Feb

28

Does Christianity Have Skeletons in Its Closet?

Filed Under Apologetics, The Resurrection | 1 Comment

I’m sure many of you have been following the claims of moviemaker James Cameron, of Titanic fame, that he will make a movie on the supposed archaelogic find of the bones of Jesus.  I’m sure by know you’ve noticed that even the most liberal and atheistic of media outlet are admitting that the archaelogical find in question is spurious at best.  If you’re interest in reading up more on this topic you will find the following links helpful.

Luke 24:1-12 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.  And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”  And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.  Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.  But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Feb

23

WCF I.2

Filed Under Westminster Confession | Leave a Comment

Last post we considered the first section of the first chapter of the confession on the necessity of the Word of God. This week we’ll consider section two of the first chapter on the content of the Bible.

WCF 1:2 Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testament, which are these:

Of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Songs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Of the New Testament: The Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John; The Acts of the Apostles; Paul’s Epistles to the Romans, Corinthians I, Corinthians II, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians I, Thessalonians II, To Timothy I, To Timothy II, To Titus, To Philemon; The Epistle to the Hebrews; The Epistle of James; The first and second Epistles of Peter; The first, second, and third Epistles of John; The Epistle of Jude; The Revelation

All which are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life.(1)

(1) Luke 16:29,31; Eph. 2:20; Rev. 22:18,19; 2 Tim. 3:16.

Aside from merely stating what books are in the Bible, it is also of note to see the different synonyms that the divines used to express the twofold content of Scripture: belief and duty. Here in WCF I.2 they say “rule of faith and life.” The Shorter Catechism uses the terms “belief and duty.” The Larger Catechism uses the terms “faith and obedience.” We find this concensus amongst many different creeds and confessions on the uniform teaching of Scripture summarized under the two heads of belief (cognitive doctrine) and duty (resulting affections and actions).

Feb

22

Be filled with the Spirit–a command?

Filed Under Christian Living | Leave a Comment

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit…  [Ephesians 5:18].
Paul commands believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul is not saying, “Wait for God the Spirit to do something to you.” Paul does not say to the Christian, “Be justified,” because every Christian is perfectly justified. Justification is not a process; it is a once-and-for-all action of God in which he declares the believer righteous in Christ. We cannot be more justified today than we already are, any more than an expectant mother can be more pregnant than she already is. Paul does not say, “Be adopted into the family of God,” because all who have received Christ have been given the right to be called the sons of God. We cannot become more the sons and heirs of God than a boy can become more the son of his parents. Paul does not say, “Be united with Christ; be in Christ,” because every Christian at the new birth has the privilege of union with Christ, and we spend the rest of our lives working out the great privileges of this status. Justification, adoption into the family of God and union with Christ are all perfect works of God, but being filled with the Spirit is a command we have to obey like all the commands in this section; “walk in love,” “have nothing to do with the fruitless works of darkness,” “make the most of every opportunity,” “do not get drunk with wine” - all such commandments are duties we must obey. We must see to it that we are filled with the Spirit, just as we see to it that we are not drunk.
In Acts we see occasions where people are filled with the Spirit. Sometimes it happens in times of crisis or urgent need. Peter had already been filled with the Spirit to preach the Word of God to thousands at Pentecost. Then a few days later he is again facing another crisis when the Sanhedrin seized Peter and John and put them in prison. Luke records the scene like this in Acts 4:5-8, “The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: ‘By what power or what name did you do this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them . . .” Peter was given extraordinary courage and wisdom to confront this evil court. He was filled with the Spirit to do this.
This was the case with Paul when he was on the isle of Paphos in Acts 13. Elymas the Sorceror was trying to dissuade the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, from becoming a Christian. Then Paul was filled with the Spirit (13:9) and he confronted this sorcerer and delivered a rebuke so solemn and effective that we are told about the proconsul, “when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”
There are crises that come into our lives, as pastors face difficult confrontations, as a family goes through a time when a loved one has a terminal illness, when a husband loses his job, then we are under an obligation to be filled with the Spirit to face that providence. God’s answer to the suffering and the nervousness and the uncertainty and the ignorance and need is to fill us with his Spirit, who lovingly ministers to us and enables us to go on with confidence.  He fills us to keep trusting, keep praying, keep counting it all as joy, and keep looking to Jesus.
Thus, the Greek present imperative verb is well-translated as Go on being filled…
Paul gives us a negative contrast to help us understand; Do not be drunk with wine, but be filled…. We speak of people being “under the influence of alcohol.” Their speech changes, their behavior changes—the shy person becomes loud and outgoing, etc.—and attitudes change. Scripture says to you, “Let your life be under the influence of the Holy Spirit, with your mind and heart and will surrendered to the Spirit, who will produce in you the desire and the power the glorify Christ.”
Some folk miss the meaning here and wrongly believe that being filled with the Spirit means being giddy, irrational, with no inhibitions or self-control. Pharmacologically speaking, alcohol is a depressant, and it hinders the faculties of self-control. That is why people do such stupid and dangerous things when they are drunk. But the person filled with the Spirit shows self-control–a sound mind, keen discernment, disciplined emotions expressed in ways that build others up rather than tear them down.
What influences your life? Are you under the influence of the Spirit, or are you drunk with the wine of this age and its goals and values?

Feb

20

WCF I.1

Filed Under Westminster Confession | Leave a Comment

I’m beginning a leisurely stroll through the first chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith.  I hope you enjoy the journey.  If it seems to get positive feedback, maybe we’ll tackle subsequent chapters.  For now, we’ll begin with section one of the first chapter which deals with the topic of “The Bible”.

You’ll note as we work through the first chapter in successive posts that four main themes are going to pop up concerning the Word of God.  It is necessary, authoritative, sufficient, and perspicuous.  Today’s section highlights the necessity of scripture.  The scriptures are necessary to know God rightly, as he is revealed both in his work of creation and providence.

WCF 1.1  Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable;(1) yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation:(2) therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His Church;(3) and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing;(4) which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary;(5) those former ways of God’s revealing His will unto His people being now ceased.(6)

  1. Rom. 2:14,15; Rom. 1:19,20; Ps. 19:1,2,3; Rom. 1:32; Rom. 2:1.
  2. 1 Cor. 1:21; 1 Cor. 2:13,14
  3. Heb. 1:1
  4. Prov. 22:19,20,21;Luke 1:3,4; Rom. 15:4; Matt. 4:4,7,10; Isa. 8:19,20.
  5. 2 Tim. 3:15; 2 Pet. 1:19
  6. Heb. 1:1,2

Feb

19

Best place to be and worst place to be: The Church

Filed Under Prayer, The Church | Leave a Comment

As another application from yesterday’s sermon on Mark 6:6b-30, let me share some data passed along to me last year that tells us about some of the pressures of ministry. The statistics come from research gathered from such organizations as Barna and Focus on the Family.

Pastors

  • Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.
  • Fifty percent of pastors’ marriages will end in divorce.
  • Eighty percent of pastors and eighty-four percent of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors.
  • Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.
  • Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.
  • Seventy percent of pastors say they ‘constantly fight depression.’
  • Almost forty percent polled said they have had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry.
  • Seventy percent said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons.

Pastors’ Wives

  • Eighty percent of pastors’ spouses feel their spouse is overworked.
  • Eighty percent of pastors’ spouses wish their spouse would choose another profession.
  • The majority of pastors’ wives surveyed said that the most destructive event that has occurred in their marriage and family was the day they entered the ministry.

I won’t go to the stake over the accuracy of these figures, but if they’re even close to accurate, this is pretty alarming stuff! Most every minister I know can understand those pressures. Ministers need meaningful relationships with other men and need genuine accountability regarding their life and doctrine. These statistics give you an idea about how to pray for pastors, but they make me thank God for a supportive congregation that encourages me in many ways, and is so kind to me and my family, and is a delight to serve.samtheeagle1.JPG

Feb

16

Making Owen Accessible

Filed Under Books, John Owen | Leave a Comment

Overcoming Sin Book PhotoI’m currently reading an excellent compilation of three of John Owen’s greatest works. The books is entitled, Overcoming Sin and Temptation, and is an unabridged compilation of John Owen’s Mortification of Sin, Of Temptation, and Indwelling Sin. Lovers of John Owen, who have wanted to own these works, have in years past had to decide between either buying the costly corpus of all of Owen’s works or settling for an abridged alternative. Justin Taylor and Kelly Kapic have made this version available with the intention of making Owen more accessible by eliminating the cost barrier and providing a readable unabridged version of these classic works.

Although the works are unabridged, the editors have done several things to make the text easier to read. As is stated in the introduction, features of this volume include:

  • Overviews of the thesis and arguments for each book
  • Footnoted definitions for difficult vocabular words
  • Americanized the Brittish spellings
  • Updated archaic pronouns, spellings, and word forms
  • Modernized some of the punctuation
  • Put Scripture references in parenthesis
  • Added Scritpure references to undocumented allusions
  • Transliterated Hebrew and Greek words
  • Translated Latin phrases that Owen left untranslated
  • Removed Owen’s intricate numbering system and placed an extended outline of each work in the appendix
  • Added headings and italics throughout the volume to aid in the discernment of the flow of Owen’s thought

You could not ask for more in terms of enhancing the readability of John Owen. I will warn you though, that Owen’s works are not easy reading. They are dense. But they are dense with theological richness that will challenge and bless your growth in grace. This book is well worth your time. As I have heard John Piper say on occasion, you can’t mine precious jewels with a rake. You need a shovel and some hard labor. If you have ever wondered how to fight sin, this book is a must read!

“John Owen is a spiritual surgeon with the rare skill to cut away the cancer of sin and bring gospel healing to the sinner’s soul. Apart from the Bible, I have found his writings to be the best books ever written to help me stop sinning the same old sins.” -Philip Graham Ryken

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