Being Balanced

There are times when I find myself in a situation where if I say what I believe then I am sure I'll alienate some people, but do I say what I believe based on internal principles or do I succumb to the external pressure and let them hear what they'd rather hear or say nothing at all and let them think I'm on the same page as they are or speak from conviction and let the chips fall where they may? I truly have no desire on my part in any way to alienate a brother or sister in Christ simply based on my own preferences but my goal is simply to stand on the Word of God and the principles laid down in scripture as best as I know how too. Sometimes there's a sense in which people may think your all about the negative rather than the positive. I know that one of the hardest things for me in the Christian walk is reminding myself to stay balanced so that I don't make myself an undesirable person, because I know there is no chance of me ever becoming a mushy man-pleaser, just not wired that way (must have been my military training?). The Biblical message is both negative (Law) and positive (Gospel) and it is always negative first in order to strip us of our human pride so that we might see our need of a savior and then the positive is presented that it might rescue us from our dreadful state. Please be patient with me in my sanctification process as I sincerely seek the grace of Christ to be more Biblically balanced.

Revelation 5:12 "saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"

Quote of the Day

"The work of the church isn't difficult because of what Satan's doing in the world it's difficult because of what Satan's doing in the church." —John MacArthur

Quote of the Day

"It is distrust of God which lies behind the fleshly and worldly devices now so commonly employed in the churches." —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

Filth in My Heart

“When I look into my heart and take a view of its wickedness, it looks like an abyss infinitely deeper than Hell. And it appears to me that, were it not for free grace, exalted and raised up to the infinite height of all the fullness of the great Jehovah, and the arm of His grace stretched forth in all the majesty of His power and in all the glory of His sovereignty, I should appear sunk down in my sins below Hell itself. It is affecting to think how ignorant I was when a young Christian, of the bottomless depths of wickedness, pride, hypocrisy, and filth left in my heart.” —Jonathan Edwards (1703 – 1758)

Quote of the Day

"If human freedom & divine sovereignty are real contradictions, then one of them, at least, has to go. If sovereignty excludes freedom & freedom excludes sovereignty, then either God is not sovereign or man is not free." —R. C. Sproul

The Garment of Obedience

“Too many professors pacify themselves with the idea that they possess imputed righteousness, while they are indifferent to the sanctifying work of the Spirit. They refuse to put on the garment of obedience, they reject the white linen which is the righteousness of the saints. They thus reveal their self-will, their enmity to God, and their non-submission to His Son. Such men may talk what they will about justification by faith, and salvation by grace, but they are rebels at heart; they have not on the wedding-dress any more than the self-righteous, whom they so eagerly condemn. The fact is, if we wish for the blessings of grace, we must in our hearts submit to the rules of grace without picking and choosing” —C. H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Quote of the Day

"No sinner ever comes to Christ until the Holy Spirit first comes to him." —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

That is Grace

“God’s electing a certain definite number is a manifestation of His glory. It shows the glory of His divine sovereignty. God is declaring His absolute sovereignty over His creation. He is showing us just how far that sovereignty extends. In purposely choosing some and passing on others, He shows that His majesty and power are unparalled. Those who do not see glory and dominion in election simply do not understand God. They are not aware of His greatness, and do not understand grace.Grace is defined in election. God chose His people to happiness and glory long before they were born. He chose them out of the mass of fallen mankind. He loved them before they knew Him. He chose them when they did not deserve to be chosen. That is grace!

The doctrine of election shows that if those who received God’s grace had earnestly sought it, it was God’s grace that caused them to seek it. It shows that even their faith itself is the gift of God, and their persevering in a way of holiness unto glory is also the fruit of electing love.Believer’s love of God is the fruit of and because of God’s love to them. The giving of Christ, the preaching of the gospel, and the appointing of ordinances are all fruits of the grace of election. All the grace that is shown to mankind, either in this world or in the world to come, is comprised of the electing love of God.” —Jonathan Edwards (1703 – 1758)

(HT) Defending Contending

Spurgeon on Separation

"I have not much patience with a certain class of Christians nowadays who will hear anybody preach so long as they can say, "He is very clever, a fine preacher, a man of genius, a born orator." Is cleverness to make false doctrine palatable? Why, sirs, to me the ability of a man who preaches error is my sorrow rather than my admiration.

I cannot endure false doctrine, however neatly it may be put before me. Would you have me eat poisoned meat because the dish is of the choicest ware? It makes me indignant when I hear another gospel put before the people with enticing words, by men who would fain make merchandise of souls; and I marvel at those who have soft words for such deceivers.

"That is your bigotry," says one. Call it so if you like, but it is the bigotry of the loving John who wrote—"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."

I would to God we had all more of such decision, for the lack of it is depriving our religious life of its backbone and substituting for honest manliness a mass of the tremulous jelly of mutual flattery.

He who does not hate the false does not love the true; and he to whom it is all the same whether it be God's word or man's, is himself unrenewed at heart. Oh, if some of you were like your fathers you would not have tolerated in this age the wagon loads of trash under which the gospel has been of late buried by ministers of your own choosing. You would have hurled out of your pulpits the men who are enemies to the fundamental doctrines of your churches, and yet are crafty enough to become your pastors and undermine the faith of a fickle and superficial generation." —C. H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Quote of the Day

"It is not the absence of sin but the grieving over it which distinguishes the child of God from empty professors." —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

The Curse

(HT) Reformed Voices

Divinely Subdued

“A person who is vain and self-important, who pushes to the fore seeking the notice of others, who parades his fancied knowledge and attainments, has not learned of Him who is “meek and lowly in heart.” One who is hypersensitive, who is deeply hurt if some one slights her, who resents a word of reproof no matter how kindly spoken, betrays the lack of a humble and teachable spirit. One who frets over disappointments, murmurs each time his will is crossed and rebels against the dispensations of Providence, exhibits a will which has not been Divinely subdued.” —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

Taken from “Eternal Security” by A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

Haughty Rebels

“Nothing more riles the natural man and brings to the surface his innate and inveterate enmity against God than to press upon him the eternality, the freeness, and the absolute sovereignty of Divine grace. That God should have formed His purpose from everlasting without in anywise consulting the creature, is too abasing for the unbroken heart. That grace cannot be earned or won by any efforts of man is too self-emptying for self-righteousness. And that grace singles out whom it pleases to be its favored objects, arouses hot protests from haughty rebels. The clay rises up against the Potter and asks, “Why hast Thou made me thus?”A lawless insurrectionist dares to call into question the justice of Divine sovereignty.” —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

Quote of the Day

"It requires more courage to keep to the old paths than it does to follow after novelties." —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

Indefectibility

"In all ages this doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints has been opposed and denied. Satan himself believed in the apostasy of Job and had the effrontery to avow it unto Jehovah ( Job 1:8-11). We need not be surprised then to find that the supreme imposture of the religious realm repudiates most vehemently this precious truth and pronounces accursed all who hold it. The merit-mongers of Rome are inveterately opposed to everything which exalts free grace. Moreover, they who so hotly deny unconditional election, particular redemption, and effectual calling, must, in order to be consistent, deny the eternal security of the Christian. Since Papists are such rabid sticklers for the “free will” of fallen man, logically, they must deny the indefectibility of all who are in Christ. If I have by an act of my own volition brought myself into a state of grace, then it clearly follows that I am capable of forsaking the same. If the “free will” of the sinner first inclines him to exercise repentance and faith, then obviously he may relapse into a state of confirmed impenitence and unbelief." —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

A Hundred in One

"When I deny God's work in creating the sun, I deny one truth; but when I deny that he works grace in the heart, I deny a hundred truths in one; for in the denial of that one great truth, that God is the author of good in the souls of men, I have denied all the doctrines which make up the great articles of faith, and have run in the very teeth of the whole testimony of sacred Scripture." —C. H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Quote of the Day

"The “god” which is believed in by many professing Christians is becoming more and more paganized." —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

The Old Foundation

"The unconverted mind still remains on it's old foundation of self-sufficiency and self-determination, satisfied that all is under the control of its own free will.

But when these truths are brought home to their hearts, urging them to renounce faith in themselves, their own self-sufficiency, self-determination and self-righteousness and be renewed in Christ, then that old enmity lurking in their hearts is immediately aroused like some venomous snake ready to strike at the whole gospel. All the lust of the mind and the flesh; all the deceitful desires of the old nature; all the powers of sin and all carnal and unmortified desires rise up to resist these truths...

Evangelical truths are easily received on Arminian terms where that rooted enmity is allowed to retain control over all its decisions, and to be self-sufficient. But when these truths urge man's utter inability to repent and believe without the grace of God first working in them, then that enmity pleads free will, and resists with all its might the sovereignty of God in the salvation of men." —John Owen (1616-1683)

Quote taken from the "Apostasy from the Gospel" by John Owen, Puritan Paperbacks-The Banner of Truth Trust; 1992 p. 54-55

The Modern Trend

"The trend of modern theology—if theology it can be called—is ever toward the deification of the creature rather than the glorification of the Creator, and the leaven of present-day Rationalism is rapidly permeating the whole of Christendom. The malevolent effects of Darwinianism are more far reaching than most are aware. Many of those among our religious leaders who are still regarded as orthodox would, we fear, be found to be very heterodox if they were weighed in the balances of the Sanctuary. Even those who are clear, intellectually, upon other truth, are rarely sound in doctrine. Few, very few, today, really believe in the complete ruin and total depravity of man. Those who speak of man’s “free will,” and insist upon his inherent power to either accept or reject the Savior, do but voice their ignorance of the real condition of Adam’s fallen children. And if there are few who believe that, so far as he is concerned, the condition of the sinner is entirely hopeless, there are fewer still who really believe in the absolute Sovereignty of God." —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

Invalid Distinction

"First and foremost then the inspired Scriptures are profitable for doctrine: that our thoughts, ideas and beliefs concerning all the subjects of Divine revelation may be formed and regulated by their infallible teachings. How that rebukes those who sneer at theological instruction, who are prejudiced against the doctrinal exposition of the gospel, who ignorantly account such “dry” and uninteresting, who are all for what they term “experimental religion.” We say “ignorantly,” for the distinction they seek to draw is an unscriptural and invalid one." —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

Quote of the Day

"An honest belief in the sovereignty of God in salvation would bring an end to a lot of the nonsense that is going on in the church." —John MacArthur

MacArthur, J. (1993). Ashamed of the gospel : When the Church becomes like the world (85). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

Two Things

"When Christ came to the earth He did these two things. He revealed the Father’s heart and He exposed man’s enmity. And one of two things always followed: either men hated Him for exposing them, or they accepted such exposure and took refuge in the Grace which He revealed. When Christ exposed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees they hated Him; but when He exposed to the woman at the well her sinful life and condition, she welcomed it, and availed herself of God’s grace. So it is now: those who hear the truth of God faithfully preached, the lost and guilty condition of the natural man fearlessly proclaimed, either they hate it, and seek to hide behind the filthy rags of their own self-righteousness, or they come out into the light, bow to God’s verdict, and casting themselves in the dust before Him as Hell-deserving sinners, believe in the Savior which the Gospel makes known. In which class are you found, dear reader?" —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

Excerpt taken from "Gleanings In Genesis" by A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

Indulgent Old Man?

"The God which the vast majority of professing Christians love, is looked upon very much like an indulgent old man, who himself has no relish for folly, but leniently winks at the indiscretions of youth. But the Word says,

“Thou hatest all workers of iniquity” (Psalm 5:5).

And again,

“God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11).

But men refuse to believe in this God, and gnash their teeth when His hatred of sin is faithfully pressed upon their attention. No, sinful man was no more likely to devise a holy God than to create the lake of fire in which he will be tormented forever and ever." —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

Ignatius Doctrines

I always like to read the early church fathers like Clement of Rome, Polycarp and Ignatius and look for Christian doctrines that were clearly taught in the early church that has been passed down through the ages. In the quote below Ignatius clearly teaches the Incarnation (Jesus is God), The Atonement, the Virgin Birth, Substitution, and a couple subtle hints to the doctrine of Election and the Depravity of Man; also notice what side of the Lordship Controversy he would have sided with and not to mention his utter contempt for false believers. Keep in mind this was a student who sat under the Apostle John.

"For some are in the habit of carrying about the name [of Jesus Christ] in wicked guile, while yet they practise things unworthy of God, whom ye must flee as ye would wild beasts. For they are ravening dogs, who bite secretly, against whom ye must be on your guard, inasmuch as they are men who can scarcely be cured. There is one Physician who is possessed both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first passible and then impassible, even Jesus Christ our Lord.

But some most worthless persons are in the habit of carrying about the name [of Jesus Christ] in wicked guile, while yet they practise things unworthy of God, and hold opinions contrary to the doctrine of Christ, to their own destruction, and that of those who give credit to them, whom you must avoid as ye would wild beasts. For “the righteous man who avoids them is saved for ever; but the destruction of the ungodly is sudden, and a subject of rejoicing.” For “they are dumb dogs, that cannot bark,” raving mad, and biting secretly, against whom ye must be on your guard, since they labour under an incurable disease. But our Physician is the only true God, the unbegotten and unapproachable, the Lord of all, the Father and Begetter of the only-begotten Son. We have also as a Physician the Lord our God, Jesus the Christ, the only-begotten Son and Word, before time began, (Or, “before the ages”) but who afterwards became also man, of Mary the virgin. For “the Word was made flesh.” Being incorporeal, He was in the body; being impassible, He was in a passible body; being immortal, He was in a mortal body; being life, He became subject to corruption, that He might free our souls from death and corruption, and heal them, and might restore them to health, when they were diseased with ungodliness and wicked lusts." —Ignatius of Antioch (also known as Theophorus)(35 or 50-between 98 and 117)

Excerpt taken from "The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians"