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This might be one of the best and most memorable expositions I have heard based on Mark 13:9-13:

“But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

Dr. Lawson considers six points in his exposition:

1. The need for believers to be alert, on guard.

2. The animosity of the world toward disciples of Christ.

3. The necessity of the preaching of the gospel.

4. The Activity of the Holy Spirit.

5. The betrayal of family members by family members.

6. the allegiance to Christ of true believers.

Please listen to this powerful sermon and feel free to comment.

Is the Reformation over? Does it matter today? Michael Reeves unpacks the story and theology of the Reformation and exhorts Christians to study the Reformation for the sake of the gospel. There is an excellent interview with the above title, between Mark Dever and 9Marks ministries and theologian/teacher/author Michael Reeves, here. It’s a great listen that addresses a seriously relevant question.

By Kenneth D. Macleod

John Newton first went to sea at the age of just 11. His godly mother had died when he was only 6 and his father was a ship’s captain. After that first voyage he kept on going to sea, and over the years he had many adventures and many difficulties, but his own foolishness lay behind most of the difficulties. It was no doubt in answer to his mother’s prayers that God at last met with him and changed his heart, bringing him to believe on Jesus Christ as the only Saviour of sinners.

Newton became a captain, but later God called him to be a preacher of the gospel. He became a minister in the little town of Olney before moving to London. But perhaps the most useful work he ever did was to write letters, lots of them, containing much helpful advice which was based firmly on the Bible. Many of these letters were later printed in magazines and books and so they have been useful to many people, not just those to whom they were originally sent. During more than 30 years, Newton wrote a series of letters to a younger man, John Ryland, who also became a minister; these have recently been published in a book with the title, Wise Counsel.

Ryland would not have been surprised to find the ex-captain thinking in ways which reflected his seagoing experience. Several times Newton referred to the work of a pilot, the man at the helm of the ship, who steered her in the right direction. But in his mind was a series of pictures. The ship was himself or Ryland or anyone else sailing on the sea of time, and the sea may get very rough because of difficulties or troubles. All the more reason then for a skilful pilot, someone who can guide people safely through all the difficulties of life.

In 1785 Newton looked back on the time, 35 years earlier, when he married his wife Mary. He compared their setting out on married life to a sailor ‘who should put to sea without either pilot or compass’. A successful voyage would look very unlikely if there was no one on board with the skill to steer the ship and if there was no compass to indicate the direction in which they should sail. So Newton confessed that, back in 1750, ‘we knew and thought but little of the Lord’. God is the pilot we need to steer us safely through life, with all its difficulties and temptations and hardships. And the Bible is the compass we need so that we would know the direction to take through life so that we may reach the harbour of heaven at last.

Before long, we might say, a perfect Pilot came on board. In Newton’s language: ‘The Lord . . . thought of us . . . and hitherto he has helped us’. God came to Newton and his wife; he showed them that they were sinners and that Jesus Christ is a glorious Saviour; he made them willing to believe in Christ. They became willing to submit to the Lord to guide them through the whole stretch of ocean – some of it rougher and some of it smoother – that lay before them in this life. They not only became willing to have the Lord as their pilot but also to take the Bible as their compass – to receive direction from God’s Book and live holy lives. And God did take care of them as they sailed towards heaven.

Whatever stage of life we may be at, we need this Pilot. Without him we will drift through life and in the end be dashed on the rocks of God’s wrath and swept away into a lost eternity. We should be perfectly clear in our minds that, if we are left to ourselves, that is how our lives will end. Without Newton’s pilot we cannot possibly find the harbour; we will miss the way into heaven. It is the Lord alone who can guide us safely through this world and bring us at last to the harbour where we can rest in perfect blessedness for ever.

In 1782 Ryland was experiencing some difficulties. Newton pictured him as sailing through stormy seas. But the ex-captain knew that the Lord could help, even in a time of trouble. He wrote to encourage his friend: ‘Cheer up. The skill of the pilot is best evidenced in a storm; so is the Lord’s wisdom and faithfulness towards his children.’ He knew that God will never forsake those who trust in him. He knew too that when times are difficult and God fulfils his promise to help his children, then it is most obvious that God has acted wisely and that he remains faithful.

But it is also at such times, Newton pointed out, that ‘the sincerity of their hearts towards him’ is most obvious. Times of trouble may make those who are not sincere give up their religion. But when God’s true children keep following him in such times of difficulty, it helps to show that they are sincere, that they really do trust in him, that they are not hypocrites.

Do you sometimes get the feeling that everything happening around you is out of control? Yes, it may well be out of your control, but you can be sure that God is in control of everything, even when the storms of life are at their fiercest. Then, says Newton, ‘many a poor sailor is shipwrecked’. He has no pilot; he has no compass. But Newton was sure that ‘the poor believer’ will reach the port to which he is sailing. He went on: ‘It is good sailing with an infallible Pilot at the helm, who has the wind and weather at his command’. A human pilot may steer his ship skilfully through tremendous storms but he cannot possibly have any control over the weather. But because God is in control of everything, we will be perfectly safe if we trust him. And he will guide us safely to the port of heaven at last, no matter how difficult some parts of the voyage may be.

In another letter, Newton was thinking of himself and other believers as passengers in a ship. Indeed the Church of God was in the ship too. It should be obvious that the Church often has to sail through difficult storms, sometimes through severe persecution. But will the ship sink? No, says Newton, ‘we need not fear sinking’. Why? Because ‘the infallible Pilot will guide us safely through the storm’. God can make no mistake; he knows everything; he is aware of every danger; and he can steer the ship safely past them all – even the dangers that are hidden from everyone else. This ship will never sink, no matter how severe the storm.

But are you in this ship? You might want to keep away from the ship where the Church of God is. You might see things in the Church that are not as you think they should be – perhaps things that in fact are not at all what they should be. But can you find a better ship? Can you find one that is guaranteed to take you safely into the port of heaven? Can you find any other ship that has a compass – at least one that works properly, that points in the right direction? No, you can be perfectly sure that if you drift away from the Bible and the Church, you will be shipwrecked at last on the rocks of God’s wrath and sink into a lost eternity. Newton had sailed for many years under the care of the infallible Pilot when he said this: ‘I am not what I ought to be – ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be – I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good!’ He was painfully conscious of sin, but he could see in himself something which showed him that he was indeed sailing towards heaven – he hated sin, especially his own sins.

We have thought of the Bible as a compass showing us the direction in which we should sail through life. But let us think of the Bible also as a telescope and let us picture Newton putting this telescope to his eye and looking into the future. As he did so, he said, ‘I am not what I hope to be – soon, soon shall I put off mortality [the part of him that would die], and with mortality [I shall put off] all sin and imperfection’. And he summed up:

Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was; a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the Apostle, and acknowledge, ‘By the grace of God I am what I am’.

Yes, John Newton was on the way to heaven.

The second Commandment:

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” – Exo 20:4 -6

From the Westminster Shorter Catechism:

Q. 52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God’s sovereignty over us,[130] his propriety in us,[131] and the zeal he hath to his own worship.[132]

[130] Psalm 95:2-3, 6-7. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods…. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Psalm 96:9-10. O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.

[131] Exodus 19:5. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: Psalm 45:11. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. Isaiah 54:5. For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

[132] Exodus 34:14. For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: 1 Corinthians 10:22. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

It would appear that the answer to the question is a resounding YES, and rightly so. After all, God is GOD.

Why a person would convert from one religion to another is always an interesting question, and the answers to the question quite insightful on several levels. This post presents four common reasons given for conversions from Protestant Evangelicalism to Roman Catholicism. These reasons were presented in a larger article here, and are based on reasons given by Evangelicals who have actually converted to Roman Catholicism (ERC’s). Direct excerpts from the aforementioned article are presented, with particular points deserving discussion emphasized.

1) Certainty

First, the desire for certainty and a full knowledge of truth spurs many ERC’s (Evangelicals who converted to Roman Catholicism) to reject what they consider to be the “doctrinal mayhem” and “choose-your-own-church syndrome” of Protestantism. ERC’s often have a desire for certain knowledge, something they believe is possible within Catholicism but not within Protestantism.  For . . . ERC’s, when Rome speaks on an issue, that’s it. There is absolute certainty.

The desire for certainty and full knowledge of truth is, I think, a characteristic of human nature, and an admirable desire. The belief that full knowledge of the truth resides within Catholicism but not within Protestantism deserves further investigation and discussion. First of all, orthodox Protestantism claims that full knowledge of all truth resides in the mind of God, and what truth God has chosen to reveals to us resides within scripture and its explicit teachings, not within Protestantism itself.

Secondly, we must ask , “From whence comes the thought that real truth resides only in Catholicism?” Well, it comes from the Roman Catholic Church, not from the explicit teaching of scripture (Deut 32:4, John 14:6, 2 Tim 3:16-17). That scripture is the ‘gold standard’ of truth is not questioned by the RCC. That the RCC, with the Papacy and Magisterium, is God’s representative on earth and God’s interpreter/teacher of scriptural truth, is the claim of the RCC.

(2) History

Second, ERC’s often feel a “historical disenfranchisement” with Protestantism. They have a desire to be connected to the entire history of the Christian church and not just the period since the Reformation. In addition, ERC’s often see the early church Fathers as “the aristocrats of the Church, the elite thinkers, and the inner circle who knew best.” This desire to be connected with church history leads many ERC’s to Rome.

This is an interesting argument with Catholic and Protestant roots.  That Catholic education/teaching forums will provide church history that includes all things post-apostolic is without question. At the same time, Protestant history traces it’s origin to the 16th Century Reformation. For the average layman, it can certainly appear that Protestant doctrine originated with the ‘Reformers’, and that the existing church at that time had always believed differently. At least that is what is presented by many RC apologists.

What Protestants are not told by Catholics who would convert them, is that orthodox Protestant doctrine was believed in, and articulated by some of their own beloved Church Fathers! For example, with regard to the Biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone taught by Paul, there was a divergence from it early in the post-apostolic era, a return to it principally due to St. Augustine, but it was lost again, only to be regained by the Reformers. They were called reformers, because they sought to return the existing church to it’s apostolic roots.

Thankfully, the access every layman has to volumes upon volumes of objective church history texts, just via the Internet, is phenomenal! If you want to discover what was believed and taught by whom all the way back to the Apostles, you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home or office.

(3) Unity

Third, ERC’s emphasize unity and are disturbed by the divisions and countless denominations within Protestantism. McKnight quotes Peter Cram who describes Protestantism as “one long, continuous line of protesters protesting against their fellow protesters, generating thousands of denominations, para-churches, and ‘free churches,’ which are simply one-church denominations.” ERC’s try to transcend this disunity by seeking refuge in the perceived unity of the Roman Catholic Church.

Typically, Catholic apologists overstate (I’m being kind) the number of denominations and usually forget that the vast majority of Protestant ‘denominations’ agree on the essentials of the Christian faith and that it’s the non-essentials, things in which there is some liberty, that there is disagreement leading to lack of complete unity in all things. Granted, it is wrong to be divided, rather than ‘agreeing to disagree’ on non-essential matters, but is also wrong to overstate the issue.

Also, the alleged unity throughout Catholicism is, as stated, perceived only. those who might be drawn to the RC because of the ‘unity’ there, need to do some homework.

(4) Authority

Fourth, many ERC’s reject the “interpretive diversity” found within Protestantism, opting for the authority of the Catholic Church. Instead of trying to sort through the numerous interpretations of Protestant pastors and theologians, ERC’s believe they have found their authority in the Catholic Church’s Magisterium. For them, “The [doctrinal] issues are now settled: the Church can tell us what to believe. And it does so infallibly.”

This point is closely related to point one, above, but deserves it’s own category. The ‘interpretative diversity’ that resides within Protestantism is not however, due to scripture being so unclear to the average layman that an outside source must be consulted to ascertain what is true. The same Holy Spirit resides as an ’embedded teacher’ within every true believer. However, since the truth to be obtained from scripture sometimes takes personal study and somewhat developed interpretative ‘skills’, we would rather just take someone else’s word for things. Sadly, false teachers and ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’ with their own agendas abound. Having a sole-source authority is very comforting, especially for the lazy among us who trust in what men say and do not apply the aforementioned ‘gold standard’ to what they tell us.

When the trade off is between ‘multiple’ self-proclaimed authorities and a ‘single’ self-proclaimed authority, and the ‘single’ authority brings to the table a gospel that is not the gospel of Christ found in scripture, all we have is self-deception with greater ‘conviction’. Adherents to Catholicism are taught to rely on their works for ‘merit’ before God; works that complement God’s grace (synergism) for their justification. The Apostle Paul gave a rather dire warning to those who rely on their works (See Gal 3:10).

In summary:

The reasons given above for Evangelical Protestant to Catholic conversion are by no means exhaustive, but only provide main categories in which can be found much greater detail.

“If there is a text of scripture you dare not meet, humble yourself till you can. If your creed and the Bible do not agree, cut your creed to pieces, but make it agree with this book. If there is anything in the church to which you belong which is contrary to the inspired Word, leave that church.” – Charles Spurgeon

 Found online here.

“The Old Testament and New Testament frequently affirm that Scripture is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by ordinary believers.” – Wayne Grudem, Ph. D., Phoenix Seminary

The Bible frequently affirms its own clarity.

1) In the OT, the people were expected to be able to understand the words of Scripture.

Deut. 6:6-7: And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Ps. 1:1-2: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Ps. 19:7: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

Ps. 119:130: The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

2) In the NT, both Jesus and the apostles have the same expectation.

• Jesus never blames people’s confusion on the obscurity of Scripture.

Matt. 12:3: He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:

Matt. 21:42: Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Matt. 22:29: But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.

• Most of the NT epistles are written to entire congregations.

1 Cor. 1:2: To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

Gal. 1:2: and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:

Phil. 1:1: Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

Col. 4:16: And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

• NT authors expect that their Gentile audience would familiarize themselves with a translation of the OT (in their common language – Greek)

Rom. 15:4: For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

2 Tim. 3:16-17: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Dr. Grudem’s complete definition for the clarity of Scripture as presented in his Christian Essentials classes:

“The clarity of Scripture means that the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all  who will read it seeking God’s help and being willing to follow it.”

Since the teachings of scripture can be understood by believers who apply themselves, he further provides as the three most important points to remember for rightly interpreting the Bible are: 1) Read it, 2) Read it, and 3) Read it.

Now that could make some false teachers out there, who depend on their flock fleecing expertise to stay in business, a bit nervous. When there is an entire religious organization/structure  that proclaims itself the only ‘capable’ interpreter of scripture, and adherence to what the ‘church’ teaches is how the masses are kept in bondage, even more is at state. Sometimes folks get tossed out of the church – ask Martin Luther.

One last point here. Most, if not all ‘former’ somethings that I know became formers by reading Scripture for themselves.

Answer: “Some are. . .”

The question was asked of a teacher of systematic theology. The answer was his. Actually, you can substitute “Protestants” and the answer is the same, “Some are. . .” There might be a difference in percentages, but that’s God’s business, not mine.

The test of whether or not a specific individual is a Christian is a depends on which Gospel he/she believed, or are believing in for for salvation. Was it the gospel of grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, or was it a gospel of grace, through faith in Christ plus other stuff?

Even then, who is, or isn’t, a true Christian is still God’s business. He knows, I don’t.

If you ask however, “Is Catholicism, or Protestantism a “Christian religion?”, we have a slightly different issue. That would depend on the gospel that either adheres to and preaches, again grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, or grace and faith in Christ plus other stuff?

Paul had some very specific things to say about ‘other’ gospels. See Galatians 1:8-9. Even better, read the entire chapter, maybe the whole book.

John Piper

“The heart of the gospel is the good news that Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead. What makes this good news is that Christ’s death accomplished a perfect righteousness before God and suffered a perfect condemnation from God, both of which are counted as ours through faith alone, so that we have eternal life with God in the new heavens and the new earth.” – Christianity Today, June 2009

Tim Keller
The ‘gospel’ is the good news that through Christ the power of God’s kingdom has entered history to renew the whole world. When we believe and rely on Jesus’ work and record (rather than ours) for our relationship to God, that kingdom power comes upon us and begins to work through us.”

Alistair Begg

Here’s the gospel in a phrase. Because Christ died for us, those who trust in him may know that their guilt has been pardoned once and for all. What will we have to say before the bar of God’s judgment? Only one thing. Christ died in my place. That’s the gospel.

Mark Dever

“Here is what I understand the good news to be: the good news is that the one and only God, who is holy, made us in his image to know him. But we sinned and cut ourselves off from him. In his great love, God became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross, thus fulfilling the law himself and taking
on himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever turn and trust in him. He rose again from the dead, showing that God accepted Christ’s sacrifice and that God’s wrath against us had been exhausted. He now calls us to repent of our sins and to trust in Christ alone for our forgiveness. If we repent of our sins and trust in Christ, we are born again into a new life, an eternal life with God. Now that is good news.” – from The Gospel and Personal Evangelism

Derek Thomas

“The gospel is not ‘God loves us,’ but ‘God loves us at the cost of his Son.’”

Sometimes there is a theme or topic in scripture that can be found throughout the Bible. Sometimes passages can be gathered together that speak to a theme or topic, not to “prove” something we want the Bible to say, but to more clearly articulate what just might be a very important doctrine. One must be very careful in doing this, I think, because the human heart is still deceitful beyond measure (Jer 17:9), although as believers we also have the indwelling Holy Spirit. Are these some of those passages that go to important doctrine?

Isa 55:10-11 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Eph 1:4-6 “…even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. “

Joh 6:37 “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

Joh 6:44 – “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

Joh 6:65 “And he said, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.’”

I am just asking here. The answer to the question might be a matter of further study. If these passages of scripture us to further study concerning what they might be pointing to – mission accomplished.