For those who are way too interested: My computer might be non-operational for as much as two weeks (gasp). It depends on when I receive the package containing the newer Mac OS, Leopard, to which I am likely upgrading. This is pretty silly since I only use the Windows partition on my Mac, via Boot Camp Beta. However, the beta expires on the 31st and may prevent me from logging into XP until I shell out for the latest system. Meanwhile, I'm biding my time to see what happens before I drop the cash.
Whatever the case, it may be a while and I may resort to using another computer to announce the Providential Book Winner. If you don't hear from me, Happy New Year! Rest assured, I have autoblogs ready to post themselves for at least a fortnight.
Whatever the case, it may be a while and I may resort to using another computer to announce the Providential Book Winner. If you don't hear from me, Happy New Year! Rest assured, I have autoblogs ready to post themselves for at least a fortnight.
December is almost gone, which means you have just days to snatch up the opportunities. This month's Providential give-away is for Personal Declension 
and Revival of Religion in the Soul, by Octavius Winslow. It's a jewel, even if the title is a boulder.
and Revival of Religion in the Soul, by Octavius Winslow. It's a jewel, even if the title is a boulder.As well, ChristianAudio.com is giving away the first three months of Spurgeon's Morning & Evening, to be followed by the rest of the book later in 2009. Don't miss out on this soul-feeding devotional classic.
Listen to this blog entry:
Download .mp3
I have written this article in hopes of dispelling at least some of the confusion which arises whenever a believer in Sovereign Grace comes upon texts such as 1 John 2:2, which says,
Let us begin at the bottom of the mountain. Before we may understand a passage properly, we must understand the context and purpose for which it was written. In John's first recorded epistle, the apostle's overarching objective is to increase the joy of believers to persevere by promoting assurance of salvation to those who are born again, while demarcating boundaries which exclude and warn others still unregenerate. Hence, "I write these things that your joy may be full," and "hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him."
With this context, we now consider the particular passage, 1 John 2:2, "He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world," and take into account that John is a Jew, writing to Jews. It is our belief that the author here highlights the expansive scope of the New Covenant in contrast to the Old Covenant made with ethnic Israel, as now encompassing persons of every tribe, tongue, and people. This point is essential to his total argument, though not in the way moderns might expect. Understand that one does not easily shake thirty or forty years of habit, and the Jews to whom he writes might have been accustomed to automatically disassociating Gentiles from the circle of God's promises. After all, Paul himself describes Old Covenant Gentiles [Eph. 2:12], that they were "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." This custom of thought was also echoed by the Jerusalem brethren who exclaimed, "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." [Acts 11:18] Their silence and awe demonstrates the unexpected nature of the revelation. And so, John can hardly give assurance to Gentile believers if Jewish ones are questioning their inclusion. Nor can he grant fullest joy without underscoring the broad extent of Christ's redemption, for every true believer rejoices in the appearance of another saint, regardless of national origin.*
Now we must bear all of this in mind as we turn to John's statement that Christ "is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." Here the Apostle employs the term kosmos, for 'world'. Though having no less than eleven usages, throughout John's writing the term most frequently - almost without exception - implies "all without discrimination", rather than "all without exception". Again, kosmos intends 'many of all sorts', as opposed to 'every last one collectively'.
For example, John writes, "we are of God, but the whole world lieth in wickedness." [1 John 5:19] The writer distinguishes "we" from "the whole world", creating two groups. If this "whole world" meant every person alive, then claiming "we are of God" would become impossible, for these too would be in wickedness. In Luke 2:1 we find that "a decree went out that all the world should be taxed", though it did not go to Brazil, nor to certain historical figures we know to have been exempt, such as Caesar himself. This instance uses kosmos to mean many persons of all sorts. In Romans 1:8 we find that the faith of that people was "spoken of throughout the whole world." It was surely not spoken of in every last cottage, nor in some whole regions, but kosmos does not usually intend such a reading. The term simply tells that many of all sorts were included. I will not belabor citing and explaining numerous similar passages such as Rom. 3:19; Col. 1:6; Rev. 3:10; Rev. 12:9, and 13:3, all which use kosmos in the same way.
Coming again to 1 John 2:2, let us consider Matthew Henry's comments on Christ's propitiatory death,
Even as the proceeding verse, 1 John 2:1, promises Christ is the Advocate for sinners, we must remember John's familiarity with Jesus' own words, "the Son of Man came... to give His life as a ransom for many," [Matt 20:28] And, that after calling certain persons goats, the Lord said, "I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. " And so His life is laid down as a sacrifice specially for the elect, for whom He is an advocate. Meanwhile there is a world for whom He will not utter an advocating prayer. John 17 soberly recalls His prayer, "I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine... Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." John is thoroughly acquainted with the particular and effectual nuances of the atonement, but these he summons to further his argument.
In what way does the fact of an effectual propitiation of both Jews and Gentiles help a Christian to endure? Simply this: in magnifying the sovereign and extensive design of God to save persons of all sorts, by Christ's gracious propitiation, John assures his readers of Christ's sufficiency as Advocate and Redeemer, and promotes their faith and joy for perseverance. Believing that salvation is guaranteed to the elect and is received through faith in his blood [Rom. 3:25], causes those who have faith to resound with confidence, even to exclaim, "whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." [1 John 5:4] And in this way we may understand John's words, "these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. "
May God bless you with joy in the revelation of His victorious work.
----
*A third point might be to remind his audience that those who were saved in Old Covenant times were themselves received by grace through Christ, and not by works of the Law. This also benefits the point that perseverance is made joyful by faith in the victorious redemption of Christ.
If you're desiring a more thorough answer, then I recommend this article:
John Gill - Cause of God and Truth - 1 John 2:2
Download .mp3
I have written this article in hopes of dispelling at least some of the confusion which arises whenever a believer in Sovereign Grace comes upon texts such as 1 John 2:2, which says,
"[Christ] is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."The question we must ask is, how may Christ's propitiatory death be considered effectual if it seems here to include ones who are not ultimately saved?
Let us begin at the bottom of the mountain. Before we may understand a passage properly, we must understand the context and purpose for which it was written. In John's first recorded epistle, the apostle's overarching objective is to increase the joy of believers to persevere by promoting assurance of salvation to those who are born again, while demarcating boundaries which exclude and warn others still unregenerate. Hence, "I write these things that your joy may be full," and "hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him."
With this context, we now consider the particular passage, 1 John 2:2, "He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world," and take into account that John is a Jew, writing to Jews. It is our belief that the author here highlights the expansive scope of the New Covenant in contrast to the Old Covenant made with ethnic Israel, as now encompassing persons of every tribe, tongue, and people. This point is essential to his total argument, though not in the way moderns might expect. Understand that one does not easily shake thirty or forty years of habit, and the Jews to whom he writes might have been accustomed to automatically disassociating Gentiles from the circle of God's promises. After all, Paul himself describes Old Covenant Gentiles [Eph. 2:12], that they were "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." This custom of thought was also echoed by the Jerusalem brethren who exclaimed, "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." [Acts 11:18] Their silence and awe demonstrates the unexpected nature of the revelation. And so, John can hardly give assurance to Gentile believers if Jewish ones are questioning their inclusion. Nor can he grant fullest joy without underscoring the broad extent of Christ's redemption, for every true believer rejoices in the appearance of another saint, regardless of national origin.*
Now we must bear all of this in mind as we turn to John's statement that Christ "is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." Here the Apostle employs the term kosmos, for 'world'. Though having no less than eleven usages, throughout John's writing the term most frequently - almost without exception - implies "all without discrimination", rather than "all without exception". Again, kosmos intends 'many of all sorts', as opposed to 'every last one collectively'.
For example, John writes, "we are of God, but the whole world lieth in wickedness." [1 John 5:19] The writer distinguishes "we" from "the whole world", creating two groups. If this "whole world" meant every person alive, then claiming "we are of God" would become impossible, for these too would be in wickedness. In Luke 2:1 we find that "a decree went out that all the world should be taxed", though it did not go to Brazil, nor to certain historical figures we know to have been exempt, such as Caesar himself. This instance uses kosmos to mean many persons of all sorts. In Romans 1:8 we find that the faith of that people was "spoken of throughout the whole world." It was surely not spoken of in every last cottage, nor in some whole regions, but kosmos does not usually intend such a reading. The term simply tells that many of all sorts were included. I will not belabor citing and explaining numerous similar passages such as Rom. 3:19; Col. 1:6; Rev. 3:10; Rev. 12:9, and 13:3, all which use kosmos in the same way.
Coming again to 1 John 2:2, let us consider Matthew Henry's comments on Christ's propitiatory death,
"It is not confined to one nation; and not particularly to the ancient Israel of God: He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only (not only for the sins of us Jews, us that are Abraham's seed according to the flesh), but also for those of the whole world (v. 2); not only for the past, or us present believers, but for the sins of all who shall hereafter believe on him or come to God through him. The extent and intent of the Mediator's death reach to all tribes, nations, and countries. As he is the only, so he is the universal atonement and propitiation for all that are saved and brought home to God, and to his favour and forgiveness."Henry argues that Christ's propitiatory death intended and effected the redemption of only those who are finally "saved and brought home to God", simply because to do otherwise is to make the propitiation less than propitiatory. The very meaning of propitiation is to appease wrath and thereby conciliate the favor of an offended person. When we say that Christ's death was a propitiation, we are stating that God's wrath was actually satisfied towards persons by it! Practically, this means that our faith is not the basis of God's approval of us, but is only the means through which we receive the benefits already purchased on our behalf at the cross. Thus Paul writes, "By grace [the sovereign determination of God to propitiate by Christ on behalf of an elect group] you are saved through faith, not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." [Eph 2:8]
Even as the proceeding verse, 1 John 2:1, promises Christ is the Advocate for sinners, we must remember John's familiarity with Jesus' own words, "the Son of Man came... to give His life as a ransom for many," [Matt 20:28] And, that after calling certain persons goats, the Lord said, "I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. " And so His life is laid down as a sacrifice specially for the elect, for whom He is an advocate. Meanwhile there is a world for whom He will not utter an advocating prayer. John 17 soberly recalls His prayer, "I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine... Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." John is thoroughly acquainted with the particular and effectual nuances of the atonement, but these he summons to further his argument.
In what way does the fact of an effectual propitiation of both Jews and Gentiles help a Christian to endure? Simply this: in magnifying the sovereign and extensive design of God to save persons of all sorts, by Christ's gracious propitiation, John assures his readers of Christ's sufficiency as Advocate and Redeemer, and promotes their faith and joy for perseverance. Believing that salvation is guaranteed to the elect and is received through faith in his blood [Rom. 3:25], causes those who have faith to resound with confidence, even to exclaim, "whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." [1 John 5:4] And in this way we may understand John's words, "these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. "
May God bless you with joy in the revelation of His victorious work.
----
*A third point might be to remind his audience that those who were saved in Old Covenant times were themselves received by grace through Christ, and not by works of the Law. This also benefits the point that perseverance is made joyful by faith in the victorious redemption of Christ.
If you're desiring a more thorough answer, then I recommend this article:
John Gill - Cause of God and Truth - 1 John 2:2
I recently read an entry on a certain photographer's blog which told the story of his trip to India, and concluded with the question,
Regarding your query, "What was God thinking, etc," I wonder how you came to believe with surety that there is in fact only one God and not a pantheon, when the Indians by whom you were surrounded predominantly embrace millions of supposed deities?
Perhaps it was only a figure of speech, but if you do believe in one God, it may be interesting to consider that all three major monotheistic religions on the planet, and their tributaries, share a common theme regarding the broken state of the world, namely, that mankind is reaping consequences of mutual selfishness and rejection of God as their highest delight.
Have you had the pleasure of reading the bible, especially Genesis, John, and Romans? These books say that God created man able to live indefinitely, but that Adam's sin brought death and corruption. It also tells how God has subjected the world in hope, for the day approaches when the heavens and earth will be made new for those who will inherit it.
So, basically, the answer to your question which Christianity offers is that all men are by nature willing rebels to God's authority and purity, when compared to His perfect moral righteousness. Even the brevity of life enjoyed on earth is a gracious gift we by no means deserve. And after death comes judgment by Christ, who is God the Son incarnate, under which no man can be found innocent, for all have sinned. Guilty persons shall be cut off and the perfect will become heirs of the new world.
But if everyone is guilty, who gets the earth? Those alone who have received an imputed, legal righteousness from Christ. This they receive by faith in his atoning self-sacrifice. Though he was sinless, on the cross He bore their sins, so that by faith they receive the virtue of His obedience as if it were theirs. On the third day following his death he raised Himself from the dead, ate and spoke with men, was seen by five-hundred witnesses, and ascended into heaven to intercede for those He is saving. He is alive to receive the prayers of any who come to Him believing, no matter how sinful they have been.
Those who repent of self-trust, believing on Christ Jesus alone (as evidenced by their new found love of holiness, the sign of spiritual rebirth) will be given the title deed to earth and an everlasting life in the time to come.
So, there's an answer for your consideration. I'm no guru, I've just read the book and I believe it.
Grace to you, friend.
A fellow photographer,
-Michael Spotts:.
www.theopenlife.com
What the h*** was God thinking, to create such a magnificent, full, complex, challenging and diverse earth, and to give a human such a short time to get to know it?Though the statement was in all likelihood rhetorical, I saw an opportunity to share the gospel, and responded as follows.
* * *
Regarding your query, "What was God thinking, etc," I wonder how you came to believe with surety that there is in fact only one God and not a pantheon, when the Indians by whom you were surrounded predominantly embrace millions of supposed deities?
Perhaps it was only a figure of speech, but if you do believe in one God, it may be interesting to consider that all three major monotheistic religions on the planet, and their tributaries, share a common theme regarding the broken state of the world, namely, that mankind is reaping consequences of mutual selfishness and rejection of God as their highest delight.
Have you had the pleasure of reading the bible, especially Genesis, John, and Romans? These books say that God created man able to live indefinitely, but that Adam's sin brought death and corruption. It also tells how God has subjected the world in hope, for the day approaches when the heavens and earth will be made new for those who will inherit it.
So, basically, the answer to your question which Christianity offers is that all men are by nature willing rebels to God's authority and purity, when compared to His perfect moral righteousness. Even the brevity of life enjoyed on earth is a gracious gift we by no means deserve. And after death comes judgment by Christ, who is God the Son incarnate, under which no man can be found innocent, for all have sinned. Guilty persons shall be cut off and the perfect will become heirs of the new world.
But if everyone is guilty, who gets the earth? Those alone who have received an imputed, legal righteousness from Christ. This they receive by faith in his atoning self-sacrifice. Though he was sinless, on the cross He bore their sins, so that by faith they receive the virtue of His obedience as if it were theirs. On the third day following his death he raised Himself from the dead, ate and spoke with men, was seen by five-hundred witnesses, and ascended into heaven to intercede for those He is saving. He is alive to receive the prayers of any who come to Him believing, no matter how sinful they have been.
Those who repent of self-trust, believing on Christ Jesus alone (as evidenced by their new found love of holiness, the sign of spiritual rebirth) will be given the title deed to earth and an everlasting life in the time to come.
So, there's an answer for your consideration. I'm no guru, I've just read the book and I believe it.
Grace to you, friend.
A fellow photographer,
-Michael Spotts:.
www.theopenlife.com
Listen to this blog entry:
Download .mp3
This year I was asked to wear a Merry Christmas button at work. I politely asked to be excused from the obligation, stating that if it said, "Merry Advent," I would wear it happily;
but that given the strong Roman Catholic presence in Southern California, I did not wish to communicate and encourage something contrary to my beliefs.
Certainly there are many true believers who have no qualms with the word or celebration of Christmas. After all, many people innocently believe December 25th is when the Lord was born, and have no idea what the "Mas" in "Christmas" means.
My primary reason for objecting to the term is that an estimated one-billion Roman Catholics presently use that title and day to celebrate the supposed Eucharistic sacrifice of Christ. The reality is that there is no Mass of Christ to be continually offered for sin, again and again. Rather, He died once and for all time, and my faith is in His perfect sacrifice for forgiveness.
don't meet many people with real attachment to that Jesus figure, or to the idea of forgiveness based on faith alone in His death and resurrection." Maybe he just feels annoyed.
I would love a button that says,
Download .mp3
This year I was asked to wear a Merry Christmas button at work. I politely asked to be excused from the obligation, stating that if it said, "Merry Advent," I would wear it happily;
but that given the strong Roman Catholic presence in Southern California, I did not wish to communicate and encourage something contrary to my beliefs.Certainly there are many true believers who have no qualms with the word or celebration of Christmas. After all, many people innocently believe December 25th is when the Lord was born, and have no idea what the "Mas" in "Christmas" means.
My primary reason for objecting to the term is that an estimated one-billion Roman Catholics presently use that title and day to celebrate the supposed Eucharistic sacrifice of Christ. The reality is that there is no Mass of Christ to be continually offered for sin, again and again. Rather, He died once and for all time, and my faith is in His perfect sacrifice for forgiveness.
"We are sanctified [made righteous] through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man [Christ Jesus], after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God."Obviously every true Christian believes this, but not everyone tells it plainly to their managers, coworkers, and family. Though this may not be the case, my hope is that my manager went away thinking, "Wow, he has sincere religious convictions. I
- Hebrews 10:10-12
don't meet many people with real attachment to that Jesus figure, or to the idea of forgiveness based on faith alone in His death and resurrection." Maybe he just feels annoyed.I would love a button that says,
"December 25th is the day when most people covet gifts and food, but a few remember that God became a man, most likely in the summer. Thank God on that day for your gifts and food, and for Jesus who is the Savior of all who believe on Him."
More info about Alison can be found at her blog. Looking for other free music with an emphasis on solid Christian doctrine? Check out music.theopenlife.com.
"Come let us adore Him"
[Click Album Cover to view the cover-slip and lyrics.]
Original music and lyrics by Alison Van Lankvelt, unless otherwise noted.
All songs recorded and tracked by Alison Van Lankvelt 2008
Cover by Alison. Painting by Fannin. Other artwork and concept Michael Spotts:.
These songs are given freely to the public. Please do not modify or sell them.
(To download songs, right-click and save.)
1. El Elyon
2. O Come All Ye Faithful
3. O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
4. Breathe of me Breath of GOD
5. Majesty
6. O Come Emmanuel
7. Hiding Place
8. Redemption Song
9. O Holy Night
10. Doxology
Track Notes from Alison:
1. "El Elyon" means Most High GOD. Almost all words by: Paul Wilbur. I changed a couple words. The chords are by him too, but I arranged it my own way.
2. Traditional hymn.
3. Words by Charles Wesley. I wrote and arranged the music.
4. Original words, my own arrangement
5. I have no idea who this is originally by, I changed some of the words.
6. Traditional hymn
7. This is a hymn Jars of Clay re-did. I 'tweaked' it a little bit to make it my own.)
8. This one is entirely mine
9. Traditional hymn
10. Traditional hymn
1. "El Elyon" means Most High GOD. Almost all words by: Paul Wilbur. I changed a couple words. The chords are by him too, but I arranged it my own way.
2. Traditional hymn.
3. Words by Charles Wesley. I wrote and arranged the music.
4. Original words, my own arrangement
5. I have no idea who this is originally by, I changed some of the words.
6. Traditional hymn
7. This is a hymn Jars of Clay re-did. I 'tweaked' it a little bit to make it my own.)
8. This one is entirely mine
9. Traditional hymn
10. Traditional hymn
Where, then, did the mass come from, and of what avail is it? The Lord's Supper was intended to be the remembrancer to us of our Lord's sufferings; instead of which it has been prostituted by the Church of Rome into the blasphemy of a pretended 
continual offering up of the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, a continual sacrifice. According to the Romish doctrine the offering upon Calvary is not enough- the atonement for sin is not finished- it has to be performed every day, and many times a day, in the Catholic churches, by certain appointed persons, so that that sacrifice is always being offered.
continual offering up of the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, a continual sacrifice. According to the Romish doctrine the offering upon Calvary is not enough- the atonement for sin is not finished- it has to be performed every day, and many times a day, in the Catholic churches, by certain appointed persons, so that that sacrifice is always being offered.Oh! brethren, the mass is a mass of abominations, a mass of hell's own concocting, a crying insult gainst the Lord of glory. It is not to be spoken of in any terms but those of horror and detestation. Whenever I think of another sacrifice for sin being offered, by whoever it may be presented, I can only regard it as an infamous insult to the perfection of the Savior's work.
Popery swarms with worshipers of the god whom the baker bakes in the oven, and whom they bite with their teeth.
This video presented me with many thoughts about reality, humanity, and the disparity between what men are capable of and what they are satisfied with. Blaise Pascal, the French philosopher and mathematician, noted that one of the most disturbing tendencies of human nature is to fixate on trivialities, while neglecting things of most eminent important. Not one of these people seems to have any desire to meet their maker. I'm not surprised, but it is very grim and pitiful.
Here are some more thoughtful quotes from Pascal:
"As men are not able to fight against death, misery, ignorance, they have taken it into their heads, in order to be happy, not to think of them at all."
"All of our reasoning ends in surrender to feeling."
"There are two kinds of people one can call reasonable: those who serve God with all their heart because they know him, and those who seek him with all their heart because they do not know him."
"Between us and heaven or hell there is only life, which is the frailest thing in the world."
"Can anything be stupider than that a man has the right to kill me because he lives on the other side of a river and his ruler has a quarrel with mine, though I have not quarrelled with him?"
"Earnestness is enthusiasm tempered by reason."
"In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't."
"Men are so necessarily mad, that not to be mad would amount to another form of madness."
"Men despise religion; they hate it and fear it is true."
About Pascal:
Blaise Pascal was a Jansenist, a group regarded as heretical by the Pope for their belief in the depravity of man due to Adam's fall into sin, and in the necessity of free grace to receive salvation by faith alone in Christ alone. Obviously they were Augustinian. Blaise was himself converted, but also had a subsequent, mystical experience with God which left a life-long mark on his personal faith.
You can read more about his life here.
Listen to this blog entry:
Download .mp3
Mother gave the children the privilege of naming the puppy, so long as we could all agree. This democratic gesture was successful, and we unanimously elected the name Shovel Face, on account of the his snub nose. As is so often the case, democracy was usurped into an autocratic matriarchal overrule and my mother Christianed the unfortunate dog Meshach, after the Hebrew child in the book of Daniel. We have never received an explanation of her choice, but who expects one from a despot?
Over time, for reasons uncertain, I have come to call him almost any other name than his legal one. In fact, the handles for Meshach are legion.
- Mish-mosh
- Nick Nack
- Shimsham
- Meshie
- Mesho
- Shop Vac
- Shackles
- Mooper
- Guard Shack
- Shock Me, etc.
From the beginning Meshach and I had our differences. He adopted my bedroom for his bathroom. Whenever I came home he would growl and howl at me. To be fair,
this is probably more on account of his poor eyesight, sense of smell, and hearing than to do with dislike of me, personally.
Health has always been a concern with him. A hernia and some early sicknesses were the package deal with this pure-bred. On two separate instances he injured his protruding eyes on sticks, while nudging about the yard. This of course required surgery. He is now worth his weight in gold, if not in usefulness, and is the only dog I've known to have his own medical insurance.
While I have never seen much use in the stock he comes from, I would like to pay homage at least to his faithful residence with my family for these ten years. Here's to you, Mut Shack.
Download .mp3
When I was about twelve years old, my mother brought home a dog, if one may rightly call it that. He was a poor and pathetic little thing that almost fit into one's palm. The runt of the litter, purchased at a proportionate discount, he was otherwise a pure-bred Lhasa Apso, which means he was purely and intentionally unattractive. 
Supposedly they are amongst the oldest of breeds, strained from the dogs of Tibet and intended to guard monasteries. Whether this is by their incessant bark or haggard looks, I am not sure. It should be remembered that God created them wolves, but man has devised them Lhasa Apsos. What once was a noble species has become confused, a very Babel of diverse breeds dispersed through the world.
Supposedly they are amongst the oldest of breeds, strained from the dogs of Tibet and intended to guard monasteries. Whether this is by their incessant bark or haggard looks, I am not sure. It should be remembered that God created them wolves, but man has devised them Lhasa Apsos. What once was a noble species has become confused, a very Babel of diverse breeds dispersed through the world.Mother gave the children the privilege of naming the puppy, so long as we could all agree. This democratic gesture was successful, and we unanimously elected the name Shovel Face, on account of the his snub nose. As is so often the case, democracy was usurped into an autocratic matriarchal overrule and my mother Christianed the unfortunate dog Meshach, after the Hebrew child in the book of Daniel. We have never received an explanation of her choice, but who expects one from a despot?
Over time, for reasons uncertain, I have come to call him almost any other name than his legal one. In fact, the handles for Meshach are legion.
- Mish-mosh
- Nick Nack
- Shimsham
- Meshie
- Mesho
- Shop Vac
- Shackles
- Mooper
- Guard Shack
- Shock Me, etc.
From the beginning Meshach and I had our differences. He adopted my bedroom for his bathroom. Whenever I came home he would growl and howl at me. To be fair,
this is probably more on account of his poor eyesight, sense of smell, and hearing than to do with dislike of me, personally.Health has always been a concern with him. A hernia and some early sicknesses were the package deal with this pure-bred. On two separate instances he injured his protruding eyes on sticks, while nudging about the yard. This of course required surgery. He is now worth his weight in gold, if not in usefulness, and is the only dog I've known to have his own medical insurance.
While I have never seen much use in the stock he comes from, I would like to pay homage at least to his faithful residence with my family for these ten years. Here's to you, Mut Shack.
Below are links to the websites offering free classes. Be mindful, these are seminary courses and involve a lot of time, you know, like being in seminary. I have done several of the history courses to great profit but cannot vouch for everything here listed:
Covenant Theological Seminary
Reformed Theological Seminary
Trinity Foundation Lectures
I'm planning on systematically moving through some of these, maybe at a rate of 1 or 2 hours a day. It's great for people who are not otherwise able to go to school.
Covenant Theological Seminary
Reformed Theological Seminary
Trinity Foundation Lectures
I'm planning on systematically moving through some of these, maybe at a rate of 1 or 2 hours a day. It's great for people who are not otherwise able to go to school.
When I began viewing this video, I thought I was watching a movie because of Sproul's powerful speaking style. Actually it's just how he used to teach classes.
I finally accomplished something over at gratisaudio.com. A recording of twenty-three prayers from The Valley of Vision. You can check it out by going to the section entitled, Puritan Prayers.
My New Year's Resolution is to start making those long-awaited audio books.
My New Year's Resolution is to start making those long-awaited audio books.
Listen to this blog entry:
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(Arthur Pink, "Evil Speaking" 1935)
"Do not speak evil against each other, brethren." James 4:11
That which is here forbidden, is the saying of anything, be it true or false, to the harm of another. God requires that our words should be governed by "the law of kindness" (Proverbs 31:26), and anything which would hurt or injure the reputation of another, is to be rigidly shunned. Whenever I cannot speak well of my brother or sister, I must say nothing at all. To speak evil of others, proceeds from ill will or malice--desiring that they should be made odious in the esteem of others.
It is devilish to take delight in exposing the faults of fellow-Christians, and stirring up prejudice and bitter feelings against them (Rev. 12:10). God requires that our words should agree with love--as well as with truth. Since Christians are brethren, the last thing they should be guilty of is defaming one another!
Except where the glory of God plainly requires it, and the good of that person demands it--we must refrain from all evil speaking of others. If we are duly occupied with and humbled over our own many faults--we shall have neither time nor inclination to dwell upon or publish those of others! If we properly heed the exhortation of Philippians 4:8, we shall cultivate the habit of admiring the graces in our brethren--instead of being like filthy flies, settling on their sores!
Well may we pray, "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord! Keep watch over the door of my lips!" Psalm 141:3
Download .mp3
(Arthur Pink, "Evil Speaking" 1935)
"Do not speak evil against each other, brethren." James 4:11
That which is here forbidden, is the saying of anything, be it true or false, to the harm of another. God requires that our words should be governed by "the law of kindness" (Proverbs 31:26), and anything which would hurt or injure the reputation of another, is to be rigidly shunned. Whenever I cannot speak well of my brother or sister, I must say nothing at all. To speak evil of others, proceeds from ill will or malice--desiring that they should be made odious in the esteem of others.
It is devilish to take delight in exposing the faults of fellow-Christians, and stirring up prejudice and bitter feelings against them (Rev. 12:10). God requires that our words should agree with love--as well as with truth. Since Christians are brethren, the last thing they should be guilty of is defaming one another!
Except where the glory of God plainly requires it, and the good of that person demands it--we must refrain from all evil speaking of others. If we are duly occupied with and humbled over our own many faults--we shall have neither time nor inclination to dwell upon or publish those of others! If we properly heed the exhortation of Philippians 4:8, we shall cultivate the habit of admiring the graces in our brethren--instead of being like filthy flies, settling on their sores!
Well may we pray, "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord! Keep watch over the door of my lips!" Psalm 141:3
How about a doll that says "Islam is the Light?" That's right, Mattel has released a doll which reportedly has parents alarmed nationwide. Marketed as "Little Mommy", instead of cooing it seems to suggest religious phrases. Spook factor five!
*Postscript Update at bottom, for 12/12/08, not included in the audio version.*
Listen to this blog entry:
Download .mp3
Many people have stumbled over 2 Peter 2, citing it as a 'problem passage' for Calvinists. The so-called issue is found in the word 'bought' being applied to evident reprobates. Let us look first to the text,
I take the purchase here mentioned to be covenantal and to deal with broader aspects of the New Covenant than the particular atonement for sin. By 'covenantal', one must understand that every covenant includes terms, together with promises of rewards or penalties, but not every covenant guarantees the moral means of fulfilling those terms. For instance, consider the Old Covenant made with the nation of Israel. This covenant was ten commandments written on stone tablets:
"He wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments." - Exodus 34:28
"When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant."
-Deuteronomy 9:9-11
The ten commandments received at Mount Sinai functioned together as the foundation document for the nation. Specifically, the covenant was an if/then agreement promising life to those who perfectly heeded its terms, and judgment to those who erred. What the ten commandments, as a covenant, did not provide was the moral impetus to fulfill the terms perfectly. For this reason, the law which was good in itself became a yoke and burden to the people upon which it rested.
"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant [ten commandments], then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." -Exodus 19:4-6
In Galatians 4, Paul highlights the burden of the terms of the Old Covenant when he refers to the ten commandments in their covanental function, as "bondage" to Mount Sinai. It is important to note that he is not speaking here about the ceremonial law, though that too is dispensed as an obsoleted administration of the Old Covenant, but of the ten commandments themselves as a covenantal system. If this were not the case, his reference to Sinai would be irrelevant:
"Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children." - Galatians 4:21-25
And so we see the ten commandments as a life and death covenant are a burden impossible to bear. They promise life to anyone who keeps them perfectly, but "all have sinned", and the "wages of sin are death." Because the law cannot remove sin nature, it offers no help to the already fallen man. Though the terms are clear, the moral will is not present to fulfill them. The promise is true, but the requirements are impossible for ones born of Adam.
With this understanding of covenantal terms and promises, we come to 2 Peter, and the New Covenant established by Christ's death. It is imperative to understand that there was more than one object to be accomplished in the crucifixion.
[1] The first object was the creation of a New Covenant with new terms.
[2] The second was the propitiation of God's justice for those, and only those, who would fulfill the terms.
First we shall deal with the object of creating a New Covenant with new terms. By his death and resurrection Christ purchased the terms of the New Covenant for all the world, and in this sense He has the rightful place as sole "Savior of all the world, especially of them that believe." [1 Tim. 4:10] Which is to say, He is the only Savior held out, the only Snake lifted up, the only Way, Truth, and Life by which men are directed to come to the Father, and that His salvation is only apprehended through belief. Herein lies the essence of New Covenant terms. Those who would have life must cease from law-righteousness, accepting the atonement to provide through faith the imputed righteous of Christ to all who believe on Him.
These terms are illuminated by Christ Himself, particularly in the sign of the New Covenant,
"The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament [covenant, GRK] in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me."
Whereas the Old Covenant said, "fulfill the ten commandments and you will have life," the New Covenant says, "believe on Christ, who fulfilled the law and bore its curses, and you shall have life." This belief is more than bare intellectual assent to the historical facts, but is likened by Jesus to "eating" the Substitute, that is, inwardly appropriating the Covenant Head.
"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever." - John 6:53-58
By faith one must partake of Christ's atonement; that is, one must inwardly receive his afflictions and sufferings under God's wrath to be a satisfactory means of life. One must eat of this broken body and spilled blood by trusting it to be a sufficient satisfaction for the sins of those who it atoned for, namely of all who will believe. So again there are clear terms in the New Covenant, and these terms could not have existed unless Christ was "broken" and "poured out."
This leaves the final question, in what sense does the New Covenant buy reprobates such as those described in 2 Peter 2? We glance at the text again, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." This purchase refers to some deliverance, such as the children of Israel were 'bought' from Egypt, and implies a due moral response which these are denying. Calling to mind the multitude who were lead through the Red Sea and yet perished in the wilderness, we remember that there are deliverances unto terms and promises, as well as unto life. The children of Israel were pictured escaping from utter hopelessness, to be saved at last only through perseverance in hope. They were delivered from bondage up to a decision, and their response would determine their fate.
This is to teach us that Christ's New Covenant holds out a great hope to the Jew and the Gentile. The son of Jacob has not kept the ten commandments, yet he could have faith in Christ if only he would. And the Gentiles who were formerly "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world" [Ephesians 2] are given access by faith in Christ to the very holy of holies. The whole world has been delivered from the impossibility of the personal righteousness required by the Law, up to the hope of imputed righteousness in Christ by faith. And like the wanderers in the wilderness, there are many now presented the means of escape by the gospel who will die in unbelief. The promised rest lies ahead of them, the Manna is offered. They should eat and live, if only they would take it. In this sense Peter says, verse 20, "It had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." They are ones with much light, who will receive greater stripes for their refusal of the terms. They are ones bought by Christ's death from utter hopelessness under the law, unto the promise of life by faith - the "way of righteousness" - who turn back from the light lest their deeds be exposed.
And so, my understanding is that 2 Peter 2 deals with false converts who were aware of the terms of the New Covenant, made an outward profession, and yet forsook the offer of life given by the covenant. They did not fulfill the terms and so were not saved. That they were false converts is plain enough by the description of them. The least ambiguous text in 1 John says plainly that, "They [false professors] went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." These heard the terms, "Eat and live, forgo and die," but chose for themselves the momentary dainties of the present world.
To add a final word, which is addresses in greater detail elsewhere, I would only mention that there was something else which occurred in the crucifixion. As Jesus was broken and poured out, sealing the New Covenant terms, he was also reconciling God to His Church. For these something more was won. By atoning for their sins, Christ purchased the right to regenerate the souls of sinners. By this work, His Spirit brings to life dead men, rebirthing their natures after the Spirit who bears them, and calling forth faith out of unbelief. By grace he gives the moral impetus by which men become willing to repent and believe on Christ.
"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." - Jeremiah 31:31-34
"Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, knowing it is God who works in you both to will and to do according to His good pleasure." Philippians 2:12-13
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:4-10
"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." - Titus 3:4-8
May God bless the reader with the joy of the gospel of grace.
With love in Christ,
-Michael:.
*Postscript Update, 12/12/08*
A fellow named Scott emailed me with this comment:
Scott, thanks for reading my post and taking time to write. Actually, I only briefly considered the passage in the way you suggest. While I think the option has certain merits (it's certainly easier to explain), I do find an issue. Being no Greek expert, I can only look at the English phrase, "denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction" and see what appears to be a connection between "them" and "themselves", as the same persons. Because destruction is coming upon the persons called "themselves", it makes sense that "them" refers to the heretics.
The preceding phrase, "there were false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you" could be suggestive of "them" being used to describe God's people, as you wrote. But, in the first place, the switch from "you" to "them" seems unnatural if it relates the same people, because it would then sound as if God's purchase of national Israel, which are the people among whom these false prophets were mentioned, is separate from the buying of the present "you" to whom Peter writes. That interpretation only works if the buying is strictly in reference to the deliverance from Egypt, which, I believe, was John Gill's view. However, even this view seems to disconnect "them", which in this case would mean "the former false prophets" from "themselves", which would be the present false teachers of which Peter warns. By this understanding, the phrase would become, "there were false prophets also among the [national] people [of Israel], even as there shall be false teachers among you [the Christian Church], who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought [the false prophets who were among the national people of Israel], and bring upon themselves [i.e., the present false teachers] swift destruction. This only confounds the verse to my mind, saying that present teachers are somehow denying the Lord who bought the former false prophets. While that is true in the sense we have described earlier, it is less obvious to me than the way I have presented.
Does that make sense?
Thank you again, and may God bless us with understanding.
In Jesus name,
Mike:.
Listen to this blog entry:
Download .mp3
Many people have stumbled over 2 Peter 2, citing it as a 'problem passage' for Calvinists. The so-called issue is found in the word 'bought' being applied to evident reprobates. Let us look first to the text,
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."This construct gives the appearance of an ineffectual atonement, one which neither successfully purchased the Elect nor propitiated the Father. However, I believe the problem which seems at first to be a blot on the doctrines of grace is found at last to be a smear on the glasses of him who reads it, and like all scriptures is more easily understood with a view unobstructed by native presuppositions. May God by these words remove scales.
I take the purchase here mentioned to be covenantal and to deal with broader aspects of the New Covenant than the particular atonement for sin. By 'covenantal', one must understand that every covenant includes terms, together with promises of rewards or penalties, but not every covenant guarantees the moral means of fulfilling those terms. For instance, consider the Old Covenant made with the nation of Israel. This covenant was ten commandments written on stone tablets:
"He wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments." - Exodus 34:28
"When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant."
-Deuteronomy 9:9-11
The ten commandments received at Mount Sinai functioned together as the foundation document for the nation. Specifically, the covenant was an if/then agreement promising life to those who perfectly heeded its terms, and judgment to those who erred. What the ten commandments, as a covenant, did not provide was the moral impetus to fulfill the terms perfectly. For this reason, the law which was good in itself became a yoke and burden to the people upon which it rested.
"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant [ten commandments], then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." -Exodus 19:4-6
In Galatians 4, Paul highlights the burden of the terms of the Old Covenant when he refers to the ten commandments in their covanental function, as "bondage" to Mount Sinai. It is important to note that he is not speaking here about the ceremonial law, though that too is dispensed as an obsoleted administration of the Old Covenant, but of the ten commandments themselves as a covenantal system. If this were not the case, his reference to Sinai would be irrelevant:
"Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children." - Galatians 4:21-25
And so we see the ten commandments as a life and death covenant are a burden impossible to bear. They promise life to anyone who keeps them perfectly, but "all have sinned", and the "wages of sin are death." Because the law cannot remove sin nature, it offers no help to the already fallen man. Though the terms are clear, the moral will is not present to fulfill them. The promise is true, but the requirements are impossible for ones born of Adam.
With this understanding of covenantal terms and promises, we come to 2 Peter, and the New Covenant established by Christ's death. It is imperative to understand that there was more than one object to be accomplished in the crucifixion.
[1] The first object was the creation of a New Covenant with new terms.
[2] The second was the propitiation of God's justice for those, and only those, who would fulfill the terms.
First we shall deal with the object of creating a New Covenant with new terms. By his death and resurrection Christ purchased the terms of the New Covenant for all the world, and in this sense He has the rightful place as sole "Savior of all the world, especially of them that believe." [1 Tim. 4:10] Which is to say, He is the only Savior held out, the only Snake lifted up, the only Way, Truth, and Life by which men are directed to come to the Father, and that His salvation is only apprehended through belief. Herein lies the essence of New Covenant terms. Those who would have life must cease from law-righteousness, accepting the atonement to provide through faith the imputed righteous of Christ to all who believe on Him.
These terms are illuminated by Christ Himself, particularly in the sign of the New Covenant,
"The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament [covenant, GRK] in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me."
Whereas the Old Covenant said, "fulfill the ten commandments and you will have life," the New Covenant says, "believe on Christ, who fulfilled the law and bore its curses, and you shall have life." This belief is more than bare intellectual assent to the historical facts, but is likened by Jesus to "eating" the Substitute, that is, inwardly appropriating the Covenant Head.
"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever." - John 6:53-58
By faith one must partake of Christ's atonement; that is, one must inwardly receive his afflictions and sufferings under God's wrath to be a satisfactory means of life. One must eat of this broken body and spilled blood by trusting it to be a sufficient satisfaction for the sins of those who it atoned for, namely of all who will believe. So again there are clear terms in the New Covenant, and these terms could not have existed unless Christ was "broken" and "poured out."
This leaves the final question, in what sense does the New Covenant buy reprobates such as those described in 2 Peter 2? We glance at the text again, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." This purchase refers to some deliverance, such as the children of Israel were 'bought' from Egypt, and implies a due moral response which these are denying. Calling to mind the multitude who were lead through the Red Sea and yet perished in the wilderness, we remember that there are deliverances unto terms and promises, as well as unto life. The children of Israel were pictured escaping from utter hopelessness, to be saved at last only through perseverance in hope. They were delivered from bondage up to a decision, and their response would determine their fate.
This is to teach us that Christ's New Covenant holds out a great hope to the Jew and the Gentile. The son of Jacob has not kept the ten commandments, yet he could have faith in Christ if only he would. And the Gentiles who were formerly "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world" [Ephesians 2] are given access by faith in Christ to the very holy of holies. The whole world has been delivered from the impossibility of the personal righteousness required by the Law, up to the hope of imputed righteousness in Christ by faith. And like the wanderers in the wilderness, there are many now presented the means of escape by the gospel who will die in unbelief. The promised rest lies ahead of them, the Manna is offered. They should eat and live, if only they would take it. In this sense Peter says, verse 20, "It had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." They are ones with much light, who will receive greater stripes for their refusal of the terms. They are ones bought by Christ's death from utter hopelessness under the law, unto the promise of life by faith - the "way of righteousness" - who turn back from the light lest their deeds be exposed.
And so, my understanding is that 2 Peter 2 deals with false converts who were aware of the terms of the New Covenant, made an outward profession, and yet forsook the offer of life given by the covenant. They did not fulfill the terms and so were not saved. That they were false converts is plain enough by the description of them. The least ambiguous text in 1 John says plainly that, "They [false professors] went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." These heard the terms, "Eat and live, forgo and die," but chose for themselves the momentary dainties of the present world.
To add a final word, which is addresses in greater detail elsewhere, I would only mention that there was something else which occurred in the crucifixion. As Jesus was broken and poured out, sealing the New Covenant terms, he was also reconciling God to His Church. For these something more was won. By atoning for their sins, Christ purchased the right to regenerate the souls of sinners. By this work, His Spirit brings to life dead men, rebirthing their natures after the Spirit who bears them, and calling forth faith out of unbelief. By grace he gives the moral impetus by which men become willing to repent and believe on Christ.
"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." - Jeremiah 31:31-34
"Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, knowing it is God who works in you both to will and to do according to His good pleasure." Philippians 2:12-13
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:4-10
"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." - Titus 3:4-8
May God bless the reader with the joy of the gospel of grace.
With love in Christ,
-Michael:.
*Postscript Update, 12/12/08*
A fellow named Scott emailed me with this comment:
Have you given any thought to my post that the “them” in “bought them” refers back to the people in the first part of the verse. The “themselves” would still be capable of being directed at the false teachers. If you did the substitution, then 2Peter2:1 would read like this,“ But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought God’s people (ie., believers )---bringing swift destruction (not on the people) but on themselves, the false prophets.”
The solid internal consistency resulting from this application seems a strong indication that the “them” is the “people”.
Scott, thanks for reading my post and taking time to write. Actually, I only briefly considered the passage in the way you suggest. While I think the option has certain merits (it's certainly easier to explain), I do find an issue. Being no Greek expert, I can only look at the English phrase, "denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction" and see what appears to be a connection between "them" and "themselves", as the same persons. Because destruction is coming upon the persons called "themselves", it makes sense that "them" refers to the heretics.
The preceding phrase, "there were false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you" could be suggestive of "them" being used to describe God's people, as you wrote. But, in the first place, the switch from "you" to "them" seems unnatural if it relates the same people, because it would then sound as if God's purchase of national Israel, which are the people among whom these false prophets were mentioned, is separate from the buying of the present "you" to whom Peter writes. That interpretation only works if the buying is strictly in reference to the deliverance from Egypt, which, I believe, was John Gill's view. However, even this view seems to disconnect "them", which in this case would mean "the former false prophets" from "themselves", which would be the present false teachers of which Peter warns. By this understanding, the phrase would become, "there were false prophets also among the [national] people [of Israel], even as there shall be false teachers among you [the Christian Church], who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought [the false prophets who were among the national people of Israel], and bring upon themselves [i.e., the present false teachers] swift destruction. This only confounds the verse to my mind, saying that present teachers are somehow denying the Lord who bought the former false prophets. While that is true in the sense we have described earlier, it is less obvious to me than the way I have presented.
Does that make sense?
Thank you again, and may God bless us with understanding.
In Jesus name,
Mike:.
I found these videos on Lane Chaplin's blog channel. Pastor Mark Kielar expounds on one of the most misunderstood doctrines of Christianity.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
For more info, check out:
Did early Christians believe in free will? (theopenlife.com)
Free Will: A Slave by Charles Spurgeon
Audio: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo...
Text: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0052.htm
I recently photographed an enormous family for their first complete get-together in years. Working indoors at night, with limited space and lots of people made the event challenging. Even backed against the wall, I needed to merge three shots in Photoshop to frame the entire group. Yikes. The time was quite enjoyable, however, given the fun company. Thanks for the pizza, Eug!
Just click the image to advance through. Thumbnails at the bottom.
Just click the image to advance through. Thumbnails at the bottom.
Wanna see that group portrait larger? Click the photo...
Listen to this blog entry:
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Have you ever stopped to thank God for the extinction of dinosaurs? I did tonight after considering the sort of menace such creatures must have been to whom or whatever encountered them. Imagine the dreadful scene, of being pursued by a monstrosity twenty or more feet tall, swift of foot and burnishing a cutler's set of teeth and claws with size and edge of butcher's knives. Sharpened wooden spears would blunt upon the brazen plates of this lusus naturae. Seeing as God considered all His creation to be "very good", what a kindness of Him to answer the prayers of primitive men and be rid once-for-all with the tyrannical beasts!
Download .mp3
Have you ever stopped to thank God for the extinction of dinosaurs? I did tonight after considering the sort of menace such creatures must have been to whom or whatever encountered them. Imagine the dreadful scene, of being pursued by a monstrosity twenty or more feet tall, swift of foot and burnishing a cutler's set of teeth and claws with size and edge of butcher's knives. Sharpened wooden spears would blunt upon the brazen plates of this lusus naturae. Seeing as God considered all His creation to be "very good", what a kindness of Him to answer the prayers of primitive men and be rid once-for-all with the tyrannical beasts!
I realize some high-brow naturalist or scientific aficionado might read these opinions with aghast disdain. Such would prefer all men eaten before losing a single lower species to extinction. Pairing it to my faith they might chide, "concern for the next world gives him no regard for this one." May I remind that the greatest conservationist of all time was one Noah, whom I hold for a hero? In his vein I too support proper maintenance of our world, and in fact relish natural wonders which abound. On my shelf is a subscription to National Geographic. There is a difference, however, between saving spotted owls and wishing to have again tyrannosaurs rex and velosa raptors, and it is largely appetite. Several tigers and jackals to hold down the rodent population, mankind can endure. But behemoth lizards and flying predatory leviathans? Thank God they are dead.
The following children's song [1] is pertinent, set to the tune of "The Farmer and the Dell",Tyranasuarus RexFor editorial (though dubiously unscientific) purposes, I submit this video,
The animals you vex.
You beat them up
And eat them up
And leave a pile of wrecks.
Hopefully this post has brought some light-hearted rejoicing over the many things we take for granted. What good things are you thankful for today?
[1] http://www.mnstate.edu/gallo/Dinosaur%20stff/Dinosaur%20Index.htm
Listen to this blog entry:
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Recently I was told that in order to be saved, one "must confess all known sin in your life and with a sincere and rent heart ask God for forgiveness and confess that He [Christ] is Lord as He claimed in the Bible."
An important correction must be made to this statement, which I am dismayed to believe is very common. Namely, one does not have to confess all known sin in order to be saved. The thief on the cross certainly did not. He simply owned his sinfulness, and with faith looked to Christ's power to forgive and provide entry into the Kingdom. It is not that one must name every sin in particular, or even all those he can think of, or this would leave him always wondering if he had confessed enough. It suffices simply to own that we are sinful to a degree that we are quite unacceptable to God by anything we could ever do; that we cannot atone for ourselves even by a reformed life. In this way we confess not the particular extent our sins (for who could know it?) but the extent of Christ's power to save.
Download .mp3
Recently I was told that in order to be saved, one "must confess all known sin in your life and with a sincere and rent heart ask God for forgiveness and confess that He [Christ] is Lord as He claimed in the Bible."
An important correction must be made to this statement, which I am dismayed to believe is very common. Namely, one does not have to confess all known sin in order to be saved. The thief on the cross certainly did not. He simply owned his sinfulness, and with faith looked to Christ's power to forgive and provide entry into the Kingdom. It is not that one must name every sin in particular, or even all those he can think of, or this would leave him always wondering if he had confessed enough. It suffices simply to own that we are sinful to a degree that we are quite unacceptable to God by anything we could ever do; that we cannot atone for ourselves even by a reformed life. In this way we confess not the particular extent our sins (for who could know it?) but the extent of Christ's power to save.
Listen to this blog entry:
Download .mp3
(From the Letters of John Newton)
Alas, how vain is man! What a contradiction is a believer to himself!
If I were to describe him from the Scriptural portrait--I would say that he is one whose heart is athirst for God, for His glory, and for His presence; that his affections are fixed upon an unseen Savior; that his treasures, and consequently his thoughts, are on eternal realities, far beyond the bounds of sense. Having experienced much God's forgiveness, he is full of mercy and forgiveness to all around. Having been often deceived by his own heart, he dares trust it no more--but lives by faith in the Son of God--for wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification, and derives from Him grace upon grace; sensible that without Him--he has not sufficiency even to think a good thought! In short--he is dead to the world, to sin, to self; but alive to God, and lively in His service. Prayer is his breath, the Word of God is his food, and Christ is more precious to him than the light of the sun. Such is a believer--in his judgment and prevailing desires.
But was I to describe him from his actual experience, especially at some times--how different would the picture be!
Though he knows that communion with God is his highest privilege, he too seldom finds it so; on the contrary, if duty, conscience, and necessity did not compel him--he would leave the throne of grace unvisited from day to day!
He takes up the Bible, conscious that it is the fountain of life and true comfort; yet perhaps, while he is making the reflection, he feels a secret distaste, which prompts him to lay it down, and give his preference to a newspaper!
He needs not to be told of the vanity and uncertainty of the world, and all beneath the sun; and yet he is almost as much elated or cast down by a trifle--as those who have their only portion in this world!
He believes that all things shall work together for his good, and that the most high God appoints, adjusts, and overrules all of his concerns; yet he feels the risings of fear, anxiety, and displeasure, as though the contrary was true!
He owns himself to be ignorant, and liable to be deceived by a thousand fallacies; yet he is easily betrayed into flattering views of himself, and self-conceit! He feels himself to be an unprofitable, unfaithful, unthankful servant--and therefore blushes to harbor a thought of desiring the esteem and commendations of men--yet he cannot suppress it!
By these exercises of sin and grace--the Lord teaches us more truly to know and feel the utter depravity and corruption of our whole nature--that we are indeed defiled in every part! His method of salvation is hereby exceedingly endeared to us! We see that it is and must be of grace, wholly of grace; and that the Lord Jesus Christ, and His perfect righteousness, is and must be--our all in all.
God's power likewise, in maintaining His own work, notwithstanding our infirmities, temptations, and enemies--is hereby displayed in the clearest light; His strength is manifested in our weakness!
Satan likewise, is more remarkably disappointed and put to shame--when he finds bounds set to his rage and wiles, beyond which he cannot pass; and that those in whom he finds so much evil to work upon, and over whom he so often prevails for a season--escape at last out of his hands!
He casts them down--but they are raised again!
He wounds them--but they are healed!
He obtains his desire to sift them as wheat--but the prayer of their great Advocate prevails for the maintenance of their faith!
Further, by what believers feel in themselves--they learn by degrees how to warn, pity, and bear with others. A soft, patient, and compassionate spirit, and a readiness and skill in comforting those who are cast down--is not perhaps attainable in any other way!
I believe that nothing more habitually reconciles a child of God to the thought of death, than the wearisomeness of this warfare with sin and temptation. Death is unwelcome to human nature. But the Christian knows that not until death--will the conflict cease! Then we shall sin no more! The flesh, with all its attendant evils, will be laid in the grave. Then the soul, which has been partaker of a new and heavenly birth, shall be freed from every encumbrance, and stand perfect in the Redeemer's righteousness before God in eternal glory! When we see Jesus, we shall be transformed into His image--and be done with sin and sorrow forever!
Taken from http://www.gracegems.org/
(Font embelishments extant in the original)
Download .mp3
(From the Letters of John Newton)
Alas, how vain is man! What a contradiction is a believer to himself!
If I were to describe him from the Scriptural portrait--I would say that he is one whose heart is athirst for God, for His glory, and for His presence; that his affections are fixed upon an unseen Savior; that his treasures, and consequently his thoughts, are on eternal realities, far beyond the bounds of sense. Having experienced much God's forgiveness, he is full of mercy and forgiveness to all around. Having been often deceived by his own heart, he dares trust it no more--but lives by faith in the Son of God--for wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification, and derives from Him grace upon grace; sensible that without Him--he has not sufficiency even to think a good thought! In short--he is dead to the world, to sin, to self; but alive to God, and lively in His service. Prayer is his breath, the Word of God is his food, and Christ is more precious to him than the light of the sun. Such is a believer--in his judgment and prevailing desires.
But was I to describe him from his actual experience, especially at some times--how different would the picture be!
Though he knows that communion with God is his highest privilege, he too seldom finds it so; on the contrary, if duty, conscience, and necessity did not compel him--he would leave the throne of grace unvisited from day to day!
He takes up the Bible, conscious that it is the fountain of life and true comfort; yet perhaps, while he is making the reflection, he feels a secret distaste, which prompts him to lay it down, and give his preference to a newspaper!
He needs not to be told of the vanity and uncertainty of the world, and all beneath the sun; and yet he is almost as much elated or cast down by a trifle--as those who have their only portion in this world!
He believes that all things shall work together for his good, and that the most high God appoints, adjusts, and overrules all of his concerns; yet he feels the risings of fear, anxiety, and displeasure, as though the contrary was true!
He owns himself to be ignorant, and liable to be deceived by a thousand fallacies; yet he is easily betrayed into flattering views of himself, and self-conceit! He feels himself to be an unprofitable, unfaithful, unthankful servant--and therefore blushes to harbor a thought of desiring the esteem and commendations of men--yet he cannot suppress it!
By these exercises of sin and grace--the Lord teaches us more truly to know and feel the utter depravity and corruption of our whole nature--that we are indeed defiled in every part! His method of salvation is hereby exceedingly endeared to us! We see that it is and must be of grace, wholly of grace; and that the Lord Jesus Christ, and His perfect righteousness, is and must be--our all in all.
God's power likewise, in maintaining His own work, notwithstanding our infirmities, temptations, and enemies--is hereby displayed in the clearest light; His strength is manifested in our weakness!
Satan likewise, is more remarkably disappointed and put to shame--when he finds bounds set to his rage and wiles, beyond which he cannot pass; and that those in whom he finds so much evil to work upon, and over whom he so often prevails for a season--escape at last out of his hands!
He casts them down--but they are raised again!
He wounds them--but they are healed!
He obtains his desire to sift them as wheat--but the prayer of their great Advocate prevails for the maintenance of their faith!
Further, by what believers feel in themselves--they learn by degrees how to warn, pity, and bear with others. A soft, patient, and compassionate spirit, and a readiness and skill in comforting those who are cast down--is not perhaps attainable in any other way!
I believe that nothing more habitually reconciles a child of God to the thought of death, than the wearisomeness of this warfare with sin and temptation. Death is unwelcome to human nature. But the Christian knows that not until death--will the conflict cease! Then we shall sin no more! The flesh, with all its attendant evils, will be laid in the grave. Then the soul, which has been partaker of a new and heavenly birth, shall be freed from every encumbrance, and stand perfect in the Redeemer's righteousness before God in eternal glory! When we see Jesus, we shall be transformed into His image--and be done with sin and sorrow forever!
Taken from http://www.gracegems.org/
(Font embelishments extant in the original)
I am pleased to announce the winner of the November Providential Classic Book Give-Away of A. W. Pink's, Profiting from the Word. The Elect One is Nicole Sobers, from Winter Springs, FL. Congrats! And to everyone else, way to go! Since everyone memorized all seven verses, as a reward, Roniya, Joshua, and Erin may each choose either Pink's book or any of the Puritan Paperbacks. Please post your name, mailing address, and the title of the book you prefer. Nicole, you'll receive both Profiting from the Word and another book of your choice.
This month's classic is one that dramatically improved my understanding of sanctification. This jewel of spiritual comfort is Personal Declension and Revival of Religion in the Soul, by Octavius Winslow. The title is long but the message is simple: there are specific reasons why we have "ups and downs" in our devotion to Christ, and Pastor Winslow is a doctor well trained to diagnose and prescribe treatments. Already own it? If you win, you may pick any one of the Puritan Paperbacks series instead.
This months scripture passage: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
It may be a little more difficult, but you will be glad that you did for years to come.
Terms and Eligibility:
In case you are unfamiliar with how this works, participants will have their names added to a drawing, and the 'Elect One' will be chosen 'providentially' by lot. All books are brand-new from monergism.com or Cumberland Valley Books and are shipped at no cost to the winner.
These books may come free-as-grace, but let's not forget that grace employs means...
If you win: On January 1st, the 'Elect One' will be announced, along with the next free book. If your name appears on the blog, then it will be time for you to post another comment with your name and mailing address. Your post will remain private.
God bless you all, and tell your friends!!
PS: Here's the code for the 250px-wide banner, if you're interested in posting it to your blog:
This month's classic is one that dramatically improved my understanding of sanctification. This jewel of spiritual comfort is Personal Declension and Revival of Religion in the Soul, by Octavius Winslow. The title is long but the message is simple: there are specific reasons why we have "ups and downs" in our devotion to Christ, and Pastor Winslow is a doctor well trained to diagnose and prescribe treatments. Already own it? If you win, you may pick any one of the Puritan Paperbacks series instead.
This months scripture passage: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
It may be a little more difficult, but you will be glad that you did for years to come.
Terms and Eligibility:
In case you are unfamiliar with how this works, participants will have their names added to a drawing, and the 'Elect One' will be chosen 'providentially' by lot. All books are brand-new from monergism.com or Cumberland Valley Books and are shipped at no cost to the winner.
These books may come free-as-grace, but let's not forget that grace employs means...
*Your shipping address must be in the Continental United States, sorry global people!Note: Do NOT post your email address or street address in the comment box, unless you are the selected winner.
1.) You must memorize the monthly passage of scripture. (Use the translation you prefer. I use KJV, and sometimes compare it to the ESV for clarity.)
2.) Wait at least one hour without looking at the aforesaid passage.
3.) Type that passage from memory into the comment box for this post.
4.) Include your first and last name, or a memorable moniker, plus your City and State.
5.) Wait and pray.
If you win: On January 1st, the 'Elect One' will be announced, along with the next free book. If your name appears on the blog, then it will be time for you to post another comment with your name and mailing address. Your post will remain private.
God bless you all, and tell your friends!!
PS: Here's the code for the 250px-wide banner, if you're interested in posting it to your blog:
(From Letters of John Newton)
In His own time, Jesus returns to convince, humble, pardon, comfort and renew the soul. We begin at length to learn that we are nothing, have nothing, call do nothing--but sin! And thus we are gradually prepared to live more outside of ourselves--and to derive all our sufficiency of every kind from Jesus, the fountain of all grace. We learn to tread more warily; to trust less to our own strength; to have lower thoughts of ourselves, and higher thoughts of Jesus!
This wretched state of sin and temptation, makes the thoughts of death and eternity desirable. Then this conflict shall cease! Then I shall sin and wander no more, shall see Him as he is, and be like Him forever!
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death!"
- Romans 7:24
Though we can fall of ourselves--we cannot rise without God's help! Indeed, every sin, in its own nature, has a tendency towards a final apostasy! By our repeated slips and falls into sin, we gain a more emphatic conviction of our own vileness and depravity; and we experimentally learn and feel our own weakness.- Romans 7:24
In His own time, Jesus returns to convince, humble, pardon, comfort and renew the soul. We begin at length to learn that we are nothing, have nothing, call do nothing--but sin! And thus we are gradually prepared to live more outside of ourselves--and to derive all our sufficiency of every kind from Jesus, the fountain of all grace. We learn to tread more warily; to trust less to our own strength; to have lower thoughts of ourselves, and higher thoughts of Jesus!
This wretched state of sin and temptation, makes the thoughts of death and eternity desirable. Then this conflict shall cease! Then I shall sin and wander no more, shall see Him as he is, and be like Him forever!
