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Our Latest Newsletter 12.27.2011.
THE POWER OF THE CHURCH
THE POWER OF THE CHURCH : Apprising Ministries. My friend and fellow Baptist pastor, Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries, posts a quote from our beloved Mr. Spurgeon, a quote quite in keeping with a few earlier posts at Justification by Grace: from my original article, “8 Elements in True Worship,” as well as two rebogged posts; one from Samuel at Gilgal and the other from Shattered by Grace.
Here is an excerpt of that quote:
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. (Hebrews 1:3)
The true power of the church lies in Christ personally. You may have all the stars that ever made bright the Milky Way with their combined sheen, but there is no power in them to kill evil or conquer sin
The stars of the church shine because God makes them shine. Their shining is not their own: it is a borrowed light with which they are radiant. But the power that overcomes evil, wounds the heart, pierces the conscience, and kills reigning sin is of the Lord alone.
Never Neglect to Preach Christ Crucified
It is then as it ought always to be with the true ministry of the gospel. So, preacher, whatsoever thou dost choose to neglect, never neglect to preach Christ crucified, and the simple, soul-saving precept, “Look and live.” What if there be some prophetic passages which thou canst not understand? The day shall declare them. What if there be certain deep doctrines that are too profound for thee? Thou and thy people shall learn them in eternity, if you learn them not in time. But as for this doctrine, that “he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life,” it must be learned now or never; and if it be not learned now, men will be shut out of heaven eternally. Therefore, let this truth be proclaimed again and again and again. Let it still be preached, even though some who have itching ears weary of it, for there is an urgent necessity that it should be made known whether men will hear or whether they will forbear. Better that the sun should not rise than that Christ should not be preached. Better that the wheels of time should stand still than that the name of Jesus should not be sounded forth. Better that the dews be withheld, and the rain fall not again upon the earth, than that the glorious gospel of the blessed God be hidden from the sons of men.
—Charles H. Spurgeon
Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Vol. 45
“Peace in Believing” Sermon No. 2626
delivered Sunday evening, February 19, 1882
8 Elements in True Worship
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” —John 4:24
This is by no means a detailed or exhaustive list of that contained in true worship; nevertheless, as a brief exposition of what the Lord Jesus Christ has presented as true spiritual worship during His encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, I suggest that the following elements would most certainly exist.
TRUE WORSHIP is centered in the holiness of the Word of God. Jesus prayed unto the Father in the garden on the night He was betrayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17; cf. John 4:24). If it is true worship, it will be centered in the truth of God’s Word.
TRUE WORSHIP is spiritual, and therefore, its truth must be spiritually discerned among redeemed believers. Scripture tells us, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14; cf. John 4:24).
TRUE WORSHIP reveals our mortality from God’s Word against God’s everlasting truth in Christ, providing a perspective of the eternal. At the well, Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14).
TRUE WORSHIP confronts our sinful nature head-on from God’s Word. Jesus told the woman, “Go, call thy husband, and come hither” (John 4:16). It doesn’t mealy-mouth; neither does it sidestep the issue. We should take note that it is also a direct confrontation by the Spirit’s work. One who did not know this woman would not recognize that the Lord’s statement itself pricked her heart with conviction (cf. John 16:8-11), except for her response that followed.
TRUE WORSHIP prompts humility and honesty because of God’s Word. The woman responded to the Lord Jesus, “I have no husband” (John 4:17).
TRUE WORSHIP reveals our sin through God’s Word. Jesus directly addresses her very specific sin, “Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly” (John 4:17-18.)
TRUE WORSHIP reveals the Lord Jesus Christ by God’s Word. As the woman confesses that she knows of the revelation of God’s Messiah, Jesus says plainly, “I that speak unto thee am he” (John 4:26).
TRUE WORSHIP will compel us to testify of the Lord Jesus Christ unto others. The Samaritan woman went into the city and told others, saying, “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ” (John 4:29)?
Is Your Faith Towards Christ Real?
Would you like to know whether your faith is real? Then try it by the feelings toward Christ which it produces. Nominal faith may believe that such a person as Christ existed, and was a great benefactor to mankind. It may show Him some external respect, attend His outward ordinances, and bow the head at His name. But it will go no further. Real faith will make a person glory in Christ, as the Redeemer, the Deliverer, the Priest, the Friend — without whom they would have no hope at all. It will produce …
You’ll want to subscribe to Erik’s JCRyleQuotes.com if you haven’t already done so. SDG.
The Success Of The Harvest Is Due To Divine Grace
Mankind has always thought too highly of itself and scorns to be dependent on divine grace. God looks on and suffers their arrogant experiments to improve mankind. He withholds his displeasure to let them attempt to carry out their boasts through the powers of their degenerate nature and in so doing, they fail. Today, we are blessed with the instruments to see, hear, and read many sermons. There are churches everywhere. Yet sin is triumphant; and very few people are earnestly seeking to live the true …
ER2 and the Ugly Details
My friend and brother in Christ, Mike Corley (who will be preaching at Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Anniston on February 26th; more details on that to follow), summarized the sad Elephant Room 2 Kerfuffle on his blog “The Expositor.” Check it out here.
And yes, I did doctor the banner for Elephant Room 2 by adding some detail and texture, something sadly lacking from ER2′s doctrine and discernment. It’s ironic that what I added and what they lacked caused their likenesses to come out fuzzy and not quite so clear. Interesting.
At What Cost?
They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. Jeremiah 6:14 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Ephesians 2:22 Here we have two wonderful & convicting verses about the reality of the state of many churches today. God speaks through Jeremiah saying that the leaders have lied to the people saying that there was “peace”; that everything was “ok” when it wasn’t. Then Paul says that the church that …
BEWARE! Rosebrough a No-Go, Bro!
Not only does Christine Pack provide us an ironic chuckle courtesy of Chris Rosebrough and the Elephant Room Kerfuffle (Chris was refused admission to the Elephant Room 2 event featuring James MacDonald, Mark Driscoll and T.D. Jakes), but she has also provided a pretty comprehensive list of articles leading up to and touching the whole enchilada.
Spotlight: Caffeinated Calvinists
Justification by Grace is listed as a member of the Caffeinated Calvinists blog. I feel more caffeinated than ever since my wife purchased me a new French Press coffee maker. Mmmm Mm. That’s good coffee; especially in my Charles Spurgeon travel mug from Zazzle.com. What’s the Caffeinated Calvinists blog all about? Here is an excerpt from the site:
This is a blog network for Christian bloggers who enjoy blogging about theology and would like to connect with like-minded bloggers. Bloggers who are a part of this network subscribe to the Five Points of Calvinism (or doctrines of grace): Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints.
If you would like to join this network and have your blog or website added to our blogroll, please fill out the form below to apply to join. Your site will be added to the blogroll in a reasonable amount of time, usually a week or less. We will then email you with the code for the widget and blogroll.
The site was created by Shane Vander Hart, the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Caffeinated Communications Network which includes Caffeinated Thoughts, Caffeinated Theology and Caffeinated Clips. David Shedlock is the editor of Caffeinated Theology. Authors for the Caffeinated Calvinists blog include Shane Vander Hart, David Shedlock, Becky Pliego, Kevin Sorensen, Michael Ives, Mary Selby, Brian Myers, Christopher Levi, Dustin Krutsinger, Sue Wilson, Joshua Morrison, Eric Goranson, Douglas Gebbie, and JP Murie.
So, check out the insights from these caffeinated authors… or you may want to join us if you have a Calvinistic blog yourself.
Random Thoughts From A Cluttered Mind
Robert, Restless and Always Reforming
Go You There
The gospel is not preached everywhere. Some go to certain places of worship because the music is admirable, others because the preacher is clever, some because it is considered “respectable” to go to such a place. I charge you, if you have not found Christ, care for nothing but finding him; and where will you find him except where he is fully and faithfully preached? If he is the head and front of the minister’s discourses, then go you there; —not where they preach the modern gospel, which would not save a mouse; —but where Christ on the cross is lifted high as the one hope for the salvation of sinners. Go there, go at once, and make a habit of going where Christ crucified is constantly proclaimed.
—Charles H. Spurgeon
Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Vol. 45
“Straightway” Sermon No. 2618
delivered Sunday evening, January 15, 1882
Apocalypse Now – Devotional Nine
Revelation 11:14-19, “The Third Woe”
Devotional delivered during the midweek prayer meeting, 1.25.2012, at Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, Anniston, Alabama, by Jon Cardwell.
CLICK HERE- Audio Message in Pop-up MP3 Player for slower Internet connections (16kbps)
CLICK HERE- Audio Message in Pop-up MP3 Player for faster Internet connections (64kbps)
CLICK HERE- Audio Message Download for later listening.
PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED REVELATION STUDIES:
The 5 Most Overrated Films I’ve Ever Seen
Braveheart (1995), [R] I know, right? You’d think a historical epic like Braveheart would be on my list of favorites. Well, it would be – except Mel Gibson and Co. concentrated so intensely on making things “epic”, that they all but forgot the “historical” part. Not that I should be surprised. After all, this is Hollywood we’re talking about here. Scottish history has always interested me a great deal. I may not have a PhD or some fancy diploma to prove it, but I do know a few things. And I know enough to …
Frankly, these days of Code Orange and Elephant Rooms, etc., I’d be overwhelmed with joy unspeakable just to see Corey’s honesty, integrity and discernment in the pulpits of American churches.
Refuge in the Justice of God – Part Four
“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalms 11:3
My dear friend and brother in Christ, Michael Wright, has been blessing us with an exposition in Psalms 11 for the past three weeks. He has posted Part 4 at his blog, Made Free. Here is an excerpt:
We have just come out of their warning of the plots that were laid against David by Saul and his servants to kill David, how these plans were in motion and danger imminent, and there was scarce hope of him escaping. They desired to kill him in secret, and the time was near for them to assassinate him, or at least attempt to, as illustrated by a bent bow, with the arrow fitted on the string. [Read the rest of Mike’s article here]
More Giveaways
I was alerted to these by my dear friend, Corey the Ink Slinger. Please drop by his blog, follow on email and/or RSS feed, and greet him with all of grace in Christ Jesus. Tell him Jon sent you.
HURRY ON THIS ONE! You’ll have to get on this music giveaway quick because the it ends tomorrow. Tami, of Overflow Unedited, is giving away Leigh Nash’s album Hymns and Sacred Songs. CLICK HERE for details at Tami’s blog.
Win an Amazon.com gift card via the giveaway hosted by Katherine Sophia at her blog, Seek Him First. CLICK HERE for details on this giveaway at Katherine’s blog. Giveaway ends February 4th.
