Interesting items from the Interwebs, from all over the world.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Stupid People
Sundries
Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than evil is. Against evil, one can protest; it can be exposed and, if necessary, stopped with force. Evil always carries the seed of its own self-destruction, because it at least leaves people with a feeling of uneasiness. But against stupidity, we are defenseless. Neither with protest nor with force can we do anything here; reasons have no effect. Facts that contradict one's own prejudice need only to be disbelieved – in such cases stupid people even become critical, and when facts are unavoidable, they can simply be swept aside as meaningless isolated cases. Stupid people, in contrast to evil ones, are satisfied with themselves. Indeed, they become dangerous in that they may easily be stimulated to go on the attack. Therefore, more care must be taken in regard to stupidity than to evil…
Closer examination reveals that every strong external development of power, whether of a political or religious nature, strikes a large portion of the people with stupidity…
The biblical saying, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, (but fools despise wisdom and instruction)" [Proverbs 1:7] says that the internal liberation of people for responsible life before God is the only real way to overcome stupidity.
–– Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Friday, October 30, 2015
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Monday, October 26, 2015
Sunday, October 25, 2015
I could never do that
"The remedy to "I could never do that" is twofold. First, we need to remember that one sin is not more damning than another. The hierarchy of sins we have in our minds has more to do with perceived societal damage caused than anything else. Your self-righteousness needs a savior just as much as someone else's fornication. Second, we need to be honest about our own propensity for sin. It's not that we would never do certain sins; it's often that we've never been given the chance. We use the phrase "but for the grace of God there go I," and much of that grace is the circumstances God gave us as protected church folk."
- Barnabas Piper
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Thank you for Visiting
Monday, October 19, 2015
Here is a recommended article from Grace to You
Frequently Abused Verse: On Whose Door Is Christ Knocking? http://www.gty.org/resources/blog/B151005#.ViWkp-vWEj4.email
--- This message was sent by tmeiers54@gmail.com via http://addthis.com. Please note that AddThis does not verify email addresses.
Make sharing easier with the AddThis Toolbar: http://www.addthis.com/go/toolbar-em
To stop receiving any emails from AddThis, please visit: http://www.addthis.com/privacy/email-opt-out?e=Pjo9JCQrPSokazsgLSEmIgknJSouIiw3ZyYmKA
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Friday, October 16, 2015
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Fwd: [New post] Gospel Wednesday | Matthew 25
From: "Faithful Stewardship" <comment-reply@wordpress.com>
Date: Oct 14, 2015 8:14 AM
Subject: [New post] Gospel Wednesday | Matthew 25
To: <tmeiers54@gmail.com>
Cc:
|
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Jesus' Invitation
"The gospel according to Jesus Christ given in the New Testament is radically different from the typical modern message that is so often preached. In our contemporary times evangelists often portray Jesus as a somewhat frustrated, would-be Redeemer who stands outside anxiously awaiting an invitation from someone to come into his life. This is, I think, because of a misrepresentation of a text in the book of Revelation in which the Lord says He stands at the door and knocks. It's not really a true interpretation to make that the door of a human heart. It's the door of the church. It's Christ wanting to come into His church in the context there. But based on that verse, we have sort of portrayed Jesus as waiting for an invitation from us, waiting for an opportunity from us, standing quietly, as it were, by until we make the decision to invite Him in.
But in reality, the New Testament presents Christ as the inviter, the Savior who comes into the world, God in human flesh who invades the realm of humanity, who confronts sinners, challenges them, calls them, commands them to come to Him, to believe in Him, to turn from sin, to embrace Him as Savior and Lord. Rather than waiting for an invitation from sinners, He issues His own invitation to sinners in the form of a command to repent, and to believe, and to submit. And this is essentially what He is saying in our text. This is at the very core of Jesus' message, the gospel message. If you want eternal life, if you desire to have all your sins forgiven forever, if you want to come into the eternal kingdom of God, and receive blessing, peace and joy forever and ever, Jesus says here's what you need to do. "
- John MacArthur
Monday, October 12, 2015
PCA denomination distinctions
Other distinctives are the doctrines of grace, which depict what God has done for mankind's salvation: (1) Total depravity of man. Man is completely incapable within himself to reach out towards God. Man is totally at enmity with God, cf. Romans 3:10-23. (2) Unconditional election by the grace of God. There is absolutely no condition in any person for which God would save him. As a matter of fact, long before man was created, God chose or predestined some to everlasting life. He did this out of His mere good pleasure, cf. Ephesians 1:4 and 5. (3) Particular atonement. God in His infinite mercy, in order to accomplish the planned redemption, sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, to die as a substitute for the sins of a large but specific number of people, cf. Romans 8:29 and 30. (4) The irresistible grace of God. This is the effectual work of the Holy Spirit moving upon a particular person whom He has called, applying the work of redemption, cf. John 3:5 and 6. (5) The perseverance of the saints. This is that gracious work of God's sanctification whereby He enables a saved person to persevere to the end. Even though the process of sanctification is not complete in this life, from God's perspective it is as good as accomplished, cf. Romans 8:30, 38, and 39, and Philippians 1:6.
The PCA maintains the historic polity of Presbyterian governance set forth in The Book of Church Order, namely rule by presbyters (or elders) and the graded assemblies or courts
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Friday, October 9, 2015
Is My Faith Real?
How can we know if our fath is real?
by John MacArthur
How can we know if our faith is real?
The Bible provides a clear understanding of genuine saving faith-true faith produces good fruit. In His parable of the soils and the seed, the Lord Jesus taught that, while unbelievers are unfruitful, those who are saved would bear fruit. In this parable, three of four soils produced fruitless plants, vivid pictures of receptions of God's Word that never resulted in salvation.
In contrast, fruit-bearing plants thrive in the good soil that pictures a redeemed heart. Jesus said, "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty" (Matthew 13:23). All believers are fruitful, even though not equally fruitful.
The Bible also describes what good fruit looks like. The following chart lists the characteristics of genuine saving faith. In essence, it serves as a guide for spiritual fruit inspection (2 Corinthians 13:5). If you are unsure about the reality of your faith, please take the time to study this chart, taking care to read each of the accompanying Scripture passages.
The Character of Genuine Saving Faith
I. Evidences That Neither Prove Nor Disprove One's Faith
Visible Morality: Matthew 19:16-21; 23:27. Intellectual Knowledge: Romans 1:21; 2:17ff. Religious Involvement: Matthew 25:1-10 Active Ministry: Matthew 7:21-24 Conviction of Sin: Acts 24:25 Assurance: Matthew 23 Time of Decision: Luke 8:13, 14
II. The Fruit/Proofs of Authentic/True Christianity:
Love for God: Psalm 42:1ff; 73:25; Luke 10:27; Romans 8:7 Repentance from Sin: Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; Romans 7:14ff; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 John 1:8-10 Genuine Humility: Psalm 51:17; Matthew 5:1-12; James 4:6, 9ff. Devotion to God's Glory: Psalm 105:3; 115:1; Isaiah 43:7, 48:10ff.; Jeremiah 9:23, 24; 1 Corinthians 10:31 Continual Prayer: Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18ff.; Philippians 4:6ff.; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; James 5:16-18 Selfless Love: 1 John 2:9ff, 3:14; 4:7ff. Separation from the World: 1 Corinthians 2:12; James 4:4ff.; 1 John 2:15-17, 5:5 Spiritual Growth: Luke 8:15; John 15:1-6; Ephesians 4:12-16 Obedient Living: Matthew 7:21; John 15:14ff.; Romans 16:26; 1 Peter 1:2, 22; 1 John 2:3-5
If List I is true of a person and List II is false, there is cause to question the validity of one's profession of faith. Yet if List II is true, then the top list will be also.
III. The Conduct of the Gospel:
Proclaim it: Matthew 4:23 Defend it: Jude 3 Demonstrate it: Philippians 1:27 Share it: Philippians 1:5 Suffer for it: 2 Timothy 1:8 Don't hinder it: 1 Corinthians 9:16 Be not ashamed: Romans 1:16 Preach it: 1 Corinthians 9:16 Be empowered: 1 Thessalonians 1:5 Guard it: Galatians 1:6-8
Adapted from John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, p. 2190.
Like
Thursday, October 8, 2015
A.W. Pink on Sin
"Sin is always sin in the sight of God whether we are conscious of it or not. Sins of ignorance need atonement just as truly as do conscious sins. God is Holy, and He will not lower His standard of righteousness to the level of our ignorance. Ignorance is not innocence. As a matter of fact ignorance is more culpable now than it was in the days of Moses. We have no excuse for our ignorance. God has clearly and fully revealed His will. The Bible is in our hands, and we cannot plead ignorance of its contents except to condemn our laziness. God has spoken, and by His Word we shall be judged."
~ Arthur Pink, "The Word of Forgiveness"
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Another Gospel - A.W. Pink
"Yes, my reader, it is possible to work in the name of Christ, and even to preach in His name, and though the world knows us, and the Church knows us, yet to be unknown to the Lord!
How necessary it is then to find out where we really are; to examine ourselves to see whether we be in the faith; to measure ourselves by the Word of God and see if we are being deceived by our subtle Enemy; to find out whether we are building our house upon the sand, or whether it is erected on the Rock which is Christ Jesus."< Arthur Pink, "Another Gospel"
Calvinism - An Introduction
One of the most potentially divisive doctrinal debates in the history of the church centers around the opposing doctrines of salvation known as Calvinism and Arminianism.
Calvinism is based on the theological beliefs and teaching of John Calvin (1509-1564), a leader in the Reformation, and Arminianism is based on the views of Dutch theologian Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609).
After studying under John Calvin's son-in-law in Geneva, Jacobus Arminius started out as a strict Calvinist. Later, as a pastor in Amsterdam and professor at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, Arminius' studies in the book of Romans led to doubts and rejection of many Calvinistic doctrines.
In summary, Calvinism centers on the supreme sovereignty of God, predestination, the total depravity of man, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints.
Arminianism emphasizes conditional election based on God's foreknowledge, man's free will through prevenient grace to cooperate with God in salvation, Christ's universal atonement, resistible grace, and salvation that can potentially be lost.
So what exactly does all this mean? The easiest way to understand the differing doctrinal views is to compare them side by side:
Calvinism & Arminianism Compared
God's Sovereignty
Calvinism - God's sovereignty is unconditional, unlimited, and absolute. All things are predetermined by the good pleasure of God's will. God foreknew because of his own planning.
Arminianism - God has limited his control in correspondence with man's freedom and response. God's decrees are associated with his foreknowledge of man's response.
Man's Depravity
Calvinism - Because of the Fall, man is totally depraved and dead in his sin. Man is unable to save himself and, therefore, God must initiate salvation.
Arminianism - Because of the Fall, man has inherited a corrupted, depraved nature. Through "prevenient grace," God removed the guilt of Adam's sin. Prevenient grace is defined as the preparatory work of the Holy Spirit, given to all, enabling a person to respond to God's call of salvation.
Election
Calvinism - Before the foundation of the world, God unconditionally chose some to be saved. Election has nothing to do with man's future response.
Arminianism - Election is based on God's foreknowledge of those who would believe in him through faith. In other words, God elected those who would choose him of their own free will. Conditional election is based on man's response.
Christ's Atonement
Calvinism - Jesus Christ died to save only those who were given to him (elected) by the Father in eternity past. Since Christ did not die for everyone, but only for the elect, his atonement is wholly successful.
Arminianism - Christ died for everyone. The Savior's atoning death provided the means of salvation for the entire human race. Christ's atonement, however, is effective only for those who believe.
Grace
Calvinism - While God extends his common grace to all mankind, it is not sufficient to save anyone. Only God's irresistible grace can draw the elect to salvation and make a person willing to respond. This grace cannot be obstructed or resisted.
Arminianism - Through the preparatory (prevenient) grace given to all by the Holy Spirit, man is able to cooperate with God and respond in faith to salvation. Through prevenient grace, God removed the effects of Adam's sin. Because of "free will" men are also able to resist God's grace.
Man's Will
Calvinism - All men are totally depraved, and this depravity extends to the entire person, including the will. Except for God's irresistible grace, men are entirely incapable of responding to God on their own.
Arminianism - Because prevenient grace is given to all men by the Holy Spirit, and this grace extends to the entire person, all people have free will.
Perseverance
Calvinism - Believers will persevere in salvation because God will see to it that none will be lost. Believers are secure in the faith because God will finish the work he began.
Arminianism - By the exercise of free will, believers can turn away or fall away from grace and lose their salvation.
It's important to note that all of the doctrinal points in both theological positions have a biblical foundation, which is why the debate has been so divisive throughout church history.
Christian denominations disagree over which points are correct, rejecting all or some of either system of theology, leaving most believers with a mixed perspective. Because both Calvinism and Arminianism deal with concepts that go far beyond human comprehension, the debate is certain to continue as finite beings try to explain an infinitely mysterious God.
Monday, October 5, 2015
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Reformed Theology
As I have studied, read and thought about Reformed Theology more in the past year, I am even more convinced of these concepts all throughout scripture. And we should thank God for it, because without his Grace we would all be lost in our sins. We are dark sinful people, totally depraved,not as bad as we could be but we are capable of anything. There is no limit to the depth of sin that we are capable of. Not a popular subject today. People don't want to hear of the need of a savior. People don't want to hear of their own sinfulness. They would rather hear what Jesus can do for them. They would rather hear things that tickle their ears, smooth things, easy to hear, not a call to action for me to change anything in my life, or my behavior.
I want to talk about repentance, forgiveness, God's wrath on sinners, and how by His grace, we don't have to be condemned. Those that God has saved, are no longer under condemnation. A holy God must punish sin. That's why He sent His Son to die on the cross. he desires sacrifice, a holy, perfect, blameless sacrifice. This is why our sin was imputed on Jesus on the cross. Not only that, but he goes further to impute Jesus righteousness on to us, so now there is no condemnation to the people of God, the elect. No one can condemn us no one can get take it away, no one can take that away. Not the devil that is not anything in this world we are secure he will complete the work he began in us no one can snatch us out of the father's hands we have done nothing to earn salvation we can do nothing to lose it it is only by Gods grace the overused phrase there but by the grace of God go I it's actually true without God's grace will be lost in our sins unable to save ourselves we were dead in our sins notches drowning but already did at the bottom of the ocean lungs full of water not waiting for a lifesaver that already did and through his miraculous mercy you save those by His stripes we are healed we are now called holy and righteous in His sight ambulance forward to the day we'll see him in heaven total dependence on God for everything all of our needs not just our physical needs the great promises of God are true he saved us and justified us and in the process of sanctification.
- T. Meiers
Inerrancy of Scripture
Start with the belief that Scripture is inerrant That is the basic foundation.
Perfect, true, trustworthy, unchanging, pure, inspired, Word of God.
If there is something that you read in one book of the Bible that seems to contradict somewhere else, guess who is wrong?
If you start with inerrancy, it has to be you.
Your exegisis is wrong. It's you.
Context is so important. Who is it written to? Why is it being written? What time period? What came before and after this?
What do other parts of the Bible have to say on this same subject or area?
Many people spend time and energy trying to find one little area that they can say "Aha, I found the mistake. " Some people have made it their life's work. But, if we accept inerrancy in the beginning and all throughout, there is no need to look for any discrepancy, because there is none.
Whatever we see as a contradiction, or mistake, has to be because of us. None of us: understand God's word fully.
Mark Twain famously said "It's not the parts of the Bible that I don't understand that bother me, It's the parts I do understand."
And so if goes with us. Some, even some Christians, get so hung up on one little fact that seems like a contradiction, that they miss the parts that are clear to everyone.
When Jesus said "You must be born again" and "Go and sin no more." These are pretty clear commands.
- T. Meiers
The Bible is Complete
"The Bible is the grand repository ... It is the complete system of divine truth, to which nothing can be added, and from which nothing can be taken, with impunity. Every attempt to disguise or soften any branch of this truth, in order to accommodate it to the prevailing taste around us, either to avoid the displeasure, or to court the favour, of our fellow mortals, must be an affront to the majesty of God, and an act of treachery to men."
- John Newton
Loving God
What does it mean to love God?
Jesus, who was God in the flesh, said If you love me you will keep my commandments.
That's where it starts. The commandments in the Bible. Not just the 10 commandments, but everything God has told us. Not just the red-letter things He said on this earth, but all of His commands.
The ones that are easy for you, and the hard ones. He has already given everything that we need to know in the Bible.
Hardest ones for me, and probably for all of us, is loving people. Jesus says to even love your enemies. Really? You want me to love this person who hates me? This person who did this terrible thing to me?
Jesus says "yes, I do." But Jesus, we say, you don't understand what this person did. This terrible thing, my situation is different, surely you don't mean that I have to forgive them. Jesus says "Yes, I know exactly what that person did, and I want you to love them." And we say I can't. And that's right. We can't. Nor on our own strength. Only through God can we love these people, because it is only through God that we are lovable, nothing in ourselves.
And not only love them, but also forgive them. Forgive them as Christ has forgiven us. There is no other option.
And this is one evidence that we are one of God's children. That we love others, and forgive them. They will know we are Christians by our love for one another. (John 13:35) That is fruit.
I'm not saying it's easy. Not by any earthly means. But only by God's strength.
- T. Meiers
Freedom from Sin
We have been shown this tremendous freedom from the slavery of sin. Sometimes we don't understand, once we tell people, why they don't "get it."
Our responsibility is to tell others and make disciples, and step out of the way, die to self, like John the Baptist, I must become less so He can become more.
The Holy Spirit will convict and bring others to repentance, and lead them to confession of sins, justification in Christ, and begin the process of sanctification. Illumination.
We gather to worship, to learn, to fellowship. (Definition of fellowship, I aways thought it was coffee and donuts after the service. I grew up in a church that said "after the service we will have a time of fellowship." But, it's everything's we do, Greek meaning, it's what we are doing right now.)
The church is for the people of God. If an unbeliever comes in, hopefully they will see the love of Christ manifest, and the Holy Spirit will speak to their hearts, and change their heart of stone to a heart of flesh.
(I love that analogy, a stone cold, dead, still, unfeeling heart, to a warm, alive, beating, loving and living heart of flesh.)
Then we scatter to evangelize. To change our little part of the world.
Ever since our children were small, my prayer has been that they would go out into this world and influence what and who they can, wherever they are, in their part of the world. And now, our oldest is a college student living on campus, meeting and influencing others and carrying on that legacy.
We are all born in sin, it's in our nature, its our default, our natural tendency. Just look at a baby, the most selfish creature ever.
They will let you know if they are hungry, or tired, or their needs are not being met. Some of us are still selfish. We can be very selfish, if things don't go exactly the way we had planned them, or they way we think they should. This is why we need God to change our hearts.
The most honest statement I have ever heard from a preacher, was years ago, and I paraphrase: "I was making stir fry on the stove top and some hot oil crackled out of the pan and landed on my hand. I let out a word that I don't usually say, but it came out, it was my default." He was admitting that he was human, sinful, and capable of the depths of sin. Many preachers would never admit to such a thing, and attempt to put up a front of Holiness, as a "man of God." and that is so wrong. We are all sinners saved only by God's grace to us.
Unmerited, Holy, perfect grace.
Friday, October 2, 2015
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Re: [New post] DiM | Worship Leader or Worship Pastor?
Respond to this post by replying above this line
Thanks for flying with WordPress.com
