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Persuading Men by Law and Grace

January 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men (2 Corinthians 5:11).

 God’s word and His sovereign grace convert and reform sinners. The old tale is told of a South Sea Islander, who, as a reformed cannibal and a convert to Christ, proudly displayed his Bible to a G.I. during World War II. The soldier mockingly said, “We have outgrown that sort of thing in America.” The native smiled back and said, “It’s a good thing we haven’t. If it weren’t for this book, you would have been a meal by now.” The Bible is a book of transformation. It is the instrument that the Holy Spirit uses to save souls and reform sinners. The job of the Christian is not to astound and electrify people with human wisdom, but to preach God’s holy word to the lost.

I say to you that likewise, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance (Luke 15:7).

When one shares the love of God without preaching God’s holiness and His law, it weakens the sinners’ sense of sin. Then the lost sinner is not interested in the grand truth of the cross and justification. The law and the gospel, these are the means God uses by His grace to save lost sinners though His Spirit. Drama’s, light shows, uplifting music may stir emotions and bring people to large and opulent church buildings, but they alone will not save a hell bound sinner.

The lost need to hear the bad news of the wrath of God, the judgment of righteousness, and the offer of God’s great grace in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Our job is not to be cute or funny, but to love the lost with the truth. The unpleasant reality, the lost person’s position before a righteous God, is the reason that they must cast themselves upon the mercy of God in Christ. Entertainment in the right setting for the right reason can be very edifying and stimulating. But we must follow Paul and preach Christ: “to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified.” We are to placard Christ, the righteous King, whom all men have offended in every point of His holy law, and that same Christ the Savior dying for our transgressions, of that very same law.

Sartre claimed that he became an atheist because a man stared at him in public. He felt uncomfortable and dehumanized by becoming an object of the long stare of a stranger. He then reasoned: God is omnipresent; hence God must have His eyes perpetually on Sartre. But he did not like God gazing upon him. Consequently he denied God because of his quirky shyness.

By the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20).

God is everywhere present and looks upon everyone always. He sees all the iniquity of mankind, and we should remind people of that fact. Sinners hate this actuality. So we are to witness the truth to the lost and pray they turn to Christ in faith so they can avoid hell and rejoice with believers that God watches over His people in His omnipresence.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel… by which also you are saved… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

E-book: Can I Get a Witness

Filed Under: Young Calvinist, Young Restless Reformed Tagged With: , ,

Tribute to John Calvin: His Quincentenary

April 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
John Calvin was born in 1509 (France) and raised a Roman Catholic. Afterward, as a young man, he became friends with Reformers Pierre Robert and Melchior Wolmar. He later wrote the theological masterwork “Institutes of the Christian Religion” which he revised and expanded during his lifetime. In 1536 he settled in Geneva where he and William Farel became religious leaders of the city-state. Calvin remained in Geneva writing and preaching profusely even as he was often in tempestuous civil battles, he died in 1564. By his request he was buried in an unmarked grave. His work was steeped in Biblical truth and his influence has stretched from the Western national foundations to Reformed churches around the globe. And in “Tributes to John Calvin: A Celebration of His Quincentenary,” editor David W. Hall provides the Christian community a wonderful collection of papers on the importance of Calvin and his teachings.

 

Chapters include discussion by 22 scholars on:

 

  • Forward by Al Mohler
  • Calvin’s life and times
  • Calvinism today and tomorrow
  •  The enduring significance of Calvin
  • John Calvin the Reformer
  • John Calvin as a theologian and scholar
  • Calvin as a churchman and a Frenchman
  • Calvin view of women
  • John Calvin’s view of history
  • Calvin’s outlook on the church and liturgy
  • The growth of Calvinism
  • and more.
The section on Calvin’s preaching is inspiring and instructive; it should be a requirement for ministers of the Word to read and apply.

 

And yes, in a volume this large (600+ pages) with papers from a diverse group of scholars, there can be numerous possible points of disagreement. Nonetheless this is a book all Christians will profit from.

 

Mohler opines: “As the chapters in this book make clear, John Calvin was a multifaceted personality possessed of manifold gifts. God invested this man with extraordinary intelligence, theological courage, unquestioned tenacity, and a deep love for the Church” (R. Albert Mohler).
This book contains articles on topics that will both inform and edify; it is a superb offering from P & R for the minister, student, and nonscholar. This collection will allow you to understand the colossal and lasting influence of Calvin’s thought that has extended across the world.

 

See the New apologetic book that defends the Christian worldview:
ASIN: 1432765914
[[Truth, Knowledge and the Reason for God: The Defense of the Rational Assurance of Christianity]]
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Young Calvinist

Oliver Cromwell’s Letter to John Cotton

January 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Oliver Cromwell’s Letter to John Cotton
John Cotton, pastor in Boston in Massachusetts Bay colony, was greatly esteemed by the Puritans as a theologian, and was invited to the Westminster Assembly by several members of Parliament. Cotton did not attend, but he continued in contact with Independents in England, including Oliver Cromwell. Here is a letter that Cromwell wrote Cotton, showing his great respect for him:
“WORTHY SIR, AND MY CHRISTIAN FRIEND,
“I received yours a few days since. It was welcome to me because signed by you, whom I love and honour in the Lord: but more ‘so’ to see some of the same grounds or our Actings stirring in you that are in us, to quiet us to our work, and support us therein. Which hath had the greatest difficulty in our engagement in Scotland; by reason we have had to do with some who were, I verily think, Godly, but, through, weakness and the subtlety of Satan, ‘were’ involved in Interests against the Lord and His People.“With what tenderness we have proceeded with such, and that in sincerity, our Papers (which I suppose you have seen) will in part manifest; and I give you some comfortable assurance of ‘the same.’ The Lord hath marvellously appeared even against them. And now again when all the power was devolved into the Scottish King and the Malignant Party,— they invading England, the Lord rained upon them such snares as the Enclosed will show. Only the Narrative in short is this, That of their whole Army, when the Narrative was framed, not five men were returned.
“Surely, Sir, the Lord is greatly to be feared and to be praised! We need your prayers in this as much as ever. How shall we behave ourselves after such mercies? What is the Lord a-doing? What Prophecies are now fulfilling? Who is a God like ours? To know His will, to do His will, are both of Him.
“I took this liberty from business, to salute you thus in a word. Truly I am ready to serve you and the rest of our Brethren and the Churches with you. I am a poor weak creature, and not worthy the name of a worm; yet accepted to serve the Lord and His People. Indeed, my dear Friend, between you and me, you know not me,—my weaknesses, my inordinate passions, my unskillfulness, and everyway unfitness to my work. Yet, yet the Lord, who will have mercy on whom He will, does as you see! Pray for me. Salute all Christian friends though unknown. I rest, your affectionate friend to serve you,
OLIVER CROMWELL.”
Thomas Carlyle, Oliver Cromwell’s Letters and Speeches: With Elucidations, (London: Chapman & Hall, Ltd., 1889), Vol. III of V, pp. 172-173.
Obtained by Henry Christoph Jr
Prove the existence of God.
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