Once a Soldier, always a Soldier!
Live Holy for God is Holy!
Shane C. Montgomery
"Happy and Blessed Veterans Day"
Friday, November 11, 2011
Once a Soldier, always a Soldier!
Live Holy for God is Holy!
Shane C. Montgomery
"What The Gospel Is Not, Clearing Up Some Common Misconceptions"
Thursday, November 10, 2011
WHAT THE GOSPEL IS NOT
A helpful way of understanding what the Gospel is, is to point out some common misconceptions about salvation. The true Gospel of Jesus Christ is NONE of the following, no matter how many people may be saying these things:
| This is NOT the Gospel: | 1. God has a wonderful plan for your life. |
| This is NOT the Gospel: | 2. God loves the sinner but hates the sin. |
| This is NOT the Gospel: | 3. You can be saved anytime you want just by accepting Christ. |
| This is NOT the Gospel: | 4. Say some "sinner's prayer" and if you really mean it, you are saved. |
| This is NOT the Gospel: | 5. Anyone who believes in God (according to just about any religion) will get to heaven. |
| This is NOT the Gospel: | 6. Anyone who is a "good" person will get to heaven. |
| This is NOT the Gospel: | 7. Anyone who believes in Jesus and calls Jesus "Lord" is a Christian. |
| This is NOT the Gospel: | 8. All it takes to become saved is to exercise saving faith in Christ. |
NONE OF THE ABOVE are "the Gospel" or even a part of it, no matter how many churches, pastors, evangelists, preachers, or teachers say they ARE the Gospel.
By Ray Kane! comingintheclouds.com
"The Cross and Self" by A.W. Pink
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any will come after Me
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me”
Matthew 16:24
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me”
Matthew 16:24
Ere developing the theme of this verse let us comment on its terms. “If any”: the duty enjoined is for all who would join Christ’s followers and enlist under His banner. “If any will”: the Greek is very emphatic, signifying not only the consent of the will, but full purpose of heart, a determined resolution. “Come after Me”: as a servant subject to his Master, a scholar his Teacher, a soldier his Captain. “Deny”: the Greek means “deny utterly.” Deny himself: his sinful and corrupt nature. “And take up”: not passively bear or endure, but voluntarily assume, actively adopt. “His cross”: which is scorned by the world, hated by the flesh, but is the distinguishing mark of a real Christian. “And follow Me”: live as Christ lived— to the glory of God.
The immediate context is most solemn and striking. The Lord Jesus has just announced to His apostles, for the first time, His approaching death of humiliation (v. 21). Peter was staggered, and said, “Pity Thyself, Lord” (v. 22 mar.). That expressed the policy of the carnal mind. The way of the world is self-seeking and self-shielding. “Spare thyself” is the sum of its philosophy. But the doctrine of Christ is not “save thyself” but sacrifice thyself. Christ discerned in Peter’s counsel a temptation from Satan (v. 23), and at once flung it from Him. Then turning to Peter, He said: Not only “must” Jesus go up to Jerusalem and die, but everyone who would be a follower of His must take up his cross (v. 24). The “must” is as imperative in the one case as in the other. Mediatorially the cross of Christ stands alone, but experimentally it is shared by all who enter into life.
"The Genuine Pastor" by A.W. Pink
Monday, October 31, 2011
(Arthur Pink, Studies in the Scriptures, May, 1939)
How diligently should they scrutinize their motives, who think of entering the ministry; for thousands have abused this Divine institution through love of ease, desire for authority and reputation, or love of money--and brought upon themselves "greater damnation" (James 3:1). Thousands have invaded the pastoral office in an unauthorized manner, to fleece sheep rather than feed them, robbing Christ of His honor and starving His people.
Solemn beyond words is it to observe how sternly our Lord denounced these false shepherds of His day. (Matthew 23) As J. C. Ryle rightly said, "Nothing seemed so offensive to Christ as a false teacher of religion, a false prophet, or a false shepherd. Nothing ought to be so much feared by the Church, be so plainly rebuked, opposed and exposed."
What are the marks of a true shepherd, how are God’s people to identify those called and qualified by Him to minister unto His people?
First, the genuine pastor has the doctrine of Christ on his LIPS. The ministers of the new covenant are described as those who had "renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness." Christendom today is infested with men who are full of deceit and hypocrisy, trimming their sails according to whatever direction the breeze of public opinion is blowing.
Solemn beyond words is it to observe how sternly our Lord denounced these false shepherds of His day. (Matthew 23) As J. C. Ryle rightly said, "Nothing seemed so offensive to Christ as a false teacher of religion, a false prophet, or a false shepherd. Nothing ought to be so much feared by the Church, be so plainly rebuked, opposed and exposed."
What are the marks of a true shepherd, how are God’s people to identify those called and qualified by Him to minister unto His people?
First, the genuine pastor has the doctrine of Christ on his LIPS. The ministers of the new covenant are described as those who had "renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness." Christendom today is infested with men who are full of deceit and hypocrisy, trimming their sails according to whatever direction the breeze of public opinion is blowing.
"Halloween. A Night of Fright or a Night of Witnessing? by Shane C. Montgomery
Friday, October 28, 2011
Halloween is of course somewhat of a puzzle for most believers, they do not know what to do, should they celebrate, decorate the house and lawn, let the little ones go out trick or treating, or by doing that are they embracing a pagan and evil holiday? You will find Christians on both sides of the fence here, and some standing right on top of the fence somehow! But I think this to be a massive waste of time, for the record, it is not evil. If you choose to let your kids go out dressed like Transformers or Pirates, then I applaud you for letting your kids be kids, just as your parents allowed you way back when. But if you go out on Halloween and watch gore porn movies, start fires, drink blood and so forth, then maybe you just might have a problem and should avoid Halloween. Of course anyone who desires those types of activities are not Christian to begin with, but you get my point. All in all, we often make a way bigger deal about Halloween than we need to, just let the kids have some fun, watching Scooby Doo and getting candy while in a costume is fine, don't get all fundamental and go berserk on other believers who do.
I look forward to Halloween, every year, Lord Allowing, we take our youngest son out trick or treating, we all go, me, my wife Jeannie and our oldest son Brandon. While mom concentrates on keeping track of little Ryan and his candy grab, me and Brandon are handing out Gospel tracts. We normally will pass out around 400-500 tracts, and witness to a good number of people. We try to always use themed tracts aimed at Halloween and we avoid the really ill advised tracts such as "Chick Tracts" which are nothing but bad taste and poor judgement. Avoid handing out Chick Tracts at all cost, they do more harm than good and they truly turn people away from the Gospel and Jesus Christ and that is not what we are trying to do in the Great Commission. There are so many good tracts out there today and many are of the highest quality, such as my favorite tract company, "Custom Tract Source." Their tracts are simply amazing, and very affordable, I recommend them to everybody.
As I write this, it is Friday night, I have prepared my Intervarsity Messenger Bag, all stocked up with tracts, around 1,000 this time and beginning tomorrow afternoon we will be visiting a city we have never witnessed in. They are having a special early bird trick or treat, people are to bring their kids to the downtown shopping district and the local businesses will pass out candy, and we will be there to pass out tracts to all the parents and business owners, we avoid giving tracts to small children, normally anyone under 12 that is, unless the tract is something fun like the above photo of the Frankenstein over sized million dollar bill tract, kids love these. Taking along a stack of Gospel of John booklets from Pocket Testament League and of course, a Bible to quote from. Really praying that God will plant a seed tomorrow.
I always look forward to witnessing, it is getting harder and harder to do, with my failing health and the fact that so many people are turning against accepting tracts all together, some get very nasty unfortunately, but overall it is always a great experience, and just serving the Lord is enough for me! This Monday this same city will be holding their normally scheduled trick or treat night and Lord Willing we will be there passing out tracts and witnessing as well, this time to parents along the sidewalks and adults who pass out candy from their front porch. Every year we always run into a least one person passing out bad tracts, never on the sidewalks mind you, but from their house, it is almost always the in poor taste Chic Tracts, last year my 7 year old received one that had a story of a little girl who went trick or treating and as a punishment for sinning so bad, God gave her cancer and she soon died and the mother was upset. To me this is just pathetic! Why give something that nasty and tasteless to small children on a night they love and look forward too?
It has been awhile since I have done any serious witnessing, though I witness everyday, but not on a large scale as of late, so I am looking forward to getting back in the saddle again, but no matter what happens, people will hear the Gospel, people will hear about the forgiveness of sins that can only come from Jesus Christ, and no matter what, God will be glorified, even if I stink it up, God will be glorified!
Be Holy!
Shane
"REPENTANCE" by J. C. Ryle
"Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3
The text which heads this page, at first sight, looks stern and severe, "Except you repent, you shall all perish." I can fancy someone saying, "Is this the Gospel?" "Are these the glad tidings? Are these the good news of which ministers speak?" "This is a hard saying, who can hear it?" (John 6:60.)
But from whose lips did these words come? They came from the lips of One who loves us with a love that passes knowledge, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God. They were spoken by One who so loved us that He left heaven for our sakes—came down to earth for our sakes—lived a poor, humble life, for three and thirty years on earth for our sakes—went to the cross for us, went to the grave for us, and died for our sins. The words that come from lips like these, must surely be words of love.
And, after all, what greater proof of love can be given than to warn a friend of coming danger? The father who sees his son tottering toward the brink of a precipice, and as he sees him cries out sharply, "Stop, stop!"—does not that father love his son? The tender mother who sees her infant on the point of eating some poisonous berry, and cries out sharply, "Stop, stop! put it down!"—does not that mother love that child? It is indifference which lets people alone, and allows them to go on each in his own way. It is love, tender love, which warns, and raises the cry of alarm. The cry of "Fire—fire!" at midnight, may sometimes startle a man out of his sleep, rudely, harshly, unpleasantly. But who would complain, if that cry was the means of saving his life? The words, "Except you repent, you shall all perish," may seem at first sight stern and severe. But they are words of love, and may be the means of delivering precious souls from hell.
There are three things to which I ask attention in considering this text of Scripture.
First of all, I will speak of the nature of repentance—What is it?
Secondly, I will speak of the necessity of repentance—Why is repentance needful?
Thirdly, I will speak of the encouragements to repentance—What is there to lead people to repent?
"Praying in the Name of Christ" by Thomas Boston
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Praying at His Command
2. Positively. To pray in the name of Christ is to pray,
first, At his command, to go to God by his order, John 16:24, "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive." Christ as God commands all men to pray, to offer that piece of natural duty to God; but that is not the command meant. But Christ as Mediator sends his own to his Father to ask supply of their wants, and allows them to tell that he sent them, as one recommends a poor body to a friend, John 16:24, just cited. So to pray in the name of Christ is to go to God as sent by the poor man's friend. So it implies,
1. The soul's having come to Christ in the first place, John 15:7, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." He that would pray aright, must do as those who made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend first, and then made their plea to their king, Acts 12:20.
2. The soul's taking its encouragement to pray from Jesus Christ, Heb 4:14, "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
The way to the throne in heaven is blocked up by our sins. And sinners have no confidence to seek the Lord. Jesus Christ came down from heaven, died for the criminals, and gathers them to himself by effectual calling. He, as having all interest with his Father, bids them go to his Father in his name, and ask what they need, assuring them of acceptance. And from thence they take their encouragement, viz. from his promises in the word. And he gives them his token with them, which the Father will own, and that is his own Spirit, Rom 8:26,27, "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Praying to God through Christ
Secondly, It is to direct our prayers to God through Jesus Christ, Heb 7:25, "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them," and in chapter 13:15, "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."
Praying Christ's name is depending wholly on Christ's merit and intercession for access, acceptance, and a gracious return:
1. Depending on Christ for access to God, Eph 3:12, "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him." There is no access to God but through him, John 14:6 "No one comes to the Father except through Me." They that attempt otherwise to come to God, will get the door thrown in their face. But we must take hold of the Mediator, and come in at his side, who is the Secretary of heaven.
2. Depending on him for acceptance of our prayers, Eph 1:6 "He has made us accepted in the Beloved." Our Lord Christ is the only altar that can sanctify our gift. If one lay the stress of the acceptance of his prayers on his attitude, feelings, tenderness, and so on, the prayer will not be accepted. A crucified Christ only can bear the weight of the acceptance of either our persons or performances.
3. Depending on him for a gracious answer, 1 John 5:14, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." No prayers are heard and answered but for the Mediator's sake; and whatever petitions agreeable to God's will are put up to God, in this dependence, are heard.
Why Must We Pray in the Name of Christ?
The reason of this may be taken up in these two things
1. There is no access for a sinful creature to God without a Mediator, Isa 59:2, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear." John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Sin has set us at a distance from God, and has bolted the door of our access to him, that it is beyond our power, or that of any creature, to open it for us. His justice rejects the criminal, his holiness the unclean creature, unless there be an acceptable person to go between him and us. Our God is a consuming fire: and so there is no immediate access for a sinner to him.
2. And there is none appointed nor fit for that work but Christ, 1 Tim. 2:5. It is he alone who is our great High Priest. None but he has satisfied justice for our sins. And as he is the only Mediator of redemption, so he is the only Mediator of intercession, 1 John 2:1 "If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." The sweet savour of his merit alone is capable to procure acceptance to our prayers, in themselves unworthy, Rev. 8:3,4.
"Lectures on the Principles of the Second Reformation" BY MINISTERS OF THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, SCOTLAND.
Monday, October 17, 2011
LECTURE I.
The Second Reformation forms a brief, but crowded and lucid, chapter in the history of our country, and of the church of God in it, a chapter in which every British Christian should be well read. The period commencing in 1638, and continuing for the ten years which follow, has been usually known, in the ecclesiastical history of this country, by the designation of the Second Reformation, to distinguish it from a period of longer duration in the preceding century, usually called from its priority, not its excellence, the First Reformation. The First was a reformation from Popery; that of which we are now to speak is a reformation from Prelacy, and was distinguished, not only by retrieving what was lost, when in 1592 and subsequent years, the first reformation was departed from, but distinguished also by a great accession of important attainment. It is worthy of remark here, that the Second Reformation, within the last ten years, has been brought into more conspicuous and honourable notice, than for the preceding century and half. The historic page has been searched and thrown open, and the knowledge of the period in question is no longer confined to the antiquary, the curious historian, or to a few persons taking a christian interest in the religious doings of that period; it has been raised from the obscurity in which it lay, and vindicated from much of that reproach which was cast upon it, where it was at all mentioned; and its great actors, and their noble Christian actings, have been held up to respect and admiration. Its attainments, after they were abandoned and lost, lingered long in the recollections and hearts of the religious people of Scotland, but had sunk into comparative oblivion when recent discussions recalled them to view; and the modern advocates of ecclesiastical reformation strengthen their arguments and pleadings, by appeals to its men, its principles, and its martyrs. Would to God that we could regard this as a token that an epoch draws near, when there will be a return to the faithful and extended application of its noble principles! "Turn thou us unto thee, O God, and we shall be turned: renew our days as of old." To state the great principles of the Second Reformation, it will be necessary to recur to prominent facts in the history of the period. ‘In a period of conflicting opinions and sentiments, producing mental and moral revolutions, it seldom happens that individuals or communities arrive all at once at the great principles which are afterwards recognized and felt.’ We are not to expect to find a system of principles, laid down and adopted by the leaders of the Reformation, and then acted upon; but, turning our attention to facts, and observing the great movements as they have proceeded, we shall be able to elicit the great principles which impelled the actors, whose doings have so large demands on our gratitude, and supply so valuable lessons for our adoption and imitation.
"May I Introduce....The Reformed Faith" A New Series on the Basics of Reformed Theology By Shane C. Montgomery
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Well, it is none of the above, first off, it is not new by any means, it is in fact older than all the other denominations, you can even say it is older than the Roman Catholic church which has been around for nearly ever! Reformed Theology has been around since the very first years of the Christian Church, it really has, it was the very first teachings in the early church, these teachings are better known as The Doctrines of Grace, which is the very same teachings made popular by Christ, His disciples, mostly John and Paul, all of whom taught the Doctrines of Grace, which is nothing more than sound orthodox teachings of the Bible. That's it in a nutshell!
The name "Reformed" actually goes back to the great Reformation which began in Wittenberg, Germany on Oct. 31, 1517 when a local theology professor, and one time monk, Martin Luther wrote up a list of 95 disagreements that he took issue with the then mostly corrupt Roman church, (Catholic with a capitol C) the word "catholic" simply means, universal, so it was intended to be the "Church Universal" meaning the same church all over the world, and it pretty much was at least in the Roman way, but the pope and several cardinals, bishops and the like began to become evermore corrupt and money hungry, the last straw being the selling of indulgences to mostly peasants in order for the pope to raise money to rebuild the main cathedral. A man name Tetzel was the best at selling these papers (indulgences) that were promissory notes to get you or a loved one out of Purgatory quicker and into Heaven faster, and if you know your Scripture you will notice, Purgatory is not mentioned and does not exist and that God does not need to bargain with anyone.
"Preach the Gospel" by Charles H. Spurgeon
Friday, October 14, 2011
"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; yea woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel."—1 Corinthians 9:16.
HE greatest man of Apostolic times was the apostle Paul. He was always great in everything. If you consider him as a sinner, he wasexceeding sinful; if you regard him as a persecutor, he wasexceeding mad against the Christians, and persecuted them even unto strange cities, if you take him as a convert, his conversion was the most notable one of which we read, worked by miraculous power, and by the direct voice of Jesus speaking from heaven—"Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"—If we take him simply as a Christian, he was an extraordinary one, loving his Master more than others, and seeking more than others to exemplify the grace of God in his life. But if you take him as an apostle, and as a preacher of the Word, he stands out pre-eminent as the prince of preachers, and a preacher to kings—for he preached before Agrippa, he preached before Nero Caesar—he stood before emperors and kings for Christ's name's sake. It was the characteristic of Paul, that whatever he did, he did with all his heart. He was one of the men who could not allow one half of his frame to be exercised, while the other half was indolent but, when he set to work, the whole of his energies—every nerve, every sinew—were strained in the work to be done, be it bad work or be it good. Paul, therefore, could speak from experience concerning his ministry; because he was the chief of ministers. There is no nonsense in what he speaks; it is all from the depth of his soul. And we may be sure that when he wrote this, he wrote it with a strong unpalsied hand—"Though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is laid upon me, yea, woe is me if I preach not the gospel."
Now, these words of Paul, I trust, are applicable to many ministers in the present day; to all those who are especially called, who are directed by the inward impulse of the Holy Spirit to occupy the position of gospel ministers. In trying to consider this verse, we shall have three inquiries this morning:—First,What is it to preach the gospel? Secondly, Why is it that a minister has nothing to glorify of? And thirdly, What is that necessity and that woe, of which it is written, "Necessity is laid upon me, yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel?"I. The first enquiry is, WHAT IS IT TO PREACH THE GOSPEL? There are a variety of opinions concerning this question, and possibly amongst my own audience—though I believe we are very uniform in our doctrinal sentiments—there might be found two or three very ready answers to this question: What is it to preach the gospel? I shall therefore attempt to answer it myself according to my own judgment, if God will help me; and if it does not happen to be the correct answer, you are at liberty to supply a better to yourselves at home." Another Gospel" By A.W. Pink
Monday, October 10, 2011
Satan is the arch-counterfeiter. The Devil is now busy at work in the same field in which the Lord sowed the good seed. He is seeking to prevent the growth of the wheat by another plant, the tares, which closely resembles the wheat in appearance. In a word, by a process of imitation he is aiming to neutralize the Work of Christ. Therefore, as Christ has a Gospel, Satan has a gospel too; the latter being a clever counterfeit of the former. So closely does the gospel of Satan resemble that which it parodies, multitudes of the unsaved are deceived by it.
"How God Calls Our Hearts From the World" by John Owen
Monday, October 3, 2011
God says to man, ‘My son, give me your heart’ (Prov. 23:26). God will not accept anything from us unless it is given from the depths of our hearts. The most costly sacrifice will not be accepted unless it is given from the heart. All the purposes of God’s grace, all the counsels of his will, are centred on one purpose and that is to bring back the hearts and minds of men to himself. He wants nothing else but that man should love him with all his heart and soul and mind and strength (Deut. 10:12). God has also revealed what he intends to do in order to bring back man’s heart and mind to himself. He will circumcise man’s heart so that man may once again love the Lord his God with all his heart and with all his soul, in order that he may live and not die (Deut. 30:6).
On the other hand, the world with painted face, seductive promises and glorious robes, and assisted by Satan, also seeks to draw and hold the hearts and minds of men. And if man prefers the world before God, he shall justly perish along with the world, and be rejected by the one whom he has rejected (Prov. 1:24-31).
Our hearts and minds are the only real things we have to give, the only power which our souls have by which we may give ourselves as a gift, in order that we may belong to another. Every other power which our souls possess, even the most noble of them, are only equipped to receive. But by our hearts and minds we can give away what we are and all that we have. So it is only by our hearts and minds that we can give ourselves to God as he requires.
"Sanctification" by John Bunyan
I say, that every one that in a way of profession and religion, nameth the name of Christ, should depart from iniquity. This truth needs more practice than proof: for I think there are none that have either scripture or reason by them, but will freely consent to this.
Nor is there anything ambiguous in the observation that we need now to stand upon the explaining of. For,
What iniquity is, who knows not?
That it cleaves to the best, who knows not?
That it is disgraceful to profession, who knows not? and therefore that it ought to be departed from, who knows not?
But because the motives in particular may not be so much considered as they ought, and because it is Satan’s design to tempt us to be unholy, and to keep iniquity and the professing man together; therefore I will in this place spend some arguments upon you that profess, and in a way of profession do name the name of Christ, that you depart from iniquity; to wit, both in the inward thought, and in the outward practice of it. And those arguments shall be of four sorts, some respecting Christ, some his Father, some ourselves.
Our Relation to Christ
First. The Christ, whom you profess, whose name you name, and whose disciples you pretend to be, is holy. “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” (I Peter 1:16) This is natural to our discourse: for if Christ be holy, and if we profess him, and in professing of him, declare that we are his disciples, we ought therefore to depart from iniquity, that we may show the truth of our profession to the world.
Second. They that thus name the name of Christ should depart from iniquity, because this Christ, whose name we name is loving. Those that have a loving master, a master that is continually extending his love unto his servants, should be forward in doing of his will, that thereby they may show their sense, and acceptation of the love of their master. Why, this is his will, “that we depart from iniquity, that we throw sin away; that we fly every appearance of evil.” (I Thess. 5:22)
"The Reformers on the Necessity for Repentance and Sanctification" 2
The second part of the gospel, then, is repentance: not that which takes place for a time, but that which makes a man who knows himself blush and be ashamed of his old life, for one reason because he sees it ought to be altogether foreign to a Christian to waste away in those sins from which he rejoiced to believe that he had been delivered...Therefore when Christ and John and the Apostles preach, saying, ‘Repent,’ they are simply calling us to a new life quite unlike our life before; and those who had undertaken to enter upon this were marked by an initiatory sacrament, baptism to wit, by which they give public testimony that they were going to enter upon a new life. (Commentary On True and False Religion (Durham: Labyrinth, 1981), pp. 131–132)
Martin Bucer:
It is a quality of the Kingdom of Christ that in it the repentance of sinners must always be preached. Hence where the kingdom of Christ has truly been received, there it is necessary that the sins of all be severely rebuked, that men may give themselves up completely to the kingship of Christ in order to be cleansed from their sins and endowed with the spirit of righteousness...Thus it is a hollow mockery that those who do not make a wholehearted effort to do the things that are pleasing to the heavenly Father should declare themselves citizens and members of the Kingdom of Christ. (On the Kingdom of Christ. Found in The Library of Christian Classics (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1969), Volume XIX, p. 219)
"The Reformers on the Necessity for Repentance and Sanctification"
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Even though we have taught in part how to possess Christ, and how through it we enjoy his benefits, this would still remain obscure if we did not add an explanation of the effects we feel. With good reason, the sum of the gospel is held to consist in repentance and the forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:47; Acts 5:31). Any discussion of faith, therefore, that omitted these two topics would be barren and mutilated and well–nigh useless...Surely no one can embrace the grace of the gospel without betaking himself from the errors of his past life into the right way, and applying his whole effort to the practice of repentance.
Can true repentance stand apart from faith? Not at all. But even though they cannot be separated, they ought to be distinguished (Institutes of the Christian Religion. Found in The Library of Christian Classics (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1960), Volume XIX, Book III, Chapters 1, 5, pp. 592-593, 597).
The Hebrew word for ‘repentance’ is derived from conversion or return; the Greek word, from change of mind or of intention. And the thing itself corresponds closely to the etymology of both words. The meaning is that, departing from ourselves, we turn to God, and having taken off our former mind, we put on a new. On this account, in my judgment, repentance can thus be well defined: it is the turning of our life to God...When we call it a ‘turning of life to God,’ we require a transformation, not only in outward works, but in the soul itself. Only when it puts off its old nature does it bring forth the fruits of works in harmony with its renewal. The prophet, wishing to express this change, bids whom he calls to repentance to get themselves a new heart (Ezek. 18:31).
Outward uprightness of life is not the chief point of repentance, for God looks into men’s hearts. Whoever is moderately versed in Scripture will understand by himself...that when we have to deal with God nothing is achieved unless we begin from the inner disposition of the heart (emphasis mine). (Institutes of the Christian Religion. Found in The Library of Christian Classics (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1960), Volume XIX, Book III.3. 5-6, 16, pp. 597-598, 609-610.
"SHORT TREATISE ON THE HOLY SUPPER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST" by John Calvin
Friday, September 30, 2011
Secondly, What fruit and utility we receive from it, when it will likewise be shown how the body of Jesus Christ is given to us.
Thirdly, What is the legitimate use of it.
Fourthly, We will detail the errors and superstitions with which it has been contaminated, when it will be shown how the servants of God ought to differ from the Papists.
Lastly, We will mention what has been the source of the discussion which has been so keenly carried on, even among those who have, in our time, brought back the light of the gospel, and employed themselves in rightly edifying the Church in sound doctrine.
MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY.
In regard to the first article Since it has pleased our good God to receive us by baptism into his Church, which is his house, which he desires to maintain and govern, and since he has received us to keep us not merely as domestics, but as his own children, it remains that, in order to do the office of a good father, he nourishes and provides us with every thing necessary for our life. In regard to corporal nourishment, as it is common to all, and the bad share in it as well as the good, it is not peculiar to his family. It is very true that we have an evidence of his paternal goodness in maintaining our bodies, seeing that we partake in all the good things which he gives us with his blessing. But as the life into which he has begotten us again is spiritual, so must the food, in order to preserve and strengthen us, be spiritual also. For we should understand, that not only has he called us one day to possess his heavenly inheritance, but that by hope he has already in some measure installed us in possession; that not only has he promised us life, but already transported us into it, delivering us from death, when by adopting us as his children, he begot us again by immortal seed, namely, his word imprinted on our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
"The Doctrine of the Covenant in Reformed Theology" by Geerhardus Vos
Thursday, September 29, 2011
The last-mentioned phenomenon has caused some to be of the opinion that the doctrine of the covenant was something new which did indeed grow up in Reformed soil, but which nevertheless first came to light in Cocceius and his school. Cocceianism and covenant theology would then amount to the same thing. If that is taken to mean that Cocceius was the first to make the covenant idea the dominant concept of his system, then there is some truth to this opinion. Yet even then it cannot be fully agreed with. Cloppenburg and Gellius Snecanus3 had already come up with a covenant theology in the Netherlands, and the same can be said of Olevianus in Germany. What was new in Cocceius was not his covenant theology as such, but rather the historical conclusions for the economy of redemption which he drew from the covenant concept. When these conclusions became apparent, the struggle against Cocceianism was on.
If we are looking only for the covenant concept itself, rather than for a covenant theology, we can go back a lot further. Many Reformed theologians had in their systems a locus on the covenant or on the testaments. Trelcatius, father and son, Junius, Gomarus, and others taught the covenant in this sense. With them the concept remained rather subordinate, so that they cannot be called federalists in the later sense of the term.
"A Call to the Unconverted" by Charles H. Spurgeon
Sunday, September 25, 2011
REV. C. H. Spurgeon
At New Park Street Chapel, Southwark.
"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."—Galatians 3:10.
Y HEARER, ART THOU a believer, or no? for, according to thine answer to that question, must be the style in which I shall address thee to-night. I would ask thee as a great favor to thine own soul, this evening to divest thyself of the thought that thou art sitting in a chapel, and hearing a minister who is preaching to a large congregation. Think thou art sitting in thine own house, in thine own chair, and think that I am standing by thee, with thy hand in mine, and am speaking personally to thee, and to thee alone; for that is how I desire to preach this night to each of my hearers—one by one. I want thee, then, in the sight of God, to answer me this all important and solemn question before I begin—Art thou in Christ, or art thou not? Hast thou fled for refuge to him who is the only hope for sinners? or art thou yet a stranger to the commonwealth of Israel, ignorant of God, and of his holy Gospel? Come—be honest with thine own heart, and let thy conscience say yes, or no, for one of these two things thou art to-night—thou art either under the wrath of God, or thou art delivered from it. Thou art to-night either an heir of wrath, or an inheritor of the kingdom of grace. Which of these two? Make no "ifs" or "ahs" in your answer. Answer straight forward to thine own soul; and if there be any doubt whatever about it, I beseech thee rest not till that doubt be resolved. Do not take advantage of that doubt to thyself, but rather take a disadvantage from it. Depend upon it, thou art more likely to be wrong than thou art to be right; and now put thyself in the scale, and if thou dost not kick the beam entirely, but if thou hangest between the two, and thou sayest, "I know not which," better that thou shouldst decide for the worst, though it should grieve thyself, than that thou shouldst decide for the better, and be deceived, and so go on presumptuously until the pit of hell shall wake thee from thy self-deception. Canst thou, then, with one hand upon God's holy word, and the other upon thine own heart, lifts thine eye to heaven, and say, "One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see; I know that I have passed from death unto life, I am not now what I once was; 'I the chief of sinners am, but Jesus died for me.' And if I be not awfully deceived, I am this night "A sinner saved by blood, a monument of grace?'" My brother, God speed you; the blessing of the Most High be with you. My text has no thunders in it for you. Instead of this verse, turn to the 13th, and there read your inheritance—"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." So Christ was cursed in the stead of you, and you are secure, if you are truly converted, and really a regenerated child of God.But my hearer, I am solemnly convinced that a large proportion of this assembly dare not say so; and thou to-night (for I am speaking personally to thee), remember that thou art one of those who dare not say this, for thou art a stranger to the grace of God. Thou durst not lie before God, and thine own conscience, therefore thou dost honestly say, "I know I was never regenerated; I am now what I always was, and that is the most I can say." Now, with you I have to deal, and I charge you by him who shall judge the quick and the dead, before whom you and I must soon appear, listen to the words I speak, for they may be the last warning you shall ever hear, and I charge my own soul also, be thou faithful to these dying men, lest haply on thy skirts at last should be found the blood of souls, and thou thyself shouldst be a castaway. O God, make us faithful this night and give the hearing ear, and the retentive memory, and the conscience touched by the Spirit, for Jesus' sake.First, to-night we shall try the prisoner; secondly, we shall declare his sentence; and thirdly, if we find him confessing and penitent, we shallproclaim his deliverance; but not unless we find him so."Double Predestination" by R.C. Sproul
The "Double" of Predestination
The goal of this essay is not to provide a comprehensive analysis, exposition, or defense of the doctrine of election or predestination. Rather, the essay is limited to a concern for the "double" aspect of predestination with particular reference to the question of the relationship of God's sovereignty to reprobation or preterition.
The use of the qualifying term "double" has been somewhat confusing in discussions concerning predestination. The term apparently means one thing within the circle of Reformed theology and quite another outside that circle and at a popular level of theological discourse. The term "double" has been set in contrast with a notion of "single" predestination. It has also been used as a synonym for a symmetrical view of predestination which sees election and reprobation being worked out in a parallel mode of divine operation. Both usages involve a serious distortion of the Reformed view of double predestination.
The use of the qualifying term "double" has been somewhat confusing in discussions concerning predestination. The term apparently means one thing within the circle of Reformed theology and quite another outside that circle and at a popular level of theological discourse. The term "double" has been set in contrast with a notion of "single" predestination. It has also been used as a synonym for a symmetrical view of predestination which sees election and reprobation being worked out in a parallel mode of divine operation. Both usages involve a serious distortion of the Reformed view of double predestination.
Viewing double predestination as a distinction from single predestination may be seen in the work of Emil Brunner. Brunner argues that it is impossible to deduce the doctrine of double predestination from the Bible. He says:
The Bible does not contain the doctrine of double predestination, although in a few isolated passages it seems to come close to it. The Bible teaches that all salvation is based on the eternal Election of God in Jesus Christ, and that this eternal Election springs wholly and entirely from God's sovereign freedom. But wherever this happens, there is no mention of a decree of rejection. The Bible teaches that alongside of the elect there are those who are not elect, who are "reprobate," and indeed that the former are the minority and the latter the majority; but in these passages the point at issue is not eternal election but "separation" or "selection" in judgment. Thus the Bible teaches that there will be a double outcome of world history, salvation and ruin, Heaven and hell. But while salvation is explicitly taught as derived from the eternal election, the further conclusion is not drawn that destruction is also based upon a corresponding decree of doom.1
"Barking at Thunder" by Charles H. Spurgeon
Saturday, September 17, 2011
From the August 1883 Sword and Trowel
"Door-to-Door Evangelism Tips" by Ray Kane
Friday, September 16, 2011
HELPFUL DOOR-TO-DOOR
SOUL WINNING GUIDELINES
1. PRAY FERVENTLY:Pray privately (i.e. at home) well in advance of outings and pray privately for the people you make contact with. Pray as if the eternal destiny of people's souls depended on God hearing and answering your prayers, remembering how Moses interceded for rebellious Israel many times (Exodus 32, Numbers 14, etc.) and how Paul prayed for his fellow Jews (Romans 9:3). Pray according to God's promises in His Word. For example, you could pray that God would give you the joy of the Lord for your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Remember: "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it" (Psalm 127:1)SOUL WINNING GUIDELINES
2. THINK LIKE AN AMBASSADOR:Remind yourself that you are going out with the intention of trying to best represent your precious Lord and Saviour. Groom yourself as if your appearance really matters. Dress neat, be clean, use breath-mints, etc.
3. A WORKMAN BRINGS THE RIGHT TOOLS:
A. Carry an easy to read Bible: avoid anything too large or too small and avoid computer Bibles and anything else that would be distracting to you or to others.
B. Bring an extra New Testament with you to give to someone that may not have a Bible but would like one. The Bible should be labeled with your church or ministry's contact information to provide a way for the person to obtain follow-up information and additional discipleship.
C. Bring tracts appropriate for who you will meet: tracts in various foreign languages (Spanish, Hindi for people from India, Arabic for Muslims, etc. Bring tracts that , Jewish, Catholic, Muslim, etc. Be sure to check out our article "Good Versus Not-So-Good Evangelistic Literature ".
D. Bring something to write down information about people you contact and prayer requests or other needs they may inform you of.
4. ACT LIKE TRUE MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD:A. Arrive early for soul-winning outings to ensure that there is adequate time to prepare materials and to pray together.
B. Avoid talking outside of people's doors so they won't hear something you would not want them to hear and so they won't think you gossip about them or others: "Abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Thess 5:22)
C. Be polite to one another. Do not interrupt your partner or hand a person literature while your partner is talking to the person. One should silently pray while the other one preaches and the one who is not talking can also be looking in their tract bag for appropriate literature to leave with the person. Give each other a chance to talk also.
5. COMPEL THE LOST TO COME IN TO YOUR FATHER'S HOUSE:Don't be afraid to loudly knock on someone's door or ring their doorbell twice. Many people may not hear the first ring because they are hard of hearing or because they had the TV or radio on.
6. TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION:A. Do NOT hand a person a crumpled up or folded tract. Do your best to provide people with undamaged, high-quality reading material.
B. Do not interrupt the person you are talking to or the person you are with. If you give someone time to talk, they are more apt to listen to you too. Some people have no one to talk to or have problems or concern that they do feel other people do not want to here.
7. STARTING CONVERSATIONS:A. First, greet people warmly. You can say something as simple as "Hello. How are you today?"
B. Identify yourselves right up front, verbally as well as in print. People don't like to be kept in the dark as to who it is that has invaded their turf and their day. You can just say "We're from such-and-such a church. Here is a pamphlet that explains more about us and about what we believe."
C. When the person says "What do you want?", you can say something like: "We have something of great importance that we would like to share with you... something that will matter to you personally someday." Be creative, asking God to give you wisdom - that is the key to successful soul winning: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5)
D. If they say they are busy or not interested, then ask them if you can leave something for them to look at on (not in) their mailbox. It is illegal to put anything in other people's mailboxes.
E. Ask questions to begin conversations, in order to give people a chance to explain where they are at spiritually. You can ask them "Do you know where you will be a hundred years from now? The Bible gives us the answer to that question. Would you like to hear it?"
8. BE STRAIGHTFORWARD AND FRIENDLY:Depending on how the Lord leads you and how much time the person gives you, you may wish to convey to them that:
A. They are always welcome to visit you at the church.
B. There is Sunday school or other programs for them and their children.
C. You are from a Bible-believing Christian church.
D. They should feel free to contact the church at the phone number on the back of the leaflet if they have any questions about you or the Bible or if they would like you to pray for them or their families.
E. You are interested in seeing them in heaven someday and so you are distributing literature that explains God's wonderful plan of salvation.
9. USE WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT:A. Do not share the Gospel with people who are drunk or high. Offer them a tract, say 'have a nice day', and move on!
B. If the person says, "I'm Jewish" offer them a Jewish tract.
C. If a person says, "I'm a Hindu" ask them if they speak Hindi or Urdu or Punjabi, and if they say yes to any of these, offer them a tract in that language. NOTE: Hindi is the most common.
D. If a person says, "I'm a Muslim", ask them if they read Arabic. If they say yes, offer them an Arabic tract.
E. If a person says, "I'm a Catholic", you could tell them: "Then I have something just for you" and then give them a Catholic-oriented tract.
F. If you notice the person has a strong accent, ask them if they read any other languages besides English. Very often people will gladly tell you what language they would prefer to read and then you can offer them a tract in that language.
G. If a person's body language is telling you that they don't want you there or that they have heard enough, don't wear out your welcome. Remember - it is God's job to save a soul. He desires to use us but don't think that you need to read the entire Bible to someone before you leave. God's Word is powerful. The right verses at the right time (i.e. when people are paying attention) can be most effective.
10. WRAPPING UP CONVERSATIONS:A. When you are leaving, ask the person if there is anything that you could pray about for them or their families.
B. After you leave, jot down the person's house or apartment number and details about the visit and plan to visit them again SOON if they showed interest in knowing more about the Gospel. Plan to visit them again anyway, in the future, realizing that God may be working in their lives even though they showed no interest during your first visit.
11. CONCLUDING AN OUTREACH:A. When your outing is over, discuss, in a loving, caring way, any ideas you have for improving each other's soul winning approaches. It is essential that we be open to constructive criticism! God wants humble servants who are anxious to learn from their mistakes and from the experience of others.
B. Close in group prayer asking God to water the seed you have just sown.
C. Don't forget to thank God for using you and for what He is going to do through your efforts!
"A Day of Reflection" by Shane C. Montgomery
Sunday, September 11, 2011
I am on my way out the door to our own memorial, wont you please do the same today. This should also be a day of reflection on where we stand as a Nation, a Community and as Individuals, where do we stand spiritually? This day should be a day of reflection and self examination, how do we stand in our lives, are we leading a Christ-like life that God calls us to?
My prayer for you today is that you spend some time remembering this day, honoring God and Nation and in self-reflection on your spiritual standing. May God bless you this day and may your service to Him be fruitful.
Be Holy!
Shane
"44 Questions for the Not-Yet-a-Believer"
Thursday, September 8, 2011
In order to be fair in the debate about matters of faith, it's not just the Christian who must be called to the witness stand. Even those who dispute or who otherwise persist in voicing skepticism about Christianity have some questions to answer. In fact, considering the evidence, it no doubt requires more faith to stand outside the circle of those who believe than to join it. To ensure integrity, therefore, on the part of even our readers who are not yet believers, here are a few issues about which you too should be able to give an account.
- How do you explain the high degree of design and order in the universe?
» Learn more about the universe / origin of life / origin of species / origin of mankind - How do you account for the vast archaeological documentation of Biblical stories, places, and people?
» In what ways have archaeological discoveries verified it?
» Bible archaeology evidences - Since absolutely no Bible prophecy has ever failed (and there are hundreds), how can one realistically remain unconvinced that the Bible is of Divine origin?
» Read about fulfilled biblical prophecies...Explain David's graphic portrayal of Jesus' death by crucifixion (Psalm 22) 1000 years previous to crucifixion being established as a form of capital punishment?How could any mere human pinpoint the birth town of the Messiah seven full centuries before the fact, as did the prophetMicah?
» Read the “God's Story” account of Micah describing the Messiah...Account for the odds (1 in 10 to the 157th power) that even just 48 (of 300) Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in one person, i.e Jesus.
» More about statistical odds surrounding Jesus Christ Go
» What messianic prophecies were fulfilled by Christ? Answer
» More about messianic propheciesHow was it possible for the Old Testament prophet Isaiah to have predicted the virgin birth of Jesus (Isaiah 7:14) 700 years before it occurred?
» Read the “God's Story” account of the prophets describing the Savior
» Is the virgin birth a myth? - How can anyone doubt the reliability of Scripture considering the number and proximity to originals of its many copied manuscripts?
» Read about the importance of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls /Discovering the Bible videos explain the manuscript evidence and much more - Are you able to live consistently with your present worldview?
» Visit Summit Ministries for worldview comparisons... - Wouldn't it make better sense, even pragmatically, to live as though the God of the Bible does exist than as though He doesn't?
- In what sense was Jesus a 'Good Man' if He was lying in His claim to be God?
» Is Jesus Christ really God?... - Do you think that Jesus was misguided in affirming the truthfulness of Scripture, i.e. John 10:35, Matthew 24, Luke 24:44?
- If the Bible is not true, why is it so universally regarded as the 'Good Book'?
» How can I know if the Bible is true?... / Is the Bible truth or tabloid? / Can the Bible be infallible if it is written by fallible humans?Are you aware that the Old Testament alone claims to be God's inspired word at least 2600 times?Did you know that the Bible has been the number one best-seller every year since the 1436 invention of the Gutenberg printing press?
» The Bible—an amazing book... - From whence comes humanity's universal moral sense?
- If man is nothing but the random arrangement of molecules, what motivates you to care and to live honorably in the world?
- Explain how personality could have ever evolved from the impersonal, or how order could have ever resulted from chaos.
- If Jesus' resurrection was faked, why would twelve intelligent men (Jesus' disciples) have died for what they knew to be a lie?
» Is the resurrection a myth?... - How do you explain the fact that a single, relatively uneducated and virtually untraveled man, dead at age 33, radically changed lives and society to this day?
» Learn more about Jesus' life, death and resurrection... - Why have so many of history's greatest thinkers been believers? Have you ever wondered why thousands of intelligent scientists, living and dead, have been men and women of great faith?
» Do real scientists believe in Creation? / Is the Bible completely accurate, or does it contain some inaccuracies about history and science? - Isn't it somewhat arrogant to suggest that countless churches and people (including men like Abraham Lincoln) are all radically in error in their view of the Bible?
- How do you account for the origin of life considering the irreducible complexity of its essential components?
» Learn more about the origin of life... - How can the Second Law of Thermodynamics be reconciled with progressive, naturalistic evolutionary theory?
» Second Law of Thermodynamics - Does this basic law of nature prevent Evolution?...How do you reconcile the existence of human intelligence with naturalism and the Law of Entropy? - Why does the Bible alone, of all of the world's 'holy' books, contain such detailed prophecies of future events?
» Learn more about the Bible... - On what basis can the Bible (interpreted as per historic Christian orthodoxy) be challenged as a sole, final truth-standard (Galatians 1:8)?
- Is it absolutely true that "truth is not absolute" or only relatively true that "all things are relative?"
» The Loss of Truth—Are we living in a moral stone age?... - Is it possible that your unbelief in God is actually an unwillingness to submit to Him?
» God's plan - Does your present worldview provide you with an adequate sense of meaning and purpose?
- How do you explain the radically changed lives of so many Christian believers down through history?
- Are you aware that every alleged Bible contradiction has been answered in an intelligible and credible manner?
» More about Bible contradictions... - What do you say about the hundreds of scholarly books that carefully document the veracity and reliability of the Bible?
- Why and how has the Bible survived and even flourished in spite of centuries of worldwide attempts to destroy and ban its message?
» Recommended resource: The Indestructible Book (video)... - Why isn't it absurd to try to speak or even conceive of a non-existent 'God' when an existing God would, by definition, be greater?
- Have you ever considered the fact that Christianity is the only religion whose leader is said to have risen from the dead?
» Is Christianity really unique among world religions?... - How do you explain the empty tomb of Jesus in light of all the evidence that has now proven essentially irrefutable for twenty centuries?
» Is the resurrection a myth? / Did Christ really rise from the dead? / Were the witnesses hallucinating? - If Jesus did not actually die and rise from the dead, how could He (in His condition) have circumvented all of the security measures in place at His tomb?
» Did Jesus really die? / How did Jesus die? / What is crucifixion? - If the authorities stole Jesus' body, why? Why would they have perpetrated the very scenario that they most wanted to prevent?
» Could Jesus' body have been stolen from the tomb?... - If Jesus merely resuscitated in the tomb, how did He deal with the Roman guard posted just outside its entrance?
» Could Jesus' have merely fainted? / Is the resurrection a myth? / Did Christ really rise from the dead? - How can one realistically discount the testimony of over 500 witnesses to a living Jesus following His crucifixion (see 1 Corinthians 15:6)?
» Maybe the witnesses were just seeing things?... - If all of Jesus' claims to be God were the result of His own self-delusion, why didn't He evidence lunacy in any other areas of His life?
» Is Jesus Christ's character consistent with his high claims?... - If God is unchanging, wouldn't it be true that one who changes by suddenly “realizing” that he/she is “God” therefore isn't God?
- Is your unbelief in a perfect God possibly the result of a bad experience with an imperfect Church or a misunderstanding of the facts, and therefore an unfair rejection of God Himself? » Why should I consider Christianity, if all Christians are hypocrites? / What kind of world would you create? / How did bad things come about? / Why do the innocent suffer? /Does God feel your pain? / Goodness of God / Is God fair? / How can a God of love send anybody to Hell?
- How did 35-40 men, spanning 1500 years and living on three separate continents, ever manage to author one unified message, i.e. the Bible?
» Can the Bible be infallible if it is written by fallible humans? / More about thecongruency of the Bible / The Discovering the Bible videos explain the amazing authorship of the Bible and many other evidences - Would you charge the Declaration of Independence with error in affirming that "all men are endowed by their Creator..."?
- Because life origins are not observable, verifiable, or falsifiable, how does historical 'science' amount to anything more than just another faith system?
» What is the nature of science and scientists? / Why do so many scientistsendorse Evolution? / Frequently asked questions on the Origin of Life - What do you make of all the anthropological studies indicating that even the most remote tribes show some sort of theological awareness?
- Why subscribe to the incredible odds that the tilt and position of our planet relative to the sun are merely coincidental?
» Consider: Was there a big bang?... - If every effect has a cause, and if God Himself is the universe (i.e. is one with the universe, as some non-Christians suggest), what or who then caused the universe?
» See our Creation SuperLibrary for answer about Creation/Evolution... - What would be required to persuade you to become a believer?
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