Out of Control In the Spirit?

"The truly spiritual person is not someone who sweeps away into trances, ecstasies, emotional frenzies or falls over in a dead faint. The true spiritual person isn't somebody who goes into a glory cloud for 15 minutes, can't speak English, comes back and doesn't know he's been gone. When a person is out of control, it is never the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is self control, Galatians 5. Nowhere in Scripture do we see the real gifts of the Spirit operating when somebody's out of control or when somebody's under a supernatural seizure." - John MacArthur

On Election and John 3:16

http://the-highway.com/Jh3.16.html

Election

"The issue is not whether there is a cause or basis of God's choice of people, but whether that cause is some condition (such as faith) fulfilled by an individual acting from free will or the sovereign good pleasure of God. Does God elect a person because that person wants God, or does God elect a person because God wants that person in spite of the fact that the person does not want God?"

~ Sam Storms, Chosen for Life, A Case for Divine Election

From fivesolas.com

http://www.fivesolas.com/toplady.htm

Arminian Vs. Reformed Views

http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2015/05/arminian-versus-reformed-views.php

Chosen

"I want to emphasize, as did Jesus, that saving knowledge of the Son and Father is dependent on their will. If the knowledge of Jesus is hidden from some but revealed to others, it is because our sovereign God and Father, Lord of heaven and earth, found it pleasing to himself so to either hide or reveal it. Those from whom the truth was hidden cannot object, for God owes them nothing but judgment. Those to whom the truth was made known cannot boast of their knowledge, for they no more deserved to receive this gift than those from whom it was withheld."

~ Sam Storms, Chosen for Life, A Case for Divine Election

Total sufficiency of God's Word

"Those who seek fresh messages from God have in effect abandoned the absolute certainty and total sufficiency of the written Word of God. And they have set in its place their own fallen and fallible imaginations. If the church does not return to the principal of Sola Scriptura, the only revival we will see is a revival of the superstition and spiritual murkiness that characterized the Dark Ages of medieval religion. Does this mean God has stopped speaking? Certainly not, but He speaks today through His all-sufficient Word."
– John MacArthur

Experiential Calvinism and the Charismatic Gifts

http://www.mslick.com/gifts.htm

Humor

"A story was once told by the existentialist philosopher Søren Kierkegaard about a clown that summarized this danger most succinctly. He wrote, "It happened that a fire broke out backstage at a theater. The clown came out to inform the public. They thought it was just a jest and applauded. He repeated his warning, they shouted even louder. So I think the world will come to an end amid general applause from all the wits, who believe that it is a joke" (Either/Or, 1:30)."
         -  Tom Patton from the Master's Seminary

Watch "John Mcarthur talks about Limited Atonement" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/5NVaOWJijik

Have your"accepted" Jesus?

"A person who's "accepted" Jesus, made a decision for Jesus, prayed a prayer, and goes on to live in a sinful pattern of life with no fear of hell because they think they're eternally secure is deluded. That's why we have to be careful when we talk about the doctrine of eternal security as if the one prayer makes you forever secure. And by the way, this is what is taught by many people."
                   -  John MacArthur

Calvinism misunderstood

"The doctrinal system known as Arminianism has totally or partially taken over most Protestant denominations. This is due not to a latent superiority in Arminianism but mainly to a misunderstanding of Calvinism. For instance, it is sometimes said that Calvinism denies man's responsibility, makes man God's puppet, or removes God's love from the Bible. These statements are not true."

~ Craig R. Brown, The Five Dilemmas of Calvinism

When God saves sinners

"When God wishes to save a sinner, He does not strike the individual with "divine lightning." Rather, He uses a godly man to witness to that individual. Man, the "secondary cause," appears to be the only cause, but in reality God is the "primary cause," for He works in the evangelist's heart to give him the desire to witness and in the recipient's heart to allow him to accept the truth he is receiving."

~ Craig R. Brown, The Five Dilemmas of Calvinism

Books

Presuppossitional Apologtics  Greg Bahnsen

Packer on Puritan View of Preaching

"If we do not preach about sin and God's judgment on it, we cannot present Christ as Saviour from sin and the wrath of God. And if we are silent about these things, and preach a Christ who saves only from self and the sorrows of this world, we are not preaching the Christ of the Bible.

We are, in effect bearing false witness and preaching a false Christ. Our message is 'another gospel, which is not another.' Such preaching may soothe some, but it will help nobody; for a Christ who is not seen and sought as a Saviour from sin will not be found to save from self or from anything else.

An imaginary Christ will not bring a real salvation; and a half-truth presented as the whole truth is a complete untruth."

–J.I. Packer, "The Puritan View of Preaching the Gospel," in Puritan Papers, Vol 1.

Pink Quote

"To argue that God is "trying His best" to save all mankind, but that the majority of men will not let Him save them, is to insist that the will of the Creator is impotent, and that the will of the creature is omnipotent."

― Arthur W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God

Be Content

" Be free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said: Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you!" Hebrews 13:5

God takes note of the discontent of our hearts–as well as the murmuring of our lips.

Not only is discontent a grievous sin against God, but it unfits the Christian for the discharge of holy duties, preventing the exercise of those graces which are necessary in order thereunto.
It silences the lips of supplication, for how can a murmurer pray?
It destroys the spirit of submission, for complaining is a fretting against the Lord.
It quenches faith, hope and love.
Discontent is the very essence of ingratitude, and therefore it stifles the voice of thanksgiving.
There cannot be any rest of soul, until we quietly resign our persons and portions to God's good pleasure.
Discontent corrodes the strings of the heart, and therefore it arrests all growth in grace.

Discontent is usually over temporal matters, and this is a sad intimation that material things are sought after more eagerly than are spiritual things. It argues a lack of confidence in the care of our heavenly Father to provide for us the things which are needed.

"How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against Me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against Me!" Numbers 14:27

"Do all things without grumbling and complaining!" Philippians 2:14

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said: Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

                     - A. W. Pink

On music from Bach

"All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the soul's refreshment; where this is not remembered there is no real music but only a devilish hub-bub." JS Bach

Be Content

" Be free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said: Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you!" Hebrews 13:5

God takes note of the discontent of our hearts–as well as the murmuring of our lips.

Not only is discontent a grievous sin against God, but it unfits the Christian for the discharge of holy duties, preventing the exercise of those graces which are necessary in order thereunto.
It silences the lips of supplication, for how can a murmurer pray?
It destroys the spirit of submission, for complaining is a fretting against the Lord.
It quenches faith, hope and love.
Discontent is the very essence of ingratitude, and therefore it stifles the voice of thanksgiving.
There cannot be any rest of soul, until we quietly resign our persons and portions to God's good pleasure.
Discontent corrodes the strings of the heart, and therefore it arrests all growth in grace.

Discontent is usually over temporal matters, and this is a sad intimation that material things are sought after more eagerly than are spiritual things. It argues a lack of confidence in the care of our heavenly Father to provide for us the things which are needed.

"How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against Me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against Me!" Numbers 14:27

"Do all things without grumbling and complaining!" Philippians 2:14

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said: Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

                     - A. W. Pink

Five Things

http://michaeljkruger.com/five-things-every-christian-should-be-doing-with-gods-word/

Trusting God

"Now God sometimes allows people to treat us unjustly. Sometimes He even allows their actions to seriously affect our careers or our futures viewed on a human plane. But God never allows people to make decisions about us that undermine His plan for us. God is for us, we are His children, He delights in us (see Zephaniah 3:17). And the Scripture says, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). We can put this down as a bedrock truth: God will never allow any action against you that is not in accord with His will for you. And His will is always directed to our good."
~ Jerry Bridges, Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts

John Owen on Sanctification

"Through Christ the Christian experiences liberty from sin's penalty and its enslaving power. He also experiences liberty in his new family privileges such as the lively power to obey with delight, the rights to the ordinances of the household of faith, the hope of a future inheritance, the provision of a loving Father, boldness with God, and correction through fatherly discipline."
                          -  John Owen

How Horrid is Sin

"If ever you wish to see how great and horrid and evil sin is, measure it in your thoughts, either by the infinite holiness and excellency of God, who is wronged by it; or by the infinite sufferings of Christ, who died to satisfy for it; and then you will have deeper apprehensions of its enormity." ~ John Flavel

My Purpose

My purpose on this blog originally started out to be a place where I could write and tell the world what I was thinking, and I did that for a while. Recently, I have realized that many others have said things much better than I could have. So I began posting quotes and portions of books and papers that I have found to be interesting. I found it a great way to collect these quotes for myself, and also share them with the world. I will also include my own thoughts on occasion, and post my own thoughts as well.
So, welcome into my world, I hope you find something you will like.

Packer on Arminianism

"Where the Arminian, therefore, will be content to say: "I decided for Christ," "I made up my
mind to be a Christian," the Calvinist will wish to speak of his conversion in more
theological fashion, to make plain whose work it really was:
"Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night:
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke; the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off: my heart was free:
I rose, went forth, and followed thee."
Clearly, these two notions of internal grace are sharply opposed to each other."
                           -  J.I. Packer

Kuyper on Calvinism

"Calvinism condemns not merely all open slavery and systems of caste, but also all covert slavery of woman and of the poor; it is opposed to all hierarchy among men; it tolerates no aristocracy save such as is able, either in person or in family, by the grace of God, to exhibit superiority of character or talent, and to show that it does not claim this superiority for self-aggrandizement or ambitious pride, but for the sake of spending it in the service of God. So Calvinism was bound to find its utterance in the democratic interpretation of life; to proclaim the liberty of nations; and not to rest until both politically and socially every man, simply because he is man, should be recognized, respected and dealt with as a creature created after the Divine likeness."

~ Abraham Kuyper, Lectures on Calvinism

On Election

"The gifted Bible teacher, scholar, A.W. Pink who, by the way, died in 1952, once began a sermon by saying this, "I am going to speak tonight on one of the most hated doctrines of the Bible, namely that of God's sovereign election."  He was right.  It is a hated doctrine.  He later wrote these words - and I find them very insightful - "God's sovereign election is the truth most loathed and reviled by the majority of those claiming to be believers.  Let it be plainly announced that salvation originated not in the will of man, but in the will of God, that were it not so none would or could be saved.  For, as the result of the fall, man has lost all desire and will unto that which is good, and that even the elect themselves have to be made willing, and loud will be the cries of indignation against such teaching."
                  -  John MacArthur

On Election

"Nothing that happens can or will
take God by surprise. What this all means is that in the salvation of particular sinners, the
elect ones, there cannot be failure. Their salvation is certain. Thus, salvation is from the
Lord (Jonah 2:9). Christians are not saved by anything they have done. They are not
ultimately saved because they made a choice; but, because God chose them. In other
words, according to His great love and mercy He saved us. What a blessed gospel! God
reaches out and saves those who cannot save themselves.
-    Brian Shwertley from
www.monergism.com

Chosen For Life

Jesus also says that it is impossible for someone whom the Father "draws" not to come to him. He says in [John 6:37], "All that the Father gives me will come to me." Just as it is impossible for a person to come to Christ apart from the Father drawing him or her, so also is it impossible for a person not to come to Christ if the Father does draw him or her. Two crucial elements are involved here. On the one hand, if a person is to be saved he must come to Christ. An active, willing embrace of Jesus Christ in faith is essential. On the other hand, this active, willing embrace of Jesus Christ is guaranteed by virtue of the Father having given certain people to Jesus Christ.

~ Sam Storms, Chosen for Life, A Case for Divine Election

What More Motivation do we need?

God wants us to regard Him as our heavenly "Father," a loving being who has chosen us to be His sons and followers. Romans 8:14-17a says: "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, `Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ." As sons of God, we need to live in appreciation for that blessed relationship and try to do good works out of a thankful heart.

Consider also 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20: "You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." Here again we are reminded that God has done something spectacular for us. What more motivation do we need to attempt to please Him and live the Christian life that the Bible describes?

~ Craig R. Brown, The Five Dilemmas of Calvinism

Election

"The Calvinistic concept of divine election proceeds on the assumption that God saves men and women in accordance with a plan formulated in eternity past. The events we see unfolding in time and history are not haphazard or chaotic, appearances notwithstanding. They are the divinely ordained means by which God is bringing this universe to its proper consummation in Jesus Christ. We would not think very highly of God if we knew him to have created all things without a clue as to what he intended to do with them. We marvel at God's wisdom and find him worthy of praise precisely because we know that all things have been created not only by Jesus Christ but also for him (Col. 1:16)."

~ Sam Storms, Chosen for Life, A Case for Divine Election

Accepting Christ

by I.C.Herendeen
"In an effort to get sinners saved we often hear them exhorted to "Accept Christ as their personal Saviour" as though those who are slaves of Satan and captives of the Devil could do so and be saved if they did so. But this is utterly foreign to Holy Scripture; there is no foundation in Holy writ for it. It presents a false way of salvation, and therefore should be discarded along with other similar expressions such as "Give your heart to Jesus", "Take Jesus as your Saviour", "Let Jesus into your heart", etc. Such expressions fail to take into consideration the plain and sad fact that man is a fallen creature (Rom. 3:24), "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God" (Eph. 4:18) with a heart stubbornly steeled against Him so that he "will not" come to Christ (John 5:40) unless and until Divine power overcomes his innate enmity and makes him willing to come that he "might have life" (John 10:10). By nature the sinner's "carnal mind" is "enmity against God (Rom. 8:7) so that nothing but Divine power operating within him can overcome this enmity. The salvation of any sinner is a matter of "the operation of God" (Col. 2:12)."

We are the Problem

"Out of the wicked comes wickedness." 1 Samuel 24:13 Look no further. Look no shorter. We are the problem. Not the world.".  -   John Piper

We are Chosen

"We are chosen of God, according to the good pleasure of his will, and this alone is blessedness. Then, since we cannot and will not come to God of ourselves, he works graciously in us, and attracts us powerfully; he subdues our unwillingness, and removes our inability by the almighty workings of his transforming grace."- C.H. Spurgeon

God opens the heart

"Except God be merciful to break the prison, as it were, whereby by unbelief and the wickedness of our nature we are shut up, there is no hope of salvation at all. God opens the heart." - Richard Sibbes

Christian contentment

"Christian contentment is the direct fruit of having no higher ambition than to belong to the Lord and to be totally at His disposal in the place He appoints, at the time He chooses, with the provision He is pleased to make."  —Sinclair Ferguson

This should be our prayer, to be totally satisfied with knowing that He chose us before the foundation of the world. And He has appointed us, in His sovereignty, where He wants us to be, providing everything we need.    -   T.M.

Preach the Gospel

"If we do not preach about sin and God's judgment on it, we cannot present Christ as Saviour from sin and the wrath of God. And if we are silent about these things, and preach a Christ who saves only from self and the sorrows of this world, we are not preaching the Christ of the Bible.
We are, in effect bearing false witness and preaching a false Christ. Our message is 'another gospel, which is not another.' Such preaching may soothe some, but it will help nobody; for a Christ who is not seen and sought as a Saviour from sin will not be found to save from self or from anything else.
An imaginary Christ will not bring a real salvation; and a half-truth presented as the whole truth is a complete untruth."
–J.I. Packer, "The Puritan View of Preaching the Gospel," in Puritan Papers,..

The Glory of Christ

"The whole world is not a theatre large enough to display the glory of Christ upon: or unfold the one half of the unsearchable riches that lie hidden in him.". -   John Flavel

Bach on Music

"The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. If heed is not paid to this, it is not true music but a diabolical bawling and twanging."
― Johann Sebastian Bach

On Success

"The idea that making money is the best indication of success is fundamentally flawed. Far too often the individuals who make the most money are the biggest failures in every other area of life, most notably those related to personal integrity, kindhearted values, and quality of character. Many people think that achieving material success is worth total sacrifice in every other part of their life — but it couldn't be further from the truth. Success in one area of life should enable further and more meaningful success in all the other areas, too. Success materially and failure spiritually is no success at all.

Furthermore, success is not power over others, but discipline over oneself. Success is not doing whatever one wants, but doing what one is truly meant to do. Success is not fulfilling one's most immediate desires, but fulfilling one's true purpose — and fulfilling it despite obstacles, inconvenience, or how much it differs from what one otherwise feels like doing.

At best, the typical material conception of success inspires the shallowest and most superficial type of selfish ambition, and at worst, it keeps one hopelessly locked in a cycle of perceived failure, vicious competition, and unfulfilled lustful desire. It's set up from the start as a losing game, so that no one can ever really succeed, because in the contest to see who is "biggest" or "richest," no one ever really wins. You just keep scheming and clawing and battling, getting closer to emptiness and further from the truly worthwhile things in life."
         -  Andrew W.K. in the Village Voice

I found this quote in, of all places, the Village Voice. I was surprised to find this nugget of wisdom among the usual liberal musings. It was written on response to a question of how to be a successful musician, but it applies to any area or definition of success. When speaking of "fulfilling one's true purpose" it's a shame the author does not mention fulfilling God's purpose for your life. That would really be the definition of success. - T. M.

Don't Change the Message

"If you modify the message to make Christianity more attractive, then what you have is not Christianity. "
                  -  John Macarthur

Those churches that try to water down the Gospel message to make it more appealing, are not doing the audience any good, in fact doing them a disservice. Those that try to be sensitive and not to offend anyone, are not teaching the true Gospel message. - T.M.

More from Pink

"If you believe yourself thoroughly unfit to come to God, you have abundant cause to be thankful to God that his Holy Spirit has shown you something of your wretched self, that He has not kept you in ignorance of your woeful state, that He has not left you in that gross spiritual darkness that enshrouds millions of professing Christians.
Ah my stricken brother, if you are groaning over the ocean of corruption within, and feel utterly unworthy to take the sacred name of Christ upon your polluted lips, then you should be unfeignedly thankful that you belong not to that great multitude of self-complacent and self-righteous religionists of whom it is written, "They were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down" (Jeremiah 8:12).
Much cause have you to praise the God of all grace that He anointed your sin-blinded eyes, and that now, in His sight, you are able to see a little of your hideous deformities.
~ Arthur Pink, "Vile"

A. W. Pink setting it straight

"In Christendom today there are thousands of professing Christians against whom little or nothing in the way of fault could be found so far as their outward lives are concerned. They live moral, clean, upright, honest lives, while at the same time the state of their hearts is totally neglected. It is not sufficient to bring our outward deportment into harmony with the revealed will of God. He holds us accountable for what goes on inside, and requires us to keep check on the springs of our actions, the motives which inspire, and the principles which regulate us. God requires "truth in the inward parts" (Psalm 51:6)."
~ Arthur Pink, "Heart of the Saint"

More Spurgeon

"I am bound to the doctrine of the depravity of the human heart, because I find myself depraved in heart, and have daily proofs that in my flesh there dwelleth no good thing. ".   -  Spurgeon

More Spurgeon

"The old truth that Calvin preached, that Augustine preached, that Paul preached, is the truth that I must preach to-day, or else be false to my conscience and my God. I cannot shape the truth; I know of no such thing as paring off the rough edges of a doctrine. John Knox's gospel is my gospel. That which thundered through Scotland must thunder through England again."—C. H. Spurgeon

Wisdom from Paul Washer

"I want you to know that the greatest heresy in the American evangelical and protestant church is that, if you pray and ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart, He will definitely come in. You will not find that in any place in Scripture. You will not find that anywhere in Baptist history until about 50 years ago. What you need to know is that salvation is by faith and faith alone in Jesus Christ. And faith alone in Jesus Christ is preceded and followed by repentance . . . a turning away from sin, a hatred for the things that God hates and a love for the things that God loves, a growing in holiness and a desire not to be like Britney Spears, not to be like the world, and not to be like the great majority of American Christians, but to be like Jesus Christ! [The audience then erupts in applause].
I don't know why you're clapping. I'm talking about you. I didn't come here to get amens. I didn't come here to be applauded. I'm talking about you."
~Paul Washer – Shocking Youth Message

God's Sovereignty

"There is no attribute of God more comforting to his children than the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe troubles, they believe that Sovereignty hath ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all." ~ Charles Spurgeon - The Prince of Preachers

Pink on Eternal Security

"For any of the elect to perish would necessarily entail a defeated Father, who was balked of the realization of His purpose: a disappointed Son, who would never see the full travail of His soul and be satisfied (Isaiah 53:11); and a disgraced Spirit, who had failed to preserve those entrusted to His care. From such awful errors may we be delivered."~
Arthur Pink, "Eternal Security"

Freedom from Anxiety

"A Christian's freedom from anxiety is not due to some guaranteed freedom from trouble, but to the folly of worry and especially to the confidence that God is our Father, that even permitted suffering is within the orbit of His care."
~ John Stott

Evidence for the Bible

"I have said many times that if you want to look very wise in the world's eyes and are willing to risk looking foolish years from now, you can make a reputation for yourself by pointing out the "errors" in the Bible. There are always facts we do not know and things we fail to understand, so it will always be possible to point to certain items and say that they are errors. But these things tend to become explained. As time passes and the data from archaeology, historical investigations, numismatics, and other disciplines accumulate, these alleged "errors" tend to explode in the faces of those who propound them, and the position of these who have taken their stand upon the historical accuracy and inerrancy of this book is vindicated. The Bible is seen to be more reliable, not less reliable, as time passes. "

–James Montgomery Boice

Relevance

"Beneath all the rhetoric about relevance lies a profoundly disturbing possibility - that people may base their lives upon an illusion, upon a blatant lie. The attractiveness of a belief is all too often inversely proportional to its truth... To allow "relevance" to be given greater weight than truth is a mark of intellectual shallowness and moral irresponsibility." Alister McGrath

J. C. Rule Wisdom

"For my own part, I believe that in dealing with skeptics, and unbelievers, and enemies of the Bible, Christians are too apt to stand only on the defensive. They are too often content with answering this or that little objection, or discussing this or that little difficulty, which is picked out of Scripture and thrown in their teeth. I believe we ought to act on the aggressive far more than we do, and to press home on the adversaries of [Biblical] inspiration the enormous difficulties of their own position. "– J.C. Ryle

Relevance

"Beneath all the rhetoric about relevance lies a profoundly disturbing possibility - that people may base their lives upon an illusion, upon a blatant lie. The attractiveness of a belief is all too often inversely proportional to its truth... To allow "relevance" to be given greater weight than truth is a mark of intellectual shallowness and moral irresponsibility." Alister McGrath

Evidence for the Bible

"I have said many times that if you want to look very wise in the world's eyes and are willing to risk looking foolish years from now, you can make a reputation for yourself by pointing out the "errors" in the Bible. There are always facts we do not know and things we fail to understand, so it will always be possible to point to certain items and say that they are errors. But these things tend to become explained. As time passes and the data from archaeology, historical investigations, numismatics, and other disciplines accumulate, these alleged "errors" tend to explode in the faces of those who propound them, and the position of these who have taken their stand upon the historical accuracy and inerrancy of this book is vindicated. The Bible is seen to be more reliable, not less reliable, as time passes. "

–James Montgomery Boice

Wisdom from Leonard Ravenhill

"I've got The Father on my side, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, and two thirds of the angels.
What do you think I'm going to do?
Sit down and cry?"
Leonard Ravenhill

"I frankly confess that, for myself, even if it could be, I should not want 'free-will' to be given me, nor anything to be left in my own hands to enable me to endeavour after salvation; not merely because in face of so many dangers, and adversities and assaults of devils, I could not stand my ground …; but because even were there no dangers … I should still be forced to labour with no guarantee of success … But now that God has taken my salvation out of the control of my own will, and put it under the control of His, and promised to save me, not according to my working or running, but according to His own grace and mercy, I have the comfortable certainty that He is faithful and will not lie to me, and that He is also great and powerful, so that no devils or opposition can break Him or pluck me from Him." (Martin Luther, The Bondage of the Will)

A. W. Pink on Election

"Election is not as some have supposed—harsh and unjust—but is a most merciful provision on the part of God. Had he not from the beginning chosen SOME to salvation, ALL would have perished! Had he not before the foundation of the world chosen certain ones to be conformed to the image of His Son—the death of Christ would have been in vain so far as the human race is concerned!
Reduced to its simplest terms, ELECTION means that God chose me before I chose Him. Said our Lord, "You have not chosen Me—but I have chosen you." (John 15:16) We love Him—because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
Election means that before I was born, yes, before the foundation of the world, I was chosen in Christ and predestined unto a place in God's family (Ephesians 1:4).
Election means that we believed—because He made us willing in the day of His power (Psalm 110:3).
Election, then, strips the creature of all merit, removes all ground of boasting, strikes us helpless in the dust, and ascribes all the glory to God!"
~Arthur Pink, "The God of Jacob"

Wisdom from J.I. Packer

"The gospel of God is not properly understood till it is viewed within a covenantal frame." ~ J.I. Packer

Evangelism

"The Reformed faith also eliminates the "worry" aspect of evangelism. Have you ever heard someone say that he is to blame for another person not becoming a Christian because he never talked to that person about Christ or shared the gospel with him or her? God commands us to always be "prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15 b), but we do not have to live in fear that a friend or relative will go to hell if we do not do so. If someone is elect, God will find a willing secondary cause to bring that person to Himself. Neither should we worry if we only introduce the gospel to a friend who then moves away. Again, God's promise to complete the good work He begins provides comfort. If God uses a believer to plant a seed, He can bring another to water it."

~ Craig R. Brown, The Five Dilemmas of Calvinism

Not of Ourselves

"God has surely promised His grace to the humbled: that is, to those who mourn over and despair of themselves. But a man cannot be thoroughly humbled till he realizes that his salvation is utterly beyond his own powers, counsels, efforts, will and works, and depends absolutely on the will, counsel, pleasure and work of Another -- God alone." - Martin Luther

Always Use Words

"If you have spent any amount of time in a typical American Evangelical church, especially a seeker-sensitive mega church, you have undoubtedly heard the phrase (wrongly) attributed to St. Francis of Assissi which says, "Preach the Gospel and, if necessary, use words."  Despite the fact St. Francis never actually said this, I'm bewildered by how quickly Protestants have adopted and fashioned a (false) quote from a Catholic friar and preacher into a bludgeon to beat their evangelistic brothers and sisters in Christ over their collective heads."
   - Landon Chapman, www.pulpitandpen.com

Knowledge of Right and Wrong

"Though it has been greatly defaced by sin, man's knowledge of right and wrong is one of the most indelible aspects of his having been made in "the image of God." Long after his conscience has been "seared as with a branding iron" (1 Tim 4:2) and he has come to the place of "calling evil good and good evil," (Isaiah 5:20) man still retains this innate knowledge in the depths of his being.  It is an inescapable part of his basic makeup. Paul makes this clear in the first chapter of his letter to the Romans, where he sets forth the condemnation of "the man without the Bible." After describing in verses 21-31 the corruption of those whom God has "given over" (Romans 1:24,26,28) to the lowest reaches of depravity, he concludes by saying that even those who have sunk to this state still "know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death." This is a remarkable statement! Apart from any special revelation from God (e.g.., the Bible), all men nevertheless "know the ordinance of God" that those who practice "such things" as sexual immorality, homosexuality, unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, hatred of God, insolence, arrogance, boasting, invention of evil, disobedience to parents, untrustworthiness, and lack of love and mercy, are "worthy of death"! (Rom 1:32).

Long before the Law of Moses was ever given, God held men accountable for sinning against the work of the Law written on their consciences. For example, God destroyed the entire earth in the days of Noah because "the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and ... every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5). The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were likewise destroyed for sinning against nature (Genesis 18:20-19:25) by practicing things they knew (Genesis 19:7) were wrong. "

By Charles Leiter, from The Law of Christ, pp 130-133

Limited Atonement from Spurgeon

"I would rather believe a limited atonement that is efficacious for all men for whom it was intended , than a universal atonement that is not efficacious for anybody, except the will of men be added to it."
- C.H Spurgeon

Giving our Hearts to Jesus?

"Is this Scriptural?

Often an appeal is made to us "to take Christ" or we are urged to "decide for Christ" or "follow Christ" or "give ourselves to Christ" or "give our hearts to Christ." But, again, I think we must examine this. Is this scriptural? Does the Scripture put it in that way? Surely the Scripture does not ask, "Will you take Christ?" but "Will Christ take you?" Is it possible for him to take me in view of my sinfulness, my vileness, my guilt, my hopelessness? This idea that I can take Christ or not or that I should be pleaded with or cajoled, that pressure should be brought to bear upon me to "take Christ" or "follow him" is wrong – it is "I" all along. But I am a miserable worm, a wretch!"

~ D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Ordinary People

"God is pleased to use ordinary people and ordinary conversations to do most of the heavy lifting in his kingdom."                      
                                    -  Ed Welch

Salvation is outside of ourselves

"Is it not wonderful news to believe that salvation lies outside ourselves?"
                                -  Martin Luther

Yes, it is wonderful news to know that I don't have to lean on my own understanding. My understanding is so weak, frail, and flawed.
It is limited, God is unlimited.
It is finite God is infinite.
It is fallible, God is infallible.
It is imperfect, God is perfect.
Such great news I don't have to rely on myself.      -    T. Meiers

Giving our Hearts to Jesus?

"Is this Scriptural?

Often an appeal is made to us "to take Christ" or we are urged to "decide for Christ" or "follow Christ" or "give ourselves to Christ" or "give our hearts to Christ." But, again, I think we must examine this. Is this scriptural? Does the Scripture put it in that way? Surely the Scripture does not ask, "Will you take Christ?" but "Will Christ take you?" Is it possible for him to take me in view of my sinfulness, my vileness, my guilt, my hopelessness? This idea that I can take Christ or not or that I should be pleaded with or cajoled, that pressure should be brought to bear upon me to "take Christ" or "follow him" is wrong – it is "I" all along. But I am a miserable worm, a wretch!"

~ D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

What do you Believe?

"If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself."

~ Augustine

God's Purposes

"God exercises purposeful management and control over everything everywhere all the time, and nothing happens without His being involved." ~ J.I. Packer

Limited Atonement

So if Jesus death and resurrection made forgiveness for  all men possible, but not accomplished,  now it's up to man to decide? Its true that if you don't accept forgiveness you will die in your sins, but who gives you the desire for Him? Who gives you the conviction of your sinfulness?
The Holy Spirit must first come to you and change your heart. Its the Holy Spirit that must change a heart to stone to a heart of flesh. Dead men can't raise themselves.     In this way, the sheep hear only their shepherd's voice and listen only to Him.  -  T. Meiers

The Spirit is Moving

Ever heard someone say "I could really feel the Spirit move last night?" While that sounds very spiritual, the truth is the Spirit is always moving whether we feel it or not. My personal, fleeting, and fickle feelings are no indication of the Holy Spirit's power in any situation. It's like saying "I really felt my wife's love today." My wife loves me everyday, and how much more is God's perfect , encompassing, unconditional, agape love for us? Regardless of our emotional state or feeling, the Holy Spirit is always at work in the believer's heart.
                          -  T. Meiers

You might be in a Reformed household if you hear. . .

These are a few things you may only here if you are in Reformed household.

"Have you seen my copy of the Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Lorraine Boettner?" And it's the hard cover copy with notes made by you.

You bet on how soon someone will mention total depravity in a conversation. "OK,  who had 11:10 am?" Although I'm sure betting itself proves total depravity.

Fear and Trembling?

"God's Word to His people is: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12).

But O how little of this "fear and trembling" is to be found anywhere today! Instead, there is self-esteem, self-confidence, boasting and carnal security."

~ Arthur Pink, "Practical Godliness"

Church as Entertainment

Blogger Amy Peterson put it this way: "I want a service that is not sensational, flashy, or particularly 'relevant.' I can be entertained anywhere. At church, I do not want to be entertained. I do not want to be the target of anyone's marketing. I want to be asked to participate in the life of an ancient-future community."

Righteous Anger

"Preachers must not shrink away from proclaiming the righteous anger of God toward hell-deserving sinners. God has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31). That day is looming on the horizon. Like the prophets and Apostles, and even Christ Himself, we too must warn unbelievers of this coming dreadful day and compel them to flee to Christ, who alone is mighty to save." —Steve Lawson