Sunday, June 29, 2008

The greatest thing about heaven

The greatest thing about heavenI have been thinking much on hell lately because of the recent Resolved conference. But it’s not only the Resolved conference that has sparked my thinking on the all too true reality of hell. I have been thinking on hell and God’s judgment much in recent months because...

Justified by faith alone. Period.

Here is why the Scripture ascribes justification to faith alone:Namely, because in faith it is more manifested that man is justified not by hisown virtue, but by the merit of Christ. For as in beholding the serpent Godplaced healing in the desert, because the looking indicated more than the menwere...

Thursday, June 26, 2008

As long as...

Sobering (and accurate) thoughts from one of my mentors and heroes in ministry...As long as there is a strong emphasis on church membership rather than on Christian witness and sacrifice…As long as the book of Acts is ignored in favor of books on church growth and mission strategy…As long as worship is something we attend rather than something we do…As long as the focus is on “missionaries” rather...

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Christ, our substitute

From the Daily Spurgeon archive:Any theology which offers the pardon of sin without a punishment, ignoresthe major part of the character of God. God is love, but God is also just — asseverely just as if he had no love, and yet as intensely loving as if he had nojustice. To gain a just view of the character of God you must perceive all hisattributes as infinitely developed; justice must have its infinity...

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

God's Sovereignty and My "Free" Choice

I decided to blog on a simple topic this morning (haha). Listen to a nice quote from A.W. Tozer:The matter of man's free will versus God's sovereignty can be explained inthis way: God's sovereignty means that He is in control of everything,that He planned everything from the beginning. Man's free will means that hecan, anytime he wants, make most any choice he pleases (within his humanlimitations,...

Saturday, June 21, 2008

I think I'm convinced...

Did Christ's death accomplish the actuality of salvation or the potentiality of salvation. I argue for the former, as does my friend, Mr. Spurgeon...We are often told that we limit the atonement of Christ, because we saythat Christ hasnot made a satisfaction for all men, or all men would be saved.Now,...

Friday, June 20, 2008

Election from Ephesians 1

The foundation on which the salvation of every believer rests: God's free and gracious choice of us.Calvin writes:God having chosen us before the world had its course, we must attribute thecause of our salvation to His free goodness; we must confess that He did nottake us to be His children, for any deserts of our own; for we had nothing torecommend ourselves into His favor. Therefore, we must put...

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The Two Witnesses

I'm currently going through the book of Revelation at church on Tuesday nights and am really -- I mean, really -- enjoying my time there! I was just talking yesterday to someone about how Christians (including me before this study) have this idea that Revelation is the last book of the Bible and it's...

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Fellowship

How sweet it is to spend time with other believers. I just got back to my office here at church refreshed and rejuvenated for more ministry. Sometimes the Lord uses just an hour of good fellowship to give us some of the encouragement and drive that we need to press on.One of the highlights of my day thus far has been spending time this afternoon with one of our elders. We went to Jamba Juice (of course!)...

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

What we must strive for

This is not only for preachers, but it served as a needed reminder for me...“First, strive for practical, earnest, glad-hearted holiness in every areaof your life. One of the reasons is that you can’t be something in the pulpitthat you aren’t during the week - at least not for long. You can’t be bloodearnest in the pulpit and habitually flippant at the deacon’s meeting and thechurch dinner. Nor can...

The Guidance of God

One thing I learned in Israel was how God truly leads His own. As David writes, Psalm 31:3 3 For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me. Indeed we experienced this truth; that God leads His people and guides His people.The past few weeks in Israel have made this verse ever clearer to me as I trusted in the Lord for many aspects regarding our recent trip...

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Israel Update #3

I am writing from the Mt. of Olives as I sit in the apartment of a good college friend of mine! Elizabeth and I have officially ended our "formal touring" of Israel. Today was our 13th day of traveling and touring. We were in the Dead Sea region today: hiked up Masada, went to En Gedi (cf. 1 Sam 24; Psa 63; 121); floated in the Dead Sea (Elizabeth loved it!), and toured around Qumran.Tomorrow is our...

Friday, June 6, 2008

Israel Update #2

I am writing from the sharp, rocky cliffs of Mactesh Ramon. Including tomorrow, we only have two more touring days. We have been on a whirlwind tour -- literally. Elizabeth and I have enjoyed our time together driving through the land, seeing the sites, reading lots (and lots!) of Scripture, singing together, riding public busses, going through open doors with Hebrew writing that I can't understand...
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