Friday, November 30, 2007

Be More Afraid of Your Duties Than of Your Sins

“It was the saying of a precious saint that he was more afraid of his duties than of his sins; for his duties often made him proud, but his sins always made him humble. It was good counsel Luther gave, ‘We must take heed not only of our sins, but of our good works.’

Duties can never have too much diligence used about them, nor too little confidence placed in them. They are good helps, but bad saviors. It is necessary we do them, but it is dangerous to rely upon them. If the devil cannot dissuade us from performing pious duties, then his next work will be to persuade us to rely upon them, to make saviors of them; because this will as certainly ruin our souls, as if we had wholly neglected them.

Now, let all these things work you to renounce your own righteousness—and to take sanctuary alone in the pure, perfect, and most glorious righteousness of Jesus Christ, and in the free grace of God.”

- Thomas Brooks, A Cabinet of Choice Jewels

Was(Is) Jesus a Calvinist?

Dr. Sam Storms gives an explanation of what he believes about Jesus being a "Calvinist". See here for his explanation and exegesis.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

The Power of God

“Outside of heaven, the power of God in its highest density is found inside the gospel. This must be so, for the Bible twice describes the gospel as “the power of God.” Nothing else in all of Scripture is ever described in this way, except for the Person of Jesus Christ.

Such a description indicates that the gospel is not only powerful, but that it is the ultimate entity in which God’s power resides and does its greatest work. Indeed, God’s power is seen in erupting volcanos, in the unimaginably hot boil of our massive sun, and in the lightning speed of a recently discovered star seen streaking through the heavens at 1.5 million miles per hour.

Yet in Scripture such wonders are never labeled “the power of God.” How powerful, then, must the gospel be that it would merit such a title! And how great is the salvation it could accomplish in my life, if I would only embrace it by faith and give it a central place in my thoughts each day!”

- Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer

Monday, November 26, 2007

Be A Kinder Christian

Is it true that there are Calvinists that are outright mean? Unfortunately that is the case. Is it true that there are mean Arminians? Unfortunately...Yes. Is it true that there are mean Christians that are neither Calvinist or Arminian? Unfortunately...Yes. Check out this post from Abraham Piper on why we ALL need to be more kind.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

My Life Verse

Have you ever had the experience of finding your life verse? I hope so.

I just had that experience a few weeks ago. I had been reading through Jeremiah for my daily reading and came across the most unexpected verses:

Jeremiah 10:23 - 24 (KJV) O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

This prayer by Jeremiah came after many chapters of pronouncing God's judgments against Israel for their refusal to repent. But, according to Jeremiah's prayer, correction is of the Lord. This is astounding and is worthy of much meditation. If correction is of the Lord and He punishes for not repenting then I think we must all be on our knees praying "Correct me, O Lord, but not in anger lest thou bring me to nothing!"