We turn our attention to a consideration of the necessity, nature, and fruits of saving faith.
Dozens of texts could be cited to prove the necessity of faith if we are to enter into the blessings of God's salvation in Christ. However, I have chosen four texts that epitomize the universal teaching of the Word of God concerning the necessity for saving faith:
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:18)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. (Rom. 1:16)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. (Eph. 2:8)
And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 3:23)
If we are to experience the salvation procured for sinners and sincerely offered to us in the gospel, we must understand the nature of this saving faith.
God nowhere gives us one succinct definition of the nature of saving faith. He has done something far better. He has given us multiple pictures and analogies of what constitutes saving faith. The following are but a sampling of the many pictures of saving faith scattered throughout the Scriptures:
- Receiving Christ (John 1:12; Col.2:6).
- Drinking from Christ (John 7:37-38; Rev. 22:17).
- Looking to Christ (John 3:14-15).
- Coming to Christ (John 7:37; 1 Peter 2:4).
- Calling upon Christ (Rom. 10:13).
- Fleeing to Christ (Heb. 6:18).
- Feeding upon Christ (John 6:35).
In all of these pictures of the nature of saving faith, it is clear that the object of such faith is not one or more aspects of the person or work of Christ - rather, Christ Himself in the uniqueness of His person and the perfection of His work is the object of our faith.
Christ accomplishes His saving work in the exercise of his threefold office as our prophet, priest, and king. Through saving faith, we receive and entrust ourselves to a whole Christ - as a prophet to teach us, as a priest who sacrificed Himself and intercedes for us, and as a king to rule over and defend us.
I ask you, do you truly embrace the Christ of Scripture as your prophet, your priest, and your king?
(Rev. Albert N. Martin, Tabletalk, June 2014)
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Thursday, June 26, 2014
What is Right? What is Wrong?
Who Says??
What is right? What is wrong? And who gets to determine the answers to these questions? For a nation to be truly united, most of its citizens must agree on the answers to these questions - or at least agree that there are answers to be found. For years, most Americans have turned to a belief in God and the Bible for answers. From the Creation story to the Ten Commandments to the Gospels to the Epistles, the Bible provided an explanation for the meaning of life and instructed us in moral principles. We held to a Judeo-Christian standard while respecting the beliefs of those who didn't share them, and that standard saved us from confusion. Today, fewer people believe in the Bible, or even in absolute truth, and our rejection of an objective moral standard has thrown our society into disarray. If in fact we do really believe in God and His word, many of the moral "gray" issues of today become black and white.
( Dr. Ben Carson, One Nation, 2014, pgs192-193)
What is right? What is wrong? And who gets to determine the answers to these questions? For a nation to be truly united, most of its citizens must agree on the answers to these questions - or at least agree that there are answers to be found. For years, most Americans have turned to a belief in God and the Bible for answers. From the Creation story to the Ten Commandments to the Gospels to the Epistles, the Bible provided an explanation for the meaning of life and instructed us in moral principles. We held to a Judeo-Christian standard while respecting the beliefs of those who didn't share them, and that standard saved us from confusion. Today, fewer people believe in the Bible, or even in absolute truth, and our rejection of an objective moral standard has thrown our society into disarray. If in fact we do really believe in God and His word, many of the moral "gray" issues of today become black and white.
( Dr. Ben Carson, One Nation, 2014, pgs192-193)
Monday, June 16, 2014
In The Beginning
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. John 1:1,2
I have said this before but I make no excuse for repeating it! Jesus Christ was alive before he was born! The cross was not the end of Jesus Christ anymore than the manger was his beginning. On one occasion, Jesus said, "...Before Abraham was, (before Abraham ever existed) I Am." (John 8:58) "Before Abraham..." that reaches back quite a ways! "I AM" That goes back to a realm where past and future do not even exist. It goes backto the place of no beginning and no ending.
John 1:3 reads, "All things were made by Him..." All created things had a beginning but Jesus the Creator , was already there! In Revelation 1:8 Jesus said, "...I am the beginning and the ending..." He was there before the beginning of created things and after created things (as we know them now) are ended. Jesus the "I AM" will still be there.
Armageddon is coming and war is a terrible thing. No ordinary person wants war! The only ones who want war are the despots who don't get personally involved. I walked through Manila, Phillippines in the later part of 1945. What a discouraging sight! Of the four bridges there, three had been destroyed, and most downtown buildings had been destroyed. Rubble and ruin filled the streets not to mention the dead bodies of Japanese soldiers tht had not yet been gathered up. Armageddon will be bad but is not the end of everything that God has planned for His people.
There is a better day coming when war will be no more. In the words of the old spiritual, "I'm gonna put on my long white robe, down by the riverside, down by the riverside. I'm gonna put on my long white robe down by the riverside and I ain't gonna study war no more. Ain't gonna study war no more, ain't gona study war no more, ain't gonna study war no more."
Men will "blow away" a large part of the earth before this is over but God will make a new one. (Revelation 21:1) Men have a nuclear device now, (so I read) that can destroy Los Angeles. Men do not now have nor shall they ever have, a device that can affect the New Jerusalem and if you are a discple of the Lord Jesus Christ, you have property there (John 14:2) "...I go to prepare a place for you."
It is a place where "...neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,and where thieves do not break through and steal." (Matthew 6:20) and where no scud missle nor chemical warhead shall ever find a target.
I have experienced and I believe in, God's protection in this life. I am not a fatalist! I believe that prayer changes things! I pray for our troops and our country! I remember that there is a future for us where there will be no "arms race" no "weapons of mass destruction" no more hate and violence. It shall all be under the care of that One Who has "no beginning and no ending." (Rev. 22:20) He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly."
Amen. Even so, come , Lord Jesus!
(Pastor Bill Cummins, Sheridan, WY, drbc@bresnan.net)
I have said this before but I make no excuse for repeating it! Jesus Christ was alive before he was born! The cross was not the end of Jesus Christ anymore than the manger was his beginning. On one occasion, Jesus said, "...Before Abraham was, (before Abraham ever existed) I Am." (John 8:58) "Before Abraham..." that reaches back quite a ways! "I AM" That goes back to a realm where past and future do not even exist. It goes backto the place of no beginning and no ending.
John 1:3 reads, "All things were made by Him..." All created things had a beginning but Jesus the Creator , was already there! In Revelation 1:8 Jesus said, "...I am the beginning and the ending..." He was there before the beginning of created things and after created things (as we know them now) are ended. Jesus the "I AM" will still be there.
Armageddon is coming and war is a terrible thing. No ordinary person wants war! The only ones who want war are the despots who don't get personally involved. I walked through Manila, Phillippines in the later part of 1945. What a discouraging sight! Of the four bridges there, three had been destroyed, and most downtown buildings had been destroyed. Rubble and ruin filled the streets not to mention the dead bodies of Japanese soldiers tht had not yet been gathered up. Armageddon will be bad but is not the end of everything that God has planned for His people.
There is a better day coming when war will be no more. In the words of the old spiritual, "I'm gonna put on my long white robe, down by the riverside, down by the riverside. I'm gonna put on my long white robe down by the riverside and I ain't gonna study war no more. Ain't gonna study war no more, ain't gona study war no more, ain't gonna study war no more."
Men will "blow away" a large part of the earth before this is over but God will make a new one. (Revelation 21:1) Men have a nuclear device now, (so I read) that can destroy Los Angeles. Men do not now have nor shall they ever have, a device that can affect the New Jerusalem and if you are a discple of the Lord Jesus Christ, you have property there (John 14:2) "...I go to prepare a place for you."
It is a place where "...neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,and where thieves do not break through and steal." (Matthew 6:20) and where no scud missle nor chemical warhead shall ever find a target.
I have experienced and I believe in, God's protection in this life. I am not a fatalist! I believe that prayer changes things! I pray for our troops and our country! I remember that there is a future for us where there will be no "arms race" no "weapons of mass destruction" no more hate and violence. It shall all be under the care of that One Who has "no beginning and no ending." (Rev. 22:20) He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly."
Amen. Even so, come , Lord Jesus!
(Pastor Bill Cummins, Sheridan, WY, drbc@bresnan.net)
Monday, June 2, 2014
A Prayer by Pierre Viret
Pierre Viret (1511-1571), Swiss Reformer, colleague of John Calvin, and preacher at the Cathedral of Lausanne, often began his sermons with the following prayer:
Recognizing our faults and imperfections, and that we have nothing of ourselves that we did not receive from above, we humble ourselves before the high majesty of our good God and Father, full of all goodness and mercy, praying to Him that He would not enter into judgment with us so as to punish us and correct us in His anger and fury (Pslam 6) in regard to our faults and iniquities, but that instead He would look upon the innocence, righteousness and obedience of His Son, Jesus Christ, whom He gave over to death for us.
For the love with which He pleases His Father, may the Lord have mercy upon us all, and by His celestial light chase away all darkness, error and ignorance from our hearts, filling us with His grace and with His Holy Spirit. Thus, may He lead us into full confidence in all truth, and open to us the true understanding of His holyWord, so that it may not be corrupted by our carnal sense and understanding . Instead, may He give us the grace by which He spoke by His holy prophets and apostles, so that being led by the same Spirit, we may declare to His honour and glory and to the edification of all. And may we not listen only with carnal ears to our own judgment and condemnation like the infidels and hypocrites, but rather may we be enabled to receive it in our hearts as true children of God, by a true and living faith, which will be efficacious and active by love.
In this way may we learn to renounce ourselves, so that we no longer follow any idolatry, superstition or wicked carnal affections, so that we may fully place all our trust in Him, and consecrate ourselves and confirm ourselves completely to His holy will. Hence, may we know the favour of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may be found irreproachable and without spot before His face.
Together with all of these blessings, let us ask of this good God and Father all other things which He knows are necessary for us. Thus, as this great Saviour and Reeemer, Jesus Christ, His dear Son, our sovereign Master, has taught us all to pray with one heart: "Our Father, which art in heaven......."
(from Systematic Theology, Volume One, Dr. Douglas F. Kelly, pg 26)
Recognizing our faults and imperfections, and that we have nothing of ourselves that we did not receive from above, we humble ourselves before the high majesty of our good God and Father, full of all goodness and mercy, praying to Him that He would not enter into judgment with us so as to punish us and correct us in His anger and fury (Pslam 6) in regard to our faults and iniquities, but that instead He would look upon the innocence, righteousness and obedience of His Son, Jesus Christ, whom He gave over to death for us.
For the love with which He pleases His Father, may the Lord have mercy upon us all, and by His celestial light chase away all darkness, error and ignorance from our hearts, filling us with His grace and with His Holy Spirit. Thus, may He lead us into full confidence in all truth, and open to us the true understanding of His holyWord, so that it may not be corrupted by our carnal sense and understanding . Instead, may He give us the grace by which He spoke by His holy prophets and apostles, so that being led by the same Spirit, we may declare to His honour and glory and to the edification of all. And may we not listen only with carnal ears to our own judgment and condemnation like the infidels and hypocrites, but rather may we be enabled to receive it in our hearts as true children of God, by a true and living faith, which will be efficacious and active by love.
In this way may we learn to renounce ourselves, so that we no longer follow any idolatry, superstition or wicked carnal affections, so that we may fully place all our trust in Him, and consecrate ourselves and confirm ourselves completely to His holy will. Hence, may we know the favour of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may be found irreproachable and without spot before His face.
Together with all of these blessings, let us ask of this good God and Father all other things which He knows are necessary for us. Thus, as this great Saviour and Reeemer, Jesus Christ, His dear Son, our sovereign Master, has taught us all to pray with one heart: "Our Father, which art in heaven......."
(from Systematic Theology, Volume One, Dr. Douglas F. Kelly, pg 26)
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
The Fear Of God
What is the difference between slavish fear and childlike fear?
Slavish fear has its roots in the covenant of works; childlike fear, in the covenant of grace. Slavish fear is provoked by the consequences of sin; childlike fear, by the God-dishonoring character of sin. Slavish fear is motivated by legalistic servitude, looking for reward; childlike fear is motivated by voluntary obedience, looking for grace. In slavish fear, the enmity of our heart is not broken; in childlike fear, this enmity is broken. In slavish fear we have hard thoughts of God; in childlike fear we have high thoughts of God. Slavish fear hates punishment; childlike fear hates sin. Slavish fear seeks for self-preservation and self-honor; childlike fear seeks the preservation of the Lord's attributes and honor. Slavish fear produces a convinced sinner;childlike fear, a truly convicted, converted sinner. Slavish fear looks for relief; childlike fear looks for welfare above relief.
Slavish fear is of a temporary character. "It is", as John Warburton said, "religion in fits and starts. It comes and goes." Childlike fear is more steady; it abides more deeply; it grows more profoundly in the soil of the heart. Slavish fear ultimately returns to the world. It clings to sin and is choked by the world. childlike fear cannot return to the world; it parts from sin, and longs to be with God. Slavish fear never truly humbles the sinner as an unworthy sinner; childlike fear humbles the sinner as the chiefest of transgressors. Slavish fear leaves the eye closed to Christ; childlike fear has its eye fixed upon Christ.
Slavish fear has its own glory as its ultimate goal; it desires only a quieted conscience, peace and rest. Childlike fear aims for the glory of God; true rest in God is its lofty goal. Slavish fear ends in damnation; childlike fear ends in salvation. Which kind of fear do we possess, my friends, slavish or childlike?
Dr.Joel R.Beeke, www.heritagebooks.org
Quotables on the Fear of God
"The fear of the Lord is that affectionate reverence by which the child of God bends himself humbly and carefully to his Father's law." Charles Bridges
"Though there is not always grace where there is fear of hell, yet, to be sure, there is no grace where there is no fear of God." John Bunyan
"The fear of God is the root and origin of all righteousness." John Calvin
"As faith is a grace that feeds all the rest, so fear is a grace that guards all the rest." William Secker
"The fear of God promotes spiritual joy; it is the morning star that ushers in the sunlight of comfort."
Thomas Watson
Slavish fear has its roots in the covenant of works; childlike fear, in the covenant of grace. Slavish fear is provoked by the consequences of sin; childlike fear, by the God-dishonoring character of sin. Slavish fear is motivated by legalistic servitude, looking for reward; childlike fear is motivated by voluntary obedience, looking for grace. In slavish fear, the enmity of our heart is not broken; in childlike fear, this enmity is broken. In slavish fear we have hard thoughts of God; in childlike fear we have high thoughts of God. Slavish fear hates punishment; childlike fear hates sin. Slavish fear seeks for self-preservation and self-honor; childlike fear seeks the preservation of the Lord's attributes and honor. Slavish fear produces a convinced sinner;childlike fear, a truly convicted, converted sinner. Slavish fear looks for relief; childlike fear looks for welfare above relief.
Slavish fear is of a temporary character. "It is", as John Warburton said, "religion in fits and starts. It comes and goes." Childlike fear is more steady; it abides more deeply; it grows more profoundly in the soil of the heart. Slavish fear ultimately returns to the world. It clings to sin and is choked by the world. childlike fear cannot return to the world; it parts from sin, and longs to be with God. Slavish fear never truly humbles the sinner as an unworthy sinner; childlike fear humbles the sinner as the chiefest of transgressors. Slavish fear leaves the eye closed to Christ; childlike fear has its eye fixed upon Christ.
Slavish fear has its own glory as its ultimate goal; it desires only a quieted conscience, peace and rest. Childlike fear aims for the glory of God; true rest in God is its lofty goal. Slavish fear ends in damnation; childlike fear ends in salvation. Which kind of fear do we possess, my friends, slavish or childlike?
Dr.Joel R.Beeke, www.heritagebooks.org
Quotables on the Fear of God
"The fear of the Lord is that affectionate reverence by which the child of God bends himself humbly and carefully to his Father's law." Charles Bridges
"Though there is not always grace where there is fear of hell, yet, to be sure, there is no grace where there is no fear of God." John Bunyan
"The fear of God is the root and origin of all righteousness." John Calvin
"As faith is a grace that feeds all the rest, so fear is a grace that guards all the rest." William Secker
"The fear of God promotes spiritual joy; it is the morning star that ushers in the sunlight of comfort."
Thomas Watson
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Grieve Not the Holy Spirit of God
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy: for the temple of God is holy which temple ye are. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
All Christians know from experience, that faith in Christ is the source of their holiness and peace. When beset with tempatations to despondency or sin, if they look to him for support, they are conscious of a strength to resist, or to endure, which no amount of will and no influence of motives could ever impart. When they draw near to God as the members of Christ, they have freedom and access, and experience a joy which is unspeakable and full of glory. When pressed down by afflictions, if they remember that they are one with him who suffered for them, leaving them an example, they rejoice in their tribulations, knowing that if they suffer they shall also reign with him.
Moreover . . . to maintain that life we must avoid everything which may provoke the Spirit to withdraw from us. The Bible teaches us, that the Spirit may be grieved; that His influences may be quenched; that God, in judgment, often withdraws them from those who thus offend. Evil thoughts, unholy tempers, acts of transgression, are to be avoided not merely as sins, but as offences against the Holy Spirit. We must remember, that to defile the soul with sin, or the body by intemperance or impurity, is sacrilege, because we are the members of Christ, and our bodies the temples of the Holy Ghost. On the other hand, right thoughts, just purposes, holy desires, are to be cherished not only as right in themselves, but as proceeding from that heavenly Agent on whom we are dependent for sanctification.
(Charles Hodge (1797-1878), The Banner of Truth Trust, June 2014, info@banneroftruth.org )
All Christians know from experience, that faith in Christ is the source of their holiness and peace. When beset with tempatations to despondency or sin, if they look to him for support, they are conscious of a strength to resist, or to endure, which no amount of will and no influence of motives could ever impart. When they draw near to God as the members of Christ, they have freedom and access, and experience a joy which is unspeakable and full of glory. When pressed down by afflictions, if they remember that they are one with him who suffered for them, leaving them an example, they rejoice in their tribulations, knowing that if they suffer they shall also reign with him.
Moreover . . . to maintain that life we must avoid everything which may provoke the Spirit to withdraw from us. The Bible teaches us, that the Spirit may be grieved; that His influences may be quenched; that God, in judgment, often withdraws them from those who thus offend. Evil thoughts, unholy tempers, acts of transgression, are to be avoided not merely as sins, but as offences against the Holy Spirit. We must remember, that to defile the soul with sin, or the body by intemperance or impurity, is sacrilege, because we are the members of Christ, and our bodies the temples of the Holy Ghost. On the other hand, right thoughts, just purposes, holy desires, are to be cherished not only as right in themselves, but as proceeding from that heavenly Agent on whom we are dependent for sanctification.
(Charles Hodge (1797-1878), The Banner of Truth Trust, June 2014, info@banneroftruth.org )
Monday, May 19, 2014
Directing Man's Steps
"O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Jeremiah 10:23
Jeremiah insists that men, without God's guidance, will never develop a safe and a secure society.
That which brought the above Scripture to mind was a news item that I read some time back. It was at a meeting of the City council of Tampa City, Florida. Someone had asked, a member of the Florida Atheistic Association, to give the invocation. The man began by saying that they should be depending on history, science and logic for direction and not be praying to invisible men in the sky.
History is pretty conclusive evidence that men do need to be praying to the invisible God for direction. There are many in positions of influence and authority in world affairs who agree with Mr. Harvey, but then there were men of that opinion in the days of Noah also.
Some ridicule the very idea of people praying for guidance to the God of Heaven. Some time back I heard on a newscast that at a United Nations meeting it was mentioned that the American President, George Bush, prayed for God's guidance before making decisions. The comment of the U. N. member was "bizarre."
All men will pray, make no mistake about that! (Philippians 2: 10,11) But for some it will be too late.
The rich man of Luke 16:10-31 thought prayer was a little "bizarre" when he was in health and everything was leaning his way, but one minute after moving on, he was praying for help, but no help was available then.
Since I do not know what tomorrow will bring, I like to seek direction from the One who makes all of my tomorows.
The problem in depending on the logic of men to solve the problem is that what is logical to one man is illogical to another. A reason why legislation gets bogged down in our congress.
It is much wiser to seek logic from the Maker of all logic and never go wrong.
Sooner of later God will interfere in the plans and activities of men. Ask Nebuchadnezzar! (Daniel 4:30,31) Ask Beltshazzar! (Daniel 5:4-6) Ask Herod Agrippa! (Acts 12: 21-23)
Evidently there are many who do not learn the lesson of history.
(Pastor Bill Cummins, Sheridan, Wyoming, drbc@bresnan.net)
Jeremiah insists that men, without God's guidance, will never develop a safe and a secure society.
That which brought the above Scripture to mind was a news item that I read some time back. It was at a meeting of the City council of Tampa City, Florida. Someone had asked, a member of the Florida Atheistic Association, to give the invocation. The man began by saying that they should be depending on history, science and logic for direction and not be praying to invisible men in the sky.
History is pretty conclusive evidence that men do need to be praying to the invisible God for direction. There are many in positions of influence and authority in world affairs who agree with Mr. Harvey, but then there were men of that opinion in the days of Noah also.
Some ridicule the very idea of people praying for guidance to the God of Heaven. Some time back I heard on a newscast that at a United Nations meeting it was mentioned that the American President, George Bush, prayed for God's guidance before making decisions. The comment of the U. N. member was "bizarre."
All men will pray, make no mistake about that! (Philippians 2: 10,11) But for some it will be too late.
The rich man of Luke 16:10-31 thought prayer was a little "bizarre" when he was in health and everything was leaning his way, but one minute after moving on, he was praying for help, but no help was available then.
Since I do not know what tomorrow will bring, I like to seek direction from the One who makes all of my tomorows.
The problem in depending on the logic of men to solve the problem is that what is logical to one man is illogical to another. A reason why legislation gets bogged down in our congress.
It is much wiser to seek logic from the Maker of all logic and never go wrong.
Sooner of later God will interfere in the plans and activities of men. Ask Nebuchadnezzar! (Daniel 4:30,31) Ask Beltshazzar! (Daniel 5:4-6) Ask Herod Agrippa! (Acts 12: 21-23)
Evidently there are many who do not learn the lesson of history.
(Pastor Bill Cummins, Sheridan, Wyoming, drbc@bresnan.net)
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