Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Jesus Christ Went Into The Furnace Of His Father's Wrath
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." - Galatians 6:7
God's wrath is just. The wicked shall drink a sea of wrath—but not one drop of injustice!
God is justified in condemning sinners at the last day. They deserve wrath, and it is no injustice to give them that which they deserve. If a malefactor deserves death, the judge does him no wrong in condemning him.
See what a great evil sin is—which exposes a person to God's wrath forever! You may know what an evil sin is, by the wrath and curse it brings! When you see a man brought to the gallows, you conclude he is guilty of some heinous crime, which brings such a punishment. So when a man lies under the fierce anger of God's wrath, and roars out in flames—you must say, "How horrid an evil sin is!" Those who now see no evil in sin—will see how vile it is—in the looking-glass of hell-torments!
See here, that which may check a sinner's mirth. He is now brisk and frolicsome; he "sings idle songs to the sound of the harp." - Amos 6:5. "But know that for all these things, God will bring you to judgment!" - Ecc. 11:9. Let him remember that the wrath and curse of God hang over him, which will shortly, if he does not repent—be executed upon him!
The sword of God's justice hangs over a sinner, and when the slender thread of life is cut asunder—it falls upon him! For a drop of pleasure—he must drink a sea of wrath! His momentary pleasure cannot be so sweet—as God's eternal wrath is bitter! Better lack the devil's honey—than be stung with the eternal wrath of God!
"None considers in his heart." See the stupidity of sinners! Though the fierce wrath of God is ready to fall upon them—they have no concern! Though a beast has no shame, it has fear—it is afraid of fire. But sinners are worse than brutish—for they do not fear the "fire of hell"—until they are in it! When they shall feel the vials of God's wrath dropping, they will cry out as Dives, "Oh! I am tormented in this flame!" - Luke 16:24.
"Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come." - 1 Th. 1:10. Christ is the only screen to stand between us and the wrath of God; He felt God's wrath—that those who believe in Him should never feel it.
Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace was a type of God's wrath, and that furnace did not singe the garments of the three Hebrew children, nor did they have "the smell of fire upon them." - Daniel 3:27. Jesus Christ went into the furnace of His Father's wrath—and the smell of the fire of hell shall never pass upon those who believe in Him!
To you who have a well-grounded hope that you shall not feel this wrath, which you have deserved—let me exhort you to be very thankful to God, who has given His Son to save you from this tremendous wrath. The Lamb of God was scorched in the fire of God's wrath for you! Christ felt the wrath which He did not deserve—that you might escape the wrath which you have deserved!
Pliny observes, that there is nothing better to quench fire, than blood. Christ's blood has quenched the fire of God's wrath for you! "Upon me be your curse," said Rebekah to Jacob. Just so, Christ said to God's justice, "Upon Me be the curse—that My elect may inherit the blessing!"
Be patient under all the afflictions which you endure. Affliction is sharp—but it is not wrath, it is not hell. Who would not willingly drink the cup of affliction—who knows he shall never drink in the cup of damnation! Who would not be willing to bear the wrath of man—who knows he shall never feel the wrath of God!
Christian, though you may feel God's rod—you shall never feel God's bloody axe! Augustine once said, "Strike, Lord, where you will—so long as my sin pardoned." You should say, "Afflict me, Lord, as you will in this life—seeing I shall escape the wrath to come!" - Thomas Watson
Monday, November 16, 2009
Paying For Admittance Into Heaven
"He saved us--not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy." - Titus 3:5
"Ritualism, or externalism, or traditionalism are all different forms of self-righteousness; man's self-invented ways of pleasing or appeasing God, or paying for admittance into heaven. These forms of self-righteousness are a human apparatus for procuring God's pardon. They are the means by which the performer of them hopes to win God's favor--perhaps, also, man's praise--most certainly, his own esteem.
Every act, or performance, or ceremony, which honors self, exalts self, or gives prominence to self--is an accursed thing. It is an abomination in the sight of God--however religious, or sacred, or solemn, or devout, it may seem to man.
It is to self-righteousness in some form or other, that man is always tending. Man attempts to make up for this badness, or to cover it over, by works, and devotions, and ceremonies. All this is pure self-righteousness.
The religion of self-righteousness in our day consists of works, feelings, fancies, music, rites, festivals, fasts, gestures, postures, garments. It is something which gratifies self; which pleases the natural man; which makes a man think well of himself; which gives a man something to do or to feel in order to earn pardon and merit heaven. Pride, religious pride, is at the root. Ritualism is man's expression of rejection of Christ. It was self-righteous religion which crucified the Son of God. All human rites and ceremonies are ways of getting rid of Christ. What can all these things do?
Can they save?
Can religious postures save?
Can religious garments save?
Can religious candles save?
Can religious music save?
Can religious architecture save?
Can religious cathedrals save?
No! They lead away from Jesus! They make void the cross, and trample on His blood!" - Horatius Bonar
"He saved us--not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy." - Titus 3:5
Friday, November 13, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
One Foot In Hell
"I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise." - Luke 23:43
The saved thief is a specimen of what the cross is appointed to do. Sin abounding, grace super-abounding.
What is yon cross erected for? To save souls! See, it saves one of the worst; one who had done nothing but evil all his days!
What does that blood flow for? To wash away sin! See, it washes one of the blackest!
What does yon Sufferer die for? To pardon the guiltiest! Not merely to save from hell, but to open Paradise to the chief of sinners--to open it at once; not after years of torment, but "today." Today "with Me." Yes, Jesus goes back to heaven with a saved robber at His side! What an efficacy in the cross!
What grace, what glory, what cleansing, what healing, what blessing--at yonder cross! Even "in weakness" the Son of God can deliver--can pluck brands from the burning--can defy and defeat the evil one! Such is the meaning of the cross! Such is the interpretation which God puts upon it, by saving that wretched thief.
See how near to hell a man may be--and yet be saved! That thief, was he not on the very brink of the burning lake--one foot in hell; almost set on fire by hell? Yet he is plucked out! He has done nothing but evil all his days--down to the very last hour of his life; yet he is saved. He is just about to step into perdition, when the hand of the Son of God seizes him and lifts him to Paradise!
Ah, what grace is here!
What boundless love!
What power to save!
Who after this need despair?
Truly Jesus is mighty to save!
See how near a man may be to Christ--and yet not be saved. The other thief is as near the Savior as his fellow--yet he perishes. From the very side of Christ--he goes down to hell. From the very side of his saved fellow--he passes into damnation. We see the one going up to heaven--and the other going down to hell.
This is astonishing--and it is fearful!
Oh, what a lesson--what a sermon is here!" - Horatius Bonar
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Friday, November 06, 2009
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
A Football To Be Kicked From Man To Man
"Two learned doctors were angrily disputing the nature of food, and allowing their meal to lie untasted; while nearby, a simple farmer was eating heartily of that which was set before him.
Just so, the religious world is full of quibblers, critics, and debaters, who, like the doctors—argue over religious controversies, without profit either to themselves or others. Those are far happier, who imitate the farmer—and feed upon the Word of God, which is the true food of the soul.
Questioning with honesty and candor is not to be condemned, when the object is to "prove all things, and hold fast that which is good." But to treat Scripture as if it were a football to be kicked from man to man—is irreverence, if not worse!
Study the Word of God; lay hold upon it, and spend your time in feasting upon precious truth! Reader, argue, if you please—but remember that communion with the Lord Jesus gives infinitely more enjoyment than disputing can ever afford you. Eat—don't argue!"
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Monday, November 02, 2009
The Flesh
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh." - John 3:6
"There is no promise made that in this life, we shall be set free from the indwelling and the in-working of sin.
Many think that their flesh is to become "progressively holier and holier" that sin after sin is to be removed gradually out of the heart until at last they are almost made perfect in the flesh. But this is an idle dream, and one which, sooner or later will be crudely and roughly broken to pieces.
The flesh will ever remain the same and we shall ever find that the flesh will lust against the Spirit. Our fleshly nature is corrupt to the very core. It cannot be mended. It cannot be sanctified. It is the same at the last, as it was at the first inherently evil, and as such will never cease to be corrupt until we put off mortality and with it the body of sin and death.
All we can hope for, long after, expect, and pray for is that this evil fleshly nature may be subdued, kept down, mortified, crucified, and held in subjection under the power of grace. But as to any such change passing upon the flesh or taking place in the flesh as to make it holy it is but a pharisaic delusion, which, promising a holiness in the flesh, leaves us still under the power of sin.
The true sanctification of the new man of grace which is wrought by a divine power is utterly distinct from any imagined holiness in the flesh or any vain dream of its progressive sanctification." - J.C. Philpot
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Where do you stand on the Calvinism and Arminianism debate, and what resources do you recommend?
I came to Christ in a church that was Arminian, so that was naturally my early leaning. I went to a Bible college and seminary that were both middle of the road where neither hard core Calvinism nor Arminianism often surfaced in class, though on a continuum, some faculty would lean more toward one than the other.
As the years went by, struck by the power of God's sovereignty and grace, I became increasingly closer to what is called a Calvinist rather than an Arminian (though I dislike both labels). As I say in other articles on the EPM website, I believe that Christ died for all, not just the elect, which is the one and only major tenet where I depart from Calvinism (not for logical reasons, but simply because after studying the passages they still seem to me to be saying Christ died for everyone.) So I am what might be called a four point Calvinist, though many 5-point Calvinists hate that term, believing it all stands or fall together. Logically, I see what they mean, it's just my understanding of biblical passages that gives me pause. (It's not because I haven't read extensively and discussed the matter with many people I respectfully disagree with.)
Interesting to reflect back on how my perspective changed over the years. I will never forget the horror I felt when I read Romans 9-10 as a young Christian, and the confusion I felt when reading passages speaking of election and predestination. Ironically, many of the same passages that once plagued me are now my greatest source of comfort. God's sovereign grace is precious to me...as I know it is also to many who see things a bit differently when it comes to election and God's work in our lives.
Though he was an outspoken Calvinist, Charles Spurgeon--a man whose theology I love--was opposed by both Arminians and hyper-Calvinists. He said some things that I think are important in this whole debate, including this: "My love of consistency with my own doctrinal views is not great enough to allow me knowingly to alter a single text of Scripture. I have great respect for orthodoxy, but my reverence for inspiration is far greater. I would sooner a hundred times over appear to be inconsistent with myself than be inconsistent with the word of God." I assembled some of Spurgeon's thoughts that pertain to this at Spurgeon's Theology: Embracing Biblical Paradox.
The one systematic theology I love most and use most is Wayne Grudem's. Wayne is a Calvinist, but I like the fact that be seems always to seek first to be a biblicist. I get the feeling he doesn't take a position because that's what Calvinists are supposed to do, but because he thinks Scripture teaches it. If you are looking on a book that capably explains and defends the five points of Calvinism, here's one option.
Other resources regarding Calvinism and Arminianism, and I am deliberately trying to give you a wide variety here, not just those that reflect my own position:
An interesting book is Norm Geisler's Chosen But Free: A Balanced View of Divine Election. Then, The Potter's Freedom, by James R. White, is mainly a response to Geisler's book, which White views not as balanced but mostly a restatement of the Arminian position and a rejection of the major tenets of Calvinism. The most recent versions of Geisler's book include an appendix with his response to White's critique.
Another interesting book is Beyond Calvinism and Arminianism: An Inductive, Mediate Theology of Salvation, by C. Gordon Olson. Olson also thinks he is taking a balanced view, reconciling the two theologies. Once again, most Calvinists will conclude that he is simply a moderate Arminian, and that there isn't much of a real middle ground between camps. But he raises some interesting points.
An unapologetic and fur-raising rebuke of Calvinism is Dave Hunt's What Love Is This? Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God. I usually disagree with the author, though if points were given for feeling deeply about issues, he'd score high. The publisher of that book invited a Calvinist to take on Dave Hunt in debate form in a subsequent book. The Calvinist is James R. White (who wrote The Potter's Freedom). Dave Hunt and James White's debate is laid out in what I think is a fascinating book entitled Debating Calvinism: Five Points, Two Views.
This is an interesting book in that it is a true written debate, full of sparks and fire. In each chapter one man presents his own position, his opponent responds, the original writer defends, the opponent gives his final remarks, then the original presenter gets the last word. In the first half of the book the Calvinist, James White, is the presenter. Then, in the second half of the book Dave Hunt is the presenter in each chapter of some aspect of the Arminian position, with the same format of response, defense, and final remarks.
The book is insightful and sometimes lively and entertaining, especially when these men start getting under each other's skin (and boy, do they; even though they and their editor kept it in check, you have the feeling that they would like to slap each other sometimes). Though I found myself agreeing with White way more than Hunt, sometimes I disagreed with White and agreed with Hunt. (Okay, not all that often.)
In all fairness to the Arminian position, Dave Hunt is not its finest advocate. He seems often not to answer his opponent and just keeps repeating statements such as "God is love," as if that proves Arminianism. (Of course, some people imagine it also proves universalism, that there is no Hell, etc.) But because of the energy involved in the two men going at each other, the book is as entertaining as any theology book I've read. And though no hard-boiled Calvinist or Arminian will likely change his mind as a result of the book, many Scripture-searchers who are undecided may find it helpful.
