Anxiety is a Superfluous Requirement…

Taken from Luke 12

22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

I suppose it’s a measure of my own understanding that I stand in awe at the casual way Jesus refers to this faith of trust. I can practically see Him give a slight wave of His hand; maybe cross His legs in repose; nonplussed and relaxed in explanation. Of the many things that could be said about the marvelous nature of this reality I simply want to make only one statement. That is, there is the need for nearness to Christ for the essence of this faith to be understood. Like the nature of love, we cannot mechanically force ourselves to trust God with the very elements of our survival in the manner that Christ exhorts us to without first being intimately acquainted with the person of our Lord.  In like nature, we cannot Love anyone we know not well. We cannot trust or love. We in this life, can only intimately love and trust those we know well. Point to a stranger in the town square, or a random face in the media and it should be quite clear that it is impossible to generate a love or trust equal to that we experience with our spouse or children. Christ goes on to qualify this faith by speaking to “the Kingdom of Heaven” and “the storing of treasure in Heaven.” Pictures of the need for heart surrender and belief and intimacy.

The is no formula. There is repentance and obedience; the rod of correction; the sanctification of the believer; the means of grace, etc. Within our spiritual existence, the more we yield to God, the closer we are drawn to Him and the more we learn to trust. As some of the great men of Scripture came to understand, men like Isaiah, Abraham, Daniel, David, once you have every confidence in Him, you realize it is but a small thing. But the process can’t be shortcut.

The Gospel Within John 3:16

This verse is one of most often quoted texts of the Bible, but do you have a good foundational understanding of its implications?  Join Pastor Kevin Boling of the Mountain Bridge Bible Fellowship as he plumbs the depths of this iconic verse.

In Spite of Ourselves…

Diary:  Goats have odd eyes.  Piercing, indifferent, detached.  The horns only add to their cynical demeanor.  So this one goat is staring at me.  I stopped the car because he wouldn’t move.  Yellow lines and my car’s grill are at one time reflected by its steely glare.  He’s sizing me up and playing it cool.  But, something was different.  Its companions (or rather, fellow jailbreakers), off to the side, were almost jovial, quizzically amused by the situation.  Like friends at a coffee house sipping java and musing over their cohort’s latest social predicament, these goats were chewing the cud and wondering how Billy was going to get out of this one.  Feeling peer pressure, the situation began to get the better of Billy.  First a turn to the left, then the right, then a baahhhh and a tail wag and he knew the only way to save face was to save his hide.  No sense in trying to butt his way out of this situation.  So off he went, looking more like a sheep than a goat.

So much for perceived personifications.  So much for putting myself in the goat’s hoofs.  Of course, this goat didn’t know he had a reputation to live up to.  He didn’t know he had the driver’s life experiences to overcome.  In reality there was no peer pressure.  In some ways maybe he’s smarter than the driver that stalled his car.  Billy had a good sense of his limitations; and he never has had a sense of falling short.

Musings:  I was re-reading through some of Richard Sibbes book “The Bruised Reed” recently.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with Richard Sibbes, he was a 17th century pastor, author, and scholar par excellence.  The book is based on the passage in Isaiah that says that the messiah won’t break a bruised reed or quench a smoking flax.  References to those with faith challenges; Christ will be gentle with us; He will see us through until the completion of our sanctification; He won’t ever give up on us as Christians.  Soothing concepts, indeed, for those of us still in our bodies and groaning under the weight of a sin nature,…which is all of us.

Pastors of his era were typically very engaged with the people under their charge.  Sibbes was no exception.  He had a depth of perspective and a way of offering practical comfort to those who are struggling.  Below is a passage from chapter seven, Help for the Weak:

…let me add something to help [Christian] over some few ordinary objections and secret thoughts against themselves which, getting within the heart, oftentimes keep them low.

Temptations which hinder comfort

1. Some think they have no faith at all because they have no full assurance, whereas the fairest fire that can be will have some smoke.  The best actions will smell fo the smoke.  The mortar where in garlic has been stamped will always smell of it; so all our actions will savour something of the old man.

The Undercurrent of Our Natures

Diary:  Forrest Gump was at our door again this morning.  He was apparently down on his luck and seeking food.  He often does that.  I believe he views the entire neighborhood as his own domain and feels rightfully justified to enter all our homes.  Of course, he’s quite pleasant about it.  Being quick with friendly overtures, I don’t think he’s ever met a person he didn’t know.  But quaint disposition aside, the motivating force behind Forrest is an overwelming desire for self-satisfaction.  Though cute, he’s quite passive aggressive.  The only way to dissuade his convictions is to close the door.  Of course you may be thinking what’s the harm in sharing a little food with a neighbor?   Well, unfortunately for Forrest, we can’t let him into our house.  Our dog is afraid of little yellow tabbies.

Musings:  God is in the process of turning open the shades and letting light fall upon the nature of our beings.  The American Dream is fading and the nightmare of a Christless world is ever tormenting our slumbering souls.  The Church has largely always been seen as existing as an island in a sea of trouble, but now, it is more like a boat off the shores of Malta, enduring the battering waves of unbelief.  The Ozone is depleting and the Son is ever hardening the hearts of stone and giving them over to wantonness, vain imaging, and gods of their own making (usually ones that include themselves).   Of course, we’ve been here before.  As in the days of Noah,….the waves will buffet and the winds will howl, but none inside will be lost. 

If we can, we must view our disquieted lives as a great blessing: the waking of a slumbering Church; one at ease with temporal blessings.  While the rationality of man continues to dissolve into a pool of relativism, we who are in Christ are being given great gains.  As we think upon all the evils around us, we have to consider our own natures and deal with the inconsistencies I believe we all find within ourselves.  Below is a work by Thomas Watson.  It details the depth of Adam’s first sin, original sin, and I believe can add insight to the sins we see within ourselves on a daily basis.  Not to beat us down as under a whip of legalism, this self-reflection affords us an opportunity to correctly see more clearly our own natures and how desperately we need to flee to the safety of our saviour; to throw ourselves at God and to serve Him wholly as He rightly desires.  These stormy seas we live in are meant, in part, to bring us into right standing with Him.  And right standing is recognizing Him as a sovereign and Holy God and that without Him we are utterly and totally lost.  It is only He that can hold us up with His hand of righteousness.

Why is Adam’s sin so great? It was but the seizing of an apple! Was it such a great sin—to pluck an apple? “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” Genesis 3:6.

It was sin against an infinite God. It was a voluminous sin, there were many sins twisted together in it. As Cicero says of parricide, “He who is guilty of it, he commits many sins in one;” so there were many sins in this one sin of Adam. It was a big-bellied sin, a chain with many links. Ten sins were in it.

(1.) Unbelief.  Our first parents did not believe what God had spoken was truth. God said, “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” They did not believe that they would die; they could not be persuaded that such fair fruit had death at the door. Thus, by unbelief they called God a liar; nay, which was worse, they believed the devil rather than God!

(2.) Unthankfulness, which is the epitome of all sin. Adam’s sin was committed in the midst of Paradise. God had enriched him with variety of mercies; he had stamped his own image upon him; he had made him lord of the world; gave him of all the trees of the garden to eat (one only excepted). And now to take of that tree! This was high ingratitude; it was like the dye to the wool, which makes it crimson. When Adam’s eyes were opened, and he saw what he had done—well might he be ashamed, and hide himself. How could he who sinned in the midst of Paradise, look God in the face without blushing!

(3.) In Adam’s sin was discontent.  Had he not been discontented, he would never have sought to have altered his condition. Adam, one would think, had enough; he differed but little from the angels, he had the robe of innocence to clothe him, and the glory of Paradise to crown him. Yet he was not content, he would have more; he would be above the ordinary rank of creatures. How wide was Adam’s heart, that a whole world could not fill it!

(4.) Pride, in that he would be like God. This worm, which was but newly crept out of the dust, now aspired after Deity! “You will be like God,” said Satan, and Adam hoped to have been so indeed; he supposed the tree of knowledge would have anointed his eyes, and made him omniscient. But, by climbing too high, he got a dreadful fall!

(5.) Disobedience.  God said, “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil;” but he would eat of it, though it cost him his life! Disobedience is a sin against equity. It is right we should serve him from whom we have our existence. God gave Adam his allowance, therefore it was but right he should give God his allegiance. How could God endure to see his laws trampled on before his face? This made him place a flaming sword at the end of the garden.

(6.) Curiosity.  He meddled with that which was out of his sphere, and did not belong to him. God smote the men of Bethshemesh for looking into the ark. I Sam 6:19. Adam would be prying into God’s secrets, and tasting what was forbidden.

(7.) Wantonness.  Though Adam had a choice of all the other trees—yet his palate grew wanton, and he must have this tree. Like Israel, God sent them manna, angels’ food, ay—but they had a hankering after quails. It was not enough that God supplied their needs, unless he should satisfy their lusts! Adam had not only everything for necessity—but for delight; yet his wanton palate lusted after forbidden fruit.

(8.) Sacrilege.  The tree of knowledge did not belong to Adam—yet he took of it, and did sacrilegiously rob God of his due. It was counted a great crime in Harpalus to rob the temple, and steal the silver vessels; so it was a great crime in Adam, to steal fruit from that tree which God had peculiarly enclosed for himself. Sacrilege is double theft.

(9.) Murder.  Adam was a public person, and all his posterity were involved and wrapped up in him; and he, by sinning, at once destroyed all his posterity! (if free grace did not interpose.) If Abel’s blood cried so loud in God’s ears, “The voice of your brother’s blood cries unto me from the ground,” how loud did the blood of all Adam’s posterity cry against him for vengeance!

(10.) Presumption.  Adam presumed of God’s mercy; he blessed himself, saying he would have peace; he thought, though he did transgress, he would not die; that God would sooner reverse his decree, than punish him. This was great presumption. What a heinous sin, was Adam’s breach of covenant!

One sin may have many sins in it. We are apt to have slight thoughts of sin, and say “it is but a little one.” How many sins were in Adam’s sin! Oh take heed of any sin! As in one volume there may be many works bound up, so there may be many sins in one sin.

On the Outskirts of Eternity…

Diary: Southern sun and cold temperatures make strange friends.  Limbs are scattered about the yard; casualties of the latest bout of ice and snow.  No vestiges of fall remain.  The windblown piles of leaves and the brown skeletons of garden plantings speak of their recent fullness.  We have sure hope of new growth, but it will be a growth built upon previous struggles.  Now is a time of contemplation, when the dark elements of thought, thoughts of winter, death, cessation, failure, press upon us the need to drink again from the only fount that can bring reprieve.  It is at this time we unravel the mystery of the near future.  There is much to be discovered this winter and we have a full two months left….. We are all hopeful for the new spring.  But not yet.

Musings: Why do I like to read so much?  Other than the times when it is a true burden, when the mind ceases to be able to engage the activity, I suppose the true joy of reading comes from finding something so new and exciting that it fully captivates and delights my thoughts.  Such was the other day…

What was it about the life of John Newton that imbued him with clarity of thought and purpose?  When I read his letters, books or hymns, there is a depth that defies logic.  Intellectual, earthy, holy, wise and reverent can only begin to describe the stature of his ability.  Apostolic fishermen come to mind; when God says he will use the simple to confound the wise.  Monergism recently posted a letter of his that must have likewise impressed the content editors of that site.  The letter began with an off hand comment to the effect that “I think I’ll talk about walking with God.”  As if his intent was to merely have a brief discourse “off the cuff” as it were.

Truly God gifts some with the grace of eloquence.  These are the people we look to for teaching, clarifying and exemplifying the word of God.  Read this excerpt from the letter:

When we are justified by faith, and accepted in the Beloved—we become heirs of everlasting life; but we cannot know the full value of our privileges, until we enter upon the state of eternal glory. For this, most who are converted have to wait some time after they are partakers of grace. Though the Lord loves them, hates sin, and teaches them to hate it—he appoints them to remain a while in a sinful world, and to groan under the burden of a depraved nature. He could put them in immediate possession of the heaven for which he has given them a fitness—but he does not. He has a service for them here; an honor which is worth all they can suffer, and for which eternity will not afford an opportunity, namely—to be instruments of promoting his designs, and manifesting his grace in the world. Strictly speaking, this is the whole of our business here, the only reason why life is prolonged, or for which it is truly desirable, that we may fill up our connections and situations, improve our comforts and our crosses, in such a manner as that God may be glorified in us and by us.

Thanks be to God for giving John Newton the ability to put the concepts of justification and our truly depraved natures into the context of our eternal existence.  Some many things come to light in this passage.  For one, to groan under our depraved nature is not sin, it is our call.  God understands our position, that our natures fall grossly short even in a saved condition.  It is what He has ordained.  Two, the illuminating perspective is that this condition is indeed an honor.  If we truly understand but a little of who God is, his complete Holiness and omnipotent power, then to know that a God who could use any means imaginable and unimaginable to accomplish his will, who by His sovereign choice enabled us to achieve anything for His Righteous Name is simply amazing.

The entire letter is a short and balanced discourse on the simple reality of walking with God.  It can be read in its entirety here.

For Want of Humility

I’ve been quite quiet on this blog for some time now.  That anyone is still tuning in from time to time is humbling.  Thanks to all that stop by.

I felt particularly compelled tonight to post something about what I’ve been thinking about lately.  I’ve been considering Galatians 2:20:

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

I’ve read this a hundred times in the past and its always been an awe inspiring passage for me.  This verse says a lot: death and life, faith and love, spirit and flesh.  So much Christian truth in a short space. 

But, if I’m honest, I’ve always had the sense that I wasn’t able to internalize this part of scripture.  Its hard to explain.  At once feeling union with Christ because of the power of this passage, I’ve also felt separation as if I still didn’t know what to do.  OK, Christ lives in my heart but what do I do now.  I guess since He’s taken up residence in me I’d better get out there and do some work.  “Lord, tell me what I need to do.”

So much of what we do is pride centered.  Doing things with our ultimate benefit in sight.  While Christians have a genuine core desire to please God, I think some assuage their guilty pride by putting forth effort in the form of Christian works.  Seeking validation, many things are done to gain favor with God and satisfy individual ends in the process.  And if I may go further, if  some seemingly Godly things are accomplished then often  pride can justify taking certain liberties to satisfy personal lusts.  Nothing awful, mind you, just some respectable sins (I am, of course, speaking from personal experience).

But the other night, something clicked for me.  I’ll simply try to state what I think and let you all dwell on it yourself.  For the first time I recognized the significance of what this passage actually is saying.  If we are saved and have given our lives to Christ (as we should), then we are truly dead.  We have died with Christ. Our eternal state, as God sees it, is one of white robes and a new nature; the nature of Christ which is being accomplished in us through the ongoing sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.  Our fleshly desires are impotent, Christ’s desires are paramount.  Now its not what can I do for Christ, but what is Christ going to choose to do through me.  And, not really so much “through”, but rather Christ is just going to flat out live His life in this my body.  The Church is truly the body of Christ.

That said, consider also the following passage from the book “The Master’s Indwelling” by Andrew Murray:

“Waiting upon God,” – that is the only true expression for the real relation of the creature to God; to be  nothing before God.  What is the essential idea of a creature made by God?  It is this: to be a vessel in which He can pour out His fullness, in which He can exhibit His life, His goodness, His power, and His love.  A vessel must be empty if it is to be filled, and if we are to be filled with the life of God we must be utterly empty of self.  This is the glory of God, that He is to fill all things, and more especially His redeemed people.  And as this is the glory of the creature, so this is the only redemption, and the only glory of every redeemed soul, to be empty and as nothing before God; to wait upon Him, and to let God be all in all. 

God, please empty me of self and insert humility.  You are humility.  You are the meek Lamb given for our sins.

Whither? Whither?

From “How Shall I Go To God” by Horatio Bonar

IN THE beginning of the last century, an old American Christian died, leaving on his death-bed this message to his son,–”Remember that there is a LONG ETERNITY.”

But this was not all. He laid upon his family the dying command, that the same message should be handed down to the next generation, and from that to the next again, as long as any of his posterity remained. The command was obeyed. One generation after another received the solemn message, “Remember there is a LONG ETERNITY.” And the words, we are told, bore fruit in the conversion of children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

It is of this long eternity that God so often speaks to us in His book, with the words “everlasting,” “without end,” “for ever and for ever.” It is of this long eternity that each death-bed speaks to us,–each shroud, each coffin, each grave. It is of this long eternity that each closing and opening year speaks to us, pointing forward to the endless years which lie beyond the brief days of time,–brief days which are hurrying us without slackening to the life or to the death which must be the issue of all things on earth. Of that eternity we may say that its years shall be as many as the leaves of the forest, or as the sands of the seashore, or as the drops of the ocean, or as the stars of heaven, or as the blades of grass, or as the sparkles of dew, all multiplied together. And who can reckon up these numbers, or conceive the prodigious sum,–millions upon millions of ages.

A traveller, some years ago, tells that in the room of a hotel where he lodged there was hung a large printed sheet, with these solemn words—

“Know these things, O Man,–A GOD, a Moment, an Eternity.”

Surely it would be our wisdom to think on words like these,–so brief, yet so full of meaning.

Richard Baxter mentions the case of a minister of his day, the whole tone of whose life-preaching was affected by the words which he heard when visiting a dying woman, who “often and vehemently” (he says) “did cry out” on her death-bed, “Oh, call time back again, call time back again!” But the calling of time back again is as hopeless as the shortening of eternity. “This inch of hasty time,” as that noble preacher calls it, cannot be lengthened out; and if not improved or redeemed, is lost forever. While God lives, the soul must live; for “in Him we live, and move, and have our being.”

Our eternal future is no dream nor fable. It will be as real as our past has been,–nay, more so. Unbelief may try to persuade us that it is a shadow or a fancy. But it is not. It is infinitely and unutterably real; and the ages before us, as they come and go, will bring with them realities in comparison with which all past realities will be as nothing. All things pertaining to us are becoming every day more real; and this increase of reality shall go on through the ages to come.

Whither? whither? This is no idle question; and it is one to which every son of man ought to seek an immediate answer. Man was made that he might look into the long future; and this question is one which he ought to know how to put, and how to answer. If he does not there must be something sadly wrong about him. For God has not denied him the means of replying to it aright.

Whither? whither? Child of mortality, dost thou not know? Dost thou not care to know? Is it no concern of thine to discover what thy existence is to be, and where thou art to spend eternity? Thy all is wrapped up in it; and dost thou not care?

Whither? whither? Dost thou hate the question? Does it disturb thy repose, and mar thy pleasures? Does it fret thy conscience, and cast a shadow over life? Yet, whether thou hatest or lovest it, thou must one day be brought face to face with it. Thou shall one day put it, and answer it. Perhaps, when thou art putting it and trying to answer it, the Judge may come, and the last trumpet sound. “While they went to buy, the Bridegroom came.”

Movie Night!

Martin Luther:Reluctant Revolutionary

This is a PBS documentary on the life of Martin Luther.  I’ve watched this and I recommend it.  Of course, I know what you’re thinking.  Another liberal TV production that reduces to shreds the reality of history.  Well, I’m not going to be naive and vouchsafe the theological bent of the entire movie.  I’m sure most of you will be able to find something that irritates.  It’s impossible to watch these things and not find a discrepancy or two.  But that said, the story of Martin Luther, as portrayed here, is given fair treatment.  It is beautifully made and renders historical context visually.  Visual aids salve the curiousity and provide a tangible nature to something long ago past.  Also, I believe, the treatment of the conflict between Luther and Rome is fairly portrayed in all of its raw seriousness.  It’s a good primer for anyone new to the elements of Luther’s story.  I will, however, disagree with the emphasis this movie places on the individuality of Luther’s endeavors.  Like most of western civilization, we tend to gloss over God’s providential work and focus on the secondary, rather than the primary works. 

But enough said.  I submit this for your perusal.

For the Want of Wisdom

“To understand reality is not the same as to know about outward events. It is to perceive the essential nature of things. The best-informed man is not necessarily the wisest. Indeed there is a danger that precisely in the multiplicity of his knowledge he will lose sight of what is essential. But on the other hand, knowledge of an apparently trivial detail quite often makes it possible to see into the depth of things. And so the wise man will seek to acquire the best possible knowledge about events, but always without becoming dependent upon this knowledge. To recognize the significant in the factual is wisdom.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“To recognize the significant in the factual is wisdom.”  I’ve often heard it characterized that correct action based upon knowledge is wisdom.  I think Dietrich says it better.  Action may or may not imply a physical response.  Sometimes the best application of wisdom is inaction.  Truly, recognizing the significant is the tipping point to a correct response.

I also think there is another aspect of wisdom that isn’t mentioned here.  Not that Dietrich didn’t know this; perhaps it was implied within the context from which this quote was taken.  If we look at Ephesians chapter one, you’ll see what I’m getting at. 

 15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

First, all knowledge and wisdom is a gift from God.  Our ability to assimilate, measure, and render judgement is according to the Grace bestowed upon us by our sovereign Lord.  Second, and to put it as succinctly as possible, the ability to understand spiritual matters requires saving faith.  We can’t look into the spiritual realm without the drawing out and calling work of the Holy Spirit. 

All of mankind has a spiritual inclination, an emptiness, that he seeks to fill, largely, by his own reasoning.  But, “true truth,” that which is of the true and living God and points only to the saving, resurrection work of Christ, the inclination towards that knowledge can only come from God Himself.  Therefore, true wisdom, that which is encompasses the reality as God has determined has with it a Christian spiritual component.

We see that the progressive wisdom that Dietrich Bonhoeffer mentioned in the above quote, is the wisdom that has developed through the assessment of knowledge acquired.  That, clearly, applies to both worldly and spiritual forms of understanding.  True, Godly, real wisdom merges spiritual understanding of the nature and purposes of God with the personal and exploratory wisdom of the natural world.  They, being synthesized, are inseparable.

But all of this leads to an interesting dichotomy.  Wisdom is much more than correctly assessing knowledge.  Often we find the correct knowledge of a thing, and of this we discover the significant within the factual.  But the great mystery of the human condition is why we do something contrary to what we know is right.  We, both, do wrong when we know to do right, and, because of Christ, we sometimes do right when within us we desire to do wrong.

Paul was right to struggle with this in Romans chapter seven.  The Christian understands the great disconnect caused by the fall.  We are not free by our own strength to choose what is right, holy, righteous and good.  It is a work of God within us.  And, Paul was also right to pray for our understanding; first, for our saving Gospel faith, then for the understanding of the workings of God, through Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.  It was our sanctification that Paul had in sight.  And, it is our progressive molding into the image of Jesus Christ that enables our faith and wisdom to increase and join together.

A New Read!

The Israel of God, by O. Palmer Robertson

I began reading this book, in earnest, yesterday.  If you’ve followed this blog at all you know I have an appetite for reading.  But just as my mom always thought my eyes were too big for my stomach when it came to eating, so to are my expectations for covering the many different volumes I want to read.  Within reformed circles there is a sea of great theological, historical, puritan, and Christian living books.  I’ve got a shelf full of titles that I’ve barely even touched.  This year, at the beginning, I set a fairly ambitious reading plan touching on several works dealing with eschatology.  In the providence of God, however, my agenda was significantly changed.  Along with the PCRT, that this year dealt with end things, the unfolding eschatology throughout the Bible, I’ve been able to read and listen to some of Kenneth Gentry’s perspective, dealing with partial preterism.  They weren’t in the original plan, but I was blessed to be exposed to these areas of thought.  Hoekema and Riddlebarger are still on the shelf, but, as good as they are, will have to wait until later in the year.  My list is already queued up to ten books; I’m not going to add any more until I see how these go.  Perhaps I’ll blog the list in a few days, but suffice to say I want to look at several other things in addition to this year long focus on eschatology.  Blog posts for the current book will likely be intermixed with other things, but I’ll paste them all together for continuity’s sake under the “Current Read” tab at the top.  If you’re interested in this book feel free to drop a comment or two.