The Jeramy Anderson Evangelistic Association

New Blog

2011-11-24T08:23:00.001-05:00

From now on, go to TrekkingGrace.blogspot.com for all of Jeramy's Monday-Friday blog posts.

TrekkingGrace.blogspot.com

Bondage of the Will by Luther

2011-08-22T10:31:00.003-04:00

One of the greatest classic in Church History has to be Martin Luther's Bondage of the Will. In it, Luther systematically refutes the Semi-Pelagian view of Rome in his response to Erasmus. Check out this great classic: Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther.

Schreiner on Romans

2011-08-16T07:17:00.002-04:00

Romans is one of the most systemetized texts in the New Testament covering a wide range of topics in a concise manner. It has also been cited as key text for conversion by numerous famous theologians in th past. Check out this great commentary on Romans by Tom Schreiner.

The Underrating of Church History

2011-08-13T06:29:00.004-04:00

The value of Church history is underrated today because post-modern skeptical deconstructionism reigns supreme. When one takes the Scripture out of the picture, one no longer has a basis for knowing history. It becomes arbitrary and impossible to document. This mentality has permeated into the Church, and it has been devastating.

Heresies that were once dealt with have reemerged with a vengeance, especially ones like the Jehovah's Witnesses cult. Because we failed to teach the Bible as authoritative, which in turn grounds history itself, many have been deceived into this cult. Sadly, these same people think that it is novel, yet it is just a repackaged form of Arianism (early Church heresy) with its focus on good deeds and the denial of Christ as fully God.

This and many other heresies are only the tip of the ice-berg. Rather, let us stand upon God's Word, which alone forms the basis of any rationality, and proclaim the truth of God's Word that has been delivered to the prophets and kept by our fathers that have heralded orthdox truth.

Homeward Bound

2011-08-12T07:57:00.004-04:00

A few blogs ago, I commented on the great read "Homeward Bound". Hartman demonstrates how being heavenly minded as a Christian is instrumental in developing a godly household. As our hearts reflect upon eternal matters, that inevitably drives our attitudes and actions in this life, especially within the family unit.

Check out Homeward Bound by Hartman.

Great Isaiah Commentary

2011-08-10T22:28:00.003-04:00

I recently perused through key section of an incredible commentary on Isaiah. Motyer does and excellent job explaining great tapestry that is the book of Isaiah, and he gives an especially good defense of the total authorship of Isaiah. I agree with him that the vast majority of those who would reject Isaiah as the author ultimately do so because of presuppositional biases against supernatural revelation.

Check out Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary by J. Alec Motyer.

Taking Back Counsel From the Halls of Babylon--Competent to Counsel

2011-08-10T12:48:00.004-04:00

In our era, one doesn't have to look too far to find a 'therapist' for just about anything. The Halls of Babylon have transformed our society from one that sought the Scripture for wisdom into one that selects popular fads off of the buffet of pop psychology.

However, we need not succumb to the wisdom of the world. Jay Adams started to push back against this several decades ago, and since then a revival of true Biblical counseling has emereged. The Bible is sufficient for training, correction, and reproof; we do not need the wisdom of Babylon to evangelize, disciple, and grow in Christ.

Here is the book that confronted the idols of pop psychology when few were willing to do so: Competent To Counsel by Jay Adams.

Defending the Faith--Bahnsen on Van Til

2011-08-10T07:18:00.003-04:00

Greg Bahnsen did a masterful job in ordering the thought of Cornelius Van Til. I read through this work a couple years ago, and it was incredible. I have never been the same since. It has become a great arsenal in my quiver of works that rightly extol the Word of God in all its glory.

Presuppositional Apologetics puts real teeth into Christian apologetics, and this book is a must for anyone who desires to delve deeper into some critical concepts in cultivating a strong Biblical Worldview.

I strongly recommend Van Til's Apologetic: Reading and Analysis by Greg L. Bahnsen.

Hell Under Fire

2011-08-09T07:42:00.002-04:00

Hell is one of the most denied locations in our era. Even many professing Christians tend to waffle about its existence or its eternality. For a great read on the Doctrine of Hell, I reccomend, Hell Under Fire, which includes authors like Albert Mohhler, Jr.

Shepherding a Child's Heart

2011-08-05T07:46:00.004-04:00

Any attempt to raise a child in the fear and admonition of the Lord is blasted today in Halls of Babylon. The humanists detest spanking, and they hate that we teach our children absolute truth, yet God' truth abideth still. We have found great encouragement in a book entitled Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp.

Deity of Christ

2011-08-02T10:05:00.003-04:00

The early Church battled numerous heresies, and we see a bold defense of the Deity of Christ in the book of John. Amongst other heresies, it was written against the Docetic heresy, which is the idea that Christ only seemed to be God but was not actually God. John blasts this doctrine because salvation is on the line.

Man cannot be saved without God, for only God can redeem man because it is against an infinitely Holy God that we have sinned. For this reason, the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sin (Heb 10:4). They only pointed to the need for an ultimate sacrifice. God the Son became this ultimate sacrifice on the cross. He alone could bear the wrath of God and redeem a people to Himself because He is fully God. He could live under the Law and fulfill it because He added flesh to Himself and lived a human life having victory where Adam failed.

Though the One Triune God bears a mind-boggling relationship in our minds, it is through the persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that salvation has come to the elect of God. Let us praise Him all our days!

To Him be the glory! Amen!

Check Calvin's Sermons on the Deity of Christ

Augustine, Rome, & The Unites States of America

2011-08-01T07:00:00.002-04:00

As I was reading through Bruce Shelley's Church in History in Plain English, I was reminded of how Augustine persevered through the Fall of Rome. America is in a similar situation as Rome, yet as Christians we shall persevere in the same manner that Augustine did. We glory in the crucified and risen Christ who shall never be dethroned! Amen!.

Now comes the pressing question. What will the landscape look like for American Christians in the event of our nation's collapse?

I've heard that this probably depends on where you live at now, for that will dictate what life is like when everything comes out in the wash. If you live or move to an area that is at least friendly to a Biblically based ethic, then persecution will probably not be as severe though economics times still tough. However, if you live in the more extreme liberal parts of the country that detest the God of the Bible, oppressive governments could be looming.

Nevertheless, Christ still reigns in glory, and the Church will persevere as it always has, yet persecution should be expected. Even so, there is much heresy today that will be rooted out in the process, which has traditionally sanctified the Church and strengthened the bonds of fellowship.

In the News: America Spends To Much

2011-07-29T06:00:00.002-04:00

The fundamental problem in America government financially is that we spend more than we take in. One can debate whether we should redistribute more or less. However, that is not the heart of the matter. Rather, our philosophy of spending is the problem. Because we have spent more than we have taken in for so long on a consistent basis, the chickens have come home to roost.

Leaders in a republic, democracy, or some type of democratic republic typically reflect the values of the people. As a nation, we spend more than we take in whether one earns much or little. Until we live within our means, the debt crises will continue and will ultimately result in complete economic collapse.

Islam vs. Christianity: Fundamental Difference of Beginnings

2011-07-28T08:03:00.003-04:00

There is much hub-bub today attempting to downscale the dangers of Islam. Those who use Islam as a tool of war are considered fringe. Efforts are made to couch Islam as a religion of peace, and anyone who says otherwise is considered intolerant and bigoted. However, accusations of bigotry are unfounded because the beginnings of Islam are violent.

Whether people like it or not, Islam was started as a terrorist religion. In order to promote his ideas, Mohammad would give his followers part of the spoils of of war. As his band of followers became more powerful and dominant, he attracted even more men who held similar warlike persuasions. Concurrently, he promoted his religious positions that were eagerly accepted by these followers because it catered to them as it tickled their ears. As time went on, just as from the beginning, Islam was spread by the sword when necessary.

In contrast, Christianity was birthed in love, grace, and mercy. Those who refused to convert were not punished by the state until the state adopted a sacral society touting Christianity as the religion of the state.

I do want to make it clear that I have known many rather peaceful confessing Muslims who, frankly and thankfully, are inconsistent Muslims. They are peaceful in spite of Islam and merely go through selected rituals. On the other hand, there many wicked men who claim the name of Christ; they are then wicked in spite of Christianity.

Therefore, Christianity and Islam are different right from the start. Demonizing Christianity because of the unfounded Crusades and other sacral society manifestations is just as dishonest as pacifying Islam.

Who Is Your Savior?

2011-07-27T12:32:00.002-04:00

If you are looking to anything or anyone except Christ for salvation, then you are deceiving yourself. Even confessing Christians continue to seek salvation in something or someone else besides Christ. Among the many idols that can draw us away from Christ, entitlement programs are surely at the top of the list, with the government being the origin of such benevelonce.

The government is ordained by God do punish evildoers and maintain order in a society, but it cannot save the soul, and it definitely cannot create a utopia of some sort. Government cannot save because it is made up of sinful people that are at best instruments in the hands of the Almighty God.

Christ alone can bring salvation, ultimate justice, peace, joy, love, and prosperity. Such an absolute system will not occur in its fullness until Christ returns and imposes His right hand upon the world with wrath upon the wicked and gracious meriful love upon His sheep.

Therefore, cling to Christ, and do not put your ultimate hope in a politician or political system.

To Him be the glory!

Better in the House of Mourning than Feasting

2011-07-26T06:54:00.003-04:00

Every man faces death, and we tend to be cynical or insular. Neither are Biblical, which is what makes Homeward Bound by Edward Hartman so refreshing.

Hartman brings the reader face to face with death without diminishing one's responsibilities in this life. If we are not heavenly minded, we will value that which is fleeting in this life. We are to value this life and the blessings in it, but we must take care not to hold on too tightly to that which we cannot keep. We are stewards, and God will honor right stewardship, yet that must be understood in the face of eternity, whether beholding the glory of God in Christ or bearing His wrath in Hell.

I love how Hartman uses Ecclesiastes (a great treasure in my heart), for Solomon goes to great lengths to describe the vanity of life apart from God. It is better to be in a house of mourning than feasting because it forces us to come to grips with our own mortality. To insulate ourselves from the reality of death is foolish, for there will be Hell to pay for dismissing the Lord's admonition to the impenitent. This is why the gospel is so glorious. Those who repent and bow before Christ no longer fear death. On the contrary, they are ever preparing to behold the Lamb of glory into the ages! Amen!

I have said this many times and it never gets old. My greatest desire is to behold the glory of God in Christ face to face for all eternity as I fall at his feet in worship. That focus always leads me to repentance, for I do not desire sin but detest it. Woe is me when I take my sin lightly and trample upon the grace of God!

Face your own death and embrace the Lord of glory, He who is King of kings and Lord or lords! Amen! Amen!

Perseverance of the Righteous without Bitterness

2011-07-23T07:07:00.003-04:00

The Lord commands us to persevere through trials to His glory, yet we often times endure with much bitterness in our hearts. Our plans have not worked as we desired, and, from our perspective, doors may have even closed at the last minute.

However, it is during these times that we are tried and tested the most, and how we react to these trials exposes the disposition of our hearts. During these circumstances, the theology of our hearts is borne out. It is one thing to preach the Sovereignty of God, yet is another to actually embrace God's Sovereign perfect and good will from the heart.

Therefore, when we go through trials, let us cling to Christ and know that He is Lord of lords and King of kings. His love endures forever, so we have no excuse to tread into bitterness. Rather, let us rejoice as did the Apostles that we are given the privilege to suffer for His Name.

America's Atheocracy

2011-07-21T06:00:00.000-04:00

Those who oppose Christ regulary erect the straw man that any effort to impart Biblical principles into our society is an attempt to establish a theocracy. Not only is this dishonest, but it is also deceptive.

1) It is dishonest because from the Foundation of America, Christian Statesmen were not advocating a theocracy but a Constitutional Republic that is based on Biblical priniciples. Lest one challenge this, a specific example is warranted. The very assumption of original sin is clearly implied in the Consitution, for, when one reads the documents that surround it like the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers, the inherent sinfulness or evil bent of man from birth is clearly expounded upon. The fundamental difference is that both sides were at odds on how to contain sin within a fallen society.

2) It is deceptive because some worldview will win the day at any given time, and what is alleged to be secular and thus neutral is a lie. On the contrary, we are becoming and have set the stage for an Atheocracy.

How would I define an atheocracy?

If a theocracy, namely a Christian theocracy, is a government based on the Bible and executes harsh punishment for any violation of Biblical Law wherein the Kingdom is manifested in its glory visibly, then an atheocracy is a society wherein God or any semblance of God is removed from all facets of life, especially public life. Any attempt to introduce God into the picture is rejected and condemned as a religion against the state.

If this sounds familiar, then you should not be surprised, for our nation is being overrun by formal and practical atheists in all parts of government and public life. All of this is done under the disguises of tolerance, acceptance, approval, and neutrality.

How shall we then live?

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord!" proclaims the Scripture. Though we surely defend liberty of conscience, we must never agree that an atheistic style of government whereby the Lord God is defamed and ridiculed is the pinnacle of good government. Rather we must explain how a worldview affects a society and then boldy defend why a system of government based on Biblical worldview prinicples is the best sytem of government in a fallen society. It is the only system within a fallen society that exercises restraint with liberty of conscience on the one hand while maintaining justice and order on the other.

No other worldview can accomplish such balance because they are all based on the whimsical philosophies of fallen man and thus have no absolute basis for Law. Governements based in human philosophy always result in the tyranny of one, an elite, or just mob rule.

If an atheocracy is what we desire, then we truly deserve all of the horrendous fruits that it bears. Exhibit A: Joseph Stalin. Any questions?

In the News: Budget Battle

2011-07-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

Answers in Genesis had a good article on financial displine recently, and I thought it was worth echoing.

There has been much hub-bub of late dealing with the Federal Budget. A variety of proposals have been put forth with both sides arguing their respective cases. The vast majority of us will never sit in an earthly seat of political power, so what can the average Christian do besides cast a vote?

No matter what society a Christian lives in, basic fiscal principles still apply whether one is poor, average, or wealthy. The way in which one spends, saves, and/or borrows money reflects the secrets of the heart, and our credit card receipts have reflected ill upon us as indifvidual Christians and as a Church corporately. The borrower is a slave to the lender, and the American Church has become a slave to creditors just as bad as individual Christians. Casting off this gorillas takes discipline and a willingness to delay gratification, which is not easy. However, it bears much fruit when put in to practice both fiscally and evangelistically.

When Christians learn to manage their finances, outsiders start to take notice; this has happened in my own life as well as others. Over time, as more Believers live within their means, the louder the gospel cries out to a lost generation because our hearts are reflected in a more postive light as we use our resources to glorify God and not ourselves. In God's Providence, this kind of example in any area used by God to bring the lost to Himself. This inevitably changes a society, which is what happened in Europe on a myriad of fronts, yet where Christians live inconsistenty with Biblical prinicples the gospel recedes.

Therefore, let us encourage fiscal responsibility, and live out what we preach with our own dollars and cents.

To Him be the glory! Amen!

Sacrifice In Your Home

2011-07-19T07:00:00.002-04:00

Though America is blessed more than every other country, we ought not to overlook the sacrifices that many Christians make to honor the Lord in a materialistic culture.

There are numerous families that could drive nicer cars, have larger homes, dine out more, vacation often, etc., yet they decide to honor the Lord by living a modest lifestyle. They do this to ensure that mom can stay at home to nurture the children and keep up the home.

Therefore, let us not forget the sacrifice that our wives make, and let us honor the families that exercise self-control to honor the Lord when the culture tempts them to be self-serving instead of self-sacrificing.

To Him be the glory! Amen!

Cheating and Government Education

2011-07-18T06:57:00.003-04:00

In the wake of continued reports involving the Atlanta Public Education cheating scandal, it is important to aggressively point out a specific element of hypocrisy. Government based public education seeks to be religiously neutral, yet this is both absurd and deceptive because everything is bent towards a religious worldview.

For government education, its worldview is atheistic materialistic naturalism. Because this is its underlying presuppositional bias, we should not be surprised when cheating is so wide spread and then explained away. Naturalism has no grounds to denounce cheating because it always results in relativism. In the eyes of those teachers and administrators, cheating on standardized tests was a good thing because they defined good in their own eyes.

Furthermore, when exposed, guilt was not quickly admitted. On the contrary, they did as Adam and Eve; they blameshifted. The cry which has echoed throughout the area is that this cheating scandal was a result of too much emphasis on high standardized test scores. Therefore, cheating is only the tip of the ice-berg, for the denial that it was evil is even worse!

This obviously sends a strong message to students, namely those teachers who were students themselves at one time. They saw and understood this worldview that was shoved down their throats when they were younger and then lived it out a generation later. This is the multi-generational fruit of an atheistic based government education system.

Nevertheless, lest we sit and gloat in the fall of such decadence, many Christian schools (and Churches for that matter) aren't much better, for their respective standards, curriculum, and overall administrative practices virtually mirror that of government run education.

How shall we then live?

The solution is not to use Christ as a means to help morals along, for He shall not be used like an old dirty rag! He is the King of Glory! Amen!

Rather, Christians must understand the evils that pervade government run education, systematically take their children out of the public education system, and set them in an environment where a sound Biblical worldview is cultivated and extolled. This can either take place via home school (my preference) or a Christian School that uncompromisingly abides in a thoroughly orthodox Christian worldview in both doctrine and practice.

What then of the public univeristies?

If a Christian is rightly trained from a young age to bind himself to the Lord of Hosts and discern worldivews, he will be like Daniel and not abandon the faith. Instead, his mature mind will know how to throw out the bad (ie atheism) and keep the good (ie learning the practicals of accounting, law, medicine, calculus, etc.). There is a difference between throwing a mature believer in the lion's den or into the fiery furnace and a small child. We send our children into the lion's den totally unprepared for life and are then surprised when they are devoured by atheists.

To Him be the glory alone! Amen!

The Christian Life: The Promise of Hardship

2011-07-15T08:47:00.003-04:00

The Christian Life is one of Promised Hardship and not ease. For this reason, the health and wealth gospel is an assault on the gospel itself, and it should receive direct and regular condemnation in the same way that the Fathers battled the Gnostics, Arians, etc.

It is true that living according to Biblical principles reduces financial stress and surely builds up the family. However, Christ does not ensure us a long life without affliction, persecution, and physical pain associated with a fallen world. It is a great tragedy when those who have severe chronic pain and/or paralyzing conditions are deceived into thinking that they lack the faith needed to be healed. This is heresy, for Our Lord Himself and most of the Apostles died humiliatingly painful deaths.

Therefore, let us be slow to judge those who endure hardship. Rather, let us pray for God's grace to heal and restore according to His will, and let us pray for the grace to endure when God ordains hardship to continue. Ultimately, this life is a preparation for the next, so suffering unto the glory of God is not in vain.

To Him be the glory! Amen!

Scripture and Tradition

2011-07-13T07:21:00.004-04:00

Today we consider Church Tradition as a body of teaching and rites solely derived from man, so we tend to think little of Tradition in in light of the testimony of Sola Scripture. However, the early Church placed a high value on both Scripture and Tradition, though Tradition was never the usurpation of Scripture. Tradition was understood as the concise body of doctrine which came from Christ to the Apostles and finally to the Fathers successively. This, in turn, was critical in binding the faith and refuting heretics. Tradition had to conform to Scripture, but early formulated Traditional Doctrines were used as evidence to crush the deceptive interpretations of Scripture by dangerous groups like the Gnostics.

Taken out of Early Christian Doctrines, J.N.D. Kelly (page 31 1978 revised edition) quotes Athanasius in defining Tradition as it was understood early on. Kelly writes, "The ancient meaning of the term is well illustrated by Athanasius's reference to 'the actual original tradition, teaching and faith of the Catholic Church, which the Lord bestowed, the apostles proclaimed, and the fathers safeguarded'." As a side note, Catholic Church is not a reference to Rome here but rather the Church as a whole.

Therefore, we concur with the early Fathers that Tradition is not something to be tossed aside, for it helps us grasp the early teachings of the Church as bestowed by Christ and proclaimed by the Apostles. We use such Doctrinal Traditions to rightly interpret the Scriptures, yet, with that being said, there are doctrines that have been introduced over time with little explicit or implicit Scriptural warrant. These are are certainly worth debating, of which some may or may not have sbustantive support. For this reason, the analogy of faith (Scripture intereprets Scripture) is critcal in formulating right Doctrine.

Authorship of Isaiah

2011-07-12T06:50:00.003-04:00

The authorship of Isaiah has been attacked in the modern era with great veracity. However, the reasons for this are unfounded because of an anti-presuppositional bias against prophetic supernaturalism. If one presupposes a materialistic worldview, then one must attempt to reinterpret Isaiah and give it a later date.

To begin with, the Masoretic (Hebrew Old Testament) was questioned for years by materialists, yet the finding of the great Isaiah scroll in the Dead Sea area collapsed the dating of the text just over a thousand years! The Word of God is always vindicated because it is the Word of God.

Even so, the date of Isaiah is still questioned, especially in light of the Cyrus prophecy that occurred many years before Cyrus was born and before the Persian Empire rose to such great heights of power. However, the text nor the evidence warrants against an early date for Isaiah. Rather, it is a defective pressupositional bias that forces these convoluted interpretations.

I reccomend Motyer's Commentary on Isaiah for further study.

To God be the glory! Amen!

The Bible, Law, and the Constitution of the Unites States

2011-07-08T06:00:00.000-04:00

Though many detest the Bible, it is the only true source for Absolute Law because it is inspired by God. Apart from the Bible, man is left with vastly different and absurd human philosophies that grope in the wind for a basis of law. Though we do not and should not advocate a theocracy this side of the Cross, the Bible does provide us with key principles that establish and uphold justice within a fallen society.

It is from Biblical principles that the Constitution of the United States is derived, yet, apart from self-regulation, this Constitution is not sustainable, which is something the Founders were quick to point out. This has become especially evident in our present post-modern decadent society. Likewise, because those who oppose the Constitution in favor of relativistic law tend to be anti-Christian, they are inevitably drawn to detest it.

Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Scandal

2011-07-07T06:59:00.002-04:00

An investigation has shown that widespread cheating on standardized tests has occurred within the Atlanta Public Education system for the past decade or so. Not only is this exhibit A for why dumping gobs of cash into public education is futile, but it is also a testament to the depravity of our day. In stead of confession, there appears to be immediate justification! How godless!

I have heard over and over again this morning on talk radio of reports where numerous people are sympathetic to this cheating scandal. Instead of condemning it, it has simply become the result of pressure upon the system to produce higher test scores. There you go folks! The means have justified the ends, and we should all hold hands and gloss over this systematic widespread government run cheating scandal!

Birthday & Life Update

2011-05-31T21:26:00.003-04:00

Hi Everyone! Yesterday was my birthday: 33!

I've been incredibly busy the past couple months after I got my new job managing the property & evidence room at Norcross Police Department, and life is much better now. My schedule is a 100 times better, and home life is more stable as a result.

I've been able to teach some at Christ Reformed Church during the Bible study hour on Sunday morning. Of late, I did a two part series examining the life of Joseph and all the implications therein. He is truly my hero of the Old Testament.

Lord willing, I will be speaking at a youth fellowship of Nepali youth on Saturday.

To Him be the glory!

Amen!

Transitioning Into Home School

2011-03-06T16:19:00.002-05:00

In the present era, many works have been published documenting the severe faults and weaknesses of public education as it pertains to the Christian life as well as the quality of education itself. For this reason, many have the desire to homeschool their children but have difficulty in the transition. Simply put, they want to homeschool but are overwhelmed at such a transition.

Therefore, I have decided to write a conscise booklet in helping parents overcome some of the real obstacles that homeschool parents face. The focus will be on three key areas: theological underpinnings, fiscal responsibities, and logistics. The theological section will highlight some of the critical reasons why Christian parents should consider homeschooling. Secondly, finances will be covered because this tends to be one of the most problematic areas when transitioning from a two-income family to a single-income family, especially when health insurance and/or immense debt is involved. Finally, logistics will cover the nuts and bolts of curriculum selection, implementation, and familial roles.

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

2011-02-19T17:00:00.000-05:00

In an era when most people in the West live in well lit cities, many of us do not appreciate the grandeur that is the night's sky. The moon and constellations have been used since the beginning of creation for a multitude of things, especially the planting and harvesting of crops as well as navigation.

Though technology has advanced in many areas, we still use the heavens. Even today, a number of our satellites maintain orientation because of pre-programmed stellar charts. The one's that I worked with focused more on the sun, moon, earth relationship in particular.

Let us therefore praise the Lord for what He has displayed in the heavens! Go and behold what God had as created! Amen!

Wycliffe Bible Translation

2011-02-18T20:46:00.002-05:00

A few days ago, I contacted Wycliffe to see how I could assist with Bible Translation in the future. As I have become more versed in Biblical linguistics via a voluminous amount of work in Hebrew and Greek, God has given me a greater desire to do translation work at some point in the future. With today's technology, much can be done offsite, so there may be a possibility of doing some translation work via correspondence. I have spoken with a representative and will most likely meet with him in the next couple weeks to discuss things further. I appreciate your prayers in this.

The Cure for Anxiety: Resting in God's Sovereignty

2011-02-17T18:28:00.003-05:00

Many people are controlled by anxiety, and there are vast numbers who are unable to function because of it. Anxiety is brought about by our fear of what may or not happen given the current circumstances. For example, when funds are low and bills are high, anxiety escalates. For this reason, man will turn to something or someone to deal with anxiety, including medication.

Pills are popular because they are a quick fix, and, for that reason, this has become a multi-billion dollar industry. The great danger is that anxiety medication can be quite strong, so, when a person wants to get off of it, one has to be extremely cautious because death or serious injury could result.

How then should we deal with anxiety Biblically?

First of all, the spiritual answer to anxiety is to trust in the Sovereignty of God. Does not God provide for the flowers in the field and the birds of the sky? Will He not provide for that which was created in His image all the moreso? Repentance and submission to Christ is the only true answer to curing anxiety, and that takes the work of a Sovereign God because of our hardness of heart. When God is working upon the heart and convicting your heart, repent and cling to Christ. Do not be as the fool and chase after the vain idols that cannot see, hear, taste, touch, or speak.

Second of all, if one is on axiety medication, anti-depressants, etc., then coming off of those pills should be under the supervision of a physician. However, one must be careful because the facilities that are availble to 'detox' someone will also give unBiblical advice about how to deal with the anxiety to begin with. If a facility is used, it must be stressed that one is there to seek treatment for the physical withdrawal issues and not to gain unBiblical advice.

As you can see, the world's answer makes the problem far worse than it originally was. Therefore, seek Christ and rest in Him, lest you find yourself entrapped by the deceitfulness of the world's short-term bandaid idols.

Unsurprised When Trials Come

2011-02-14T18:11:00.003-05:00

As a Christian, we should not be suprised when trials come. Though they can be difficult to persevere through, we should not become anxious. Christ foretold of persecution and tribulation for His Church, yet we often become despondent during such times as these when jobs are scarce and funds are tight. Nevertheless, we are to press on towards the goal that we have in Christ becuase the good work that He started in His saints will be completed. Therefore, be of good cheer and know that He is Lord.

Why are more Americans Pro-Life today?

2011-01-24T21:57:00.005-05:00

More Americans are statistically pro-life today than in previous decades as studies have shown. The ultrasound is a huge factor as people can now see in the womb with tremendous detail. Not only do parents and grandparents celebrate the unborn child with ultrasound pictures at work and at home, but their older children see those pictures. See http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/01/24/abortion-debate-returns-now-pro-life-nation

Just like a lot of other parents, we put up ultrasound pictures on the refrigerator and the internet for all the world to see and enjoy. Our little ones also see those pictures, and those images become embedded into them from a young age. This then lessens the likelihood that they will be pro-abortion as the grow up.

The other factor that is beginning to show itself a bit more with each passing year and decade is that of population growth amongst pro-life advocates. Those who are pro-abortion tend to have less children or no children at all. Therefore, by default, when pro-abortion advocates die, they are ironically being replaced by children who grew up in pro-life families that tend to be larger.

Like all false worldview positions, abortion advocacy self-destructs over a period of time, and this, by God's grace, is a built in check against such evil.

Naturalism and the Lack of Justice

2011-01-11T06:00:00.003-05:00

In the midst of the horror that has recently occurred in Arizona, justice is demanded. However, our judicial system has significantly drifted away from its Biblical basis for justice. In man's humanistic attempts to take God out of every facet of life, man left his only foundation for dignity as well. Man created in the image of God has value, but man evolved from pond scum is valueless. Man is then no better or worse than the pond scum from which he came.

In a naturalistic worldview, there are no absolutes because there is no God from which to contain those absolutes. It then becomes the will of the mob, a powerful elite, or some dictator. This is the condition of America.

The practical naturalistic elites have created a situation in which the perpetrator has become the victim. How did this happen?

If we're just a product of a genetically predisposed biochemical mass, then we have no reason to be accountable. Actually, the very words I'm writing right now would be just a mere chain reaction of chemical sequences. Utlimately, this is just a convenient way to justify anything you want to say or do.

In this particular case, the philosophic behaviorists will tend to make a strong case about a tough childhood while the neurologists will tend to make a case involving a biochemical disorder (a general theory of which I am of convinced is inconclusive at best). Either way, the murderer is made to be the victim, while the real victims are denied justice.

Therefore, we should not be surprised if justice is denied depending on what foundation of justice is used.

Tragedy in Arizona: Grieving for the Young Girl

2011-01-10T15:57:00.005-05:00

The great tragedy in Arizona reminds us of the fallen world we live in, and the murder of that beautiful young girl elevates this heinous crime. Because I have three daughters, it hit home for me as I am sure it did for most of you. I cannot imagine the grief her family is going through right now. The fact that she was born on 9-11 (from what I have heard) only magnifies what this child has lived through in her short life.

Let us pray for the family of this young girl that the God of all Peace may comfort them.
Let us pray for the Congresswoman who is still in critical condition that the Great Physician heal her.
Let us pray for the other victims and all others who have personal connections with them that the glory of God may shine through in the midst of this horror.
Let us pray for the proper implementation of justice upon the murderer that the righteousness of God might prevail.
Let us pray for the murderer's repentance lest we become haughty ourselves, for any of us are capable of such sins against our neighbor.

Chronology Wars

2011-01-06T16:45:00.004-05:00

Answers In Genesis had a great article in their latest quarterly edition of Answers Magazine regarding ancient chronological history. Though most people do not realize it, the vast majority of ancient history is not nearly as explicit in its chronology as the Bible.

When the Bible makes a multitude of explicit claims on years and dates, we take that for granted. In comparison to other ancient writings, the Bible is much easier to understand chronologically. On the contrary, other cultures were rampant in age inflation and often times did not include the sinful characteristics of a various monarchies and governments. Because of these two problems, it can be difficult to ascertain an accurate chronology and explanation of events in ancient history, especially epochs preceding those of the Greeks before the time of the 1st Olympiad, which was when the Greeks began to be more meticulous historians.

Ultimately, this shows us that we should not pigeon hole ourselves into thinking that we must 'fit' the Bible into pagan history because their respective timelines collapse down pretty signficantly when analyzed in more depth. The Egyptians and Babylonians were notorious for this, not to mention the reality of regimes in Egypt that once appeared to occur in different eras but have now been shown to have existed concurrently in different regions of Egypt.

Therefore, it is pagan history that must fit into a reliable Biblical history and not the other way around.

ADD & ADHD: A Child Misdiagnosed

2010-12-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

Recently, my wife was informed that a family member's son was either diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, or the parent believes the child has it. From what we know of the child, he does not have autism or anything organic like that.

What then is going on here? HE'S A KID, AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM ARE ENERGETIC!!! Such labels are mostly an excuse to not take the initiative to parent as God commands, which takes work. It's much easier to give out comatose pills or write off bad behavior as ADD or ADHD, but that's not what the Lord desires us to do as parents.

It is true that bad disciplinary habits, which includes too much multi-media like tv and videogames, fuels a childs inability to act with restraint. However, a child has an enormous amount of energy. What a child usually needs is structure in his or her life and some time to run around outside or expend energy in some other physical way if at all possible.

Therefore, reduce activities that hinder imagination and increase activities that encourage the senses to act instead of merely absorb vegetatively. Take responsibility for your child's upbringing instead of allowing the tv to raise your child into a mind-numbing sedentary lifestyle.

Economic Class Warfare: A Biblical Response

2010-12-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

A prevailing influx of marxist ideals has flooded American economics. Socialism has been present for over a century, but it is far more open today than ever before. At the root of this is class warfare, which states that one group should have its wealth redistributed to another less wealthy group. It is the philosophy that everyone should have the same amount of wealth. How do we think about this as Christians?

We are commanded to give freely and cheerfully to those in difficult impoverished situations and to the ministry of the Word. However, should the government force one to do this? It works like this. The government elite establishes a tax system takes from a wealthier group and then redistrubutes this property to whomever it wishes.

Besides the problem of determining how much should be taken and redistributed, the very heart of this system is an abolition of the 10th Commandment of Thou Shalt Not Covet. If my neighbor earns more money than I do, I should not covet and demand that he redistribute part of his hard earned wealth to me.

Nothing in Scripture demands that my neighbor nor I be compelled by the government to redistribute our property. Ultimately, this system stifles economic growth because it disincentivises people to work hard. Why work hard when I have to give half of it to my lazy neighbor? Even before the Fall, man was commanded to work by keeping the garden, and Adam would have gained the fruit of his labor. The difference now is that labor is arduous and not always as pleasant as we'd like it to be.

Therefore, be content with your wages as Christ commanded, and do not covet your neighbor's property, for that is evil and wicked in the eyes of the Lord! Rather, rejoice when others are blessed financially in diligence of their labor! To Him be the glory! Amen!

Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Continued Loss of Moral Authority

2010-12-27T15:35:00.003-05:00

As a former active duty military officer, I cringed when I read about the of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Besides the uncomfortableness of close quarters in barracks and showering with openly gay service members, the decline of moral authority ought to be our primary concern as we think about this Biblically.

The major enemy that we fight today is set within an Islamic context. This repeal gives muslims one more reason why they have the moral authority in this war and why we are losing it. Male soldiers parading around in lipstick and dresses (many gay men and women are cross dressers) will definitely not give America credibility in the Islamic world but only worsen our image as the show piece of immorality.

Though I abhor Islam, Sharia Law, and Islam's various idolatries, I find myself agreeing with them on several moral issues like abortion, pornography, and of course the detestation of homosexual sin. However, if we are fighting a war because we believe we have the moral authority to do so, that proves difficult as we become more debauched.

Piece by piece we are rapidly losing our moral authority to wage war against our enemies. Did not Israel of old face the same dilemma? Once they lost moral authority and became worse than their enemies, exile was close at hand. For this reason, our economic class warfare woes that are usually on the front page are only a tip of our moral depravity.

Might we repent before we are ravaged by an enemy who is slowing gaining in moral authority as we turn to the Baals and the Ashteroths in our desire for liberty to worship any god except the One True God.

2010: A Great Year

2010-12-26T15:35:00.003-05:00

2010 held an incredible amount of ministry opportunities both inside and outside of the home. We settled into our new home (at least new to us) and spent countless hours with family and friends in our 'Casa Fiesta'. We love to host folks and look forward to that again in 2011.

With the arrival of Shiphrah in mid-August, we were all maxed out on the energy scale, so I had to take some time off from everything going on with the Nepalese, which was a difficult but critical family decision.

Nevertheless, the Nepali work over 2010 went exceptionally well. We were introduced to several new families, and I was able to spent a tremendous amount of time in their homes on a regular basis, which is something I was not able to much of 2009.

I was also able to squeeze in an Apologetic Conference out in Dallas and a small one for a home school co-op here in Atlanta.

Though much of my focus has been at home for the past four months, I have not bee idle in my studies. On the contrary, I have been able to spend an incredible amount of time in Hebrew and Greek. I continue developing my linguistic skills in order to understand the Bible at a deeper level and to use these skills for future language work. Linguistics are a lot like mastering an instrument; it takes regular time over a number of years. It can seem like you are treading water with grammar and vocab forever, but the light at the end of the tunnel starts to appear as
words and concepts start to cement in your mind. Before you know it, the text begins to leap off of the page like never before!

We continue to pray about the focus of the The Jeramy Anderson Evangelistic Association this next year, and much of that will be dictated by my work schedule which may or may not change in a few months. In time, I hope to be able to put more time into this exciting ministry, so please pray for a change of schedule that will better accomodate this.

To Him be the glory! Amen!

Myth: Secular Public Education is Neutral & Tolerant

2010-11-28T16:16:00.005-05:00

When I hear the phrase "public education", I cringe to my very core in angst and disgust. Besides the impotence of public education to actually educate anyone in a meaningful and efficient manner, two of the great lies which lie at the heart of its incompetency are neutrality and tolerance.

First of all, public education is not neutral because no education is neutral. Every form of education will have some type of interpretative lens by which it grounds itself and views reality. That form in the public education arena is that of atheistic humanistic socialism with a flavor of pantheism; all in all a loose pluralism. We send children to be trained by Caesar, and we're shocked when they come home as Romans as Voddie Baucham would say. We are fools if we think the public education system and even most of our private Christian schools for that matter (which are just more expensive versions of public education) are fountains of truth and righteousness.

Secondly, public education is not purely tolerant, for every education system is exclusivistic at some point. It is impossible to be otherwise. It is better to say that they are intolerant of Christianity because the Bible is an assault on relativistic thought. Ironically, in their hatred for the Bible as the chief source text for understanding the overarching schematic of the world, they reject that which keeps man from grasping at straws. After all, to reject the Bible is to be left with the endless philosophies of man that not only internally contradict themselves but also have no legitimate foundation for the knowledge these bankrupt systems seek to advocate! Only the fear of God is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom!

For this reason, a doctrinally sound Christian based education is essential in bringing up a generation in the fear and admonition of the LORD, not to mention any meaningful incentive to learn anything at all. Truly, if we all just turn to ash at the end of the day then why learn anything? For this reason, nihilism or the philosophy that all is meaningless prevails in various forms today. By the way, if you think that is novel, go back and read Ecclesiastes, for Solomon was well acquainted with what happens when you take the LORD GOD of HOSTS out of the picture.

Therefore, be on guard against the tolerant neutrality claim when it comes to education (or anything for that matter), for that is a myth used to pull wool over the eyes of parents in an attempt to indoctrinate children into the godless unrighteous based education venues that prevail in America today.

To Him be the glory! Amen!

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Closing Statement and Signatories

2010-11-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Closing Statement & Signatories

We the MINISTERS, and MESSENGERS of, and concerned for upwards of, one hundred BAPTIZED CHURCHES, in England and Wales (denying Arminianisim), being met together in London, from the third of the seventh month to the eleventh of the same, 1689, to consider of some things that might be for the glory of God, and the good of these congregations, have thought meet (for the satisfaction of all other Christians that differ from us in the point of Baptism) to recommend to their perusal the confession of our faith, which confession we own, as containing the doctrine of our faith and practice, and do desire that the members of our churches respectively do furnish themselves therewith.

Hansard Knollys, Pastor, Broken Wharf, London
William Kiffin, Pastor, Devonshire-square, London
John Harris, Pastor, Joiner's Hall, London
William Collins, Pastor, Petty France, London
Hurcules Collins, Pastor, Wapping, London
Robert Steed, Pastor, Broken Wharf, London
Leonard Harrison, Pastor, Limehouse, London
George Barret, Pastor, Mile End Green, London
Isaac Lamb, Pastor, Pennington-street, London
Richard Adams, Minister, Shad Thames, Southwark
Benjamin Keach, Pastor, Horse-lie-down, Southwark
Andrew Gifford, Pastor, Bristol, Frvars, Som. & Glouc.
Thomas Vaux, Pastor, Broadmead, Som. & Glouc.
Thomas Winnel, Pastor, Taunton, Som. & Glouc.
James Hitt, Preacher, Dalwood, Dorset
Richard Tidmarsh, Minister, Oxford City, Oxon
William Facey, Pastor, Reading, Berks
Samuel Buttall, Minister, Plymouth, Devon
Christopher Price, Minister, Abergayenny, Monmouth
Daniel Finch, Minister, Kingsworth, Herts
John Ball, Tiverton, Devon
Edmond White, Pastor, Evershall, Bedford
William Prichard, Pastor, Blaenau, Monmouth
Paul Fruin, Minister, Warwick, Warwick
Richard Ring, Pastor, Southhampton, Hants
John Tomkins, Minister, Abingdon, Berks
Toby Willes, Pastor, Bridgewater, Somerset
John Carter, Steventon, Bedford
James Webb, Devizes, Wilts
Richard Sutton, Pastor, Tring, Herts
Robert Knight, Pastor, Stukeley, Bucks
Edward Price, Pastor, Hereford City, Hereford
William Phipps, Pastor, Exon, Devon
William Hawkins, Pastor, Dimmock, Gloucester
Samuel Ewer, Pastor, Hemstead, Herts
Edward Man, Pastor, Houndsditch, London
Charles Archer, Pastor, Hock-Norton, Oxon

In the name of and on the behalf of the whole assembly.

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 32: Of the Last Judgment

2010-11-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

1._____ God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ; to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father; in which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon the earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.
( Acts 17:31; John 5:22, 27; 1 Corinthians 6:3; Jude 6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:10, 12; Matthew 25:32-46 )

2._____ The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the eternal damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient; for then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and glory with everlasting rewards, in the presence of the Lord; but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast aside into everlasting torments, and punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
( Romans 9:22, 23; Matthew 25:21, 34; 2 Timothy 4:8; Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 )

3._____ As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity, so will he have the day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come, and may ever be prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus; come quickly. Amen.
( 2 Corinthians 5:10, 11; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7; Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:35-40; Revelation 22:20 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 31: Of the State of Man after Death and of the Resurrection of the Dead

2010-11-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

1._____ The bodies of men after death return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous being then made perfect in holiness, are received into paradise, where they are with Christ, and behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell; where they remain in torment and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day; besides these two places, for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.
( Genesis 3:19; Acts 13:36; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6,8; Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 12:23; Jude 6, 7; 1 Peter 3:19; Luke 16:23, 24 )

2._____ At the last day, such of the saints as are found alive, shall not sleep, but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up with the selfsame bodies, and none other; although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever.
( 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Job 19:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 15:42, 43 )

3._____ The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honour, and be made conformable to his own glorious body.
( Acts 24:15; John 5:28, 29; Philippians 3:21 )

The Mind of God Sundays: Proverbs 11

2010-11-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 11 (English Standard Version)

¹A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
but a just weight is his delight.
²When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.
³The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
⁴Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
⁵The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,
but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
⁶The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
⁷When the wicked dies, his hope will perish,
and the expectation of wealth perishes too.
⁸The righteous is delivered from trouble,
and the wicked walks into it instead.
⁹With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
¹⁰When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
¹¹By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.
¹²Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man of understanding remains silent.
¹³Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
¹⁴Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
¹⁵Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
¹⁶A gracious woman gets honor,
and violent men get riches.
¹⁷A man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man hurts himself.
¹⁸The wicked earns deceptive wages,
but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
¹⁹Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
but he who pursues evil will die.
²⁰Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD,
but those of blameless ways are his delight.
²¹Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
²²Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
²³The desire of the righteous ends only in good;
the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
²⁴One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
²⁵Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
²⁶The people curse him who holds back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
²⁷Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.
²⁸Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
²⁹Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
³⁰The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and whoever captures souls is wise.
³¹If the righteous is repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Heart of God Saturdays: Psalm 12

2010-11-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Psalm 12 (English Standard Version)

To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

¹Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone;
for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
²Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

³May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
⁴those who say, "With our tongue we will prevail,
our lips are with us; who is master over us?"

⁵"Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
I will now arise," says the LORD;
"I will place him in the safety for which he longs."
⁶The words of the LORD are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.

⁷You, O LORD, will keep them;
you will guard us from this generation forever.
⁸On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 30: Of the Lord's Supper

2010-11-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

1._____ The supper of the Lord Jesus was instituted by him the same night wherein he was betrayed, to be observed in his churches, unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance, and shewing forth the sacrifice of himself in his death, confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits thereof, their spiritual nourishment, and growth in him, their further engagement in, and to all duties which they owe to him; and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him, and with each other.
( 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 17,21 )

2._____ In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor any real sacrifice made at all for remission of sin of the quick or dead, but only a memorial of that one offering up of himself by himself upon the cross, once for all; and a spiritual oblation of all possible praise unto God for the same. So that the popish sacrifice of the mass, as they call it, is most abominable, injurious to Christ's own sacrifice the alone propitiation for all the sins of the elect.
( Hebrews 9:25, 26, 28; 1 Corinthians 11:24; Matthew 26:26, 27 )

3._____ The Lord Jesus hath, in this ordinance, appointed his ministers to pray, and bless the elements of bread and wine, and thereby to set them apart from a common to a holy use, and to take and break the bread; to take the cup, and, they communicating also themselves, to give both to the communicants.
( 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, etc. )

4._____ The denial of the cup to the people, worshipping the elements, the lifting them up, or carrying them about for adoration, and reserving them for any pretended religious use, are all contrary to the nature of this ordinance, and to the institution of Christ.
( Matthew 26:26-28; Matthew 15:9; Exodus 20:4, 5 )

5._____ The outward elements in this ordinance, duly set apart to the use ordained by Christ, have such relation to him crucified, as that truly, although in terms used figuratively, they are sometimes called by the names of the things they represent, to wit, the body and blood of Christ, albeit, in substance and nature, they still remain truly and only bread and wine, as they were before.
( 1 Corinthians 11:27; 1 Corinthians 11:26-28 )

6._____ That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread and wine, into the substance of Christ's body and blood, commonly called transubstantiation, by consecration of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant not to Scripture alone, but even to common sense and reason, overthroweth the nature of the ordinance, and hath been, and is, the cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross idolatries.
( Acts 3:21; Luke 14:6, 39; 1 Corinthians 11:24, 25 )

7._____ Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this ordinance, do then also inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually receive, and feed upon Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death; the body and blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally, but spiritually present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward senses.
( 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 )

8._____ All ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with Christ, so are they unworthy of the Lord's table, and cannot, without great sin against him, while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries, or be admitted thereunto; yea, whosoever shall receive unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, eating and drinking judgment to themselves.
( 2 Corinthians 6:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 11:29; Matthew 7:6 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 29: Of Baptism

2010-11-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

1._____ Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.
( Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2;12; Galatians 3:27; Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:4 )

2._____ Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance.
( Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36, 37; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 18:8 )

3._____The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
( Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 8:38 )

4._____Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance. ( Matthew 3:16; John 3:23 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 28: Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper

2010-11-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

1._____ Baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances of positive and sovereign institution, appointed by the Lord Jesus, the only lawgiver, to be continued in his church to the end of the world.
( Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:26 )

2._____ These holy appointments are to be administered by those only who are qualified and thereunto called, according to the commission of Christ.
( Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 4:1 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 27: Of the Communion of Saints

2010-11-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

1._____ All saints that are united to Jesus Christ, their head, by his Spirit, and faith, although they are not made thereby one person with him, have fellowship in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory; and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each others gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, in an orderly way, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.
( 1 John 1:3; John 1:16; Philippians 3:10; Romans 6:5, 6; Ephesians 4:15, 16; 1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Corinthians 3:21-23; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14; Romans 1:12; 1 John 3:17, 18;Galatians 6:10 )

2._____ Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification; as also in relieving each other in outward things according to their several abilities, and necessities; which communion, according to the rule of the gospel, though especially to be exercised by them, in the relation wherein they stand, whether in families, or churches, yet, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended to all the household of faith, even all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus; nevertheless their communion one with another as saints, doth not take away or infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.
( Hebrews 10:24, 25; Hebrews 3:12, 13; Acts 11:29, 30; Ephesians 6:4; 1 Corinthians 12:14-27; Acts 5:4; Ephesians 4:28 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 26: Of the Church

2010-11-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

1._____ The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
( Hebrews 12:23; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:10, 22, 23; Ephesians 5:23, 27, 32 )

2._____ All persons throughout the world, professing the faith of the gospel, and obedience unto God by Christ according unto it, not destroying their own profession by any errors everting the foundation, or unholiness of conversation, are and may be called visible saints; and of such ought all particular congregations to be constituted.
( 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 11:26; Romans 1:7; Ephesians 1:20-22 )

3._____ The purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan; nevertheless Christ always hath had, and ever shall have a kingdom in this world, to the end thereof, of such as believe in him, and make profession of his name.
( 1 Corinthians 5; Revelation 2; Revelation 3; Revelation 18:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12; Matthew 16:18; Psalms 72:17; Psalm 102:28; Revelation 12:17 )

4._____ The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom, by the appointment of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order or government of the church, is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner; neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof, but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God; whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.
( Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11, 12; 2 Thessalonians 2:2-9 )

5._____ In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth out of the world unto himself, through the ministry of his word, by his Spirit, those that are given unto him by his Father, that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his word. Those thus called, he commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which he requireth of them in the world.
( John 10:16; John 12:32; Matthew 28:20; Matthew 18:15-20 )

6._____ The members of these churches are saints by calling, visibly manifesting and evidencing (in and by their profession and walking) their obedience unto that call of Christ; and do willingly consent to walk together, according to the appointment of Christ; giving up themselves to the Lord, and one to another, by the will of God, in professed subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel.
( Romans. 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 2:41, 42; Acts 5:13, 14; 2 Corinthians 9:13 )

7._____ To each of these churches thus gathered, according to his mind declared in his word, he hath given all that power and authority, which is in any way needful for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline, which he hath instituted for them to observe; with commands and rules for the due and right exerting, and executing of that power.
( Matthew 18:17, 18; 1 Corinthians 5:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 )

8._____ A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church (so called and gathered), for the peculiar administration of ordinances, and execution of power or duty, which he intrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are bishops or elders, and deacons.
( Acts 20:17, 28; Philippians 1:1 )

9._____ The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the office of bishop or elder in a church, is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself; and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition of hands of the eldership of the church, if there be any before constituted therein; and of a deacon that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands.
( Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 6:3, 5, 6 )

10.____ The work of pastors being constantly to attend the service of Christ, in his churches, in the ministry of the word and prayer, with watching for their souls, as they that must give an account to Him; it is incumbent on the churches to whom they minister, not only to give them all due respect, but also to communicate to them of all their good things according to their ability, so as they may have a comfortable supply, without being themselves entangled in secular affairs; and may also be capable of exercising hospitality towards others; and this is required by the law of nature, and by the express order of our Lord Jesus, who hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.
( Acts 6:4; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Timothy 5:17, 18; Galatians 6:6, 7; 2 Timothy 2:4; 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Corinthians 9:6-14 )

11.____ Although it be incumbent on the bishops or pastors of the churches, to be instant in preaching the word, by way of office, yet the work of preaching the word is not so peculiarly confined to them but that others also gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for it, and approved and called by the church, may and ought to perform it.
( Acts 11:19-21; 1 Peter 4:10, 11 )

12.____ As all believers are bound to join themselves to particular churches, when and where they have opportunity so to do; so all that are admitted unto the privileges of a church, are also under the censures and government thereof, according to the rule of Christ.
( 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14, 15 )

13.____ No church members, upon any offence taken by them, having performed their duty required of them towards the person they are offended at, ought to disturb any church-order, or absent themselves from the assemblies of the church, or administration of any ordinances, upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow members, but to wait upon Christ, in the further proceeding of the church.
( Matthew 18:15-17; Ephesians 4:2, 3 )

14.____ As each church, and all the members of it, are bound to pray continually for the good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ, in all places, and upon all occasions to further every one within the bounds of their places and callings, in the exercise of their gifts and graces, so the churches, when planted by the providence of God, so as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it, ought to hold communion among themselves, for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification.
( Ephesians 6:18; Psalms 122:6; Romans 16:1, 2; 3 John 8-10 )

15.____ In cases of difficulties or differences, either in point of doctrine or administration, wherein either the churches in general are concerned, or any one church, in their peace, union, and edification; or any member or members of any church are injured, in or by any proceedings in censures not agreeable to truth and order: it is according to the mind of Christ, that many churches holding communion together, do, by their messengers, meet to consider, and give their advice in or about that matter in difference, to be reported to all the churches concerned; howbeit these messengers assembled, are not intrusted with any church-power properly so called; or with any jurisdiction over the churches themselves, to exercise any censures either over any churches or persons; or to impose their determination on the churches or officers.
( Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23, 25; 2 Corinthians 1:24; 1 John 4:1 )

The Mind of God Sundays: Proverbs 10

2010-11-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 10 (English Standard Version)

¹The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
²Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
but righteousness delivers from death.
³The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry,
but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
⁴A slack hand causes poverty,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
⁵He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.
⁶Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
⁷The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
⁸The wise of heart will receive commandments,
but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
⁹Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
¹⁰Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
¹¹The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
¹²Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all offenses.
¹³On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.
¹⁴The wise lay up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
¹⁵A rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
¹⁶The wage of the righteous leads to life,
the gain of the wicked to sin.
¹⁷Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,
but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
¹⁸The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever utters slander is a fool.
¹⁹When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
²⁰The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
²¹The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense.
²²The blessing of the LORD makes rich,
and he adds no sorrow with it.
²³Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool,
but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
²⁴What the wicked dreads will come upon him,
but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
²⁵When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,
but the righteous is established forever.
²⁶Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those who send him.
²⁷The fear of the LORD prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked will be short.
²⁸The hope of the righteous brings joy,
but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
²⁹The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the blameless,
but destruction to evildoers.
³⁰The righteous will never be removed,
but the wicked will not dwell in the land.
³¹The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

Heart of God Saturdays: Psalm 11

2010-11-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

Psalm 11 (English Standard Version)

To the choirmaster. Of David.

¹In the LORD I take refuge;how can you say to my soul,
"Flee like a bird to your mountain,
²for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
³if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?"

⁴The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD’s throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
⁵The LORD tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
⁶Let him rain coals on the wicked;
fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
⁷For the LORD is righteous;he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 25: Of Marriage

2010-11-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

1._____ Marriage is to be between one man and one woman; neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the same time.
( Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:5,6 )

2._____ Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife, for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and the preventing of uncleanness.
( Genesis 2:18; Genesis 1:28; 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9 )

3._____ It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent; yet it is the duty of Christians to marry in the Lord; and therefore such as profess the true religion, should not marry with infidels, or idolaters; neither should such as are godly, be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresy.
( Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 4:3; 1 Corinthians 7:39; Nehemiah 13:25-27 )

4._____ Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity, forbidden in the Word; nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful, by any law of man or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife.
( Leviticus 18; Mark 6:18; 1 Corinthians 5:1 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 24: Of the Civil Magistrate

2010-11-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

1._____ God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be under him, over the people, for his own glory and the public good; and to this end hath armed them with the power of the sword, for defence and encouragement of them that do good, and for the punishment of evil doers.
( Romans 13:1-4 )

2._____ It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate when called there unto; in the management whereof, as they ought especially to maintain justice and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each kingdom and commonwealth, so for that end they may lawfully now, under the New Testament wage war upon just and necessary occasions.
( 2 Samuel 23:3; Psalms 82:3, 4; Luke 3:14 )

3._____ Civil magistrates being set up by God for the ends aforesaid; subjection, in all lawful things commanded by them, ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake; and we ought to make supplications and prayers for kings and all that are in authority, that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.
( Romans 13:5-7; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 Timothy 2:1, 2 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 23: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

2010-11-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

1._____ A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein the person swearing in truth, righteousness, and judgement, solemnly calleth God to witness what he sweareth, and to judge him according to the truth or falseness thereof.
( Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 10:20; Jeremiah 4:2; 2 Chronicles 6:22, 23 )

2._____ The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear; and therein it is to be used, with all holy fear and reverence; therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred; yet as in matter of weight and moment, for confirmation of truth, and ending all strife, an oath is warranted by the word of God; so a lawful oath being imposed by lawful authority in such matters, ought to be taken.
( Matthew 5:34, 37; James 5:12; Hebrews 6:16; 2 Corinthians 1:23; Nehemiah 13:25 )

3._____ Whosoever taketh an oath warranted by the Word of God, ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he knoweth to be truth; for that by rash, false, and vain oaths, the Lord is provoked, and for them this land mourns.
( Leviticus 19:12; Jeremiah 23:10 )

4._____ An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation or mental reservation.
( Psalms 24:4 ) (Ps. 24:4)

5._____ A vow, which is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone, is to be made and performed with all religious care and faithfulness; but popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.
( Psalms 76:11; Genesis 28:20-22; 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9; Ephesians 4:28; Matthew 19:11 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 22: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day

2010-11-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

1._____ The light of nature shews that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all; is just, good and doth good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart and all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.
( Jeremiah 10:7; Mark 12:33; Deuteronomy 12:32; Exodus 20:4-6 )

2._____ Religious worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to him alone; not to angels, saints, or any other creatures; and since the fall, not without a mediator, nor in the mediation of any other but Christ alone.
( Matthew 4:9, 10; John 6:23; Matthew 28:19; Romans 1:25; Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:10; John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5 )

3._____ Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one part of natural worship, is by God required of all men. But that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son, by the help of the Spirit, according to his will; with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others, in a known tongue.
( Psalms 95:1-7; Psalms 65:2; John 14:13, 14; Romans 8:26; 1 John 5:14; 1 Corinthians 14:16, 17 )

4._____ Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.
( 1 Timothy 2:1, 2; 2 Samuel 7:29; 2 Samuel 12:21-23; 1 John 5:16 )

5._____ The reading of the Scriptures, preaching, and hearing the Word of God, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord; as also the administration of baptism, and the Lord's supper, are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover, solemn humiliation, with fastings, and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.
( 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:2; Luke 8:18; Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19; Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:26; Esther 4:16; Joel 2:12; Exodus 15:1-19, Psalms 107 )

6._____ Neither prayer nor any other part of religious worship, is now under the gospel, tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed; but God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and in truth; as in private families daily, and in secret each one by himself; so more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly nor wilfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God by his word or providence calleth thereunto.
( John 4:21; Malachi 1:11; 1 Timothy 2:8; Acts 10:2; Matthew 6:11; Psalms 55:17; Matthew 6:6; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:42 )

7._____ As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God's appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by his Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto him, which from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord's day: and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.
( Exodus 20:8; 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2; Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10 )

8._____ The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.
( Isaiah 58:13; Nehemiah 13:15-22; Matthew 12:1-13 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 21: Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience

2010-11-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

1._____ The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the gospel, consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the rigour and curse of the law, and in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin, from the evil of afflictions, the fear and sting of death, the victory of the grave, and ever- lasting damnation: as also in their free access to God, and their yielding obedience unto Him, not out of slavish fear, but a child-like love and willing mind.

All which were common also to believers under the law for the substance of them; but under the New Testament the liberty of Christians is further enlarged, in their freedom from the yoke of a ceremonial law, to which the Jewish church was subjected, and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of.
( Galatians 3:13; Galatians 1:4; Acts 26:18; Romans 8:3; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Romans 8:15; Luke 1:73-75; 1 John 4:18; Galatians 3:9, 14; John 7:38, 39; Hebrews 10:19-21 )

2._____ God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing contrary to his word, or not contained in it. So that to believe such doctrines, or obey such commands out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience; and the requiring of an implicit faith, an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience and reason also.
( James 4:12; Romans 14:4; Acts 4:19, 29; 1 Corinthians 7:23; Matthew 15:9; Colossians 2:20, 22, 23; 1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 1:24 )

3._____ They who upon pretence of Christian liberty do practice any sin, or cherish any sinful lust, as they do thereby pervert the main design of the grace of the gospel to their own destruction, so they wholly destroy the end of Christian liberty, which is, that being delivered out of the hands of all our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righeousness before Him, all the days of our lives.
( Romans 6:1, 2; Galatians 5:13; 2 Peter 2:18, 21 )

The Mind of God Sundays: Proverbs 9

2010-11-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

Psalm 10 (English Standard Version)

¹Why, O LORD, do you stand far away?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

²In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
³For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul,
and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD.
⁴In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him;
all his thoughts are, "There is no God."
⁵His ways prosper at all times;
your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
as for all his foes, he puffs at them.
⁶He says in his heart, "I shall not be moved;
throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity."
⁷His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
⁸He sits in ambush in the villages;
in hiding places he murders the innocent.
His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
⁹he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket;
he lurks that he may seize the poor;
he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.
¹⁰The helpless are crushed, sink down,
and fall by his might.
¹¹He says in his heart, "God has forgotten,
he has hidden his face, he will never see it."

¹²Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand;
forget not the afflicted.
¹³Why does the wicked renounce God
and say in his heart, "You will not call to account"?
¹⁴But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,
that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless commits himself;
you have been the helper of the fatherless.
¹⁵Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
call his wickedness to account till you find none.

¹⁶The LORD is king forever and ever;
the nations perish from his land.
¹⁷O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
¹⁸to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

Heart of God Saturdays: Psalm 10

2010-11-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

Psalm 10 (English Standard Version)

¹Why, O LORD, do you stand far away?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 20: Of the Gospel, and of the Extent of the Grace Thereof

2010-11-05T06:00:00.000-04:00

1._____ The covenant of works being broken by sin, and made unprofitable unto life, God was pleased to give forth the promise of Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of calling the elect, and begetting in them faith and repentance; in this promise the gospel, as to the substance of it, was revealed, and [is] therein effectual for the conversion and salvation of sinners.
( Genesis 3:15; Revelation 13:8 )

2._____ This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is revealed only by the Word of God; neither do the works of creation or providence, with the light of nature, make discovery of Christ, or of grace by him, so much as in a general or obscure way; much less that men destitute of the revelation of Him by the promise or gospel, should be enabled thereby to attain saving faith or repentance.
( Romans 1:17; Romans 10:14,15,17; Proverbs 29:18; Isaiah 25:7; Isaiah 60:2, 3 )

3._____ The revelation of the gospel unto sinners, made in divers times and by sundry parts, with the addition of promises and precepts for the obedience required therein, as to the nations and persons to whom it is granted, is merely of the sovereign will and good pleasure of God; not being annexed by virtue of any promise to the due improvement of men's natural abilities, by virtue of common light received without it, which none ever did make, or can do so; and therefore in all ages, the preaching of the gospel has been granted unto persons and nations, as to the extent or straitening of it, in great variety, according to the counsel of the will of God.
( Psalms 147:20; Acts 16:7; Romans 1:18-32 )

4._____ Although the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses may be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover necessary an effectual insuperable work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new spiritual life; without which no other means will effect their conversion unto God.
( Psalms 110:3; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 1:19, 20; John 6:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 19: Of the Law of God

2010-11-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

1._____ God gave to Adam a law of universal obedience written in his heart, and a particular precept of not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it.
( Genesis 1:27; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Romans 10:5; Galatians 3:10, 12 )

2._____ The same law that was first written in the heart of man continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the fall, and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables, the four first containing our duty towards God, and the other six, our duty to man.
( Romans 2:14, 15; Deuteronomy 10:4 )

3._____ Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly holding forth divers instructions of moral duties, all which ceremonial laws being appointed only to the time of reformation, are, by Jesus Christ the true Messiah and only law-giver, who was furnished with power from the Father for that end abrogated and taken away.
( Hebrews 10:1; Colossians 2:17; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Colossians 2:14, 16, 17; Ephesians 2:14, 16 )

4._____ To them also he gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the state of that people, not obliging any now by virtue of that institution; their general equity only being of moral use.
( 1 Corinthians 9:8-10 )

5._____ The moral law doth for ever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof, and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it; neither doth Christ in the Gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.
( Romans 13:8-10; James 2:8, 10-12; James 2:10, 11; Matthew 5:17-19; Romans 3:31 )

6._____ Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned, yet it is of great use to them as well as to others, in that as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their natures, hearts, and lives, so as examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against, sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ and the perfection of his obedience; it is likewise of use to the regenerate to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin; and the threatenings of it serve to shew what even their sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them, although freed from the curse and unallayed rigour thereof. The promises of it likewise shew them God's approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof, though not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works; so as man's doing good and refraining from evil, because the law encourageth to the one and deterreth from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law and not under grace.
( Romans 6:14; Galatians 2:16; Romans 8:1; Romans 10:4; Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7, etc; Romans 6:12-14; 1 Peter 3:8-13 )

7._____ Neither are the aforementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it, the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely and cheerfully which the will of God, revealed in the law, requireth to be done.
( Galatians 3:21; Ezekiel 36:27 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 18: Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation

2010-11-03T06:00:00.000-04:00

1._____ Although temporary believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and state of salvation, which hope of theirs shall perish; yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.
( Job 8:13, 14; Matthew 7:22, 23; 1 John 2:3; 1 John 3:14, 18, 19, 21, 24; 1 John 5:13; Romans 5:2, 5 )

2._____ This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel; and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made, and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God; and, as a fruit thereof, keeping the heart both humble and holy.
( Hebrews 6:11, 19; Hebrews 6:17, 18; 2 Peter 1:4, 5, 10, 11; Romans 8:15, 16; 1 John 3:1-3 )

3._____ This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it; yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of means, attain thereunto: and therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance; -so far is it from inclining men to looseness.
( Isaiah 50:10; Psalms 88; Psalms 77:1-12; 1 John 4:13; Hebrews 6:11, 12; Romans 5:1, 2, 5; Romans 14:17; Psalms 119:32; Romans 6:1,2; Titus 2:11, 12, 14 )

4._____ True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God's withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light, yet are they never destitute of the seed of God and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived, and by the which, in the meantime, they are preserved from utter despair.
( Canticles 5:2, 3, 6; Psalms 51:8, 12, 14; Psalms 116:11; Psalms 77:7, 8; Psalms 31:22; Psalms 30:7; 1 John 3:9; Luke 22:32; Psalms 42:5, 11; Lamentations 3:26-31 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 17: Of the Perseverance of the Saints

2010-11-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

1._____ Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, whence he still begets and nourisheth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them, yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraven upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.
( John 10:28, 29; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 2:19; Psalms 89:31, 32; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Malachi 3:6 )

2._____ This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him, the oath of God, the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.
( Romans 8:30 Romans 9:11, 16; Romans 5:9, 10; John 14:19; Hebrews 6:17, 18; 1 John 3:9; Jeremiah 32:40 )

3._____ And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.
( Matthew 26:70, 72, 74; Isaiah 64:5, 9; Ephesians 4:30; Psalms 51:10, 12; Psalms 32:3, 4; 2 Samuel 12:14; Luke 22:32, 61, 62 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 16: Of Good Works

2010-11-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

1._____ Good works are only such as God hath commanded in his Holy Word, and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intentions.
( Micah 6:8; Hebrews 13:21; Matthew 15:9; Isaiah 29:13 )

2._____ These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith; and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end eternal life.
( James 2:18, 22; Psalms 116:12, 13; 1 John 2:3, 5; 2 Peter 1:5-11; Matthew 5:16; 1 Timothy 6:1; 1 Peter 2:15; Philippians 1:11; Ephesians 2:10; Romans 6:22 )

3._____ Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ; and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure; yet they are not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit, but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.
( John 15:4, 5; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Philippians 2:13; Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 6:11, 12; Isaiah 64:7 )

4._____ They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.
( Job 9:2, 3; Galatians 5:17; Luke 17:10 )

5._____ We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because as they are good they proceed from his Spirit, and as they are wrought by us they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God's punishment.
( Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Romans 4:6; Galatians 5:22, 23; Isaiah 64:6; Psalms 143:2 )

6._____ Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him; not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreprovable in God's sight, but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.
( Ephesians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5; Matthew 25:21, 23; Hebrews 6:10 )

7._____ Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and others; yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith, nor are done in a right manner according to the word, nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive grace from God, and yet their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing to God.
( 2 Kings 10:30; 1 Kings 21:27, 29; Genesis 4:5; Hebrews 11:4, 6; 1 Corinthians 13:1; Matthew 6:2, 5; Amos 5:21, 22; Romans 9:16; Titus 3:5; Job 21:14, 15; Matthew 25:41-43 )

The Mind of God Sundays: Proverbs 8

2010-10-31T06:00:00.000-04:00

Proverbs 8 (English Standard Version)

¹Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
²On the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
³beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
⁴"To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the children of man.
⁵O simple ones, learn prudence;
O fools, learn sense.
⁶Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right,
⁷for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
⁸All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
⁹They are all straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
¹⁰Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
¹¹for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

¹²"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.
¹³The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
¹⁴I have counsel and sound wisdom;
I have insight; I have strength.
¹⁵By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
¹⁶by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.
¹⁷I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
¹⁸Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and righteousness.
¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
²⁰I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
²¹granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.

²²"The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of old.
²³Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
²⁴When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
²⁵Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
²⁶before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
²⁷When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
²⁸when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
²⁹when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
³⁰then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
³¹rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.

³²"And now, O sons, listen to me:
blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
³⁴Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
³⁵For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the LORD,
³⁶but he who fails to find me injures himself;
all who hate me love death."

Heart of God Saturdays: Psalm 9

2010-10-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

Psalm 9 (English Standard Version)

To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.

¹I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
²I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

³When my enemies turn back,
they stumble and perish before your presence.
⁴For you have maintained my just cause;
you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.

⁵You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish;
you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
⁶The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins;
their cities you rooted out;
the very memory of them has perished.

⁷But the LORD sits enthroned forever;
he has established his throne for justice,
⁸and he judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with uprightness.

⁹The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
¹⁰And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

¹¹Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion!
Tell among the peoples his deeds!
¹²For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

¹³Be gracious to me, O LORD!
See my affliction from those who hate me,
O you who lift me up from the gates of death,
¹⁴that I may recount all your praises,
that in the gates of the daughter of Zion
I may rejoice in your salvation.

¹⁵The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.
¹⁶The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment;
the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.
Higgaion. Selah

¹⁷The wicked shall return to Sheol,
all the nations that forget God.

¹⁸For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

¹⁹Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail;
let the nations be judged before you!
²⁰Put them in fear, O LORD!
Let the nations know that they are but men!
Selah

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 15 Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation

2010-10-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

1._____ Such of the elect as are converted at riper years, having sometime lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures, God in their effectual calling giveth them repentance unto life. ( Titus 3:2-5 )

2._____ Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth not, and the best of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall into great sins and provocations; God hath, in the covenant of grace, mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance unto salvation.
( Ecclesiastes 7:20; Luke 22:31, 32 )

3._____ This saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, doth, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrency, praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.
( Zechariah 12:10; Acts 11:18; Ezekiel 36:31; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Psalms 119:6; Psalms 119:128 )

4._____ As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof, so it is every man's duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly.
( Luke 19:8; 1 Timothy 1:13, 15 )

5._____ Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the covenant of grace for the preservation of believers unto salvation; that although there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation; yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them that repent; which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.
( Romans 6:23; Isaiah 1:16-18 Isaiah 55:7 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith

2010-10-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

1._____ The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened. ( 2 Corinthians 4:13;Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:14, 17; Luke 17:5; 1 Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32 )

2._____ By this faith a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word for the authority of God himself, and also apprehendeth an excellency therein above all other writings and all things in the world, as it bears forth the glory of God in his attributes, the excellency of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his workings and operations: and so is enabled to cast his soul upon the truth thus believed; and also acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come; but the principal acts of saving faith have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
( Acts 24:14; Psalms 27:7-10; Psalms 119:72; 2 Timothy 1:12; John 14:14; Isaiah 66:2; Hebrews 11:13; John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:20; Acts 15:11 )

3._____ This faith, although it be different in degrees, and may be weak or strong, yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other saving grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers; and therefore, though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory, growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.
( Hebrews 5:13, 14; Matthew 6:30; Romans 4:19, 20; 2 Peter 1:1; Ephesians 6:16; 1 John 5:4, 5; Hebrews 6:11, 12; Colossians 2:2; Hebrews 12:2 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 13 Of Sanctification

2010-10-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

1._____ They who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection, are also farther sanctified, really and personally, through the same virtue, by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them; the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified, and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
( Acts 20:32; Romans 6:5, 6; John 17:17; Ephesians 3:16-19; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23; Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:24; Colossians 1:11; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14 )

2._____This sanctification is throughout the whole man, yet imperfect in this life; there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part, whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.
( 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 7:18, 23; Galatians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:11 )

3._____ In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail, yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome; and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King, in His Word hath prescribed them.
( Romans 7:23; Romans 6:14; Ephesians 4:15, 16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 7:1 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 12 Of Adoption

2010-10-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

_______ All those that are justified, God vouchsafed, in and for the sake of his only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption, by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God, have his name put upon them, receive the spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to cry Abba, Father, are pitied, protected, provided for, and chastened by him as by a Father, yet never cast off, but sealed to the day of redemption, and inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation.
( Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 4:4, 5; John 1:12; Romans 8:17; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 3:12; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 2:18; Psalms 103:13; Proverbs 14:26; 1 Peter 5:7;Hebrews 12:6; Isaiah 54:8, 9; Lamentations 3:31; Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 1:14; Hebrews 6:12 )