"...Can we ever think too highly of Him? Let us banish the unworthy thought from our minds for ever. Let us learn to exalt Him more in our hearts, and to rest more confidingly the whole weight of our souls in His hands. Men may easily fall into error about the three Persons in the holy Trinity if they do not carefully adhere to the teach of Scripture. But no man ever errs on the side of giving too much honour to God the Son. Christ is the meeting point between the Trinity and the sinner's soul "He that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father which sent Him. (John 5:23)" (p. 37)
Ryle, J. C. "John, Chapter 1." Expository Thoughts on the Gospels. Vol. 3. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2007. 1-87. Print.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
How often do we come to our Father in prayer, asking Him to reveal more of His glory and more of our indwelling sin, yet truly rejoice when He grants us these requests? Oh how Christ showed me mercy and grace, allowing me to see the sheer magnitude & destruction of my pride, a sin which I am so quick to see and judge in others, but deceptively blind to in myself. How it consumed me at that particular moment, how completely unguarded I was that it overtook me and made me blind and deaf to all else; I was engulfed by anger, bitterness, and malice for moments that lasted so long I, still in my sin, actually began to feel ashamed, yet it was as if I was trapped, unable to release myself from it, unable to extinguish the blaze. How I sinned against my fellow brother in that internal fire... Regardless of how it was set off, it was made clear I did not have it all under control, I was not as self-aware as I had thought..
As I thought back to this incident today, I was again consumed with that resentment. I pleaded with the Almighty Lord to show me mercy and release me from what I could not release myself from. Oh the deceit that lies within our hearts! Yet we sinful believers can still stand before the Lord clothed in the Lamb's righteousness because the awesome saving grace of Christ. I pray and hope and long for the days when our Lord returns to reign over the heavens and the earth, when He finally eases our sufferings against the flesh, that we may simply live every moment in holy worship & fellowship with Him!
As I thought back to this incident today, I was again consumed with that resentment. I pleaded with the Almighty Lord to show me mercy and release me from what I could not release myself from. Oh the deceit that lies within our hearts! Yet we sinful believers can still stand before the Lord clothed in the Lamb's righteousness because the awesome saving grace of Christ. I pray and hope and long for the days when our Lord returns to reign over the heavens and the earth, when He finally eases our sufferings against the flesh, that we may simply live every moment in holy worship & fellowship with Him!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"Personal Narrative of Jonathan Edwards" excerpt
1772 (age 19):
"My sense of divine things seemed gradually to increase, until I went to preach at New York, which was about a year and a half after they began; and while I was there, I felt them, very sensibly, in a much higher degree than I had done before. My longings after God and holiness, were much increased. Pure and humble, holy and heavenly Christianity, appeared exceeding amiable to me. I felt a burning desire to be in every thing a complete Christian; and conformed to the blessed image of Christ; and that I might live, in all things, according to the pure, sweet and blessed rules of the gospel. I had an eager thirsting after progress in these things; which put me upon pursuing and pressing after them. It was my continual strife day and night, and constant inquiry, how I should be more holy, and live more holily, and more becoming a child of God, and a disciple of Christ. I now sought an increase of grace and holiness, and a holy life, with much more earnestness, than ever I sought grace before I had it. I used to be continually examining myself, and studying and contriving for likely ways and means, how I should live holily, with far greater diligence and earnestness, than ever I pursued any thing in my life; but yet with too great a dependence on my own strength; which afterwards proved a great damage to me. My experience had not then taught me, as it has done since, my extreme feebleness and impotence, every manner of way; and the bottomless depths of secret corruption and deceit there was in my heart. However, I went on with my eager pursuit after more holiness, and conformity to Christ.
"My sense of divine things seemed gradually to increase, until I went to preach at New York, which was about a year and a half after they began; and while I was there, I felt them, very sensibly, in a much higher degree than I had done before. My longings after God and holiness, were much increased. Pure and humble, holy and heavenly Christianity, appeared exceeding amiable to me. I felt a burning desire to be in every thing a complete Christian; and conformed to the blessed image of Christ; and that I might live, in all things, according to the pure, sweet and blessed rules of the gospel. I had an eager thirsting after progress in these things; which put me upon pursuing and pressing after them. It was my continual strife day and night, and constant inquiry, how I should be more holy, and live more holily, and more becoming a child of God, and a disciple of Christ. I now sought an increase of grace and holiness, and a holy life, with much more earnestness, than ever I sought grace before I had it. I used to be continually examining myself, and studying and contriving for likely ways and means, how I should live holily, with far greater diligence and earnestness, than ever I pursued any thing in my life; but yet with too great a dependence on my own strength; which afterwards proved a great damage to me. My experience had not then taught me, as it has done since, my extreme feebleness and impotence, every manner of way; and the bottomless depths of secret corruption and deceit there was in my heart. However, I went on with my eager pursuit after more holiness, and conformity to Christ.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Ryle on the eternal dignity of Christ and the exceeding sinfulness of sin
As we read, reflect, and meditate on verses 1-5 of John 1...
"Let us mark what kind of Being the Redeemer of mankind must needs be, in order to provide eternal redemption for sinners. If no one less than the Eternal God, the Creator and Preserver of all things, could take away the sin of the world, sin must be a far more abominable thing in the sight of God than most men suppose. The right measure of sin's sinfulness is the dignity of Him who came into the world to save sinners. If Christ is so great, then sin must indeed be sinful!"
Ryle, J. C. "John, Chapter 1." Expository Thoughts on the Gospels. Vol. 3. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2007. 1-87. Print.
"Let us mark what kind of Being the Redeemer of mankind must needs be, in order to provide eternal redemption for sinners. If no one less than the Eternal God, the Creator and Preserver of all things, could take away the sin of the world, sin must be a far more abominable thing in the sight of God than most men suppose. The right measure of sin's sinfulness is the dignity of Him who came into the world to save sinners. If Christ is so great, then sin must indeed be sinful!"
Ryle, J. C. "John, Chapter 1." Expository Thoughts on the Gospels. Vol. 3. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2007. 1-87. Print.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Owen: Gospel v. legal priniciples on mortifying sin
"Try yourself by this also: When you are by sin driven to make a stand, so that you must either serve it and rush at the command of it into folly, like the horse into the battle, or make head against it to suppress it, what do you say to your soul? What do you expostulate (discuss earnestly) with yourself? Is this all -- "Hell will be the end of this course; vengeance will meet with me and find me out"? It is time for you to look about you; evil lies at the door [Gen 4:7]. Paul's main argument to evince that sin shall not have dominion over believers is that they "are not under the law, but under grace" (Rom. 6:14). If your contendings against sin be all on legal accounts, from legal principles and motive, what assurance can you attain unto that sin shall not have dominion over you, which will be your ruin? ...What gospel principles do not, legal motives cannot do."
Owen, John, Kelly M. Kapic, and Justin Taylor. "Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers." Overcoming Sin & Temptation. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2006. Print.
Owen, John, Kelly M. Kapic, and Justin Taylor. "Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers." Overcoming Sin & Temptation. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2006. Print.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
The Holy Spirit is the Great Sovereign Cause of the Mortification of Indwelling Sin
[Chapter 3]
Other remedies are sought in vain!
"Duties are excellent food for an unhealthy soul; they are no physic (remedy, relief, medicine) for a sick soul... Spiritually sick men cannot sweat out their distemper with working"
chapterEIGHT: zeal
to be "zealous" is to be wise!
"Christ gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus ii. 14.)
"Be zealous and repent." (Rev. iii. 19.)
This desire is so strong, when it really reigns in a man, that it impels him to make any sacrifice...if only he can please God and honour Christ.
A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God. Whether he lives, or whether he dies,—whether he has health, or whether he has sickness,—whether he is rich, or whether he is poor,—whether he pleases man, or whether he gives offence,—whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish,—whether he gets blame, or whether he gets praise,—whether he gets honour, or whether he gets shame,—for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing; and that one thing is to please God, and to advance God's glory.
"Christ gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus ii. 14.)
"Be zealous and repent." (Rev. iii. 19.)
I. What is zeal in religion?
a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way.
This desire is so strong, when it really reigns in a man, that it impels him to make any sacrifice...if only he can please God and honour Christ.
A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God. Whether he lives, or whether he dies,—whether he has health, or whether he has sickness,—whether he is rich, or whether he is poor,—whether he pleases man, or whether he gives offence,—whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish,—whether he gets blame, or whether he gets praise,—whether he gets honour, or whether he gets shame,—for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing; and that one thing is to please God, and to advance God's glory.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'
Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
(Luke 18:9-14)
9And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
10"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11"The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' 13"But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' 14"I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
10"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11"The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' 13"But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' 14"I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
i, a mere sinner, graced by the gospel of Jesus Christ...
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Jonathan Edwards, 12 (A New Biography, I. Murray)
I am simply astounded by Edwards' keen discernment even at the age of 12! I am certain I could never have been able to eloquently express myself as Edwards does in his letter to his sister, 14, nor scarce to even form coherent sentences about the religious goings-on in my church.
To Miss Mary Edwards, at Hadley
Windsor. May 10, 1716.
Dear Sister
Through the wonderful mercy and goodness of God there hath in this place been a very remarkable stirring and pouring out of the Spirit of God, and likewise now is, but I think I have reason to think it is in some measure diminished but I hope not much. About thirteen have been joined to the Church in an estate of full communion. These are those which by enquiry I find you have not heard of that have joined to the Church, viz, John Huntington, Sarah Loomas the daughter of Thomas Loomas, and Esther Elsworth. And there are five that are propounded which are not added to the Church, namely, John Loomas, John Rockwell's wife, Sergt. Thomas Elsworth's wife, Isaac Bissel's wife, and Mary Osband. I think there comes commonly a Mondays above thirty persons to speak with Father about the condition of their souls.
...
Sister, I am glad to hear of your welfare. So often as I do I should be glad to hear from you by a letter and therein how it is with you as to your crookedness.
Your loving brother Jonathan E.
Father and Mother remember their love to you. Likewise do all my sisters and Mercy and Tim.
(Page 20, Chapter 1: The Son of East Windsor)
Murray, Iain Hamish. Jonathan Edwards: a New Biography. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1987. Print.
To Miss Mary Edwards, at Hadley
Windsor. May 10, 1716.
Dear Sister
Through the wonderful mercy and goodness of God there hath in this place been a very remarkable stirring and pouring out of the Spirit of God, and likewise now is, but I think I have reason to think it is in some measure diminished but I hope not much. About thirteen have been joined to the Church in an estate of full communion. These are those which by enquiry I find you have not heard of that have joined to the Church, viz, John Huntington, Sarah Loomas the daughter of Thomas Loomas, and Esther Elsworth. And there are five that are propounded which are not added to the Church, namely, John Loomas, John Rockwell's wife, Sergt. Thomas Elsworth's wife, Isaac Bissel's wife, and Mary Osband. I think there comes commonly a Mondays above thirty persons to speak with Father about the condition of their souls.
...
Sister, I am glad to hear of your welfare. So often as I do I should be glad to hear from you by a letter and therein how it is with you as to your crookedness.
Your loving brother Jonathan E.
Father and Mother remember their love to you. Likewise do all my sisters and Mercy and Tim.
(Page 20, Chapter 1: The Son of East Windsor)
Murray, Iain Hamish. Jonathan Edwards: a New Biography. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1987. Print.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)