Tried With Fire

The words "Jesus" and "God" are used by many, but what do those words mean? What does it mean to be a "Christian?" Is it okay to press for a clearer definition of those terms and how a person is using them, or is that being too nit-picky and unloving? Should we just take everyone and what they say at face value?  If we are upfront about our theological distinctives, we then have a platform from which to let others know what confessions we align with the most. This way, we aren't being manipulative in our conversations and with our teaching. With proper boundaries set in place, we can acknowledge where we agree and disagree, all with the common goal of sharpening one another according to the Word of God and the working of his Spirit. But this requires a resolve to take theology seriously , take ourselves less seriously, and desire to grow in a meaningful way. Pretending that we are all on the same page and overlooking important differences can only f...

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Ephesians 6:16 You will say, how then are we to know whether our faith is a right faith, and our shield a strong one? One test of it is it must be all of one piece. A shield that is made of three or four pieces in this case will be of no use. So your faith must be all of one piece; it must be faith in the finished work of Christ; you must have no confidence in yourself or in any man, but rest wholly and entirely upon Christ, else your shield will be of no use! Then your faith must be of heaven’s forging or your shield will certainly fail you; you must have the faith of God’s elect, which is of the operation of the Holy Spirit who works it in the soul of man. Then, you must see to it that your faith is that which rests only upon the truth of God, for if there is any error or false notion in the fashioning of it, that shall be a joint in it, which the spear can pierce. Yo...

This quote is from Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective.  It certainly applies to the extremes that one finds in regard to that topic. But I think it can apply to more than just spiritual warfare. Living the Christian life is not merely about mastering one truth or even a set of principles. Rather, it is learning to think and act biblically. We must be reminded of certain truths frequently so that we don't become unbalanced or myopic in our view of the Christian life... Making a similar observation, Martin Luther once noted that Christians are often like a drunk trying to get on his horse. First, the drunk falls off one side, only to climb back up and fall off the other side. 1 For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, and Newton's 3rd law doesn't just apply to physics. For every bad teaching, there is probably an opposite but equally bad teaching. If we're not careful, we'll be like Luther's drunk who never stays on th...

... but understand at this point that wearing spiritual armor is an essential element of putting on Christ and apply the new life of grace in Him; it is not something separate. Putting on God's armor is taking what God has so richly supplied in His Son and appropriating it personally each day. When we put on God's armor, we are doing more than applying a technique or method. We are doing something personal; we are putting on Christ Himself. Since Christ is all-sufficient, everything that we need to be covered is found in Him. All truth is connected to Him (John 14:6). All righteousness has its source in Him (1 Cor. 1:30). He is the central subject of the gospel of peace , for He is our peace (Eph. 2:14) - and so on through the list (Eph. 6:14-17). Clinton Arnold explains that,  therefore, "knowing the truth of who we are in union with Christ, cultivating the virtues of this new identity, and using the resources available through this new relationship are at the heart of w...

Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca at the Vitality Healthfood Kitchen :)

It's hard to believe that it has been ten years. Ten years since his car pulled out of the driveway Ten years since he moved out of the house. Happy Valentine's Day! But not for me. At the time, I didn't know how I would survive emotionally, financially, and spiritually. I didn't know how I would recover from the betrayal and the pain. How could I possibly go on, let alone be there for our child? Looking back, it was only the grace of God that enabled me to get up each morning, not knowing what the future would bring, and stumble through the daily routine, even though the thought of living seemed to mock me. It was His grace that carried me through the added hell of complicated legal proceedings that only compounded the emotional devastation. Yet, here I am today a decade later and I'm still alive, probably living more freely than I ever have before. - Ten years ago, I was living in fear. Now I am at peace. - I was bound. Now I am free. For anyone hyperventila...

The Lord reveal himself more and more to us in the face of his Son Jesus Christ and magnify the power of his grace in cherishing those beginnings of grace in the midst of our corruptions, and sanctify the consideration of our own infirmities to humble us, and of his tender mercy to encourage us. And may he persuade us that, since he has taken us into the covenant of grace, he will not cast us off for those corruptions which, as they grieve his Spirit, so they make us vile in our own eyes. And because Satan labors to obscure the glory of his mercy and hinder our comfort by discouragements, the Lord add this to the rest of his mercies, that, since he is so gracious to those that yield to his government, we may make the right use of this grace, and not lose any portion of comfort that is laid up for us in Christ. And may he grant that the prevailing power of his Spirit in us should be an evidence of the truth of grace begun, and a pledge of final victory, at that time when he will be all ...

Absolutely delightful: ht: Kim on Twitter

I am thankful for: - Flu vaccines, doctors, and Tamiflu. - Repairs around the house thanks to a brother-in-Christ. - Food, water, shelter, and warmth. Not to be taken for granted when many don't even have the basics. - God's sovereignty and His very personal providence especially over things I do not understand. - The latest sermon series on Revelation. To be honest, this book used to terrify me but not anymore. It is not a commentary on current events nor the panels of a Jack Chick tract. It is the unfolding of God's plan from various aspects but with a common message - God is fully in control and His children are completely secure for eternity no matter what may befall them in this life.

I n conclusion and as a general application to ourselves of all that has been said, we see the conflicting, but yet sure and hopeful, state of God's people. The victory lies not with us, but with Christ, who has taken on him both to conquer for us and to conquer in us. The victory lies neither in our own strength to get it, nor in our enemies' strength to defeat it. If it lay with us, we might justly fear. But Christ will maintain his own government in us and take our part against our corruptions. They are his enemies as well as ours. Let us therefore be `strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might' (Eph. 6:10). Let us not look so much at who our enemies are as at who our judge and captain is, nor at what they threaten, but at what he promises. We have more for us than against us. What coward would not fight when he is sure of victory? None is here overcome but he that will not fight. Therefore, when any base fainting seizes on us, let us lay the blame where it ought ...

Ineffectual and semi-effectual calls: ht: Savage Chickens ht: Chad for making the connection to ineffectual call in Sunday school.

Theology for Girls ran a series of posts in 2013 on women in scripture, which we are reposting at Out of the Ordinary.  My post on Lydia is up today. Her story is a perfect example of the doctrine of effectual calling because "God opened her heart" just like He opened the hearts of all who believe. Read the post here .