With the infrequency that I have been able to blog, perhaps I should change the title to "This Week" in Blogworld instead of "Today".
Josh Harris has an excellent article on mentoring. He has experienced first hand the impact of mentoring. (CJ Mahaney mentored Josh). It would be my prayer that young men might be humble enough to pursue older men, and that older men might be confident enough in the gospel to mentor them.
Tim Challies urges us to Draw Out the Infection of sin through accountability partners. It is always difficult for younger pastors in smaller settings to find accountability partners, but this has motivated me to pursue it even further.
Dr. Galyon gives us Packer's 4th and 5th points on Calvinism.
Last week I linked to several articles on Mahaney interviewing Sinclair Ferguson. Go here and see it all.
Which one of these seven counterfeit gospels have you bit into?
Great question, great advice. Piper considers whether a pastor can preach what he does not feel.
One of my favorite sites the Reformed Mafia appears to be shutting down. Apparently the name "Mafia" has gotten a few people in trouble. This is no joke. I thought it was at first, until I tried accessing the site. I will let you know when something similar is up and running.
I almost made it without linking to a C. Michael Patton article. But this one, on Grace-Centered-Theology and Rewards, can not be passed up.
This is why I do not drink beer:
(HT: The Thinklings)
The Canvas:
The seventh aspect of the picture that Watson (or rather Scripture) paints of the godly man is a prizing of Jesus Christ. Watson will illustrate this by showing that Christ himself is precious, and the godly man esteems him as so. He does this first by showing that Christ is compared to a "bundle of myrrh" and to a "pearl". The myrrh shows that Christ "perfumes" us as well as "comforts and refreshes" us. Jesus Christ is the pearl of great price. We see his preciousness not only in his person, but also in his offices. We see that Christ is precious in his prophetic office, his priestly office, and his kingly office. But he is also precious in his benefits. As Watson says, "by Christ all dangers are removed; through Christ all mercies are conveyed". Christ is indeed precious. Yet, do we esteem him as such?
If you are a godly man then as Watson says that you cannot "choose but set a high valuation upon Christ". The godly man sees the fulness of Christ in regards to his variety (Colossians 2:3), in regards to degree (Colossians 2:9) and in regards to duration (he is inexhuastible).
There are three uses of this doctrine. The first is to consider those that do not prize Christ. Can they be godly? [Under this point we notice a few of the debates raging in Watson's day]. The first group of people that do not prize Christ, Watson says, are the Jews. Therefore, without prizing Christ the Jew cannot be godly. Also, the Socinians, who acknowledge only Christ's humanity, are rejecters of Christ. The third group of people, that Watson labels proud nominal Christians, are probably better termed legalist. They "mingle their dross with his gold, their duties with his merits". Thus, they despise him as a perfect Savior. Watson's fourth labeling reveals the battle with Humanism in his day. He refers us to the "Airy theorists" that study the arts and sciences above Christ. Our author is not dismissing other studies, but is rejecting a study of things to the neglect of studying Christ.
The second use of this doctrine, and more practical, is to consider our level of godliness based upon our estimation of Christ. How do you know if you esteem Him highly or not? We are given eight answers:
- Prizers of Christ, prefer Him in our judgments before other things
- Prizers of Christ, cannot live without Him
- Prizers of Christ, do not complain of the pains it takes to get Him
- Prizers of Christ, take great pleasure in Christ
- Prizers of Christ, part with our dearest pleasures for Him
- Prizers of Christ, cannot have him at too dear a rate
- Prizers of Christ, will help other to get a part in him
- Prizers of Christ, prize Him in health as well as in sickness
For our third use, Watson will urge us to have "Christ-admiring thoughts". We must consider the fact that we cannot consider Christ at too high of a rate. Prizing other things too highly is sin. We can never prize Christ too highly. We also ought to consider the fact that Christ has highly prized us. Shall we not in return prize Him? In fact to not do so is extremely unwise. To not prize Christ is the same as slighting a guide in a foreign land, or rejecting the counsel of our physician. Nonetheless, some do just that, they consider Christ as not precious. Watson closes this section with a powerful warning: "Christ will slight at the day of judgment those who have slighted him in the day of grace."
Discussion:
Why is Watson upset about the Jews "despising the virgin Mary"? Has he not thrown off all the surplus of Romanism? Or is it possible that we have thrown off too much? Should we be offended at those that "despise the virgin Mary"?
Do you believe that one can be a Christian without prizing Christ? Can one be a godly person without prizing Christ? Can one be a Christian without being a godly person?
Isn't it strange hearing men like Watson refer to "pains to get [Christ]"? In our day we believe that become a Christian is "simple". Simply pray a prayer, walk an aisle, believe the right things, study this, go through this class, etc. There is very little laboring with God and crying out to Him for salvation. No wonder our roots often do not run deep enough.
Strokes of Genius:
On to Part 6...He has a treasure adequate for all our wants. (p48)
[Mingling dross] with his gold, [our] duties with his merits...is to steal a jewel from Christ's crown and implicitly to deny him to be a perfect Savior. (p49)
He in whose eye Christ is precious never rests till he has gained him. (p.51)
Godless persons never look for Christ except at death, when they are in danger of hell. (p.53)
One of the most difficult things for me to preach are Paul's prayers. For one the actual text is usually packed and lengthy; typically being one long sentence in the Greek for our 8 or 9 verses. It is also difficult to apply. Do we discuss what Paul prayed for? Do we discuss prayer? In this particular sermon on Colossians 1:9-14 (primarily focusing on v.9-10) we discuss the importance of having a knowledge of God's Will. If we desire to fully enjoy that which Christ has already purchased then one way of doing that is to be filled with a knowledge of God's Will. You can now view Wednesday's sermon online.
Quick Summary:
From the beginning John Stott recognizes the impossibility of exhausting that which will take an eternity to unfold. He also acknowledges that the cross is not something that we can distantly analyze and discuss. As Stott says, “we can stand before it only with a bowed head and a broken spirit”. Throughout this work our author appears to be a man that is bowed and broken himself. Stott, on the topic of the Cross of Christ is a sure guide.
He begins by approaching the cross (his introduction) and then moves us to the “heart of the cross”. This is the meat of Stott’s book. It is his argument for substitutionary atonement. After attempting to convince the reader of the substitutionary core of the cross our author discusses the benefits that this sacrifice has produced. Many authors prior have stopped at this point in their discussion of the cross, not Stott. He introduces a much needed fourth section; what it means to “live under the cross”. Perhaps the many books that have hit our shelves since 1986 owe a debt of gratitude to Stott’s premise that, “the cross transforms everything”.
What I Enjoyed:
Perhaps the best section is Stott’s fourth. The entire book is worthy of our read, yet the practical application of “living under the cross” is priceless. In fact, Stott does a wonderful job of keeping the entire book “out of the clouds” and into the life of the every day believer. It will speak to those in the ivory tower but also will touch the lives of those in the marketplace.
The book may be a little difficult for the typical lay person, but by no means unreadable. The learned scholar will not be in the least bored by this work, nor would a newer believer be completely lost. Stott teaches on the Cross in a clear and concise manner.
What I Disliked:
Something about Stott’s writing style (which I typically enjoy) caused me to get distracted occasionally. It seemed as if at times Stott would walk us up to the foot of the cross, and then point across the street at something else. By no means would this have ever been his intent, yet the book is wrought with some arguments that took place 20 years ago and are less relevant today. In the 20th anniversary edition perhaps this should have been edited.
There are also a few things with which I disagree with Stott on. Occasionally it appears that his desire to be ecumenical makes the truth seem more fluid than it needs to be.
Should You Buy It?:
How can you not by a book that CJ Mahaney recommends as the elite book on the cross? In all actuality if I were to recommend a book on the cross to a typical believer it would not be Stott’s it would be Mahaney’s The Cross Centered Life. Yet, Stott’s is an essential companion. To the pastor/theologian this work is a must have. To the everyday reader it is not a “must-have” but one that would be very beneficial to own.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Additional Note to the Reader:
I am fully aware that Stott believes in Annihilationism. I consider this as I recommend this book. The truth is his Annihilationism, from what I could tell, did not affect this book. I am certain that he might have taken a few different roads had he held to an eternal conscious torment in hell. Nevertheless, Stott does acknowledge the punishment and wrath of God, as well as the idea of separation from the Godhead. Therefore, Stott’s view on Annihilationism does not cause me to refrain from recommending this work.
As much as I wish this were a sick April Fools joke, it is not. I just received word from my wife that her grandfather has been taken to the Emergency Room with what they believe might have been a heart attack. Yes, this is the same grandfather that saw his wife buried yesterday. Be praying for Nikki, myself, and her family. As with her grandmother we are not certain where her grandfather is with Jesus. He is Catholic (as was she). The question is always, how much is she trusting in Christ and how much is she trusting in Jesus plus.
While working on my Wednesday survey over the Book of Psalms, I ran across this sentence in Mark Dever's "The Message of the Old Testament".
Right belief or words, without right behavior has a simple name in the Bible: hypocrisy. Anyone who presents himself as a spiritual or good person and yet lives contrary to God's revealed Word is deluded and deluding. OUCH! That hurts because it hits too close to home. I study hard and deep to make sure I'm presenting the right doctrine in my sermons. Am I equally concerned with the hard, deep discipline to make sure that I am truly practicing what I preach?
May God forgive me when I think I've grown in the faith merely because I have learned more or understand better, but knowledge is all I've gained. Give me the Love which compels me to live what I know.
Ligonier Ministries celebrates April Fools Day with an interesting topic: Did Jesus Ever Laugh?
Absolutely brilliant post from Brent at Colossians 3:16. As one that is attempting to change an anti-intellectual culture, this article really hits home. Why It's Arrogant to Say, "Just give me the Bible..."
One of the most oft questions asked of me, is how were the people in the OT saved. Terry Rayburn discusses this question today, find his answer here.
Abraham Piper gives us 6 reasons that pastors should blog. He also desires for your thoughts and suggestions.
C.J. Mahaney has interviewed Sinclair Ferguson. Last week I linked to the first two parts, now parts 3, 4, and 5 are available.
Challies reviews Young, Restless, and Reformed. I have to get this book, as well as the Harris' brothers' Do Hard Things.
Why is asking of the Bible, "what does this mean to me", dangerous? C. Michael Patton tells us, and I agree.
One of the most often cited passages in support of contextualization is Acts 17. Phil Johnson discusses Paul at Mars Hill.
This is a wonderful quote on worry from Ed Welch's book Running Scared: "Worriers are visionaries minus the optimism." (HT: Josh Harris)
Last week I linked to Dr. Galyon's series on Packer's points of Calvinism. Today we are treated Packer's Third Point.
It seems like whatever Michael Patton posts I link to. Nonetheless, you also need to check out this series on The Problem Passages of Scripture, Part 1.
Nathan Finn gives a Baptist Look at the Lord's Supper.
(HT: Purgatorio)
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