell-Bound Sinner

"A Christian can generally be known by his very appearance. The man who really believes in the holiness of God, and who knows his own sinfulness and the blackness of his own heart, the man who believes in the judgment of God and the possibility of hell and torment, the man who really believes that he himself is so vile and helpless that nothing but the coming of the Son of God from heaven to earth, and His going to the bitter shame and agony and cruelty of the cross could ever save him, and reconcile him to God‑‑this man is going to show all that in his whole personality. He is a man who is bound to give the impression of meekness. He is bound to be humble. Our Lord reminds us here that if a man is not humble, we are to be very wary of him. He can put on a kind of sheep's clothing, but that is not true humility, that is not true meekness. And if a man's doctrine is wrong, it will generally show itself at this point. He will be affable and pleasant, he will appeal to the natural man, and to the things that are physical and carnal; but he will not give the impression of being a man who has seen himself as a hell‑bound sinner, and who has been saved by the grace of God alone" —Martin Lloyd-Jones (1899–1981)

Taken from Studies in the Sermon on the Mount [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1977] pp. 258‑259.

Biblical Deceiver

With all the recent attention Joel Osteen has received from the media of late, which is nothing more than a publicity stunt to help promote his new book. Let us be sure not to loose site of the fact that according to scripture Joel Osteen teaches a different gospel, he even admits it in his 60 minutes interview when asked quote:

Pitts: "Hear what some others have said about you: he’s diluting and dumbing down the Christian message,".

Osteen: "Sometimes you have to keep it simple and not make it so complicated that people don’t understand,".

You see he doesn't deny dumbing it down he justifies it. By who's authority is he commanded to "keep it simple"? Is that anywhere in the Bible? Please take the time to download the four mp3's below of Dr. John MacArthur's radio program Grace To You where he preached a message titled "Beware of False Prophets" and see how close Joel Osteen's message lines up with the credentials of a Biblical deceiver.

Beware of False Prophets, Part 1 (1 of 2)
Beware of False Prophets, Part 1 (2 of 2)
Beware of False Prophets, Part 2 (1 of 2)
Beware of False Prophets, Part 2 (2 of 2)*

*If you only download one be sure it's this one.

Slice is Back!

http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com
The famous blog of Ingrid Schlueter a Slice of Laodicea is back online. Thanks Ingrid

Reactions To Joel

In case you missed the 60 Minutes interview with Mike Horton regarding Joel Osteen, it's online now.

Reactions to the 60 Minutes interview around the Blogosphere
i-Monk - Reactions to the “60 Minutes” Joel Osteen Piece
Houston's Clear Thinkers - What is Joel Osteen's message?
Flesh is as Grass - His own private possession
Doctrines Unite - Joel Osteen and “itching ears”
Tom in the Box - New Study Reveals Good Looks = Bad Theology
De Regnis Duobus - Thanks Anyway, But I'll Take My Best Life Later
Yinkahdinay - Joel O. and Mike H.
The Shepherd's Scrapbook - Kinder and Gentler Legalism
The Confessional Outhouse - CBS wants more gospel?
The Bororean - Biblical Deceiver
Amazing Grey City - Joel Osteen is a gospel preacher like Col Sanders is an army officer
Steve Markle - Joel Osteen on 60 Minutes
Denny Burk - Joel Osteen’s Christianity without a Cross
Mark Driscoll - State of The Pulpit / Video
Calvinist sojourner - Westminster Seminary Professor on CBS' 60 Minutes Last Night

(HT) OURC

Become a Better You?

Tim Challies has posted a review of Joel Osteen's new book Become a Better You which hit the book stores today. If you have bought into this smiling charlatan then please take the time and read Tim's review.

"the secret to Osteen's success is this: he teaches self-help but wraps it in a thin guise of Christian terminology. Thus people believe they are being taught the Bible when the reality is that they are learning mere human wisdom rather than divine wisdom. Osteen cunningly blends the wisdom of this age with language that sounds biblical. He blends the most popular aspects of New Age and self-help teaching with Christianity. And his audience is eagerly drinking this in.

And this raises an important and related question. What is Osteen's authority? On what authority does he base what he teaches? Christians have long understood that the only authority we have when it comes to spiritual matters is authority given to us by God through the Bible. We are committed to teaching only things that are consistent with God's revelation of Himself in the Bible. Without the Bible we have no authority. A pastor has no right to stand in front of a congregation and teach people what he believes. Rather, the pastor is to stand in front of the congregation and teaches people what God says about Himself. He bases all he does and says on this standard. In reading Joel Osteen we do not see this manner of authority. In reading Osteen we see a man who appeals to himself and to his own understanding and experience as authority. Rarely does he appeal to the Bible (66 times in 380 pages). Never will the discerning reader feel that Osteen has sought to understand the Bible first. Rather, it seems that he looks to the Bible to prove what he has already written or what he already believes. He uses the Bible, but not as a source of authority." Tim Challies

Lost Hymns

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.

Words by: Robert Robinson (1735-1790)

Exposing Joel Osteen

Dr. Michael Horton of the White Horse Inn radio show will be on 60 Minutes tonight October 14th, discussing the minstery of Joel Osteen. You can download a free mp3 of the extended radio program on this topic at the White Horse Inn. You can find the information here.

Also the Westminster Seminary in California has posted a collection of articles from Dr. Michael Horton exposing Joel Osteen and his teachings. Its titled Joel Osteen and the Glory Story: A Case Study. You can find the collection here, titles include:

Joel Osteen and the Glory Story
What Ever Happened to Sin?
Are You in God’s Story?
Suffering and a Theology of Glory
Doesn’t God Want Us to be Happy?

(HT) Between Two Worlds

The Devil's Amusement

I recently visited a church where they were having a week of what they called "Rodeo Revival" where everyone dressed up as a cowboy/cowgirl and the church was decorated in a western motif, at the beginning of the show a cowboy came down the isle cracking his whip and hooting and a hollering praises to God and then preceded some silly dialogue with a fellow cowboy when the one cowboy branded him on the rear end with a cross they used some kind of powder so the cross would show on his jeans. What in the world was that all about, what's sad is that there were over a 120 souls there that never even blinked and most thought it was amusing, so sad. I leave you with a quote from Archibald G. Brown who was one of C. H. Spurgeons contemporaries.

"Different days demand their own special testimony. The watchman who would be faithful to his Lord and the city of his God has need to carefully note the signs of the times and emphasize his witness accordingly. Concerning the testimony needed now, there can be little, if any, doubt. An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross, so brazen in its impudence, that the most shortsighted of spiritual men can hardly fail to notice it.

During the past few years it has developed at an abnormal rate, ever for evil. It has worked like leaven, until now the whole lump ferments. Look which way you may, its presence makes itself manifest. There is little, if anything, to choose between Church, Chapel, or Mission Hall. However these may differ in some respects, they bear a striking likeness in the posters that figure upon and disfigure their notice boards. Amusement for the people is the leading article advertised by each. If my readers doubt my statement, or think my utterance too sweeping, let them take a tour of inspection and study 'the announcements for the week' at the doors of the sanctuaries of their neighbourhood; or let them read the religious advertisements in their local papers. I have done this again and again, until the hideous fact has been proved up to the hilt, that 'amusement' is ousting 'the preaching of the gospel' as the great attraction. Concerts, Entertainments, Fancy Fairs, Smoking Conferences, Dramatic Performances are the words honoured with biggest type and most startling colours. The Concert is fast becoming as much a recognised part of church life as the Prayer Meeting, and is already, in most places, far better attended.

'Providing recreation for the people' will soon be looked upon as a necessary part of Christian work and as binding upon the Church of God, as though it were a Divine command, unless some strong voices be raised which will make themselves heard." —Archibald G. Brown (1844-1922)

Excerpt taken from an article titled The Devil's Mission of Amusement by Archibald G. Brown

The Only Way!

John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

The Bible says there's just "one way" to God. But today, postmodernists claim that "no one way is the right way," and any way is okay. To them there is no absolute truth. In their inclusive view, every man's opinion is as good as the next.

In contrast, the relevance of the gospel has always been its absolute exclusivity—that Christ alone atoned for sin and, therefore, faith in Christ alone can reconcile us to God. Even though that exclusive message has always been a stumbling block to some and foolishness to others, we are commanded to believe it and preach it anyway. Nonetheless, Christians today are becoming increasingly uneasy with the one-way message, causing the church to become weak and ineffective.

We must resist the tendency to be absorbed into the fads and fashions of worldly thought. Our task as ambassadors of God is to present the untarnished gospel—an inherently exclusive message—that is the power of God unto salvation because it's the only way to God. —Dr. John MacArthur

Taken from the book Why One Way? by Dr. John MacArthur, W Publishing Group 2002.

Mocking The Cross

Fides Radicata

Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

"What some say of rooted faith, fides radicata, that it continues, while weak faith may come to nothing, seems to be contradicted by this Scripture; for, as the strongest faith may be shaken, so the weakest, where truth is, is so far rooted that it will prevail. Weakness with watchfulness will stand, when strength with too much confidence fails. Weakness, with acknowledgement of it, is the fittest seat and subject for God to perfect his strength in; for consciousness of our infirmities drives us out of ourselves to him in whom our strength lies.

From this it follows that weakness may be consistent with the assurance of salvation. The disciples, notwithstanding all their weaknesses, are bidden to rejoice that their names are written in heaven. Failings, with conflict, in sanctification should not weaken the peace of our justification and assurance of salvation. It matters not so much what ill is in us, as what good; not what corruptions, but how we regard them; not what our particular failings are so much as what the thread and tenor of our lives are, for Christ's dislike of that which is amiss in us turns not to the hatred of our persons but to the victorious subduing of all our infirmities." —Richard Sibbes (1577-1635)

Excertp taken from The Bruised Reed, The Banner of Truth Trust. First published 1630, revised edition 1998. p. 96

Free Download

If you haven't been to Dr. John MacArthur's website http://www.gty.org lately then you need to do yourself a favor and head on over there asap. They have updated the site in many ways but only in the way it operates and not so much in the way it looks. I was very excited to see the new Resources page with daily updates that include a daily devotion, question of the day, featured article, featured books, daily broadcast in audio and video and my favorite part of the resource page is the FREE DOWNLOAD! Don't know if this will be a daily thing or not but to get a free MacArthur sermon in it's entirety will be sure to secure my visit to his site daily.

Few Love The Cross

"Jesus has now many lovers of his heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of his cross. He has many, who are desirous of consolation, but few of tribulation. He finds many companions of his table, but few of his fasting. All desire to rejoice with him; few are willing to suffer anything for him. Many follow Jesus as far as the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the chalice of his passion. Many reverence his miracles, but few follow the reproach of his cross. Many love Jesus as long as they meet with no adversity; many praise and bless him as long as. they receive some consolations from him. But if Jesus hide himself and leave them for a little while, they fall either into complaining or into excessive dejection. But they who love Jesus for Jesus' sake, and not for any comfort of their own, bless him no less in tribulation and anguish of heart than in the greatest consolation. And if he should never give them consolation, yet would they always praise him, and always give him thanks. Oh, what might there is in the pure love of Jesus, when unmixed with any self-interest or self-love! Are not all those to be called hirelings who are always looking for consolations? Are not they proved to be rather lovers of themselves than of Christ, who always think of their own profit and gain? Where shall we find a man who is willing to serve God for nought? Rarely is anyone found who is so spiritual as to be stripped of all things. For who can find the man who is truly poor in spirit and stripped of every creature? His value is from afar and from the remotest coasts. If a man give his whole substance, it is yet nothing. And if he do great penance, it is yet little. And if he have laid hold of all knowledge, he is still far off. And if he have great virtue and a devotion glowing exceedingly, still is there much lacking to him: that is to say, that one thing which is above all necessary to him. What is that? That, having forsaken all things, he should forsake himself, and wholly go out of himself, and retain no personal affection. And when he shall have done all things which he knows should be done, that he should think that he has done nothing." —Thomas a`Kempis (1380-1471)

Taken from The Imitation Of Christ by Thomas a`Kempis, p. 96-97

The Comfort of Tribulation

After reading this quote I realize that I am not there yet and pray that someday I to will find comfort in my tribulation, but I also can't help but wonder how in the world could a seeker-friendly or a prosperity preacher ever fit this into a sermon?

"Those who are afflicted in many ways are not without refreshing comfort, for the know that by bearing the cross they are gathering many treasures for themselves. For while they willingly put themselves under the cross, all the burden of adversity is turned into confidence of future divine comfort. And the more the flesh is weakened by affliction, so much the more is the spirit strengthened by inward grace. Sometimes saints are so comforted in the desire for tribulation and adversity and love of conformity to the cross of Christ, that they do not wish to be without grief and tribulation." —Thomas a`Kempis (1380-1471)

Taken from The Imitation Of Christ by Thomas a`Kempis, p. 101

Parallel Truths

I believe that one of the many reasons that so many Arminians fail to see the truth of Calvinism is their failure to see that there are two parallel truths that are equally taught in the Bible, but rather than accept both truths they tend to reject one and embrace the other which tends to lead to a weak man-centered doctrine.

"The system of truth is not one straight line, but two. No man will ever get a right view of the gospel until he knows how to look at the two lines at once. I am taught in one book to believe that what I sow I shall reap: I am taught in another place, that "it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." I see in one place, God presiding over all in providence; and yet I see, and I cannot help seeing, that man acts as he pleases, and that God has left his actions to his own will, in a great measure. Now, if I were to declare that man was so free to act, that there was no presidence of God over his actions, I should be driven very near to Atheism; and if, on the other hand, I declare that God so overrules all things, as that man is not free enough to be responsible, I am driven at once into Antinomianism or fatalism. That God predestines, and that man is responsible, are two things that few can see. They are believed to be inconsistent and contradictory; but they are not. It is just the fault of our weak judgment. Two truths cannot be contradictory to each other. If, then, I find taught in one place that everything is fore-ordained, that is true; and if I find in another place that man is responsible for all his actions, that is true; and it is my folly that leads me to imagine that two truths can ever contradict each other. These two truths, I do not believe, can ever be welded into one upon any human anvil, but one they shall be in eternity: they are two lines that are so nearly parallel, that the mind that shall pursue them farthest, will never discover that they converge; but they do converge, and they will meet somewhere in eternity, close to the throne of God, whence all truth doth spring." —C. H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Taken from a sermon delivered on sabbath morning, August 1, 1858, by the Rev. C. H. Spurgeonat the Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens titled Sovereign Grace and Man's Responsibility.

10 Ways Worship Leaders Hinder Church

What is Perseverance?

"The perseverance of the saints is a steady pressing forward in the course on which they entered at conversion—an enduring unto the end in the exercise of faith and in the practice of holiness. The perseverance of the saints consists in a continuing to deny self, to mortify the lusts of the flesh, to resist the Devil, to fight the good fight of faith; and though they suffer many falls by the way, and receive numerous wounds from their foes, yet, if "faint," they "hold on their way." —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

Perservance 101

One of the teachings that rose up out of the Roman Catholic Church and has spread throughout many denominations is the teaching that a true believer in Jesus Christ can lose his/her salvation, I have encountered this doctrine countless times, mainly from Pentecostals and Church of Christ members who say that you can walk away or do something worthy of losing your salvation? Well I thought I would post some great articles and audio sources on the doctrine of "Perseverance of the Saints" or what I like to call "If Saved Always Saved". Please use an open Bible when reading or listening to any of these sources.

Articles
R. C. Sproul - Can a Sinning Christian Lose His Salvation?
R. L. Dabney - The Five Points of Calvinism, Part 5
Sam Storms - Defense of the Perseverance of the Saints - Part 1 / Part 2
Charles Spurgeon - Eternal Security
A.W. Pink - Eternal Security / Book
H. A. Ironside - Eternal Security of the Believer
John Gill - Final Perseverance
J.W. Hendryx - Biblical Reflections on Hebrews 6
Octavius Winslow - No Condemnation in Christ Jesus / Book

Audio
Jonathan Sims - The Eternal Security of The Believer
John Piper - Those Whom He Justified He Also Glorified
John Piper - Sealed by the Spirit to the Day of Redemption
John MacArthur - The Saint's Guarantee
John MacArthur - Eternal Security
John MacArthur - The Extent of the Believer's Security
John MacArthur - The Perseverance of the Saints - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Helen Roseveare - A Call for the Perseverance of the Saints
Arturo G. Azurdia III - Perseverance of the Saints
Jim McClarty - Perseverance of The Saints - The Arguments

"He who remains in this uncertainty remains a burdened and weary man. He who is contented with this uncertainty is contented with misery and danger. He who clings to this uncertainty as a right thing, can have no pretensions to the name of son, child, or saint of God: for in that uncertainty is there any feature of resemblance to the son or the saint; anything of the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father; any likeness to the filial spirit of the beloved Son of God?

He who resolves to remain in this uncertainty is a destroyer of his own soul; and he who tries to persuade others to remain in this uncertainty is a murderer of souls. He who does his best to make himself comfortable without the knowledge of his reconciliation and relationship to God, is a manifest unbeliever; and he who tries to induce others to be comfortable without this knowledge is something worse; if worse can be. That there are many among professing Christians who have not this knowledge, is a painful fact; that there are some who, instead of lamenting this, make their boast of it, is a fact more painful still; that there are even some who proclaim their own uncertainty in order to countenance others in it, is a fact the most painful of all.

Thus the questions about assurance resolve themselves into that of the knowledge of our relationship to God. To an Arminian, who denies election and the perseverance of the saints, the knowledge of our present reconciliation to God might bring with it no assurance of final salvation; for, according to him, we may be in reconciliation today, and out of it tomorrow; but to a Calvinist there can be no such separation. He who is once reconciled is reconciled for ever; and the knowledge of filial relationship just now is the assurance of eternal salvation. Indeed, apart from God's electing love, there can be no such thing as assurance. It becomes an impossibility." —Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

Doctrines of Grace

If you haven't been following the daily broadcast of Grace To You then you have been missing out on some of the best sermons on the Doctrines of Grace or also know as the Five Points of Calvinism by Dr. John MacArthur. The links below are to the daily broadcast that you can download for free. I bought the ten disc series which is a more in depth study and well worth the money. Enjoy!

The Perseverance of the Saints, Part 1
The Perseverance of the Saints, Part 2
The Perseverance of the Saints, Part 3
The Doctrine of Election, Part 1 (1 of 2)
The Doctrine of Election, Part 1 (2 of 2)
The Doctrine of Election, Part 2
The Doctrine of Election, Part 3, (1 of 2)
The Doctrine of Election, Part 3, (2 of 2)
The Doctrine of Absolute Inability (1 of 2)
The Doctrine of Absolute Inability (2 of 2)
The Doctrine of Actual Atonement, Part 1
The Doctrine of Actual Atonement, Part 2 (1 of 2)
The Doctrine of Actual Atonement, Part 2 (2 of 2)
The Doctrine of God's Effectual Call, Part 1
The Doctrine of God's Effectual Call, Part 2

This Week in Blogdom

After being gone for four days I think it's good just to get caught up in the blog world, so here is the latest from the blogosphere.

Symphony of Scripture has posted a great quote by John MacArthur titled Baptizing the Masses with a Watered-down Gospel.

Tim Challies has been at Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama blogging The Expositors’ Conference.

All the 2007 Desiring God National Conference audio and videos have now been posted online for free.

Over at Shepherd the Flock Nathan White has written a great article titled Sin: Today vs Yesterday. This is a great article and be sure to ponder the Tozer quote at the end.

This reading of the 23 Psalm is just too precious not to share.