Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Feast of Booths


"On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the LORD seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. You shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." ~Leviticus 23:39-43 ESV

The last and most important holiday in the Jewish Calendar is Succoth, or Feast of Booths. It follows Yom Kippur, or The Day of Atonement. During the Feast of Booths native Israelites are commanded to dwell in tents, or booths, for seven days as a reminder of their exodus from Egypt.

Christians have been brought out of Egypt; the Egyptian bondage of sin and death. We now have eternal life in Jesus Christ who redeemed us from our bondage. It is Christ's finished work on the cross, His atonement, His Yom Kippur, that frees us from this curse that we bear. Like the Feast of Booths we can celebrate in the complete forgiveness of our sin by our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Treasure in a Field


"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." Matthew 13:44 (ESV)

There are at least two ways to look at this parable: through the lens of the law, or through the lens of the gospel. No doubt, I have heard it explained more often through the lens of the law.

The Law: We are the man, and we have to at least be willing to sell everything to gain the great treasure, which is the kingdom of heaven hidden in a field. If you don't actually sell everything, you have to at least be willing to sell everything to gain the treasure.

The Gospel: The man is Jesus. He is the only person who has ever, throughout history, given up everything to redeem us. Jesus is the only one who buys the whole field, the world, in order to gain the treasure, which is us.

Anytime you hear "do", it is the law accusing us. In the first interpretation, the focus is on us. Do any of us give up everything to gain heaven? That interpretation accuses us of not selling everything.

Whenever you hear "Jesus did it", it is the gospel. We are passive in action; Jesus is the one doing. In the Gospel interpretation, Jesus joyfully buys the world in order to gain His treasure.

Know you are loved and hear the grace of the gospel!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Idolatry



It is the believer that is in the know who reads the latest books by reformed authors, so goes the thinking among many Calvinists and Sovereign Gracers. You must read the proper authors, the best books, listen to other Calvinist or Sovereign Grace teachers only. And then only those that have the highest ranking.

Tulip-believing folks will often spout names such as Sproul, Edwards, Spurgeon, White, and the unforgettable Puritans. These are the names that impress; similar to shopaholics preferring high end labels on their clothing tags. While this list is certainly a list of Christians, it is also a form of idolatry. "I am reading the latest book by (insert name of approved author)." That is to be properly followed by comments of approval from others.

God will tear down idols.

When I realized that my precious reformed systematic theology was an idol, I felt like the rug had been pulled out from beneath me. I was lost. "Where do I turn for guidance?" was my concern. I experienced this sense of loss and grieving for quite awhile. It was disheartening. I wanted to return to my beloved systematic, yet I knew God is a jealous God and would not allow me to return.

I turned to God and Scripture. That is where my heart lies. My goal now is to have faith in the promises of God.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Did God Really Say............


But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Peter 2:1 NIV


After watching many discussions on this controversial verse, God has revealed to me that some interpretations deny exactly what scripture says. One group of people that often changes scripture's meaning is the Calvinists. Let me show you how it is accomplished with this passage.

Someone will ask about 2 Peter 2:1, and wonder if the Lord bought these false teachers, then it means Christ's atonement is for the whole world? A Calvinist will immediately reply, "No! We must look to see who Peter was writing to!" And when we do that, we see that this epistle is addressed generally, to those who have received faith; and to God's elect.

When we turn to 2 Peter 1 and see that this epistle is generally addressed to "those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:" Even all the way back in 1 Peter 1, this epistle is addressed to many: "To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,"

Despite the general salutation in both 1 and 2 Peter, Calvinists will force their theology onto 2 Peter 2:1 and say that it refers to the Jews being brought out from Egypt; and that "bought" should read "brought". What?! By doing this, they are doing the same thing that the serpent did in Eden by asking, "Did God really say....?"

When one depersonalizes Scripture in this manner, it can mean that nothing applies to us. Or does it mean some of it applies to us, but not other parts? If the epistles of Peter are not for us today, then we should rip them out of our bibles.

We are to allow Scripture to wash over our minds and hearts, not keep it at arm's length by contextualizing our way away from it. When reading scripture, if it says "you" it means the reader or hearer. Do not deny that it is speaking to you.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Boxing Day


Boxing Day is a holiday in many countries that have been influenced by England. It is the day after Christmas, where one boxes up their leftovers to take to the poor. Rather than discussing the British Realm's holidays, this brief article is about another kind of boxing. There are theologies that box God in and put a ribbon on that box. That boxing comes in the form of redefining words of scripture. It often sounds to my ears like a boxing match that fights with scripture.

All systematic theologies aim for one thing: to understand God in a logical fashion. While that goal is noble, we should hold our theologies with an open hand willing to let God blow away the chaff in those theologies. God has revealed to us that the way he thinks and acts is higher than our understanding.

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your waysand my thoughts than your thoughts. ~ESV

Total depravity teaches that all aspects of humanity has been affected by the fall, including our own thinking. That means that our prized theologies may be incorrect, even when systematized by the bright lights of church history. With total depravity in mind, we must hold our theology lightly and be willing to be corrected.

If a change of word definitions in scripture is required to make verses "fit" the preferred theology, beware. Most often, the plain reading is preferred. "You" means the reader; "all" means all; "is" means is. Yes, context qualifies words; but not to the extent it changes the whole of scripture.

Our goal as believers is to have faith. Faith is a gift as scripture tells us. Jesus wants to find faith on the earth when He returns. Jesus also chastised the apostles for having little faith. How do those work out logically, I'm not sure. What I do know is that I can pray for more faith and that Father always gives His children good gifts.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy



Reformed theology teaches that we must observe the Sabbath. For some elaborate reason this commandment is singled out and believed that we can do no works on one day a week. There is no guarantee, though, that the things consumed on Sundays were not manufactured on another Sunday. Perhaps the processed food eaten during the week was worked on Sunday; what about the electricity used throughout one's house, that too could have been manufactured on the Sabbath. How about the paper plates you are using on the Sabbath (so the wife won't have to work by doing dishes, just throw them away), were they made on a non-Sabbath day? Who knows? The list of possibilities of the ways we might break Sabbath could be quite long, as you can see from the examples I have given.

From the Westminster Confession, Chapter 21, we read:

VIII. This Sabbath is to be kept holy unto the Lord when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts about their wordly employments and recreations, but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of His worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.


Matthew 12 tells us that Jesus worked on the Sabbath and upset the Pharisees. On the Sabbath Jesus and his disciples gathered grain to eat.

From Matthew 12, we read:
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath." He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath." ~ESV


Jesus also healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath. Again, Matthew 12 describes what happened:

He went on from there and entered their synagogue. And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"— so that they might accuse him. He said to them, "Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. ~ESV


Are we better than our Lord in keeping the Sabbath? No! It is not humanly possible to keep this commandment. No need to fool ourselves. Be honest with Father.

I know that I should listen to His word, hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Goaded by God


My parents raised me in a Presbyterian Church. I loved being in church from a young age. I recall people in pews ahead of us turning to see that it was my mother attached to the lovely voice they heard singing hymns. There was a time that I wandered away from my mom into the sanctuary. It was a joy to be in that room alone. I recall when I was taught the doctrine of the Trinity. I puzzled and puzzled and tried to understand it. Walking down the breeze way with my Sunday School teacher, I asked her to explain it to me. Her response to me was very wise, "You don't need to understand it, you need to believe it." That brought me great peace as a youngster.

As an adult, I am still asking questions to understand God better. As a result of those questions this last year many of my beliefs have changed. I am starting this new series and labeling it "What I Believe". It won't be in any particular order; but I will attempt to lay out my beliefs.

Am I still a Calvinist? You will have to read the series to find out.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Jesus Died For Me


How does a person know that Jesus died for them? The answer is because scripture says so. Our salvation is assured on the works of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
God says when we trust in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, we are forgiven and saved.

John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

The world includes me; it also includes you.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The Joy of Jesus Alone


Today was a red letter day for me: I realized that the systematic theology that I thought was the key to scripture is gone. The joy and freedom that I feel is indescribable. To be stripped of idols is a heart wrenching process that results in the greatest joy of Jesus alone!

To know the Holy Trinity's overflowing love for me is uncontainable, none one can stop it; it flows to all of humanity. We see it in Jesus when on the cross he asks for forgiveness for "them". That forgiveness has been purchased; receive it and praise Him.

Cling closely to scripture. It reveals the Lord that purchased you and me, dear Reader.

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
~ Psalm 5

Friday, September 11, 2009

Grace



The term "grace" is used often by Christians. When asked to define grace, the hemming and hawing often begins. Let's look at the different definitions that are given to the biblical idea of grace.

A Roman Catholic will say grace is infused through the sacraments ex opere operato, which means "from the work done." The work that was done was Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Roman Catholics believe the efficacy of God's grace is to be found in the sacraments. The sacraments are infused with God's grace, so upon receiving of the sacraments one has received God's Grace. Grace becomes an enabling force to live a more holy life.

A Wesleyan, or Arminian, believes grace is an innate object, a mysterious operating mechanism that provides power to choose salvation. This power is given without the preached Gospel, and without the sacraments. This infused grace is given by God to all people. Grace allows one to overcome sin.

A Calvinist believes grace is received upon the preached Word, without the Sacraments. This definition allows one to choose God. It is the I in the acronym TULIP. This is a secret working of the Holy Spirit. Grace gives power to have victory over sin.

All three of these views make man the one who chooses faith. All three of these see sin as a problem to be overcome by infusion of grace. In other words, to overcome sin, we need God's grace. Then faith becomes predominantly about our own moral improvement; and forgiveness of sin is tangential. Inward gazing becomes the focus of faith, and the rule by which to judge one another.

Grace is God's attitude toward us: God loving us while we were his enemy; dying for us on the cross.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Faith and Unfaith



As I was watching the film, The Gospel of John, I began to consider the lives of the apostles and how sanctification worked with them. I do not see in the gospel accounts where they were striving toward perfection; rather I see them striving toward faith or belief. They do not talk about becoming more holy, rather they are focused on Jesus. We can rest in the sanctification God will accomplish in us; and need not fret over our successes and failures.

Often from my own mind and mouth come thoughts and words of unfaith, or unbelief. Also from the mouths of believers around me. Dear Reader, beware of words of others that preach unbelief.

Examples of unbelief:

Gifts of the Spirit have ceased for today. Read 1 Corinthian 12; ponder your own salvation (which is a gift of the Spirit).

God does not love His creation. Read John 3:16-21 and remind yourself who God loves.

Christ's atonement for sin is only for some people; not all. Read John 1:28-30.

That we do, at times, speak unfaith to one another. Read Matthew 16:23.

We have many baptisms. Read Ephesians 4:4-6.

If you can think of other examples of unbelief within the Church, please list them in comments. I am sure there are many other examples that you have encountered in your own life.

Dear Reader, you must wrestle with what Scripture says and your own unbelief. We do have help, cry out for that help.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Sons of Bankers, Sons of Lawyers

And a daughter of a fireman.

People say that how you view your father when you are a child is a significant thing. It affects your view of God. If your father is kind, you view God as kind; if your father is vindictive, you view God that way. Whether that is true for every person in every situation, I highly doubt.

It takes a certain kind of personality to be a firefighter. People who are slow to decide; selfish to their own physical needs; do not consider others as important; need not apply for the job. My earthly father is one who is quick to help others; will put himself in harm's way without thinking twice about it; loves others by his actions.

I see God as loving by actively participating in the lives of His creatures; selflessly, willing to help, desiring the best. We see this in Jesus on the cross; being killed by sinful human beings. He prays for those sinners, asking Father for forgiveness for them.

Father, thank you for your image-bearers who remind me of You.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Sanctification and Sanctify


Sanctification

Romans 6:19
I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

Romans 6:22
But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

1 Corinthians 1:30
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,

1 Thessalonians 4:1
Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.

1 Thessalonians 4:3
For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;

1 Thessalonians 4:4
that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.

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

Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

Sanctify


John 17:17
"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

John 17:19
"For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

Ephesians 5:25-27
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 9:12-14
and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 13:12
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

1 Peter 1:1-2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

1 Peter 3:14-16
But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

How High is Your Ecclesiology?



Holding a high ecclesiology will eventually crumble into a high view of the law. Churches often argue for their own survival. The pull of culture drags them down into the world; taking the eyes of the congregants off of our object of worship, Jesus. The church, to survive against the world, must exhibit grace without strings, without conditions, from the pulpit of weakness.

In the pulpit of weakness stands a proclaimer of the good news of reconciliation with Jesus Christ. Often this proclaimer stands against the politics of the human organization of churches. These pastors are at the mercy of the powerful; the church machines that control and run roughshod over the sheep.

Beware of the high church views, disenchantment may snare you and plummet you into atheism. Holding ecclesiology lightly, even suspicously, is the answer to the church behaving badly. Do not make the mistake of underestimating the affects of total depravity. God's grace through Jesus Christ is our only Hope.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Theotokos


Mary is the Theotokos, the God-bearer. That term often brings up fear and knee-jerk reactions out of Protestants. The fear is borne of the thought that if we call Mary the Theotokos, it links Protestants to the apostate Roman Catholic Church. We need not fear that link when we call Mary the Theotokos. Affirming Mary as Theotokos does not equate to idolatry. To deny Mary as the Theotokos is an attack on the incarnation of Christ.

Jesus is fully God, fully man. Christ's two natures are united and inseparable. Therefore, Mary is the God-bearer.

The other aspect of Nestorian thinking is that only Christ's humanity died on the cross. Most Protestants today are Nestorian in their theology of Christ on the cross. Even very traditional, orthodox Calvinists are Nestorians. They do a bit of a jig to deny this, yet in reality the teaching is Nestorian. The teaching is that Jesus' perfect humanity died on the cross; not his divine nature. So the separation is made.

What is Nestorianism? In my own words, it is the separating of Christ's humanity from His divinity. As is usual in church history, it takes a heretic to come along for the church to codify orthodoxy. Nestorius was that heretic. He was a bishop in Constantinople, and he preached against Mary as Theotokos. As a result of this conflict, the church is left with the Chalcedon Creed.

Are Nestorians Christians? Yes, I believe so. We are saved by Jesus; not by correct doctrine. Dear Reader, this brief post is to encourage you to consider this topic further.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Promises in Baptism



Baptism contains many promises that God gives to his adopted children. Meditating on those promises while thinking about baptism is an encouraging activity. It chases out doubt and the propensity I have to look into myself for my faith. But my faith rests in Jesus, not in my own faith or seeming lack thereof. Dear Reader, let's look at baptism promises and be reminded of the goodness of God.

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:15-16


The passage from Mark 16 above tells us that baptism marks our salvation. Do you believe, and were you baptized, Dear Reader? I answer a happy "yes" to that question.

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:38-39


Repentance and baptism are both works of God. All we can do is receive both from God. Jesus picks up his lambs and places them upon his shoulders, turns them around, and carries them home; likewise, in baptism, we receive the water and are subject to it. In baptism and repentance we have forgiveness of sins. Another happy affirmation and reason to look to our baptism!


Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Romans 6:3-8


Dear Reader, in Romans 6 we see another promise associated with our baptism! We will be resurrected with Jesus and we will be freed from sin! O happy day to come! What cause for joyful expectation of our future!

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11


Relax, Dear Reader, look at all that is accomplished by our washing. We are the recipients of the good gifts found in baptism. We are sanctified, and justified by the work of the Holy Spirit, applying what our Lord Jesus accomplished on the cross, by the direction of God, our Father.

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7


Look, Dear Reader, at Who is given to us upon our baptism. It is the person of the Holy Spirit. Praise Him!

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26-28


We are children of God. He has become our Abba Father! We are adopted into God's family at our baptism.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27


Through baptism we are washed clean, made to be the perfect Church, without blemish. What a promise!

Dear Reader, I encourage you to look at other verses and add to my cursory list of the promises we have in baptism. God is faithful in His word.

If you have not been baptized, Christian, here is the last verse I will post for your benefit:

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name. Acts 22:16

Saturday, June 27, 2009

A Thought on Baptism



Concerning Baptism, our churches teach that Baptism is necessary for salvation and that God's grace is offered through Baptism. They teach that children are to be baptized. Being offered to God, through Baptism they are received into God's grace. Our churches condemn the Anabaptists, who reject the Baptism of children, and say that children are saved without Baptism.
(Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, AC Article IX.)

I. Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church; but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in the newness of life. Which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in His Church until the end of the world.

IV. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ,but also the infants of one, or both, believing parents, are to be baptized.

VI. The efficacy of Baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongs unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in His appointed time.
(From the Westminster Confession, Of Baptism, Chapter 28)

The Church, Christ's bride, has long held that there is an efficacy to baptism. Exactly what happens varies from denomination to denomination. Both Lutherans and Presbyterians believe that baptism is a means of grace.

I found a list of churches that say nothing happens in baptism in a book. The list of symbolic baptism denominations included Baptists, Seventh Day Adventists, Pentecostals, Quakers, Salvation Army, United Church of Christ, Mormons, and Jehovah Witnesses. I am happy to not be associated with that list. I love my baptistic-type brethren, but feel they miss out on the joy of this holy sacrament.

The verses I posted confirm that as well. It is a wonderful sacrament to look to, to know that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Praise Him!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Baptism



Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:15-16

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit John 3:5-6

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:38-39

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name. Acts 22:16

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Romans 6:3-8

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26-28

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27

In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:11-12

he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7

let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

In it [Noah's ark] only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 3:20-21

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Monday, June 8, 2009

Seeing Red


Some time over the weekend was spent watching "The Adventures of Robin Hood" with my family. It stars Errol Flynn as Robin Hood, Olivia DeHaviland as Maid Marion, Basil Rathbone as Guy of Gisbourne , and Claude Rains as Prince John. The cast is full of other famous actors and actresses as well. I highly recommend the film to you, dear Reader.

It is a film full of sensory overload. The musical score was a delight to my ears; harp, violins, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and I think a xylophone. The Technicolor is amazingly beyond reality. The colors are so saturated they are a treat to my eye. It is difficult not to be taken aback by the sights and sounds, particularly in our modern age where most things are done electronically.

Watching the red contrasted to the greens and blues, my mind turned to consider Jesus' blood. As rich as the red of the evil Guy of Gisbourne's cape, my Jesus' red blood was richer yet. Guy of Gisbourne's red cape, covered his grey chainmaille; similarly, Jesus' blood covers my dark sin. In Jesus' blood is eternal life; in the death of my savior is my life.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Paltalk Personalities




Paltalk is a chat program that has a voice feature. You can discuss many things freely because of the microphones and speakers of participants. A chat program that does not have a speaking feature often limits the participation, sometimes to soundbyte discussions. I frequent Paltalk under an anonymous name because it is not the safest site on the internet.

There seems to be a growing vehemence on Paltalk; or else it is just becoming clearer to me. I call this pugilistic group "The Anti-Calvinist Club". There are barrages from the ditch of non-Calvinists which causes the Calvinists to huddle in their own ditch. To find "the golden middle" on Paltalk is very rare.

The President of The Anti-Calvinist Club reminds me of the Peanuts character, PigPen. The President runs on emotions that swirl constantly around her feet. That swirl sucks in others, like a tornado sucking roofs off of houses; out of that swirl stones are thrown. Friends hurl rocks and boulders at one another. The tenseness of rooms intensifies once The President arrives on the scene and her devoted followers follow her from place to place. The President causes division of friends; maiming the whole body of Christ.

Jesus, heal your church.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Just Keep Swimming




Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

Hebrews 12:2

Monday, April 27, 2009

Sound Familiar?

Any of you, dear readers, who have done any kind of apologetics should get a laugh out of this video. Enjoy!

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Bart Ehrman
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full EpisodesPolitical HumorGay Marriage Commercial

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Party Time



On April 12, 2009 Christians all around the world will be celebrating Easter. Together, as Christ's beloved bride, we will look to His victory procured for our sake. We are purchased at a great price. That cost bought us Christ's righteousness, we are robed in His righteousness, it is what God sees when He looks at us. We have great reasons to rejoice on April 12. Do so with joy!

Further reading on the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

The Early Creeds


How many times, dear Reader, have you run into Latter Day Saints, or Jehovah's Witnesses, who tell you they are Christians? Do you have the wherewithal to challenge their statements of belonging to Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity? Does your church recite any of the creeds?

Defining a Christian as someone who follows Christ, is not how a Christian has been historically defined. There are many cults, unbelievers, even Buddhists who will tell you they follow Christ. What they mean, of course, is they like their own personal view of Jesus. It does not necessarily mean they have ever darkened the door of a church; nor opened a bible to read it honestly.

The creeds are a source for understanding how to define "Christian". The creeds address such things as the Who is Jesus; the Trinity; the two natures of Christ. All of these things cults do not affirm.

As an American living in a post-Christian culture, it is important that Christians learn about our creeds again. We do ourselves a great disservice by ignoring the works of the saints that have gone before us. At one time, it was common knowledge as parishioners of all faiths were catechized. If your church does not catechize, suggest one; if one still does not happen find a catechism class to join just for your own edification. You don't have to leave your church, just study with someone who is willing and learned, and a good teacher of church history.

Dear Reader, I encourage you to read the early creeds, so that you also may defend your faith.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

The Necessity of Apologetics


"The church doesn't need apologists," is a statement I hear on occasion. It is often followed with statements such as, "Christians only need to be aware of the Truth in order to defend it." It is a strange hermeneutic. Reformed tradition uses a historic hermeneutic: First, foremost, and final say is Holy Scripture; second is philosophy, as we have been given a mind we are to use it; third, scientific reason, as limited as it is; lastly, experience.

January 31, 2009 we attended an event at Westminster Presbyterian Church in San Jose, California. While this congregation struggles to teach its members the historic hermeneutic, they called in Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon to fly in from Philadelphia to speak for a little over one hour. The Saturday previous Pam Byers from Old First Presbyterian Church in San Francisco was a speaker at Westminster Presbyterian church. I was not in attendance to hear Ms. Byers' arguments.

Dr. Gagnon has done his homework on the issue of homosexuality and the Holy Scriptures. In his limited time at Westminster, he presented a very Biblical view. In his presentation, he used sources from outside Scripture. Even the self-labeled homosexual experts agreed with the Biblical assessment of homosexuality presented by Dr. Gagnon. Included in his evidence were also original source writings from ancient Greek and Roman writers and philosophers that do away with those who have not yet caught up with academia in their stance on this topic within the PC(USA).

I witnessed a proper use of Biblical knowledge and study; philisophical sources; scientific; and experience. It was all packaged in a truncated version of Dr. Gagnon's four hour presentation. Apologists and apologetics are needed within the body of Christ; they help us identify the antiChrists amongst us.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Freedom!



For Freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. ~ Galatians 5

The yoke of slavery is The Law. Christians are no longer under that yoke. We have been set free in Christ. All of our sins, past, present, and future, have been forgiven. Do we really believe that?

Many are quick to quote the law to us, when we admit to our falling into sin; they then become an accuser of the brethren, and judaizers. They have just perverted the Gospel.

Receive the forgiveness already paid for you by our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He loves you.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ ~ Ephesians 1