Without [regeneration] he can neither see the kingdom of God -- this is, mentally, since he is blind, and perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them ,because they are spiritually discerned (I Corinthians 2:14) --nor, if he could see, could he enter in to the kingdom of God, since he is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (Romans 8:7. Of himself he is not sufficient to think anything spiritually good (II Corinthians 3:5), and therefore stands in absolute need of illumination by regeneration in order to see the kingdom of heaven and of a renovation of his will, in order to be willing to enter into it.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Ye must be born again
From Peter Van Mastricht's book A Treatise on Regeneration:
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Mitt Romney is Not a Christian
Be careful.
The interesting thing about Christians who try and sit at the table with the political right -- when the political right no longer needs the Christian, the Christian will be the first to be eaten.
Over the last year, I have heard several of the talk radio types give some warnings about social issues: forget about them. Forget marriage, abortion -- we need to focus on getting republicans elected, to make sure taxes stay low.
We don't live in a theocracy and I am not going to hold my breathe and wait on a Baptist to win the presidency. Elections have consequences and the majority get to set the agenda.
Having said all that....in comes Mitt Romney and this is were the trouble is going to start, in my opinion.
Mitt Romney is a Mormon who is trying to pass himself off as a Christian. Mormon's are not Christians. Mormons have different gods, a different Jesus and different theology than Christians have. Conservative leaders have already begun to make their veiled threats against anyone who questions Romney's Christianity.
I'm not proposing that there is a standard of theology to run for president. But I am not going to support someone who lies about what they believe either. Christians cannot hide the fact that Romney claims to be a Christian when he is not. We MUST expose that. Not because of political purposes, but because of the gospel. On a national stage, there will be a leader corrupting the gospel, with thousands of talking heads confirming this damnable heresy for the sake of political power. We are being warned to keep our mouths shut about Romney's religion.
We can't stay quiet about this, and that is why the political right will turn on Christians in a heart beat if we don't "fall in line" when Romney gets the nomination. I cannot keep my mouth shut and put a pretty face on a damnable evil.
It will be interesting to see the fall out if he does get the nomination. Christians need to pray and be prepared to give an answer, because Mormonism is coming to the national stage in the clothes of Christianity.
The interesting thing about Christians who try and sit at the table with the political right -- when the political right no longer needs the Christian, the Christian will be the first to be eaten.
Over the last year, I have heard several of the talk radio types give some warnings about social issues: forget about them. Forget marriage, abortion -- we need to focus on getting republicans elected, to make sure taxes stay low.
We don't live in a theocracy and I am not going to hold my breathe and wait on a Baptist to win the presidency. Elections have consequences and the majority get to set the agenda.
Having said all that....in comes Mitt Romney and this is were the trouble is going to start, in my opinion.
Mitt Romney is a Mormon who is trying to pass himself off as a Christian. Mormon's are not Christians. Mormons have different gods, a different Jesus and different theology than Christians have. Conservative leaders have already begun to make their veiled threats against anyone who questions Romney's Christianity.
I'm not proposing that there is a standard of theology to run for president. But I am not going to support someone who lies about what they believe either. Christians cannot hide the fact that Romney claims to be a Christian when he is not. We MUST expose that. Not because of political purposes, but because of the gospel. On a national stage, there will be a leader corrupting the gospel, with thousands of talking heads confirming this damnable heresy for the sake of political power. We are being warned to keep our mouths shut about Romney's religion.
We can't stay quiet about this, and that is why the political right will turn on Christians in a heart beat if we don't "fall in line" when Romney gets the nomination. I cannot keep my mouth shut and put a pretty face on a damnable evil.
It will be interesting to see the fall out if he does get the nomination. Christians need to pray and be prepared to give an answer, because Mormonism is coming to the national stage in the clothes of Christianity.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
How Deep the Father's Love
I have been particularly blessed by this song over the past week.
"Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom"
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Spurgeon on "Salvation is of the Lord"
C.H. Spurgeon
"Salvation is of the Lord." That is just an essence of Calvinism; it is the sum and substance of it. If anyone should ask me what I mean by a Calvinist, I should reply, "He is one who says, Salvation is of the Lord." I cannot find in Scripture any other doctrine than this. It is the essence of the Bible. "He only is my rock and my salvation." Tell me anything contrary to this truth, and it will be a heresy; tell me a heresy, and I shall find its essence here, that it has departed from this great, this fundamental, this rock-truth, "God is my rock and my salvation."
What is the heresy of Rome, but the addition of something to the perfect merits of Jesus Christ—the bringing in of the works of the flesh, to assist in our justification? And what is the heresy of Arminianism but the addition of something to the work of the Redeemer? Every heresy, if brought to the touchstone, will discover itself here.
I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel, if we do not preach justification by faith, without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel, unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross; nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called, and suffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus. Such a gospel I abhor.”
Friday, July 1, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)