Weekly Dose Of Lloyd-Jones

As we engage in evangelistic work, it is of vital importance that we ask ourselves before we begin: What am I out to do? What am I going to attempt? What do I want to achieve? What is my real objective? I suggest that there is only one true answer to these questions, and it is this: I am anxious that souls should be reconciled to God, because, being in a state in which they dishonour God, they are in danger of perdition. That is the purpose of all evangelistic work-to bring those souls into a state of reconciliation with God. That is the object. It is not merely to get boys to make a decision; it is not simply to get them to live another way of life; it is not simply to get them to join a class or a church. Your object in presenting the gospel to them is to put them right with God.*

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Co 5:17–21).

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando

*D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Knowing The Times (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1989), p. 6-7

What's So Great About Christmas Anyway?

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Lk 2:8–11).


What is so great about Christmas? Is it the gathering of family and friends? The opening of gifts? The great meals? The combination of all? The answer should be "no." None of those things, while they have become an important part of Christmas tradition, in themselves but separated from acknowledging the birth, death and resurrection of Christ, make Christmas great.

The greatness of Christmas comes from the incarnation. When God clothed Himself with flesh and blood in order to bring glory to His own name through the salvation of His people. That grandiose time in history when Christ the King became Christ the servant at His birth. When the sinless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, entered His creation to be led to the slaughter as the salvation of His people was upon His shoulders. When that innocent little infant grew up perfect, righteous, doing only that which is pleasing and acceptable to the Father in perfection, knowing no evil in His person yet being 'crushed' by the Father. Having no sin, Christ was placed upon that cross by the Father as the sins of His people were transferred to His account. The testimony of the Bible states it in this manner:

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities "(Is 53:10–11).

That is the essence of Christmas. To make it primarily about family or gift exchanges is to miss the real joy of this holiday. To neglect the incarnation and it's component parts ( purpose, results or His life death and resurrection ) is to take the "merry" out of Christmas. Even to only speak of the birth of Jesus apart from His life, death and resurrection is to do injustice to Christmas.

That event was so momentous that the message of it came with the glory of the Lord and caused fear among the shepherds. But notice the message that was delivered by the angel of the Lord states that "the goodnews of great joy" (v. 10) is followed by the announcement of Christ the Savior (v. 11). That is because there is great joy to be had in the birth of the promised Messiah. The Deliverer and salvation of God's people has arrived. He will deliver His people from their sins. He would bear their curse upon His own head. He accomplished all that He came to do. He uttered "it is finished" as He bore the wrath of the Father in place of sinners and rose victoriously from the grave on the third day. What joy for all those in Christ! Reconciliation and being adopted as a child of God. Having a place at His table and in His presence is cause for great joy and to be shared with those still His enemies.

It most certainly is good news. That is why the announcement of the Christ's birth was announced as good news of great joy. There is no real joy apart from Christ. Christmas is about the glory of God in the salvation of His people in the birth, life, death and resurrection of the Son of God. Everything else is artificial. Merry Christmas and Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando

What Is Wrong With Contemporary Christian Music? (A Clarification)

It has been noted that when one becomes Reformed, most of your Christian music gets thrown out. The reason is not due to some anger wrought within the Calvinist. Rather, it is due to a number of flaws within the CCM scene. So, what exactly is wrong with CCM? In my last post, I gave a prime example of what is wrong with CCM. I was accused of generalizing, and being vague. Therefore, I wish to state in detail, what I believe are some obvious flaws in the CCM scene.

Note: I understand that not all CCM makes the following mistakes.

1) The Contemporary Christian Music Scene is full of self. Our culture is adamant about promoting self. Everywhere we go, we are bombarded with the idea that one, beyond all things, should love one self. We are told that the self is good, if we can just bring about those attributes. Christianity on the other hand teaches that the self is sinful. That the self, or who we are by nature, is diametrically opposed to all that is godly. Ergo, opposed to the one and true living God. Christianity teaches that we should reject self, and love God. The world teaches that we should love "God", but that god is whoever you want him to be. Unfortunately, so called "churches" are now promoting the same message that the world promotes- this is evident in the CCM scene. The songs that are written are full of lyrics about the way we feel, about what we want to do, and about our problems. This leads to a Christianity that is based on emotional experiences, rather, than the truth of scripture. Depending on how loud the guitar is strummed, that'll dictate how loud I sing, and whether I cry or not. And If they aren't based on our failures, they are drowned in lyrics about what we want to do for God. Doing things for God is good. But even better are the things that God has done for us in Christ Jesus. Those are the things that we ought to be singing about! If we compare the area of focus of the scriptures vs the CCM scene, we can see that one is focused upon God's work, and the other on man's. Psalm 147 captures this completely:

Praise the LORD!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.
The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
The LORD lifts up the humble;
he casts the wicked to the ground.
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre!
He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares rain for the earth;
he makes grass grow on the hills.
He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry.
His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.

(Psalm 147:1-11 ESV)

2) The Contemporary Christian Music scene is void of any theological richness. "Jesus loves me", "God is great", etc, etc. These propositions are true (though how Jesus loves or If He loves the unbeliever is an issue Calvinists differentiate in).  As true as these propositions may be, they are void of any theological meat. It is true that God loves me, but, the ultimate question is in what way hath God demonstrated His love? O' God IS great, but in what ways is He great? The simplicity is outstanding. The hymns of old, spoke in detail about God's goodness towards His people. There could have been no confusion as to what God they were worshipping, because they hugged the cross in their lyrics. They sang about the attributes of God, His providence, election, His work in creation, His Tri-Unity (when was the last time you sang a contemporary song about the Triunity of God? Beside here).

3) The Contemporary Christian scene gets the Gospel wrong. " God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life" is what I like to call "The Osteen Gospel". And this gospel pretty much sums up the gospel of the CCM scene. Nothing about the ultimate manifestation of God's love- where Christ became man, taking man's place on that cross, bearing the full weight of God's wrath in order that sinners may be reconciled. Rather, the content is filled with a lonely god who desperately wishes that sinners may come to him, because he has a wonderful plan for their lives. Lets face it, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is missing in most of this music. This is the ultimate flaw. If we are not united by that message, then our worship is in vain. Artists who do not make the cross their ultimate focus in their music, are surely bowing the knee at another alter.

-awretchsaved

UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN

Isaiah 9:6-7:

6  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. 

Ezekiel 18:30-32:

30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.” 

Psalms 2:1-12:

1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

It is not in pleasure that the Lord laughs and holds in derision those who are disobedient to Him; no, it is in His wrath that He does so.

Those who would not accept His rule, He is angry with every day – they shall surely perish.

It is in the Son that the sovereignty of the Father is seen; it is in our Lord Jesus Christ that we have had the Father explained to us; not only that, it is in the Son, Himself co-equal and consubstantial with the Father, yet taking the position of subservience to the Father and more, coming in the flesh of those He created, yet without sin, to make propitiation for and give life to whom He wills, showing us that the Creator, Lord, King, and God of all there is, who alone determines the days, dwelling places, and moments of each man, actually shows us the humility that we should seek after, while giving up none of His royal privileges, but merely laying them aside to show us the entire truth of our God by living as one of His own creatures, dying for those with whom He is well pleased to give of His joy, peace, humility, love, righteousness and holiness.

Some will argue that God does not have the right to do what He will with the death of His Son, or the life of perfect righteousness as the only man who ever lived such – they will not say it in such a way, but the intent will be clear: If their version of God does not “offer” a generic love – omnibenevolence, some have called it – then they will not have this man, who is both God and man, to be Lord over them. They ask for that which they themselves will not offer, in the name of knowledge which is not knowledge, and philosophies of men that may sound persuasive to those who do not test them against the truth of Scripture, yet in the end prove the way that, while seeming right to man, leads to an eternity of suffering which is of the just righteousness of the only One who is Good: God.

God is love, surely; He is also a consuming fire. To try to separate God’s righteousness from His grace is to make an idol of men in their image.

As great as His love is, so is His wrath, and because He is the only One who truly understands these things, of which we have but a partial understanding – and that, only by His grace – to sit in judgment of He who created and endures the multiplied evils of even those He has chosen through no merit of their own, as well as those who, unchanged from their evil ways by His grace, thoroughly hate Him, is the worst folly of all, for it lacks that fear of both misrepresenting our Great God as He has equipped us to, by giving us to be born again, believe, confess our sins, repent of them, and keep our hope in Him, by His Spirit putting us in eternal union with Him (not of His essence, for we are His creatures; however, in this way, we do partake of the divine nature through communicable attributes He allots to His own), and that fear of He who can throw both body and soul into hell - the lake of fire. There is no injustice with God, only mercy and grace to life, or righteous judgment to death, both everlasting, and those who question Him in this do such to the peril of their souls – to these I would give the Scriptural instruction that rings throughout the Scriptures: Repent, and call on the name of the Lord, and you will be saved. Call on Him as He is, not as you want Him; call on Him as He speaks of Himself, not as some lopsided idol of your own imagining. He is holy; worship Him!

There are those who will say a loving God could not do such: How much more love does God need to show than He did in His Son, Jesus Christ?

Truly, those who do not understand the extent of the cross will never understand the extent of their own sinfulness, the extent of God’s love, righteousness, and His punishment of those who hate Him; there is grace, but there is also judgment, and He who created us has the power – and the right – to display both, to the praise of the glory of His wondrous name.

In view of these things, it is my hope that many “see and believe” the Son and kiss Him, worship Him, by His merciful grace, lest He be angry and they perish in the way, for this Son is God Almighty, who made atonement for the sins of His people, and gives His Spirit and righteousness as He wills, regardless of the sensibilities of men. Men yet kiss the rings of earthly kings and potentates; how much more adoring fealty is deserved of He who is King of kings, Lord of lords, Ruler, God, and Creator over all?

To God’s glory alone – Bill Hier

Aspiring Preachers Listen Up

The Doctor has some wise words:

Lastly, and only lastly, Homiletics. This to me is almost an abomination. There are books bearing such titles as The Craft of Sermon Construction, and The Craft of Sermon Illustration. That is, to me, prostitution. Homiletics just comes in, but no more.

What about preaching as such, the act of preaching of which I have spoken? There is only one thing to say about this; it cannot be taught. That is impossible. Preachers are born not made. This is an absolute. You will never teach a man to be a preacher if he is not already one. All your books such as The A.B.C. of Preaching, or Preaching Made Easy should be thrown into the fire as soon as possible. But if a man is born a preacher you can help him a little-but not much. He can perhaps be improved a little here and there.

How can that be done? Here I am probably going to be somewhat controversial. I would say: Not in a sermon class, not by having a student preach a sermon to other students who then proceed to criticise matter and manner. I would prohibit that. Why? Because the sermon in such circumstances is being preached with a wrong object in view; and the people who are listening to it are listening in a wrong way. The message of the Bible should never be listened to in that way. It is always the Word of God, and no one should ever listen to it except in a spirit of reverence and godly expectation of receiving a message.

When you come to further modern refinements of that such as television video-tapes so that a man may subsequently see his own gestures and so on-this to me is reprehensible in the extreme. The same applies to instruction in 'pulpit deportment' as it is called, or 'television  deportment'. There is only one word for all this; it is sheer prostitution, it is instruction in the art of the prostitute. The preachers must always be natural and un-self conscious; and if in your training  you tend to make him become self-conscious of his hands, or what he does with his head, or anything else, you are doing him great harm. It should not be done, it should be prohibited! You cannot teach a preacher in these ways; and I feel that to attempt to do so is an injustice to the Word of God.

What then should the young preacher do? Let him listen to other preachers, the best and most experienced. He will learn a lot from them, negatively and positively. He will learn what not to do, and learn a great deal of what he should do. Listen to preachers! Also read sermons. But make sure they were published before 1900!*

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando


*D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers (Gran Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing, 1972), 118-120

Weekly Dose Of Lloyd-Jones

 I suspect that it is the failure of evangelical people, particularly during the last sixty to seventy years, to take seriously the biblical teaching concerning the nature of the Church, that accounts for most of the problems that we are confronting at the present time. For some reason or another, our immediate fathers and grandfathers felt that it was sufficient to form movements and they did not think in terms of the Church, with the result that evangelical witness is diluted among the great denominations and evangelical Christian people only meet together in movements instead of in Churches. So from that standpoint this is a highly important subject. If we have a deep concern about the evangelical message and its vital importance in the world today, then we are compelled to consider the doctrine of the Church.

Now as we approach the biblical teaching concerning the nature of the Church, let me also make my usual introductory remark. This is a highly controversial subject—practically all of the doctrines have been so, have they not? But history alone assures us that this is perhaps the most controversial of all. And yet it is sheer cowardice to avoid dealing with a subject simply because it is controversial. Whatever our upbringing or background, whatever our prejudices, we must endeavour to consider, with as open a mind as possible, what the Scriptures have to tell us. Let us all try to do that, praying that God will deliver us from the prejudices from which we all tend to suffer.*

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando


 *Lloyd-Jones, D. M. (1998). The church and the last things (3). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

A Prime Example Of What Is Wrong With Contemporary Christian Music

You might be the wife waiting up at nightYou might be the man struggling to provideFeeling like it's hopeless
Maybe you're the son who chose a broken roadMaybe you're the girl thinking you'll end up alonePraying "God, can you hear me?Oh God, are you listening?"
Am I more than flesh and bone?Am I really something beautiful?Yeah, I wanna believe, I wanna believe thatI'm not just some wandering soulThat you don't see and you don't knowYeah, I wanna believe,Jesus, help me believe thatI am someone worth dying for
I know you've heard the truth that God has set you freeBut you think you're the one that grace could never reachSo you just keep askin', oh, what everybody's askin'
Am I more than flesh and bone?Am I really something beautiful?Yeah, I wanna believe, I wanna believe thatI'm not just some wandering soulThat you don't see and you don't knowYeah, I wanna believe,Jesus, help me believe thatI am someone worth dying for

I don't usually listen to Christian radio stations (or any radio stations for that matter). Though, my mother enjoys some of the music (she isn't reformed). We often have dialogues on the theology of some of the songs. As the radio was playing, I came across the song above, and I couldn't believe what I heard (not kidding): A song that asks God to help the person believe that they are "someone worth dying for". Wow, really? Here I thought that I was totally unworthy of the death of my savior! I thought that grace, this saving grace, was totally unmerited. That there was nothing in me to cause God to love me, and save me. But, I guess I was wrong? Jesus died on the cross for me...because I am worth it? That God would be moved due to some innate worth held by a sinner?! Perish the thought.Christ didn't die for us because we are worth it. He died for us to reconcile us to the Father, because the Triune God is worth it! In Christianity, one does not look to one self as the reason  for God's love. God loves us freely. God loves us because He chooses to. The eyes should be taken off one self, and placed on Christ, as the reason for everything.

-awretchsaved

Note: Not all of CCM is bad. There are some good contemporary Christian songs out there...somewhere. 

Doug Wilson Nails It

Since my last two articles on alcohol this is exactly what I've been dealing with. So without further ado here are some extremely helpful words from Doug Wilson:

The Bible is a discomfiting book, for lots of people. It often says and teaches things we would rather not hear about, and represents God in ways that are disconcerting to those who would like to be known for their piety. But because man is devious, and has sought out many devices (Ecc. 7:29), we have developed various ways to work around this problem that the Bible creates. In theological circles, the ways of getting around what the Scriptures actually teach can be reduced to two broad categories—the liberal and the conservative approach.

The liberal approach rejects the practical authority of Scripture, but is oftentimes more to be trusted with what the text of Scripture actually says than the conservative approach is. This is true even though the conservatives are the ones who stoutly profess that the “Bible is the inerrant Word of God, without error in all that it affirms.” The reason is because the liberal approach is not actually stuck with having to live with the results of the exegesis. Liberalism is the way of rejection, reserving the right to say that while the Bible may teach thus and such, “we have all grown past that now.” This is why the liberal can acknowledge that the Bible teaches a particular doctrine, or sets before us a particular example, and then go on to say, “Wasn’t that quaint? ho, ho, ho.”

 The conservative, on the other hand, has to live with what he claims the Bible says. If he doesn’t want to live with it, if it conflicts with his traditions or most deeply cherished beliefs, then he has to make sure that his interpretation comes out in an acceptable fashion. Unlike the liberal, he does not have the option of acknowledging that Jesus drank wine, “but that He would have come to a more suitable position had His life not ended so tragically and so soon.”

 Thus it is ironic that many conservatives, who stand for the infallible authority of Scripture on every topic it addresses, are simply unwilling for the Bible to be okay with an amber bottle of Glenfiddich in a godly man’s cabinet. But the Bible is okay with it (Dt. 14:26), and my chances of getting a liberal exegete to tell me what the text actually says on this point are better than getting a tee-totaling conservative to do so.

 Ironically, many conservatives sheepishly acknowledge that the Bible does not prohibit the drinking of alcohol (quite the opposite), but go on to say that for the sake of a “good testimony” we should still swear off the stuff. Apart from the problems created by trying to have a better testimony than the Bible has, there is also the difficulty caused by the fact that tee-totalism provides its very own kind of bad testimony (emphasis mine).*

This is from Wilson's foreword to Joel McDurmon's book What Would Jesus Drink? A Spirit Filled Study. It is a very short book (145 pages). It is quite expensive for a hardcover copy and cheaper for the Kindle version. It is quite worth the read. It gives a great theological and exegetical presentation for the positive view of the proper consumption of alcohol. It also warns of the abuses and dangers of it and deals masterfully with the proof texts presented by prohibitionists.

When one side cannot answer for passages presented to them but only present their misunderstandings of their own, it is quite revealing of a position. McDurmon presents biblical proof that alcohol is a blessing from the Lord while answering the objections, from Scripture, of it's opponents.

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando


*McDurmon, Joel; Wilson, Douglas (2011-08-19). What Would Jesus Drink? A Spirit Filled Study (Kindle Locations 91-1115). Tolle Lege Press. Kindle Edition.

Responding To Back Door Prohibitionists

It seems that whenever a Christian advocates the consumption of alcohol there are quite a few objections. One of them is to deny that God blessed wine and strong drink for more than water purification purposes. The other is to, in a round about way, make and advocate or consumer of alcohol feel guilty for using their "liberty" and partaking of it because it is okay to do so but not "beneficial." Along with that kind of reasoning is to hammer on the abuses of alcohol and drunkenness.

To answer some of these objections I will defer to Joel McDurmon:

There is only so much alcohol an individual can consume before enjoyment cedes to inebriation, and then sickness. One can die from alcohol poisoning. On top of this natural limit, God has decreed an ethical limit. Indulging oneself to the point of such inebriation—we commonly call it “drunkenness”—is an infraction of God’s right way of living. Thus, drunkenness trespasses both kinds of boundaries—it defies God in both His created order and His revealed Word.

 It should go without saying in any Christian discussion of the use of alcohol—at least, any discussion that honors Scripture as God’s Word—that drunkenness, excess, or abuse of wine is detestable to God and clearly a sin. Whether on the conservative side of the Christian spectrum (like me) or on the more liberal side—heck, even liberals who deny the inspiration and truth of Scripture—all parties would acknowledge that the Bible forbids and condemns drunkenness. Liberals would probably be more likely to make mainly social and pragmatic arguments against it, however, whereas some fearful and misguided believers like to extend God’s condemnation of abuse into a blanket prohibition on use.*

Many Christians take what appears to be a compromising position on the subject of alcohol. Acknowledging the Bible’s clear position on the subject, they refuse to take the ridiculous line of forbidding all alcohol. Good so far. But then, caving under who knows what social and/or religious pressures—and there are many—they then argue that Christians should voluntary abstain from alcohol. This devious moral swindle is the back door to prohibition. While not formally forbidding alcohol, it practically forbids it. Under the guise of freedom they forbid. Giving permission, they prohibit. This view pays little more than lip service to God’s revealed will, but has little intention of growing to maturity in it.

These backdoor prohibitionists remind us that Paul said “‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be enslaved by anything” (1 Cor. 6:12). By this reference we are expected to make the analogy: “Drinking alcohol is lawful, but not helpful. It is lawful, but I will not be enslaved by it.” In order to enforce this application, they will then pour out streams of evidence that alcohol has bad effects on society, or can possibly have bad effects for the Christian...

To what, then, does the verse in 1 Corinthian 6 really refer? What is the context? From verse 9 through the end of the chapter, Paul is dealing with things that are clearly excess and clearly forbidden sins. He is not using the argument “all things are lawful,” he is debunking it. After all, this passage is preceded by Paul teaching,

 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

 Obviously, not all things are “lawful.” Many behaviors will keep you out of the kingdom. In verses 13–20, Paul deals with prostitution—it’s obviously not allowed in the Christian life. When Paul addresses the saying again in chapter 10 verse 23 of the same book, the issue is now idolatry—eating meat sacrificed to idols. None of the sins involved here are an issue of being lawful for the Christian yet merely “unprofitable,” or “not helpful.” These sins are sins that are transgressions of the law of God whatever word you choose to call that law.

 In short, Paul is refuting antinomianism—the view that Christians have no law as a guide to their living, and thus are free to do whatever as long as they “believe.” This “lawful but not helpful” passage, therefore, does not apply to the practical issues of areas in which God has clearly already given us freedom, it applies to the false belief that God has given us freedom in every area.

 But this is never to deny that God indeed has given us freedom in many areas, not the least of which is in the enjoyment of alcohol.

 That the saying “but not helpful” should not be used as a guide for determining behaviors that God has already qualified as free strengthens when we see Paul apply it to himself—and then ignore it. In 2 Corinthians 12:1, Paul begins a passage about his experience of being caught up to “the third heaven,” receiving unutterable revelations from God, and then being given a “thorn in the flesh” to keep Him humble. Paul begins this mysterious passage by saying this: “I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.” The phrase “there is nothing to be gained by it,” is the equivalent Greek phrase to “not all things are helpful” (1 Cor. 6:12). Boasting about his experiences, in other words, was lawful but not helpful—yet Paul did it anyway. Why? Because, first, “lawful but not helpful” is not a binding guide to Christian freedom to begin with; and second, because there was a deeper lesson to be learned through the humility that came with Paul’s reason for boasting. There was a level of maturity to which the Corinthians needed to advance.

 While I have hardly said all that could be said about the misuse of this passage and its attendant fallacies, I hope you can see already how misguided it is. It is an argument of fear, masquerading as charity. It creates a back door to let in the very prohibition these guys know the Bible does not teach. It’s a way of using the Bible to ignore the Bible.*

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando

*McDurmon, Joel; Wilson, Douglas (2011-08-19). What Would Jesus Drink? A Spirit Filled Study (Kindle Locations 1125-1136). Tolle Lege Press. Kindle Edition.

*Ibid, Kindle Locations 1413-1509

'Strong Drink' Is A Blessing From The Lord

And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, when the LORD your God blesses you, because the place is too far from you, which the LORD your God chooses, to set his name there, then you shall turn it into money and bind up the money in your hand and go to the place that the LORD your God chooses and spend the money for whatever you desire—oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. (Dt 14:24–26 emphasis mine).

The above passage is not very favorable towards the position that any consumption of alcohol, by Christians, is sinful or perhaps unwise. It is my contention that 'strong drink' is indeed a blessing from the Lord and to be enjoyed as the passage cited describes. Notice that the text declares that when the people of God were commanded to bring their tithes before the LORD; if their the traveling was too long the people were to turn it into money and buy whatever they desire and specifically mentioned in the desires is "strong drink.' It is further commanded that they eat before the LORD and rejoice. Is it possible to drink alcohol and rejoice in the Lord? Absolutely! The Word of God, from thrice holy God, declares it so.

Those instructions to buy, drink and enjoy 'strong drink' do not come from any postmodern Christianity that is overcome by "worldliness" as is often painted by proponents of total alcohol abstinence Christianity. No, these instructions are from the giver of 'strong drink'- the Most High- and is to be considered a blessing and enjoyed.  The desire (note that the desire for 'strong drink' is commended by God) is for the enjoyment of the substance itself in rejoicing. We're not dealing here with drinking to "engage the culture" or being "missiological" to "win the younger generation for Christ." We're not drinking alcohol to "become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some "(1 Co 9:22). In fact such a position of "evangelism" is, in my opinion, compromise to worldliness. Rather, Christians should desire 'strong drink' and enjoy it if their conscience is not convicted that it is sin. In simple words we should consider alcoholic beverages in themselves a blessing from the Lord. Being a drunkard, on the other hand, is indeed sinful and a different matter.

We don't need to make excuses of "evangelism" and "culture engagement" to defend our consumption of beer, liquor or wine. We simply look to take God at His Word when it declares, "You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart"(Ps 104:14–15). If asked by non drinking Christians why I drink, I give a very biblical response, "it gladdens my heart."

It gladdens my heart for two reasons. One is that I do like the taste. The second is that I like the effects of it. I'm not referring to drunkenness (can't walk, talk or function properly) or what Luther calls "piggishness." Sometimes when I partake in beer or 'strong drink' my heart is gladdened or I'm feeling different than normal. Perhaps now the Christian prohibitionists are in an uproar. Permit me to further justify this biblically. Remember when Joseph's brother's return to Egypt for Joseph after selling him? They have a meal together as Joseph is disguised and the Word says "Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him"(Ge 43:34). 

Our English translations say after they drank they were 'merry' (an attempt to water down the effects of 'strong drink') with him. But the literal translation is that they were "intoxicated." Even prohibitionist R. Laird Harris writes,  "Joseph’s brothers with Joseph in Egypt, says literally “they drank and ‘became drunk’ with him” (KJV “were merry with him”). The emphasis is on conviviality, not drinking to the point of drunkenness." * Joel McDurmon speaks in a similar fashion, "The Hebrew text, however, says something more revealing than the English translators were willing to admit: it says “they drank and shakar with him.”[6] That is, they drank with him until they were all clearly under the influence. They enjoyed themselves."*


In fact the word translated "merry" in Genesis 43:34 is translated 'strong drink' in the passage we started with- Leviticus 14:26. It is also translated elsewhere as "drunk, " "drunkeness." That is because it is fermented drink that does indeed alter one's mood- it gladdens the heart.

Have you ever considered that wine and strong drink are often mentioned in connection with feasts and celebrations? That is because it has more to do with the idea that it gladdens the heart than it does with the prohibitionists argument that it was solely for "purifying water." Please do not read the idea of drunkeness where people are stumbling over themselves and cannot talk or function properly back into the idea that 'strong drink' gladdens the heart. That is clearly condemned by God and is not what is being defended here. But to enjoy wine, beer or liquor even when it alters our mood is something commended by God. That is why Scripture says that it "gladdens the heart."

I'm aware of the arguments against the consumption of alcohol. The idea that it is a symbol for "debauchery." Therefore should be avoided to "abstain from all appearances of evil." My response is that the abuse of 'strong drink' should be avoided and is the appearance of evil, not 'strong drink' itself. We have already covered that it is given by the Lord and should be enjoyed. Furthermore as has been argued by others, women have become the symbol of sexual immorality, should we then do away with them to "abstain from all appearances of evil?" No one I know would affirm that in the positive. I believe that we start with what God says and not the world and go from there. The world tells me that I'm a fool and stupid for believing in the cross of Christ. I'm not going to deny my Master who bought me because of what the world thinks.

As to the assertion that wine in biblical times was only grape juice, well, that is preposterous. "Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent" (Ge 9:20–21). I've never met anyone to have gotten drunk from grape juice.

How about the argumentation that the wine then was less stronger than it is now? That's not the point. That it contained fermentation is the point. Whether it was weaker or stronger does not matter. It was gladdening the people's hearts because it was fermented and altered ones mood. It intoxicated. So what if they had to drink more then than we do now to have the heart gladdened? Either way, it was gladdened by the Lord.

On a final note I am not encouraging any Christian to enjoy beer, wine or liquor if goes against their conscience or if they are recovering alcoholics (unless they Lord has removed that weakness)  for to do so would indeed be sinful. However, do not frown upon  those of us that make merry our hearts in the consumption of 'strong drink,' beer or wine.

Joel McDurmon has some wise words, "The drunkard forgets God; the prohibitionist tries to be God."*

For my fellow strong drinkers, in the words of the most interesting man in the world, "stay thirsty my friends."

"On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined" 

(Is 25:6).

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando




*Hamilton, V. P. (1999). 2388 שָׁכַר. In R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (926). Chicago: Moody Press.

*McDurmon, Joel; Wilson, Douglas (2011-08-19). What Would Jesus Drink? A Spirit Filled Study (Kindle Locations 653-656). Tolle Lege Press. Kindle Edition.

Ibid, Kindle Location 163

Those "Arm Chair Theologians!"

Many Christians, today, are being spiritually malnourished. Pastors all across the world are lamenting, what they believe is, the impracticality of doctrine. Therefore, they refuse to fulfill the sacred obligation of the under -shepherd to "be diligent," "study," "make every effort," "do your best," to show ourselves approved cutting straight the Word of God (2 Tim. 2:15) and proclaiming it to those in the pews ( 2Tim. 4:1-, Tit.1:9).

But the notion that theology and doctrine are impractical is very misleading. I would go so far as to say that any elder in the Church of Christ that utters such things should resign since it is impossible to shepherd the sheep of Christ, of whom He purchased by His won blood, apart from doctrine. Observe how Paul instructs Titus to appoint elders and gives the qualifications for such a noble esteemed position, "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it" (Tt 1:9). And how he writes to Timothy, "As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith"  (1 Ti 1:3–5).


Doctrine matters. It matters because it should be founded on the truth of Scripture. But what of the allegation that it is impractical or only produces "arm chair theologians?" Well, the majority of people that proclaim such accusations are typically the people that attempt to practice what they do not understand. Here's what I mean. Many people will proclaim an unoffensive gospel that simply says, "God is love and He loves you. Trust Him." This kind of "evangelism" is an attempt to to put into practice the Great Commission. However, since those proclaiming such things or something similar know we are to share Christ with others they attempt to do so yet their understanding of the Gospel is grossly lacking as is there purely humanistic definition of the Divine love.

People that often deride the necessity of doctrine and assert theology leads to apathetic inaction have obviously not studied Church history. Let me quote from one of those "dead orthodoxy" guys that well understood how practical theology is and how it helps us. John Owen in his massive writing on the doctrine of justification and at the beginning of his defense and exposition of it writes:

THAT we may treat of the doctrine of justification usefully unto its proper ends, which are the glory of God in Christ, with the peace and furtherance of the obedience of believers, some things are previously to be considered, which we must have respect unto in the whole process of our discourse. And, among others that might be insisted on to the same purpose, these that ensue are not to be omitted:—

1. The first inquiry in this matter, in a way of duty, is after the proper relief of the conscience of a sinner pressed and perplexed with a sense of the guilt of sin. For justification is the way and means whereby such a person doth obtain acceptance before God, with a right and title unto a heavenly inheritance (emphasis mine).

So much for doctrine being impractical. Understanding that our acceptance with God is dependent on the substitutionary (penal) death of Christ and His perfect righteousness, or as stated by the Apostle Paul this way- " For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Co 5:20–21) is of the highest comfort. When Christians sin, especially in serious matters, our consciences can be tormented; one of our first inclinations is to think that we must now turn to the law in order to gain God's favor once again. That we must be more obedient to make up for such serious offenses against God. But the docrtrine of justification by faith alone, in Christ alone, teaches us that we are ever to reflect on the cross of Christ. He has satisfied the Father perfectly by taking our just punishment at the cross and fulfilling the righteous demands of God by keeping the law perfectly for sinners.

The doctrine of justification gives rest for the soul. The weary are no longer burdened by trying to hopelessly keep more law for their right standing before God. It has been accomplished for him by Christ our justification. The sinner finds rest. This is what is meant by our Lord when He cries out, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light "(Mt 11:28–30).


This pillar of Christian doctrine (justification by faith) does not lead to licentiousness. Rather instead of trying to be more godly to gain acceptance with God, we do so because we are accepted by Him in Christ and long to please and honor Him with our redeemed lives. We now love and strive to keep and honor His laws and commands to glorify His holy name among an ungodly people. Or as Iain Campbell writes:

The Ten Commandments are the same: they are moral absolutes, given us by our Creator God, in order that we may know fulfilment, purpose and direction in our lives. None of us can keep the commandments perfectly, which is why we need a Saviour. And those of us who trust the Saviour have more reason than most to keep the commandments. The God who gave them at Sinai was none other than Jesus.*

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Mt 11:28–30)  


Oh what rest! Rest my friends, rest in Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando

*Owen, J. Vol. 5: The works of John Owen. (W. H. Goold, Ed.) (7). Edinburg: T&T Clark.
*Campbell, I. D. (2005). On the first day of the week : God, the Christian and the Sabbath (181). Leominster, UK: Day One Publications.

Weekly Dose Of Lloyd-Jones

 And so anybody who reads the New Testament, even superficially, unless he is a victim of serious prejudice, is bound to gather the impression that, according to the writers of this book at any rate, the death of the Lord Jesus Christ is of paramount importance. That is why we are bound to consider this, and the real question that confronts us is: What exactly happened there? What was really taking place when our Lord died upon the cross? What is the meaning, the explanation, of that death?

Now I know that many people are not really concerned to know that. They say, ‘No, I am not theological or doctrinal; all I know is that the cross is marvellous and wonderful and that the Lord died there.’ And there are many who seem to think that that is the right attitude. They think that this is too sacred for anybody to examine, that you must never come to the cross with your mind but only with your heart, that the doctrine of the cross is something to be felt, not understood. But nothing is more terribly dangerous than that. If I understand the New Testament aright, there is no place where we should be more careful to go with our minds fully operating as to the cross on Calvary’s hill. And I will tell you why: it is because this is the central thing; there is no truth concerning which the adversary and the enemy of our souls is so anxious to muddle and confuse us as this particular truth.

The history of the Church, as I shall show you briefly, is something that bears endless record to that fact. Let us put it like this: those people who are not interested in doctrine say that all they need is to fall on their knees before the cross; they say that they are not interested in the meaning. But my reply is that that is impossible. Everybody has some view of the cross; and when you say you believe in Christ and look at the cross, you must ask yourself what you believe about it. You have your own interpretation and because of the terrible danger of having the wrong interpretation, we must examine the truth and be certain that we are biblical in our understanding of what happened upon the cross.

I emphasise this because I find that so many people—forgive me for saying it once more, but this is one thing about the evangelical position today that really does alarm me—so many people have this tendency to say that it does not matter very much what people believe, that the doctrinal definitions do not count as long as people talk about the cross. I remember a few years ago a man said to me: ‘I hear that so and so—naming a well-known preacher—has changed recently.’

‘Oh,’ I replied, ‘on what grounds?’

‘Well,’ said the man, ‘he has just produced a book of sermons on the cross.’ And because this preacher had done that, my friend had assumed that he had become evangelical. But when he read the book, he discovered that the man’s view had not changed; it was a view that made the cross of Christ of none effect. He had imposed upon the records his own philosophical ideas and fancies. It is very dangerous to assume that because a man is always talking about the cross—he may even have a cross suspended above the pulpit or somewhere else in his church—that he has the true doctrine of the cross.*

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Co 1:18).

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando


*Lloyd-Jones, D. M. (1996). God the Father, God the Son (308–309). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

Creeds and Confessions and Catechisms

There are those today who, confessing the Creeds and Confessions and Catechisms which came out of the Reformation, believe themselves saved by the same.

To confess the great doctrines of the Reformation should be the most humbling of things, not because these have any merit or inspiration in and of themselves, but because they are brief commentaries upon that which has all merit and the inspiration of God: His Scriptures.

If one confesses these great documents of the Reformation, yet lives like the world; if one states that they are saved by such confession, yet act and speak like those who could call themselves just as “moral” in our post modern society of relativistic humanism, they do not understand what they confess, for they think themselves to be something when they are nothing, and holding to various forms of that which has infected both the various cultures, sub cultures, and the church (I do not speak of the Bride of Christ here, made up of His elect, but those who think they are such, yet do not live according to the Scriptures), they, instead of fearing a misrepresentation of the thrice Holy God, fearlessly proclaim that they are His without understanding a shred of that upon which their confession is based upon.

They have not even begun to understand what it means to be totally depraved, yet chosen by God because of His good pleasure; they cannot act as children of light, for the light in them is a great darkness, precisely because they have not been converted by the magnificent grace given in Christ Jesus our Lord, which, rather than being apart from God’s holiness, is given to undeserving sinners as part of His holiness.

There is no humility with such persons, and the mores of this world run rampant through their ranks: feminism, personal entitlement, counting their station in life as proof of God’s blessings, rather than remembering “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich (that is, as the infinite, eternally good and holy God the Son), yet for your sake he became poor (read Philippians 2:1-11), so that you by his poverty might become rich (this would be the humbling truth of salvation by grace – 2 Corinthians 8:9).

Counting one’s self as better than those who suffer privation and physical maladies in this world, they slander and defame the name of the very God they say they hold to, and do despite to the Spirit of Grace.

They do not realize having all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus our Lord, for such a thought as going to the cross is foreign to them – they would have their candy from the world and think themselves inheritors of that which is by grace alone, yet do not even know the meaning of wrongfully handling the word of truth.

Peter describes such, as does Paul, and John, in many ways, but the one thing all these descriptions have in common is the world means more to these people than the cross; human dignity means more to them than the humility shown by our Lord in His first advent.

For such as these, they should remember well the words of Matthew 7:21-23 and Luke 6:46:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?

We could go further in describing them as Scripture – “wells without water” comes to mind – but the fact is, the point of the above passages quoted is that proclaiming one’s self-sufficiency before our Lord and God, our Savior Jesus Christ, on the day of judgment, whether it be of false miracles, or false morality of the flesh observing things without understanding and thinking they are well, when “the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil,” will result in those terrifying words of that quoted above: "I NEVER knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!"

Before reciting one’s formal confessions, creeds and catechisms, one would do well to understand the Scripture – without the healing of our Great Physician, we can spend every day in the pew and hear every sermon ever preached on the Scriptures, yet not understand, for the poison of pride blinds the eyes of those who live against that which God has made plain in His Son to His saints, but to those who live like the world, they are yet enemies of God.

Consider well that which you recite: Look to the testimony of the Scripture which is the foundation of it!

Learn from our great High Priest, Shepherd and Prophet, our Savior and Sacrifice, our Passover and our King, for He shows us what it is like to be lowly and meek of heart, after giving us to see the Father by the regeneration of His Holy Spirit.

To God’s glory alone – Bill Hier

Trying To Divorce A Married Couple

That is certainly what many wish to do when they attempt to pit the cross of Christ against His resurrection. Or those that emphasize the resurrection without speaking of the death of Christ. It goes something like this, "The gospel is the good news that God hasn’t given up on the world, that the tomb is empty and that a giant resurrection rescue is underway and that you and I can be a part of it." My fellow blogger awretchsaved does a good job of pointing out the social gospel in that presentation from Rob Bell.

That sounds pretty spiritual from Bell doesn't it? The Holy Writ does say, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies "(Ro 8:18–23).


If you notice in that passage the text says that the creation itself waits for the "revealing of the sons of God." It also says that creation was subjected to its present state by God Himself to be set free from its bondage and to obtain the freedom of the children of God. The point being that creation, without the salvation of God's people, itself will not experience its restoration. It is dependent upon the salvation of redeemed sinners- the bride of Christ.

For the moment we will not talk about the cataclysmic judgement ( a point that many want to deny or dodge) that God will bring upon it to bring about this "new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Pe. 3:10-18), but will focus on the deliverance of God's people before the restoration of creation. This is the part which Bell and many of his kind completely miss. The idea that Christ came to save sinners by virtue of penal substitutionary death is abhorred by Bell. God, according to Bell and the Emergent crowd, is not angry with sinners and needs not to have His divine justice satisfied. According to Bell sinners are like confused, lost, hurt people in need of a little tender loving care and some guidance. We are more of victims instead of rebels. We are victims and not sinners shaking our fists at God in defiance.

Sure he and the Emergent crowd will talk of "sin." The appropriate question to ask is what do they mean by "sin"? According to one of their like minded people, "sin" is "to lack trust in God to do things His way." Once a person fails to "trust" God then life becomes miserable, "hell on earth." Here we go again with sinners being more victims than offenders of a holy God. This is what is missing (among many other things) in the Emergent  Gospel. God, to them, is more of a helper than God the Savior. God is simply saddened rather than offended and angry.

This is why they love to speak of a "resurrection rescue" or something similar. For them that is the view of salvation. There is no eternal judgement awaiting the unrepentant sinner. The cross of Christ is, not to save, but to make things better according to them. Which is why they rely so much on the felt needs and social justice. The cross of Christ is the greatest example of self-sacrifice for the greater good of creation. If one desires to not join in God's "resurrection rescue" then they will be experiencing "hell on earth" being separated from Him and being depressed, sad or bummed out. To them that is the worst thing. The consequences of sin itself is God's judgment because it keeps one away from this "resurrection rescue."


Bell's answer to such problem is to simply follow Jesus's example of self-sacrifice and love for others and you will be a part of this "resurrection rescue." Think like Jesus, feel like Jesus, believe like Jesus, act like Jesus, love like Jesus and you're in this "resurrection rescue."


My question to them is does the resurrection have any relation to justification? Or is it simply a matter of the way we live? You cannot divorce the the cross of Christ from the resurrection of Christ. Each component is intertwined. Permit me to quote Robert A. Peterson:

Justification. When Paul gives the basis for God’s declaring sinners righteous in Romans, he points primarily to the cross of Christ. In Romans 3:25–26 the basis of justification is “Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood.” In Romans 5:18–19 the basis of justification is Christ’s “obedience” unto death, his “one act of righteousness.” Paul focuses on the cross, but does not omit Jesus’s resurrection.

 In one passage in Romans the apostle brings together the cross and empty tomb. Righteousness “will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our LORD, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Rom. 4:23–25). Here dealing with “our trespasses” and “our justification” are not two separate blessings, but one way of talking about the same blessing—free justification. Justification can be expressed as the positive imputation of righteousness to the believing sinner (Rom. 4:3–5; 5:18–19; 2 Cor. 5:21). It can also be expressed as the nonimputation of sin to the same (Rom. 4:6–7). So when Paul says Jesus “was delivered up for our trespasses,” he means that his atoning death was necessary for our justification. When he says that Jesus was “raised for our justification,” he means that Jesus’s triumphant resurrection was necessary for our justification. Both Jesus’s death and his resurrection are necessary for sinners to be justified before a holy God.

 Jesus’s death is the basis of our justification in that he, our substitute, died in our place, paying the penalty that we could never pay. He also saves us as our resurrected LORD and representative—as the one who lives on our behalf. This is true in at least two senses. First, Christ’s resurrection testifies to the efficacy of his death, as C. E. B. Cranfield explains: “For what was necessitated by our sin was, in the first place, Christ’s atoning death, and yet, had His death not been followed by His resurrection, it would not have been God’s mighty deed for our justification.” Second, Jesus’s resurrection saves us as he who died for us is freed from death by God. His saving death and saving resurrection are the reasons that God will free us from death too. James Dunn clarifies: “The link between justification and Jesus’ resurrection . . . underscores its point—that the justifying grace of God is all of a piece with his creative, life-giving power.” As we will see, his resurrection is the basis and guarantee of our resurrection to eternal life on the last day.

 Forgiveness of sins. Because Jesus’s death and resurrection combine to constitute the basis of our justification, Paul announces to his hearers in Pisidian Antioch: “God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. . . . but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you” (Acts 13:23, 37–38). With these words Paul is not detracting from the saving value of Jesus’s atonement. Rather, he is teaching an additional truth—the saving value of Jesus’s resurrection. Specifically, Jesus’s (death and) resurrection is the basis for the apostolic message of the “forgiveness of sins” (v. 38).

 Similarly, when Paul contemplates what would be true if Christ had not risen from the grave, he emphasizes, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17). Why would that be the case? Anthony Thiselton answers: “Without the resurrection of Christ, Christ’s death alone has no atoning, redemptive, or liberating effect in relation to human sin.” It is because Jesus our divine-human representative not only died in our place but also lives as Victor over sin and the grave that he saves to the end all who come to God through him.*

Of course they will object that doctrine is impractical but, at a later time, I hope to show that justification and the resurrection should lead to what is called "social justice" of course with some clarifications.The danger with false teaching is sometimes there is a measure of truth in the errors.Theology is indeed practical.

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando


*Robert A. Peterson. Salvation Accomplished by the Son: The Work of Christ (Kindle Locations 3044-3073). Crossway.

The Gospel According To Rob Bell

Caution: Watching this video may cause you to pull your hair out.

"The gospel is the good news that God hasn’t given up on the world, that the tomb is empty and that a giant resurrection rescue is underway and that you and I can be a part of it. And so yes, this has a deeply personal dimension to it. Jesus is saving me. He’s saving me from my sins, from my mistakes, from my pride, from my indifference to the suffering of the world around me, from my cynicism and despair. The brokenness I see in the world around me is true of my own soul, and so he’s rescuing me, moment by moment, day by day, because God wants to put it all back together—you, me, the whole world. And so he starts deep inside each of us with our awareness that we need help, that we need saving, that we need rescuing. And then he begins to show us step by step what it looks like to put flesh and blood on this gospel. Because we all fall short, and that’s the beautiful part. Broken, flawed, vulnerable people like you and me are invited to be the hands and feet of a Jesus who loves us exactly as we are and yet loves us way too much to let us stay that way."


Rob Bell says that the gospel is that "God hasn't given up on the world". For Mr. Bell, God is this sort of social activist, one who has a wonderful plan for this world, and he's attempting to make this world better, if he could just get some support in the grassroots (from you and me)- then maybe we can get this resurrection thing on the way. What the resurrection means for Rob Bell, is not Christ's victory over death, not at all, it's about the "giant resurrection rescue underway" where God will (insert kind earthly gesture here), through you and me. What Rob Bell is espousing, is nothing different than what we've heard before. It is the social gospel. The idea that the gospel is lived out, when you and I- by our efforts- usher in the kingdom of God. In this concept, salvation is not a matter of Christ dying as substitute under the wrath of God for our sins, no, it's about Christ being sent to be an example of social love. Personal salvation isn't important. What is important is the well being of all mankind, through our social efforts of helping the poor, giving to charity, etc.

As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!- Galatians 1:9

-awretchsaved

DEBATE

Debate is the stuff of the faith of Christianity; it is carried on by those who are His with those who suppose themselves to be His; by those who seek, by outward manifestation of religious observance, who yet deny the efficacy and the Person of Jesus Christ, the sacrifice for His people He made upon the cross, the fact of His deity, the triune nature of the three Persons who share equally the full essence of the One God.

Our Lord Himself debated with those who thought otherwise – the religious leaders of His day; the apostle Paul and the other apostles likewise debated with these leaders of a false religion, and even with the philosophers of the day.

In saying debate is the stuff of Christianity, we assume there are those who hold to other positions than theistic Trinitarianism, and that we argue from the very words of Scripture to substantiate the truth of our claims.

There are those who have made a religion out of disbelief, who model themselves as no followers of any god, let alone the one true God, and to these we may address the defense for the faith in other terms, yet notwithstanding, based upon and sanctified by the truth inherent in Scripture and by the Holy Spirit; it is not these that we speak of here, however.

We speak of those who think they serve the One True God, yet deny His plan of salvation for lost sinners whom He calls to Himself.

To these, we make our defense – our reasoned response – for the hope that is in us, the very One who gave Himself that we might live, and though they may have similar theologies which are, in truth, when exposed to the light of the Scripture under the scrutiny of the Spirit of God, seen to be none other than the same philosophies of men against which we are warned not to submit, not for a moment, to their plausible arguments based on the elemental things of this world, we see this common thread among them all: God must act according to these humanistic philosophies, or they will not consider Him to be worthy of themselves.

It is against just such arrogance of men, who would sit in judgment of the very God who created and gives them to have each fragment of each moment of their lives, that we assert His truth, not for purposes of “winning the argument,” but that He may have mercy upon them, and that they may come to the knowledge of His truth and so be saved.

We find also this common thread among these false representations of Christianity: unity at the cost of truth; a multiplicity of man’s philosophies which all can come under the umbrella of – at the best, if they so wish; at the worst, with all being saved, so that the wrath of God poured out on our blessed Lord Jesus Christ for the sins of those He saves is reduced to nothing at all.

We therefore debate, not to win the debate, but to proclaim the glory of God in His grace in Jesus Christ, and this can only be done at the cost of self and the humility which is of His Spirit, worshipfully, thankfully, to our God, and seeking to not misrepresent those we oppose, as they often do us.

Debate for the sake of debate is no more an apologetic for the faith than winning an argument over whether and apple is an onion, and makes as little sense.

We debate for the sake of those souls our Lord died to make His own, and to His glory alone – any other reason is pride.

To God's glory alone - Bill Hier

Calling Clowns- "Clowns"- When They Act Like It

Spurgeon once said, "A time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the church will have clowns entertaining the goats." How very accurate. Two modern examples of that are Perry Noble and his protege Steven Furtick. Two men that have the title "pastor" yet are biblically unqualified (watch the two short video clips at the bottom of this article).

Of course to them I'm just a "mean spirited" "hater" and according to them "You look like a toddler, drawing lines in the sand, talking about how you are defending the truth, taking a stand." I'm just another "internet blogger in my pajamas blogging from my mother's basement." 

Actually, I'm a pastor blogging from my own house and this blog is not a "discernment ministry." However, as a pastor part of my calling is to be discerning and to be faithful to what the Apostle Paul says in Romans 16:17-18: "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."


I would not extend either of these men the right hand of fellowship. In fact both are wolves. I know, I know, how mean of me. And this article will only anger them and people of their ilk. But hey what should they expect of me after all I'm only a "hater."

I recommend this article which is in response to Furtick's clownish rant.

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando

The Comfort Of Christ In His Imputed Righteousness

There is nothing so encouraging to a believer as the imputation of Christ's righteousness. It is one thing to know that we are forgiven. That our sins were placed to Christ's account and He bore the full wrath of the Father in the sinners stead. There is such consolation and comfort knowing that all in Christ are forgiven by the thrice holy God. But the work of Christ does is not limited to just forgiveness. All, through repentance and faith in Him, are not only forgiven but credited with His righteousness. That is all Christians are clothed with His perfection. Our standing before God is that of forgiven and righteous. Oh what satisfaction and joy to be "blessed in the Beloved" (Eph. 1:6)!

There is no need to fret when overtaken by sin that we must make up for such sinfulness with more law keeping. No, we rest in the our union with Christ. Always remembering that we are forgiven and declared righteous on the basis of the life death and resurrection of Christ our Savior.

It is rather tragic that some today our attempting to deny the sheep of Christ of the comfort in His imputed righteousness. Richard Phillips writes:

Scholars should always be able to explain theological controversies in terms that regular Christians can understand. With this in mind, a pastor friend of mine was explaining to his mother the recent controversies regarding the doctrine of justification. He explained how some are denying the bicovenantal  system of the covenant of works and the covenant of grace, redefining faith as faithfulness, and casting other important matters into dispute. His mother followed this all perfectly well. But she reacted particularly  strongly, as all Christians should, when my friend explained how purportedly REformed theologians are denying the doctrine of Christ's imputed righteousness. To this, the godly matriarch reacted with a shocked and pained expression. "You know, son," she said, "I have rather been counting on that being true."

My friend's mother was not the only one Christian who has been counting on the imputation of Christ's righteousness. J. Gresham Machen expressed his reliance upon it when he sent a cable to his friend John Murray, on January 1, 1937, the day of Machen's death: "I'm so thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope with out it."  Machen  was referring to Jeus' perfect, lived obedience to God's law throughout His earthly life. Jesus lived the life that we should have lived, and He did so on behalf of His people. As Machen sent those final words before he passed into the presence of God, he was relying on Christ not only to pay the penalty for his sins but also to provide a perfect righteousness on his behalf.*

Lest there be any confusion as to what is meant by double imputation- the imputation of our sins to Christ and the imputation of His righteousness to His people- I will defer to Martyn Lloyd-Jones:

Now to "impute" is to put something in a book, in a ldger, and God, you see, has got your name in His ledger. Oh, yes, it is there. I do not care what your nae is; He has na index; your name is there; He opens it at your name and there is the record of everything you have ever committed, is imputed, put to your account in the ledger. It is under your name and you have got to answer for it. But God has taken your account and has put it to His account. That is what imputation means. God has made Jesus Christ "to be sin for us." He dies to bear my punishment. That is what killed Him. So my guilt has been imputed to Him and it has been taken from me and therefore I am freely forgiven.

But then there is another problem, this power of sin, this evil nature. I want to get rid of the thought of sin and the life and desire of sin. Before I can spend eternity with God, I must have a clean and pure heart and a righteous nature. I cannot produce it. What nonsense it is to attempt it! The moment you try you will see your own blackness and darkness; you cannot. You cannot change yourself but. thank God, God can-"...that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

For when He imputes our sins to Him, He imputes His righteousness to us. This is marvellous! Out of my ledger goes my sin, put to His account; then His goodness, His righteousness, His purity are put into my account under my name! To put it another way, here I am with the black cloak of my sinfulness and I cannot stand, in such a cloak, before God who is light. What God does is to put over my cloak the cloak of the righteousness of Jesus Christ, His perfect spotless life of obedience, His holy nature. I am in Christ, I belong to Him. He is the new man and I am in Him and God sees me in Him clothed with His righteousness...This is Christianity : not your little goodness and mine; not what I am doing and what I am not doing. Not how much better I am than somebody else; not not how much better I am than I once was. No, you forget it all and look to Him. You see His perfect spotless righteousness and you know that if you believe in Him it is given to you and you are clothed with it.* 

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Co 5:21).


"Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God,and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:14–15).

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando

* Joel Beeke, The Beauty and Glory of Christ (Grand Rapids, MI.: Reformation Heritage Books, 2011), 121-122
*Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Kingdom of God (Wheaton, Ill.: Corssway, 1992), 80-81