"One way to put the Gospel in a nutshell is this: You are more wicked than you ever dared to believe and yet, you are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than you ever dared hope."
---------------
“Sanctification is not by ‘works’ but by a continuous re-orienting ourselves to our justification. So sanctification is not moralistic. Yet it takes enormous effort (so it is not quietistic.) When we feed on, remember, and live in accordance with our justification, it mortifies our idols and fills us with an inner joy and desire to please and resemble our Lord through obedience. But the feeding on, remembering, and living in accordance—takes all our effort.”
-- Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyerian Church in NYC and author of "The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism"
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Should We Really Call It a "Quiet Time"?
Once again, Justin Taylor's blog has an excellent post, a guest commentary from Christian counselor and author, David Powlison. This post focuses on the important matter of our daily times with the Lord, in the Word and in prayer.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
"Are Churches Secularizing America?"
Here is an excerpt from an essay from Michael Horton. In my opinion, Horton's essay is critically important, as it identifies and describes some of the most damaging, debilitating trends of worldliness that are corrupting professedly evangelical churches and Christians today...
"Several years ago, a mainline theologian told me of his experience at an evangelical megachurch. He was visiting his children and grandchildren during spring break and then Easter Sunday arrived. Nothing visibly suggested that it was a Christian service, but this distinguished theologian tried to reign in his judgments. There was no greeting from God or sense that this was God's gathering. The songs were almost exclusively about us, our feelings, and our intentions to worship, obey, and love; but it was not clear whom they were talking about or why. He concluded, 'Well, evangelicals don't really have a liturgy. They put all of the content into the sermon, so I'll wait.'
"His patience, however, was not rewarded. Although it was Easter, the message (with no clear text) was on how Jesus gives us the strength to overcome our obstacles. Lacking even a benediction, this theologian left discouraged. He had come to an evangelical church at Easter and instead of meeting God and the announcement of a real victory over sin and death by Jesus Christ, he encountered other Christians who were being given fellowship and instructions for making their own 'Easter' come true in their life.
"Pressed with leading questions by his son-in-law as to his reaction to the service (like, 'Did it touch your heart?'), the theologian broke his silence: "I assume you're trying to 'evangelize' me right now," he said. 'But there was no 'gospel' anywhere in that service that might convert me if I were unconverted.' He concluded, "Not even in the most liberal churches I've been in was the service so devoid of Christ and the gospel. It's like 'God who?'"
"Since then, a mainline Methodist theologian told me of an almost identical experience--curiously also at Easter--in a conservative Presbyterian church that was known around the university for its "Bible-believing" and "Christ-centered" ministry. He too left disappointed (the sermon was something about how Jesus overcame his setbacks and so can we), further substantiating his appraisal that evangelicals are as likely as mainliners today to talk pop-psychology, politics, or moralism instead of the gospel…."
-- Michael Horton from the online magazine "Modern Reformation"
thanks to Tullian Tchividjian for drawing my attention to this article on his own blog
"Several years ago, a mainline theologian told me of his experience at an evangelical megachurch. He was visiting his children and grandchildren during spring break and then Easter Sunday arrived. Nothing visibly suggested that it was a Christian service, but this distinguished theologian tried to reign in his judgments. There was no greeting from God or sense that this was God's gathering. The songs were almost exclusively about us, our feelings, and our intentions to worship, obey, and love; but it was not clear whom they were talking about or why. He concluded, 'Well, evangelicals don't really have a liturgy. They put all of the content into the sermon, so I'll wait.'
"His patience, however, was not rewarded. Although it was Easter, the message (with no clear text) was on how Jesus gives us the strength to overcome our obstacles. Lacking even a benediction, this theologian left discouraged. He had come to an evangelical church at Easter and instead of meeting God and the announcement of a real victory over sin and death by Jesus Christ, he encountered other Christians who were being given fellowship and instructions for making their own 'Easter' come true in their life.
"Pressed with leading questions by his son-in-law as to his reaction to the service (like, 'Did it touch your heart?'), the theologian broke his silence: "I assume you're trying to 'evangelize' me right now," he said. 'But there was no 'gospel' anywhere in that service that might convert me if I were unconverted.' He concluded, "Not even in the most liberal churches I've been in was the service so devoid of Christ and the gospel. It's like 'God who?'"
"Since then, a mainline Methodist theologian told me of an almost identical experience--curiously also at Easter--in a conservative Presbyterian church that was known around the university for its "Bible-believing" and "Christ-centered" ministry. He too left disappointed (the sermon was something about how Jesus overcame his setbacks and so can we), further substantiating his appraisal that evangelicals are as likely as mainliners today to talk pop-psychology, politics, or moralism instead of the gospel…."
-- Michael Horton from the online magazine "Modern Reformation"
thanks to Tullian Tchividjian for drawing my attention to this article on his own blog
Friday, March 28, 2008
True worship is Gospel-centered too
In the previous post, I quoted John Frame as he emphasized what should be obvious, but doesn't seem to be today: true worship should be centered on God and Christ.
But Dr. Frame goes on to make another point that is probably even less recognized and practiced today, and that is that, on this side of the Fall into sin, our worship must be Gospel-centered too. (And this includes the songs used in worship -- many of the praise songs omit this, failing to declare and celebrate the Gospel.)
"...God's word now [after the Fall] tells us of our sin and God's provision for our forgiveness. ...Everything we do in worship, therefore, now speaks of sin and forgiveness, of Jesus' atonement and resurrection for us.
"Worship following the fall of Adam should not only be God-centered, but also Christ-centered and gospel-centered. In all our worship, the good news that Jesus has died for our sins and risen gloriously from the dead should be central."
-- John Frame "Worship in Spirit and Truth" p.6 (P&R:1996)
But Dr. Frame goes on to make another point that is probably even less recognized and practiced today, and that is that, on this side of the Fall into sin, our worship must be Gospel-centered too. (And this includes the songs used in worship -- many of the praise songs omit this, failing to declare and celebrate the Gospel.)
"...God's word now [after the Fall] tells us of our sin and God's provision for our forgiveness. ...Everything we do in worship, therefore, now speaks of sin and forgiveness, of Jesus' atonement and resurrection for us.
"Worship following the fall of Adam should not only be God-centered, but also Christ-centered and gospel-centered. In all our worship, the good news that Jesus has died for our sins and risen gloriously from the dead should be central."
-- John Frame "Worship in Spirit and Truth" p.6 (P&R:1996)
True Worship Is God-centered/Christ-centered
"...true worship is saturated [through songs, Scripture readings, sermon, etc.] with reminders of God's covenant lordship. We worship to honor his mighty acts, to hear his authoritative word, and to fellowship with him personally as the one who has made us his people.
"When we are distracted from our covenant Lord and preoccupied with our own comforts and pleasures, something has gone seriously wrong with our worship.
"...when we leave worship we should first ask, not What did I get out of it? but How did I do in my work of honoring the Lord?"
-- John Frame in "Worship in Spirit and Truth" p. 5 (P&R: 1996)
"When we are distracted from our covenant Lord and preoccupied with our own comforts and pleasures, something has gone seriously wrong with our worship.
"...when we leave worship we should first ask, not What did I get out of it? but How did I do in my work of honoring the Lord?"
-- John Frame in "Worship in Spirit and Truth" p. 5 (P&R: 1996)
Guidelines for Deacons...
Here's a very helpful blogpost regarding the key qualities for being a deacon by Thabiti Anyabwile, who pastors in the Cayman Islands.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
The Basis for Believing Today
Jn.20:29-31; (cp. the Holy Spirit’s ministry of ‘testifying’ regarding Jesus, Jn.14-16); 1 Pet.1:8f.; Jn.5:39f.; Acts 1:21-22; Rom.10:17; Jn.17:20 (cp.vv.6,8,14); Lk.16:31; Matt.28:18ff.; Acts 17:31
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From the Biblical passages above, it seems clear that the basis and warrant for my believing in Christ today is the apostolic witness (available to me via Scripture) given over 2000 years ago. In other words, the signs and attesting miracles given to and through the apostles, culminating in the Resurrection of Christ, are the signs that are intended for me, too, combined with the apostolic interpretation and explanation of what those signs mean. (For example, the sign/event of the Resurrection means Jesus is Lord of all, and the one who will judge the world in righteousness, etc.).
This means that I’m not to expect or wait for or depend on God giving me my own set of signs and attesting miracles in the present – if I am to come to faith in Jesus as the Son of God, faith that brings eternal life, it will be a result of my response to the signs already given to mankind in the case of the apostles whose specific and definitive task is to ‘testify’ as eyewitnesses (and ‘earwitnesses’) regarding the words and works of Jesus, including their authorized/inspired interpretation/significance. (And behind the testifying ministry of the apostles is the testifying work of the Holy Spirit.)
And so, Jesus prays for those who will believe through the word/message of the apostles. And the apostles write what they write to provide their testimony regarding the signs Jesus performed, with the goal of producing life-giving belief in Jesus as Messiah. Naturally then, ‘faith comes through hearing, hearing the message of Christ.’ (And the NT inscripturated messages builds upon Moses/the Law and the prophets – which also testify concerning Christ to lead people to eternal life.
So those who become believers today are in the category of those who ‘have not seen’ but still believe. Yet they are not regarded as disadvantaged; the assumption is that the Spirit-inspired, Spirit-illuminated testimony concerning Christ given via the (now inscripturated) witness of the apostles (and their close associates) is a fully adequate basis and warrant for saving faith (so that those who refuse to believe what they’ve heard are most certainly culpable).
1 John 5:9-11 “We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
-----------------------------------------------
From the Biblical passages above, it seems clear that the basis and warrant for my believing in Christ today is the apostolic witness (available to me via Scripture) given over 2000 years ago. In other words, the signs and attesting miracles given to and through the apostles, culminating in the Resurrection of Christ, are the signs that are intended for me, too, combined with the apostolic interpretation and explanation of what those signs mean. (For example, the sign/event of the Resurrection means Jesus is Lord of all, and the one who will judge the world in righteousness, etc.).
This means that I’m not to expect or wait for or depend on God giving me my own set of signs and attesting miracles in the present – if I am to come to faith in Jesus as the Son of God, faith that brings eternal life, it will be a result of my response to the signs already given to mankind in the case of the apostles whose specific and definitive task is to ‘testify’ as eyewitnesses (and ‘earwitnesses’) regarding the words and works of Jesus, including their authorized/inspired interpretation/significance. (And behind the testifying ministry of the apostles is the testifying work of the Holy Spirit.)
And so, Jesus prays for those who will believe through the word/message of the apostles. And the apostles write what they write to provide their testimony regarding the signs Jesus performed, with the goal of producing life-giving belief in Jesus as Messiah. Naturally then, ‘faith comes through hearing, hearing the message of Christ.’ (And the NT inscripturated messages builds upon Moses/the Law and the prophets – which also testify concerning Christ to lead people to eternal life.
So those who become believers today are in the category of those who ‘have not seen’ but still believe. Yet they are not regarded as disadvantaged; the assumption is that the Spirit-inspired, Spirit-illuminated testimony concerning Christ given via the (now inscripturated) witness of the apostles (and their close associates) is a fully adequate basis and warrant for saving faith (so that those who refuse to believe what they’ve heard are most certainly culpable).
1 John 5:9-11 “We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
Always Accepted for Christ's Sake
“There is nothing in us or done by us, at any stage of our earthly development, because of which we are acceptable to God. We must always be accepted for Christ’s sake, or we cannot ever be accepted at all.
"This is not true of us only when we believe. It is just as true after we have believed. It will continue to be true as long as we live. Our need of Christ does not cease with our believing; nor does the nature of our relation to Him or to God through Him ever alter, no matter what our attainments in Christian graces or our achievements in behavior may be. It is always on His ‘blood and righteousness’ alone that we can rest.”
- B.B. Warfield, Works 7:113
posted at Of First Importance
"This is not true of us only when we believe. It is just as true after we have believed. It will continue to be true as long as we live. Our need of Christ does not cease with our believing; nor does the nature of our relation to Him or to God through Him ever alter, no matter what our attainments in Christian graces or our achievements in behavior may be. It is always on His ‘blood and righteousness’ alone that we can rest.”
- B.B. Warfield, Works 7:113
posted at Of First Importance
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Good posts from Tullian T.
Tullian Tchividjian has a couple good posts on his blog today. One is about what to look for when choosing a church. Another is about 'the world (and worldliness) according to Abercrombie and Fitch.'
Faith-affirming Scholarship
Justin Taylor's blog presents two more very worthwhile posts: Blomberg on How Historians Can Know Jesus and Why It Matters and An Interview with Craig Blomberg (focusing on the historical reliability of the Gospels).
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Paul, Doctrine & Orthodoxy
Here's another good excerpt from the new book, "Why We're Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be)":
"There's no question that Paul believed in orthodoxy. 'Follow the pattern of sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith an love that in Christ Jesus,' he told Timothy. 'By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.' (2 Tim.1:13-14). Paul's message undoubtedly had a doctrinal center. There were certain propositions of fact regarding election, the incarnation, the resurrection and the atonement that Paul had passed along to Timothy that absolutely had to be preserved and protected at all costs, even if it meant suffering and death (1:8-11).
"Doctrine was to die for because it was the heartbeat of Paul's saving message about saving historical facts. Machen writes, 'But if any one fact is clear, on the basis of this evidence, it is that the Christian movement at its inception was not just a way of life in the modern sense, but a way of life founded upon a message. It was based, not upon mere feeling, not upon a mere program of work [activism], but upon an account of facts. In other words it was based on doctrine.'
"As soon as you say Jesus died and rose again for your sins according to the Scriptures, you have doctrine. You have a message about what happened in history and what it means. That's theology. There is no gospel without it."
-- Kevin DeYoung, "Why We're Not Emergent" (pp.112-13, with a quote from J. Gresham Machen's "Christianity and Liberalism) [Moody Press: 2008]
"There's no question that Paul believed in orthodoxy. 'Follow the pattern of sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith an love that in Christ Jesus,' he told Timothy. 'By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.' (2 Tim.1:13-14). Paul's message undoubtedly had a doctrinal center. There were certain propositions of fact regarding election, the incarnation, the resurrection and the atonement that Paul had passed along to Timothy that absolutely had to be preserved and protected at all costs, even if it meant suffering and death (1:8-11).
"Doctrine was to die for because it was the heartbeat of Paul's saving message about saving historical facts. Machen writes, 'But if any one fact is clear, on the basis of this evidence, it is that the Christian movement at its inception was not just a way of life in the modern sense, but a way of life founded upon a message. It was based, not upon mere feeling, not upon a mere program of work [activism], but upon an account of facts. In other words it was based on doctrine.'
"As soon as you say Jesus died and rose again for your sins according to the Scriptures, you have doctrine. You have a message about what happened in history and what it means. That's theology. There is no gospel without it."
-- Kevin DeYoung, "Why We're Not Emergent" (pp.112-13, with a quote from J. Gresham Machen's "Christianity and Liberalism) [Moody Press: 2008]
Monday, March 24, 2008
Living Out Our Allegiance to the Resurrected Christ
It's the day after Easter Sunday -- so what does it mean to live in light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ? One thing it surely means is living out our allegiance to his Lordship. For again and again in the New Testament we are taught that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is an affirmation and even an 'escalation' of his Lordship -- he is the one to whom all authority has been given, and he is to be given first place in everything (Matt.28:18ff.; Col.1:15-18; cp. Rom.14:9).
Indeed Paul makes an explicit connection between confessing Jesus as Lord and believing from the heart that God raised him from the dead (Rom.10:9). His resurrection signalled his universal authority, culminating in the time when he is the judge of every human being (Acts 17:31).
Easter Sunday means that Christians are to re-commit themselves to learning and living by everything Jesus commanded, and it means the church -- your church, my church -- should live deliberately according to the instructions and guidelines that Christ himself gave by his Spirit to the prophets and apostles he inspired. May God rescue us from Laodicean lukewarmness.
Indeed Paul makes an explicit connection between confessing Jesus as Lord and believing from the heart that God raised him from the dead (Rom.10:9). His resurrection signalled his universal authority, culminating in the time when he is the judge of every human being (Acts 17:31).
Easter Sunday means that Christians are to re-commit themselves to learning and living by everything Jesus commanded, and it means the church -- your church, my church -- should live deliberately according to the instructions and guidelines that Christ himself gave by his Spirit to the prophets and apostles he inspired. May God rescue us from Laodicean lukewarmness.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Living by Faith in the Risen Christ
“The resurrection . . . sharply defines what it must mean to have faith in Christ. Because Christ has been raised from the dead, we are not putting our faith in merely a historical event but in a living, death conquering, and reigning Savior. Our faith is based on something in the past, but it is placed in One who is very much alive today. Notice how the apostle Paul speaks of faith in terms of a living Christ: ‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me’ (Galatians 2:20). Paul is living by faith in the living Christ. And he prays that this would be our normative Christian experience: ‘that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith’ (Ephesians 3:16-17).”
- John Ensor, The Great Work of the Gospel (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2006), 102.
originally posted at Of First Importance
- John Ensor, The Great Work of the Gospel (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2006), 102.
originally posted at Of First Importance
Christ the Lord is Risen Today
Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is o'er, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail, the resurrection, thou, Alleluia!
King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
But the pains that He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
–Charles Wesley
originally posted by Tullian Tchividjian
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is o'er, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail, the resurrection, thou, Alleluia!
King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
But the pains that He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
–Charles Wesley
originally posted by Tullian Tchividjian
Saturday, March 22, 2008
The Resurrected Jesus Appeared to Many People
Justin Taylor's blog pointed me to this list of the appearances of Jesus to people following his resurrection, prepared in chart form by New Testament scholar, Andreas Kostenberger.
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