Christ, The satisfactory death before God for men.

With a gloriously monotonous regularity Paul pits faith off over against all law-keeping as its diametrical opposite as to referent. Whereas the latter relies on the human effort of the law-keeper looking to himself to render satisfaction before God, the former repudiates and looks entirely away from all human effort to the cross work of Jesus Christ, who alone by His sacraficial death rendered satisfaction before God for men.
Robert Reymond

Historical Evidence for Jesus.

The stupidest thing I've ever heard was the Atheist claim that Jesus of Nazareth never existed. Anyways, here's a few articles to read.

Shattering the Christ-Myth


Historical Evidence for Jesus of Nazareth


Extrabiblical, Non-Christian Witnesses to Jesus before 200 a.d.

Sin = Emotional Pain?

Crap

In that video, not only will you find "emotional happiness" but you will find a false understanding of the Gospel. .... More on this later....

God, my portion forever

25Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
26My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;
You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.
28But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
That I may tell of all Your works.

Why do these thigns happen?

The Supremacy of Christ in Sexual Purity

Note: My writing is rough. I'm starting to get back into writing, so, im sorry for the horrible writing.

One of the hardest and most difficult sins for me to fight would be sexual immorality. Not only do I want to fight it, I need to fight it. Sexual immorality is at the front of the Christian battle for me, and I hate every piece of it. There are so many times when I want to give up in the middle of this hard battle, but i must keep pressing on.

Paul was clear about the will of God for my life:

1Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.
2For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;

4that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

5not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

6and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.

7For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.

8So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.


When Paul wrote this, he was showing them that Sexual Purity and Brotherly Love were tied into one another.

Pauls first exhortation is this: "that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more."

Now, the first thing that he says to them is that they have recieved instructions on how to "walk and please God". Paul HAD to give them instructions on how to be Sexually pure. Couldn't they just learn on their own without the instruction from God? Absolutely not. Paul wrote in Romans 1 "24Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity,". Man's heart is by it's very nature imprure; lusting after the world. In Romans 1, Paul details how these people that were supressing the truth, became worse. They indulged themselves in sexual immorality. So far as that men with men and women with women. Christ spoke on this very issue of the heart AND fornication:
15Peter said to Him, "Explain the parable to us."
16Jesus said, "Are you still lacking in understanding also?

17"Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated?

18"But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.

19"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.

20"These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man." (Matt 15)

Out of the heart comes Sexual immorality. The heart is evil, giving into sexual immorality, rebelling against God. By our very nature we HATE God. God made man and women for marriage; NOT for sexual immorality. In Gensis 2 we see this:

22The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.

23The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."

24For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

The man shall be joined to HIS WIFE! Not some other woman, but HIS WIFE.

As we go further in 1 Thess 4, Paul states something that MUST be OBEYED.

"4that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,"

Paul uses the word POSSESS. The EVS translates it this way:
"that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,"

In other words, it gives the implication of keeping yourself HOLY; Keeping yourself away from sexual immorality.

Paul writes to timothy in the same manner, but commands him to FLEE:22Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Paul says "Pursue righteousness." Run from sexual immorality, and run to Christ who is our righteousness. John Piper puts it in a different way. After listening to a sermon of his(which i highly recommend) titled "This Is The Will of God For You That You Abstain From Sexual Immorality" he talks about internet pornography. I dont have the exact quote (wish i did) but he talks about being on the computer, having your hand on the mouse, praying to God that He will give you the strength to lift your hand up from that mouse. He then says "Once that hand is lifted up, say 'PRAISE GOD'." He also says that you should pray because "you can't masterbate and pray to God at the same time."

Lastly, for today, we see the next and most important line of the text:
"5not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;"

This piece of text struct me the most. "Like the gentiles who do not know God." Paul is clearly telling these people that being in a sexually immoral act is acting like you DO NOT KNOW GOD. How sad that made me feel. The emptiness of life. The joy of being in the presence of my savior taken away. Please, I beg you, RUN FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY. Oh the sadness of those who have no relationship with the one TRUE LOVE, GOD.

Back...

I am going to return to blogging once again. I've been extremely busy with college and work. I will be moving down to Arizona. So, if any of you live there... let me know.

Metaphysical Murder

To the atheist, I write:

Precarious of the conversation he gasconaded through his teeth. Not knowing exactly his epistemology, murder to the truth came spilling from his mouth. Mad as can be, psuedo philosophy was being uttered. Madness! Insanity! Crippled at the jaw, imprecise metaphysics flow. You can't take cognizance that apart from Christ, life is utterly futile. UTTERLY FUTILE!

Repent toward God and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

From Andrew

Holiness.

One thing is for sure, I definently hate the sin I do. Yet, even though I hate it, I still sin. It's so stupid how we still sin even after we come to faith in Christ. I wish our sin would just go away. We have to live with it though, battling it everyday. We must understand that our battle is a battle against unholiness in ourselves.

God is a holy God, who hates sin and sinners(Ps. 5:5). He has wrath "against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress in unrighteousness"(Rom 1:18). God is also a God of love who loves His own, even when we sin! Yet, this does not give warrant to sin. God commands us to be holy "As obedient childeren, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'"(1 Peter 1:14-16).

"As Obedient Childeren, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance": As a child of God, do not go back to your sins, but look to God, having faith in Future Grace. Knowing that God will pour grace upon you even when you sin, and that he will sanctify you. DO NOT SIN! We know we will sin, but we should fight this old nature that is within us. As Paul says "Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

"but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior": Peter earlier says "Prepare your mind for action". It should start with your heart, knowing that you cannot produce holiness apart from Christ. There is no righteousness within yourself. You are commanded to "be holy yourselves" in your conduct. Act like men! Do not give into your sin, but flee from the devil and hold on to Christ.

"because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'": As you know God is holy he tells us to be holy as well. Knowing that God is our Father, should we not act like our own Father? Praise God for His loving grace that he has poured out on a sinner such as me. Praise God for our Lord Jesus Christ.

"To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever. Amen."

Law or Gospel?.... My battle(pre-series)

This is a pre-series to "Law or Gospel?". This question is very hard to deal with, yet, very easy to not understand. Before I deal with this thought, I have something else to share.

During the course of this week, I've been unsuccessful in my battle against sin. Every christian should know how this battle is. Some fight it in different ways and degrees, but the battle is always the same. Fighting the flesh is harder then anyone would like to admit. Not only is it hard, but it's very depressing. The part of sin I hate the most is that I sin against the Lord, knowing that Christ came to purchase me with His own blood. Isn't that heart breaking? Knowing that Christ, God in the flesh, loved you before the foundation of the world, and yet you still rebel against Him.

As I read Romans 7, I find myself in tears and agreeing with Paul when he crys out "24Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" Who will save me from this body of death? Who will set me free? I'm so thankful to God for saving such an evil person such as myself through His son Jesus Christ, who purchased me on the cross. Paul continued, and his answer was a praise to God for His Son "25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"


"Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
2. Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
3. Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
4. Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

5. High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all."


I just thought I would post this little bit. I know it's not much, or detailed, but I wanted to post this. I will be posting up the first of my series tonight. Please continue to read.

The lack of food in an anti-intellectual society.

Here is a great blog that speaks of evangelicalism and its lack of preaching.

Six men who follow a false god

I heard this morning about six men who were planning to kill soldiers at Fort Dix in Philidelphia. These men claimed: "In the end, when it comes to defending your religion, when someone ... attacks your religion, your way of life, then you go jihad." Is this really true? Is everyone who is "attacked" because of their religion supposed to go "jihad"? Just to make this clear: only the true church of Jesus Christ is truly persecuted. This man is of the world. The scriptures are clear about the distinction between the world and believers: "18If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
19If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
"(John 15).

The terrorist later states: "It doesn't matter to me whether I get locked up, arrested or get taken away," another defendant, Serdar Tatar, was alleged to have said. "Or I die, it doesn't matter. I'm doing it in the name of Allah."

How sad this truly is. There is no other god named "allah". Allah is some imaginary god made up just to help these men suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
21For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.(Romans 1)

Not only are these men suppressing the truth in their own unrighteousness, but they also follow a false god, claiming that they are doing these attacks for the god. This furthers the suppression of the truth. These men are ignorant fools who hate the God of the bible, the true living God.


There is no other God:
10b "Before Me there was no God formed,
And there will be none after Me.
11"I, even I, am the LORD,
And there is no savior besides Me.
12"It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed,
And there was no strange god among you;
So you are My witnesses," declares the LORD,
"And I am God.
13"Even from eternity I am He,"(isaiah 43).

Here is the rest of the story.

Death of Death in the Death of Christ-Ch. 2

Chapter II.
Of the nature of an end in general, and some distinctions about it.

I. The end of any thing is that which the agent intendeth to accomplish in and by the operation which is proper unto its nature, and which it applieth itself unto, — that which any one aimeth at, and designeth in himself to attain, as a thing good and desirable unto him in the state and condition wherein he is. So the end which Noah proposed unto himself in the building of the ark was the preservation of himself and others. According to the will of God, he made an ark to preserve himself and his family from the flood: “According to all that God commanded him, so did he,” Gen. vi. 22. That which the agent doth, or whereto he applieth himself, for the compassing his proposed end, is called the means; which two do complete the whole reason of working in free intellectual agents, for I speak only of such as work according to choice or election. So Absalom intending a revolt from his father, to procure the crown and kingdom for himself, “he prepared him horses and chariots, and fifty men to run before him,” 2 Sam. xv. 1; and farther, by fair words, and glossing compliances, “he stole the hearts of the men of Israel” verse 6; then pretends a sacrifice at Hebron, where he makes a strong conspiracy, verse 12; — all which were the means he used for the attaining of his fore-proposed end.

II. Between both these, end and means, there is this relation, that (though in sundry kinds) they are mutually causes one of another. The end is the first, principal, moving cause of the whole. It is that for whose sake the whole work is. No agent applies itself to action but for an end; and were it not by that determined to some certain effect, thing, way, or manner of working, it would no more do one thing than another. The inhabitants of the old world desiring and intending unity and cohabitation, with perhaps some reserves to provide for their safety against a second storm, they cry, “Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth,” Gen. xi. 4. First, They lay down their aim and design, and then let out the means in their apprehension conducing thereunto. And manifest, then, it is, that the whole reason and method of affairs that a wise worker or agent, according to the counsel, proposeth to himself is taken from the end which he aims at; that is, in intention and contrivance, the beginning of all that order which is in working. Now, the means are all those things which are used for the attaining of the end proposed, — as meat for the preservation of life, sailing in a ship for him that would pass the sea, laws for the quiet continuance of human society; and they are the procuring cause of the end, in one kind or another. Their existence is for the ends sake, and the end hath its rise out of them, following them either morally as their desert, or naturally as their fruit and product. First, In a moral sense. When the action and the end are to be measured or considered in reference to a moral rule, or law prescribed to the agent, then the means are the deserving or meritorious cause of the end; as, if Adam had continued in his innocency, and done all things according to the law given unto him, the end procured thereby had been a blessed life to eternity; as now the end of any sinful act is death, the curse of the law. Secondly, When the means are considered only in their natural relation, then they are the instrumentally efficient cause of the end. So Joab intending the death of Abner, “he smote him with his spear under the fifth rib, that he died,” 2 Sam. iii. 27. And when Benaiah, by the command of Solomon, fell upon Shimei the wounds he gave him were the efficient of his death, 1 Kings ii. 46. In which regard there is no difference between the murdering of an innocent man and the executing of an offender; but as they are under a moral consideration, their ends follow their deservings, in respect of conformity to the rule, and so there is χάσμα μέγα between them.

III. The former consideration, by reason of the defect and perverseness of some agents (for otherwise these things are coincident), holds out a twofold end of things, — first, of the work, and, secondly, of the workman; of the act and the agent: for when the means assigned for the attaining of any end are not proportioned unto it, nor, fitted for it, according to that rule which the agent is to work by, then it cannot be but that he must aim at one thing and another follow, in respect of the morality of the work. So Adam is enticed into a desire to be like God; this now he makes his aim, which to effect he eats the forbidden fruit, and that contracts a guilt which he aimed not at. But when the agent acts aright, and as it should do, — when it aims at an end that is proper to it, belonging to its proper perfection and condition, and worketh by such means as are fit and suitable to the end proposed, — the end of the work and the workman are one and the same; as when Abel intended the worship of the Lord, he offered a sacrifice through faith, acceptable unto him; or as a man, desiring salvation through Christ, applieth himself to get an interest in him. Now, the sole reason of this diversity is, that secondary agents, such as men are, have an end set and appointed to their actions by Him which giveth them an external rule or law to work by, which shall always attend them in their working, whether they will or no. God only, whose will and good pleasure is the sole rule of all those works which outwardly are of him, can never deviate in his actions, nor have any end attend or follow his acts not precisely by him intended.

IV. Again; the end of every free agent is either that which he effecteth, or that for whose sake he doth effect it. When a man builds a house to let to hire, that which he effecteth is the building of a house; that which moveth him to do it is love of gain. The physician cures the patient, and is moved to it by his reward. The end which Judas aimed at in his going to the priests, bargaining with them, conducting the soldiers to the garden, kissing Christ, was the betraying of his Master; but the end for whose sake the whole undertaking was set on foot was the obtaining of the thirty pieces of silver: “What will ye give me, and I will do it?” The end which God effected by the death of Christ was the satisfaction of his justice: the end for whose sake he did it was either supreme, or his own glory; or subordinate, ours with him.

V. Moreover, the means are of two sorts:— First, Such as have a true goodness in themselves without reference to any farther kind; though not so considered as we use them for means. No means, as a means is considered as good in itself, but only as conducible to a farther end; it is repugnant to the nature of means, as such, to be considered as good in themselves. Study is in itself the most noble employment of the soul; but, aiming at wisdom or knowledge, we consider it as good only inasmuch as it conducteth to that end, otherwise as “a weariness of the flesh,” Eccl. xii. 12. Secondly, Such as have no good at all in any kind, as in themselves considered, but merely as conducing to that end which they are fit to attain. They receive all their goodness (which is but relative) from that whereunto they are appointed, in themselves no way desirable; as the cutting off a leg or an arm for the preservation of life, taking a bitter potion for health’s sake, throwing corn and lading into the sea to prevent shipwreck. Of which nature is the death of Christ, as we shall afterward declare.

VI. These things being thus proposed in general, our next task must be to accommodate them to the present business in hand; which we shall do in order, by laying down the agent working, the means wrought and the end effected, in the great work of our redemption; for these three must be orderly considered and distinctly, that we may have a right apprehension of the whole: into the first whereof, σὺν Θεῷ, we make an entrance in [chapter third.]

Death of Death in the Death of Christ - Ch. 1

By the end of the death of Christ, we mean in general, both, — first, that which his Father and himself intended in it; and, secondly, that which was effectually fulfilled and accomplished by it. Concerning either we may take a brief view of the expressions used by the Holy Ghost:—

I. For the first. Will you know the end wherefore, and the intention wherewith, Christ came into the world? Let us ask himself (who knew his own mind, as also all the secrets of his Father’s bosom), and he will tell us that the “Son of man came to save that which was lost,” Matt. xviii. 11, — to recover and save poor lost sinners; that was his intent and design, as is again asserted, Luke xix. 10. Ask also his apostles, who know his mind, and they will tell you the same. So Paul, 1 Tim. i. 15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Now, if you will ask who these sinners are towards whom he hath this gracious intent and purpose, himself tells you, Matt. xx. 28, that he came to “give his life a ransom for many;” in other places called us, believers, distinguished from the world: for be “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father,” Gal. i. 4. That was the will and intention of God, that he should give himself for us, that we might be saved, being separated from the world. They are his church: Eph. v. 25–27, “He loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish:” which last words 158express also the very aim and end of Christ in giving himself for any, even that they may be made fit for God, and brought nigh unto him; — the like whereof is also asserted, Tit. ii. 14, “He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Thus clear, then, and apparent, is the intention and design of Christ and his Father in this great work, even what it was, and towards whom, — namely, to save us, to deliver us from the evil world, to purge and wash us, to make us holy, zealous, fruitful in good works, to render us acceptable, and to bring us unto God; for through him “we have access into the grace wherein we stand” Rom. v. 2.

II. The effect, also, and actual product of the work itself, or what is accomplished and fulfilled by the death, blood-shedding, or oblation of Jesus Christ, is no less clearly manifested, but is as fully, and very often more distinctly, expressed; — as, first, Reconciliation with God, by removing and slaying the enmity that was between him and us; for “when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,” Rom. v. 10. “God was in him reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them,” 2 Cor. v. 19; yea, he hath “reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ,” verse 18. And if you would know how this reconciliation was effected, the apostle will tell you that “he abolished in his flesh the enmity, the law of commandments consisting in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby,” Eph. ii. 15, 16: so that “he is our peace,” verse 14. Secondly, Justification, by taking away the guilt of sins, procuring remission and pardon of them, redeeming us from their power, with the curse and wrath due unto us for them; for “by his own blood he entered into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” Heb. ix. 12. “He redeemed us from the curse, being made a curse for us,” Gal. iii. 13; “his own self bearing our sins in his own body on the tree,” 1 Pet. ii. 24. We have “all sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” but are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins” Rom. iii. 23–25: for “in him we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins,” Col. i. 14. Thirdly, Sanctification, by the purging away of the uncleanness and pollution of our sins, renewing in us the image of God, and supplying us with the graces of the Spirit of holiness: for “the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself to God, purgeth our consciences from dead works that we may serve the living God,” Heb. ix. 14; yea, “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin,” 1 John i. 7. “By himself he purged our sins,” 159Heb. i. 3. To “sanctify the people with his own blood, he suffered without the gate,” chap. xiii. 12. “He gave himself for the church to sanctify and cleanse it, that it should be holy and without blemish,” Eph. v. 25–27. Peculiarly amongst the graces of the Spirit, “it is given to us,” ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ, “for Christ’s sake, to believe on him,” Phil. i. 29; God “blessing us in him with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places,” Eph. i. 3. Fourthly, Adoption, with that evangelical liberty and all those glorious privileges which appertain to the sons of God; for “God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons,” Gal. iv. 4, 5. Fifthly, Neither do the effects of the death of Christ rest here; they leave us not until we are settled in heaven, in glory and immortality for ever. Our inheritance is a “purchased possession,” Eph. i. 14: “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance,” Heb. ix. 15. The sum of all is, — The death and blood-shedding of Jesus Christ hath wrought, and doth effectually procure, for all those that are concerned in it, eternal redemption, consisting in grace here and glory hereafter.

III. Thus full, clear, and evident are the expressions in the Scripture concerning the ends and effects of the death of Christ, that a man would think every one might run and read. But we must stay: among all things in Christian religion, there is scarce any thing more questioned than this, which seems to be a most fundamental principle. A spreading persuasion there is of a general ransom to be paid by Christ for all; that he died to redeem all and every one, — not only for many, his church, the elect of God, but for every one also of the posterity of Adam. Now, the masters of this opinion do see full well and easily, that if that be the end of the death of Christ which we have from the Scripture asserted, if those before recounted be the immediate fruits and products thereof, then one of these two things will necessarily follow:— that either, first, God and Christ failed of their end proposed, and did not accomplish that which they intended, the death of Christ being not a fitly-proportioned means for the attaining of that end (for any cause of failing cannot be assigned); which to assert seems to us blasphemously injurious to the wisdom, power, and perfection of God, as likewise derogatory to the worth and value of the death of Christ; — or else, that all men, all the posterity of Adam, must be saved, purged, sanctified, and glorified; which surely they will not maintain, at least the Scripture and the woeful experience of millions will not allow. Wherefore, to cast a tolerable colour upon their persuasion, they must and do deny that God or his Son had any such absolute aim or end in the death or 160blood-shedding of Jesus Christ, or that any such thing was immediately procured and purchased by it, as we before recounted; but that God intended nothing, neither was any thing effected by Christ, — that no benefit ariseth to any immediately by his death but what is common to all and every soul, though never so cursedly unbelieving here and eternally damned hereafter, until an act of some, not procured for them by Christ, (for if it were, why have they it not all alike?) to wit, faith, do distinguish them from others. Now, this seeming to me to enervate the virtue, value, fruits and effects of the satisfaction and death of Christ, — serving, besides, for a basis and foundation to a dangerous, uncomfortable, erroneous persuasion — I shall, by the Lord’s assistance, declare what the Scripture holds out in both these things, both that assertion which is intended to be proved, and that which is brought for the proof thereof; desiring the Lord by his Spirit to lead us into all truth, to give us understanding in all things, and if any one be otherwise minded, to reveal that also unto him.

Hate Crime?

I have been trying to find HR 1592: the so-called “Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act". For some reason, there isn't much coverage on this bill. I did find that in House of Reps. the legislation passed 237-180. I've heard that it's at president Bush's desk, waiting for his disproval or approval. Not much is clear, but here is what i do know. This bill will supposedly protect pastors when preaching that homosexuality is a sin, yet, it partialy won't. It can be the case that a pastor can take the blame for a member of the congregation and his actions. I'm just hoping I can find more on this. I will keep posting throughout this bill process, please keep watch....

Some articles to read about,Here,Here,Here.

"Justification conquers Fornication" - John Piper

Something interesting happened yesterday that really helped me in my battle against sin. As I was sitting in my room, thinking about how I am nothing, unworthy to be called a child of God and thinking I'm such a loser for sinning, I found this message by John Piper.The title is "How to Deal with the Guilt of Sexual Failure for the Glory of Christ and His Global Cause". This message was really something else. Through the message I was realizing how gracious God is for sending His son to die for my sins.

John Piper turns to two texts: Colossians 2:13-15 and finishes with Micah 7:8-9. In the coloassians passage he shows the doctrine of substituionary atonement. (He also refers to Romans 8:3.) In this beautiful doctrine we see our sins being payed for by Christ, taking our place, and defeating satan through the nailing of His hands on the cross.

Colossians 2:
13When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

14having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

15When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

Not only did Christ defeat satan, but the most beautiful thing about the substitutionary atonement is that Christ took our certificate of debt; our sins, and nailed them to the cross through His hands and feet. Romans 8:3 says "3For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh".

(As Piper kept clarifying, he stated that anyone who was thinking this was a warrant for them to sin, that their condemnation was just(Rom 3:8). He told them to repent of their sins and turn to Christ.)

When trying to help the audience understand why Justification conquers Fornication, he referred to verse 15"15When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him." Satan has no power over you.. satan was destroyed by Christ on the cross. He clarified that, to understand the full aspect of the substituinary atonement, you must understand justification as well. He stated that Justitification "is the act by which God declares you not only forgiven but righteous." He went further to say "God requires two things of you: 1) that your sins are punished and 2) that your life be righteous." Christ did both for you. Your sins were punished by God, condemned in the flesh of Christ and you are declared righteous before a holy God by the precious blood of Christ. This reminded me of that hymn "My sins were nailed to the cross, and I bear them no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh my soul".

Finishing up in Micah, just remember these words
"8Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy
Though I fall I will rise;
Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me.
9I will bear the indignation of the LORD
Because I have sinned against Him,
Until He pleads my case and executes justice for me
He will bring me out to the light,
And I will see His righteousness."

Even though you did fall, you will rise again.

Introduction

I've named this the Holy Sword in light of Eph 6 "10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14Stand firm therefore....17And take ....the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"

and

2 Tim 3:16-17 "16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

The Word of God is the only offensive "armor" we have against the powers of satan. This sword is also the only means for faith and practice. Yes, i adhere to the London Baptist Confession of 1689 but I only adhere to it because of my convictions from scripture. I believe it to be an accruate sum of biblical teachings.

I hope you will enjoy my posts. I will be posting everything from Reformed Teachings to Textual Criticism. Have fun.