Tried With Fire

Gospel Assurance & Warnings , Paul Washer, Reformation Heritage Books, April 2014, 252 pages. Gospel Assurance & Warnings is the third book in the Recovering the Gospel series by Paul Washer. This series addresses the need to recover the biblical gospel in a day of easy believism, cheap grace, and man-centered preaching. Divided into two parts, this latest book addresses scriptural assurance of salvation and the warnings to those with false assurance. In the first part, the author uses the 1st epistle of John to answers the questions, "How can I know I have born again, that I am truly a child of God? How can I know that I have believed unto eternal life?" Washer makes it very clear that we are saved by faith alone, by grace alone, through Christ alone. But because of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, we have been made new creatures, given new hearts, and new affections. This should result in visible fruit in our lives even though we still sin and do not...

The Gospel Call & True Conversion by Paul Washer, Reformation Heritage Books, 2013, 200 pages. If you asked the average professing American Christian, "What is the gospel and what constitutes true conversion?", what would be his/her answer? More importantly, would that answer be biblical? The Gospel Call & True Conversion provides a thorough and yet very readable explanation of the call of the gospel and true conversion. Divided in three parts, author, Paul Washer, breaks down the elements of the gospel call, the new heart that is imparted through conversion, and the changed life that is its fruit. He discusses familiar terms such as repentance, faith, receiving Christ, and receiving a new heart, but these terms are seen through the lens of God's Word, not through the eyes of modern evangelicalism. Washer writes with clarity and conviction, and a love for God and His gospel permeates the text. There are extensive footnotes with scripture references as well....

"As Christians, we recognize the importance of truth and the dangers of deviating from it. For this reason, we are passionate about what we believe, quick to defend it, and tenacious in publicizing our beliefs to others. When we add to this mix the real possibility that we may be guilty of pride, self-centeredness, selfishness, and the desire to be vindicated in all that we say and do, it is easy to see how relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ can become difficult. In fact, it is a testimony to the supernatural nature of conversion that such passionate individuals can exist together at all." The Gospel Call & True Conversion , Paul Washer, Reformation Heritage Books, 2013, pg. 151.

ht: Justin Taylor The video is a Q&A session with Rosaria Butterfield , author of The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert .   It's one of the best books I've read this year in which she relates her conversion from lesbian, atheist, feminist college professor to psalm-singing, OPC pastor's wife and homeschooling mom. If you don't have time to watch the whole Q&A, watch from around 11:00 - 15:00. Butterfield answers a question about how can the church help believers who are struggling with sexual sin. I think one could make the same application for all the sins believers still struggle with, not just the ones of the flesh. I do not believe she is advocating giving sin a pass. Rather, it probably wouldn't hurt any of us to examine our hearts to see if our prejudices and fears keep us from believing that God is able to save or if we would prefer that God save those people, whoever those people may be, in someone else's church or at least clean them...

We were privileged to have Dr. M. David Sills of SBTS and Reaching and Teaching International and Brother Paul Washer of HeartCry Missionary Society at our annual theology conference. The audio is available here (scroll to the bottom of the page) and worth every minute of your time. I had only seen clips of Brother Washer on YouTube and listened to sermons online. Some would mislabel him only a fire and brimstone preacher, but his passion is the glory of Christ. He gave the unvarnished, ugly truth of our condition apart from God so that the glories of Christ in the gospel would shine like diamonds in comparison. When he spoke, I think he made eye contact with almost everyone who was there - as though he was speaking to each one of us personally.  His intent was not to guilt us into action but show the beauty of Jesus Christ so our love for Him would propel us to go across the world,  across the street, or even across the room. Dr. Sills is an excellent and engaging teac...

Our annual theology conference on  The Theology of Missions is this coming week-end, Feb. 17-19.  In addition to Dr. M. David Sills  from SBTS, Paul Washer will be speaking on"The Gospel We Proclaim and an Introduction to HeartCry Missionary Society" at a 2nd session Friday evening.  If you're interested in attending, the conference starts at 7 PM (dinner at 6 PM). There are two sessions on Saturday morning starting at 9 AM, and two sessions on Sunday beginning at 10 AM.  More info here.