Missions – Not From Strength But Weakness

Fom an article by Shane Lems in the May/June 2011 Modern Reformation Magazine comes this quote from British theologian and missionary Lesslie Newbigin (1909-1998).

“Missions will no longer work along the stream of expanding Western power.  They have to learn to go against the stream.  And in this situation we shall find that the New Testament speaks to us much more than does the nineteenth century as we learn afresh what it means to bear witness to the gospel from a positionn not of strength, but of weakness.

The Open Secret (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995)

“Anger is a Calling” by Paul Tripp

Don’t be afraid to be angry!  (From The Gospel Coalition Blog.)

Pope to the Jews?

“…if Peter’s apostleship had a peculiar reference to the Jews, let the Romanists see on what ground they derive from him their succession to the primacy. If the Pope of Rome claims the primacy because he is Peter’s successor, he ought to exercise it over the Jews. Paul is here declared to be the chief apostle of the Gentiles, yet they affirm that he was not bishop of Rome; and, therefore, if the Pope would establish any claim to his primacy, let him gather churches from among the Jews. He who by a decree of the Holy Spirit, and by the consent of the whole apostolic college, has been solemnly declared to be one of the apostles, cannot but be acknowledged by us in that character. Those who would transfer that right to Peter set aside all ordination, both human and divine. It is unnecessary to explain here the well-known metaphor in the words circumcision and uncircumcision, as applied to Jews and Gentiles.” (John Calvin’s Commentary on Galatians 2:9)

Notes From Sunday School

Notes from Sunday school – Book of Galatians 6 Nov 2011

 

1. Paul and Titus’ gospel to the Gentiles validated by Peter, James, and John
2. Peter’s actions by separating himself from the Gentiles during the agape feast, caused division and a rebuke from the Apostle Paul
3. There was much talk about what “justification” means and how does it relate to other theological terminology regarding salvation (i.e. are redemption, and sanctification, the same thing as justification? etc.)
4. Justification = legal pronouncement; being declared righteous based on Christ’s finished work
5. Christ provided complete satisfaction thereby we are declared righteous because of Christ’s righteousness imputed (applied) to us
6. Justification  is more than, “just as though I had never sinned”; justification is that, plus “just as though I had perfectly kept the law”

Notes from Sunday school – Book of Galatians 13 Nov 2011

1.  Some  more talk about Justification and Santification
2. Justification = indicative – Statement of fact
3. Sanctification = Imperative – Something that we do, or something that is a natural fruit of justification
4. The teacher warned against separating justification and sanctification too cleanly saying that justification and sanctification are so closely interwoven and dependent to separate to widely – I have some serious reservations about this approach – In my estimation, not having a clean enough separation between these 2 principles can cause the error of confusing the declaration of “justified” by grace alone and “justification” by works.  This is the error of the Roman Catholic Church’s doctrine of infused righteousness or of cooperation with the Holy Spirit to secure salvation.
5. 2 terms were brought up – “Positional sanctification” and “Progressive      sanctification”
6. Positional      sanctification = if we are truly “in Christ”, then we have been sanctified, are being sanctified, and are going to be perfectly sanctified. – this terminology came about because of Paul’s using the past tense of the word “sanctify” in some of his letters. (1 Corinthians 1:2 ESV)  “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all      those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours”, (1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV)  “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God .”, (Hebrews 2:11 ESV)  “For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers”
7. Progressive sanctification = ongoing progression in holiness
8. God creates what he commands – he creates righteousness through the Holy Spirit, but there is involvement required by us
9. There is a difference between “works of the law” and “works of righteousness”
10. Works of the Law – trying to keep the law as a means of justification
11. Works of Righteousness- only the redeemed can perform.  Righteous deeds as a fruit of our right standing with God as his adopted children – Moral rectitude
12. Paul abolishes Pharisee’s concept of justification by law keeping
13. Our whole lives are changed and are being changed because of our relationship with Christ
14. Our justification required appeasement and propitiation (wrath bearing) which was fulfilled by Christ
15. Paul is asking the Galatians why they would want to go back when they experienced something better

 

Great Video

Video from KarmaTube

From the Westminster Larger Catechism

Q. 155. How is the Word made effectual to salvation?
A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of enlightening,y convincing, and humbling sinners;z of driving them out of themselves, and drawing them unto Christ;a of conforming them to his image,b and subduing them to his will;c of strengthening them against temptations and corruptions;d of building them up in grace,e and establishing their hearts in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation.f

(y) Neh 8:8; Acts 26:18; Ps 19:8
(z) 1 Cor 14:24-25; 2 Chr 34:18-19,26-28
(a) Acts 2:37,41; Acts 8:27-38
(b) 2 Cor 3:18; Col 1:27
(c) 2 Cor 10:4-6; Rom 6:17-18
(d) Eph 6:16-17; Col 1:28; Ps 19:11; Matt 4:4,7,10; 1 Cor 10:11
(e) Eph 4:11-12; Acts 20:32; 2 Tim 3:15-17
(f) Rom 16:25; 1 Thess 3:2,10-11,13; Rom 15:4

From the Westminster Larger Catechism

Q. 154. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation?
A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances; especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for their salvation.x

(x) Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:42,46-47

The End of Poverty and the Hope of Glory

I found this interesting article from the Gospel Coalition Blog concerning the appropriate way for believers to respond to the issue of poverty.  How do we respond to poverty for the Glory of Christ?  http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/10/31/the-end-of-poverty-and-the-hope-of-glory/