Truth Unchanging

Someday my wife and children will thank me for being so easy to shop for. While some people make the selection of presents very difficult, I make it very simple. The decision can be made with one word - BOOK.

Tamra gave me A Team of Rivals, a book about President Abraham Lincoln and his administrative genius. Katie presented me with a book about J. Gresham Machen, the fundamentalist theologian of the early part of the 20^th century. J. Dwight, announced, “now you don’t have any excuses,” as I opened a copy of a book on strategies for successful deer hunting. My favorite in-laws (I only have one set and they are my favorites!) opted for books by John MacArthur and D. James Kennedy. To top it all off, I took some of the cash gifts that people have given and bought a number of good books including 9 Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever and Commentaries on Ephesians by Harold Hoehner and Peter O’Brien. (Lord willing, that’s where we are going to turn on Sunday Evenings after we complete our study of Hebrews).

I have not added up the total number of pages on my “to read” list but a safe guesstimate would be around 3,500. When I told one friend about the book gifts, he thought it was punishment - not presents.

Something that comes to mind when I wade through these great works is the fact that truth does not change. The Savior of whom J. Gresham wrote nearly 100 years ago is still the same. The message of the Book of Ephesians the Dr. Hoehner comments on is the same as it was when the ink flowed from the pen of the inspired Apostle Paul 1,945 years ago. The characteristics of the healthy church are the same in the post modern world of 2006 as they were when Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd Jones wrote in 1950, as they were when Richard Baxter wrote in the 1600’s, as they were when Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus in the first century.

Indeed, our world is changing. Praise God the truth is unchanging. Let’s be Pastors, Deacons, Teachers, … who are committed to the uncompromising preaching, teaching, and practicing of the Scriptures - Because Truth Matters

Worth Repeating

“To be born anew by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit into a relationship in which God the First Person becomes a legitimate Father and the saved one becomes a legitimate child, is a position which is but dimly apprehended by any human being in this world. This far-flung reality is more a matter of heavenly values that on the earth. Nevertheless, this very regeneration is one of the foundational realities of everyone who has believed upon Christ as Savior. This birth from above accomplishes a measureless transformation. To be born into an earthly home of outstanding character is of great advantage, but to be born of God with every right and title belonging to that position - an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ - passes the range of human understanding. This new existence is not only intensely real, but it, like all begotten life, is everlasting in its very nature.”

(Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, Vol. III, p. 241)

The Greatness of Grace

Since the title of this blogspot is "By His Grace Alone " it seems fitting to include musings on the matter of divine sovereign grace. I can safely assume that all genuine believers have some understanding of the grace of God. However, observation has taught us that, over the years, man has attempted to twist that grace in various ways. It is apparent that many in the present age find it difficult to accept the truth of divine sovereign election. Therefore, I post the following from Barnhouse's commentary on Romans 8:17.

"One of the hardest lessons for man to learn is that everything that God does for us is by grace. Man is so eager to have some credit for his blessings that it is difficult for him to admit to his utter spiritual bankruptcy. This is all the more true because of the teaching of some who make salvation conditional on something that man does, even if it is nothing more than 'accepting.' If you will search your own heart you will probably find traces to that legalistic spirit. Man cannot understand that God, in His sovereign love, stoops over a lost race, dead in trespasses and sins, totally responsible, yet totally incapable of doing anything about it, and that He decides to quicken some of His creatures and make them sons. If it be asked why He does not quicken all, we reply that the Bible does not give any answer to this question. We are simply left to trust Him who does all things well and who never makes any mistakes. The facts are there. Men fight these facts but they cannot change them. There is nothing good in any of us that could recommend us to God. Then if He makes a division in the human race He must do it on some principle that is found in Himself. It surely is not whim, even though it may appear thus to unholy minds, incapable of receiving spiritual things."

May we marvel in and rest in His Grace Alone.

Nothing Else Will Do

Charles Feinberg wrote "It is either the grammatical, literal, historical interpretation or we are adrift on an uncharted sea with every man the norm for himself."(The Prophecy of Ezekiel, p.219).

I happen to believe that Feinberg was absolutely correct. I am also convinced that there is, in our day, a great need to return to his position. The student of Scripture is compelled to admire the diligence of men like Feinberg. Their fervent pursuit of accuracy is, at the same time, both refreshing and challenging. Their passion to clearly communicate Truth serves as a charge to all who would follow in their footsteps.

I realize that most of us would say "I sure can't fill the shoes of a Feinberg, or ...." Nevertheless, all who have the responsibility of feeding the flock of God, stand in a similar position. No, we are not writing commentaries to be studied by preachers and theologians. We are, however, writing upon the hearts of those whom God has placed under our care.

Our society is rapidly changing - many times with shocking results. In the wake of such change we hear the swelling cry for a changed message and altered methods. It is here that Paul's instruction to Timothy is so fitting. The Apostle wrote to his appointee in Ephesus and exhorted Timothy to "Preach the Word." Even though the time would come when folks would not endure sound doctrine the servant of the Lord was to deliver sound doctrine. How different to the mantra of many in Christendom today!

The need of those who sit under our preaching and teaching is to hear the careful, accurate proclamation of the Word of God. God is glorified when His servants are faithful to the task of diligently studying and communicating His Word. Nothing else will do - everything else is unsatisfactory.

My fellow shepherds - "Preach the Word; be instant in season out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ..... make full proff of thy ministry."

And to those men who through the years have done just that, providing a wonderful example for me to follow - thank you!

The Immutability of Jesus Christ

This past Sunday evening we studied Hebrews 13:7-9. While verses 7 and 9 and not so widely known there are very few who are not at least somewhat familiar with verse 8. It is there that we read "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever." How does a mere man comunicate the great truth of the immutability of Christ? After attempting to do so - and that quite poorly - I was encouraged to come across the following by Jonathan Edwards.

"You may greatly comfort yourself that you have an unchangeable friend in Christ Jesus. Constancy is justly looked upon as a most necessary and most desirable qualification in a friend; that he be not fickle, and so that his friendship cannot be depended on as that of a steady sure friend. How excellent his friendship is you may learn from his manner of treating his disciples on earth, whom he graciously treated as a tender father his children; meekly instructing them, most friendlily conversing with them, and being ready to pity them, and help them, and forgive their infirmities. And then you may consider this doctrine, and how it thence appears that he is the same still that he was then, and ever will be the same.
From the unchangeableness of your Savior, you may be assured of your continuance in a state of grace. As to yourself, you are so changeable, that, if left to yourself, you would soon fall utterly away; there is no dependence on your unchangeableness; but Christ is the same, and therefore, when he has begun a good work in you he will finish it; as he has been the author, he will be the finisher of your faith. Your love to Christ is in itself changeable; but his to you is unchangeable, and therefore he will never suffer your love to him utterly to fail. The apostle gives this reason why the saints' love for Christ cannot fail, viz., that his love to them can never fail."

Spiritual Possessors

“As believers we have become spiritual possessors. The letter to the Hebrews says: ‘Ye are come into Mount Zion’ (Heb. 12:22). It is a perfect tense that is used (Gk. Proselelythate). Thus something of vital importance has already happened. There is already an actual fact. A position of grace is occupied. A place of firm standing has been reached. You have already received something. It is a position at the foot of the heavenly mount of God. Even though the climbing to and reaching of the summit will not be completed before we get to glory, yet this present position, firmly connected with eternity, has already been given to us by grace as the basis and starting point for our future exaltation.”

(Erich Sauer, In the Arena of Faith, p. 169)

Our Immutable Savior

In the course of preparing to teach from Hebrews 13:7-9 I came across the following by the late S. Lewis Johnson. I trust that as you read it you will see why I have posted it.

"The immutable Messiah has the keys of life. The sciences and philosophies of today become "the obsolete of tomorrow." No words of Jesus are obsolete. He speaks the same words to the 20th century as to the first. Which of you can criticize any word of Jesus Christ? Every time we open up the Scriptures, we are reading that which is relative and contemporary. And so we proclaim this eternal, sovereign Christ. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, He was satisfactory for you yesterday was He not? For your sins, He has died for them. He has brought you into the faith, and He has been sufficient for your past; and He is sufficient for you TODAY. When the trials of life come and when death comes, He is the same today. He came to save you, and He is the same TOMORROW, and on into eternity. "Lo I’m with you always, even to the end of the age." The eternal immutable Christ is sufficient for you. There is only one thing needed, and that is that you know Him.

THOU ART ENOUGH FOR ME

Thou art enough for me, Thou art enough for me,

Thou living, loving, mighty God, Thou art enough for me.

To God our Father above, We glory in Thy love,

The Need for Biblical Fundamentalism

I understand that the very title of this blog may create a firestorm. Some will likely read the title and go no further. Others will read it and have preconceived notions of what they are about to delve into. Some of those will be positive thoughts while others will be - well, negative.

My observations over the past 20 years have led me to conclude that there are at least two types of fundamentalists. The one group I refer to as "Emotional Fundamentalists." They are held together by a key issue or a key leader. The other group of people are best defined as "Biblical Fundamentalists" These men and women are those who anchor not to issues but to the Scriptures. Make no mistake, Biblical Fundamentalists are quite passionate - convictions formed in the seedbed of Scripture tend to make one rather intense!

In recent weeks I have turned often to www.sliceoflaodicea.com and read with interest reports on events surrounding Rick Warren and Saddleback Church. Many observers would contend that the actions described call for a major overhaul of evangelicalism. They would point out that the problem can be fixed by a return to that brand of evangelicalism that marked an earlier era. (You pick the dates). I, on the other hand, would argue that the problem is evangelicalism and that the call is not for an overhaul but for an exodus. Revised and remodeled error is not truth.

I would like to urge the readers of this blog in two areas.
First, I highly recommend that we spend the money to purchase Rolland McCune's excellent book "Promise Unfulfilled: The failed strategy of Modern Evangelicalism." Then take the time to read it carefully. Many who have not grown up in Fundamentalism will gain much in the way of understanding by studyingMcCune's book. Many who have grown up in and been wounded by Emotional Fundamentalism will find the book to be a blessing.

Secondly, I exhort each of us to be careful, diligent, and ruthless in the evaluation of our own position and practices. Is our brand of fundamentalism truly biblical? Is our practice really God-centered, or do we just talk a good talk?

Discernment

The blog menu in recent days seems to be "hunting." What else do you expect from a guy who has spent so many years in pursuit of the whitetail? Reflection on the many seasons in the woods reminds me of the many lessons learned from God's creation.

A parenthesis is in order at this point. When I think of object lessons from life I am reminded of Mrs. Vernis Nelson. I can confidently say that I have never met another person who garnered so much from observing the little things of creation. Vernis serves as secretary of Faith Baptist Church of Kenmare North Dakota. It is her habit to walk the 12 blocks to work until the temperature dropped to 20 below zero. Quite often the door would open, I would hear "Hello Pastor" and then "I saw ...... and I thought ........" Great gems were mined from the migrating geese, the falling leaves, the blowing snow (imagine that in Northwest North Dakota!)

Back to my hunting and the necessity of discernment. Those who are hunters will agree that it is amazing how many things sound like deer. I have no idea of how many times I thought "I hear a deer coming." Similarly, I have often squinted into the shadows at what was surely a buck only to realize it was a log or a rock. From time to time, as I wait for that anticipated opportunity to bag some venison, I am still distracted by various sights and sounds. The successful sportsman recognizes need to distinguish between that which is true and that which is false.

It is here where the parallel is clearly before my eyes. Our age and our society is marked by a lack of discernment. Some appears to be the result of a lack of willingness or desire to distinguish between truth and error. In other cases it is evident that folks have not been taught to think biblically. Perhaps I will revisit this subject later and pursue other aspects but my purpose today is to exhort Pastors to be diligent in the work of equipping the saints. As shepherds of God's flock we have been given the responsibility of preparing the sheep in this area of discernment.

The sheep are not made ready for the distractions and distortions which endanger them by creating a list of "good guys" and "bad guys." Nor are they enabled by man centered ministry which aims at entertainment. The necessary training comes through the faithful teaching flowing from the careful study of the Scriptures.

May I exhort my fellow Pastors to labor in the Word and doctrine, to give yourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word, to be found faithful - as is required in servants.