Brotherly Love

"It (brotherly love) is, as unto its luster and splendor, retired to Heaven, abiding in its power and efficacious exercise only in some comers of the earth. Envy, wrath, selfishness, love of the world, with coldness in all the concerns of religion, have possessed the place of it. And in vain shall men wrangle and contend about their differences in faith and worship, pretending to design the advancement of religion by an imposition of their persuasions on others: unless this holy love be again re-introduced among all those who profess the name of Christ, all the concerns of religion will more and more run into ruin. The very name of a brotherhood amongst Christians is a matter of scorn and reproach, and all the consequents of such a relation are despised." —John Owen (1616-1683)

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

Gifts Without Grace

"Spiritual gifts are for the confirmation of the gospel and the spiritual edification of the church. But gifts do not bring salvation and can be given to those who know nothing of grace in their hearts. So it is incumbent on all who have received spiritual gifts not to look to them as evidences of being truly regenerated, but to spiritual graces. Some have been deceived into thinking they have grace when they only have gifts. So the presence of spiritual gifts can mislead us into thinking that all is well when great apostasy is taking place.

Gifts, without grace, have no influence on the soul and they work only at special times and on special occasions. But grace affects the whole person at all times and in all duties. Grace works holy obedience in the soul. Gifts do not. Gifts are not, and can never be, the measure of our growth in grace..." —John Owen (1616-1683)

Quote taken from "Apostasy from the Gospel" by John Owen, The Banner of Truth Trust; 1992 p. 160

Quote of the Day

"God does not allow any man to be the absoluite sovereign judge of himself, which would usurp his divine prerogative and put the sinner in the place of God himself." —John Owen (1616-1683)

Quote of the Day

"There is no broader way to apostasy than to reject God's sovereignty in all things concerning the revelation of himself and our obedience, refusing to 'bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ'. From the refusal to submit to God's sovereignty over all things, including our eternal salvation, arose Pelagianism, Arminianism and every present-day heresy." —John Owen (1616-1683)

Quote of the Day

"If we are satisfied with vague ideas about Him (Christ) we shall find no transforming power communicated to us. But when we cling wholeheartedly to Him and our minds are filled with thoughts of Him and we constantly delight ourselves in Him, then spiritual power will flow from Him to purify our hearts, increase our holiness, strengthen our graces, and sometimes fill us 'with joy inexpressible and full of glory'." —John Owen (1616-1683)

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)

Mysterious and Glorious

I am reading The Glory of Christ by John Owen and I am finding it a wonderful study of the depths of Christ and His Glory. Here is what I read this morning in chapter six.

The glory of his obedience becomes more wonderful when we realize who he was who thus obeyed God. He was none other than the Son of God made man. He who was in heaven, above all, Lord of all, lived in the world, having no earthly glory or reputation, obliged to obey the whole law of God perfectly. He, to whom prayer was made, prayed himself night and day. He, whom all the angels of heaven and all creatures worshipped, fulfilled all the duties which the worship of God required. He who was Lord and master of the house became the lowliest servant in the house, performing all menial duties. He that made all men in whose hand they are all as clay is in the hand of the potter, observed among them the strictest rules of justice, in giving to everyone his due, and out of love giving good things to the undeserving. This is what makes the obedience of Christ so mysterious and glorious. —John Owen (1616-1683)

Quote taken from The Glory of Christ by John Owen, The Banner of Truth Trust; 1994 p. 54

Calvinism 101

Here are some of my favorite quotes, articles, audio and other resources on Calvinism. These define what is better know as the Doctrines of Grace.

Articles
What I Don’t Believe About Calvinism – Barrett Young
Calvinism, Arminianism, and Eternal Security - Matt Perman
Ten Effects of Believing in the Five Points of Calvinism – John Piper
The Sovereignty of God and Prayer - John Piper
What We Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism – John Piper
How to Teach and Preach “Calvinism” – John Piper
Is Being Born Again Up To Us? - John Piper (Audio Also Available)
Justification by Faith is the End of Boasting - John Piper
Election Stated and Defended - Ernest C. Reisinger
Where’d All These Calvinists Come From? - Mark Dever (10 part blog)
God's Sovereignty in the Salvation of Men - Jonathan Edwards
Arminian Quotes - Various Christians
Arminian Prayer - C. H. Spurgeon
A Defense of Calvinism - C. H. Spurgeon
Sovereign Grace and Man's Responsibility - C. H. Spurgeon
Exposition of the Doctrines of Grace - Metropolitan Tabernacle
Typical Arminian - Jim McClarty
Answering Key Questions About the Doctrine of Election
The Sovereignty of God in Salvation - John MacArthur
Who Chose Whom? - John MacArthur
John G. Reisinger's Library - Over 75 Articles
Introduction to Owen's "Death of Death" - J. I. Packer
The Five Points of Calvinism - W. J. Seaton
The 5 Points of Calvinism - R. L. Dabney
The Doctrine of Election - A. W. Pink
Freedom of the Will - R. C. Sproul
Burning Straw Dummies - Randy Seiver
Tiptoeing Through the TULIP's Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 - Lee Shelton IV
God's Purpose Of Grace - Baptist Faith & Message Article 5
Why I am a Calvinist Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8 - Phil Johnson

Book
What The Bible Says About: The Doctrines of Grace / PDF File

Video
Free Will vs God's Sovereign Election
Limited Atonement
God's Choice
James White: Closing Statement

Audio
John MacArthur
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
The Sinner Neither Able Nor Willing

Answering Key Questions About the Doctrine of Election
Part 1 / Part 2

Arturo Azurdia
Total Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints
Q&A on the Doctrines of Grace, Part 1
Q&A on the Doctrines of Grace, Part 2
Q&A on the Doctrines of Grace, Part 3

John Piper
Introduction
Total Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints
Implications and Q & A

Dr. Steve Lawson
Sovereign Election I
Sovereign Election II
Sovereign Election III
Sovereign Election IV
Sovereign Election V
Sovereign Election VI
The Doctrines of Grace

Various Speakers & Messages
Tom Nettles - The Historical Record of Calvinism
Jeff Noblit - Calvinism a Cause for Rejoicing and Concern
Phil Johnson - Calvinism on Trial

"To suppose that whatever God requireth of us that we have power of ourselves to do, is to make the cross and grace of Jesus Christ of none effect." – John Owen

Proud Nonsense

"We have some who preach Calvinism all the first part of the sermon, and finish up with Arminianism, because they think that will make them useful. Useful nonsense!—That is all it is." —C.H. Spurgeon

"Hence it is, that natural men are generally so fond of Arminian principles. "Do and live," is the native language of a proud, self-righteous heart." —George Whitfield

"If you don’t believe that God is the Sovereign One who is determining who is being saved, then you must believe it’s your job. I’d be out of the ministry if I was an Arminian. I don’t want that responsibility." —John MacArthur

"There are many would have peace with the destroying of truth; peace with Arminian, Socinian, Antiscripturist. This is a peace of the devil’s making." —Thomas Watson

"If we sum up the evidence that has been given, we shall find its amount to be, that Arminianism came from the Church of Rome, and leads back again to the pit whence it was digged." — Augustus Toplady

"I have not discovered half the poison contained in the Arminian doctrine concerning God’s decrees, I will in brief present to your view the opposition that is in this matter betwixt the word of God and the patrons of free-will." —John Owen

"So that let Arminians turn which way they please with their notion of liberty, consisting in the Will determining its own acts, their notion destroys itself." —Jonathan Edwards

"[Arminianism is] the Pope's Benjamin, the last and greatest monster of the man of sin; the elixir of Anti- Christianism; the mystery of the mystery of iniquity; the Pope's cabinet; the very quintessence of equivocation." —Alexander Leighton

"What are the new Arminians but the varnished offspring of the old Pelagians, that makes the grace of God to lackey it at the foot, or rather, the will of man? that makes the sheep to keep the shepherd?" —Christopher Ness

"Arminianism is thus guilty of confusing doctrines and of acting as an obstruction to a clear and lucid grasp of the Scripture; because it mis-states or ignores the eternal purpose of God, it dislocates the meaning of the whole plan of redemption. Indeed confusion is inevitable apart from this foundational truth [of election]." —C. H. Spurgeon

---

So if you would allow me to paraphrase.

"Arminianism is a half poisoned self righteous man of sin who's heart is full of proud nonsense that is of the devil's own making which leads back to the pit of Rome and produces a confusing offspring of the old Pelagian monster that destroys itself and truth in the mystery of iniquity."

That may have been a bit over the top.

Sin Killers

My brother in Christ, Brodioi informed me this morning that his pastor Dean Sisk is taking his church (Belle Aire Baptist Church) through a new Tuesday morning men's study that is somewhat unique. It is entitled "Sin Killers," which is not so much a Bible study (though there are numerous biblical references throughout) as it is a study of an update of a classic work by Puritan John Owen, entitled "Overcoming Sin and Temptation." You can download the audio from the church website here which is available in MP3 format. I have found this study to be a very profound look at the seriousness of sin and how we are to deal with it on a daily basis, which is to be about killing it all the day long.

Sin Killers Series
Download Part 1
Download Part 2
Download Part 3
Download Part 4
Download Part 5

“Do you mortify? Do you make it your daily work? Be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you” John Owen

John Owen Quote:

Let our hearts admit, I am poor and weak. Satan is too subtle, too cunning, too powerful; he watches constantly for advantages over my soul. The world presses in upon me with all sorts of pressures, pleas, and pretences. My own corruption is violent, tumultuous, enticing, and entangling. As it conceives sin, it wars within me and against me. Occasions and opportunities for temptation are innumerable. No wonder I do not know how deeply involved I have been with sin. Therefore, on God alone will I rely for my keeping. I will continually look to Him.

By John Owen (1616-1683)