This is drawn from a sermon on Isaiah 53 from John Piper.
"What is the essence of Christianity? What's at the heart and center of it all? Here is the answer. Let's use the words of verse 6: All humans have gone astray. All of us have turned to our own way. This is called sin. Turning from God and making ourselves our own master and our own treasure.
But God was not willing to leave us in this guilty and condemned condition. He planned from ages past to send a Suffering Servant, not mainly to model love for us, but to bear our sins as a substitute for us. "The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." This is the heart of Christianity. Jesus Christ came into the world to fulfill this prophecy – yes, many others to be sure, but this one is central and basic. He came to die. He came to die in our place. He came to die for our sins. This is our only hope. And the New Testament is all about how this happened and how it affects our lives now and in the ages to come. I urge you to pursue the knowledge of these things with all your heart and all your mind."
Saturday, August 28, 2010
The essence of Christianity.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Philosophical concerns on Theological matters.
Why be concerned about details of Christian doctrine that produce nothing but quarrels and prejudice, when natural reason, a faculty common to all human beings, can answer the fundamental questions regarding God and human nature.
Natural reasoning can never inform us of who God is or who we truely are in consequence to knowing God, the philosophy that came about from the enlightenment. Although philosophy may try to answer the questions of whether there is a being out there (via. - cosmology, morality, and ontology) - philosophy in and of itself can never truely give us the answer of what is this being liek and our relation to Him and how to interact with Him. Calvin says to know ourselves (truly) we must know God and to know God we must hear the scriptures (Romans 10). As Romans 10 says faith comes by hearing and hearing from the word of Christ. Although some may say the Scriptures as a whole is what is meant here, and I think that could very well be, however I think the Word of Christ that is being meant here is the Gospel. Knowing ourselves through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Quite frankly every man has his reasons as every man has general revelation. But as Romans 1 says every man suppresses the turth by their own unrighteousness. As "what can be known about God is Plain to them, because God has shown it to them." So therefore as Paul says at the beginning of verse 18 the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness and ungodliness. So philosophy, although good, for it is good to defend the cause of theism and perhaps also deism, still falls short from theology that is grounded from the scripture and informs us of who God is and who we are in relation to Him. So respectful people like Giesler, Craig, and such who are considered as philosophers can never attain to what the scriptures say that man is totally depraved and if not for the free unconditional election of God and irresistible grace of God he would remain in such a state. As Ephesians 2:1-10 gives us the state at which the christians were in, as those who are of the world is currently in, and then God's means of saving us by grace through faith for His glory in Christ for good works which he has prepared for them who are trusting in His unfailing promises found in Christ alone. Philosophers are no theologians, and rightly so. For a philosopher to answer what or who is God like and our relation to Him would be to infringe on their subjects and thus not have authoritative voices.
Natural reasoning can never inform us of who God is or who we truely are in consequence to knowing God, the philosophy that came about from the enlightenment. Although philosophy may try to answer the questions of whether there is a being out there (via. - cosmology, morality, and ontology) - philosophy in and of itself can never truely give us the answer of what is this being liek and our relation to Him and how to interact with Him. Calvin says to know ourselves (truly) we must know God and to know God we must hear the scriptures (Romans 10). As Romans 10 says faith comes by hearing and hearing from the word of Christ. Although some may say the Scriptures as a whole is what is meant here, and I think that could very well be, however I think the Word of Christ that is being meant here is the Gospel. Knowing ourselves through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Quite frankly every man has his reasons as every man has general revelation. But as Romans 1 says every man suppresses the turth by their own unrighteousness. As "what can be known about God is Plain to them, because God has shown it to them." So therefore as Paul says at the beginning of verse 18 the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness and ungodliness. So philosophy, although good, for it is good to defend the cause of theism and perhaps also deism, still falls short from theology that is grounded from the scripture and informs us of who God is and who we are in relation to Him. So respectful people like Giesler, Craig, and such who are considered as philosophers can never attain to what the scriptures say that man is totally depraved and if not for the free unconditional election of God and irresistible grace of God he would remain in such a state. As Ephesians 2:1-10 gives us the state at which the christians were in, as those who are of the world is currently in, and then God's means of saving us by grace through faith for His glory in Christ for good works which he has prepared for them who are trusting in His unfailing promises found in Christ alone. Philosophers are no theologians, and rightly so. For a philosopher to answer what or who is God like and our relation to Him would be to infringe on their subjects and thus not have authoritative voices.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Unregenerate man bound by his hopelessness
"The natural man has a 'wine' of his own. There is a carnal happiness enjoyed which is produced by 'the pleasures of sin' - the merriment which this world affords. But how fleeting this is! How unsatisfying! Sooner or later this 'wine,' which is pressed from 'the vine of the earth' (Rev. 14:18), gives out. The poor sinner may be surrounded by gay companions, he may be comfortably circumstanced financially and socially, yet the time come when he discovers he has 'no wine.' Happy the one who is conscious of this. The discovery of our own wretchedness is often the turning point. It prepares us to look to that One who can furnish the true 'wine,' the 'good' wine, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. He can satisfy the longing of the soul. He can quench the thirst of the heart. He can put a song into thy mouth which noteven the angels can sing, even the song of redemption. What then must you do? What price must you pay? Ah, dear friend, listen to the glad tidings of grace: 'Repent ye, and believe the Gospel.' (Mark 1:15)"
A.W. Pink.
A.W. Pink.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
To be sure
as 1 John 2:1-3 tells us Christ is the righteousness that is made available to sinful man before God. Everyone who repents from their sins and turns to Christ Jesus in Faith, trusting in His works alone will not perish but will be saved. For those who are stricken with anxiety and fear about whether or not they are saved, the question is not whether you were sincere or insincere, but are you trusting in Christ alone for complete righteousness NOW? The scriptures say that Whoever believes in Christ will be saved. Those who are believing, or as Paul says in Romans 10:1-4 those who trust not in their own merits or self-righteous deeds but in Christ works alone may have a relationship with God the Father and kept from God's eternal wrath.
The glory of God displayed through all things
"A supralapsarian believes that God first decrees (or elected) some for salvation, then decreed creation, the fall and then redemption. He elects some and then decrees to create them, decrees the fall and redemption to establish this relationship with the elect."
The reason for this is that God is concerned with His glory than anything else. So the whole purpose of History-Time-Creation-Redemption is to Magnify the glorious supremacy of God in all things. This founded based upon Scripture of course - Romans 9. The way for God to do such is if he does things in such a way that the Whole Persons of the Trinity are revealed in creation-redemption
The Quote comes from http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/2007/12/14/jonathan-edwards-and-supralapsarianism/
Although infralapsarianism is still a viable view I have been told.
The reason for this is that God is concerned with His glory than anything else. So the whole purpose of History-Time-Creation-Redemption is to Magnify the glorious supremacy of God in all things. This founded based upon Scripture of course - Romans 9. The way for God to do such is if he does things in such a way that the Whole Persons of the Trinity are revealed in creation-redemption
The Quote comes from http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/2007/12/14/jonathan-edwards-and-supralapsarianism/
Although infralapsarianism is still a viable view I have been told.
Thoughts on John 4:23-24
"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
True Worshipers are those who are 1. Spirit filled, because God is Spirit and because man by nature is flesh and thus liable to sin and hates God by nature, he cannot rightly relate with God correctly because he is depraved and dead (Ephesians 2:1-3), So because God is Spirit and man is by nature depraved idolators and haters of God, the Spirit must regenerate the rebel and not only by His grace, make us alive with Christ, but also He must raise us up with us, and then He must then seat with Christ. So thus anything that the Christian (the one who has been regenerated and redeemed) in accordance with the Word and character of God is done in Spirit. 2. The Father seeks for those who worship Him in spirit and in truth. (This is going to be brief and made into one point rather than three different points. In other words, rather than a 3rd point, I will put this with 2.)It is necessarily to point out that the worshipers the Father seeks are those who worship Him in spirit. This means that the Father is seeking those who worship Him with emotion, rather than stoicy, hard, no feelings at all type of person. But it must be pointed out that He seeks those who Worship in Spirit (right emotion) and Truth. Which means that our worship must be grounded in the Truth of God's word and who He ultimately is and with right emotion which is grounded in the right knowleddge of God's word and who he has revealed Himself to be to us. Worship is not an arbituary ambiguous act, but one that is set by God Himself and set by the Truth of who God is and who we are, which produces right emotions.
John Piper rightly says, "Truth without emotion produces dead orthodoxy and a church full (or half-full) of artificial admirers (like people who write generic anniversary cards for a living). On the other hand, emotion without truth produces empty frenzy and cultivates shallow people who refuse the discipline of rigorous thought. But true worship comes from people who are deeply emotional and who love deep and sound doctrine. Strong affections for God rooted in truth are the bone and marrow of biblical worship." (Desiring God, pg. 81-82)
So Another verse for thought is Jude 18-19 which is pretty much the opposite of Worshiping by Spirit and Truth. Jude writes, "They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit."
True Worshipers are those who are 1. Spirit filled, because God is Spirit and because man by nature is flesh and thus liable to sin and hates God by nature, he cannot rightly relate with God correctly because he is depraved and dead (Ephesians 2:1-3), So because God is Spirit and man is by nature depraved idolators and haters of God, the Spirit must regenerate the rebel and not only by His grace, make us alive with Christ, but also He must raise us up with us, and then He must then seat with Christ. So thus anything that the Christian (the one who has been regenerated and redeemed) in accordance with the Word and character of God is done in Spirit. 2. The Father seeks for those who worship Him in spirit and in truth. (This is going to be brief and made into one point rather than three different points. In other words, rather than a 3rd point, I will put this with 2.)It is necessarily to point out that the worshipers the Father seeks are those who worship Him in spirit. This means that the Father is seeking those who worship Him with emotion, rather than stoicy, hard, no feelings at all type of person. But it must be pointed out that He seeks those who Worship in Spirit (right emotion) and Truth. Which means that our worship must be grounded in the Truth of God's word and who He ultimately is and with right emotion which is grounded in the right knowleddge of God's word and who he has revealed Himself to be to us. Worship is not an arbituary ambiguous act, but one that is set by God Himself and set by the Truth of who God is and who we are, which produces right emotions.
John Piper rightly says, "Truth without emotion produces dead orthodoxy and a church full (or half-full) of artificial admirers (like people who write generic anniversary cards for a living). On the other hand, emotion without truth produces empty frenzy and cultivates shallow people who refuse the discipline of rigorous thought. But true worship comes from people who are deeply emotional and who love deep and sound doctrine. Strong affections for God rooted in truth are the bone and marrow of biblical worship." (Desiring God, pg. 81-82)
So Another verse for thought is Jude 18-19 which is pretty much the opposite of Worshiping by Spirit and Truth. Jude writes, "They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit."
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Live Philosophers who may quote the dead ones
Harry Frankfurt, Paul Helm, Nelson Pike, Peter Kreeft, Robert Cain, John Martin Fischer, and John Taylor to name a few
-------------------------------------------- Update ----------------------------------
I have not read these guys and unless something draws my attention to these guys I will not read them. I have read, however, Peter Kreeft and know he is a Catholic. He believes that we are justified by faith and works as all Catholics do.
-------------------------------------------- Update ----------------------------------
I have not read these guys and unless something draws my attention to these guys I will not read them. I have read, however, Peter Kreeft and know he is a Catholic. He believes that we are justified by faith and works as all Catholics do.
Thought on James
James 2:18-26
Reformed theology says that One is Justified by Faith alone in Christ Alone. James says that one is justified by works. This has brought some in Christendom (Mainly in Catholicism) to ponder is the Reformed theology right? and has confused many laymen of the Church. First, don't be led astray. James is not speaking of the same Justification as Paul speaks of in his letters. James speaks of a Show of Righteousness. Faith that is backed up by works but not works that save. Another thought is that some have said that because Faith and Works are inseperable that they are together and should be read as being the same (as in Faithing it) rather than simply having Faith. This is obviously a misguided assumption and fairytale and should be depleted right away. For it brings to it that one is Justified by Works and Not Soli Fide or Faith alone in Christ Alone which is all encompassed by Soli Gratia or Grace alone. One is in Fact Justified by Faith alone, but to say that Faith is 1. not real and 2. does not carry with it some form of fruit because it (Faith) has found its object of trust and treasure, is wrong.
Reformed theology says that One is Justified by Faith alone in Christ Alone. James says that one is justified by works. This has brought some in Christendom (Mainly in Catholicism) to ponder is the Reformed theology right? and has confused many laymen of the Church. First, don't be led astray. James is not speaking of the same Justification as Paul speaks of in his letters. James speaks of a Show of Righteousness. Faith that is backed up by works but not works that save. Another thought is that some have said that because Faith and Works are inseperable that they are together and should be read as being the same (as in Faithing it) rather than simply having Faith. This is obviously a misguided assumption and fairytale and should be depleted right away. For it brings to it that one is Justified by Works and Not Soli Fide or Faith alone in Christ Alone which is all encompassed by Soli Gratia or Grace alone. One is in Fact Justified by Faith alone, but to say that Faith is 1. not real and 2. does not carry with it some form of fruit because it (Faith) has found its object of trust and treasure, is wrong.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Walking With God
Today I want to start the question on the statement that has been grounded all throughout the Scriptures "Walking with God" which particularly I have been reading Genesis and in a little section from chapter 5:21-24.
When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. (NIV)
I have read Philippians 2:5, where Paul tells us that we ought to "have this mind among ourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus" (ESV). Paul says this after he orders the Philippian Christians to Love and Humility with one another. Then Paul goes further and writes about the Humility which Christ had and this Humility stimulates Obedience. Christ came and emptied himself of His Rights to be ridiculed and placed upon a Cross in obedience to God the Father. Jude tells us that during the last days there will be people who will follow their own ungodly desires. These people are devoid of the Spirit and obey their own flesh. Paul even says elsewhere that these people take pride in their own righteous acts (Philippians 3:2) rather than in Christ.
So the question dawns What does it mean to Walk With God? Scriptures seems to say that walking with God means living in humility towards is words and as Romans 10:1-4 says taking confidents not in your own merits (to save) but in treasuring Christ put confidence in Him in all things so that He may be Glorified.
When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. (NIV)
I have read Philippians 2:5, where Paul tells us that we ought to "have this mind among ourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus" (ESV). Paul says this after he orders the Philippian Christians to Love and Humility with one another. Then Paul goes further and writes about the Humility which Christ had and this Humility stimulates Obedience. Christ came and emptied himself of His Rights to be ridiculed and placed upon a Cross in obedience to God the Father. Jude tells us that during the last days there will be people who will follow their own ungodly desires. These people are devoid of the Spirit and obey their own flesh. Paul even says elsewhere that these people take pride in their own righteous acts (Philippians 3:2) rather than in Christ.
So the question dawns What does it mean to Walk With God? Scriptures seems to say that walking with God means living in humility towards is words and as Romans 10:1-4 says taking confidents not in your own merits (to save) but in treasuring Christ put confidence in Him in all things so that He may be Glorified.
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