Category: Devotional

Devotional thoughts for my benefit and yours from here, there, and everywhere

The Goodness of God in Election

~ fundyreformed ~ 2 Comments

When I was catching up on reading my favorite blogs, I came across this brief and powerful quote over at Reformation Theology Blog. I have here reproduced the entire quote for my reader’s benefit. (Thanks to Pastor John Samson for bringing this to my attention with this post.)

After giving a brief survey of these doctrines of sovereign grace, I asked for questions from the class. One lady, in particular, was quite troubled. She said, ‘This is the most awful thing I’ve ever heard! You make it sound as if God is intentionally turning away men and women who would be saved, receiving only the elect.’ I answered her in this vein: ‘You misunderstand the situation. You’re visualizing that God is standing at the door of heaven, and men are thronging to get in the door, and God is saying to various ones, ‘Yes, you may come, but not you, and you, but not you, etc.’ The situation is hardly this. Rather, God stands at the door of heaven with His arms outstretched, inviting all to come. Yet all men without exception are running in the opposite direction towards hell as hard as they can go. So God, in election, graciously reaches out and stops this one, and that one, and this one over here, and that one over there, and effectually draws them to Himself by changing their hearts, making them willing to come. Election keeps no one out of heaven who would otherwise have been there, but it keeps a whole multitude of sinners out of hell who otherwise would have been there. Were it not for election, heaven would be an empty place, and hell would be bursting at the seams. That kind of response, grounded as I believe that it is in Scriptural truth, does put a different complexion on things, doesn’t it? If you perish in hell, blame yourself, as it is entirely your fault. But if you should make it to heaven, credit God, for that is entirely His work! To Him alone belong all praise and glory, for salvation is all of grace, from start to finish. – Mark Webb [emphasis added]

This quote really reveals the heart of Calvinism, and addresses the main objection raised in those who do not understand it. If only Dave Hunt had heard this quote before he wrote his book What Love is This? Perhaps he would have been more understanding as to where Calvinists are coming from. If you are not a Calvinist, I hope this quote helps you understand us a little bit better! And if you are, try using the analogy; I know I will!

∼striving for the unity of the faith for the glory of God∼ Eph. 4:3,13 “¢ Rom. 15:5-7

Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Christian Community

~ fundyreformed ~ 2 Comments

Pastor Kenny Stokes, our Lead Pastor for Spreading at Bethlehem Baptist, wrote an excellent article in our weekly church newsletter, The Bethlehem Star. In it, he excerpts quotes from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book Life Together on Christian community. The article adds perspective and encouragement to my earlier post on the duty of a “one-another ministry” as seen in 1 Thessalonians. A few excerpts from the quotes provided by Pastor Stokes will here follow.

  • A PRIVILEGE AND GIFT: As a pastor and seminary professor in Nazi Germany, Bonhoeffer realized all too well that “It is not simply to be taken for granted that the Christian has the privilege of living among other Christians….It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a gift of grace, a gift of the Kingdom of GOD that any day may be taken away from us…”.
  • ONLY THROUGH CHRIST: “…a Christian comes to others only through Jesus Christ….Without Christ we should not know God, we could not call upon him, nor come to him. But without Christ we also would not know our brother, nor could we come to him. The way is blocked by our own ego. Christ opened up the way to God and to our brother.”
  • DISILLUSIONMENT: This especially intrigued me: “Innumerable times a whole Christian community has broken down because it had sprung from a wish dream….But God’s grace speedily shatters such dreams. Just as surely as God desires to lead us to a knowledge of genuine Christian fellowship, so surely must we be overwhelmed by a great disillusionment with others, with Christians in general, and if we are fortunate, with ourselves….Only that fellowship which faces such disillusionment, with all its unhappy and ugly aspects, begins to be what it should be in God’s sight begins to grasp in faith the promise that is given to it….He who loves his dream of a community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter.” I take him to be stressing that our duty to minister to one another is sometimes a duty to get ourselves dirty in a difficult and not always personally gratifying way. We are called to serve and love not merely enjoy each other’s company only as much as they please us. Secular clubs do no better. Grudges and resentment are to be removed through the power of the Spirit and to the glory of Christ. [I think much more could be thought through on this point, but that must be saved for another time.]
  • THANKFULNESS REQUIRED: “Only God knows the real state of our fellowship, of our sanctification. What may appear weak and trifling to us may be great and glorious to God. Just as a Christian should not be constantly feeling his spiritual pulse, so, too, the Christian community has not been given to us by God for us to be constantly taking its temperature. The more thankfully we daily receive what is given to us, the more surely and steadily will fellowship increase and grow from day to day as God pleases.”
  • REALITY, NOT AN IDEAL: “Christian brotherhood is not an ideal which we must realize; it is rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate.”

Pastor Stokes closed with these words: “In view of God’s mercies in Christ (cf. Romans 1-11), informed by the biblical call to love one another, unhindered by the historical and social racial barriers of our day, may we press on — with thankfulness — to love one another more and more in practical new ways in 2006. As Paul urged the church in 1 Thessalonians, I urge you Bethlehem, ‘Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing….But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more…’ (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, ESV)”

I conclude by pointing out first that this article is available in a pdf format here. And then I want to encourage us with these thoughts to continue embracing our duty to mutual fellowship. Again, please reference this earlier post of mine, regarding the duty of being a Christian brother. I hope these thoughts by Bonhoeffer encourage you as much as they did me.

∼striving for the unity of the faith for the glory of God∼ Eph. 4:3,13 “¢ Rom. 15:5-7

I Will Glory in My Redeemer by Steve & Vikki Cook

~ fundyreformed ~ 5 Comments

I recommend many modern hymns & contemporary songs for corporate worship. While the old hymns are certainly grand, the new songs God is giving to the church, are worthy of respect too.

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This song is very stirring. It directs one’s heart to Christ. He is our Righteousness and He secures our right standing with God! He is also the one we long to forever behold.

I hope this song makes you lift up your heart in worship to our Savior Jesus Christ. Discovering this song, has done that for me.

I will glory in My Redeemer

Words and Music by Steve and Vikki Cook

I will glory in my Redeemer
Whose priceless blood has ransomed me
Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails
And hung Him on that judgment tree
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who crushed the power of sin and death
My only Savior before the Holy Judge
The Lamb Who is my righteousness
The Lamb Who is my righteousness

I will glory in my Redeemer
My life He bought, my love He owns
I have no longings for another
I’m satisfied in Him alone
I will glory in my Redeemer
His faithfulness my standing place
Though foes are mighty and rush upon me
My feet are firm, held by His grace
My feet are firm, held by His grace

I will glory in my Redeemer
Who carries me on eagle’s wings
He crowns my life with lovingkindness
His triumph song I’ll ever sing
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who waits for me at gates of gold
And when He calls me it will be paradise
His face forever to behold
His face forever to behold
His face forever to behold

CCLI Song # 3337435,   © 2001 Sovereign Grace Worship (Admin. by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music)

Song Resources:

Guitar chord sheet & musical score: Available free, here.
MP3 preview clip: Available here or here.
Listen to the MP3 for free: At rhapsody.com.
MP3 purchase links: Here and here.
Author Discography: Steve & Vikki
CD purchase links:
Songs for the Cross Centered Life (first sample above) – Amazon.com or direct from Sovereign Grace Ministries
No Greater Love (second sample above) – Amazon.com or direct from Sovereign Grace Ministries
Before the Throne – Amazon.com or direct from Sovereign Grace Ministries
Bonus: CD Trailer for Songs for the Cross Centered Life

Hebrews 3: Chist–our Apostle & High Priest, and Perseverance

~ fundyreformed

Douglas Wilson has some excellent exegetical comments on Heb. 3:1-6 over on his blog, Blog and Mablog. Below are some excerpts.

The phrase “apostle and high priest” is striking. This is the one place in Scripture where Christ is called an apostle, that is, one who is sent out. A “sent one” has the authority and commission of the one sending. For example, an apostle of a church is one like a missionary or church planter. And apostle of Christ is sent out by Christ and has His authority, as did the Twelve. In this instance, Christ is described as an apostle. He was sent out by God the Father, and represents God to us. At the same time, He is described as a High Priest””that is, as one of us to represent us to God. A priest is chosen from among the people and stands before them to represent them. This phrase “apostle and high priest” therefore means that Christ is the perfect bridge between God and man. As an apostle of God, He represents God perfectly to us, and as our High Priest, He represents us perfectly to God….

We are that house. The Bible is very clear that we are God’s building, God’s house….

Given this, what is necessary? We must hold firm to the end. We see here, stated plainly, the doctrine of perseverance. Whose house we are, if . . . Three classes of men exist. Some are never in the house. They have no connection to the Christian faith at all. Some are in the house, but only temporarily. They are covenantally connected to Christ, and the connection is a real one, but they are not elect. The true sons of the house, however, the elect of God, abide there forever. “And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Then if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8: 35-36). [Read the whole post.]

∼striving for the unity of the faith for the glory of God∼ Eph. 4:3,13 “¢ Rom. 15:5-7

Reaching Forward

~ fundyreformed

Godward Thoughts has some more food for thought!

“When I really enjoy God, I feel my desires of him the more insatiable, and my thirstings after holiness the more unquenchable….Oh, for holiness! Oh, for more of God in my soul!”…”To reach forward in the narrow way, for the full enjoyment and possession of the heavenly inheritance. Oh, that I might never loiter on my heavenly journey!” [Read the whole post.]

–David Brainerd

Phil. 3:13-14 “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 42:1-2, 11 “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

Brothers, set your hearts and minds more fully to love God and enjoy Him more and more. Think heavenward. Hope. Press. Delight. Trust. Reach forward. Above all, do not coast!

Lord, give us grace to pursue you with ever increasing fervor! And grant us the “joy of your presence” (Ps. 21:6) more and more. Because of Jesus! Amen.

∼striving for the unity of the faith for the glory of God∼ Eph. 4:3,13 “¢ Rom. 15:5-7