Past, Present, Future

{ July 1, 2009 @ 11:44 am } · { Books that I am reading or have read., Read This }
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The Cross and Salvation p. 35

One strand of Reformed thinking holds that, subjectively, the Spiriti enables the chosen and called to believe th truth in Christ, turn from all known sins, and trust Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives. God creates in the converted a new spiritual nature – in the sense not of another ontological constitution but as a new set of godly inclinations, desires, and habits. Objectively, the Spirit incorporates regenerated believers into Christ in a vital, spiritual, and indissoluble union, attested by the common “in Christ” motif. The Father then forgives their sins, accepts them as righteous in his sight, and bestows the gift of eternal life. Furthermore, in the lifelong work of sanctification the Spirit progressively mortifies believers’ old nature and fortifies the new nature such that they become like Jesus in thought, word, and deed. Thus God not only declares believing sinners righteous; he effectively makes them so by the Spirit. We are saved not merely to gain heaven but also to live in holiness, truth, and love. Moreover, those whom God has regenerated, united to Christ, and justified he preserves by the Spirit to the end. Twice-born people at times disobey God and grieve his Spirit; but the Lord’s sure grip prevents them from falling away finally and completely. Lastly, God will bring salvation to completion at the return of Christ when pilgrim saints behold the Savior’s face and are fully transformed into his likeness. Biblical salvation thus has past, present, and future dimensions. The born-again person can say with confidence, “I have been saved, I am being saved, and at Christ’s return I finally will be saved.”

That last line is epic.

Ephesians 2:11-21, 3:5,6

{ July 1, 2009 @ 10:40 am } · { Things that I am learning }
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“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ … So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”

“…the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

Stigmatizing Garners Hate

{ June 24, 2009 @ 1:25 pm } · { Life, Things that I am learning }
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This is an excellent quote by C.S Lewis’ Mere Christianity

Suppose one reads a story of filthy atrocities in the paper. Then suppose that something turns up suggesting that the story might not be quite true, or not quite so bad as it was made out.

Is one’s first feeling, ‘Thank God, even they aren’t quite so bad as that,’ or is it a feeling of disappointment, and even a determination to cling to the first story for the sheer pleasure of thinking your enemies are as bad as possible?

If it is the second then it is, I am afraid, the first step in a process which, if followed to the end, will make us into devils. You see, one is beginning to wish that black was a little blacker. If we give that wish its head, later on we shall wish to see grey as black, and then to see white itself as black. Finally we shall insist on seeing everything — God and our friends and ourselves included — as bad, and not be able to stop doing it: we shall be fixed for ever in a universe of pure hatred.

HT: Between Two Worlds

also…. I just learned what HT meant. It literally means Hat Tip as in, a “tip of the hat” to your source. A show of appreciation. I’ve been seeing that HT thing everywhere these day. I’m so glad I learned what it was.

HT: archshrk

Criticism and Compliments

{ June 24, 2009 @ 12:55 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Heard this a while ago:

For every criticism you make give back 5 compliments.

The Cross and Salvation

{ June 23, 2009 @ 10:28 am } · { Books that I am reading or have read., Things that I am learning }
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When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.

-Titus 3:4-6

On the human side no person can come savingly to God by the power of their own initiative or on the basis of their own merits, as the Titus text just cited indicates. but men and women, enable by the Spirit’s gracious working, perform their own necessary work.

- Bruce Demarest

I just started a book called The Cross and Salvation by Bruce Demarest after leaving it on the shelf for a while. The book came off intimidating at first because of the cover and the fact that it is a systematic theology book, however the theme of the cross and of salvation, being central to the Gospel, lured me to finally get the book started for the summer.

I’m only done with the first chapter so far, but in what I learned and profitted from in the first chapter, I can say have gained more than most books that I read in whole. I will try to post more on what I am learning throughout the next couple weeks, but this is a book I thoroughly recommend as it has been magnifying the cross that Christ carried by motive of obedience to the Father and of clemency toward an undeserving people.

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