Works as Evidence

While our works are naught as a ground of merit for justification, they are all-important as evidences that we are justified. - Robert Dabney

7 Steps for Handling a Tough Day

1. Remember that all things are for your good (Rom. 8:28).
2. You need not be anxious about anything (Phil. 4:6).
3. Trust in the Lord with everything you've got (Prov. 3:6-7).
4. Be courageous (Ps. 31:24).
5. God is always with you (Heb. 13:5).
6. Go to the Lord boldly when things are really tough (Heb. 4:16).
7. Remember that whatever you are doing, do it to the glory of God (Col. 3:17).

The Ark of Triumph

Redeemer's sermon series on 1 Samuel continues this week on 5:1-12.

1 John Week 4

Our study of 1 John continues as we look into 2:7-2:17.

Hand Sanitizer - Tim Hawkins

I love Tim's humor...



(HT:Trevin Wax)

W.G. Blakie on 1 Samuel 7:12

Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. 1 Samuel 7:12.

All that Samuel has considered well. Even amid the desolations of Shiloh the Lord was helping them. He was helping them to know their sins, and helping them to know the bitter fruit and wo[e]ful punishment of sin...The links of the long chain denoted by Samuel's 'hitherto' were not all of one kind. Some were in the form of mercies, many were in the form of chastenings. (First Book of Samuel by W.G. Blakie, pg. 104 .)

Something we should all seriously consider when we look back on what has occured in our lives; that many situations were chastenings for our good though it may not have seemed so at the time.

1 John Week 3

God is Light

-He is a God of splendor and brilliance
-He is self revealing
-He is pure and absolutely holy
-He is enlightening

In this Light we see ourselves for what we really are.

This Light is the medium in which we have fellowship with God.

John answers the Gnostics:

vs. 6 "Fellowship with God"
vs. 8 Original sin
vs. 10 Actual sin

Ichabod

Our sermon series on 1 Samuel continues with todays sermon on 1 Samuel 2:b-22.

Looking Forward to Worship This Morning?

Psalm 122

1 I was glad when they said to me,

“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

2 Our feet have been standing

within your gates, O Jerusalem!

3 Jerusalem—built as a city

that is bound firmly together,

4 to which the tribes go up,

the tribes of the Lord,

as was decreed for Israel,

to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

5 There thrones for judgment were set,

the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

“May they be secure who love you!

7 Peace be within your walls

and security within your towers!”

8 For my brothers and companions' sake

I will say, “Peace be within you!”

9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

I will seek your good.

(ESV)

Great Books From....

(HT: Banner of Truth)

Propitiation or Expiation?

One of the best explications in the debate over propitiation or expiation in several new testament passages comes from Leon Morris in his classic, The Atonement. This is clearly not just an argument over interpretational methodology of Greek verbs and nouns as they play out in various modern translations. Rather, this is crucial to a correct understanding of where a believer stands in light of God's wrath. Morris explains, Propitiation means the turning away of anger; expiation is rather the making amends for a wrong. Propitiation is a personal word; one propitiates a person. Expiation is an impersonal word; one expiates a sin or a crime (pg. 151).  Expiate is more palatable these days, and has been made so by the efforts of C.H. Dodd, as it indicates a separation from God's wrath. But that is not what we need and to view it as such is to minimize why we need God's wrath to be turned away.

The verses that are in question here are Rom. 3:25, Heb. 2:17, 1Jn 2:1-2 and 1Jn 4:10. In each case we are dealing with the Greek hilaskomai and its related words. Again, Morris clarifies, Nothing deals with salvation from the divine wrath other than hilasterion, which means 'the averting of wrath.' If we reduce hilasterion here to the sub-personal 'expiation', as do some modern translations and commentators, then what has become of God's wrath? ...To do justice to what the apostle is saying [in Romans 3] we must include in our understanding of this passage the idea that part of the meaning of salvation is that God's wrath is averted. ...The plain fact is that hilasterion signifies 'the means of averting wrath' and the new translations miss this (pg. 169).


Morris delves further into the Greek for us and explicates Dodd's errors but moreover, he brings to light why propitiation has the correct meaning. It is not the word he is contending for but rather the idea it conveys. We must realize that His wrath will be reckoned with. This is all the more important in that those who reduce our term to no more than 'expiation' rarely face the questions that result. If there is no 'wrath of God', if 'wrath' is the wrong term and there is nothing corresponding to this teaching of Scripture, then the question arises, "Why should sin be expiated?' And another question, 'What would happen if sin were not not expiated?' (pg. 174).

Excellent chapter from an excellent book. This chapter is worth the price of the book alone.

Thoughts anyone?

1 John Week 2

Our 1 John study continues this week as we examine 1:1-4.

God's Prophet 1 Samuel 3:1-4:1a

God is calling Samuel to be a light in a dark time in Isreal's history.

1. God calls His prophet (vs. 10).
2. God informs His prophet (vss. 11-14).
3. God confirms His word. (vss. 19-21).

Likewise today, we must seek Christ as our Prophet and Teacher by

1. Partaking of the means of grace.
2. Praying He opens our hearts and minds.
3. Living our lives by what He has already taught us.

Baxter on Worship and the Word

As we ready ourselves for worship tomorrow, think on the following from Richard Baxter:

Richard Baxter

You think you serve God by coming to church; but if you refuse to let the Word convert you, how should God be pleased with such a service as this?.... Every time you hear, or pray, or praise God, or receive the sacrament, while you deny God in your heart and remain unconverted, you do out despise Him, and show more of your rebellion than your obedience.... God biddeth you come to church and hear the Word, and so far you do well; but withal, He chargeth you to suffer the Word to work upon your hearts, and to take it home and consider it, and obey it. - Richard Baxter

1 John Study

We began a new study on the book of 1 John this week at Redeemer Church (PCA). Today's study is the intro to the book. Please join us and follow along.

A Faithful Priest

Hannah Gives Thanks

Catching up on our sermons at Redeemer Church (PCA) in Hudson, Ohio:

Mohler Cover Story in CT

I have to agree with Justin Taylor's assessment that the cover story on Al Mohler in the October issue of Christianity Today, was at best, condescending. Numerous unnecessary commments on everything from his clothes to his library permeate the article which is driven to focus on his unwanted denominational accomplishments rather than his Biblical vigor. Another let down from CT but let's face it, we don't read CT for it's astute compositions do we.

Current Reading

We've had the flu or bug or something here in the Renegade household for the past two weeks (hence the lack of posts) but I have attempted to not fall behind on my reading - which I still did. Nevertheless, I've found Hamilton's The Erosion of Calvinist Orthodoxy: Drifting from the truth in confessional Scottish Churches a great read and a serious warning to us all.

Delving into Tributes to John Calvin: A Celebration of His Quincentenary (Calvin 500) has been worth every moment of valuable reading time as well. Taken from the Calvin 500 conference each chapter is a study on Calvin in itself. Worth every penny.

What are you reading?

myPraypal - New app for your iPhone, iPad or iPhone touch

Take a look at the new app, myPraypal,  for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. "myPraypal is the simplest and most useful prayer app on the planet. Write down your prayers using myPraypal. Set reminders and get encouragement to pray everyday. Organize prayers into categories. Invite others to pray with you. Mark prayers as answered and keep track over time how the Lord is working in your life!"