Results 361 - 380 of 6029
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Results from: Notes On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: DocTrinsograce Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
361 | Praying to Our Sovereign Lord for Others | Jon 1:14 | DocTrinsograce | 243082 | ||
"We must not only pray for the faithful, who are our brothers already, but for those who are very far off, those poor unbelievers. Even though there seems to be a great distance and a thick wall between both, nevertheless we must have pity for their coming destruction, to the end that I may pray to God that he would draw them unto him. Since this is so, let us notice how backward a thing it is for every man to be committed to his own profit, and have no regard to his neighbors. For our Lord God has not created infinite worlds, for every man to dwell apart by himself, seeking nothing but his own private commodity. Instead he has placed us together, one with another. Since he makes us to dwell together, he has also bound us to think upon this, how we ought to communicate with our neighbors. And therefore he has made us of one nature. When I look upon a man, I cannot but behold my own image in him; and in seeing him I look upon myself and know myself in him. Moreover and beside this, there is another thing even more worthy to be considered, namely, the image of God which he has ingrained in us. Therefore if we bear any reverence and honor to God, it is good reason for us not to despise his image which he has ingrained in all men; and know what is said in the Scripture: that no man hates his own flesh, for it is a monstrous thing, and clearly against humanity. And when it speaks of flesh, this is extended to great and small, and to the greatest stranger in the word; as the prophet Isaiah also says (Isaiah 5:7). We see that God has joined us together upon this condition, that every one of us should employ himself to serve his neighbors as much as he can, and how he may. And we must do this in our prayers to God, for it is the greatest help we can give those who need our help. If I mean to help those to whom God has bound me, it is true that I must consider the means that I have; and as occasion serves, I must apply myself to it. But the greatest pleasure we can do for men is to pray to God for them, and call upon him for their salvation. In this behalf it is that Saint Paul commands all the faithful to exercise their charity." --John Calvin (Excerpt from Sermons on 1 Timothy) | ||||||
362 | ...Framed a False and Perverse Worship.. | John 4:20 | DocTrinsograce | 243078 | ||
"Our fathers worshipped in this mountain. The Samaritans at that time did, as we learn from the words of the woman, what is customary with those who have revolted from true godliness, to seek to shield themselves by the examples of the Fathers. It is certain that this was not the reason which induced them to offer sacrifices there, but after that they had framed a false and perverse worship, obstinacy followed, which was ingenious in contriving excuses. I acknowledge, indeed, that unsteady and thoughtless men are sometimes excited by foolish zeal, as if they had been bitten by a gad-fly, so that when they learn that any thing has been done by the Saints, they instantly seize on the example without any exercise of judgment." --John Calvin (1509-1564) |
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363 | Our Labor in the World | 1 Pet 2:18 | DocTrinsograce | 243077 | ||
"For Christians to influence the world with the truth of God's Word requires the recovery of the great Reformation doctrine of vocation. Christians are called to God's service not only in church professions but also in every secular calling. The task of restoring truth to the culture depends largely on our laypeople. "To bring back truth, on a practical level, the church must encourage Christians to be not merely consumers of culture but makers of culture. The church needs to cultivate Christian artists, musicians, novelists, filmmakers, journalists, attorneys, teachers, scientists, business executives, and the like, teaching its laypeople the sense in which every secular vocation-including, above all, the callings of husband, wife, and parent -- is a sphere of Christian ministry, a way of serving God and neighbor that is grounded in God's truth. Christian laypeople must be encouraged to be leaders in their fields, rather than eager-to-please followers, working from the assumptions of their biblical worldview, not the vapid cliches of pop culture." --J. Gresham Machen (1881-1937) |
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364 | He Draws His Worshippers | Zeph 3:10 | DocTrinsograce | 243076 | ||
"I have also no difficulty in conceding to you that there is nothing more perilous to our salvation than a distorted and perverse worship of God. The primary rudiments by which we are wont to train to piety those whom we wish to win as disciples to Christ, are these: not to frame any new worship of God for themselves at random and their own pleasure, but to know that the only legitimate worship is that which He Himself approved from the beginning. For we maintain, what the sacred oracle declared, that obedience is more excellent than any sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22). In short, we train them by every means to keep within the one rule of worship which they have received from His mouth, and bid farewell to all fictitious worship." --John Calvin (1539) |
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365 | Happy! | 1 Cor 8:7 | DocTrinsograce | 243075 | ||
:The true Christian is the only happy man, because his conscience is at peace. That mysterious witness for God, which is so mercifully placed within us, is fully satisfied and at rest. "It sees in the blood of Christ a complete cleansing away of all its guilt. It sees in the priesthood and mediation of Christ a complete answer to all its fears. It sees that through the sacrifice and death of Christ, God can now be just, and the justifier of the ungodly. It no longer bites and stings, and makes its possessor afraid of himself. "The Lord Jesus Christ has amply met all its requirements. Conscience is no longer the enemy of the true Christian, but his friend and advisor. Therefore he is happy!" --J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) |
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366 | Renounce the Hidden Things... | 2 Cor 4:2 | DocTrinsograce | 243074 | ||
"But renounce the hidden things. While he [Paul] commends his own sincerity, he, on the other hand, indirectly reproves the false Apostles, who, while they corrupted by their ambition the genuine excellence of the gospel, were, nevertheless, desirous of exclusive distinction. Hence the faults, from which he declares himself to be exempt, he indirectly imputes to them. By the hidden things of disgrace, or concealments, some understand the shadows of the Mosaic law. Chrysostom understands the expression to mean the vain show, by which they endeavoured to recommend themselves. I understand by it: all the disguises, with which they adulterated the pure and native beauty of the gospel. For as chaste and virtuous women, satisfied with the gracefulness of natural beauty, do not resort to artificial adornings, while harlots never think themselves sufficiently adorned, unless they have corrupted nature, so Paul glories in having set forth the pure gospel, while others set forth one that was disguised, and covered over with unseemly additions. For as they were ashamed of the simplicity of Christ, or at least could not have distinction from true excellencies of Apostles, they framed a new gospel, not unlike a profane philosophy, swelled up with empty bombast, while altogether devoid of the efficacy of the Spirit. Spurious ornaments of this nature, by which the gospel is disfigured, he calls the concealments of disgrace, because the nakedness of those, who have recourse to concealments and disguises, must of necessity be dishonourable and disgraceful." --R. Scott Clark |
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367 | Sober Words | Acts 26:25 | DocTrinsograce | 243073 | ||
"This is an argument from the less to the greater; for if every idle word is to be called in question, how would God spare the open blasphemies and sacrilegious insolence of those who bark against his glory? An idle word means one that is useless, or that yields no edification or advantage. Many look upon this as too severe; but if we consider the purpose for which our tongues were made, we will acknowledge, that those men are justly held guilty who unthinkingly devote them to trifling fooleries, and prostitute them to such a purpose. It is no light fault to abuse, for frivolous purposes, the time, which Paul enjoins us to be careful to redeem, (Eph 5:16; Col 4:5). "Now since no man is so cautious in speech, or maintains such a wise restraint upon himself, as never to allow some idle words to escape him, there remains for all of us absolute despair, if the Lord should treat us with rigor. But as the confident hope of our salvation rests on the assurance that God will not enter into judgment with us, (Psa 143:2,) but will bury in gracious forgetfulness the sins which deserve innumerable deaths, we entertain no doubt that, when He removes the condemnation of our whole life, He will likewise pardon the guilt of idle talking. When the judgment of God is mentioned in Scripture, it does not in any way set aside the forgiveness of sins. And yet let no man indulge himself, but let every man earnestly endeavor to bridle his tongue, (Jas 1:26.) First, let us speak of the sacred mysteries of God with the utmost reverence and sobriety; secondly, let us abstain from talkativeness, buffoonery, and vain jests, and much more from slanderous attacks; and, lastly, let us endeavor to have our speech seasoned with salt, (Col 4:6.)" --John Calvin (1509-1564) |
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368 | WAR ROOM (prayer room)? | Bible general | DocTrinsograce | 243069 | ||
Dear Justme, That is a very great blessing for our Lord to use such things. If He can use the donkey of Balaam, He can make use of other things of the same sort, we do not doubt. I particularly am uncomfortable with images made of Christ, which we deem is a violation of the second commandment. If you want to read an excellent book on prayer, one of the best is by Martin Luther. A very simple and very devotional book entitled, "A Simple Way to Pray." It can be found free online. It will be utterly different than the method advocated in the movie War Room. However, at the same time, it will be perfectly in line with how we are commanded to pray in the Word. That is crucial, lest we approach Him in the unsanctified fashion of Nadab and Abihu. I am happy to hear that some have been saved from seeing some of the prophecy mongering films and books. The SDA often use this kind of eschatology as a hook to draw new members into their organization. The soteriology from that hermeneutic principle is worse than Pelagian, but the eschatology tends to turn peoples' tantalize the itching ears of the lost. By the way, there is one other book that you might find both doctrinally sound and very pragmatic. It is the book by Bishop J. C. Ryle, "A Call to Prayer." It is even available by audio on YouTube in its entirety. Sometime when you feel like just listening, I can highly recommend that book. It addresses the subject of prayer in very similar ways that you have mentioned. God bless you, Justme. I am praying that God will continue to create a deep craving for Him in your heart, and that you will be satisfied in Him far more than you can imagine. In Him, Doc |
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369 | Absolutely and Simply Necessary | John 15:22 | DocTrinsograce | 243067 | ||
"As the word of God is the sole principle of theology, so the question concerning its necessity deservedly comes before all things." Rejecting false appeals to reason and nature, Turretin says: "But the orthodox church has always believed far otherwise, maintaining the revelation of the word of God to man to be absolutely and simply necessary for salvation. It is the 'seed' of which we are born again, the 'light' by which we are directed , the 'food' upon which we feed and the 'foundation' upon which we are built. "Although natural revelation may hand over different things concerning God and his attributes, will and works, yet it cannot teach us things sufficient for the saving knowledge of God without a supernatural verbal revelation." --Francis Turretin (1623-1687) |
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370 | Given by One Shepherd | Eccl 12:11 | DocTrinsograce | 243063 | ||
"It's not too late to remember that the Bible is not just another commodity -- that the whole point of owning and reading the Bible is not so I can fit bits and pieces of it into my life, but so I can fit my life into its story." --Ben Irwin (2015) |
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371 | A Sermon which Leads to Christ | Matt 10:7 | DocTrinsograce | 243060 | ||
Good point. It made me mindful of Paul's words, "...they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3b -4) But even if this is the judgment of God upon those who will not listen to Him, we should still point and issue warnings to those pulpits that are seeking to entertain goats rather than feed sheep. |
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372 | Reading, Exhorting, and Teaching | 1 Tim 4:13 | DocTrinsograce | 243056 | ||
"Learning about Western culture isn't simply about undertaking a cohesive study of the history, philosophy, literature, and arts that have enormously influenced the world in which we all live. It is also about learning how to express ideas effectively, how to separate fact from propaganda through specific tools of learning developed in the West. Taking those tools away -- such as the Socratic method, civil discourse, and rules of order and civil debate -- hinders clarity, independent thought, and the powers of observation. It makes students far less able to resist conformity and groupthink." --Stella Morabito Thank you home schoolers!!! |
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373 | Corporate worship... | Luke 24:52 | DocTrinsograce | 243055 | ||
"Corporate worship is designed to lure you away from your little kingdom of one and enthrall you again with God's kingdom of glory and grace." --Paul Washer |
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374 | An Essential Part of the New Creature | Zeph 3:12 | DocTrinsograce | 243054 | ||
"Humility is not a mere ornament of a Christian, but an essential part of the new creature: it is a contradiction to be a sanctified man, or a true Christian, and not humble." --Richard Baxter (1615-1691) |
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375 | Test to.prove??? | Rom 12:2 | DocTrinsograce | 243049 | ||
Hi, Midwife... My mother passed away years ago. She was born in the very Northern end of Idaho. Odd thing though. Her mother and I were born in the very same room of the tiny hospital. Yes, God is saying we will be tested to show ourselves proven! Of course, God doesn't need that proof. He knows exactly what He has begun and will finish in His own, and knows them through and through. So, I can hear you say, "Then why the testing?" Good question! Indeed, the first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism is, "What is the primary purpose of man?" Now that is a question that, depending on how you answer it, will change your life. In fact, I would say that all men everywhere answer it. Of course, most of them do not answer it rightly, according to the Word. The answer to this question Biblically is, "Man's primary purpose is to glorify God (1 Psalm 86:9; Isaiah 60:21; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 10:31; Revelation 4:11) and enjoy Him forever (Psalm 16:5-11; 73:25-28; 144:15; Isaiah 12:2; Luke 2:10; Philippians 4:4; Revelation 21:3-4)." Think for a moment: if we are to glorify God in all things (1 Corinthians 10:31) then when we fail to do so it would is sinful. So think about this: Does God not do all things to glorify Himself? We would have to say yes, He does all things to glorify Himself -- for He is holy and righteous in all things. Furthermore, we know something of His worthiness to be worshipped. But who knows His worthiness perfectly? It is He Himself. Thus it is right, proper, and holy for Him to glorify Himself. So one of the major things that demonstrates His glory to a lost world is the redemption of His sheep. To that end, Paul says that God has given us all things that are necessary (Romans 8:32). What is more, even our Savior prayed exactly for our sanctification that God would be glorified (see John 17). So testing is one of the ways that proves what God has done in the lives of His sheep. I do not say that this is the only reason, but it is one of the most essential reasons. Now, ma'am, nothing whatsoever is out of the control of God. Not the least molecule in the universe. He is perfectly wise and all knowing. He is powerful such that nothing He desires cannot be perfectly accomplished. Yes, you and I fail often. Each time we do, we cry out to our God saying, "See Father? I still need a Savior!" (2 Corinthians 10:5). Paul even says that in weakness, God's power (grace) is shown to be perfect (2 Corinthians 12:9). So keep pursuing Him, ma'am. He doesn't want you to be strong. He wants you to entirely depend on Him. Continue in His Word and in the fellowship of the saints. One last thing that might encourage you: The only people who respond the way you are responding, are His own sheep. In fact, Christ says that ONLY His sheep hear Him and follow Him (John 10:26-28). If you did not belong to Christ, you would not be concerned about bringing God glory. Lost people are reconciled to their sin and live with it very happily. Your concerns are a proof that God, who began a good work in you, will finish it (Hebrews 12:2). God is and will continue to bless you, dear sister. In Him, Doc |
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376 | True Grace of God | 1 Pet 5:12 | DocTrinsograce | 243047 | ||
"'By the grace of God I am what I am.' (1 Corinthians 15:10) "What but sovereign grace -- rich, free and superabounding grace -- has made the difference between you and the world who cannot receive Him? But [except] for His divine operations upon your soul, you would still be of the world, hardening your heart against everything good and godlike, walking on in the pride and ignorance of unbelief and self-righteousness, until you sank down into the chambers of death!" --J. C. Philpot (1802-1869) |
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377 | Embracing Evangelism | Matt 28:20 | DocTrinsograce | 243044 | ||
"Embracing evangelism does not mean to espouse all of the cultural gimmicks that are gross misrepresentations of the Gospel. Telling unsaved people that God loves them and died for them is not evangelism. Providing inventive principles in worship so carnal people can experience spiritual euphoria is not evangelism. Preaching palatable and innocuous sermons is not evangelism. Being contentious or disputatious on Facebook is not evangelism. The new Reformed fad of wearing skinny jeans, growing long beards, showing tattoos, drinking beer, smoking cigars, boasting about robust book collection, lauding about favorite seminary, and using the 'relevant' gimmicks on church slogans is not evangelism. Sharing the Gospel is! "If unbelievers are by nature servants of sin, subjects of death, and do not desire God, then how can they hear the good news without a preacher? It is impossible to earn merit or favor with God by keeping the law because salvation is freely given by His Grace. Christ received the imputation of (His elect) sin willfully and voluntarily submitted himself to be desecrated by wretched men. He received afflictions that are unfathomable to carnal reasoning. His appearance was so marred beyond human semblance and He suffered the pangs of hell that everyone deserves. The sinless Christ did not sip the full cup of divine wrath; Christ had the full cup of divine wrath splashed in His face and was pulverized with a fierce and torrential rage from His Father." --Dr. Sonny Hernandez (04/05/2016) |
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378 | A Sermon which Leads to Christ | Matt 10:7 | DocTrinsograce | 243043 | ||
"That sermon which does not lead to Christ, or of which Jesus Christ is not the top and the bottom, is a sort of sermon that will make the devils in hell to laugh, but might make the angels of God to weep, if they were capable of such emotion. You remember the story I told you of the Welshman who heard a young man preach a very fine sermon, a grand sermon, a highfalutin, spread-eagle sermon; and when he had done, he asked the Welshman what he thought of it. The man replied that he did not think anything of it. 'And why not?' 'Because there was no Jesus Christ in it.' 'Well,' said he, 'but my text did not seem to run that way.' 'Never mind,' said the Welshman, 'your sermon ought to run that way.' 'I do not see that, however,' said the young man. 'No,' said the other, 'you do not see how to preach yet. This is the way to preach. From every little village in England -- it does not matter where it is -- there is sure to be a road to London. Though there may not be a road to certain other places, there is certain to be a road to London. Now, from every text in the Bible there is a road to Jesus Christ, and the way to preach is just to say, "How can I get from this text to Jesus Christ?" and then go preaching all the way along it.' 'Well, but,' said the young man, 'suppose I find a text that has not got a road to Jesus Christ.' 'I have preached for forty years,' said the old man, 'and I have never found such a Scripture, but if I ever do find one I will go over hedge and ditch to get to Him, for I will never finish without bringing in my Master.'" --Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) |
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379 | An Unholy Curiosity | Ezek 22:28 | DocTrinsograce | 243041 | ||
Not only hysterical sensationalists - but some of the most sober minded and spiritual servants of God have attempted to draw conclusions and forecast the future from the "signs of the times" which appeared in their sky. The state of the world in their day, the corruption and apostasy of Christendom, and the calamitous judgments sent by God on an evil and adulterous generation, convinced them that such things were most certainly the immediate prelude to the appearing of Christ in Person. Others averred that Divine Prophecy intimated the very year in which the Papacy would be overthrown or the Day of Judgment would occur. And what is the moral to be drawn from all of this? What is the practical lesson - for it is a practical end we have had in view, and not the amusing of the curious or the entertaining of those who have an idle hour to pass away. Surely it is this, "For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild donkey's colt" (Job 11:12) - yes, wise in his own conceits, wise above that which God has revealed, wise in the esteem of his fellows. He would pose before others as possessing a spiritual light and discernment which lifts him above the rank and file; he pretends unto light received from the Word which is denied those who walk not so closely with God as he does. The Spirit has shown him "things to come," only for the passing of time to demonstrate it was some other spirit than the Spirit of God. When the disciples asked Christ, "Will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6), He did not say whether He would or would not, neither did He tell them that they entertained an erroneous conception of "the kingdom." No, He struck more deeply, and made answer which applies to all His followers until the end of time, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own power" (v7). That is definite and it is final. Shun, then, my reader, those who controvert the Son of God by seeking to persuade that you may, "know the times and the seasons," that if you will accept their interpretations of Prophecy you will be granted a spiritual insight into those things of which the world is ignorant. "The coming of the Lord draws near" (James 3:8) - it is ever drawing nearer - but for any man to affirm that the coming of the Lord is now at the very doors, is to affirm what Scripture nowhere warrants, and is a piece of bombastic impertinence. Our pressing duty is to set bounds to an unholy curiosity, and rest content with the blessed fact that the future is entirely in the hands of the Most High. It is the present which limits the boundaries of our responsibility. God is working all things after the counsel of His own will, so that there is no cause for alarm or fear. Not only cannot the forces of evil go one inch farther than what has been Divinely ordained - but, even now, God is making them to subserve His own wise and holy purpose. Nothing we do, or fail to do, will either hasten or retard by a single hour the consummation of God's counsels. "All things work together for good to those who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28) provides a sure resting-place for the renewed heart. Speculations about future history are not only futile - but impious. An itching mind that craves information about coming events is a hindrance and not a help to present godliness. Leave the future with God, and seek grace to discharge your present duty. Part of our present duty, as well as our precious privilege, is to be "looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). But that is a vastly different thing from occupying our minds with the evil that is at work in the world. To be "looking for that blessed Hope" is entirely an attitude of the heart - the soul being engaged with the person of Christ Himself, anticipating that glad moment when He will perfectly conform us to His image. But as to when He will appear, the angels in Heaven know not, much less can we on earth ascertain it. To be prepared for His coming is the great thing, and not to be curiously prying into the how and when of it! Arthur Pink (1938) |
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380 | Visions Preferred to the Word | Ezek 7:26 | DocTrinsograce | 243040 | ||
Today in my bible reading I came to Ezekiel chapter 7. Ezekiel says, "Disaster will come upon disaster and rumor will be added to rumor; then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but the law will be lost from the priest and counsel from the elders." What a picture of our churches today! In the face of a Psalm 2 world, many of today's most populous congregations look seek the miraculous, the fantastic, the original, the supernatural. Nonetheless, the Law (i.e., the Word) is lost from their midst and from their leadership. May God have mercy! |
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