On the ceasing of eating grass and transforming culture

The gospel isn’t primarily about saving or transforming temporal culture, though salvation does have a positive impact on culture. Spiritual work makes material differences. Demoniacs clean up and go to town dressed and in their right minds. Nebuchadnezzars no longer eat grass like cattle, and return to sanity and responsible government. Zacchaeuses quit robbing the citizens and make restitution. But spiritual work isn’t mainly about improving the community. The redemption spiritual work does is far deeper, far bigger, and more long-lasting than the betterment of a temporal village or state. -- Sam Crabtree

'Boys will be Boys' Not an Idea God Knows

When a man wanders into certain beds, he does not find peace there. In the sixties, that time of sexual infantalism, we were frequently urged to make love, not war. The assumption was that lovemaking was a peaceful activity, regardless of who you were in the hay with. But James tells us where war comes from -- warring desires.

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. -- James 4:1-4

Sexual revolutions must necessarily end in blood. And to consider the truth of this we do not need to look off in the distance at all the trouble caused by Helen of Troy. James tell us that men war and fight because of lust. On whom they make war may vary, but the result is the same. The sexual laxity of our nation, to take an example close to home, has resulted to date in 38 million abortions. Considered from another angle, that means 38 million orgasms, 38 million temporarily satisfied men, 38 million good times in the sack that ended badly for the inconvenient by-product. In short, millions of men thought that someone else's life was a reasonable price to pay for the pleasure of getting off.

Friendship with the world is. . . contempt for God. And when we show contempt for God, we soon discover that he is not the frail deity many have assumed Him to be. It is not as though He does not know how to respond when we show contempt for Him. The God of the Bible, as one writer put it aptly, is not a buttercup. When we set ourselves against Him in enmity, He responds in judgment:

Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of the were, as it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and rose up to play.' We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. I Cor. 10:6-8

The stories of the Bible are given to us so that might we might take warning. The God of the Bible judges the sin of fornication both within history and at the end of history. He visits a man with sexual diseases, conflict, guilt, turmoil, lack of peace and satisfaction, a miserable family, and death. At the culmination of history, He closes the gates of everlasting life in the face of those who did not repent of their fornications.

In short, we have to say that God does not take a 'boys will be boys' approach.

-- Douglas Wilson, Fidelity, pgs. 47,48

Being built up in the faith requires knowing what it is

I Timothy 4:15-16 --Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress. Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

Christians, if they are to be an alternative to postmodern relativism, need to confess their faith, in word and deed. This means knowing what that faith is.

Christians in every church body might begin by returning to their own doctrinal heritage. Lutherans, Calvinists, and other historical churches have formal written confessions of what they believe. . . Other denominations have less strictly defined doctrinal positions, but they still have their confessions of faith and their Bible-based heritage, which they should reclaim. In doing so, they might regain their vitality and testify to a core of Biblical truth that will stand as a blazing witness to the relevatistic culture. Biblical churches with doctrinal integrity will have a stronger witness than muddled, easy-to-please-everyone congregations that do not stand for anything in particular.

Emphasizing doctrine will highlight the doctrinal differences between the various Christian traditions, but this need not mean destructive religious warfare. The various traditions need to be recovered before they can be either appreciated or challenged. Once they are reestablished, debates about which theologies are most in accord with Scripture could resume, because theology would be taken seriously again. Vibrant theological debate would invigorate the church. The ecumenical method of unity -- extinguishing all characteristic beliefs -- has failed.

-- Gene Edward Veith, Postmodern Times, p. 220

2 Timothy 4:1-5 -- I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 4:2 Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction. 4:3 For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things. 4:4 And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths. 4:5 You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.

At the tail end of perversion

We live in a time when marital fidelity is under assault. Driven by the forces of relativism, our society attacks sexual faithfulness on numerous fronts. The push for homosexual marriages, for example, comes at the end of the fall into perversion, not the beginning (Romans 1). Faithless husbands began the fall long ago, and our culture, with all its washed-out self-help books, fails to address the real problem—sin.
-- Douglas Wilson

Not the strength of faith that saves

"With a weak faith and a fearful heart, many a sinner stands before the altar. But it is not the strength of his faith, but the perfection of the sacrifice, that saves; and no feebleness of faith, no dimness of eye, no trembling of hand, can change the efficacy of our burnt-offering. The vigor of our faith can add nothing to it, nor can the poverty of it take anything from it. Faith, in all its degrees, still reads the inscription, 'The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin;' and if at times the eye is so dim that it cannot read these words, through blinding tears or bewildering mist, faith rests itself on the certain knowledge of the fact that the inscription is still there, or at least that the blood itself (of which these words remind us) remains, in all its power and suitableness, upon the altar unchanged and unaffected."
- Horatius Bonar

Courage Brother

Courage brother, do not stumble,
Though our path be dark as night;
There's a star to guide the humble --
Trust in God and do the right.

Let the road be rough and dreary,
and its end far out of sight;
Foot it bravely, strong or weary --
Trust in God and do the right.

Perish policy and cunning,
perish all that fears the light;
Whether losing, whether winning --
Trust in God and do the right.

Trust no party, sect or faction,
trust no leaders in the fight;
But in every word and action --
Trust in God and do the right.

Some will hate you, some will love you,
some will flatter, some will slight;
Cease from man and look above you --
Trust in God and do the right.

-- Norman McCleod

Stricken, Smitten and Afflicted

Thomas Kelly (1804)

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
’Tis the Christ by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, ’tis He, ’tis He!
’Tis the long expected prophet,
David’s Son, yet David’s Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
’Tis a true and faithful Word.

Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning,
Was there ever grief like His?
Friends through fear His cause disowning,
Foes insulting his distress:
Many hands were raised to wound Him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.

Ye who think of sin but lightly,
Nor suppose the evil great,
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the Sacrifice appointed!
See Who bears the awful load!
’Tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed,
Son of Man, and Son of God.

Here we have a firm foundation,
Here the refuge of the lost.
Christ the Rock of our salvation,
Christ the Name of which we boast.
Lamb of God for sinners wounded!
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on Him their hope have built.

-Thomas Kelly (1804)

Others may, you cannot

Others may, you cannot. But you have Christ, what want you more?

If God has called you to be really like Jesus He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility. God’s call will put such demands of obedience on you that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians. At times, He will let other people do things which He will not let you do.

Other Christians who seem very religious will push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans. You cannot, and if you attempt it, you will meet with failure and rebuke from the Lord.

Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you to despise yourself and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor. God wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence upon Him, that He may demonstrate His faithful love for you in supplying your needs day by day.

God may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity in order to produce some fragrant fruit for His coming glory which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others be great, but keep you small. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for it now. The reward for your work is held in the hands of Jesus and you will not see it until He comes.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you with a jealous love. He will rebuke you for the little words and feelings or for wasting your time. So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He does not owe you an explanation of these mysteries. But if you give yourself to be His child, He will wrap you up in a jealous love, and give you the precious blessings for those who belong, heart and soul, to Him.

Settle it forever, then, that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit. It is His option to tie your tongue, or chain your hand, or close your eyes in ways that He does not seem to use with others. And when you are so possessed by the living God that your heart delights over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of Heaven.

—G.D. Watson

Why I NEED a friend in Jesus

When we appear at the Judgment Seat before that Father and that Son, and the secrets of our hearts are laid bare, we will finally realize the depths of our depravity. But we will find that it’s an inconvenient time to discover the terrible holiness of God.
- Max Curell


http://clearnotefellowship.org/Resources/Blog/2010/02/22/I-got-friend-Jesus

Preach the Gospel, even when in Assisi

The Gospel is the big news of something that happened 2,000 years ago. But due to its nature it is always the breaking news, the top story, the lead paragraph. That Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures and that he appeared to numerous witnesses in a resurrected body is the news. Even today. The Gospel is both, history and doctrine. Christ died and was buried and rose again is the history. Christ died for our sins is the meaning of that event. The one who gets to determine the meaning is God -- the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus was according to the plan and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:22-24) and it is he who made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). The meaning of that death, burial and resurrection was determined in heaven. Because of who He is the only way God could uphold his righteousness and forgive God-belittling, hell-deserving sinners was by pouring out his wrath on his son in the place of sinners. But to uphold his righteousness -- his reputation -- the substitute must be without blemish, must be perfect. The substitute must perfectly represent man and God to appease or propitiate God's wrath (Romans 3:25, 26). That's the Gospel. The only response that is of any benefit is believe its necessity and its sufficiency to declare you right before the one true God and be rescued from his righteous, deserved judgment. Once again, the big news: There is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (I Tim. 2:5). The lead paragraph: God is calling all men everywhere to repent having fixed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness having furnished proof by raising one man from the dead (Acts 17). That's the news bulletin. That's the Gospel. You and I are not the Gospel. We can be tellers of the Gospel, proclaimers of the Gospel, preachers of the Gospel, heralds of the Gospel, singers of the Gospel, readers of the Gospel, but we are not the Gospel. To preach the Gospel we must use words at all times, even when in Assisi. Not only are you and I not the Gospel, we also are not the power of salvation. It is the Gospel that is the power of salvation (Romans 1:16) to everyone who believes. Uncool geeks can get the message out, mismatched misfits can mumble the Gospel, paralytics can preach the Gospel, cowpokes can yodel the Gospel. What we cannot do is empower the Gospel. It is the Gospel -- the very message itself -- that is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20). -- TWMathis

What the Gospel is NOT

“The gospel is not, “Give your hearts to Christ, and you shall be saved.”

The gospel is, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,”- that is, trust him, “and thou shalt be saved.” When you do that, you will be sure to give him your heart by-and-by, if not at once. Salvation is not by your giving anything to Christ, but by Christ giving something to you. I am glad that you have given your heart to Christ; but have you learnt first this lesson, that he gave his heart for you?

We do not find salvation by giving Christ anything. That is the fruit of it; but salvation comes by Christ giving us something - something, did I say? - by Christ giving us everything, by his giving us himself. I used to notice that a good deal of Sunday-school teaching to the children was, “Dear child, love Jesus.” That is not the way of salvation. The way of salvation is to trust Jesus. The fruit of salvation is that the dear child does love Jesus; but that is not the way of salvation. The way of salvation is to take Christ, to trust Christ.

When you are saved, the proof of it will be that you will give your heart to Christ; but do not let us turn things upside down lest, beginning with a little blunder, we should go on to some great error, and set up again the ruinous doctrine which once sank the world in darkness, the doctrine of an imaginary salvation by our own works.”
- Charles H. Spurgeon, Sychar’s Sinner Saved

The difference between fearmongering and warnings

Arousing alarm is easy, teaching is tough. It takes patience and discipline to teach; any bozo can drop a book on the floor and make people jump. - Garrison Keillor

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. - Apostle Paul (Acts 20:28-32)

The point of every disaster

The point of every deadly calamity is this: Repent. Let our hearts be broken that God means so little to us. Grieve that he is a whipping boy to be blamed for pain, but not praised for pleasure. Lament that he makes headlines only when man mocks his power, but no headlines for ten thousand days of wrath withheld. Let us rend our hearts that we love life more than we love Jesus Christ. Let us cast ourselves on the mercy of our Maker. He offers it through the death and resurrection of his Son.

-- John Piper after the 2004 Indonesian tsunami

Live in Romans 8

Beware of an incomplete Christ

Revelation 5:5,6 - Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David has conquered. . . And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain. . .

Consider the admirable conjunction of diverse Excellencies in Christ. In Jesus Christ (there is) infinite highness and infinite condescension; infinite justice and infinite grace; infinite majesty and transcendent meekness; deepest reverence toward God and equality with God; worthiness of good and the greatest patience under the suffering of evil; a great spirit of obedience and supreme dominion over heaven and earth; absolute sovereignty and perfect resignation; self-sufficiency and an entire trust and reliance on God.

- Jonathan Edwards, The Excellency of Christ (paraphrased by John Piper in The Pleasures of God)

For whom is the gospel not fitted

Never lose heart in the power of the gospel. Don"t believe that there exists any man, much less any race of men, for whom the gospel is not fitted.
- Charles Haddon Spurgeon

The offense of defense

"A sin is two sins when its defended." -Henry Smith