“Thus, those who are eager to dispute about perfection had better see that their lives are first of all decently consistent with the profession they have made. Brethren, we can be much more holy than we are. Let us attain first to that holiness about which there is no controversy” (Charles Spurgeon, An All-Round Ministry, …
John Robbins R.I.P.
John William Robbins (1948-2008) went to be with the Lord today. He was 59. Although we were on opposite sides of a significant theological divide, I want to express my deep sympathy to his family and friends. He has crossed over another and greater divide, and now dwells with the Lord Jesus, directly partaking of …
To Inundate the World
As Scripture instructs, we must be adult in our understanding. But we must also cultivate what Luke records in the books of Acts when he says that the early Christians ate their bread with gladness and simplicity of heart. We may be refreshed with both when we come to understand how much of the water …
Falcons and Owls
“Some men never can do much for God in the way which they would prefer, for they were never cut out for the work. Owls will never rival falcons by daylight; but, then falcons would be lost in the enterprise of hunting barns at night for rats and mice . . . Friend, be true …
Grace and Mercy Both
Our God is a God of both grace and mercy. In the English language, grace is generally unearned, unmerited favor. Mercy is demerited favor that we receive anyway. When we have forfeited goodness, and God gives it to us anyway, He is showing mercy. When Adam was first created, he had obviously done nothing to …
What Happened When I Ran Some Numbers on Envy
Some time ago I figured out a way for churches to get a general idea of whether or not their congregations are tithing congregations. I think I mentioned that already in some post or other. We have pretty good numbers on what the average income level is across the United States, and it is fairly …
A Text Grinder
“The man who grinds out theology at so much a yard has no power over men” (Charles Spurgeon, An All-Round Ministry, p.221).
Plenty of Room
The historic Reformed faith is a spacious mansion. We really need to stop living in the broom closet that some want to call true Calvinism. And it is possible to come out of the broom closet and not be in the process of leaving the house.
Standing on a High Rock Next to the Devil
Struggling with temptations of the flesh can certainly keep us busy. When we finally feel like we are getting mastery over them, and we are starting to feel that secure feeling of superiority over others, we think it is because we have been making real progress in our sanctification. But in reality, we are moving …
And There I Abide
“Brethren, because I cannot think, I hide behind a doctrine which God has thought out for me; and because I cannot invent a hypothesis, I rest my soul on a self-evident fact; and because I cannot even be consistent with myself, I get behind the plain teaching of the text, and there I abide” (Charles …