Posted by admin on May 18, 2012
Psalm 115:3 “But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.”
“God is that Being, for whose will no cause or reason is to be assigned, as a rule or standard by which it acts; seeing that, nothing is superior or equal to it, but it is itself the rule of all things. For if it acted by any rule or standard, or from any cause or reason, it would be no longer the will of GOD. Therefore, what God wills, is not therefore right, because He ought or ever was bound so to will; but on the contrary, what takes place is right, because He wills it.” (Martin Luther: The Bondage of the Will)
Posted by admin on May 17, 2012
John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
1 John 5:13 “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
John 10:28 “and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
I spent some time today reading the sixth section of The Council of Trent, the Roman Catholic Church’s response to the Protestant Reformation. The sixth section outlines Rome’s position on “Justification” or what the layman might call, “forgiveness”. I was formerly a Catholic and have many family and friends who are. I love them and believe that some of them have a genuine faith in the Lord Jesus. But if they are saved it must be said that it is in spite of what Rome has taught them, not because of it.
The Bible teaches us that at the moment a person receives Christ as their Savior with genuine repentance and faith, their sins are forgiven and they have eternal life never to perish. Jesus has said it above in John 5:24, please notice the tense… “has eternal life” and “has passed out of death into life”. Not, “might have eternal life” or “can hope he has eternal life”. Notice also, not, “will have eternal life” or, “will pass out of death into life”. But, “has”, now!
On what does Jesus make these wonderful assurances contingent? Believing. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me”…But Rome says something different:
Section 6: Canon 12.
If anyone says that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in divine mercy, which remits sins for Christ’s sake, or that it is this confidence alone that justifies us, let him be anathema.
Section 6: Canon 14.
If anyone says that man is absolved from his sins and justified because he firmly believes that he is absolved and justified, or that no one is truly justified except him who believes himself justified, and that by this faith alone absolution and justification are effected, let him be anathema.
WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by admin on May 15, 2012
Genesis 1:27-28 “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth…”
Well, at least he is finally being honest…we all knew that President Obama was a champion of sodomy but until now for the reason of political expedience, he has walked the wire. Finally, his political life and his real views serve each other.
This week the President has declared that, “Gay marriage doesn’t weaken families, it strengthens families”. We would ask the President, “How can gay marriage strengthen families when it cannot create families”? This is the marvel isn’t it? For there to be a “family” for a gay couple, they must pilfer from the union of a man and a woman for their “union” can produce nothing but disease and death.
Not only this, but if homosexuality were to be embraced wholesale (as we can advocate for male and female with no harm coming to humanity) there would be no more families for sodomy practiced wholesale by humanity would lead to extinction. Sodomy leads to extinction and would end families, yet it strengthens families! This must be the new math.
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Posted by admin on March 29, 2012
Matthew 26:56 “Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.”
Peter’s three-time denial of Jesus is as well known as any event in the Bible save the crucifixion and resurrection itself. To be fair to Peter you will note from the passage above that all the disciples forsook Jesus and fled. We tend to rake Peter over the coals for his unfaithfulness and not without justification. Though all the disciples said they would die for Jesus, Peter did distinguish himself and say that even if the rest of them would cave in, he never would:
Matthew 26:33-35 “But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.”
Christian, certainly you know that there are many times that you and I are like Peter right? There are times when you and I don’t want others to know that we are one His disciples right? Let me guess, you never do this right? Have there been times when you have had opportunity to speak about Jesus and for Him and you did not for fear of what someone would think about you? Have there been times when Christ’s truth needed to be declared and you kept silent because you were afraid of others? Are you as willing to have others know you are Christ’s as you are to have them know who your favorite sports team is or who your favorite singer is? Do you declare Him like you do the Yankees, Phillies, Bono or Elvis?
If we are honest we will acknowledge freely that there is much of Peter in us. Let us remember though, that after Pentecost and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Peter and the other Apostles were very different men, bold, brave and faithful. May God by His Spirit make us like them.
Please take a moment to read these thoughts from Charles Spurgeon’s “Morning and Evening” that I came across this week. They will humble you and challenge you: WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by admin on March 7, 2012
Luke 18:9-14 “And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
There are many comparisons you and I could make between the Pharisee and tax-collector but here is the most vital one…As these two called upon God, one made mention that he had done something, the other that he needed something. The Pharisee rejoiced to tell God (quite honestly, himself) all that he had done which included things he claimed not to have done in comparison to the tax collector. But the tax collector as he speaks to God is conscious only that he needs something from God, he needs mercy. WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by admin on March 6, 2012
I wanted to take a moment today in the midst of all the furor to encourage my brother Kirk Cameron (no, we’ve never met). I am grateful for the faithfulness to God’s truth Kirk demonstrated during his recent interview with Piers Morgan. It takes faith and the courage faith produces to speak truth in these days as America becomes Sodom.
WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by admin on March 4, 2012
Perhaps I am a fool for touching this with a ten-foot pole but the recent controversy over Rush Limbaugh’s statements about a Georgetown law student (Sandra Fluke) calling her a “slut” has me thinking. I read this evening that Rush Limbaugh has issued an apology and given that Ms. Fluke did not actually discuss her sexual activity in her congressional statement it is probably best that he did. I want to set both of them aside in the ultimate sense but use them to provoke thought. My question is not whether or not Rush Limbaugh should have called Ms. Fluke a slut, but, can we call anyone a slut?
Let me also ask this, Did Mr. Limbaugh invent the word, “slut” and then apply it to Ms. Fluke? Did the word exist before the recent furor? The answer of course is “yes”, the word “slut” has long been in existence and can even be found in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary with this definition: “a promiscuous woman, especially: prostitute”.
So apparently in time past, a word was chosen to describe promiscuous women. Was the word invented never to be used? Was it never meant to be applied? So, we have the word “slut” but are there any sluts? To whom could we rightly apply the word? Anyone? The revelations that flow from this controversy keep coming but here is one, America doesn’t believe there is such a thing as a slut anymore. This isn’t just about Ms. Fluke, the powers that be: political, media and social have torn down every moral fence and we cannot even make judgments anymore. Now we are coming to the heart of the matter, America is increasingly becoming a place where you cannot judge the actions of others or at least “certain” others.
It is interesting the that the events concerning Rush Limbaugh and Ms. Fluke would take place during the same week that we learn that a Catholic priest is under attack for refusing a lesbian communion at a funeral. This priest apparently is evil and terrible for holding to the doctrines of his faith which includes making moral judgments based upon the Word of God. If you don’t get it, the real story here is the “powers that be” telling God He cannot call sodomy and lesbianism wrong but not to worry, God can fend for Himself.
Before weeks end, Kirk Cameron was a guest on the Piers Morgan show and was asked about sodomy. Cameron stood with Scripture’s position and as you can imagine, is being assaulted for doing so. I visited his Twitter page tonight and he is being condemned by many. The marvel is that each person that attacks Cameron for judging and condemning is judging and condemning him but apparently they are justified in doing so.
Do you see the dishonesty and hypocrisy of these people? Of those who condemn and judge Rush Limbaugh? They cry out that judging and condemning others is wrong but are doing the same thing themselves. So it is not really the case for them that judging is wrong, it is just that they want to be the judges while insisting that they cannot be judged themselves.
Meanwhile we are witnessing the systematic, increasing judgment of Americans who hold to Biblical truths and values. Both within the world of politics and religion people who love sexual immorality and infant murder have risen to prominence and power. These children of darkness will give themselves no rest until all that is evil is called good and what is good is called evil:
Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness…”
I have some news for you…the ultimate goal of these who oppose truth and what is good in God’s sight is not to silence Rush Limbaugh, they have bigger fish they are out to fry. The ultimate goal is the pulpits of America. While feigning tolerance and diversity these powers will judge the people of God and use their power in an attempt to silence our mouths about the sexual immorality that God hates and will judge. Mark it, very serious times are just around the corner for those who declare the truth of God. You well-meaning Christians who keep thinking that taxes, immigration and healthcare are where the battle is better wake up, it is our pulpits the government is after.
Just some various concluding thoughts…First, shame is nearly dead. There was a day when it was a woman’s virtue to be chaste and to publicly talk about her sexual behavior as so many women today are, would be unheard of. But we have become enlightened and have made a discovery that previous generations did not know. I am still waiting to hear what that discovery is.
Perhaps a compilation should be made of all the derogatory and judgmental things that have been said about Rush Limbaugh by politicians, educators and entertainers. I am sure the list would be long and the words hateful. I would like to recommend that the New York Times daily publish the transcript from Bill Maher’s show, “Real Time”. Let’s also include those things said in the inner rooms of Washington that God hears while Washington’s liars who have come forward in the Fluke matter pretend to be above such things.
“Slut”, is a strong, unpleasant word. So is “Sodomy” which of course is why its advocates have labored so hard to exchange it for “gay” and “homosexual”. “Infanticide” and “murder” are also strong words and as you know, have been replaced with “choice” and “rights”. Strong words against sin and moral evil must not be abandoned or forfeited. Our willingness to use them must never cease no matter how wrongly we are demonized, attacked and hated for it.
America is determined to be a place where no one can be called a “slut”, “sodomite” or “infant murderer” but, “homophobe” is fair game. God’s servants must speak truth and be willing to bear the scorn for it. God will speak to some hearts, show them their sin and they will be saved. The rest will rage, gnash their teeth and blaspheme until the day when they run into the rocks and caves and cry, “fall on us”:
Revelation 6:15-17 “Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
We will pay an increasing price for speaking but for those of us who know Christ we rest ourselves here:
“Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also. The body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever.” (Martin Luther)
Posted by admin on March 2, 2012
These thoughts from Doug Wilson on pornography are so true it hurts. Porn has always enslaved but with the advent of the internet and laptop computers men are being mowed down by the millions. Porn appeals to the flesh and mind no question, but it is a lie; a tragic, enslaving lie. During the life of David the people of Israel sang, “Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands”. We may rightly sing in the form of a dirge, “Drunkenness has damned it thousands and pornography its ten thousands”. To my mind, pornography has very quietly, secretly climbed to the top of sins that ruin men and of course the women who participate in it.
Here is Wilson’s quote and the link to his full post:
“I have long said that the principle problem with pornography is the didactic and catechetical aspect of it. Immodesty and licentiousness are of course sinful, but it is not remarked enough that porn is a sex ed curriculum put together by liars and incompetents. The central wrong lesson (one easily believed by guys, because it flatters them) is that women have men’s brains encased in women’s bodies. Everybody in the whole world is hot to go. Then, when he gets married to a normal woman, and discovers that all the free sex he thought was going to be on tap . . . isn’t on tap, at least not like what he expected, and he thinks he got a dud, or a frigid one, or something. But no, he got a woman instead of the lie he was used to.”
Posted by admin on March 1, 2012
1 Corinthians 11:23-32 “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.”
There are two errors often made as it comes to partaking of the Lord’s Supper. One is to examine ourselves, see our sin and think that we cannot come to the Lord’s Table. When the Bible calls us to examine ourselves before coming to the Table it never assumes that we will not find sin in ourselves but that we will. The issue then is whether or not we are willing to repent and whether or not we trust the grace of God in Christ to forgive us for our sins. Here many I am afraid reveal that they do not understand or believe the gospel. As it comes to the Table they look to themselves to determine whether or not they are worthy, conclude they are not but do not take hold of Christ’s promise to cleanse them.
The other error is not examining ourselves at all or at least not honestly. Many people think very little about whether or not the bread and cup will be a blessing to them or a curse. Without concern they eat and drink and encourage their children to do so also. It is true that many examine themselves out of partaking but it is equally if not more the case that many do not honestly evaluate the condition of their soul before coming to the Table.
I have always found J.C. Ryle to be so Scriptural and helpful. He is so again in these thoughts on coming to the Lord’s Table:
WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by admin on February 29, 2012
Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?”
This post is for people who have realized that they have made a mess of their lives and perhaps the lives of others. The Bible tells us that “man is born for trouble as sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7) and so it is, we move from trouble to trouble to trouble. Because of the fall, we are prone to sin, prone to do the wrong thing, prone to do the foolish thing, prone to do the very things we know will make us unhappy and miserable.
Sin does more harm than we ever imagine before committing it. One of the devil’s great deceptions is that he doesn’t allow us to see where our disobedience will ultimately lead. The harm it will do to us spiritually, to our lives, to our families and friends. Broken marriages, diseased bodies, lost trust, lost jobs, these are just a few of the items in the pile of mess which is our lives. By the way, if you think this is all morbid and you are doing just fine, let me remind you that you’re dying.
By God’s grace, a person finally comes to the place where they begin to see the damage they have done through their actions (or lack thereof). Sometimes the realization of the mess we have made can be overwhelming. it is not uncommon for people to lose hope, to become convinced that nothing can be done to repair what they have broken. Some sadly choose to end their lives only to find that they have not escaped despair but in most cases, have entered a far more terrible, eternal, despair.
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