tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199275616659608977.post3815755428192687177..comments2023-09-18T05:33:48.793-04:00Comments on By Every Word...: The Kingdom of God and the New BirthDouglas Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040240128377241820noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199275616659608977.post-84045444838296108762009-10-14T22:21:29.132-04:002009-10-14T22:21:29.132-04:00Hey Dave,
Thanks for the very insightful comment ...Hey Dave,<br /><br />Thanks for the very insightful comment -- I definitely agree. I tried to get at part of what you allude to in terms of the affections of the heart being wakened to God when I spoke of love for God, love for God's Word, the instinct to pray, etc. But your comment makes the point even more clearly.<br /><br />I definitely agree with the perspective of Piper, following Edwards and Augustine, on the central place of renewed affections/desirings when it comes to authentic Christian spirituality.<br /><br />I'm glad you 'got in touch' and I only wish the Google profile pictures were a little bigger to help jog my memory of you, but I definitely remember your name....<br /><br />Peace!<br />DougDouglas Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09040240128377241820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199275616659608977.post-26249190844195111162009-10-14T22:05:54.164-04:002009-10-14T22:05:54.164-04:00Doug, found your blog through Justin Taylor earlie...Doug, found your blog through Justin Taylor earlier this year; and saw it again today as I added Kevin DeYoung's blog to my home page. You may not remember me but we were at GRBS together. <br /><br />I have fond memories of South. Tom Harms, the college pastor when I was at MSU, led me to Christ and pastor Sugden was a model of a man who was passionate about Christ. I remember being a young christian in this Baptist church wanting to bust out in worship with all my being and seeing him lift his hands and arms ever so slightly in worship and adoration (I was a Christian Hedonist even before I knew the term). Better yet seeing him walking down a hall during the week, hands fully raised as he worshipped his Lord. <br /><br />As for what characterizes one who has been born again, what about the affections of the heart being awakened to God? Desire and appetite are essential indicators of saving faith. Does one feel a need for Jesus daily as the Bread of Life or Living Water? If not do they fight for that desire? All too often evangelicals define love too narrowly as choices or in terms of actions. Yet one can do the right thing without the right motivation all their life and never be born again! <br /><br />Blessings to you and the body you serve.AK Pastor Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10419097620780439559noreply@blogger.com