Sunday's Sermon on John 16:4-15

The Second Adam

How is Christ our Second Adam? (Gal. 2:15-16)
“True freedom is freedom from the need to keep the law in order to earn our salvation.” (Hoekema)
John Calvin - Christian Freedom and the Law of God
True freedom is:
1. Freedom from the need to keep the law to earn salvation.
2. Freedom to obey God’s law voluntarily out of gratitude.
3. Freedom with respect to outward things that are in themselves indifferent (nonessential).
We are justified not by our works - not by the law - but by our faith in Christ. The Bible does make it clear that we must be saved by works. God requires obedience. Hold on to your seats, if you think this sounds heretical. God cannot violate who He is or negate his just requirements in his Law. Salvation is bound to the works of the Law. But, and this is most important, it is the work of Christ and the obedience of Christ, that saves us. We appropriate this by faith and receive it as a gift. We do nothing! Our best record, or our righteousness is not ever enough – it in fact needs to be repented of, as much as our sin. Only the righteousness of Christ will save us and make us a new creation.
This makes Christianity distinct among all religions. Religions outside of Christ are always based on performance – do this and do that. Christian Faith declares it is “done.” “Only Christianity brings the liberating message that we are saved by faith in the perfect obedience of Christ.” (Hoekema)

For Those Just Tuning in: What is the Federal Vision? « Heidelblog

For Those Just Tuning in: What is the Federal Vision? « Heidelblog
This is an older blog by Dr. Clark, but it is worth taking a look at just what this movement is all about.

Abortion and Legal Confusion

A couple in Australia with three sons just aborted their twins, who happened to be boys, because they wanted a daughter. According to reports it is unlawful in Australia to select the sex of a baby, so they are going through the courts so they can use in vitro fertilization and implant an embryo that is definitely female.
In other words it is okay to destroy a life for just about any reason, but to conceive a life; it is best left to the natural course of things. Two things are clear. This couple is the product of a worldview that puts their view of children on the level of flavors at Baskin Robbins. Secondly, it shows how messed up the legal system is that does not know how to value life and protect it from the whims of cultural pressure or personal desires. Our laws are supposed to protect the weak from the tyranny of a despot as well as the tyranny of the masses. Is there a moral difference between the State sponsored (mandated) removal of unwanted groups (as in the Jews of Nazi Germany) and the freedom given by the State to let its citizens determine who are among the unwanted (the category of “jewishness” just gets substituted)? It is a question, worth pondering.

Was Dr King Nice? « Heidelblog

Was Dr King Nice? « Heidelblog

Scott Clark is a wise and perceptive theologian who not only knows his theology and his Bible, but knows how to read our culture like few others can. Having lived in Memphis, pastored in Topeka, Kansas (home of the Board of Education vs. Brown case) and concerned about the legacy of racism in our country, this was spot on. Let us neither be "nice" or "mean" Christians. Just faithful to the Gospel.

Public Prayer and Private Devotion

“Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.” Westminster Shorter Catechism

Prayer is a great privilege and gift that is promised to God’s people. Jesus taught his disciples how to pray (Matt. 6:6-8). He instructed his people to pray with faith, expectation and perseverance(Matt. 2:22). If wicked judges might be prevailed upon by the incessant knocking of a distressed widow, would not God be willing to hear the prayers of his children? Paul encouraged the believers to be engaged in the ministry of prayer in all matters and manners of times (Eph. 6:18; 1 Thess. 5:17). Prayer is not a life-vest we throw on when the ship begins to sink. It is not a last resort for times of crisis; it is the warp and woof of Christian living. The believer begins and ends their day in prayer, in loving dialogue with a God who is there and who oversees the affairs of the day. He is concerned about the details of our mundane lives, as well as the unexpected big events that come our way. Surely we are apt to forget to pray as we ought, but if the theology of providence teaches us anything it reminds us that God is not on vacation or taking a break from our lives, no matter how dull or uneventful each day may seem. Prayer reminds us that all things are important to God.

It is a different sort of thing however, to say that in our public praying that all things are necessary or proper for our praying. Is God concerned about Aunt Myrtle’s bunions? Yes, He is a God of all mercy and compassion. But, the question is not about God’s concern or ability, but the high purpose of prayer for the praying Church. We live in a day where information concerning the President’s doctor’s visit or a tragedy in distant State or across the oceans is readily available for us. Neil Postman in is his book, “Amusing Ourselves to Death” called it a “peek-a-boo world”, where the radio, TV or the internet confronts us with news and events that in real life do not touch us. For example, is it really vital I know that President of the United States has gall stones? Ought we not to pray for tragedies and the pain of others we do not know? Yes, we must. The question is how we ought to pray. It is my conviction that when we pray for a tragedy, we should pray for the believers or the Church that is able to minister in their immediate context to share the Gospel and the hope that is found in Christ. In other words, our prayers in the context of worship and public praise are meant for the glory of Christ and the furtherance of his Kingdom. Rather than knowing about Aunt Myrtle’s bunions and countless other ailments, let us pray for all the saints to know the healing power of Christ and his power so that we all might live in praise and devotion to Him. For all we know the bunions might be God’s instrument to be more devoted. When our public prayers start to become recitals of our “peek-a-boo” world they become a substitute for God-centered praise and doxology. Does this mean God is not concerned about the details? No. It means when we come together to pray, we make sure God’s glory is our object and not the details of our information world. P.T. Forsyth the British pastor of the 19th Century wrote, “Prayer should rise more out of God’s Word and concern for His Kingdom than even out of our personal needs, trials, or desires.” Our prayers are to be kindled in the hot fire of God’s grace, rather than dished out in the flash of our perceived desires.
(with thanks to Tim Challies on his reference to Postman)

Themelios | Issue 35-3

Themelios | Issue 35-3

Baucum's Breviary: A Bible Reading Guide by Robert Murray M‘Cheyne. December 1842

Baucum's Breviary: A Bible Reading Guide by Robert Murray M‘Cheyne. December 1842

A Bible Reading Guide by Robert Murray M‘Cheyne. December 1842

Years ago the godly Presbyterian pastor from Scotland, M’Cheyne put together a reading guide for his congregation at St. Peter’s in Dundee. Wisely he understood that a reading guide was a great tool to help Christians get into the Word, but it also had dangers as well. I’ve reproduced his 4 dangers and his 4 advantages, but adapted the commentary in my own words, using his thoughts as my guide.
THE DANGERS.
(1.) Formality. – There is a danger in taking any form or practice of religion and making it the center of our hearts. Don’t let your Bible reading guide be a substitute for a living faith.
(2.) Self-righteousness. – One can go through all the mere motions of worship and prayer and reading the Bible without growing in Grace, if you do not trust in the Holy Spirit to guide you.
(3.) Careless reading. – Better to get behind in the schedule and to really ponder what God is saying then to run through it fast. Take notice of what God is saying, because it is His holy Word.
(4.) A yoke to heavy to bear. M’Cheyne said we should relish the heavenly food, but if we come to dread the task of the daily guide, throw it way and come to God’s Word as the fresh daily bread that will sustain your soul. Don’t make it a burden make it a joy.

THE ADVANTAGES.
(1.) The whole Bible will be read through in an orderly manner in the course of a year. – The wise Scot said it best: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness, that the
man of God may be perfect.” If we pass over some parts of Scripture, we shall be incomplete
Christians.
(2.) Time will not be wasted in choosing what portions to read. You can jump right into reading once you open your Bible and it will flow from your previous reading.
.(3.) Parents will have a regular subject upon which to examine their children and servants. – If everybody in your house is reading the same passage, then you can discuss it over coffee, lunch or at bed-time.
(4.) The pastor will know in what part of the pasture the flock are feeding. – Imagine if the whole congregation is growing and feeding from the same field, then it would encourage each other in daily discipleship and accountability.
(5.) The sweet bond of Christian love and unity will be strengthened. – The Bible is the primary means where we are made holy. Imagine what would happen if the church is reading the Bible
together. Again M’Cheyne said it best, “We shall pray over the same promises, mourn over the same confessions, praise God in the same songs, and be nourished by the same words of eternal life.”

Lancelot Andrews (1555-1626)

Lancelot Andrews was one of the godly pillars of the English Church during its Reformation. He was made dean of Westminster in 1601 just two years before Queen Elizabeth, the Protestant monarch died. He served as her private chaplain and later served under King James I in various capacities and as Bishop of Chischester. In terms of piety and literary gifts, he is likened to John Donne and Hooker. Due to his ability with the ancient languages, he was one of the translators of the Authorized Bible. While he was a Reformer, he nonetheless stood along the side of the authority of the English throne over ecclesiastical matters. That should not prevent those whose sympathies lie with the rebellious Presbyterians to ignore him (he was known for praying every night, “O Lord, keep me from making a god of the King”!). He was Presbyterian and Calvinist in doctrine and while he was criticized for hard to understand sermons, no man could pray like Andrews. The secret of his prayer life is found in his “Private Devotions” which he compiled for personal use and never intended for publication. Twenty-five years ago a dear friend gave me a copy and I am glad that a new edition is being published now from Christian Focus publications in Scotland. Here is an example of one of his meditations. Use it as a way to prime the pump in your own prayer life:

The Hedge of the Law

To bruise the serpent’s head.
To consider my latter end.
To cut off occasions of sin.
To be sober.
Not to sit idle.
To shun the wicked.
To cleave to the good.
To make a covenant with the eyes.
To bring the body into subjection.
To give myself unto prayer.
To come to repentance.
Hedge up my way with thorns,
That I find not the path for following vanity.
Hold Thou me in with bit and bridle,
Lest I come not near to Thee.
O Lord, compel me to come in to Thee.