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Showing posts from January, 2010

glory begun and to come

Some miscellaneous quotes on the glory begun and to come... “Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected.” (Jonathan Edwards) “To believe in heaven is not to run away from life; it is to run towards it.” (Joseph D. Blinco) “Heaven is the perfectly ordered and harmonious enjoyment of God and of one another in God.” (Augustine) “Christians are not citizens of earth trying to get to heaven, but citizens of heaven making their way through the world.” (Vance Havner) “There are three things which the true Christian desires in respect to sin: justification, that it might not condemn; sanctification, that it may not reign; and glorification, that it may not be.” (Richard Cecil)

Hitchens on liberal Christianity

This is priceless, and one of those areas where I would agree with renown atheist Christopher Hitchens. He is being interviewed by Unitarian minister, Marilyn Sewell: Sewell : "The religion you cite in your book is generally the fundamentalist faith of various kinds. I’m a liberal Christian, and I don’t take the stories from the scripture literally. I don’t believe in the doctrine of atonement (that Jesus died for our sins, for example). Do you make any distinction between fundamentalist faith and liberal religion?" Hitchens: "I would say that if you don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you’re really not in any meaningful sense a Christian. " Would that more people understood this! The Hitchens Transcript is here .

baptism

I love the quote David shared at the end of his message today. He explained... Baptism gives us a touchstone to look back on. Our Lord knows our weaknesses and our tendency to forget. I believe that is a part of the reason He gave us both baptism and the Lord’s Supper; two outward acts that among other things serve as visible reminders of our faith and of His death and resurrection. And so as we close I leave you with this baptismal confession that Philip Henry (father of the Bible Commentator Matthew Henry) prepared for his children: I take God to be my chief end and highest good; I take God the Son to be my Prince and Savior ; I take God the Holy Spirit to be my sanctifier, teacher, guide, and comforter . I take the Word of God to be my rule in all my actions and the people of God to be my people under all conditions . I do hereby dedicate and devote to the Lord all that I am, All that I have, And all I can do. And this I do deliberately, freely, and forever.
This Parker 51 aerometric in navy gray has become one of my favorite daily users. Clutch cap; m/f nib always wet; smooth writer; great for note-taking. This one was made in the UK in 1957. With its hooded nib, the Parker 51 was perhaps the most successful and popular fountain pen of all time. Here is an old ad for the Parker 51 aerometric...
This week I'm enjoying using this Aurora Ipsilon Deluxe (a "turtle brown" lacquer finish, M nib), a special gift from very good friends in NYC. Filled with Noodlers' Dutch Colony Sepia ink.

preparing for glory

Application questions: Knowing that God's glory is coming, how do we prepare? 1) Is God my glory, my security and highest joy now? Psalm 3:3... “But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” Isaiah 41:16... “And you shall rejoice in the LORD; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.” [If eternity will be enjoyment of God to the full, have we begun to experience that now? 2 Cor 3 teaches us that glorification begins now in progressing stages of growth.] 2) Am I seeking glory from God rather than man? John 5:44... “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” John 12:42-43... “… many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” [Undue fear of man is fear of being dishonored by others, wh

on the future glory of believers

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?” (Romans 8:18-24 esv) God’s glory is that which is impressive, great, weighty, powerful, beautiful and awesome about God. We ourselves, made in the image of God, are attracted to glor

sermon notes

“Sanctification is the progressive work of God in man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives.” (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology ) Or, “becoming what you already are.” On justification... “By his blood" (Romans 5:9) Through the principle of representation and substitution, Jesus Christ (like Adam) represents the human race that follows (and is united to) him. As Adam was our representative and we were plunged into darkness and sin because of his action, so now those who are related by faith and new birth to Christ, are lifted to light and righteousness because of his actions. Jesus' death is a propitiation, which satisfies God's justice. His death is so excellent and effective that it can remove the guilt and sin of an entire world. Through substitution Christ gets what we deserve (judgment), we get what he deserves (eternal riches and blessing). Our relationship with God is built upon this priceless work. The “sol

"take heart"

I'm reading through the ESV One Year Bible this year. I have it in book form at home, and if I miss the morning, it's on my iGoogle page at a click . Today these words stood out to me: And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. (Matthew 9:1-8) When we think of the authorit

today's quotes

Here are two quotes I found interesting today: The ways of destroying the church are many and colorful. Raw factionalism will do it. Rank heresy will do it. Taking your eyes off the cross and letting other, more peripheral matters dominate the agenda will do it-admittedly more slowly than frank heresy, but just as effectively over the long haul. Building the church with superficial ‘conversions’ and wonderful programs that rarely bring people into a deepening knowledge of the living God will do it. Entertaining people to death but never fostering the beauty of holiness or the centrality of self-crucifying love will build an assembling of religious people, but it will destroy the church of the living God. Gossip, prayerlessness, bitterness, sustained biblical illiteracy, self-promotion, materialism-all of these things, and many more, can destroy a church. And to do so is dangerous: ‘If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that templ

getting help

I like New Yorker's cartoons.

if God is for us

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31 ESV) Do not be discouraged at the difficulties and oppositions that will rise up before you when you begin resolvedly to walk with God. Discouragements turn multitudes from religion, and provide a great temptation for many young beginners to turn back. Israel in the wilderness was ready to retreat to Egypt. God himself will have his servants and his graces tried and exercised by difficulties, and Satan, will quickly raise up storms before us, as soon as we are set out to sea. But God is on your side and has all your enemies in his hand, and can rebuke them, or destroy them in a moment. O what is the breath or fury of dust or devil s, against the Lord Almighty! In the day you entered into a covenant with God, and he with you, you entered into the most impregnable rock and fortress, and covered yourself in a castle of defence, where you may (modestly) defy all adverse powers of earth or hell. If God cannot sa
Gallery of photos here.