Author Archives: Dan C.

What’s in YOUR Worldview?

Posted by Dan C. on

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No, that’s not a spinoff of a popular credit card commercial. It’s an honest question, as well as a tremendously important one. It’s important because we live in the world, have individual perceptions of the world, and interact with the world around us on a daily basis.

So, what IS a worldview? Simply put, a worldview is:

A comprehensive framework of beliefs, values, and assumptions through which an individual or group interprets and interacts with the world. It shapes how people understand reality, make decisions, and approach life’s fundamental questions, such as the nature of existence, morality, knowledge, and human purpose. Worldviews can be shaped by culture, religion, philosophy, personal experiences, and education.

As Christians, shouldn’t we have a “Christian” worldview, shaped by our faith? (That’s a hypothetical question.) The bigger question might be “HOW do you develop a Christian worldview?”

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If you haven’t already figured it out, a Christian worldview is directly connected to God’s Word! What does that mean? For an answer we can crank up the Bible’s way back machine to the Old Testament book of Joshua and the very first chapter!

“1After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. . . . 7Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you.  Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

(Joshua 1:1-2; 7-9, ESV)

Joshua, a soldier, was commissioned by God to lead the Israelites into, and conquer the Promised Land (Canaan) after the death of Moses (vv.1-2). God then told Joshua that two things were of utmost importance: attitude (vv.7,9) and obedience (vv.7-8)!

What does that have to do with worldview? Thanks for asking!

Remember our definition of “worldview”? We were given a list of things that can shape our worldview. One of those was “religion”. In Joshua’s case it was the Law that had been given Moses for God’s people in the Pentateuch. In our case, it’s our Christian faith, based on the entire Bible and specifically, the New Testament.

God gave Joshua principles for living by the Law of Moses that also apply to us today.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.” (v.8) (Emphasis mine)

I love the way one modern translation phrases that passage:

“This set of instructions is not to cease being a part of your conversations. Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to carry out everything that’s written in it, for then you’ll prosper and succeed.”

(International Standard Version) (Emphasis mine)

Did you notice the emphasis on meditating on God’s written word day and night? Of course, you did! This old soldier is convinced that it’s the key to developing a Christian worldview. Hear me out.

To meditate on God’s word means to read it, memorize it, and ponder it (think about it deeply and thoroughly). Our meditating in God’s word results in loving it more and more. Our loving God’s word more and more informs/shapes how we understand reality, make decisions, and approach all of life’s fundamental questions.

How long does it take to develop a truly Christian worldview? It’s a lifelong process!

The evidence that you are living with a Christian worldview is a passage or section of scripture coming to mind as you encounter ‘life’, or the question, “What does the Bible say about that?” when you aren’t sure what it says/teaches.

May God bless you richly as you continue to meditate on and live in his Word!

Jesus’ Coming and the New Covenant

Posted by Dan C. on

A rather lengthy and rather confusing Facebook post I read this morning had, as it’s central point, that Jesus came ONLY for Israel and therefore, the New Covenant has nothing to do with Christian believers today. This post will focus on the two sentences used to ‘prove’ the author’s point.

Here’s the first sentence:

“Jesus said “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Only in the Greek means only.”

First of all, the original post omitted the scripture reference for Jesus’ words, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. It’s from Matt 15:24.

For the correct interpretation, those terms/phrases need to be examined in context, so let’s take a look.

Jesus spoke those words to his disciples after a Canaanite woman who had come to him for the healing of her demon possessed daughter. Jesus’ disciples told him to send her away, but she kept crying out for healing for her daughter. Jesus commended the woman for her faith and healed her daughter.

Key to the correct interpretation is understanding Jesus’ claim to be sent “only to the lost sheep of Israel”. Was that “sending” ever and always to be only to Israel, as some would want us to believe? Lets ask Jesus.

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15  just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16  And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:14-16)

Clearly, Jesus’ initial sending was to Israel but was extended to non-Israelites. To use Matthew 15:24 as ‘proof’ that Jesus was never sent to non-Israelite nations cannot be true, by Jesus’ own words!

On to the second sentence:

“Jeremiah 31:31 tells of who the new covenant is for and it’s not us.”

This time a scripture was offered, but not the actual text. Let’s look at that verse in context:

Jer 31:31-33  “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 33For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Now let’s hear from some Bible commentaries:

“God’s New Covenant will give Israel the inner ability to obey His righteous standards and thus to enjoy His blessings. Ezekiel indicated that this change will result from God’s bestowal of the Holy Spirit on these believers (cf. Eze_36:24-32). In Old Testament times the Holy Spirit did not universally indwell all believers. Thus one different aspect of the New Covenant is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in all believers (cf. Joe_2:28-32).” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary)

In principle, this covenant, also announced by Jesus Christ (Luk_22:20), begins to be fulfilled spiritually by Jewish and Gentile believers in the church era (1Co_11:25; 2Co_3:6; Heb_8:7-13; Heb_9:15; Heb_10:14-17; Heb_12:24; Heb_13:20). It has already begun to take effect with “the remnant according to the election of grace” (Rom_11:5). It will be also realized by the people of Israel in the last days, including the regathering to their ancient land, Palestine (chs. 30-33). The streams of the Abrahamic, Davidic, and new covenants find their confluence in the millennial kingdom ruled by the Messiah. (John MacArthur)

The old law could be broken Jeremiah 31:32; to remedy this God gives, not a new law, but a new power to the old law. It used to be a mere code of morals, external to man, and obeyed as a duty. In Christianity, it becomes an inner force, shaping man’s character from within. (Barnes)

This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel — That is, with those who are Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile, John 1:47, who are Jews inwardly, Romans 2:29, by the circumcision of the heart and spirit, spoken of and promised by God, Deuteronomy 30:6. I will put my law in their inward parts, &c. — In the times of the gospel God’s law is not abrogated and made void; for Christ came not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it: but it is written in the hearts of God’s true Israel by the finger of his Spirit; and they become obedient to it from their secret approbation of it as holy, just, and good, and from the delight they take in it after the inward man. (Benson)

To assert “Jeremiah 31:31 tells of who the new covenant is for and it’s not us,” is a gross and blatant misinterpretation of the context of God’s own words spoken through the prophet!

The original FB post was much longer than those two passages, however it was confusing, terribly verbose, and never actually explained how believers today are saved, if NOT through the New Covenant. So much for a Friday morning ‘spiritual exercise’, of a sort.  I’ll leave it at that.

The lesson to be learned in all of that is once again that the three main principles for correctly interpreting scripture are Context, Context, Context! We must approach and study the Bible with the all-important goal of determining what it says, not what we want it to mean. And remember, any text without a context is pretext for a prooftext! (R. Scott Clark, among others).

Be Blessed!

Presuppositional Apologetics–Sam Waldron

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This morning I found a recently begun series of lectures by Sam Waldron from Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary that looks really interesting. This post is the Preface to the series of lectures.

Presuppositional Apologetics: A Preface to the Series

by Sam Waldron | Dec 31, 2024 | Apologetics

I have been teaching apologetics for more than 35 years. All that teaching has been from a generally “presuppositional” perspective. That perspective owes its modern origin and articulation in many respects to Cornelius Van Til. Van Til was, of course, part of the classic faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary. With J. Gresham Machen, John Murray, and other famous faculty members, he stood for conservative Reformed Christianity when it seemed the whole world was apostatizing from it.

Van Til, however, did not believe that his views were novel or without precedent in church history. Nor do I. That is why my approach builds on a historical survey that gives an overview of the development of apologetic views in the history of the church. This is important today because it is noised far and wide that Classical Apologetics, as articulated by Thomas Aquinas, is the historic view and that Presuppositionalism is novel.

This is simply wrong. The fact is that two views of apologetics have been developing in the history of the church. The fact is that, on a matter so basic as whether men have an implanted knowledge of God, Thomas differed significantly from both Augustine and Anselm. The fact is that this difference of perspective became evident in the early 20th century when Warfield expressed astonishment at Kuyper’s apologetic views.

Furthermore, in these lectures, I will argue that Calvin, in many respects, both anticipated Van Til and disagreed with Thomas. His views dominated the confessional tradition which grew out of the Reformation. The issue is not if Calvin utilized a scholastic methodology characteristic of Thomas and Medieval Theologians. He probably did. The issue is whether he adopted key parts of the scholastic theology, including its classical apologetics. I will argue that he did not.

After surveying the history of apologetics, I attempt to show that Van Til has accurately understood Scripture and Classical Apologetics has not. The advocates of Classical Apologetics drastically misunderstand Van Til and Presuppositionalism. I have seen sad examples of this. It is only because of this misunderstanding that they can refute the straw man, which they think is Van Til and Presuppositionalism.

Do you greet these assertions with a little surprise or even shock? All I can ask is for you to consider my lectures and see if they do not present a faithful presentation of church history and Scripture, which leads to Presuppositionalism. I hope you do. I think this matters for our approach to evangelism and even the science of theology.

Sam Waldron

Dr. Sam Waldron is the Academic Dean of CBTS and professor of Systematic Theology. He is also one of the pastors of Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Owensboro, KY. Dr. Waldron received a B.A. from Cornerstone University, an M.Div. from Trinity Ministerial Academy, a Th.M. from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. From 1977 to 2001 he was a pastor of the Reformed Baptist Church of Grand Rapids, MI. Dr. Waldron is the author of numerous books including A Modern Exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, The End Times Made Simple, Baptist Roots in America, To Be Continued?, and MacArthur’s Millennial Manifesto: A Friendly Response.

The first lecture is located here: Presuppositional Apologetics: Fundamental Considerations | Sam Waldron – Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary

Enjoy!

Cling to Jesus

Posted by Dan C. on

Cling to Jesus

Cling to Jesus

“And lay your foundations with sapphires.”

Isaiah 54:11

Not only what is seen in the Church of God but also what is unseen is fair and precious. Foundations are out of sight, and as long as they are firm, it is not expected that they should be valuable. But in God’s work everything is of the same value—nothing devalued, nothing irrelevant. The deep foundations of the work of grace are as precious as sapphires; no human mind is able to measure their glory. We build upon the covenant of grace, which is stronger than steel and as enduring as diamonds and upon which age makes no impact. Sapphire foundations are eternal, and the covenant remains throughout the lifetime of the Almighty.

Another foundation is the person of the Lord Jesus, clear and spotless, as everlasting and beautiful as the sapphire, combining the deep blue of earth’s ever-rolling ocean and the azure of its all-embracing sky. At one time our Lord might have been compared to the ruby as He stood covered with His own blood, but now we see Him radiant with the soft blue of love—love abounding, deep, eternal.

Our eternal hopes are built upon the justice and the faithfulness of God, which are as clear and cloudless as the sapphire. We are not saved by a compromise, by mercy defeating justice or law suspending its operations; no, we defy the eagle’s eye to detect a flaw in the groundwork of our confidence: Our foundation is of sapphire and will endure the fire.

The Lord Himself has laid the foundation of His people’s hopes. It is a subject for serious inquiry whether our hopes are built upon such a basis. Good works and ceremonies are not a foundation of sapphires, but of wood, hay, and stubble; neither are they laid by God but by our own conceit. Foundations will all be tested before long: Woe to him whose lofty tower will come down with a crash because it was built on sand. The one who is built on sapphires may face storm or fire with confidence, for he will pass the test.

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Devotional material is taken from Morning and Evening, written by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003, Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187

“He will save his people from their sins.”

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Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:18-21 ESV)

The grand announcement concerning Jesus’ birth, at least to Joseph, Mary’s betrothed, was that the purpose of this miraculous birth was that the Christ child was born to ‘save His people from their sins’.

This time of year, we love Nativity scenes and the sight of Jesus in the manger, Mary and Joseph, shepherds, wise men, and often angels in the background. Thoughts of ‘peace on earth’, feelings of warmth, love and good cheer fill our minds and hearts – and rightly so.

But how many of us dare to dwell, even for a few moments, on the angel’s words to Joseph:

“for he will save his people from their sins.”

Once again, amidst all of the wonder and celebration, Christmas lights, family dinners, decorations and presents, I remember those words, perhaps more than anything else; with a sense of wonder and awe

Brothers and comrades, if you are reading the musings of this old soldier, my encouragement to you is to do the same. You will be tremendously blessed!

May you indeed have a Merry and Blessed Christmas!

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Evangelism and Discipleship – When God Open Doors

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Rev 3_7

We are all probably familiar with the letters Jesus gave the Apostle John to send to the seven churches in Asia Minor recorded in the first chapters of the book of Revelation. Only two of those churches, Smyrna and Philadelphia, were commended without any rebuke or condemnation. In his letter, Jesus greeted the church at Philadelphia with the following words:

“‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.’”(Rev 3:8)

While our passage doesn’t specifically define the ‘open door’, Bible commentaries tell us that the “open door” can refer to the entrance to heaven and eternal life, as well as opportunities for Christian service here on Earth, including sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ and merely performing good works in service to our fellow men.

Concerning personal evangelism and discipleship, it goes without saying that we should look for opportunities (open doors) to share the gospel as we go about our daily lives. The challenge for some of us is recognizing a God opened door rather than taking up an assault position and performing a tactical ‘breaching’ operation.

I am not saying that we should be ‘passive’ bystanders and keep our faith personal until the ‘perfect’ opportunity arises (whatever that means). When God drew this prodigal back into his arms when I was an operator on a Special Forces ‘A’ Team, I knew that being open about my faith wasn’t optional. That’s another story.

What I am suggesting is that we examine what the Apostle Paul had to say very specifically about open doors for ministry, who it was that opened them, and follow his lead.

During his first missionary journey, which began and finished in the Syrian city of Antioch, Paul delivered this report to the church in Antioch:

“And when they (Paul & Co.), arrived (in Antioch) and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” (Acts 14:27)

During his second missionary journey, Paul wrote his first letter to the church at Corinth and spoke of the door God had opened for ministry in Ephesus:

“I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. (1Co 16:8-9)

As recorded in Acts 16, it was also during his second missionary journey that Paul visited and planted a church in Philippi at the home of Lydia after he had preached a message to her and some other women by a local river on the Sabbath. Listen to Paul’s record of the event:

“One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.” (Acts 16:14)

We don’t know the content of Paul’s message that day, but we know that God opened Lydia’s heart to hear and heed Paul’s words. Lydia was saved, baptized along with her household, and a Christian church was established in the Greek city of Philippi.

In his letter to the Christians at Colossae, written from his prison cell in Rome, Paul requested that they pray that God would open a door for declaring Christ even while he was in chains:

“At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” (Col 4:3-4)

What’s the Point?

First, God opens doors for the ministry and message of the gospel, as well as individual hearts to hear and respond positively to the message.

Second, when we pray for open doors and open hearts, God responds. We just need to be alert and prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks us for a reason for the hope that is in us; doing so with gentleness and respect. (1 Pet 3:14-15)

Third, while our lives and conversation can result in opportunities to share the gospel, we might be met with resistance and slammed doors, when God opens doors and hearts, salvation follows!

Lastly, remember Jesus’ promise to the church at Philadelphia:

Rev 3_8

A Call To Duty

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“When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51 ESV) (Emphasis mine)

In this passage, Luke records our Savior’s dedication to His assigned mission, to suffer and die for the sins of God’s people. Other translations use the phrase ‘Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem’ or ‘he was determined to go to Jerusalem’. Luke 19:51 speaks of Jesus being ‘taken up’, in reference to his ascension. Christ’s suffering and death is also in view can be seen in the words of the ‘suffering servant’ through the prophet Isaiah:

But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. (Isaiah 50:7 ESV) (Emphasis mine)

Jesus was a ‘man on a mission’, who knowing exactly what awaited him in Jerusalem, ‘set His face like flint’ to carry out that mission. He did not shirk the duty for which he had been sent. I ask you, which of us, if we knew what Jesus knew, would steel our wills in obedience, knowing we would be arrested, scourged, and crucified although completely innocent of any wrongdoing?

You might think that a silly question, but is it?

I offer to you that it is most certainly not a frivolous question, but one that is asked in all seriousness.

While it goes without saying that no believer has ever been given a mission that comes anywhere close to the Savior’s, and that no believer is innocent of sin, there is for every believer a singular ‘call to duty’ that bears certain similarities. Furthermore, it is Jesus himself who issued the call with a few words spoken to his followers after his resurrection. The account is found in John, Chapter 20:

“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” A (John 20:19-21 ESV)

That there are similarities between the duty laid upon Christ by his Father and the duty Christ has in turn given us who bear His Name is revealed in verse 21, highlighted above:

“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

John Gill (1697-1771) expressed quite well both the duty and the similarities:

“Christ’s mission of his disciples supposes power in him, honor done to them, authority put upon them, qualifications given them, and hence success attended them; what they were sent to do, was to preach the Gospel, convert sinners, build up saints, plant churches, and administer ordinances. The pattern of their mission, is the mission of Christ by his Father, which was into this world, to do his will, preach the Gospel, work miracles, and obtain eternal redemption for his people; and which mission does not suppose inferiority in his divine person, nor change of place, but harmony and agreement between the Father and Son: the likeness of these missions lies in these things; their authority is both divine; they are both sent into the same place, the world; and in much the same condition, mean, despicable, hated and persecuted; and in part for the same end, to preach the Gospel, and work miracles, for the confirmation of it; but not to obtain redemption, that being a work done solely by Christ; in which he has no partner, and to whom the glory must be only ascribed.”

Note that while all believers don’t plant churches, administer ordinances, or perform miracles, there are two things that every believer can, and ought, to be about – preaching the gospel and building up saints.

Why I do say that all believers are called to preach the gospel and build up saints? Aren’t evangelism and discipleship the responsibilities of particularly gifted and specially trained individuals ‘called’ to the ministry?

I’m glad you asked! In answer, I offer the following.

First of all note that Jesus, in our John 20 scenario, was speaking to a group of his followers assembled behind locked doors. We are not told, as in other places in the New Testament, that Jesus was addressing his closest disciples. We also know from NT accounts of his ministry, passion and crucifixion, that the chosen twelve were not his only followers. Therefore, the group behind locked doors consisted of his closest disciples and others who followed him. By extension, the words of Jesus here also pertain to his followers today. Jesus was not just stating a fact, he was establishing a pattern.

We can also observe the ‘evangelical’ pattern as early as the calling of the first disciples:

“One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:40-45 ESV)

Here we have Andrew, after hearing John preach, finding his brother Simon and taking him to see Jesus. The next day we see Jesus himself finding Philip, who in turn found Nathaniel. Introducing others to the Messiah who has saved us from our sins should be our natural response to having been introduced to him and having trusted in him for our salvation.

While the pattern established by Jesus is most significant, there is another “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ aspect we must consider – the environment into which we are sent.

We are sent into a world that is as hostile to the gospel as it was in Jesus’ day; to a people whose minds are just as set against God and who by nature cannot see or understand the message we bring (See Rom 8:7 & 2 Cor 4:4) We are promised persecution and hatred (John 15:18-19), assuming of course that we never waver from the Biblical gospel – the one that addresses our sin and the need to repent and believe.

The first disciples accepted the call of Jesus, as did Paul, Silas and many others throughout the history of the church. And they have been, and are, persecuted for their faith and stance for the gospel, to this day.

Here in America we know nothing of real persecution. Nevertheless some are now asking ‘when’, not ‘if’ it is coming, given what we have seen over the past couple of decades that has been rapidly escalating in recent days.

Nevertheless, Jesus’ words to his followers still stand and will stand until he comes back to claim his bride and judge the earth.

“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Good Christian, you who call yourself a ‘soldier’ of the cross, what will you do with the call to duty? We have only two options my friend – go AWOL (absent without leave), in other words desert, or heed the call and like our Savior, the suffering servant, set our faces like flint to the task!

Calvinism or Arminianism/Predestination or Free Will?

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What Does the Bible Teach?

The following was excerpted from Erwin Lutzer’s book, Doctrines that Divide: A Fresh Look at the Historic Doctrines That Separate Christians.

“The final arbiter in the dispute is the Bible. Does it teach free will? Is it true that God coaxes and pleads but never makes the decision as to what man will do? Remember that both classical Arminianism and Calvinism teach that God influences the human will. The dispute is over the extent of that influence. Calvinists say that in some instances God works directly or indirectly in such a way as to insure that a particular decision will be made. Arminians disagree.”

“Read the following verses asking yourself which of the views appears correct.”

And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. (Exo 4:21)

And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. (Exo 12:36 )

He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.  (Psa 105:25 )

The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. (Pro 21:1)

The Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. (Dan. 4:25)

Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it? (Amo 3:6)

“For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. . (Act 4:27-28)

“Now let us face the more difficult question as to whether God makes the choice as to who will be saved. Once again, I quote the verses without comment.”

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. . (John 1:12-13)

For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.. (Joh 5:21)

Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” (John 12:39-40)

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. ( Act 13:48)

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? (Rom 9:22-24)

Just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. (Eph 1:4)

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. . (2Th 2:13)

“What is important to understand is that Calvinism and Arminianism are two systems of theology that cannot be harmonized. Either God made the choice as to who will be saved and then grants man the ability to believe, or the choice is made by man. Either the elect are being saved, or God is saving as many as he can but failing in his purposes. Either God has ordained whatever comes to pass, or, because of man’s free will, the best he can do now is adjust himself to evil as it occurs.”

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Lutzer, E. (1998). Doctrines that Divide: A Fresh Look at the Historic Doctrines That Separate Christians (pp. 218-220). Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI.

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clip_image002Christian doctrine is a vital part of the gospel message, but certain doctrinal beliefs have divided the church for centuries. Erwin Lutzer examines various controversies that exist within the broad spectrum of Christianity, presenting the historical background of the issue and the biblical understanding of the doctrine. Chapters in The Doctrines That Divide include “Predestination or Free Will?” and “Justification by Faith.”

The Work of Satan Against God and the Gospel

Posted by Dan C. on

What follows is an excerpt from Horatio Bonar’s work, Earth’s Morning: Thoughts on Genesis, which can be found in the public domain.

A Call to Be Much Alone With God - Eternal Perspective MinistriesLet us mark how, in these days of ours, he works, and tempts, and rages:—

He comes as an angel of light, to mislead, yet pretending to lead; to blind, yet professing to open the eye; to obscure and bewilder, yet professing to illuminate and guide. He approaches us with fair words upon his lips: liberality, progress, culture, freedom, expansion, elevation, science, literature, benevolence,—nay, and religion too. He seeks to make his own out of all these; to give the world as much of these as suits his purpose, as much as will make them content without God, and without Christ, and without the Holy Ghost. Nay, he makes use of these,—even of religion itself,—to separate men from the living Jehovah. Nor is it merely images, crucifixes, pictures, statues, altars, and such like, which he substitutes for God, seducing the heart and intoxicating the senses; but the true creed, and the true theology, and the true gospel, he makes use of to gratify the intellect, soothe the conscience, while the soul remains all the while a stranger to God and His Christ. For he does not care how near a man may come to Christ, provided he is not one with Him and in Him. It matters not to him how much of truth a man possess, if he can only make that truth a screen to separate, not a link to unite him and God; a non-conductor, not a conductor of the heavenly life. He knows how to employ the dim religious light of ritualism, the cold frosty rays of rationalism, yes, and even the bright warm light of evangelical sunshine, for drawing off the eye and heart from Him who is the light of the world, the bright and morning Star.

He sets himself against God and the things of God in every way. He can deny the gospel; or he can dilute the gospel; or he can obscure the gospel; or he can neutralize the gospel;—just as suits his purpose, or the persons with whom he has to do. His object in regard to the gospel is to take out of it all that makes it glad tidings to the sinner; and oftentimes this modified or mutilated gospel, which looks so like the real, serves his end best; for it throws men off their guard, making them suppose that they have received Christ’s gospel, even though they have not found in it the good news which it contains.

He rages against the true God,—sometimes openly and coarsely, at other times calmly and politely,—making men believe that he is the friend of the truth, but an enemy to its perversion. Progress, progress, progress, is his watchword now, by means of which he hopes to allure men away from the old anchorages, under the pretext of giving them wider, fuller, more genial teachings. He bids them soar above creeds, catechisms, dogmas, as the dregs of an inferior age, and a lower mental status. He distinguishes, too, between theology and religion, warmly advocating the latter in order to induce men to abandon the former. He rages against the divine accuracy of the Bible, and cunningly subverts its inspiration by elevating every true poet and philosopher to the same inspired position. So successfully has he wrought in disintegrating and undermining the truth, that there is hardly a portion of it left firm. The ground underneath us is hollow; and the crust on which we tread ready to give way, and precipitate us into the abyss of unbelief.

He rages against the Cross of Christ, yet with exceeding subtlety and persuasiveness, seeking to blind men to its true meaning and use. In his enmity against it he instigates some to cut it down, others so to bedaub it with such superstitious ornament that it is the genuine cross no longer. He assails the gospel too, mixing up grace and merit; adding to it or taking from it; persuading some that it is not free, and others that it is so free that none will be lost. He attacks propitiation and sacrifice, propagating the lie that sacrifice is merely self-denial, and that the death of Christ is a sacrifice solely because the highest example of self-abnegation ever exhibited. Thus we find him everywhere assailing truth and vitalizing error, working against the true religion, and inspiring and energizing the false. He is the very life and soul of all anti-Christian unbelief and lawlessness, raising up the many antichrists, and ripening the world for the last great Antichrist about to be revealed in the height of rebellion and pride; as if he would make good to man his promise to the first Adam, ‘Ye shall be as God,’ and to the second Adam, ‘All these things will I give Thee if Thou wilt fall down and worship me;’ for the Antichrist accepts what the Christ refused, and is crowned as Satan’s king and vicegerent upon earth.

But his time approaches and his day is short. The nations shall muster on Armageddon; the kings of the earth shall combine; all shall worship the beast. But the triumphing of the wicked is short. His doom is sealed; first, in the bottomless pit, and then in the lake of fire.

And what a history! What a career! He comes to his end, and none shall help him. He passes away into captivity, and there is none to sympathize with the captive, mighty and majestic though he be in his chains.

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Bonar, H. (1875). Earth’s Morning: Thoughts on Genesis (pp. 241-243). NEW YORK: ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS.

Available Online at: Earth’s Morning: Thoughts on Genesis (eBook) | Monergism

The Offence of the Cross Ceasing – Thomas Scott

Posted by Dan C. on

The following is an excerpt from The Letters and Papers of Reverend Thomas Scott, an English preacher and author:

imageLeave out the holy character of God, the holy excellence of his law, the holy condemnation to which transgressors are doomed, the holy loveliness of the Saviour’s character, the holy nature of redemption, the holy tendency of Christ’s doctrine, and the holy tempers and conduct of all true believers: then dress up a scheme of religion of this unholy sort: represent mankind as in a pitiable condition, rather through misfortune than by crime: speak much of Christ’s bleeding love to them, of his agonies in the garden and on the cross; without shewing the need or the nature of the satisfaction for sin: speak of his present glory, and of his compassion for poor sinners; of the freeness with which he dispenses pardons; of the privileges which believers enjoy here, and of the happiness and glory reserved for them hereafter: clog this with nothing about regeneration and sanctification, or represent holiness as somewhat else than conformity to the holy character and law of God: and you make up a plausible gospel, calculated to humor the pride, soothe the consciences, engage the hearts, and raise the affections of natural men, who love nobody but themselves.

And now no wonder if this gospel (which has nothing in it affronting, offensive, or unpalatable, but is perfectly suited to the carnal, humbled sinner, and helps him to quiet his conscience, dismiss his fears, and encourage his hopes,) incur no opposition among ignorant persons, who inquire not into the reason of things; meet with a hearty welcome, and make numbers of supposed converts, who live and die as full as they can hold of joy and confidence, without any fears or conflicts. Its success perhaps may cause it to be cried up as ‘ the only way of preaching for usefulness:’ while all discourse concerning the being, authority, and perfections of God; concerning the law; concerning the evil of sin; and concerning relative duties; is considered as only ‘ hindering usefulness:’ and they only are thought to preach the gospel in simplicity, as they ought to do, who preach in this manner.

What wonder if, when all the offensive part is left out, the gospel gives no offence? What wonder if, when it is made suitable to carnal minds, carnal minds fall in love with it? What wonder if, when it is evidently calculated to fill the renewed mind with false confidence and joy, it has this effect? What wonder if, when the true character of God is unknown, and a false character of him is framed in the fancy,—a God all love and no justice, very fond of such believers, as his favourites,—they have very warm affections towards him?

Let this matter be weighed according to its importance. Let the word of God be examined impartially. I cannot but avow my fears that Satan has propagated much of this false- religion, among many widely different classes of religious professors; and it shines so brightly in the eyes of numbers, who ‘take all for gold that glitters’, that, unless the fallacy be detected, it bids fair to be the prevailing religion in many places.

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Thomas Scott. (1824) Letters and Papers (London: Seeley). pp. 441-444,

Online Source: Letters and Papers of the Late Rev. Thomas Scott: D.D. Never Before Published With Occasional Observations: Thomas Scott: 9780371801604: Amazon.com: Books

Thomas Scott (1747–1821) was an influential English preacher and author. He is principally known for his widespread work A Commentary On The Whole Bible, for The Force of Truth, and as one of the founders of the Church Missionary Society.