Assurance: An Indispensible Work of the Spirit – Not of Christians

Assurance is not our own work, our own achievement by our own hard efforts. Neither is assurance bestowed in recognition of the superior spirituality by which a few children distinguish themselves from the rest of the congregation.   It is an important aspect of the gospel that God not only wills to save all His […]

»»

Why Heretics Win

[ Read more on Faith and Heresy ] “There are several reasons that heretics win battles. First, Scripture tells us that they are more clever and cunning than believers: “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light” (Luke 16:8). They have a way of thinking that […]

»»

Film: God’s Not Dead

Challenging authoritarianism – and atheism – in academia. This looks like a promising film to see. ht

»»

Cheer Up, Ye Saints of God

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. – I Peter 5:6,7 We can live without suffocating worry that strangles our faith and drains our joy. To all our fears the Lord says […]

»»

The Pardon and Peace Made Sure

“Christ for us,” the obedient in the room of the disobedient, is the first part of our message. His assumption of the legal claims, which otherwise would have made good against us, is the security for our deliverance. That deliverance becomes an actual thing to us immediately upon our consenting to allow Him to undertake […]

»»

Puritan Assurance: A Cruel Doctrine of Doubt

September 21

The following is an excerpt from a work (available in its entirety online) entitled The Gift of Assurance by Prof. David J. Engelsma. With the rampant spread of puritan mysticism infecting protestant churches crossing all denominational lines, the subject is of the greatest import. I cannot recommend highly enough the reading of this small work. […]

»»

The Witness of the Spirit, Water and Blood

September 16

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. – I John 5:10 The only basis for saving faith is the testimony of God Himself concerning His Son Jesus […]

»»

What Encourages the Faith of the Saints?

Two things encourage the faith of the saints in every age: First, the witness of the experiences of others: You cracked open the heads of leviathan; You gave him to be food for the people of the wilderness. – Psalm 74:14 Mathew Henry: “The church silences her own complaints. What God had done for his […]

»»

Evolution vs God

A new film, Evolution vs God: Shaking the Foundations of Faith, will be available for download on July 9, 2013. Having viewed the trailer, I look forward to seeing it in its entirety. Those who hold to Darwinian evolution should watch it, and if they do, need to prepare to have their faith shaken.

»»

When Government Is Lawless, What Is The Christian To Do?

On January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln, thwarted by his cabinet in the desire to compensate slave owners for the loss of legal property under the Constitution, violated the Constitution, by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. The effect of the act was not to free the slaves, but rather to enslave the whole of American society. Such […]

»»

Jay Adams on Naming Names & Defending God’s Flock

1. Paul in his epistles mentioned names so that those who read would be warned not to adopt their errors. We must do the same. We follow Paul in this for the same reason–so that readers will be able to recognize false teaching and reject it when they come across it. Knowing the names of […]

»»

“Don’t You Ever Get Tired of This?”

Well folks, this will be off-the-cuff, so to speak, because I’m loaded with to-do’s today. Yesterday, I was asked the very pointed question of whether I ever get tired of smacking dispensationalism around, and specifically, John MacArthur. It’s a fair question. Ok, let me tell you a little bit of why I do it. First, […]

»»

There’s No Such (Biblical) Thing As ‘Lay Preaching’

  Sharing the Gospel is not ‘preaching’ in the biblical sense. Yet, too often, it is assumed and called that, when in actuality, it is nothing more than a rejection of pastoral authority. Preaching involves being called of God for the office, being set apart by the Church and sent for that specific purpose. 

»»

When Chicken is More Important than God’s Word

I’m 50 years old. I’ve seen a lot in my day. On a television with only 3 channels, I watched the first manned rocket take off and head for the moon, and watched those fella’s walk on it and then come home. That was amazing. I’ve seen advances in technology that, when I look back […]

»»

The Greatness of Child-like Faith

July 26

Robert Lewis Dabney, in his work, Life and Campaigns of Lieutenant-General Thomas J. Jackson, describes an important key to the Christian faith and character of ‘Stonewall’ Jackson. He mentions that Jackson “embraced the doctrines common to all, with a faith so entire and prevalent.” This fine example of Christian integrity and the respect he received […]

»»

Colbert: “Something Comes From Nothing?”

According to cosmologist Laurance Krauss, God is not needed because in the universe, something always comes from nothing. Hmm. This is a very interesting discussion with Krauss and Stephen Colbert. Be sure and watch to the end. Colbert has the last laugh (and quite a few others) against this guy. The Colbert Report Get More: […]

»»

Justification & the 1689 London Baptist Confession

Under the heading for Justification, the 1689 London Baptist Confession says this: 1._____    Those whom God effectually calleth, he also freely justifieth, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ’s […]

»»

The Value of Christian Biography

David Leach: About 35 years ago as I began to build a theological library I had a primary focus on commentaries and "hard theology." By "hard theology" I mean solid and more substantial works as opposed to the various sorts of "pop" Christian books. After 1976 when I came to a sovereign grace soteriology, I […]

»»

Empty Hands

In that wonderful hymn, Rock of Ages, we joyfully sing: Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling. When it comes to salvation, ‘tis true, we bring nothing to the table of redemption, and yes, salvation is wholly of the Lord, an act of undeserved mercy and grace towards sinners. Our […]

»»

The Hand of Faith

“The action of faith is in Scripture represented to us not merely by that of the eye; it is also represented by that of the hand. When Scripture speaks of the believing Christian as “apprehending,” or “laying hold on” Christ our Lord, it implies that faith is a hand as well as an eye; that […]

»»