June 2008 - Posts

Undone by Ephesians 1
Saturday, June 28, 2008 11:14 PM

So much of this section of Scripture is grand beyond measure, almost too beautiful to risk maligning with merely human reflections. Too high to be scaled, this pinnacle of glory glimmers with rays of sublime power, ever drawing us in for a closer look, yet the infinite immensity, seen ever more clearly, only intensifies the awe and wonder of the scene. The closer look does not satisfy the industrial, clinical, mechanical, scientific, purely hermeneutic eye. Oh, but, draw near with the eyes of faith and a heart alive to His mystery, wonder and beauty, and the clarity of proximity to these wondrous truths, the fragrance of the essence of beauty filling your soul, will squeeze forth soul-song in gladness that human tongue cannot rightly or fully express. This is the knowing of that which is beyond comprehension. This is the knowing root, plunged ever more deeply into the soil of Him, that grows the tree of genuine worship, that MUST grow this giant, glorious tree of always overflowing worship of Him. To know Him is to worship Him. Who must this God be in order to do such things? How is it that I can be His? What wonder to my soul.

            Sure, we have to know the facts given to us in the doctrinal systems. Good Christians who love God will learn their catechism. But, all this does is get the mountains in view. The looking at mountains has no effect on the climbing skills. Go, live according to His glorious grace at work in your life. Go, act as if He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Spend your days declaring His praises. Ponder anew each day His mercies to you in Christ. Think on the death of Jesus. Meditate on Him constantly as you mingle with others continually. Submit to the power of New Life as you walk amidst a world of old death. Stop trying to measure the dimensions of predestination, grace, election and mercy. Stop testing the waters. The flood, the deluge shall lavish itself upon you. Swim. Drown. Be rescued. He is always with you.

 

by Bahnsen8 | 2 comment(s)
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Father Abraham, the Missionary Evangelist
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 10:38 AM

Genesis 18: 17-19

 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

God chose Abraham to be the father of a great and mighty nation, and God chose that all the nations of the earth would be blessed in Abraham. This great missionary and evangelistic passage shows God's choice to work through a single sinner, Abraham, to bring worldwide blessing.

What strikes me is the way God chose to accomplish this foreordained plan. How does God plan to "bring to Abraham what He has promised?" How does God plan to accomplish "all the nations of the earth" to be "blessed in [Abraham]?"

Answer: By "...command[ing] his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice."

Abraham's fatherly faithfulness did not earn him a mighty nation as offspring. Abraham's fatherly faithfulness did not earn him the position of worldwide evangelist. Abraham's fatherly faithfulness was God's appointed means to carry out God's immutable plan for Abraham to be a mighty nation and a blessing to all the earth, ultimately and fully accomplished through Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham.

I hope this will encourage every man who reads this. Abraham, really, in many ways, was a great sinner. He had a problem with courage and truthfulness. His kids were an awful mess at times. But, in the end, Abraham believed God, and this faith, ultimately, led Abraham to many acts of righteousness and justice that God used to accomplish His plan in Abraham's life. God even used Abraham's sin and failures to accomplish His plan.

May each of us fathers, with joy and gladness under the favor of Christ our Redeemer and Friend and Lord, and under the compassionate eye of God the Father, and empowered by the very real presence of the Holy Spirit, press on to be the fatherly evangelist demonstrated to us by Abraham, commanding our children and our household after us to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, rejoicing in the knowledge that in this way, we, too, can be a blessing to all the nations of the world, through the power of God, the great Gospel of Jesus Christ, the humble crucified carpenter, resurrected, ascended and reigning over all, Who is and ever shall be, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

B8

by Bahnsen8 | 3 comment(s)
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B8 OFTEN gets it ALL WRONG
Thursday, June 05, 2008 2:45 PM

"3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned."

OK, so I have asked the Lord to help me to really be all the good things mentioned in this passage from Titus 3. I admit that I have not been careful to communicate in ways that are gentle, with perfect courtesy toward all, especially in communication with Wesley and Joe. Please accept my sincerest apologies, forgive me, pray for me and hold me accountable to a form of interaction that sincerely honors Christ. May I never speak evil of others or be quarrelsome. May my manner never be irritating or ugly. If my views are unpleasant to ponder, then may my manner and demeanor make reading them surprisingly pleasant.

On the other side of a new leaf here in this little corner of cyberspace, where theology as "blood sport" is strictly refused.

B8

by Bahnsen8 | 3 comment(s)
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