What is Sin? Part 4

Our Idolatry is manifested in what are commonly called "sins." Wayne Grudem defines sin as "any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature" (Systematic Theology, 490). So far we have dealt with both the sinful nature we have been born into and the attitude that is underneath all sin. Now, informed of our nature and attitude, we can see why mankind so frequently does what is more commonly thought of in regards to sin, namely act sinfully. Because mankind so frequently breaks the greatest commandment which sums up the first four of the ten commandments "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30) they manifest this in the breaking of the last six: murder and hatred, adultery and lust, theft, lying and deceit, covetousness, etc... are all symptoms of the great problem. The book of James makes this very clear, imagine a person who is perfect his whole life (which we know would never happen with our sinful nature) except he commits one single sin. That man is as guilty of sin against God as the person who has violated every commandment (cf James 2:10).

Some sins are considered judgment from God for sin. Last week I discussed the flow of thought from Romans 1. Picking up after the exchange of the glory of God for worship of the likeness of man. 1:24-32 makes it very clear that God gave man up to a laundry list of sins in response to this idolatry. Whether this passage is teaching that all "sins" are judgment on our idolatrous state doesn't really matter. Clearly the biggest thing we can see is that God is displaying the corruption of the human heart in society. The sin committed against the creator is now being manifested against humankind, though still violating the Law of the Creator. What is also clear from the Bible is that, regardless of these sins being judgment upon man, these sins and their root sin will be judged for eternity apart from a substitute.

We are truly a sinful people to the core. This begins with our very nature and has no ending apart from Divine grace.

Brokenhearted, Happy, and Useful.

"And so, Father, take the swagger out of our indignation.
Take self-pity out of our hearts, and presumption from our lips.
Make us feel that mercy is our life.
Teach us deeply that freely we have received, and freely we must give.
Make us brokenhearted, happy, useful sojourners.
In Jesus' name, we pray,
Amen." -John Piper (Life As a Vapor, 168)

Live Better

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)

What the World Needs Now...

"I do not think that what the Bible says about the love of God can long survive at the forefront of our thinking if it is abstracted from the sovereignty of God, the holiness of God, the wrath of God, the providence of God, or the personhood of God- to mention only a few nonnegotiable elements of basic Christianity. The result, of course, is that the love of God in our culture has been purged of anything the culture finds uncomfortable...My generation was taught to sing, 'What the world needs now is love, sweet love,' in which we robustly instruct the Almighty that we do not need another mountain (we have enough of them), but we could do with some more love. The [flippant pride] is staggering." -D.A. Carson (The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, 11)

At The Cross

Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
and did my Sovereign die?
Would he devote that sacred head
for sinners such as I?

Was it for crimes that I have done,
he groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
the debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away;
'tis all that I can do!

At the cross, at the cross,
where I first saw the light,
and the burden of my heart rolled away;
it was there by faith I received my sight,
and now I am happy all the day!

-Isaac Watts

A Clarification on Bring a Bible to Church Day

Another great report from the very funny guys at the Tominthebox News Network:

Baxton, OH -- FBC Baxton would like to clarify the meaning of its recent online calendar entry, Bring A Bible To Church Day, set for this Sunday, July 20, 2008.

Confusion was obvious within the first hour of emailing the weekly newsletter last Monday, which included a link to the calendar. At least 5 people contacted Pastor Rokestern expressing concern about whether the church's internet was down or if the projector bulbs were on back order. Many volunteered their services to help, if needed, with any problems.

Throughout the week, more questions came in as members expressed an interest in the idea of bringing a Bible (even wishing to participate in the novel event) but were simply confused as to what qualified as a Bible. Was an electronic Bible acceptable? What about an Amazon Kindle?

Still others wondered if the email referred solely to a full length paper Bible in book form. One individual was curious if a book that is considered equivalent to the Bible is sufficient. What about the Prayer of Jabez or At Parbar Westward?

To reduce confusion, FBC Baxton released the following clarifying statement on Friday afternoon: “Whereas our ancestors sung Standing on the Promises, and whereas they believed God’s promises are contained in the Bible, and whereas we want to be High and Lifted Up: we therefore would like you to bring a Bible (or equivalent, e.g. Your Best Life Now) to church Sunday to stand upon during the worship service. Please bring as many Bibles as you can so you can reach a higher level of worship."

Let's Get Interactive Part 1

What is right or wrong with this statement? (Note: I think it's wrong but bonus points to someone who tries to defend it.)

"God does not judge based on original sin nor does He judge any sin committed aside from the rejection of Christ (blasphemy of the Holy Spirit). In this way every sin committed by man can be paid for (thus making the atonement universal) and yet uneffectual apart from faith in Christ."

Take a couple hours or even a couple of days to respond if you need. Use this to practice your Bible study and research ability. If you can't argue against it try arguing for it. The point is coming to a conclusion. Hope to see you guys light up the comment section!

In the words of Tip Lee, don't punk out on me!
Grace and Peace,
Stephen

What is Sin? Part 3

The root of all sin is idolatry. The flow of thought in Romans 1:18-23 shows gives us an overview of the sin of mankind. (18-20) God has revealed Himself in creation leaving all men without the excuse of ignorance of a Creator. (21-23) Mankind suppressed the truth of God (v18) by failing to worship Him even though the knew about Him and how great He is. The key verse is 1:23 "[mankind] exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things." This passage is a key informant when we get to the well known verse Romans 3:23 "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."

Everything done by someone who is not born-again is sin. "For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). Even the good things an unregenerate person does is sinful, "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment" (Isaiah 64:6).

Man is born a willful captive to sin. The Bible is clear on this issue. Man is not only born with inherited guilt (see 7/17 post) but we are all born slaves to sin (Romans 6:20). But this is not an oppression like anything we see in the physical world. The unbelieving willfully act according to Satan's command (Ephesians 2:2-3). As for their ability to respond to the gospel, they are considered dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1) and blinded by Satan to the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Grace If You Do and Grace If You Don't?

Lord, it belongs not to my care
Whether I die or live;
To love and serve Thee is my share,
And this Thy grace must give.

If life be long, I will be glad,
That I may long obey;
If short- then why should I be sad
To soar to endless days?
-Richard Baxter
(quoted from Knowing God by J.I. Packer, 31-32)

Does Time Forgive Sin?

4 years later it seems that the so-called "wardrobe malfunction" isn't such a big deal. Yesterday a Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals tossed out a fine of $550,000 against CBS for Janet Jackson extremely inappropriate accident during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show.

I don't care much about the legal stuff or the FCC's reputation (which seems to have played a part in the decision). My question is simple, is sin more forgivable because of time. It has been four years and the shock value of the incident has long passed. Could this decision have been made right after the incident? If not, could this standard be applied to all sin?

"[the Lord is] merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty" (Exodus 34:6-7).

The Bible doesn't allow time to be a savior. If you only committed one sin as a child and lived to be 100 you would still be guilty as a law breaker. The only hope we have is in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ.

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

Is There a Lesser One?

"Of two evils, choose neither."

-Charles Spurgeon

There is a Fountain

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, unworthy though I be,
For me a blood bought free reward, a golden harp for me!
’Tis strung and tuned for endless years, and formed by power divine,
To sound in God the Father’s ears no other name but Thine.

-William Cowper

Double-Dipping

This is from the Tom-in-the-Box News Network.

New York, New York-- [Following George’s baptismal service, Timmy walks up to the platform and begins a conversation with George.]

Timmy: What are you doing?

George: What?

Timmy: Did you just double dip?

George: Excuse me?

Timmy: You just double dipped?

George: Double dipped? What, what, what are you talking about?

Timmy: You were baptized a few years ago, weren’t you?

George: Yeah

Timmy: And you were just baptized again today?

George: Yeah

Timmy: Then you double dipped! You dipped in the baptismal. You back-slid… and you dipped again. Don’t you know you’re supposed to take one dip, and end it?

[George turns toward the baptismal and begins to descend into the water on his own yet again. Timmy grabs George’s arm.]

Timmy: Get out of that baptismal!

A Clarification on the Salvation of Infants

I cannot allow myself to write the small statement in yesterday's post without clarifying what I believe in regard to the salvation of young children, infants, the unborn, and the mentally retarded. This is what I know on the biblical teaching of this subject:

1. When a person dies it is proof that they are guilty of sin. This is an unavoidable reality that there is no such thing as a truly innocent child before God.

2. There is Biblical reasoning to believe that God does not hold infants accountable in the same way that He holds one accountable who has not heard the gospel. Romans 1 is a clear indictment of all men whether they have heard the gospel or not. However, because Romans 1 focuses on creation and conscience it is reasonable to say that God may not hold infants accountable for their sin in the same way.

3. There are (though few) examples of the salvation of infants in the Bible. The first is in 2 Samuel 12 when David seems to indicate that his child who had just died would be in heaven. The second example is that John the Baptist was regenerate from the womb (Luke 1:15). These are not examples that should be taken universally but we can say that God seems to have saved infants in the past.

4. Jesus had much affection for Children and sought to protect them (see Matt. 18). Jesus loved to use children as an example of saving faith. The fact that children are unable to do much of anything apart from outside help is a great example of man's inability to come to God apart from the new birth. This is only helpful to us in knowing something about God, we cannot reach a conclusion based on this fact alone.

5. God is good and I trust Him. Was it man that first saw the need for salvation and devised a way for God to save us? Is man capable of coming to God on his own anymore than an infant? The answer to these questions is surely not. So I concede to God the right to decide what is most glorifying to Himself in this case.

The most important thing is that we cannot assume that God must save all infants. God is just to condemn any sinner. So ultimately we must say that we don't know if God saves all infants. People have their opinions and their interpretations of different Scriptures but the fact of the matter is that this is a gray area in Scriptures and we must cling to God's goodness and rightness in all things.

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

What is Sin? Part 2

This is part 2 of a series on sin. For part 1 of the series go to my post on 7/10/08. Remember also that, though I try to post something every day, my compact theology posts are done every Thursday.

Sin is Inherited From Adam

"...sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned" (Romans 5:12)

There does not exist any sort of restart as far as sin in the world . Once Adam sinned all of his ancestry would be guilty by inheritance (see verses 18-19).

This is also evident in the words of King David as he prayed in repentance of his sin in the story of he and Bathsheba.
"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalm 51:5).

Death is Judgment of Our Guilt of Sin

This is a difficult doctrine to face. God's judgment of sin is both physical and spiritual death (Genesis 3). The proof of sin and our guilt of sin is that we all die. Consider Romans 5 again, Paul makes the case that there was no Law from Adam to Moses and yet everyone still died from Adam to Moses. Paul makes the argument that the Law was not the basis of judgment before it was written, mankind's guilt before God was proven in that death existed among all mankind (Romans 5:13-14).

Implications

It is a difficult thing to read on the subject of sin and let me assure you that it is even more difficult to write on. The implications of sin and, in this case, inherited sin are very troubling. My hope is that this will expand your love for God and your view of His grace.

The first (and perhaps most difficult) implication of this doctrine is that the fact that infants die in any stage of development is proof that they are guilty of sin. This is not a statement as to whether or not all infants and young children who die before having the ability to acknowledge Christ as Savior are saved from judgment. It is, rather, a statement that from the moment of conception (remember Psalm 51:5) we are utterly dependent on the grace of God for salvation.

The second implication I want to point out is that inherited sin and the corruption it stirs in us shows us to what extent we need a Savior. Not only do we need a Savior before most people in America would acknowledge we are alive but that Savior must save us from our sin as well as from the judgment of sin. In the next few weeks I will attempt to show you just how sinful we are. The fact of the matter is we are corrupted by sin to the point that only the Holy Spirit's work of Regeneration and after that Sanctification can save us from our slavery.

On a much more joyful note the third implication is that if you understand the root of death in the world it should make you marvel even more at the death of Jesus Christ. "No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father" (John 10:18). Jesus' death was not the result of his coming into the world, it was "of [his] own accord." His death was not because of his sin but because of ours. I hope in the coming weeks you will see just how beautiful that death is up against the horror of our sin.

Thanks guys,
Stephen

Road Rage Approval

Today's post is borrowed from Jason Lapp's blog yesterday:

So this morning I had something picked out for my blog but my trip to work gave me something different to share. On an average day traffic can get pretty hectic coming to work but normally in the summer time things are a little lighter on the interstate. This morning, near a merging lane, someone in a pick up decided they could get over to the outside lane without having to worry if cars were in the way or not. I saw them merge on to the interstate and quickly get over into the center lane. I was one lane away from the goal of this pick up truck. Finally with no room to merge over the driver just cuts off the car in front of me and we all slam the brakes on in enjoyment (enjoyment is called sarcasm). So we go about driving along the interest all bunched up together. The car and the pick up are kind of pulling away once the traffic clears up but I notice the car is tailing the pick up really close. Then, with some room in the center lane, the car tries to pull around the pick up, I'm guessing to let him know he did not approve of his move a few miles back, the pick up decides to speed up and not let him around. Now the story takes a turn.
I decide I want to have my opinion myself so I think, "That person in the car ought to give that person in the pick up what they deserve for the move they pulled earlier." So I watch as they play a little cat and mouse game down the interstate. We near the exit ramps for downtown and I notice the car has to get over to get off the interstate and the pick up just keeps on rolling down the road. I'm bummed. I wanted to see something happen. Don't we all? I mean the person in the pick up deserved it right? Then the Holy Spirit speaks and reminds me of His Word in Romans one. After the list Paul gives to describe those who do not see fit to acknowledge God (Romans 1:28) he says these words to close chapter one, "Though they know God's decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." That was me. I was giving approval to the person in the car playing their role as God. "Vengeance is mine says the Lord", not a humans' but God's!
God is so gracious to show us our sin through His beautiful Word. Are you in the Word? Do you study? This is my challenge: get in the Scripture and beg for God to be gracious and reveal the sin in your life but don't stop there. Go to the cross and know that forgiveness is in the blood of Jesus whom God sent to die for those who would believe. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

Click here to see Jason's blog.

Lukewarm "Christianity"?

"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:14-22)

I've been writing a paper on this passage and it has bothered me that I can't decide if the church at Laodicea is actually a group of born-again Christians. There is evidence to take either side in the debate. Regardless, the message is scary. The point is that almost every description used of this church is used elsewhere in the New Testament to describe us before God saved us. What scares me even more is that so many people today see themselves or their church in this message rather than any of the other six churches of Revelation 2-3.

It seems to me that the evidence of whether or not these people were truly believers would be in their response to this letter. If they repent it would be evidence of God's persevering grace in their lives. However if they did not repent it would reveal their hardness of heart all along.

If you see yourself in this passage what is the application? Repent. Open the door. It's too hard you say? Cry out to God that He will enable you to open it.

Later,

Stephen

The Absurdity of Post Modernism

"If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning." -C.S. Lewis

One Pure and Holy Passion

Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after You

To know and follow hard after you
To grow as your dicsiple in your truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you, my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you
Lead me on and I will run after you

-Mark Altrogge

A Birthday Known Before the Foundation Of The World

In honor of John Calvin's 499th birthday the following is a fictional (and sarcastic) interview.

Interviewer: "Mr Calvin, 4 centuries from now what would you most like to be known for?"

Calvin: "Well, let's see. I pride myself in knowing a great deal about the Scriptures and yet God is so wise and unsearchable that I still have more to learn. I think I would like people to be able to say that I led them to know Christ more fully and see grace for what it truly is...But most of all I hope they attach my name to predestination."

Interviewer: "Surely your theological works will be embraced by all of Christendom during that time."

Here is a post on the Desiring God blog on Calvin's exhaustive preaching on the whole Bible (not just election).

Later,
Stephen

Lewis Black on Larry King Live

Larry King- "Do you accept Darwin?"

Lewis Black- "Yeah, I accept Darwin. But I'm willing to give up Darwin if...the Creationists give up the concept of seven days. If they will stop believing the earth was created in seven days I'll stop believing in evolution and we as a country can move on."

Watching this interview makes me wonder how people like Lewis Black can function in society. As funny as he is he must be a fool if he is willing to give up truth on the condition that others make the same compromise. This quote shows the absurdity of a post modern culture.

More important than that is the thought of Creationists giving up the concept of the seven day creation. Unwillingness to accept Genesis 1 is never the end of the problem for Old Earth Creationists. Once you start to say that seven days doesn't really mean seven days you open the door to a million other problems. By definition you have to say that death entered the world before the fall of Adam if you accept evolution. You will have no problem saying that the flood was local rather than universal. As soon as you are willing to give up Genesis 1 you put yourself on a path that most likely ends in liberal Christianity at best.

If you believe in the Bible you have to be willing to accept the things that appear foolish to the world as well as the nice little sayings. If that means people call you "that guy who believes Jonah was really swallowed by a big fish" so be it. Because if you can trust the God of Genesis 1 you can trust the God of John 3:16.

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

What is Sin? Part 1

For the next few weeks I want to discuss the theology of sin. This is a much deeper issue than you might think. To get us started here are three quotes from catechism answering the question "what is sin?"

What is sin?
Sin is the breaking of God’s law

Plus our condition, which means from birth we all got flaws. -Shai Linne (Atonement Q&A)

What is sin?
A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God. (Westminster Shorter Catechism)

What is sin?

Answer: Sin is transgression of the revealed will of God which teaches that we are to act in perfect holiness from a heart of faith to the glory of God.

Comment Simplified: Sin is any attitude or desire or action that explicitly breaks a commandment of Scripture, or comes from a heart of unbelief or is not done for the glory of God. (Baptist Catechism. Revised by Bethlehem Baptist Church)

More on this topic next Thursday.

Stephen

Morning Devotions

"The habit of early rising is surely a friend to the soul.
If it is the best time for study, it is also the best time
for devotion. When prayer and praise are neglected
in the morning, they are commonly neglected all day.
If you let the world get the start of your soul in the
morning, you will seldom overtake it all day.

Morning devotion. . .
sweetens every succeeding hour,
pours a balm on the conscience,
gives a pleasant savor to business,
locks the door against wicked thoughts,
furnishes matter for pious reflection all the day.

It is better to go from prayer to business--than from
business to prayer. Fellowship with God prepares for
fellowship with our fellow creatures--and for every
event, whether pleasing or painful." -James Alexander (My Brother's Keeper)

www.gracegems.org

Justification By Death Alone?

“The prevailing doctrine of justification today is not justification by faith alone. It’s not even justification by good works or by a combination of faith and works. The prevailing notion of justification in Western culture is justification by death. It’s assumed that all one has to do to be received in to the everlasting arms of God is to die.” -R.C. Sproul (The Cross of Christ, 10)

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts

An Example of Respectful Disagreement

If you have read this blog for any amount of time you have probably thought to yourself "this guy really likes John Piper" and I have to admit he is one of my heroes of the faith. One of the reasons for that is his unparalleled accessibility. Everything Piper does is available at my fingertips and almost always free. Another person I have come to admire is Dr. James White, Director of Alpha and Omega ministries and one of the best apologists of our day. "Why do you bring this up Stephen?" Well I was reading a post by Piper on the Desiring God blog (Guns and Martyrdom) and immediately thought "I disagree" which may shock many you. I didn't think much about the entry until earlier today when I was browsing White's blog and saw that he posted a response in disagreement to that very post (I Beg To Differ, Brother Piper). I want to give some excerpts of Dr. White's post, not to show why you should agree with him over Piper but, rather, to show how to disagree with a brother or sister in Christ over issues like this. White is firm on his stance, gentle toward his brother, and understanding that this isn't an issue that will cause harm to John Piper's soul.

"In the spirit of Christian freedom and with the deepest respect for brother Piper, I could not disagree more strongly with the sentiment here expressed. First, I see no parallel whatsoever between missionaries in the jungle seeking to open contact with a violent and primitive tribe and a meth-laden gang member seeking to rob, rape, and murder. In fact, I see many, many reasons to view the two very, very differently. The gang member in the streets of Phoenix has every possible opportunity to do good, to obey the gospel, to work and abide by the law. But he chooses, purposefully and knowingly, to do otherwise. He chooses to enter into my home, threatening the lives of my family. And he comes armed.
In the second place, I don't believe a Christian is a martyr if they fall prey to the random, drug-induced violence of a gang member or criminal. There is a difference between being a victim because you did not take the proper precautions and being a martyr because you purposefully expose yourself to danger and even death in the service of the gospel."

The article is much larger than this excerpt so I encourage you to follow both links and read the articles. Hopefully seeing how brothers in Christ are able to engage each other on issues at this high level will encourage you to stand for what you believe in as well but with grace and respect. Remember, no matter who you are arguing/debating with you are representing Christ to them and should keep in view whether you are engaging a fellow believer or a lost person.

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

Don't Waste Your Life Video

www.desiringgod.org
www.dontwasteyourlife.com

Pray Like Martin Luther's Puppy

When Luther's puppy happened to be at the table, he looked for
a morsel from his master, and watched with open mouth and
motionless eyes. Luther said, "Oh, if I could only pray the way
this dog watches the meat! All his thoughts are concentrated on
the piece of meat. Otherwise he has no thought, wish, or hope."

http://gracegems.org/

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

The Injustice of Forgiveness

The sins of the story of David and Bathsheba found in 2 Samuel:

Bad Leader (11:1)
Lust (11:2)
Adultery (11:5)
Deceit (11:6-13)
Murder (11:14-17)
Hypocrisy (12:5-6)

Against whom did David sin? God (12:9, Psalm 51:4)

What does justice demand? Death (12:5).

What was the punishment? Punishment of David's family including the death of the child conceived in the sin. But not death! (12:7-15)

How can God be a just God and not give justice so David? The text claims that God "put away" David's sin. If any modern judge did this for such a criminal he would be removed from the bench. The New Testament, however, gives us glorious understanding as to how God forgave this terrible sin.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." Romans 3:23-26

Jesus Christ satisfied the wrath of God for this sin in David's life.