Love Lustres at Calvary -- from Valley of Vision

My Father,

Enlarge my heart, warm my affections,
open my lips,
supply words that proclaim ‘Love Lustres at Calvary.’
There grace removes my burdens
and heaps them on thy Son,
made a transgressor, a curse, and sin for me;
There the sword of thy justice smote the man,
thy fellow;
There thy infinite attributes were magnified,
and infinite atonement was made;
There infinite punishment was due,
and infinite punishment was endured.

Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,
cast off that I might be brought in,
trodden down as an enemy
that I might be welcomed as a friend,
surrendered to hell’s worst
that I might attain heaven’s best,
stripped that I might be clothed,
wounded that I might be healed,
athirst that I might drink,
tormented that I might be comforted,
made a shame that I might inherit glory,
entered darkness that I might have eternal light.

My Savior wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,
groaned that I might have endless song,
endured all pain that I might have unfading health,
bore a thorny crown that I might have a glory-diadem,
bowed his head that I might uplift mine,
experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,
closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclothed brightness,
expired that I might forever live.

O Father, who spared not thine own Son
that thou mightest spare me,
All this transfer thy love designed and accomplished;
Help me to adore thee by lips and life.
O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise,
my every step buoyant with delight,
as I see my enemies crushed,
Satan baffled, defeated, destroyed,
sin buried in the ocean of reconciling blood,
hell’s gates closed, heaven’s portal open.
Go forth, O conquering God, and show me
the cross, mighty to subdue, comfort and save.

The Precious Blood

For Good Friday, a prayer from the Puritan book "The Valley of Vision"

Blessed Lord Jesus,
Before thy cross I kneel and see
     the heinousness of my sin,
     my iniquity that caused thee to be 'made a curse',
     the evil that excites the severity of divine wrath.
Show me the enormity of my guilt by
     te crown of thorns,
     the pierced hands and feet,
     the bruised body,
     the dying cries.
Thy blood is the blood of incarnate God,
     its worth infinite, its value beyond all thought.
Infinite must be the evil and guilt that demands such a price.
Sin is my malady, my monster, my foe, my viper,
     born in my birth,
     alive in my life,
     strong in my character,
     dominating my faculties,
     following me as a shadow,
     intermingling with my every thought,
     my chain that holds me captive in the empire of my soul.
Sinner that I am, why should the sun give me light,
     the air supply breath,
     the earth bear my tread,
     its fruits nourish me,
     its creatures subserve my ends?
Yet thy compassions yearn over me,
     thy hear hastens to my rescue,
     thy love endured my curse,
    thy mercy bore my deserved stripes.
Let me walk humbly in the lowest depths of humiliation,
     bathed in thy blood,
     tender of conscience,
     triumphing gloriously as an heir of salvation.

From Valley of Vision, compiled by Arthur Bennett, published by Banner of Truth.  Page 41

The Romans 52 - Week 10

Ro 3:24b-26 Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate ... at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Hymn of the Week - Crown Him with Many Crowns

1. Crown him with many crowns, 
 the Lamb upon his throne, 
 Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns 
 all music but its own. 
 Awake, my soul, and sing 
 of him who died for thee, 
 and hail him as thy matchless King 
 through all eternity. 

2. Crown him the Lord of life, 
 who triumphed o'er the grave, 
 and rose victorious in the strife 
 for those he came to save. 
 His glories now we sing, 
 who died, and rose on high, 
 who died, eternal life to bring, 
 and lives that death may die. 

3. Crown him the Lord of peace, 
 whose power a scepter sways 
 from pole to pole, that wars may cease, 
 and all be prayer and praise. 
 His reign shall know no end, 
 and round his pierced feet 
 fair flowers of paradise extend 
 their fragrance ever sweet. 

4. Crown him the Lord of love; 
 behold his hands and side, 
 those wounds, yet visible above, 
 in beauty glorified. 
 All hail, Redeemer, hail! 
 For thou hast died for me; 
 thy praise and glory shall not fail 
 throughout eternity. 

---

The Romans 52 - Week 9 - Romans 3:23-24

Romans 3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Hymn of the Week - O Love of God How Strong and True

O Love of God, How Strong and True by Horatius Bonar

O love of God, how strong and true!
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.


O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man’s deepest hate;
Self fed, self kindled, like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.

O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!

O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.

We read thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.

We read thy power to bless and save,
E’en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.

O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest
Forever safe, forever blest.

The Romans 52 - Week 8 - Romans 3:20

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Hymn of the Week - A Debot to Mercy Alone

A Debtor to Mercy Alone by Augustus Toplady














A debtor to mercy alone
Of covenant mercy I sing
I come with Your righteousness on
My humble offering to bring
The judgments of Your holy law
With me can have nothing to do
My Savior’s obedience and blood
Hide all my transgressions
From view

The work which Your goodness began
The arm of Your strength will complete
Your promise is yes and amen
And never was forfeited yet
The future or things that are now
No power below or above
Can make You Your purpose forego
Or sever my soul from Your love

My name from the palms of Your hands
Eternity will not erase
Impressed on Your heart it remains
In marks of indelible grace
Yes I, to the end will endure
Until I bow down at Your throne
Forever and always secure
Forever and always secure
Forever and always secure
A debtor to mercy alone

The Romans 52 - Week 7 - Romans 3:10-11

Romans 3:10-11 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.

Hymn of the Week - The Power of the Cross

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

The Power of the Cross by Keith Getty

CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev'ry bitter thought,
Ev'ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

FINAL CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Living the Truth - Conclusion

(Be sure to see the previous posts to get the context of this article.)

Let's take another example where focusing on the truth can help. What about general dissatisfaction with life circumstances. The truth of Scripture is that God is working all things together for good if you love him and are called according to his purpose, (Romans 8:28). God will not allow you to be tested above what you can handle, (1 Corinthians 10:13). God determined in advance where you would live and during which time period, (Acts 17:26).

Many aspects of your circumstances are or were not under your control. Other circumstances are a result of previous decisions you made. At some point you decided to go to college or not. You decided to marry this person or not. You accepted a particular job or changed your mind and took another one. All of these decisions are in the past. Some of them can be changed. Many of them cannot. But that is where the frustration comes in, isn't it. We want to be able to go back and change them. One of the truths of the world is that time moves only forward and you can't go back and change a decision to a different one. All of the mumbling and negative self talk isn't going to change any of it. So after you know that truth, you must accept it and act accordingly.

Maybe there's a way to change your job situation. You can put your resume out there to see what God brings along. You can move to a different part of the country where it may be more to your liking or where there may be more jobs. Those things you can do.

You cannot change many of the things related to your physical condition. But you can make healthy eating choices. You can exercise more. You can quit smoking. However, some results of past decisions will stay with you.

Now I'm not saying to take on a defeatist attitude. “I've made so many bad decisions, I'll always be this way.” That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that there is a lot you can do about the way you think and the way you approach life. So don't waste time and emotional energy on the things you cannot change or complain about the truths which serve as boundaries in life.

Finally, let's take a moment and look at worry about the future. Nothing in the future has happened yet and therefore isn't true. The Bible tells us to plan for the future, to set aside food and supplies for a time when things may not be going as well. But it also tells us not to take on the cares of tomorrow today. God has said he would never leave or forsake us, Hebrews 13:5. It also says that having food and clothing we should be content, 1 Timothy 6:8. God says that he will supply all of our needs, Philippians 4:19. So when you begin to worry, you need to tell yourself the things that are true. Tell your soul to accept those truths and then make decisions based on those truths. When you find yourself mulling over the fears of the future, tell yourself to drop it and purposely turn your focus to other things. If you have built a habit of worrying, it won't go away that easily. You will find yourself struggling actively against the worry. That is a good thing. Some people say they struggle with worry or some other sin but what they mean is that it has the victory. The actual battle comes when you stake your claim on God's truth and refuse to submit to worry or whatever else might have gained a foothold. It won't be easy. But God is faithful. He said he won't allow any testings that you are not able to handle. Grab a hold of that truth and let that be the starting point for victory.

Living the Truth - Part 5

(Be sure to see the previous posts to get the context of this article.)

How do these principles apply in interpersonal relationships? What are some truths to be found in this arena of life? 1) He who would have friends must show himself friendly. (Proverbs 18:24); 2) Treat others the way you want to be treated; (Luke 6:31) 3) Prefer others over yourself (Romans 12:10); 3) Be kind one to another (Ephesians 4:32); 4) A soft answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1); 5) You can't get inside another person to change them. There are many more.

So what are we to do with these truths and others like them? We need to accept them and embrace them and then live our lives and make decisions accordingly even if our feelings scream out at us.

What should you do about a person, let's say someone in your family or someone you have to work with, who irritates you. How are you supposed to respond so that you don't get frustrated and upset yourself. First you need to accept and act on the truth that you can't get inside and change them. So stop trying. When you speak to them, speak in a calm voice and an even tone even if everything inside you is telling you to be sarcastic or to respond with a certain tone that will let them know how much you are frustrated. Treat them with respect. Do kind things for them. Treat them the way you would want to be treated. Show them genuine love and care.

Where are you supposed to get this kind of love? Since I'm directing this lesson toward those who claim to be Christians, your source of this kind of love is the same love which you found from Jesus Christ. He loved you when you were rebelling against him and were about as obnoxious as could be in the sight of God. And yet, he extended his grace toward you in incredible ways. Do the same to them.

“But,” you may say, “If I do this, it will seem like I don't care that they are miserable people to be around.” So? Why do they have to know you think they are miserable to be around? Do you think a bad attitude toward them is going to change them? Does it actually make you feel better?

What if the person is my spouse and I really want them to change so that our marriage can be what it should be? All of the same truths apply. You can't get inside them to change them and you need to act toward them according to the truth that you are their spouse. So you need to act in love and encouragement and not with put downs and negative speech. Treat them the way you want to be treated. But what if they don't start treating me back the way they should? It might be difficult to accept, but you can't change that. You can only change yourself – and then only barely it seems.

Begin to live according to the truth and you will find your own attitude much more calm, patient and much less frustrated. The Bible promises that a spouse may change due to the attitude of the other. (I Peter 1:1-2.)

The Bible asks the question about where quarrels and fights come from. The answer is that we want something and don't get it, James 4:1. What do you want from your spouse that you're not getting? Why do you think you deserve it? How are you going to force him or her to give it to you? I'm guessing your spouse wants something from you. Give your spouse the very best. Give them love and acceptance. Give them time and attention. If you are the husband, love your wife like Christ loves the church, pouring your life into hers, encouraging her and building her up in the faith. Expect nothing in return. If you are the wife, give your husband love and respect. Respect him as the person whom God has made the head of your home and submit to his leadership. Expect nothing in return.

...to be continued...

The Romans 52 - Week 6 - Romans 2:1

Romans 2:1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

Hymn of the Week - When I Can Read My Title Clear

When I Can Read My Title Clear by Isaac Watts

1. When I can read my title clear
   To mansions in the skies,
   I bid farewell to every fear,
   And wipe my weeping eyes.
   And wipe my weeping eyes,
   And wipe my weeping eyes
   I bid farewell to every fear,
   And wipe my weeping eyes.
2. Should earth against my soul engage,
   And hellish darts be hurled,
   Then I can smile at Satan’s rage,
   And face a frowning world.
   And face a frowning world,
   And face a frowning world,
   Then I can smile at Satan’s rage,
   And face a frowning world.
3. Let cares, like a wild deluge come,
   And storms of sorrow fall!
   May I but safely reach my home,
   My God, my heav’n, my All.
   My God, my heav’n, my All,
   My God, my heav’n, my All,
   May I but safely reach my home,
   My God, my heav’n, my All.
4. There shall I bathe my weary soul
   In seas of heav’nly rest,
   And not a wave of trouble roll
   Across my peaceful breast.
   Across my peaceful breast,
   Across my peaceful breast,
   And not a wave of trouble roll
   Across my peaceful breast.

Living the Truth - Part 4

(Be sure to see the previous posts to get the context of this article.)

I'd like to take these principles and apply them to some situations in order to explain the idea in more detail. I won't be covering all possible issues and so if your struggle is in a different area, you'll need to take the concept and apply it to your situation. Also, I will be oversimplifying these concepts. Each scenario could be the topic for a book but we're going to discuss them in less than one printed page.

For the first example, let's take personal finance. I know of many people who find themselves in a financial bind. The scenario I'm visualizing involves a normal working family who have a job, but find themselves struggling with their finances.

First we need to know the truths involved in this situation. A few of them are 1) Man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. (Luke 12:15); 2) My God will supply all of your needs (Philippians 4:19); 3) He who sows bountifully shall reap bountifully (2 Corinthians 2:9); 4) You can't continually spend more than you take in; 5) You can't spend the same money twice; etc. etc.

As we accumulate truths related to money, we need to embrace those truths and accept them as operational even for us in our own personal circumstances.

Now comes the hard part. We need to live life accordingly. If life does not consist of the abundance of my possessions, I don't need to accumulate stuff just because I want to. I might want the latest flat screen TV or electronic gadget, but since my life does not consist of these things, I don't have to purchase them. But here's where the battle comes in. Something inside me wants stuff. Why should I have to use an old analog TV when all of my friends have the cool digital kind?

Another truth is that I can't spend the same money twice. If I buy the TV, I can't use that money to buy shoes. I can't put it in the bank to save for a rainy day fund. I can't use it on my family vacation. I might wish with all of my heart that I could do it all, but I can't and I have to accept that fact. I need to learn to live within the bounds of the truth.

I kind of look at it somewhat similarly to a football game. The players can have a great time giving their all on the field. But suppose some kids are playing a pick up game and as they play the guy with the ball decides to run outside of the bounds and through the area where fans would be seated in a real game. He runs way out of bounds and around a couple of trees to avoid being tackled. Obviously that's not going to work well. We have rules for games so that participants can enjoy the game within certain bounds. Reality shows up when someone runs up against one of the rules. Life can be going along pretty well and we can be fairly contented, but when we begin to want something which lies outside the rules or outside the realities of life, that's when we get bent out of shape. If we learn to live within the bounds and be to contented with reality, life goes much better.

In explaining these things, I'm not saying that it is easy or that trying to do this will make all of life's pain and sorrow go away. That's not going to happen, but I am saying that you will find that you are able to maintain a much better spirit if you will think and accept the truth. When it comes to personal finance, you have to accept the fact that certain truths are in force. Acknowledging that and then basing your decisions accordingly is much more productive than either fretting about past decisions or worrying about future ones.

...to be continued...

Living the Truth - Part 3

(Be sure to see the previous posts to get the context of this article.)

The third principle is Act on the Truth. This is perhaps the hardest of the three. It's not enough to know the truth and to accept it, you must act upon it. You must make your decisions, adjust your attitude, act out the part as though it is true even if your feelings are screaming at you. Now this is not the same thing as wishful thinking or positive thinking. We are not creating truth by wishing or hoping long enough or hard enough. We're talking about truths we know. Truth is something that is out there whether we believe it or not. Obviously we don't know all truth, but we do know some. The force of gravity is a natural truth. No matter how much you might wish it weren't true, it's still in effect. If you jump from a 10 story roof, the forces of nature will apply to you no matter who you are, no matter whether you believe in God or not. You might wish you could jump and soar like a bird among the buildings, but all of the wishing in the world does not make it so. Now there are other truths that also exist that will allow you to invent some sort of wings or parachute, but in all of these cases you are required to act according to natural truths or face the consequences. That's true in the spiritual life as well. God says that we should not be fooled. We will reap what we sow. We may not like it. We may wish it were different, but there is coming a day when the harvest will show what we've been planting. Another truth that is troubling is that we live once, we die once and after that comes the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

Sometimes you need to act out the truth almost as though you are acting a part. You may feel hypocritical doing this because inside your feelings aren't meshing with the behavior. For example a truth of Scripture is that we are to be kind to others no matter what they may have done to us. Acting kindly toward someone who has hurt you deeply may make you feel like a hypocrite. Inside you may not be feeling all of that kindly, but you are acting out kindness in spite of those feelings. If we live and act according to the truth, our feelings will catch up with us eventually. Feelings are real, but they can be deceptive. So live out the truth no matter what the feelings say.

An analogy is like the first time we learned to float during our swimming lessons. They told you that the water would hold you up if you just rested on it. They may not have told you that the water would hold you up after about 7/8 of your body was submerged, but it's still the truth. You can believe what they told you and you can even accept it. But when they have you lie back on their arms, it starts to be a different story. Then they tell you to relax and they begin to lower their arms to allow the water to take over. You continue to sink as their arms descend. If you're like me, you get to the point where you start thrashing with your legs and feet trying to find out where the bottom of the pool is. However, if you get to the point of actually resting on the truth that the water will hold you up, it's an exhilarating experience.

...to be continued...

Living the Truth - Part 2

(Be sure to see the previous posts to get the context of this article.)

The second principle is Accept the Truth. You not only have to know what is true, you have to accept it and acknowledge that it is true. You have to believe, accept and embrace the fact that it is true. Getting from the knowledge step to the acceptance step is sometimes difficult. There are times when we know the truth, but we don't want to believe it or accept it. In order to get over that hump we need to be continually thinking on and speaking the truth to ourselves.

In Psalm 42:5, the writer does just that. He says, “Why are you cast down o my soul and why are you disquieted within me?” See what he is doing? He is talking to his own soul. He answers himself too! He says to himself, “Hope in God, for I shall yet praise him.” He quotes a promise of God to himself and acts on it with praise to God.

This is what we all need to do. When a circumstance comes up that we are having an issue with, we need to know what truth applies, and then we need to embrace it and tell ourselves that it is true and that we have the strength and power of God to deal with it and overcome our fearful or fretful feelings.

One of the things we need to be especially careful to avoid is proclaiming our feelings or commonly accepted statements as if they are true. I get extremely frustrated over the many statements I see online that are supposedly the truth, but contradict what God clearly says in the Bible. For example, we sometimes say, “I'm overwhelmed. I can't live victoriously over my circumstances. They are too much!” Yet God says, “I will not allow you to be tested above what you are able.” (1 Cor. 10:13)

...to be continued...

Living the Truth - Part 1

Be sure to see previous posts to get the context of this article.

Here are the three principles I want us to look at:

1. Know the truth.
2. Accept the truth – believe, accept and embrace it
3. Act according to the truth – make decisions, adjust your attitude, act the part

Let's dig deeper into these principles and then I will use them in some practical examples.

First then, we must know the truth. Jesus said in John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” This statement was not made in isolation however. Just before this, Jesus had said, “If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed.” The principles we are talking about depend on our being true disciples of Jesus Christ. They depend on our abiding in the word of Christ. This means that we need to be taking in the Scriptures, thinking about what they say and basing our life decisions on them. All of God's word is truth. Jesus said in John 17:17, “Your word is truth.” All of God's promises are truth. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “All of God's promises in him are yes and amen.” So become deeply familiar with the truth and promises of God. Know them!

In addition to the truth we find in Scripture we must know the truths of life – natural truths. You might think this is obvious, but a lot of people try to live life in contradiction to natural truth. Here are some examples:

Time moves only forward – so don't dwell on the past

You can't continually spend more money than you take in – so don't act like or wish you could

You can't change other people's minds for them – so just take care of your own attitudes; that's hard enough.

You can't add a day to your life by thinking about it (Matthew 6:27)

So the first principle is Know the Truth – both Scriptural and natural truth.

...to be continued...

Living the Truth - Introduction

This series of articles is taken from lessons I presented at Faith Baptist Church in January, 2012

One of the most important, yet arguably the most difficult habits to develop in life is the ability to live according to the truth. In Philippians 4:8, the Apostle Paul admonishes us to think on the things that are true. In another letter he tells the Corinthian believers, “We cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.” (2 Cor. 13:8) So I take it that the best way to live life is to live it in accordance with the truth. In other words, there are realities of life – both physical and spiritual life that govern how we live. When we live in ways that are conflict with these truths, life will not go as well as when we are living in accordance to the truth. Many times our biggest battles are not out there in the physical world, but are conflicts and frustrations that arise in our minds. These conflicts increase interpersonal tensions, and give rise to worry and frustration.

One of the important principles that the Bible teaches us is that our lives can be transformed and that this transformation takes place by the renewing of our mind. (Romans 12:2) Paul, in his letters talks about being renewed in the spirit of our minds (Eph 4:23) and being renewed in knowledge. (Col. 3:10) Such transformation is something we should all want to see take place in our lives. But this renewal takes place in our minds through the things that we consciously think about. That's why Paul wrote that we should set our minds on and think about those things that are true.

Renewing the mind comes from meditating on God's word which is truth and then outside of Scripture forcing ourselves to operate with the truth of the way life is. We need to avoid living in a false world – a world that doesn't actually exist. We need to avoid relying on principles that are false either according to the Word of God or according to the nature of things.

Most of our problems of discouragement, depression, frustration, worry, anxiety and even many interpersonal relationships are a result of thinking things which are false.

What I plan to do in this article is give you three principles along with a short explanation of each one. Following that overview, I hope to examine a few areas of life in order to show you how to apply these principles. Hopefully the examples will be of help in applying these principles in other areas of life that I may not cover here.

Here are the three principles I want us to look at:

1. Know the truth.
2. Accept the truth – believe, accept and embrace it
3. Act according to the truth – make decisions, adjust your attitude, act the part

...to be continued...

The Romans 52 - Week 5 - Romans 1:21

because, although they knew God,they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21

Hymn of the Week - Only Jesus Can Satisfy

Only Jesus Can Satisfy Your Soul by Lanny Wolfe

The world may try to satisfy
That longing in your soul.
You may search the wide world over
But you'll be just as before.
You'll never find true satisfaction
Until you've found the Lord,
For only Jesus can satisfy your soul.

CHORUS:
Only Jesus can satisfy your soul.
Yes, only He can change your heart
And make you whole.
He'll give you peace you never knew,
Sweet joy and love and Heaven, too.
For only Jesus can satisfy your soul.

If you could have the fame and fortune,
All the wealth you could attain.
Yet, you have not Christ within,
Your living here would be in vain.
There'll come a time when death will find you,
Riches cannot help you then.
So, come to Jesus, only He can satisfy.

CHORUS:
Only Jesus can satisfy your soul:
Yes, only He can change your heart
And make you whole.
He'll give you peace you never knew,
Sweet joy and love and Heaven, too.
Only Jesus can satisfy your soul.
Yes, only Jesus can satisfy your soul.

The Romans 52 - Week 4 - Romans 1:20

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. Romans 1:20

The Romans 52 - Week 3 - Romans 1:18

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. Romans 1:18-19

The Romans 52 - Week 2 - Romans 1:17

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:17

Hymn of the Week - Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Grace Greater Than Our Sin by Julia H. Johnston

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Refrain

Debates between Christians and Atheists

I found an interesting web site that features debates between Christians and atheists. If you are a Christian who is interested in learning about arguments that are effective in presenting the case for Jesus Christ, his death, burial and resurrection as well as the case for the truth and reliability of the Bible, check this out.

http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable Check out the top ten downloads listed at the right side of the home page of the site.

Some particularly interesting debates are:

Is the Bible historically reliable?

William Lane Craig vs Stephen Law-Does God Exist?

William Lane Craig vs Peter Millican - Does God Exist?

I'd like to hear what you think.

The Romans 52 - Week 1 - Romans 1:16

As this new year was getting underway, I was trying to think through a series of verses that we might challenge ourselves to memorize during this year. I wanted it to be relatively simple and yet spiritually helpful. What I came up with is a series of verses chosen primarily from the first eight chapters of the book of Romans. These verses capture the highlights of Paul's argument in his helpful epistle. I'm calling this series, "The Romans 52." Why not plan on joining us as we memorize these key verses.

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

Our Reaction to the Penn State Story - Some Thoughts

Today I want to share some of my thoughts related to the Penn State situation, especially what the virtually universal outrage and condemnation tells us about ourselves. Before I begin, let me say that nothing I say here should be construed to mean that molesting and abusing children is ok. Such behavior is a heinous crime against another human being and a sin against a righteous and holy God. Anyone found guilty of such behavior should rightfully be punished to the full extent that the law allows.

It's interesting to me that the actions alleged to have been committed by Mr. Sandusky have been universally condemned. My question is, "Why?". What does this tell us about ourselves as human beings? We live in an age when almost anything is accepted and tolerated. But why is this action condemned so thoroughly and completely? Is it because of the laws of our country? What if there were no laws against molesting children, would it still be wrong and would the outrage still be there? Would it still be evil? I think most people would say these actions would still be evil even if the law allowed them.

Is this the kind of behavior that is wrong in all time periods or is it just wrong at the time we live? Was it wrong when the Romans practiced this kind of behavior 2000 years ago? Or was it ok then because it was acceptable in their society?

Is this kind of behavior wrong in America but acceptable for other cultures in other places in the world? If the culture of some other country accepts this kind of activity as routine, is it ok with us? Is it still wrong and worthy of our condemnation? I think most of us would say it is still wrong.

If these actions are wrong and we all recognize it, is it because there is a "list" either written within our nature or "out there" somewhere that contains this as well as other activities that are always wrong? How do we find out what else is on that list? By consensus? By majority opinion? I don't think that would be true because most of us would say that abuse of children is wrong no matter how many people or what other cultures may contradict our verdict. So then, how do we know?

I maintain that the only rational basis for being able to say that such behavior is morally wrong in all cultures and at all times is if there is a God or moral authority outside of ourselves who has established the "rights" and "wrongs" of living. I know that even most atheists would condemn child molestation, but I don't understand a rational reason for saying such behavior is wrong if there is no reason for our existence other than the result of random processes over millions of years. Maybe it's in our DNA that molesting children doesn't advance the human race evolutionally. However, I think most of us believe that it is more than just the chemical composition of our DNA that makes us think this behavior is wrong. Most of us think this behavior is absolutely wrong in some moral sense.

I believe that the God who created us in His image has laid down principles and rules of conduct which, if followed, produce the kind of individual and societal life that we all can enjoy and in which all members of society can thrive. I believe that the God who laid down those principles has communicated them to us in two ways. First, he has embedded them generally in our nature. Romans 1:19 and following in the Bible says, "For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made."

The second way God has communicated His principles to us is through His Word, the Bible. I know that seems like an old fashioned and narrow point of view, but that is the claim the Bible makes. For example, God has said, "You shall not steal." I think most of us would agree that if everyone followed that principle, the world would be a better place. God has said, "You shall not lie." If you knew that everything everyone said was the absolute truth and could be trusted, wouldn't that make our lives and relationships better? This same God, all throughout the Bible tells us to love and respect others. He tells us not to treat anyone cruelly, especially the weak and defenseless. He tells us to treat others the way we would want to be treated ourselves. The crimes we're discussing are crimes, not because they are preferences of our, but because they violate the very nature and character of God and the image of God that was created in us. All kinds of things can ultimately be excused at some other place and time or under other circumstances if they are not grounded in the character and revelation of God. If there is no God, there is no ultimate lawgiver and judge and we are free to do whatever our culture allows.

There is another thing each one of us needs to think through very carefully. If crimes such as the abuse of children are wrong ultimately because they violate the unchangeable laws of God, given to us out of love for us for our well-being, what about all of the other things that God has also included in that list? Everyone is condemning these crimes, but what about all of the other things that God condemns? Do we have the same outrage about those? Do we know what they are? Do we care? For some examples of other things that are on God's list see Exodus 20:1-17 and Romans 1:28-32 in the Bible. If you don't have a Bible, just Google those references.

Memorization Monday - Expected Fruit - Joy

2 Corinthians 6:10 "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything." (ESV)

Excerpt from "Our Lord Prays for His Own"

In this excerpt the author is discussing John 17:20 where Jesus prays, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word."

[Notice] the Object on whom they were to believe. "I pray for them . . .which shall believe on me"; He does not say, which shall believe in God, but "on me"; He does not say, which believe the Word of God, but "on me";
He does not say, who believe in their salvation, but "on me."

Here we learn the faith that justifies is faith in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Who is there, except a few professed infidels, who do not tell you they believe in God? -- who, tin this country, but a few professed infidels, do not say they believe in the Word of God? We may quite satisfy ourselves that we believe in God, and in the Word of God; and in our own ultimate salvation; and yet we may not be included in our Lord's prayer, because He does not say, "I pray for them which shall believe" -- in God or in the Word of God, or in their own salvation, but --"on me."

Not that to believe in God, or in the Word of God, and in the fact of our own salvation, is not our privilege and duty. Oh, no! But when we believe in Him, we believe in God in a different sense; we believe in the Word of God as a different thing, and for a different object. We believe in God as loving us when we were sinners, and giving His Son to die; we believe in the Word of God as the truth revealing this fact; we believe in our salvation as the end of our faith; but we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour who took our place, died in our stead, was wounded for our transgressions, whose blood cleanseth from all sin, and who, in resurrection glory, now stands before the throne as our Representative, Himself the object of alljustifying faith. Alas! how may talk of believing in God, and in His Word, who have never believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and have never taken refuge in Him for their salvation.

From Our Lord Prays for His Own, by Marcus Rainsford, Moody Press, 1950, Pages 364-365

Memorization Monday - Expected Fruit - Joy

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice!

Hymn of the Week - For All the Saints

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Apostles’ glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Biblical Manhood - Part 5 - Vocation

As we continue to consider God’s Pattern for Christian Manhood I would like to think through the idea of vocation as a calling rather than merely a job. As we do that it is important to remember that work was given before the fall. In other words, it did not come as a result of sin, even though it may feel that way sometimes. God has always intended that we should have something profitable to do. Genesis 2:5 and 2:15 speak of tilling, tending and keeping before sin entered the world. After the fall, work as toil and sweat would be the norm as we labor to get enough to eat and support ourselves. Also after the fall, things began to decay and wear out. The new car would eventually be on a junk heap. Our new Iphone will eventually be tossed way as hopelessly outdated. The fence in our yard will rust. All of this means there would be continued work to restore, maintain and rebuild.

God is opposed to laziness and sloth. I was interested to see that Psalm 104:23 speaks of man going out to his work for the day when the sun comes up and returning home when the sun is going down. Where were the unions then? And then in Exodus 20:9 God tells the people that they were to do all their work and labor in six days and rest on the seventh. It is a blessing of grace that God commands that we set aside one day a week for rest and worship. But from His point of view He’s thinking that we will be working and laboring the other six. Obviously we have created many tools to make our work easier, but even so, I think most of us will admit that work tends to be a chore, rather than a delight.

Consider these passages from Proverbs

10:4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

12:24 The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

18:9 He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer

20:4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

26:16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.

It seems obvious to me that God is telling us that work is a good thing and we should be engaged in it regularly and faithfully. In addition, we should see our work as for God. In addressing slaves in Ephesians 6:6, Paul writes, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man.” If this was said to slaves, how much more should we as free workers work as pleasing the Lord.

In the Christian world-view, work is a good thing. It is God-ordained for our good and his glory. It is to be looked at as meaningful as we have the opportunity to support our families and maintain a God-honoring testimony out in the world.

What's Wrong?

Almost anyone who has any power of observation at all would have to admit that things in the world don't seem to be going the way we think they should. Whether it's a tsunami in Japan or drug wars in Mexico or people starving in Somalia, or arguments and fights within a family, events seem to fall far short of the ideal that we can imagine. Why do we imagine things such as peace, safety and love? Why does virtually everyone idolize the good, and yet there is so much evil? Sometimes when my wife and I are out for a walk on a beautiful day, we wonder why anyone in any of the homes around us would be fighting or arguing on such a beautiful day. Why can't we all just get along?

One answer is, “That's just the way it is. Get used to it.” I don't know about you, but that answer does not satisfy me. If all of this “bad” stuff is just imbedded in nature, why do we have the idea that there is a “better”?

I think the Bible has the best answer that I've seen anywhere. God says that he originally created the world in a state of goodness and harmony. Into that world came sin in the form of selfish rebellion against the creator. A man, made in the image of God, decided that he had found a better way to achieve happiness rather than the way God had given him. In doing so he brought God's curse on us as a race of people. What's more, he brought a curse upon the creation itself.

Someone may say, “You don't really believe that myth, do you?” I must admit that I do. No other explanation I have found explains why we have a sense of good and justice and order at the time that there is so much evil, injustice and chaos both within the human race and in nature.

The Bible says that man knows that there is a God. The fact that he is eternal in power and that he has all the characteristics of deity is known to all, but we suppress it. (Romans 1:18-20) We suppress it by not glorifying or giving the honor to God that he is due. In addition we are not thankful for what he has given us. Paul the Apostle told the Athenians that God give us life and breath and everything else we have. (Acts 17:25) Our basic error is to think that we can provide everything for ourselves. We don't need God. We can do things our way. That is the attitude that brought us the curse in the first place.

Having been created in the image of God, we have amazing capabilities. Look at all of the inventions we have come up with for making life better and our work easier. We have come to believe that we can solve every problem there is if we just trust in ourselves. That philosophy has been around for a long time. How are we doing so far? Have we solved the problem of war, famine, tsunamis, or the common cold?

God says that our core problem is rebellion against him. We do not want to give him glory. We do not want to worship him as God, we do not want to retain God in our knowledge. (Romans 1:20-32) This passage in Romans tells us that because of our defiance, God gives us up to do the things we want to do. He basically says, “Alright, then, do it your way and see what happens!” The results are disastrous.

The Bible tells us that God is in the process of changing people. Jesus told Nicodemus that in order to see the kingdom of God it was necessary to be born again. Jesus told him that everyone who believes in Jesus, that is those who trust him with their souls, will not perish but will have everlasting life. Those who do not believe are still under the judgment of God. (John 3) Eventually even the curse on creation will be removed. At that point, all wrongs will be righted and perfect justice will prevail.

This is not just a pie-in-the-sky hope. This is what God has promised. Some people suggest that such a hope in a future righting of wrongs keeps us from doing what we should be doing now. That may be the case for some people, but Jesus taught that we should put his principles into action in this world here and now. We should love our wife and family, rather than abuse them or forsake them. We should love our neighbor the same way we love ourselves rather than look for ways to cheat them or to allow them to suffer. He told us be content with what we have rather than being greedy to always have more, spending our life complaining about what we don't have that other people may have. He told us not to proudly flaunt our charity, giving or prayers. It sounds to me like if we would trust Jesus with our eternal destiny and put his teaching into practice in our daily lives, the world would be a better place now while we wait for the final reconciliation of all things.

Biblical Manhood - Part 4

Another important spiritual discipline is prayer. Men are not usually as consistent at this as women, and yet Paul told Timothy that he would have men (as distinct from women) pray. It’s a special challenge to us as men to be the leaders in prayer for our families and churches.

Some may ask why God wants us to pray when he seems to do what he wants anyway. I don't know the answer to that question, but I do know that God wants us to pray. He even asks us to come with confidence. Hebrews 4:16 says “Let us then with confidence draw year to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

The verse right before that tells us that in Jesus we have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses because in every respect he has been tempted as we are tempted, yet without sin. For this reason we would be fools not to go to him, one who understands us and sympathizes with us. He has walked in our shoes and understands what it is to live a human existence.

While I don’t understand all of the ins and outs of how prayer works and why God answers some the way we want and not others, there are several key passages of Scripture that give us a picture of what the conditions are for answered prayer.

Matthew 7:7 Pray persistently

Matthew 18:19 Pray in agreement with others

Matthew 21:22 Pray believing

John 15:7 Pray while abiding in Christ

John 16:24 Pray in Jesus’ Name

I John 5:14, 15 Pray in the will of God.

Biblical Manhood - Part 3

Besides laying aside things which hinder us as we talked about last time, God has given us several spiritual disciplines on which we should focus so that our lives grow and develop into greater Christ-likeness for His glory. Often in my life I have looked for the secret of victory or the three or four steps to greater spirituality. But it always comes down to the same things. There are no secrets here.

The first area of importance in the Christian life is the Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness. If Scripture is profitable for these things then obviously we should be spending time reading and studying it, unless of course we are not interested in being taught or corrected.

Along with the reading and study of Scripture is memorization and meditation. Joshua 1:8 tells us that with constant meditation on the Word of God comes success and prosperity. Now he is not talking about worldly success and financial prosperity. He is speaking of spiritual success and prosperity, the kind that are ultimately more rewarding and satisfying than anything the world can provide. Psalm 1 speaks of the same thing. The man who spends time meditating on Scripture is compared to a tree planted where there is plenty of water. His leaf won’t wither and whatever he does, prospers. This is compared to the ungodly man who is more like chaff that is dry and lifeless and blown away by the wind. Which kind of man do you want to be?

Memorization Monday - Expected Fruit - Joy

John 15:11 [Jesus said], "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

Memorization Monday - Expected Fruit - Faith

Romans 4:20, 21 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

Hymn of the Week - Come We That Love the Lord

Come We That Love the Lord by Isaac Watts

Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
Join in a song with sweet accord
And thus surround the throne,
And thus surround the throne.

Refrain

We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.

The sorrows of the mind
Be banished from the place;
Religion never was designed
Religion never was designed,
To make our pleasures less,
To make our pleasures less.

Refrain

Let those refuse to sing,
Who never knew our God;
But favorites of the heavenly King,
But favorites of the heavenly King
May speak their joys abroad,
May speak their joys abroad.

Refrain

The God that rules on high,
And thunders when He please,
Who rides upon the stormy sky,
Who rides upon the stormy sky,
And manages the seas,
And manages the seas.

Refrain

This awful God is ours,
Our Father and our Love;
He will send down his heav’nly powers,
He will send down his heav’nly powers,
To carry us above,
To carry us above.

Refrain

There we shall see His face,
And never, never sin!
There, from the rivers of His grace,
There, from the rivers of His grace,
Drink endless pleasures in,
Drink endless pleasures in.

Refrain

Yea, and before we rise,
To that immortal state,
The thoughts of such amazing bliss,
The thoughts of such amazing bliss,
Should constant joys create,
Should constant joys create.

Refrain

The men of grace have found,
Glory begun below.
Celestial fruits on earthly ground
Celestial fruits on earthly ground
From faith and hope may grow,
From faith and hope may grow.

Refrain

The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Or walk the golden streets,
Or walk the golden streets.

Refrain

Then let our songs abound,
And every tear be dry;
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
To fairer worlds on high,
To fairer worlds on high.

Refrain

Biblical Manhood - Part 2

As we think about God’s Pattern for Christian Manhood we are thinking through how we can reflect the glory of God. We were made in His image and likeness and are to make Him look good. As Christian men we need to think seriously about this. Paul said that when he became a man he put away childish things (I Corinthians 13:11). We men tend to hang on to our childish ways. I’m sure most of us have seen the bumper sticker that says the only difference between the man and his boys is the price of the toys.

Dr. Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Seminary, has compiled a list of 13 marks that distinguish a boy from a man. I would strongly encourage you to read over that list and evaluate your progress by some of the markers he includes there. http://www.albertmohler.com/2005/04/21/from-boy-to-man-the-marks-of-manhood-part-one/

Another thing the Bible tells us to do is to lay aside every weight and sin that hinders us in our race (Hebrews 12:1) The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 2:4 that a good soldier does not entangle himself with the affairs of everyday life so that he may please him who has called him to be a soldier. The point is that we as Christian men need to avoid those things which entangle us and hinder us from being everything God would have us be for His glory. As you look at your life, try to think through what those things are that might be a hindrance. Once you have identified them, take steps to reduce and eliminate them from your life so that you can run the race God has laid out for you.

Biblical Manhood - Part 1

We were created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). We were made out of mere dirt in a form that would reflect God’s likeness. Think about that! That is why He made us – to show forth His glory. The fall, of course, messed up that likeness. God’s image is still there but there are many blotches on the image and it’s our responsibility to pursue Godliness so that the world will see what He is like.

God also wanted a relationship with us. There had been a loving relationship among the members of the trinity in eternity past and that relationship and fellowship was intended to extend to mankind. After the fall, when God came to walk and talk with Adam as He normally did, Adam hid himself. Sin had put a separation between God and man. (Isaiah 59:2)

Our challenge as men is that in the middle of a world marred by sin and with personalities wounded by sin, we are still to reflect God’s glory and have a relationship with God and with other human beings.

What then does God want from me? In Deuteronomy 6:5 God says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.” Jesus added “and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39. He goes on in Deuteronomy to say that these words are to be in our heart.

Loving God is a command. That means it’s not just an emotional warm feeling. It is something we are to do. It requires action. Loving God involves our whole being. If we are to love God with our heart, that implies the emotional side of our being. Loving with our soul implies the psychological side. Loving God with our strength means there is energy and power behind it. And if we are to love God with our mind, that means our focus and whole rational being is involved. The Scripture adds to the intensity of the command by using the word “all”. We are to love with all of our soul, all of our mind, all of our strength and all of our heart. That’s a tall order and one that should bring with it a great deal of humility as we realize how totally impossible it is to do this perfectly.

When we think about the chief ways to love God, we need to consider these passages: Deuteronomy 5:10; John 14:15; John 14:21 and Luke 6:46. I think if you read these verses carefully you will discover that loving God is closely associated with obedience. We can’t really say we love God and then refuse to do what He asks. So if we are to pursue loving God with our whole being, we are going to have to pursue obedience with our whole being as well.

Jesus said that the second commandment is to love our neighbor as our self. That too is a difficult assignment. Just think about the many ways we show love for ourselves. We make sure we are well fed and generally cared for. We make sure we have enough sleep and enough leisure. Jesus said that we are to look after our neighbor in the same way. Immediately when we hear that we begin to make excuses as to why He can’t really mean that since we do have to take care of our own job and our own home and that leaves very little time to focus on those same areas in the life of our neighbor. As I think about myself, I’m amazed that I have so little concern for those around me. It’s pretty convicting to think about.

If you're looking for some good passages to help you sort through what other basics God requires of you, look at Micah 6:8 and Hebrews 12:1-14. Make a list of the challenges that God gives to us men to help us live lives that are faithful to Him.

Here are some questions you could ask yourself to check on your progress in these important areas:

What steps can I take to increase my love for God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength?

How can I follow the challenge of Deuteronomy 6:8, 9 to keep God’s commandments a focus in my life and home?

How well do I respond to the discipline God brings into my life?

How can I be more obedient in loving others the same way I love myself?

Biblical Manhood - Intro continued

I got to thinking about the fact that God tells us that we were created in His image and likeness. I remembered that Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 11:7. He is talking about head coverings which I don’t want to get into right now, but he says, “For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since (and here is the part I want to focus on) he is the image and glory of God.” Here God is saying that man is the image and glory of God. The word behind image is “icon” and the word behind glory is “doxa”. Most of us know what an icon is. It is a picture or representation of something. We are that image of God. We are the picture and representation of God in the world! We get the word doxology from doxa. A doxology is a word of praise. We are the glory or praise of God!

Most of us don’t feel like we do a very good job of representing God as His image and glory, but the Bible says that that is what we are. How can we improve; make the image clearer? In 2 Corinthians 3:18 Paul writes that we, “with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

In that verse you see the same two words – image and glory. The key to showing that image and glory more clearly is to gaze on the glory of the Lord Jesus in His Word and as we do that more and more the Spirit of the Lord transforms us (the word is metamorphosis) into His image from one stage of glory to another. There are not a lot of secret steps here. It's a matter of spending time reading, thinking about and reflecting on scripture, the Word of God. It's a pretty simple concept really.

Biblical Manhood - Introduction

As a Christian, I look to the Bible to explain to me my purpose in life as a human being, but also to teach me what it means to be a man, a male human being. I believe that there is a God and that he is the only one that has the ability to explain to me why he made me and how he plans that I should honor him the most as a man. So the purpose of these few articles on Biblical Manhood is to explore some of the basics of God's design.

When we read the first few chapters of the book of Genesis we discover something right away. That is that God created us for a purpose and yet Adam’s sin brought a curse upon us that changed everything.

First we learn in Genesis 1:26 that God created us in His image and in 2:7 we learn that we are made of the dust of the ground. First of all that is difficult to comprehend. How can God take the dust of the earth and create something that is in His image and likeness? Being in the image of God implies responsibility and requires obedience in order to display that likeness. After the fall, this became much more difficult and requires more diligence and discipline relying on the Spirit of God within us to provide what is needed to accomplish this.

Second we learn in Genesis 1:26-28 that we have been given dominion and are to subdue the earth. This means we are to have leadership and are accountable to manage what God has given us. The fall of course made this much more difficult since the creation resists our management of it. This shows up in the fact that weeds grow much more easily than the vegetables we’re trying to grow in our garden. It also shows up in the fact that things wear out, break down and in other ways cause us frustration and toil.

Finally, God commanded us to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth. Everything God had made He said was good except He said that it is not good that man should be alone. So we learn that marriage and family are part of God’s plan. In this area also the fall has taken its toll. It’s not easy to maintain the kind of marriage relationships and family relationships required to carry out God’s plan.

So, with these three areas we have the outline of where we are headed with the God’s Pattern for Christian Manhood study. We are going to look at what we must do to glorify God has we show forth His character and likeness. We are going to look at our dominion and leadership in the world which includes our vocation, money management and time management. And finally we are going to look at the need for moral purity and maintaining healthy and godly relationships in marriage and family.

Memorization Monday - Expected Fruit - Faith

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hymn of the Week - All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name! by Edward Perronet

All hail the power of Jesus’ Name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.

Let highborn seraphs tune the lyre, and as they tune it, fall
Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him Lord of all.
Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye morning stars of light, who fixed this floating ball;
Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, and crown Him Lord of all.
Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, and crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God, who from His altar call;
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown Him Lord of all.
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown Him Lord of all.

Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.

Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line, whom David Lord did call,
The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all,
The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget the wormwood and the gall,
Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all.

Let every tribe and every tongue before Him prostrate fall
And shout in universal song the crownèd Lord of all.
And shout in universal song the crownèd Lord of all.

[John Rippon add­ed this verse in 1787]

O that, with yonder sacred throng, we at His feet may fall,
Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all,
Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all!

Excerpt from "Our Lord Prays for His Own"

Now, as our Lord Jesus Christ's motive in the sanctification of Himself was in order that believers might be sanctified, His [purpose] must be accomplished and attained; and therefore, as believers in Him, our sin is entirely put away as if it had never existed-- "Removed as far as the east is from the west" from us (Ps 103:12)in every sense of the word from us; for either our sin was laid upon the Lord Jesus Christ, or it was not. Which is true?
Either the Lord Jesus Christ made His soul an offering for our sin, that He might make an end of sin, or He did not. Which is true?
Either the Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead--God, in this way, publicly acknowledging that His offering was accepted, that justice was satisfied, the sin atoned for, and blotted out in the precious blood of Christ--or it was not so. Which is true? And if the sin was laid on Jesus, it cannot be laid on the believer, who is identified with Him in God's sight; if justice was satisfied by the sacrifice of Christ, justice will never demand the sacrifice of the sinner; if Jesus was raised from the dead because of our justification, who is to condemn us?

Marcus Rainsford "Our Lord Prays for His Own" Page 340

Another Excerpt from "Our Lord Prays for His Own"

In this excerpt, the author is dealing with the topic of sanctification. Sanctification is God's action of setting us apart as holy and dedicated to his special use.

Rainsford writes:
It follows therefore that, according to the purpose and will of Him with whom we have to do, the "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty," we, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, cannot be more sanctified than we are.
Oh! that we might drink into this great fact. The reason is a very simple one, it is because the ground of our sanctification is not anything that we are, anything we have attained unto, or can possibly attain unto even by faith; the entire ground of our sanctification in the sight of God consists in what the Lord Jesus Christ is, and what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us.
Neither can we be more dearly loved; not even in glory shall we be more dear to our heavenly Father than we are now here below, tempest-tossed as we are, and tried and troubled with "fightings without, and fears within."
Neither can we be more "perfect" or "accepted" even in glory; for it is written, "Ye are complete in him which is the head of all principalities and power."
Neither can we be made more [fit] for glory than His grace has already made us; the moment we came as poor sinners to the Lord Jesus Christ and received Him, He "was made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption," in the fullest and in the divinest sense thereof, and in the fullest and divinest measure thereof.

"Our Lord Prays for His Own" by Marcus Rainsford, pp 339-340

Memorization Monday - Expected Fruit - Faith

Acts 27:25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.

Hymn of the Week - Blessed Redeemer

1. Up Calv’ry’s mountain, one dreadful morn,
   Walked Christ my Savior, weary and worn;
   Facing for sinners death on the cross,
   That He might save them from endless loss.
   • Refrain:
     Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer!
     Seems now I see Him on Calvary’s tree;
     Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading,
     Blind and unheeding—dying for me!
2. “Father forgive them!” thus did He pray,
   E’en while His lifeblood flowed fast away;
   Praying for sinners while in such woe—
   No one but Jesus ever loved so.
3. Oh, how I love Him, Savior and Friend,
   How can my praises ever find end!
   Through years unnumbered on heaven’s shore,
   My tongue shall praise Him forevermore.

Why you should be concerned about moralistic therapeutic deism?

What is moralistic therapeutic deism?

Moralistic therapeutic deism is a term coined by Christian Smith in his book, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers. Smith followed up with another book called Souls in Transition, in which he went back and interviewed the same people during their early twenties. I'll provide some links with more details below, but I would like to take a small amount of your time to summarize what I have learned from what Smith and others discovered.

Moralistic therapeutic deism has become the predominate religion among teens and twenty-somethings. By extension we can presume it is the message they are getting from their parents and churches. Let's take each of the three words separately to get a handle on what this means.

Moralistic--We need to learn to be good, nice and polite and not hurt others.

Therapeutic--God wants us to feel good about ourselves and our circumstances. He wants us happy.

Deism--There is a God out there. He doesn't have much to do with me as long as I'm nice and doing good. He pretty much is not involved in day-to-day events in my life or in the world. I don't bother him and he doesn't bother me.

The point I want to make in this short article is to say that the findings are that this belief system is by far the most predominant in our society. There is very little understanding of the Gospel, sin and salvation. Hopefully this can change if those of us who claim to be Faithful Christian Men teach the truth faithfully to our families and in our churches. We need to talk often with our children to see what message they are picking up from us. We might mean well, but they might be hearing something totally different from what we are trying to say by our words and examples.

Here are some resources for understanding this phenomenon better:

http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/09/13/almost-christian-a-conversation-about-adolescents-and-christianity-with-kenda-creasy-dean/

http://theresurgence.com/2010/03/01/what-is-moralistic-therapeutic-deism

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-08-27/living/almost.christian_1_teens-share-moralistic-therapeutic-deism-dean-talks?_s=PM:LIVING

http://www.albertmohler.com/2005/04/11/moralistic-therapeutic-deism-the-new-american-religion-2/

http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/09/07/the-spiritual-state-of-the-emerging-generation-a-conversation-with-christian-smith/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moralistic_therapeutic_deism

Our Lord Sanctified Himself for Us

In John 17 Jesus said that He sanctified Himself for our sakes.

Rainsford in "Our Lord Prays for His Own" puts it this way:

"So here our Lord saith, 'for their sakes,' to supply all their need out of My own fullness, to make My strength perfect in their weakness, to be the fountain-head of their life, to be their light, and their joy, to be 'Made unto them wisdom, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption' (1 Cor 1:30)

"To be a wall of fire round about them, so that no evil may befall them,

to be the glory in the midst of them, so that every blessing may be with them,

that they may be kept from falling, and presented faultless before the presence of My glory with exceeding joy,

that they may lack nothing that is good for time or for eternity, the life or in death,

That they may evermore be filled with all the fullness of God, and kept for Me and the Father forever, 'I sanctify Myself.'"

"For their sakes," and for their sins: we read in Galatians 1:4, He "gave himself for our sins," that we might be forgiven' and not only forgiven, but that we might be "justified from all things"; and not only justified, but that we might be adopted, made sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty; and not only adopted but "sanctified"; not only delivered from destruction, but exalted to holiness; not only saved from hell, but brought to heaven; that His glory might not only be "seen on us," but that it might be "revealed in us."

Excerpt from "Our Lord Prays for His Own"

In John 17:19 Jesus prayed, "I sanctify myself that they also might be sanctified."

Rainsford goes on to point out that:

In all of God's dealings with His people, God generally begins with the Lord Jesus and do unto Him, and with Him, what in His purpose in grace and love He intends to do with us.

"Thus, God in the first instance unites Christ to Himself, and then in Christ unites Himself to His people."

"Christ is 'the first begotten among many brethren,' and then we are begotten in Him;

Christ is the 'most blessed for evermore,' and we 'blessed in Him with all spiritual blessings.'

First, the Father gave to Christ ' to have life in Himself,' and then He gave us life in Him;

Christ is first filled with 'all the fullness' of God, and then we out 'of his fullness have received, and grace for grace';

Christ was first manifested and declared to be the Son of the Father, then we in Him;

Christ crucified for sin, and we 'crucified with Him';

Christ risen, we 'raised up together with him';

Christ more than conqueror, we 'more than conquerors through him';

Christ set down at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, we 'sitting at God's right hand in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus';

the Holy Spirit descending without measure upon Him, so we might, through the anointing of our High Priest, enjoy His power and share His blessing."