Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
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)
“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)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
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.
This is an older blog by Dr. Clark, but it is worth taking a look at just what this movement is all about.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
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.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
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)
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)
Monday, January 10, 2011
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