There is a very good call to read Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. I recall that the years of my own recent epoch of faith(<10 years ago) began when three of us read and studied this book together as the first reading in our Thursday reading group.
MARCH 1, 2018
How to think like John Bunyan
by Austin Duncan
AMENDMENT II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
If the people have a right to bear arms can we keep a Canon? Probabally even the NRA does advocate that.
Ok, bad analogy I know but with all the talk about gun control I thought it was a good play on words.
All kidding aside, our right is actually assured by the First Amendment.
AMENDMENT I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
I’ve spent the last 45 or so years attending mostly Congregational or Presbyterian Churches, which if they are true to their Statements of Faith would be fully affirmng the Westminster Standards. Over the last 7-8 years I’ve had the opportunity to faithfully teach our Sunday School Class and a small group from the original version of the Confession and Catechism. There is no finer document to help teach all of the Biblical Doctrines found in the Bible.
But a couple years ago my friends Art and Lori, shared with me some of the joy they found in their new church which was both sound Biblically but also of the traditional Reformed denomination. I continue to teach at our local church but have a few times enjoyed fellowship with their church and have gotten to know the pastor a little bit.
I never spent time looking at their statements, so I thought I should check them out. The Canons of Dort is one of the three core ones. I didn’t realize it was so simple and straightforward. Worthly of a slow reading....
BTW Listening to 2 of Pastor Ganger’s older sermons precipitated me down this path.
John 6:41-71 - Atonement - 2/28/10 PM
Luke 8:4-15 - Gospel Preaching - 4/11/10 PM
Note: These are WMA files so if you try to play them like I do on the iPad or iPhone you will need an app like OPlayer since IOS doesn’t handle that format automatically.
They of course play fine on a PC and I think MAC’s are smart enough to translate.
Some of my reading on the Internet is revealing that Calvinism, is once again coming under attack, both in it’s neo-Calvinism and hyper-Calvinism false forms this might be justified but in it’s true Reformed form there is much to be read and learned.
BTW: For a good old reading on Calvin, open Volume 2 of J.A. Wylie’s History of Protestantism. There is an earlier reflection on Calvin in Chapter 4 beginning on page 236, but the real story begins with Chapter 6. In my small group Thursday readings, we are working our way through the whole of Wylie’s work and are currentlly in this era.
BTW2: There’s nothing new about the attacks on Calvin that we see from various sides today, as you can see from this Wylie quote:
It was at Poictiers that the evangelisation of France began in a systematic way. The school which Calvin here gathered round him comprehended persons in all conditions of life — canons, lawyers, professors, counts, and tradesmen. They discoursed about Divine mysteries as they walked together on the banks of the neighboring torrent, the Clain, or as they assembled in the garden of the Basses Treilles, where, like the ancient Platonists, they often held their re-unions. There, as the Papists have said, were the first beginnings in France of Protestant conventicles and councils. “As it was in a garden,” said the Roman Catholics of Poictiers, “that our first parents were seduced, so are these men being enchanted by Calvin in the garden of the Basses Treilles.”
Certainly a lightening rod then as today.
You can decide if you agree or are not convinced.
The Canons of Dort are likewise confined to five points or ’Heads of Doctrine,’ and exhibit what is technically called the Calvinistic system—first positively, then negatively, in the rejection of the Arminian errors. [See Note #992] Each Head of Doctrine (subdivided into Articles) is subscribed by the Dutch and foreign delegates.
Of Divine Predestination. —Since all men sinned in Adam and lie under the curse [according to the Augustinian system held by all the Reformers], God would have done no injustice if he had left them to their merited punishment; but in his infinite mercy he provided a salvation through the gospel of Christ, that those who believe in him may not perish, but have eternal life. That some receive the gift of faith from God and others not, proceeds from God’s eternal decree of election and reprobation.
Election is the unchangeable purpose of God whereby, before the foundation of the world, he has, out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen from the whole human race, which has fallen through their own fault from their primitive state of rectitude into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of salvation. These elect, though neither better nor more deserving than others, God has decreed to give to Christ to be saved by him, and bestow upon them true faith, conversion, justification and sanctification, perseverance to the end, and final glory (Eph 1:4-6; Rom 8:30).
Election is absolute and unconditional. It is not founded upon foreseen faith and holiness, as the prerequisite condition on which it depended; on the contrary, it is the fountain of faith, holiness, and eternal life itself. God has chosen us, not because we are holy, but to the end that we should be holy (Eph 1:4; Rom 9:11-13; Act 13:38). As God is unchangeable, so his election is unchangeable, and the elect can neither be cast away nor their number be diminished. The sense and certainty of election is a constant stimulus to humility and gratitude.
The non-elect are simply left to the just condemnation of their own sins. This is the decree of reprobation, which by no means makes God the author of sin (the very thought of which is blasphemy), but declares him to be an awful, irreprehensible, and righteous judge and avenger (Cat. Ch. 1. Art. 15).
Of the Death of Christ. [Limited Atonement.] —According to the sovereign counsel of God, the saving efficacy of the atoning death of Christ extends to all the elect [and to them only], so as to bring them infallibly to salvation. But, intrinsically, the sacrifice and satisfaction of Christ is of infinite worth and value, abundantly sufficient to expiate the sins of the whole world. This death derives its infinite value and dignity from these considerations; because the person who submitted to it was not only really man and perfectly holy, but also the only-begotten Son of God, of the same eternal and infinite essence with the Father and Holy Spirit, which qualifications were necessary to constitute him a Saviour for us; and because it was attended with a sense of the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin.
Moreover the promise of the gospel is, that whosoever believeth in Christ crucified shall not perish, but have everlasting life. This promise, together with the command to repent and believe, ought to be declared and published to all nations, and to all persons promiscuously and without distinction, to whom God out of his good pleasure sends the gospel.
And, whereas many who are called by the gospel do not repent nor believe in Christ, but perish in unbelief; this is not owing to any defect or insufficiency in the sacrifice offered by Christ upon the cross, but is wholly to be imputed to themselves. [See Note #993]
Of the Corruption of Man, his Conversion to God, and the Manner thereof. —Man was originally formed after the image of God. His understanding was adorned with a true and saving knowledge of his Creator, and of spiritual things; his heart and will were upright, all his affections pure, and the whole Man was holy; but revolting from God by the instigation of the devil, and abusing the freedom of his own will, he forfeited these excellent gifts, and on the contrary entailed on himself blindness of mind, horrible darkness, vanity, and perverseness of judgment; became wicked, rebellious, and obdurate in heart and will, and impure in [all] his affections.
Man after the fall begat children in his own likeness. A corrupt stock produced a corrupt offspring. Hence all the posterity of Adam, Christ only excepted, have derived corruption from their original parent, not by imitation, as the Pelagians of old asserted, but by the propagation of a vicious nature in consequence of a just judgment of God.
Therefore all men are conceived in sin, and are by nature children of wrath, incapable of any saving good, prone to evil, dead in sin, and in bondage thereto; and, without the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit, they are neither able nor willing to return to God, to reform the depravity of their nature, nor to dispose themselves to reformation.
What, therefore, neither the light of nature nor the law could do, that God performs by the operation of his Holy Spirit through the word or ministry of reconciliation: which is the glad tidings concerning the Messiah, by means whereof it hath pleased God to save such as believe, as well under the Old as under the New Testament.
As many as are called by the gospel are unfeignedly called; for God hath most earnestly and truly declared in his Word what will be acceptable to him, namely, that all who are called should comply with the invitation. He, moreover, seriously promises eternal life and rest to as many as shall come to him, and believe on him.
It is not the fault of the gospel, nor of Christ offered therein, nor of God, who calls men by the gospel, and confers upon them various gifts, that those who are called by the ministry of the Word refuse to come and be converted. The fault lies in themselves.
But that others who are called by the gospel obey the call must be wholly ascribed to God, who, as he hath chosen his own from eternity in Christ, so he calls them effectually in time, confers upon them faith and repentance, rescues them from the power of darkness, and translates them into the kingdom of his own Son, that they may show forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvelous light; and may glory not in themselves but in the Lord, according to the testimony of the Apostles in various places.
Faith is therefore the gift of God, not on account of its being offered by God to man, to be accepted or rejected at his pleasure, but because it is in reality conferred, breathed, and infused into him; nor even because God bestows the power or ability to believe, and then expects that man should, by the exercise of his own free will, consent to the terms of salvation, and actually believe in Christ; but because he who works in man both to will and to do, and indeed all things in all, produces both the will to believe and the act of believing also.
Of the Perseverance of the Saints. —Whom God calls, according to his purpose, to the communion of his Son our Lord Jesus Christ, and regenerates by the Holy Spirit, he delivers also from the dominion and slavery of sin in this life; though not altogether from the body of sin and from the infirmities of the flesh, so long as they continue in this world.
By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace if left to their own strength. But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms and powerfully preserves them therein, even to the end.
Of this preservation of the elect to salvation, and of their perseverance in the faith, true believers for themselves may and do obtain assurance according to the measure of their faith, whereby they arrive at the certain persuasion that they ever will continue true and living members of the Church; and that they experience forgiveness of sins, and will at last inherit eternal life.
This certainty of perseverance, however, is so far from exciting in believers a spirit of pride, or of rendering them carnally secure, that, on the contrary, it is the real source of humility, filial reverence, true piety, patience in every tribulation, fervent prayers, constancy in suffering and in confessing the truth, and of solid rejoicing in God; so that the consideration of this benefit should serve as an incentive to the serious and constant practice of gratitude and good works, as appears from the testimonies of Scripture and the examples of the saints.
In opposition to the Canons of Dort, Episcopius prepared a lengthy defense of the Arminian Articles and a confession of faith in Dutch, 1621, and in Latin, 1622. It claims no binding symbolical authority, and advocates liberty and toleration. [See Note #994]
Note #992
The term ’rejectio errorum, ’ instead of the condemnation and anathemas of the Greek and Roman Churches in dealing with heresies, indicates that Protestant orthodoxy is more liberal and charitable than the Catholic.
Note #993
The advocates of a limited atonement reason from the effect to the cause, and make the divine intention co-extensive with the actual application; but they can give no satisfactory explanation of such passages as Joh 3:16(’God so loved the world ,’ which never means the elect only, but all mankind); 1Jn 2:2(’Christ is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world ’); 1Ti 2:4; 2Pe 3:9. All admit, however, with the Articles of Dort, that the intrinsic value of the atonement, being the act of the God-man, is infinite and sufficient to cover the sins of all men. Dr. W. Cunningham says: ’The value or worth of Christ’s sacrifice of himself depends upon, and is measured by, the dignity of his person, and is therefore infinite. Though many fewer of the human race had been to be pardoned and saved, an atonement of infinite value would have been necessary, in order to procure for them these blessings; and though many more, yea, all men, had been to be pardoned and saved, the death of Christ, being an atonement of infinite value, would have been amply sufficient, as the ground or basis of their forgiveness or salvation’ (Historical Theol. Vol. II. p. 331). Similarly, Dr. Hodge, Vol. II. pp. 544 sqq. After such admissions the difference of the two theories is of little practical account. Full logical consistency would require us to measure the value of Christ’s atonement by the extent of its actual benefit or availability, and either to expand or to contract it according to the number of the elect; but such an opinion is derogatory to the dignity of Christ, and is held by very few extreme Calvinists of little or no influence. Cunningham says (p. 331): ’There is no doubt that all the most eminent Calvinistic divines hold the infinite worth or value of Christ’s atonement—its full sufficiency for expiating all the sins of all men.’
Note #994
A German translation in Böckel’s Bekenntniss-Schriften, pp. 545–640.
Source: Philip Schaff's The Creeds of Christendom
Mike Ratliff raises this very uncomfortable topic and it does open our hearts to some challenges.....
Btw.. Reading it in the Original doesnt make it any easier.
Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
But the use of the word “perfect” does give a clue....
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Reposting from.....
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Matthew 19:21 (NKJV)
The message of salvation that is normally preached or taught in the vast majority of churches these days has been contaminated with Humanism. The focus is on becoming a Christian for some great benefit or reward from God. Tragically, masses of people respond to that false gospel as well. The genuine gospel that our Saviour preached during His earthly ministry may have mentioned the benefits of being saved, but He emphasized the cost of becoming His disciple in such a way that it caused many of His hearers to not follow Him anymore, which was His intent. In fact, whenever He saw that the people were flocking to Him to have their felt needs met, He would speak a message to them that expressed that those who are His disciples are the ones who have counted the cost and seen that the eternal is all that truly matters.
Read more...
There are so many things to learn about this. And different degrees. Just check out the number of times Jesus healed someone and sent them back home to their own people....there is much more that could be said.
And note that in Matt 19:21 and all the other gospel accounts, Jesus was specifically speaking to this individual man. Though in the follow on context, Jesus assures his selected disciples that their own following him will not be in vain.
There is another passage about a lawyer who came to Jesus to test him, who certainly more directly wanted to justify himself, and like the Richman who can’t buy his way into heaven even with his own “giving all” payment, this lawyer found his definition of loving his neighbor was faulty.
Luk 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luk 10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
Luk 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Luk 10:28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
Luk 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
Luke 10:37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Jesus is constantly getting to the heart matters.
BTW Acts 2 seems to present a more universal call to giving away our goods. But note how John Gill, gives the context and the greater body of teaching that we actually find in the NT.
Acts 2:45 Gill
And sold their possessions and goods..... Their houses and lands, their fields and vineyards, their goods, moveable or immoveable:
and parted them to all men; that were of their society, not to others:
as every man had need: the rich sold their estates, and divided them among the poor, or gave them such a portion thereof as their present exigencies required. This was done by Jews, and by Jews only; who, when they embraced the Gospel of Christ, were informed that the destruction of their city, and nation, was at hand; and therefore they sold their estates before hand, and put them to this use; which was necessary to be done, both for the support of the Gospel in Judea, and for the carrying and spreading of it among the Gentiles: but is not to be drawn into a precedent, or an example in after times; nor is ever any such thing proposed to the Christian churches, or exhorted to by any of the apostles.
We are called though to answer the call of God when we hear it.
Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
But Mike’s text is a call to examine ourselves. And as he correctly noted in to the comment above this is also God’s work that lets us do that.
In 1688 John Bunyan wrote a little book about the deception of false profession.
The Barren Fig Tree,
or, The doom and downfall of the fruitless professor
And the words of interpretation Jesus gave about the first three soils ring as a warning of what could be called a false profession.
Mat 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Mat 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Mat 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Mat 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Btw if you have ever had any larger sized garden you will know that the soil doesn’t just make itself good.
It’s sad about the percentages even in the church, but it’s nothing new and doesn’t take away from the joy..
Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
John Gill writes that these are the 99....”the Scribes and Pharisees, that murmured at Christ's receiving sinners, are the ninety and nine just persons, who were only outwardly righteous before men, and trusted in themselves that they were righteous, perfectly righteous, and without sin, and so stood in no need of repentance for it”
This is always a risk, if we fake it.
Joh 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
One last though, since I updated this on 2/27, Mike has another good post at:
Our good works done in the Spirit do not earn our salvation, but prove its authenticity
Posted on February 26, 2018 by Mike Ratliff
While hiking yestarday I listened to a sermon by a Pastor I have grown to appreciate for his preaching directly from the Bible and commitment to historical reformed teaching in this post-modern day.
The sermon covers very well the often confused topic under the term “Election”, it gives a good explaination which is easy to follow, and explains why it is so important to preach the gospel to all people.
John 6:41-71 - Atonement - 2/28/10 PM
That audio file is in WMA format, it will play on a PC and most likely a MAC, but on the iPhone or iPad one needs to open it from inside an APP like OPlayer which can play files other than MP3’s. If that is the case just copy the link and paste it in your OPlayer browser, inside the APP.
You can find other sermons at the church website using the link below. These are older sermons but still very good. They are working on a new website. But are just a small local church trying to live and teach the whole word of God.
Pastor Rev. Joghinda Gangar graduated in 1984 from Westminster Theological Seminary in Escondido, CA. He was ordained in the Christian Reformed Church in 1986 and served churches in Calgary and Wellandport in Canada. Since 1998, he has been serving Trinity URC in Walnut Creek. Rev. Gangar was born in Punjab, India, and raised in England. He is married to Sheena and has seven children who ranged in age from 20 years to 6 years.
In February 2004, Rev. Gangar and his brother, also a minister, went on a mission trip to Punjab, their birthplace. This was the first time they had visited Punjab since they left as children 43 years ago. They were enthusiastically received and held three evangelistic meetings, each with about 300 present. Rev. Gangar desires to see this opportunity for missions continue and grow since the people seem to be open to the gospel.
Oh, How Quickly We Forget! | The Cripplegate
The above is a good article and I had some thoughts about it.
Might be a lot of debate about this.
The quote below makes a good point.
“Ultimately, our ongoing relationship with God hinges on sound biblical study. He places monumental importance on knowing, proclaiming, and worshipping Him rightly. And Scripture is the engine driving all of those things. The Dark Ages may have ended, but those who neglect to study and meditate on Scripture shun the light of God’s Word and continue to walk in willful darkness.”
The subject is Mediation, the KJV AND ESV have different words.
Psa 145:1 David's Psalm of praise. I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
Psa 145:2 Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Psa 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. Psa 145:4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. Psa 145:5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. Psa 145:6 And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. Psa 145:7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.
Note in the KJV the word is not translated meditation. It’s speak, which is consistent with the other lines of text. Which are all about proclaiming. The Psalm is a song of praise...not an internal mediation, the KJV got it right.
In looking up the Hebrew word, it is though often rendered mediation.
But only in Psalm 119.
H7878
שׂיח
śı̂yach
Total KJV Occurrences: 21
meditate, 5
Psa 119:15, Psa 119:23, Psa 119:48, Psa 119:78, Psa 119:148
The definition of meditation has become quite confused, with the mixing of Eastern Meditation, New Age, and their emptying concepts. It’s also confused by the contemplative prayer, centering movements in the church: Aka, Lectio Divina, etc with their mix of Roman Catholic and eastern style techniques. We should argue the simple Biblical way, is devoted into God’s Word, being filled with that so we can proclaim by words and deeds, the Good News of the Gospel, and declare the glory of God.
Anyway read the article in the link above.
The was an interesting post I just read, missed it when it came out.
It must be true...
Santa Claus and Schrödinger's Cat
One of the frequent arguments against the existence of Santa Claus is the question, "How could he possibly make it to every home throughout the whole world in one night?"
At last, quantum physics gives us the answer.
Also check my older post on a similiar Quantum Effect.
Btw, If you are inclined to buy into this you might want to check out a much more dangerous stream of think have been lately propogated on the visible church. Metaphysical Mysticism Masquerading as Science.
This stuff is loaded with false teaching, it is offered only as a warning and resouce if you ever come across it. Stick with your Bible reading.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Three Questions to Always Ask
There are always essential questions too ask of anyone we hear or anything we read. What is being said? Is it true? And what of it? All three questions are discounted in our modern age of information, but as Christians we must never allow the truth question to be removed from its central place. To be sure, faithfulness is costly in the short term. It is upstream and against the flow, and the flow that was once politically correct can suddenly become a raging and life-threatening intolerance. But costly though that stand may be, it is never as costly as the long-term price of rejecting the authority of Jesus and abandoning the way of life in the gospel. Our Lord warned of that very danger: “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt10:28).
Os Guinness, Impossible People, pg.73-74
Posted by Glenn E. Chatfield at 7:37 AM
Most of you have seen some of this, but the depth of it and the connection to Carson Wentz, I didn’t understand until a blogger I follow posted these articles..
That being said I now wish I had paid more attention to the Eagles. After reading this article and this article and this article I found reason to enjoy the Eagles, maybe I'll watch one of their games next year... if they play the Bills (or the patriots)
Reminds me of the opening of the Shorter Catechism.
And note, it doesn’t say enjoy ourselves forever.....just to “enjoy him”.
Another time another place someone once said.
Sent from my iPad
Past month or so I’ve been seeing a number of posts about discernment, and the aspect of ministering the truth through accurately discerning what is happening in the visible church today.
1 Chronicles 12:32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Here are a few recent links that try to address whether this is helpful or not, you can decide.
One good blogger writes...
Speaking the truth in love
Posted on January 30, 2018 by Mike Ratliff
by Mike Ratliff
Christians and Apostates
Posted on January 31, 2018 by Mike Ratliff
by Mike Ratliff
Apostasy is the fruit of false prophets
Posted on February 1, 2018 by Mike Ratliff
by Mike Ratliff
And a couple of blogs by women.
Answering the Opposition- Responses to the Most Frequently Raised Discernment Objections
19 Friday Jan 2018
Posted by Michelle Lesley more in Discernment
For an interesting take on the escalating controversy surrounding discernment ministries, investigate Elizabeth Prata’s Speaking up for discernment ministries in The End Time blog.
I may have sent this out earlier, but I decided to read it more carefully.
For myself having once been quite into these readings and practices, I was able to separate from them some 10 or so years ago. Now I only deal with difficulty with friends family and pastors who find it part of their way of faith.
One might debate whether this is good or bad, but it certainly seems that the East and West have met, and that New Age (read about Alice Bailey) is interconnected in words and practice.
These certain questions might be: does this present a different gospel, different ways to salvation, and of course are we to rely on the Bible being our sole source of truth.
The WCF has an operating statement about this in Chapter 1:
4. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man, or church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.
5. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scripture. And the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is, to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God: yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.
6. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word: and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.
The author argues that despite supposed good intentions....
Show me a Scripture in the Bible in which the Holy Spirit is activated or accessed by contemplative prayer. If such a verse exists, wouldn’t it be the keynote verse in defense of contemplative prayer?
None exists!
Contemplative Prayer or the Holy Spirit – It Can’t Be Both
January 19, 2018 by Lighthouse Trails author
By Ray Yungen
This article highlights a difference that I recently noted in the KJV translation and our modern versions.
BIBLICAL JUSTICE VS SOCIAL JUSTICE
POSTED BY MIKE RATLIFF ∙ 28 DECEMBER 2017 ∙ IN DEVOTION/TEACHING
1 “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts. 2 And this is the form of the release: Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the Lord’s release. Deuteronomy 15:1-2 (NKJV)
I was contacted by a friend right after Christmas about writing a post comparing what the Bible says about “justice” and how it is used by many today who call themselves “Social Justice Warriors.” I looked up the Hebrew and Greek words. I studied the context. It was very difficult to see how anyone could take those passages and come up with the Progressive political context called Social Justice from that. I did more research. I then found a very well grounded and well written article by E. Calvin Beisner that nailed it. If you read the entire article I assure you that you will not be confused by what is going on by this topic any longer. The article is called Biblical Justice vs Social Justice. View article →
As noted before, I raised this question because I began noticing that the KJV Bible I started to read a few years ago, did not have the word Justice in most of the verses that friends and pastors were reading to me out of the modern versions. Justice is used 135 times in the ESV and almost as many in the NIV, but only 28 times in the KJV. And as mentioned below even the Hebrew words the KJV translated Justice were much more frequently translated righteousness.
It maybe just coincidence but in the mid 19th century and into the 20th century, the new “original” biblical texts were being discovered, and began to work their way into our modern translations, and this too was the time the Social Justice, Marxist and Darwin moverments were being formed.
Is it possible that there was a planned movement make the Biblical text less focused on “Judgment” and “Righteousness” and more focused on “Justice”? Certainly not to completely eliminate those concepts but perhaps to seed the word Justice more often in the Bible as a way to root that concept in the scriptures?
I really like the comments that Beisner writes and particularly the distinction of positive and negative Justice and the difference between Justice and charity and grace.
Thanks for putting this up.
There are some good talks and articles to be found in the Trinity Foundation websites:
http://www.trinitylectures.org/MP3_downloads.php
One of those is Beisner.
http://www.trinityfoundation.org/archive.php?s=1
Below I make a comment on a couple of verses Beisner writes, which illustrate the use of the word Justice mentioned above.
“Nonetheless, the Old Testament also frequently associates help for the poor with justice (Psalm 72:2, 4; 82:3; 140:12; Proverbs 29:14; 31:9). Why?”
Interesting the word Justice was not used at all in the KJV in these verses, except Psalm 82:3.
The concepts of righteousness and proper judgment and concern for the poor, fatherless, afflicted and needy are still evident in the text and context, but not the word Justice.
Psa 72:2 He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
Psa 72:4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
Psa 82:3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Psa 140:12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
Pro 29:14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
Pro 31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Curiously in the verse below Deuteronomy 10:18 discussed by Beisner on the last page, the word H4941 משׁפּט mishpâṭ
which is used 417 times in the OT is translated only once as justice, in Job 36:17.
And even there as John Gill comments there is a connection with judgment which is majority use of the word in the KJV...”justice and judgment take hold on thee; afflictions in righteousness, or the chastening hand of God, in righteous judgment, had taken hold upon him, and would hold him until he was sufficiently humbled under them.”
Deuteronomy 10:18
(ESV) He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.(KJV) He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
(KJV+) He doth execute H6213 the judgment H4941 of the fatherless H3490 and widow, H490 and loveth H157 the stranger, H1616 in giving H5414 him food H3899 and raiment. H8071
(Greek NT TR+)
(Hebrew OT+) עשׂה H6213 משׁפט H4941 יתום H3490 ואלמנה H490 ואהב H157 גר H1616 לתת H5414 לו לחם H3899 ושׂמלה׃ H8071
Finally, the most frequent use of the word Justice in the KJV is:
tsedâqâh or tsedeq
Yet these words are in the vast majority of times translated as righteousness.
It’s not likely that the KJV translators were illiterates in their translation but perhaps they did not read into the Bible the modern progressive concept of Justice which Beisner identifies well in the article.
If you have not seen the movie Is Genesis History, perhaps at least check out this interesting post:
5 Ways to See Christmas in Genesis
You can find the link to the movie on that site also.
