Get Insulted by Martin Luther!

I spent a long time trying to come up with a witty introduction to this strangely addictive button which randomly generates a genuine insult from the works of Martin Luther.  I didn't.

HT:R21

Man of Sorrows, What a Name!

In His wisdom, God has blessed His church with amazing diversity (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-31).  This diversity is evident when one surveys the various men and women who have contributed to the rich hymnody of the people of God throughout the centuries.  One thinks of Martin Luther. Luther was a giant of a man; he had a giant passion, a giant faith, and a giant intellect. By contrast, Phillip Bliss, the writer of the hymn Man of Sorrows, What a Name, was not an educated man. He was an poor American, who grew up in the eighteen hundreds in rural Pennsylvania.


In this post I’d like to offer a brief biographical sketch of Phillip Bliss, as well as a sort of exegesis of his most beloved hymn, Man of Sorrows, What a Name.

Barren Land Blurbs 2/25/12: Quotes by Pilgrims, for Pilgrims

It's a new Barren Land Blog feature!  Barren Land Blurbs: Quotes by Pilgrims, for Pilgrims.  I've been studying John 1:16 this week, and so these quotes are weighted towards that text.

This spring is inexhaustible, it is full of grace and truth from God, it never loses anything, no matter how much we draw, but remains an infinite fountain of all grace and truth; the more you draw from it, the more abundantly it gives of the water that springs into eternal life.  Just as the sun is not darkened by the whole world enjoying its light, and could, indeed, light up ten worlds; just as 100,000 lights might be lit from one light and not detract from it; just as a learned man is able to make a thousand others learned, and the more he gives, the more he has- so is Christ, our Lord, an infinite source of all grace, so that if the whole world would draw enough grace and truth from it to make the world all angels, yet it would not lose a drop; the fountain always runs over, full of grace. -Martin Luther, quoted in R. Kent Hughes, John, p. 39.

The common policy of our churches is that of great prudence. We do not, as a rule, attempt anything beyond our strength. We measure means, and calculate possibilities with economical accuracy; then we strike off a large discount for contingencies, and a still larger percentage as provision for our ease, and so we accomplish little because we have no idea of doing much. I would to God we had more "pluck." I know of no fitter word to describe what I mean; though the word may better suit the camp than the church, we will for once borrow from the barracks. Bear in mind that there is nothing like courage even in ordinary things. Sir Richard Sutton, when he was ambassador to Prussia, was taken by Frederick the Great to see his regiment of giants, every one of whom stood six feet six in his shoes. The king said to him, "Do you think any regiment in the English army could fight my men, man for man?" Sir Richard answered, "Please your majesty, I do not know whether the same number could beat your giants, but I know that half the number would try at it." -Charles Spurgeon, An All Round Ministry, p. 123.

Grace is God’s love coming to sinners.  It is God’s ultimate love communicated to us in Christ.  Christ overflows with grace.  We need to hold that truth before us as reality.  It is not something just to discuss, not a mere theological nicety, but truth.  Christ wants to overflow in the lives of those who do not know him.  Likewise he wants believers continually to overflow with his love and grace. R. Kent Hughes, John, p. 36-7.

Link'n Blogs 2/18/12

I haven't done a regular list of links yet on this blog because I had not yet come up with a good name.  "Link'n Blogs" is not a particularly good name, but it will do for now.  To the links!

Discriminating Preaching.  Tom Ascol calls preachers to the right sort of discrimination.  His conclusion: Discriminating, expositional preaching is a great need in our day. We must be willing to show from the text what God says is right and true and then distinguish that from all of the counterfeits that plague the world and church today. Failure to preach and teach like this leads to a mongrel religion that may fly under the banner of Christianity but has missed Christ altogether. It is a frightening prospect. Where there is no discriminating preaching, it has been and remains a tragic reality.

Christians Are Confused About Forgiveness. Jeff Crippen and Anna Wood have started a blog addressing domestic abuse in the church.  It is a challenging read and deals with difficult subject matter, but shame on us if we turn a blind eye to this great evil in our midst.  This post of forgiveness is worth a careful read and thorough reflection.  Crippen writes: If I come across such a person I have forgiven and their car is broken down – I can stop and call a tow for them.  If they are beaten up lying along the highway – I can be the Good Samaritan (and I should).  I MUST forgive!  It is Christ’s command.  Forgiveness is a characteristic, in fact, of a truly regenerate, converted heart in Christ.  This is why Christ says that if we are not a forgiving person, He will not forgive us.  BUT we are laying an unduly heavy and unbiblical burden on one another when we turn the traditions of men into the Word of God, and I think that is what is happening with this subject of forgiveness.  We are making it out to be more than it is.

Reading the Classics Together.   Confession time: I may be the worst Reformed Baptist ever... I've never actually made it cover to cover through Pilgrim's Progress.  That's Reformed Baptist sacrilege, akin to a Libertarian who has never read Atlas Shrugged or a Catholic who has never seen a picture of the Pope.  Tim Challies is facilitating a structured group reading at his blog.  I'm thinking of jumping in... want to join me?

Dr. Gonzales lectures on the Inspiration and Authority of the Old Testament for Reformed Baptist Seminary and the Midwest Center for Theological Studies.  BTW, happy birthday Dr. Bob!

Free Book by Jerry Bridges

 Update: Looks like it was only free for a day!

There are few authors the Lord has used to impact my spiritual life as much as Jerry Bridges. His new book is free 6.29 at Amazon. That's right... free 6.29.

Amazon.com: The Transforming Power of the Gospel eBook: Jerry Bridges: Kindle Store

HT:Z

The Gospel of Eden Part V: Faith in the Garden

This will be the final post in this series on the gospel in the Garden of Eden narrative.  We will examine the last element of our "gospel outline" we have been developing, and then close with some concluding thoughts.

As it has already been demonstrated, the gospel is a message about God, man, and Christ, all of which have been shown to be present in the Garden of Eden narrative.  Yet the fourth and final element is necessary as well: the gospel is also a message about faith and repentance.  For the gospel to be said to be present in the garden it is therefore necessary that faith be located within the narrative.  There are two key texts in this regard.

Audio Slideshow of RBS Pastoral Theology Module

 

Dr. Gonzales (Academic Dean of Reformed Baptist Seminary) has uploaded to his blog a ten minute slideshow of the recent RBS module (which I wrote about on barren land blog here) complete with audio samples of the lectures and discussion sessions.  Watching it reminded me of what a rich time of learning and edification it was.  I would encourage you to watch it (and not just because my ear gets a sweet cameo at about 6:30), but even more I would encourage you to lift up the ministry of RBS and the men laboring in preparation for ministry to our Lord in prayer.  May He use RBS to fulfill His purposes and to glorify His Son Jesus.