False Christian teachings, trends….
This post is about a couple of very important points Martyn Lloyd-Jones makes in chapter two of his book Spiritual Depression. These points are prerequisites to one knowing salvation and Christian joy. Hopefully, this post will whet the appetites of those Christians who have known more depression than joy.
This post contains a 36-minute sermon by the Reverend William Macleod on backsliding. He defines it and discusses how it begins and how it can be remedied. Texts used include Hosea 14; and Hebrews 12. The sermon includes a 3-minute singing of Psalm 63. I had to divide the sermon into 3 sections, each is preceded with sermon highlights for those who’d rather read than listen; and for those who like to do both.
The following 91-second video provides biblical rationale for 1 Timothy 2:4 statement: 1Tim 2:4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. If you have wondered about this text, then please spend 91 seconds to hear a sound answer.
The purpose of the interview that Family Radio conducted with Dr Carol Swain was to discuss how it is that counter-cultural respect might be achieved via a biblical manner. Dr. Carol Swain provided definitions for those unfamiliar with CRT and its roots; and other definitions relevant to this topic. She shared information from the book she was commissioned to write on this topic: Counter-Cultural Living: What Jesus has to say about life, marriage, race, gender and materialism. She was born-again in her 40s, and had previously been divorced twice; she was a college professor for 28 years. Dr. Swain was raised in poverty and quit school, later getting a GED and going to university…. Via her personal struggle, she has wisdom to share. A partial bio is included that readers might become familiar with her and get some insight into the basis of her writings, opinions….
D. Patrick Ramsey clarified ‘the choice’ that God presented Israel from Deuteronomy 30:15ff this morning; he also used passages from Proverbs 9 and Matthew 7 because God presented the same choice via those texts. During the sermon, Pastor explained the consequences of choosing life and death; he also explained why so many then and now choose death – they believe the LIE. It is very important to understand what that is and the nature of the choice that every living person must make.
A questioner asked Dr. MacArthur to explain what it means to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. He talked about seeking grace via the means God provided, identifying those; then he explained fear and trembling. A recent post on this topic is linked at the end of this post; it used a commentary to explain that verse.
The following comments are from The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary, Psalm 18: 23. It is being posted because in his comments about besetting sins, he says some things that I believe to be of great benefit to anyone struggling with their sins, seeking to be obedient. …In the subduing of our besetting sin lies the great struggle of life. Our love to God, our allegiance to Him, is tested, not by ten commandments, but rather by one or two of them. The question of our moral character is fought out on some one question. …We must estimate our character according to our relation to the besetting sin. We sometimes flatteringly estimate our character by reckoning up the sins to which we have no inclination. This is a fatal miscalculation. Is it not a maxim in mechanics, that a thing is no stronger than its weakest part? This is as true in morals as in mechanics.
Psalm18:16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. There can be little doubt but that David in this place is idealizing some of his own experiences; but that eye is very dim which cannot perceive in the Psalmist’s language something far beyond a description of his own immediate temporal danger and rescue. We have not exhausted the meaning of this magnificent hymn until we have seen in it a foreshadowing of the world’s redemption in Jesus Christ. In his description of this redemption, the writer compares Christ with Noah’s Ark, but the Ark of salvation which Christ represents is far better as he explained.
While my friend and I were reading through Philippians yesterday, we looked at a commentary to better understand Philippians 2:12 and 13. The parts that we were interested in understanding better were: work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; and it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. If you’re not clear on the meaning of these statements, then your questions will be answered in this post.
In his sermon, Pastor Ramsey provided a picture of an unbelieving heart and a heart wherein faith is mixed with the words of God. He also identified the source of such faith, for your aid. His sermon may answer some of your spiritual questions about your own unbelief, struggles with assurance, etc. Sermon texts are from Deuteronomy 30 and Colossians 2; Romans 10 also plays a significant part in his message. Sermon points are provided for those who don’t want to spend 27 minutes listening to his mp3 sermon.