VICIOUS ANIMAL ENVOUNTERED ON THE TRAIL

While Hannah, Annika and I were hiking the 12 kilometer trail in Garden of the Gods we encountered a very vicious and hungry wild cat. The sneaker is all that is left of Hannah. It was a harrowing event. We found out later that the killer feline was named "Moshie" and that he liked to wear patriotic bandanas.

LONDON CONFESSION OF 1644, ARTICLE III

[Picture is of a waterfall in Medicine Park, Oklahoma. I took this photo while visiting this past February.]



One of the precious truths of Article III is the idea of God’s “Decree”. The decree of God it will be noted was treated by these early Baptists as a singular not plural issue; that which issued forth from God in his complete and Holy sovereignty. This decree includes all things that are to come to pass, that God the eternal king rules over all the affairs of men. What comfort this brings to the believer, what faith this builds in a God whose will cannot be thwarted by the will, whiles and ways of man. Gods will shall stand as the clear statement of the first proof text of this article:

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do ALL MY PLEASURE.” Isaiah 46:10

Many object to the idea that God’s sovereignty extends even to the salvation of men. This it is argued limits the ability of man to come to faith in Jesus Christ. And yet It is exactly this sovereignty that allows ANY at all to be saved from their sin and enjoy the mercy, grace and majesty that is the king of kings.

To argue that man is somehow overpowering the almighty by his own will, results in the complete dethroning of God and makes man the ultimate sovereign. Any thing that can hold sway or influence by way of power over another is by definition sovereign over that other.

The harsh truth is that God chooses whom he will have mercy upon and upon whom he will harden (see Romans 9:9-24). This decree not only results in the salvation of the elect:...

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love”. Ephesians 1:4.

...That this salvation is completely a work of God apart from the work merit or will of man is the inescapable and wonderful truth that flows from this eternal decree. But also this decree includes a basic teaching that there are some who are not elect. Who are these you may well ask. The confession refers to them as “The rest”. That is those that are not foreordained to eternal life. This is a difficult truth but one in which we find a great motive and driving force behind true evangelism. We are limited as men and we do not presume to know who the elect are, so we courageously and obediently preach the good news of Jesus Christ to every creature. Every man, women and child whom God soveriegnly brings into our lives is our opportunity to expand the kingdom and invite the elect of God to meet their creator and be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.

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ARTICLE III

God had decreed in Himself, before the world was, concerning all things, whether necessary, accidental or voluntary, with all the circumstances of them, to work, dispose, and bring about all things according to the counsel of His own will, to His glory: (Yet without being the [chargeable] author of sin, or having fellowship with any therein) in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, unchangeableness, power, and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree: And God hath before the foundation of the world, foreordained some men to eternal life, through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of His grace; [having foreordained and] leaving the rest in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of His justice.

Isa. 46:10; Eph. 1:11, Rom. 11:33, Ps. 115:3; 135:6, 33:15; 1 Sam. 10:9, 26, Prov. 21:6; Exod. 21:13; Prov. 16:33, Ps. 144, Isa. 45:7, Jer. 14:22, Matt. 6:28, 30; Col. 1:16, 17; Num. 23:19, 20; Rom. 3:4; Jer. 10:10; Eph. 1:4,5; Jude 4, 6; Prov. 16:4.

LONDON CONFESSION OF 1644, ARTICLE II

In Article II we have the enormous, precious, and mysterious doctrine of the trinity of the Godhead. How long and how fruitless has been mans attempt to explain the infinite with the finite. While an amazing and essential teaching of the word of God, the doctrine of the trinity is nonetheless inexplicable with any fine detailed definition. It is amazing and yet understandable that the Baptists of this 1644 London confession were able to boil this gargantuan idea into such a short paragraph.

I think it is understandable at the same time. We ought to receive by faith the clear teaching of the scripture of the eternal unity of the Godhead while at the same time embrace the scriptural revelation of the three holy persons that are part, parcel and co-equal in that Godhead. This goes to the task of the biblical interpreter; where scripture speaks we ought to endeavor to explain the textual meaning and then stop at exactly where scripture stops. Where scripture is silent we must also remain so. The secret things belong unto God…but those things that are revealed belong to us and our children. The intricacies and details of the Godhead are respectfully secret in many aspects, we, in reverence and holy worship should probably leave them there.

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ARTICLE II

That God is(1) of Himself, that is, neither from another, nor of another, nor by another, nor for another: (2) But is a Spirit, who as his being is of Himself, so He gives(3) being, moving, and preservation to all other things, being in Himself eternal, most holy, every way infinite in(4) greatness, wisdom, power, justice, goodness, truth, etc. In this Godhead, there is the Father, the Son, and the Spirit; being every on of them one and the same God; and therefore not divided, but distinguished one from another by their several properties; the(5) Father being from Himself, the(6) Son of the Father from everlasting, the(7) Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son.
1) Isa. 43:11; 46:9
2) John 4:24
3) Exod. 3:14
4) Rom. 11:36; Acts 17:28
5) 1 Cor. 8:6
6) Prov. 8:22-23
7) John 15:16; Gal. 4:6

A LITTLE HUMOR

"Well, I haven't actually DIED to sin, but I did feel kind of faint once."



Thanks to...
http://www.withchrist.org/MJS/missing.htm

WHEN HAGAR FOUND THE BOTTLE SPENT

WHEN HAGAR FOUND THE BOTTLE SPENT



by William Cowper











When Hagar found the bottle spent,
And wept o’er Ishmael,
A message from the Lord was sent
To guide her to a well.

Should not Elijah’s cake and cruse
Convince us at this day,
A gracious God will not refuse
Provisions by the way?

His saints and servants shall be fed,
The promise is secure;
“Bread shall be given them,” He has said,
“Their water shall be sure.”

Repasts far richer they shall prove
Than all earth’s dainties are;
’Tis sweet to taste a Savior’s love,
Though in the meanest fare.

To Jesus then your trouble bring,
Nor murmur at your lot;
While you art poor, and He is King,
You shall not be forgot.