10.21.08
Internet Blogging and the Christian
David Silversides gave this address a few weeks ago at his church’s monthly fellowship meeting: Internet Blogging and the Christian
G.M.
10.14.08
The True Idea of Grace (2)
This is the second part of this edifying extract from Plummer:
“Hardly anything is more striking than the obstinate attachment of men to their own works, and their subsequent aversion to the grace of God. The great mass of unrenewed men and women, even in Christian assemblies, really have no idea of ever being saved otherwise than becoming good in their own strength. hey generally suspect that they are not now what they ought to be, but they intend to do better hereafter. They seem very ignorant of the extent, spirituality, and holiness of the law; and thus, while conscience does not flame out against them, they rest in the delusion that they are not very bad and may easily improve.
They very last thing which a sinner uder conviction does is to give up his self-confidence. Indeed, till God’s Spirit enlightens his mind, he wil not see that salvation can never be compassed by his own power or merit. So the very process by which a sinner is led to the Saviour is usually one of extreme sadness. In his own esteem he has less and less of what is worthy of honourable mention before God, untill at last he finds out that he is nothing but a guilty, vile, lost, helpless, peishing sinner. To a Christian, who knows what is going on in a sinner’s mind, these new views awaken lively hopes that a work of grace is begun in the heart. But often the sinner himself is almost in despair. He supposes that his convictions are forerunners of condemnation and rejection, not of conversion.
And when he is led to Christ and hope springs up in his mind, no one is more surprised at the change in his views than himself. He did not expect deliverance in that way. He had not yet become good in his own eyes. He now learns that it is God’s plan to save sinners who simply believe. To him the gospel is a revelation of mercy. He is charmed with the method of grace. He gives all honour to the Redeemer and is willing to be counted the chief of sinners. He no longer goes about to establish his own righteousness, which is of the law. His own merits he counts as nothing. He simply wishes to be found in Christ. His song is of free, unmerited grace. He is no longer wedded to the law as a means of justification, but he is married to Christ, who is now all his salvation. He works indeed, but it is from love to the Saviour. He says, What I am, I am by the grace of God. He casts his crown at the Saviour’s feet. He expects all from the grace of Christ.”
Part Two
G.M.
Part One
10.09.08
Voddie Baucham – Palin & the Pulpit
Truth must shape culture rather than culture shaping the truth.
(see the debate after the headlines in the following clip.)
G.B.
10.03.08
The True Idea of Grace (1)
The following should have some profitable material for both believers and those who are yet without Christ, without hope in the world. It will also hopefully alert many to the riches that are to be found in the writings of its author: W. S. Plumer.
“The Synod of Dort says that ‘God owes no man grace. For how can God become debtor to him who has nothing to give first, that it might be recompensed to him again? Nay, what can God owe him who has nought of his own but sin and untruth? Whosoever therefore is made partaker of this kind of grace, ever owes and ever pays thanks to God only.’ The term grace often occurs in Scripture. Sometimes it means beauty, as in Proverbs 1:9 and 4:9. But this is never the meaning of the word in the New Testament, where the generic idea of the term is favour, unmerited kindness, undeserved love, unbought pity, grace.
This grace is variously manifested. The gospel is itself called grace because it is the fruit and evidence of God’s unmerited goodness. The privilege of preaching the gospel is for the same reason called grace. And it is indeed a great favour to be allowed to publish the glad tidings of great joy. No man deserves such an honour. Pardon of sin and acceptance with God are both often said to be by grace, by undeserved mercy. The work of purifying the hearts of his people and fitting them for glory is effected by the grace of God. He does it purely out of pity and love and not at all out of regard to any merit of ours. Renewal and sanctification are rich fruits of mercy. Without God’s grace, salvation is absolutely impossible. A salvation that failed to root out sin and set up the reign of grace would, no doubt, be pleasing to the carnal mind and would delight a hypocrite but could never satisfy the longings of the real child of God. Sin in its reigning power, no less than in its fearful guilt, must be destroyed or it will destroy us. He who fails to gain the victory over his lusts fails of heaven. If they are not put down, we labour in vain and spend our strength for nought.”
This is taken from The Christian Treasury for 1854. Sprinkle Publications have done the Church of Christ a great service in having published several volumes by Plumer. These are all attractive hardback editions, with easily read text and solid bindings. Perhaps the best of these to pick up is Vital Godliness: A Treatise of Experimental and Practical Piety, followed closely by Jehovah-Jireh: A Treatise on Providence.
G.M.
