- From the Reformed Study Bible
Archive for March, 2009
Regeneration – A Prayer and A Promise, Part A; TFL
Posted in * Favorites, Faith, Regeneration on March 31, 2009 by HarryA Prayer and A Promise, Part A
- At the end of this sermon Alistair raises the point of how can one criminal believe and the other say basically save yourself and then I will believe
- This can only be done by the work of the Holy Spirit
- In this sermon, Alistair also raises the nice analogy between the people watching the events at Calvary and ourselves
- they were thinking how can a messiah be hanging on the cross, Jesus if you come down and save yourself then we will believe
- and this is just how we are when we say do this for me and then I will believe
- they were thinking how can a messiah be hanging on the cross, Jesus if you come down and save yourself then we will believe
God’s Desire; Anthropomorphic language
Posted in Will - God's on March 29, 2009 by HarryR.C. Sproul Sermon: “2005 National Conference: Five Keys to Spiritual Growth – How To Study the Bible”
From a website http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/0232.htm:
So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.
a. So the LORD relented: God answered Moses’ prayer. God was going to destroy the nation – all Moses had to do was leave God alone and let Him do it. But Moses did not leave God alone; he labored in intercession according to what He knew of the heart of God.
b. So the LORD relented: In the King James Version this phrase is translated the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people. Based on this, some believe God sometimes needs to repent of evil, or that God changes His mind.
Spurgeon Morning and Evening – March 27th a.m.
Posted in Regeneration, Weaknesses on March 29, 2009 by Harry- Regeneration, Power of the Holy Spirit
THEN ALL THE DISCIPLES LEFT HIM AND FLED. – MATTHEW 26:56
He never deserted them, but they in cowardly fear of their lives fled from Him at the very outset of His sufferings. This is but one instructive instance of the frailty of all believers if left to themselves; they are but sheep at best, and they flee when the wolf appears. They had all been warned of the danger and had promised to die rather than leave their Master; and yet they were seized with sudden panic and took to their heels. It may be that I, at the opening of this day, have braced myself to bear a trial for the Lord’s sake, and I imagine myself able for the challenge; but let me be careful in case with the same evil heart of unbelief I should depart from my Lord as the apostles did. It is one thing to promise, and quite another to perform. It would have been to their eternal honor to have stood manfully at Jesus’ side; they fled from honor. May I be kept from imitating them! Where else could they have been so safe as near their Master, who could presently call for twelve legions of angels? They fled from their true safety. 0 God, let me not play the fool also. Divine grace can make the coward brave. The smoking flax can flame forth like fire on the altar when the Lord wills it. These very apostles who were timid as hares grew to be bold as lions after the Spirit had descended upon them, and even so the Holy Spirit can make my wretched spirit brave to confess my Lord and witness for His truth. What anguish must have filled the Savior as He saw His friends so faithless! This was one bitter ingredient in His cup; but that cup is drained dry; let me not put another drop in it. If I forsake my Lord, I shall crucify Him afresh and put Him to an open shame. Keep me, 0 blessed Spirit, from such a shameful end.
Reward, Judgement
Posted in Judgement, Salvation with tags Justification on March 29, 2009 by Harry1 Cor 3:14-15
14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, a he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, b but only as through fire.
From ESV Study Notes:
- See also v. 8 and 4:4–5.
- Although those who have believed in Jesus have already been justified by faith (Rom. 5:1) and will not face condemnation on the final day (John 5:24; Rom. 8:1, 33), God will still judge their works (Rom. 14:10–12; 2 Cor. 5:10) and reward them accordingly (Matt. 6:1–6, 16, 18; 10:41–42).
- Paul’s point applies not just to church leaders but to anyone who contributes in any way to building up the church (1 Cor. 12:7, 12–31; 14:12).
God’s Will
Posted in Will - God's on March 29, 2009 by HarryFrom Reformed study bible article in Ez 18:
The Will of God: How Can I Know God’s Will?
- The Scriptures speak of the will of God in a variety of ways.
- Even human wills are complex, so we should not be surprised to find that the divine will is multi-faceted
- Reformed theology has traditionally stressed two senses in which we should understand God’s will.
- Some Reformed theologians also speak of a third sense.
Romans 14:10-12, 2 Cor 5:10
Posted in 2 Corinthians, Judgement, Romans with tags Reward on March 29, 2009 by Harry10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Read more »
“Knowing God” excerpt (J.I. Packer)
Posted in * Favorites, Lifestyle with tags Christmas, Contentment on March 29, 2009 by HarryKnowing God pg 63:
It is our shame and disgrace today that so many Christians—I will be more specific: so many of the soundest and most orthodox Christians—go through this world in the spirit of the priest and the Levite in our Lord’s parable, seeing human needs all around them, but (after a pious wish, and perhaps a prayer, that God might meet those needs) averting their eyes and passing by on the other side. That is not the Christmas spirit. Nor is it the spirit of those Christians—alas, they are many—whose ambition in life seems limited to building a nice middle-class Christian home, and making nice middle-class Christian friends, and bringing up their children in nice middle-class Christian ways, and who leave the submiddle-class sections of the community, Christian and non-Christian, to get on by themselves.
The Christmas spirit does not shine out in the Christian snob. For the Christmas spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor—spending and being spent—to enrich their fellow humans, giving time, trouble, care and concern, to do good to others—and not just their own friends—in whatever way there seems need.
Age of the Gentiles, Israel – Romans 11:28
Posted in Israel on March 29, 2009 by Harry28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are o beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and p the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as q you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now [5] receive mercy. 32 For God r has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
ESV Study Bible notes:
- The unbelief of Israel has benefited the Gentiles, i.e., this is the period of history in which Gentiles are being saved, while most of Israel remains in unbelief.
- But God’s electing promise given to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be fulfilled in the future.
- Salvation history is structured to feature God’s great mercy.
- God saved the Gentiles when one would expect only the Jews to be saved, but in the future he will amaze all by his grace again by saving the Jews, so that it will be clear that everyone’s salvation is by mercy alone.
- The final now in the text does not mean the promise to the Jews is now fulfilled but that the promise of Jewish salvation could be fulfilled at any time.
- Rom. 11:32 The word all here refers to Jews and Gentiles (all without distinction, not all without exception).
- The sin and disobedience of both Jews and Gentiles is highlighted, to emphasize God’s mercy in saving some among both Jews and Gentiles.
Alec Motyer Interview
Posted in * Favorites, Old Testament on March 29, 2009 by HarryRenowned scholar learned to love the Bible at his grandmother’s knee.
“I’m not really a scholar,” says J. Alec Motyer softly, “I’m just a man who loves the Word of God.”
Now retired as principal of Trinity College in Bristol, England, Motyer has spent his professional career studying the Bible. However, he learned to love the Scriptures at his grandmother’s knee in Ireland. “Grandma was, in worldly terms, a comparatively uneducated lady,” Motyer says, “but she was a great Bible woman. Biblical studies have simply confirmed that which I learned from Grandma – that the Bible is the Word of God – and made it a coherently held position.”
Read more »
Romans 14:5 Sabbath
Posted in Romans with tags Sabbath on March 19, 2009 by HarryRomans 14:5-6
5 q One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. r Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since s he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
Seeker Sensitive Preaching
Posted in Preaching on March 16, 2009 by Harry- Seeker sensitive preaching basically is scratching people where they itch, but yet not teaching them scripture
- Helping people with their relationships, finances, etc.
God’s Promise to Abraham 2
Posted in God's Plan, Israel with tags Covenant, Covenant Theology on March 15, 2009 by HarryFrom Michael Williams As Far As the Curse is Found
Seed, Land and Blessing
God’s promises to Abraham in Geneesis 12:1-3 include four elements (three promises and a purpose statement)
seed or offspring
land, namely, the land of Canaan (more explicit in Gen. 12:7)
Israel will be blessed
Israel will be a blessing to all nations
These four elements reappear as God repeats the promises of the covenant to the patriarchs: again to Abraham (Gen. 22:17-18), to Isaac (Gen. 26:3-4), and to Jacob (Gen. 28:13-15).
God’s Promise to Abraham
Posted in God's Plan, Israel on March 15, 2009 by HarryFrom “As Far As the Curse is Found” by Michael Williams pgs 108-109
THE CALL OF ABRAHAM
The Missional Purpose of God’s Covenant with Abraham
- Even though the word covenant (Hebrew: berith) does not appear in connection with Abraham until Genesis 15:18, God’s call in Genesis 12:1-3 expresses the heart of the Abrahamic covenant.
- The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you
- I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;
- I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
- I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Theology
Posted in * Favorites, Theology on March 15, 2009 by HarryFrom Michael Williams “As Far as the Curse is Found”
- The point to glean here is that our doctrinal orthodoxy does not save us.
- Certainly, Scripture puts great emphasis on right doctrine.
- As a theologian, in the doctrine business, so to speak, I have no interest in depreciating the importance of right belief.
- But doctrine, even orthodox doctrine, is not the final test of Christian faith.
- One might be most rigorous in biblical and creedal orthodoxy but spiritually dead.
- Theological acumen and doctrinal knowledge are no measure of godliness.
- And as with Abraham, God’s choosing and saving us does not require us to have first attained complete theological proficiency
Truth For Life: Promise and Law *****
Posted in Law, Self-Audit, Sin, Total Depravity on March 15, 2009 by HarryGalatians 3: 15 – 29
15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.
16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.
17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.
18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was i put in place through angels by an intermediary.
20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.
22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
TFL: Basic Christianity *****
Posted in * Favorites, Sanctification with tags Justification on March 15, 2009 by HarryTFL: Basic Christianity 14:00
- 1 Peter 5:12
- 12 By o Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, p I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is q the true grace of God. r Stand firm in it.
- Stand fast in the true grace of God, and you cannot stand fast in it until you know it, and you cannot stand fast in it until you believe it, and you cannot stand fast in it until the conviction lies in your heart that here is where my identity lies
- We can never do enough to become accepted by God
- We do not have to by tyrannized by the question “Have I ever done enough?”
- Only the Christian can say “I can never do enough.”
- But because of what Jesus did, we are instantaneously without blemish and stain in God’s sight (this is the doctrine of justification by faith in Jesus Christ)
- We are immediately made right by status made right in God’s sight
- We will never be more accepted that we are today because we are placed in Christ and what happens in sanctification is that our character catches up with our status
- The Spirit of God is now at work in our lives to conform us to the status which He has now given us in His son
Jeremiah 17:9 – the Human Heart
Posted in Jeremiah, Total Depravity on March 15, 2009 by HarryJeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
- A metaphor for the human will and emotions (cf. vv. 5–7). deceitful. Tortuous, uneven, and crooked like a bad road. desperately sick. Medically incurable (15:18; 30:12, 15; Job 34:6; Isa. 17:11; Mic. 1:9). who can understand it?
- A rhetorical question expecting a negative answer.
- However, this strongly negative assessment of the human heart is not intended as a description of the heart of a believer under the new covenant, where God promises to write his law on people’s hearts (Jer. 31:33; 32:40; cf. Ezek. 36:26; Rom. 5:5; 6:17; Heb. 10:22; 1 John 3:21).
Coming to Faith
Posted in * Favorites, Faith on March 15, 2009 by HarryRavi at the Roxy Q & A 3 9:00
- There are people that come to faith out of a real encounter, and their mind does not demand a lot of reasons at that point, they have had an experience that leads them into real communion and real relationship with God and they go on to justify
- There are other people who cannot come that route, they can only commit theirselves to something if they can only get enough rational support for that
- and there are ways to do that
- but that means at the core level that we have to be able to commit to ourselves that we are open to the issue of truth
- does truth exist?
- is there a process I can go through by which I can compare – are all religions the same or are they fundamentally different
Max Lucado
Posted in Uncategorized on March 15, 2009 by HarryFrom a review of one his books, but gives good insight to his theology
Bottom line: he is a great author but not strictly reformed as Arminian perspectives permeate his writing
