St. Augustine on the Son in the Form of God and the Form of a servant

I am reading St. Augustine On the Holy Trinity. Augustine does not define his terms. But I do like what he says here:

 "The Son of God is both understood to be equal to the Father according to the form of God in which He is, and less than the Father according to the form of a servant which He took; in which form He was found to be not only less than the Father, but also less than the Holy Spirit; and not only so, but less even than Himself...." - St. Augustine, 2.1.2

Paying our taxes

"Once the tax collectors came to Peter and asked him, 'What then, does your teacher not pay taxes?'

Peter said, 'No, he does not pay,' and he went and told Jesus that they had stopped him, and told him everyone is required to pay taxes.
Then Jesus said to him, 'The king doesn't collect taxes from his own sons, after all, and other than the king no one requires payments. Right? It is just the same with us. If we are the sons of God, then we are not obligated to anyone other than God and we are free from all other possible obligations. But if you are required to pay taxes, then pay them, and not because you are obligated to, but because you must not oppose evil. If not, then opposing evil will produce even greater evil.'" - Leo Tolstoy, The Gospel In Brief, pg. 114

Unprofitable servants

"If people think they can be all-powerful masters of life, that life is given to them for the lust of the flesh, then it is obvious that every act of sacrifice for another will seem to them a deed worthy of a reward and without reward they will not do anything. . . . One must understand that man can do nothing on his own and that if he gives away his mortal life for the good, then there should be no thanks or reward expected." - Leo Tolstoy, The Gospel in Brief, pg. 96

I believe in God just not in the world he created

This is one of the best quotes: "It's not God that I do not accept, you understand, it is this world of God's, created by God, that I do not accept and cannot agree to accept." - Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov, pg. 235

On Suicide

"Sasha. What can you say? That you're an honest man? That's hardly a secret! You'd better tell me frankly whether you know what you're doing or not. You come in here with honest man written all over you, terribly insult him and nearly kill me. Before that you've dogged his footsteps and made his life a misery, quite convinced you were doing your duty as an honest man. You've meddled in his private life, made his name dirt and set yourself up to judge him. You took every chance to bombard me and all his friends with anonymous letters - thinking all the time what a very honest man you were. In the name of honesty you, a doctor, didn't spare even his sick wife, you pestered her with your suspicions. There's no outrageous, rotten, cruel trick you couldn't play while still thinking yourself an unusually honest and progressive man.

Ivanov [Laughing]. This isn't a wedding, it's a public debate. Loud cheers!

Sasha [to LVOV]. Now think for a moment. Do you know what you're doing or don't you? Stupid, callous people. [Takes IVANOV by the hand.] Come away, Nicholas. Come on, Father!

Ivanov. What do yo mean, come on? I'll put an end to all this here and now. I feel like a young man again, it's my old self that's speaking. [Takes out his revolver.]

Sasha [Shrieks]. I know what he wants to do. Nicholas, for God's sake!

Ivanov. I've rolled downhill long enough, it's time to call a halt. I've outstayed my welcome. Go away. Thank you, Sasha.

Sasha [Shouts]. Nicholas, for God's sake! Stop him!

Ivanov. Leave me alone! [Runs to one side and shoots himself.]

Curtain"

- Anton Chekhov, Ivanov, Pg. 62 - 63

Kissing the Sword that kills you

"Do you understand that one can kill oneself from a certain kind of ecstasy? But I didn't stab myself, I only kissed the sword and put it back in the scabbard -- which detail, by the way, I needn't have mentioned. And it even seems that while I was telling about all these agonies just now, I must have been filling them out a little, to praise myself. But let it be, let it be so, and to hell with all spies into the human heart! That's the whole of my past 'incident' with Katerina Ivanovna." - Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov, pg.115

Would rather be free than a slave

"Lopakhin. I put nearly three thousand acres down to poppy in the spring and made a clewr forty thousand roubles. And when my poppues were in flower, that was a sight to see. What I'm trying to say is, I've made forty thousand and I'd like to lend it you because I can afford to. So why turn it down? I'm a peasant, I put it to you straight.

 Trofimov. Your father was a peasant and mine worked in a chemist's shop, all of which proves precisely nothing. [Lopakhin takes out his wallet.] Oh, put it away, for heaven's sake. If you offered me two hundred thousand I still wouldn't take it. I'm a free man. And all the things that mean such a lot to you all, whether you're rich or poor - why, they have no more power over me than a but of thistledown floating on the breeze. I can get on without you, I can pass you by. I'm strong and proud. Mankind is marching towards a higher truth, towards the greatest possible happiness on earth, and I'm in the vanguard." - Anton Chekhov, The Cherry Orchard, in the Five Plays, pg. 286 I take this to mean that nothing is worth the price of freedom.

The Law and Gospel distinction found throughout not only Lutherism but also Calvinism

I was once in a debate with an individual who was and perhaps even still ensnared with the heretical teachings of the Lordship salvation camp. This individual said that the Law and Gospel was not a big definite doctrine in the history of the church besides the Lutheran's and in particular Luther. Here I list several authors and theologians that present this doctrine as most important to know.

"On this subject we call the 'Word of God' (for we know well that the eternal Son of God is also so named) the canonical books of the Old and New Testament; for they proceed from the mouth of God Himself.
We divide this Word into two principal parts or kinds: the one is called the 'Law', the other the ' Gospel'. For, all the rest can be gathered under the one or the other of these two headings." - Theodore Beza, The Christian Faith, pg. 36

"Now, of all doctrines the foremost and most important is the doctrine of justification. However, immediately following upon it, as second in importance, is this, how Law and Gospel are to be divided. The distinction between the Law and the Gospel shall now claim our attention and form the subject of our earnest study." -C. F. W. Walther, The Proper distinction between Law and Gospel, Pg. 5

"By 'the law' here is meant the moral law as a covenant of works, and by 'the gospel' is meant the gospel in its strict and proper sense. To know the difference so as to be able to distinguish aright between the law and the gospel is of every it most importance to the faith, holiness, and comfort of every true Christian. It will be impossible otherwise for a man so to believe as to 'be filled with joy and peace in believing.' If he does not know the difference between the law ...and the gospel he will be apt, especially in affair of justification, to confound the one with the other. The consequence will be that his painful experience, bondage will be mixed with liberty of spirit, fear with hope, sorrow with joy, and death with life. If he cannot so distinguish the gospel from the law as to expect all his salvation from the grace of the gospel, and nothing of it from the works of the law; he will easily be induced to connect his own works with the righteousness of Jesus Christ in the affair of his justification. This was the great error of the Judaizing teachers in the churches of Galatia. They mingled the law with the gospel in the business of justification, and thereby they so corrupted the gospel as to alter the very nature of it and make it another gospel. They taught that unless men were circumcised and kept the law of Moses, they could not be justified or saved (Acts 15:1-5). They informed the people that while the righteousness of Christ received by faith was necessary, their own works of obedience were also requisite in connection with it to entitle them to justification before God. This is a fundamental error, and such a one that if even an angel from heaven would publish it he should be accursed." -John Colquhoun, A Treatise on the Law and Gospel

In his Epistle to the Romans, contrasting the law and the gospel, he says, 'Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that a man which doeth those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.' Do you perceive how he thus discriminates between the law and the gospel,  that the former attributes righteousness to works, but the latter bestows it freely, without the assistance of works? -John Calvin,  The Institutes, 3.11.17. Pg. 669

"All Scripture should be divided into these two chief doctrines, the law and the promises. In some places it presents the law. In others it presents the promise of Christ; this it does either when it promises that the Messiah will come and promises forgiveness of sins, justification, and eternal life for his sake, or when, in the New Testament, the Christ who came promises forgiveness of sins, justification, and eternal life. By 'law' in this discussion we mean the commandments of the Decalogue, wherever they appear in the Scriptures. For the present we are saying nothing about the ceremonial and civil laws of Moses." - The Book of Concords, Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article 4 on Justification, Pg. 108. The version I have is edited by Theodore G. Tappert.

Perkins spoke of the law and gospel distinction: "And first of all, the law, showing a man his sin and punishment thereof, which is eternal death: afterward the Gospel, showing salvation by Christ Jesus to such as believe." -William Perkins, A Golden Chain, pg. 171.

"Now in order that we do not open our mouths too wide and marvel at the skill of these false spirits, and thereby abandon the main articles, and thus deceitfully be led off the track (for thereby the devil succeeds through these prophets), I will here briefly recount these articles of the Christian faith to which everyone is above all things to pay attention and hold fast.
The first is the law of God, which is to be preached so that one thereby reveals and teaches how to recognize sin (Rom. 3[:20] and 7[:7]), as we have often shown in our writings. However these  prophets do not understand this correctly, for this means a truly spiritual preaching of the law, as Paul says in  Rom. 7[:14], and a right use of the law, as he says in 1 Tim. 1[:8].
Secondly, when now sin is recognized and the law is so preached that the conscience is alarmed and humbled before God's wrath, we are then to preach the comforting word of the gospel and the forgiveness of sins, so that the conscience again may be comforted and established in the grace of God, etc.
Christ himself teaches these two articles in such an order (Luke 24[:47]. One must preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins in his name. 'And the Spirit (he says in John [16:8]) will convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.' You do not find either of these two articles in this one or any other of the false prophets. They also do not understand them, and yet these are the most important and necessary articles." - Martin Luther, Against the Heavenly Prophets, Pg. 160

The Heidelberg Catechism with the commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus teaches us from the start what is the doctrine of the Church.

It says, "The doctrine of the church is the entire and uncorrupted doctrine of the law and gospel concerning the true God, together with his will, works, and worship; divinely revealed, and comprehended in the writings of the prophets and apostles, and confirmed by man miracles and divine testimonies; through which the Holy Spirit works effectually in the hearts of the elect, and gathers from the whole human race an everlasting church, in which God is glorified, both in this, and in the life to come." - Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism by Dr. Zacharias Ursinus, Pg. 1

Then on Pg. 2 of the Commentary, it says, "The doctrine of the church consists of two parts: the Law, and the Gospel; in which we have comprehended the sum and substance of the sacred Scriptures. The law is called the Decalogue, and the gospel is the doctrine concerning Christ the mediator, and the free remission of sins, through faith. This division of the doctrine of the church is established by these plain and forcible arguments." 

Also Tyndale says,

"The keys whereof they greatly boast are no carnal things but spiritual, and nothing else save knowledge of the law and of the promises or gospel: if any man for lack of spiritual feeling desire authority of men, let him read the old doctors. If any man desire authority of scripture, Christ saith ( Luke 11): woe be to you lawyers for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye enter not in yourselves and they that come in ye forbid. That is, they had blindes the scripture whose knowledge (as it were a key) letteth into God, with glosses and tradition." -William Tyndale, The Obedience of a Christian Man, pg. 65 - 66

Here Tyndale shows us that the key of heaven is nothing but the law and gospel rightly divided.

Also Joseph Hussey says, "But I must not go and propose the mysteries of the Gospel to men in that way, making them tenders of Salvation, as if it were a mere creature's business that rested only between them and me! For proposals imply in a manner, equal terms on both sides; but in Effectual Grace God can and doth sovereignly impose Himself by the Gospel on his own, II Tim. 2:19; and yet in that imposing act they are made a willing people. He puts his own Gospel on them, as afterwards Christ's yoke, Matt. 11:30, but he puts not on them another Gospel, nor confounds the Law with the Gospel, but keeps them both distinct. He puts his Gospel on them, before they take any clear evangelical impression, {'that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of the letter,' Rom. 7:6,} or serve in any evangelical duty." - God's Operations of Grace, Pg. 191


Robert Traill says "Let us carefully keep the bounds clear betwixt the law and gospel; which 'whosoever doth, is a right perfect divine,' saith blessed Luther, in his Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians: a book that hath more plain sound gospel, than many volumes of some other divines. Let us keep the law as far from the business of justification, as we would keep condemnation, its contrary. For the law and condemnation are inseparable, but by the intervention of Jesus Christ our surety, Gal. 3. 10, - 14. But in the practice of holiness, the fulfilled law given by Jesus Christ to believers as a rule, is of great and good use to them; as hath been declared." - The Doctrine of Justification vindicated from the Charge of Antinomianism, Pg. 287

Faith is passive

The reception of that gift is faith: faith means not doing something but receiving something; it means not the earning of a reward but the acceptance of a gift. A man can never be said to obtain a thing for himself if he obtains it by faith; indeed to say that he obtains it by faith is only another way of saying that he does not obtain it for himself but permits another to obtain it for him. Faith, in other words, is not active but passive; and to say that we are saved by faith is to say that we do not save ourselves but are saved only by the one in whom our faith is reposed; the faith of mam presupposes the sovereign grace of God. - J. Gresham Machen, What is Faith, pg. 195

"And so at every mention of mercy we must remember that this requires faith, which accepts the promise of mercy. Similarly, at every mention of faith we are thinking of its object, the promised mercy. For faith does not justify or save because it is a good work in itself, but only because it accepts the promised mercy." - Apology of thr Augsburg Confession, The book of Concord, pg. 114

Wherefore it is necessary to come to this remedy; that believers should conclude that they cannot hope for an inheritance in the kingdom of heaven on any other foundation, but because,  being ingrafted into the body of Christ, they are gratuitously accounted righteous. For with respect to justification, faith is a thing merely passive, bringing nothing of our own to conciliate the favour of God, but reserving what we need from Christ. - John Calvin, The Institutes, 3. 13. 5. Pg. 688

"Now faith is called justifying, only as it hath justification for its object, and as it goes out to Christ for justification; so that all that shall be spoken must be confines to this alone, as the intendment of the next." -Thomas Goodwin, Christ the Object of Faith, pg. 13

Archibald Alexander also says our faith is not the righteousness which is the ground of justification and that those who say it is are pure Arminians. He says, "The theory of justification whixh considers the act of believing the ground of our acceptance with God is, perhaps, the most plausible of any of our erroneous schemes of justification, for the single reason that it has the appearance of scriptural support. This is pure Arminianism, as held and inculcated by Arminius himself; also Limborch, and by Whitby." - A Treatise on Justification by Faith, pg. 14

"It is Christ's blood that stamps all virtue upon our faith. No virtue or influence whatever can be added by our faith, to or upon that blood. Observe, how in Rom. 5:9, it is 'justified by his blood,' and faith not at all expressed." - Joseph Hussey, God's Operations of Grace, Pg. 162 - 163

"Faith is the tongue that begs pardon? Faith is the hand that receives it, it is the eye that seeth it; but it is no price to buy it. Faith useth the gospel-plea for pardon; but itself, neither in habit nor act, is the plea itself. That is only Christ's blood. Christ's blood goes for the remission of your sins, if ever they be forgiven; and is the only plea to be heard at the throne of grace." - Robert Traill, Sermons concerning the Throne of Grace, pg. 31, Vol 1

In the same volume work, Traill says, "That faith in Jesus Christ doth justify (although by the way it is to be noted, that it is never written in the word, that faith justifieth actively, but always passively: that a man is justified by faith, and that God justifieth men by, and through faith; yet admitting the phrase) only as a mere instrument receiving that imputed righteousness of Christ, for which we are justified." - Robert Trail, The Doctrine of Justification Vindicated, Pg. 277

On Equal Ultimacy

Both good and evil are caused by God. There is not in this world a single thing that befalls which is not in God's absolute control. God is sovereign over the elect and their way of life as he is also sovereign over the reprobate and their way of life.

Proverbs 15:3, Romans 9:15-18, God blinds the Jews - Romans 11:25, 2 Corinthians 3:14, Romans 1:24 which states that God gives people over to a wayward life, Joshua 23:14-15, and also Nabal's heart was hardened and died ten days later from hearing the news - 1 Samuel 23:37-38

It is not the law but the belief in immortality that drives us to love

"'Generally, again, I ask your permission to drop the subject,' Pyotr Alexandrovich repeated, 'and instead let me tell you another anecdote, gentlemen, about Ivan Fyodorovich himself, a most typical and interesting one. No more than five days ago, at a local gathering, predominantly of ladies, he solemnly announced in the discussion that there is decidedly nothing in the whole world that would make men love their fellow men; that there exists no law of nature that man should love mankind, and that if there is and has been any love on earth up to now, it has come not from natural law but solely from people's belief in their immortality....'" - Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov, pg. 69

Repentance is given to the elect alone

Revelations 2:20-22 is not a proof text for common grace; nor is it for God's favour for all individuals whether elect or reprobate. But rather God gave Jezebel space to repent. She did not. Repentance is a gift from God. If God wanted Jezebel to repent he would have done so. Scripture says that Repentance is a gift from God. It is something God does - Acts 16:14, Haggai 1:14, Ezra 6:22. Unless God gives us repentance we will not do return - Jeremiah 31:18-19. Also read Psalm 40:6, 119:18, 143:11; 1 Samuel 10:9, Job 23:16.

Simul justus et peccator

simul justus et peccator. In what sense is this true one may ask? In accordance to the law, which are commands of that which we are to do perfectly, which we fail to do perfectly as God is holy so we are to live holy the elect Christian is a sinner. Never is he accepted by God on the basis of his law keeping. Neither can he find his assurance in his law keeping for he cannot keep the law perfectly. But rather on the basis of Christ's imputed righteousness to the elect is the elect sinner justified. So the Christian's righteousness is grounded on a righteousness not their own but on an alien righteousness won by Christ alone. And on the basis of the law he is yet still a sinner never attaining that good that he ought to do. So the Christian is simultaneously just and sinner at the same time. We see how the two forms of righteousness relate to the law and gospel distinction.

Cannot Preach the Gospel Unless You Also Preach Unconditional Election

The gospel includes in it the doctrine of unconditional election. Christ tells his people that He has chosen them in John 6:70 "Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?"

John 15:16 "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."

You cannot preach the free gospel without the doctrine.

The Christian looks forward to a new heaven and earth

"What ails a believer to groan so oft and so deeply? It is to be in heaven with the Lord. And the more heavenly and holy a Christian be, the more frequent and earnest are these groanings. He hath the most healthy soul, who is sick of love: whose heart is sick with desires of being present with the Lord. The believer that is most assured of heaven, groans deepest." - Robert Trail, Sermons Concerning the Throne of Grace, pg. 176

Removing Those Things That Hold Us Ensnaired

"Trofimov. ... To rid ourselves of the pettiness and the illusions which stop us being free and happy, that's the whole meaning and purpose of our lives...." - Anton Chekhov, The Cherry Orchard, Act Two, pg. 269

Kind of reminds me of Plato's Cave analogy from The Republic. But in America we certainly have a lot of illusions that are thrown our way to keep us blinded from the fact that we are not free like we think we are.

No man has authority over another

"No one is bound by anything; he can also drop the book after two pages of the first story and never pick it up again." - Fyodor Dostoevsky, Introduction from The Brothers Karamazov, pg. 4

I like this quote. No one is nor ought to be bound by any one person or thing. Yet we live in an age where people willingly give themselves over to despotism. But as Christ states let it not be so with you.

We Cannot Even Trust What We See

"The astronomer nowadays uses light to space out the distances he measures. Light travels at 186,000 miles a second. It takes a second and a third to reach us from the moon and eight minutes from the sun. Yet the sun is quite close, compared with the other stars. The nearest of them is over four light-years away, which means that the light we now see it by was emitted by the stsr over four years ago. The remotest parts of the universe at present known to astronomers are thousands of millions of light-years away." - H.G. Wells, The Outline of History, pg. 15

In other words, we cannot trust our senses.

Pride produces Ignorance

"Ignorance is the first penalty of pride." - H.G. Wells, The Outline of History, Pg. 13

On Living, and Others

"Nina. What are you writing?
Trigorin. Nothing, just a note. An idea for a plot. [Putting his book away.] A plot for a short story. A young girl like you has lived all her life by a lake. Like a seagull, she loves the lake, and she's happy and free like a seagull. But a man happens to come along and wrecks her life for want of anything better to do. As happened to this seagull." - Anton Chekhov, The Seagull, Act 2, pg. 91

Only in Christ do we have confidence

"The mediation then of Jesus Christ, is not only an argument which, and on which we may plead with God; but it is the mean by which only we must approach to God, and the light wherein we see, and know savingly the God we worship." - Robert Traill, Sermons Concerning the Throne of Grace, pg. 92

On the toils of life

"Ivanov. That's how things are, Sasha. I used to work hard and think hard, I never got tired. Now I do nothing and think of nothing, but I'm tired, body and soul. I feel so conscience-stricken all the time. I feel terribly guilty, but just where I went wrong I can't see. Now there's my wife's illness, my money troubles, this non-stop back-biting, gossip and idle chit-chat -- and that ass Borkin. I'm sick and tired of my home, and living there's sheer hell. Frankly, Sasha, I can't even stand having my loving wife about. You're an old friend and won't be annoyed if I speak my mind. I came here to enjoy myself, but I'm bored here too, and feel like going back. Excuse me, I'll just slip away." - Anton Chekhov, Ivanov, Scene 6, pg. 29

Salvation by Christ alone for those whom He died for

One of the greatest things about being a fallen human being versus a fallen angel is that of knowing Christ, the Son of God, as saviour of sin.

"They that never hear of Christ, must perish. It is an idle dream, that the efficacy of Christ's death may be applied, and profitable to the saving of adult persons that never heard of him. There is no salvation for men but by Jesus Christ; there is no knowing of it, or partaking of it, but by the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation, Eph 1.13. Christ and his name go together: Acts 4.12." - Robert Traill, Sermons Concerning the Throne of Grace, pg. 44

Natural man cannot agree with God about Man's Impotence, and God's Omnipotence

"The utter impotence of nature, and omnipotence of grace, in the business of man's salvation, are stumbling-blocks to all the ungodly, but are foundations in Christian doctrine." - Robert Traill, Sermons Concerning the Throne of Grace, pg. 40

Scripture alone not Pope alone

"You should read and study your Bible daily. 'Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read' Isaiah 34:16. You are not to rely on some minister, elder, seminary, public school teacher, parent, wife, husband, confession, Hollywood movie, popular author (alive or dead), pope, priest, or any other sinful person/institution to tell you what the Bible teaches." - Monty L. Collier, A Unique Kind of Righteousness, pg. 100

Don't stay in your room too long

"And do you know, Sonia, that low ceiling and tiny rooms cramp the soul and the mind?" -Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment, pg. 206

Praise God that He determines all things

"We thank God almighty that the Bible does not teach the lie that man has free will. We are grateful to God that the Bible reveals to us that Jehovah determines all things, especially the will of man - and that no created being has free will. The Bible says: 'Every man's judgment cometh from the Lord' Proverbs 29:26. This simple and clear declarative verse from the Book of Proverbs teaches Biblical determinism. Notice that this verse does NOT say: 'Although every man has free will, every man's judgment also cometh from the Lord.' No, the Bible will not, and does not contradict itself - despite the claims of Van Tilians and Compatibilist." - Monty L. Collier, A Unique Kind Of Righteousness, pg. 84

Salvation is God's gracious work not ours

"We do not contribute anything to our salvation, even our faith is the free gift of God, which passively receives and appropriates the imputed righteousness of Christ alone. It is the only object of our faith which justifies us before God - never the act of faith. The only object of our faith is the Gospel of Jesus Christ alone, the saving Gospel promises. Again, the object of our faith is not our works or anything in us, for we are justified by an alien righteousness, the covering righteousness of Christ alone." - Monty L. Collier, A Unique Kind of Righteousness, pg. 5

The Gospel saves some and hardens others

"I shall end this postscript with observing, that when the popular preachers can find no other way of showing their contempt of the simple belief of the truth, as the sole requisite to justification, they call it the faith of devils. Yet, however keen the intended reproach be, it can have weight with none but those who are swayed by sound instead of sense. For, according to the Scripture, the same truth which saves Christ's people, torments the devils. So we find them saying, 'what have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?' They believe, they hate, and yet they tremble at that truth which Christ's people believe, love, and find salvation in." - Robert Sandeman, Theron And Aspasio, Pg. 346

Civil government cannot be obeyed at all

"If your officer commands you to kill your neighbor's child, to kill your father or your mother, would you obey? If you would not obey, the whole argument falls to the ground, for if you can disobey the governors in one case, where do you draw the line up to which you can obey them? There is no line than that laid down by Christianity, and that line is both reasonable and practicable." - Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You, pg. 15

The world cannot be Christ's Kingdom

"A society avouching Christ to be head and king of it, furnished with worldly power for defending his truths and institutions, and associated for defending his interest, and their profession of subjection to him, by the sword, is undoubtedly a kingdom of this world, by our Lord's description of a kingdom of this world: for it agrees with our Lord's account of such a kingdom, in that whereby it is distinguished from his kingdom. Let it be what it will then, his kingdom it is not. And such association is plainly cross to this testimony of our Lord concerning his kingdom." - John Glas, King of Martyrs, The Works of John Glas, pg. 97

The Same Truth That Saves Also Hardens

"I shall end this postscript with observing, that when the popular preachers can find no other way of showing their contempt of the simple belief of the truth, as the sole requisite to justification, they call it the faith of devils. Yet, however keen the intended reproach be, it can have weight with none but those who are swayed by sound instead of sense. For, according to the Scripture, the same truth which saves Christ's people, torments the devils. So we find them saying, 'what have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?' They believe, they hate, and yet they tremble at that truth which Christ's people believe, love, and find salvation in." - Robert Sandeman, Theron And Aspasio, Pg. 346

There is a distinction between Christ's people and the world

"The true profession of Christ's truth, and all his commands and institutions, will always, one way or other, cross our worldly interest: 'For all that will live godly in him, must suffer.' And it is a vain thing to think to hold him and our worldly interest together: 'No man can serve two masters,' 2 Tim 3. 12, Rev 12.17." -John Glas, King of Martyrs, In The works of John Glas, pg. 94

The man could not number those who are saved

The church of God couldn't be numbered (Revelation 7:9), in contradistinction, to the book of Numbers, where God ordered Moses to number the Israelites, save only the Levites who were meant for the temple. The reason is that the the church of God, the ecclesia, those called out from the beginning, literally those who are of the elect, eternally predestined, chosen in Christ from eternity past are in Christ a royal priesthood, a holy nation who are not prepared for war but prepared for Christ.

To have Facts is one thing, But one needs to Interpret them correctly

"One can show from the psychological data alone how to get on the track of the real man. 'We have facts,' they say. But facts are not everything - at least half the business lies in how you interpret them!" - Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment, pg. 70

We Need Less Not More Governemtn

"The present health-care system needs reform, but improvement will come only with less government interference, not more." - John W. Robbins, Freedom and Capitalism, pg. 304

To Have the Spirit Is to Believe the Gospel

"The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of truth, as also the Spirit of grace. He speaks and breathes only the grace and truth that came by Jesus Christ. When a man, then, comes to know the gospel, or to receive this Spirit, he thinks of no other grace but what appeared in Christ's tasting death for men; no other truth, but what was manifest in Christ, the end of the law for righteousness. This differs not a little from what the popular doctrine leads us to think of; namely, the truth of grace in the heart. When our systems describe faith to us, as a saving grace bestowed on us, by which we make use of Christ for salvation, are we not led to think of some grace necessary to our salvation, beside what appeared when Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for the sins of men?" - Robert Sandeman, Letters on Theron and Aspasio, pg. 308-309

There are problems with Health Care

"One can agree that there are serious problems with the present health care and health insurance systems in the United States. Nothing in this paper should be construed as a defense of the status quo. But those serious problems arose because of government interference in the insurance and care systems." - John W. Robbins, Freedom and Capitalism, pg. 297

Our assurance and rest is Christ alone

"And so again, when a poor soul feels a load of guilt; how is he to get rid of it? 'Oh!' say some people, 'begin to do your duty; and when you have done a little duty, then you are to take the comfort of the Bible.' I believe it is the devil's trap, to insult the Spirit of God and to deceive sinners. 'Why,' say you, 'you would not encourage them not to do their duty?' Nay, that is another thing. It becomes them to walk in the precepts of God and practice all what are called duties; but that will not do for a ground of comfort and happiness. If ever we feel guilt, and if God the Spirit does not apply the atonement and bring us to walk into the efficacy of the blood of God-man Mediator, and we get rid of guilt without it, it is the devil deceiving our souls and we have wrapped up ourselves in some sad delusion. Nothing but that can bring solid peace to the conscience and clear our sky of clouds." - William Gasdsby, Sermons, pg. 19

The Two Forms of Righteousness

"Both the law-gospel and the passive/active-righteousness distinctions are essential for the Lutheran pastor, and neither needs to be neglected in favor of the other. Law and Gospel remind us that Christians always fall short of God's will and are saved solely by God's grace. The two kinds of righteousness remind God's people that they cannot work to merit God's favor or love, but that righteousness is given freely, and that they are called to live holy lives in the world for the sake of others." - Jordon Cooper, Hands of Faith, pg. 128

What Christ gives to His elect is better than what Boaz gives

Matthew 19:29 - the point is not about forsaking house, family or lands but rather in Christ we have eternal life. Whereas Boaz Ruth 2:11 gives earthly goods Christ gives heavenly goods.

Bart Ehrman's arguments are nothing

Bart Ehrman is known for his anti-biblical attacks against Christianity. There are many who 'respond' according to his level of expertise. However, only those who do not believe that the Bible alone is the word of God will attempt to discredit it as the sole infallible and authoritative word that it is. What is Bart Ehrman really saying? He isn't saying that we have no autograph copies of the ancient writings. No. He is saying that he does not believe the Bible and therefore does not believe God. If one believes that the Bible alone is the word of God then where is the argument against such notions? Only the skeptic and the evidentialist will run in circles trying to prove what they cannot adequately prove.

Against Free Will

Clark writes in his commentary Philippians 2:13 against the notion of free will.

He says, "The two kai's contribute an emphasis. 'Both . . . and' is stronger than 'and' alone. The idea is that God not only gives us physical strength to engage in Christian activity, but he first controls our will so that as a result of his control we decide or will to do our duty. It is strange, it is incomprehensible, that some commentators use this verse to attack Calvinism: 'the Cavlinistic writers are exceedingly embarrassed with it.' The gentleman mentions Doddridge, though how the verse can embarrass Calvinists remains unexplained. The verse is among the strongest supports for Calvinism. Nobody, at least I do not see how anybody, could miss the statement that God controls a man's will as well as his actions. Ellicott notes, 'the thelein no less than the energein is a direct result of the divine energeia' (64, col. 2). This is correct, even though Ellicott then tries to avoid the full force of his own words.
The idea that man has free will, an idea sponsored by Pelagius, adapted by the Council of Trent, and emphasized by Arminius and Wesley, is totally inconsistent with the Biblical plan of salvation. It is also inconsistent with the sovereignty of God, with divine omniscience and omnipotence, with the necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, and of course with the pervasive Scriptural teaching of predestination." - Gordon H. Clark, Philippians, Pg. 71 - 72


Notice that Clark states that God controls our wills. Those who teach that Man has a free will teach that God does not control Mans wills. Compatibilist teach that Man has free will and still claim that God is sovereign. However, to teach this is to disregard and to contradict what Scripture teaches. The Bible says that God controls the will and actions of man. There is no mystery as to how these things are done. Man has a will, a choice, a volition, but his will, choice, volition is not free from the controlling hand of God.


Further those who teach compatibilism also want to say that free will and sovereignty are compatible to one another. How they can say such things is beyond me to understand. Many of todays 'calvinist' rather than revealing what the word of God teaches seem to want to make the word of God of no known affect by teaching mystery. It is a mystery. The question is does the Bible teach that man has a will free from God's control? No. It states everywhere that man is dependent upon God in life, and in salvation. We do what he so pleases for us to do.

The only authority for the Christian is Christ alone

"The Christian is independent of human authority, because he acknowledges God's authority alone. His law, revealed by Christ, he recognizes in himself, and voluntarily obeys it." - Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You, pg. 127

There is a difference between the Revolutionist Anarchist and the Christian Anarchist

"But what are governments to do against men who show the uselessness, superfluous, and perniciousness of all governments, and do not contend against them, but simply do not need them and do without them, and therefore are unwilling to take any part in them? The revolutionists say: The form of government is bad in this respect and that respect; we must overturn it and substitute this or that form of government. The Christian says: I know nothing about the form of government, I don't know whether it is good or bad, and I don't want to overturn it precisely because I don't know whether it is good or bad, but for the very same reason I don't want to support it either. And I not only don't want to, but I can't, because what it demands of me is against my conscience." - Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You, pg. 137

Pain is an Experience for those with a great mind

"Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth." - Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Gospel is not about me, but what Christ accomplished for His elect alone

"The Gospel is not about me gaining membership in some institutional church, but it is about the expiation Christ made for our sins. The Gospel is about how Christ propitiated the wrath of God for us. The Gospel is about how Christ satisfied the Law of God for us. The Gospel is about our sins being laid to Christ's account, while His perfect righteousness is imputed to us!" - Monty L. Collier, Papist Whores & Their Theology, pg 142

Exhortations are to be Instructive and Doctrinal

"Exhortations should be Instructive and Doctrinal, Declaratory and Manifestative, as the Scriptures plainly show. We should find the Gospel in an exhortation, and not lose it there. An exhortation should be every way suited to the Gospel Profession in the Good News its self; and sinners are not to be told that the whole of exhortations are a practical point; for a great deal of them are Doctrinal and Instructive points; and he that never made this distinction in his very defence of exhortations, hath held forth rather his own darkness, than the Word of God hereabout, a Gospel Exhortation instructs into the objects, principles and springs of motion, agreeably with a new creature-change; and then under right discourses directs to the immediate duty of believing, repenting, &c." - Joseph Hussey, God's Operation of Grace, Pg. 386

Only the Gospel, not the Law, Saves

"The book of Judges speaks to all who are, by God's grace, given 'an ear to hear' God's message for our own day and our present condition, individually and as a nation. The message is one of the need for personal faith in the living God. And this, in the light of the whole Scripture, means nothing less than hearing Paul's words to the Philippian jailor: 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.' The society in which we live gives abundant and appalling evidence of the kind of spiritual and moral decay which kindled the anger of God against his own people and the heathen nations around them. Three millennia have passed since then, but human nature is in the same need as ever it was. But the Lord has not changed either: Jesus has come and died upon the cross as the once for-all sacrifice for sin. He has risen triumphant over death and the grave and reigns in glory as the Lord of all. His arm is not shortened that it cannot save. His message is one of hope and of victory for a darkening world." - Gordon J. Keddie, Even in Darkness, Pg. 2

Government and peace are antithetical

"Now there is something more for the government to encourage - peace. The sovereigns, who nowadays take counsel with their ministers, decide by their will alone whether the butchery of millions is to be begum this year or next. They know very well that all these discourses upon peace will not hinder them from sending millions of men to butchery when it seems good to them. They listen even with satisfaction to these discourses, encourage them, and take part in them. All this, far from being detrimental, is even of service to governments, by turning people's attention from the most important and pressing question: Ought or ought not each man called upon for military service to submit to serve in the army?" - Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You, pg. 89-90

The government is antithetical to freedom

"In the same way [governments] pretend to support temperance societies, while they are living principally on the drunkenness of the people; and pretend to encourage education, when their whole strength is based on ignorance; and to support constitutional freedom, when their strength rests on the absence of freedom; and to be anxious for the improvement of the condition of the working classes, when their very existence depends on their oppression; and to support Christianity, whem Christianity destroys all government." - Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is within you, pg. 89

Christianity is not conditional and ought nought to be confused as such

"But Christians must stop confusing Christianity with Arminianism, Romanism, and medievalism. A Christian society is one that grows out of the truths of the Bible alone, not from the melange of Neoplatonism, Aristotelianism, and pagan superstition that characterized Europe for a millennium under the hegemony of Roman Church- State." - John W Robbins, Freedom And Capitalism, pg 183

Conservative is antichristian

"Conservatives are fond of saying that they, unlike the liberals, believe that man is depraved; that he is not by nature either good or perfectible. It is not enough to say that man is depraved, however, when one is discussing the relationship of Christianity to conservatism. The question is whether conservatives accept the Biblical doctrine of man's depravity - and the answer is that they do not. This can be most clearly seen in two areas: epistemology and ethics." - John W Robbins, Freedom and Capitalism, pg. 172 - 173

Christians have only one master

Daniel Musser "concludes his book by saying: 'Christians do not need government, and therefore they cannot either obey it in what is contrary to Christ's teaching nor, still less, take part in it.' Christ took his disciples out of the world, he says. They do not expect worldly blessings and worldly happiness, but they expect eternal life. The Spirit in whom they live makes them contented and happy in every position. If the world tolerates them, they are always happy. If the world will not leave them in peace, they will go elsewhere, since they are pilgrims on the earth and they have no fixed place of habitation. They believe that 'the dead may bury their dead.' One thing only is needful for them, 'to follow their master.' - Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You, pg. 16

Non-Resistance and obeying evil government

"If we abide evil by our fundamental principle of not opposing evil by evil we cannot participate in sedition, treason, or violence. We shall submit to every ordinance and every requirement of government, except such as are contrary to the commands of the Gospel, and in no case resist the operation of the law, except by meekly submitting to the penalty of disobedience." - William Lloyd Garrison, Declaration of Sentiments Adopted By Peace Convention, found in Leo Tolstoy's "The Kingdom of God is Within You", pg. 6

When Politics and Religion unite

Messianism seems to blind its hosts to the painfully obvious facts of totalitarianism. - John W. Robbins, Freedom and Capitalism, pg. 120

The government ought not to use religious ideals for anything to promote their evil ideals.