Category: Spiritual Disciplines

Idolatry, Why God Hates It; Re: Ezekiel 36:31, by J.D. Davies: Part 4

The following description of idolatry is the best I have ever read. The author discusses the passage of scripture surrounding verse 31; his description of idolatry explains fully why God called them to loathe themselves. Furthermore, if you have been wanting a clear definition of ‘repentance,’ then, knowing the contents of this post will enable you to be much closer to that; or if you have been wondering what is wrong with your repentance, then the answer may lie herein.  However, if you have read the other 3 parts to this mini series, then you realize that only God can bless you with such repentance. Stay in His means of grace, and do as is stated in Proverb 2:1-10, seek His truth like one seeks gold and silver, and cry out to him for understanding…

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Mistaken Notions About Repentance, by C. H. Spurgeon, re: Ezekiel 36:31; Part 3

This post focuses on a different aspect of Ezekiel 36:31, it aims to clarify what repentance is and is not. In the contemporary church, many don’t even believe in repentance or sin anymore, as though their modern mindset has somehow changed God’s laws. Consider the following words of Jesus from John 18 – Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? 

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Self-Knowledge And Self-Loathing, by J.R. Thompson: Ezekiel 36:31, Part 2

This is an 800 word commentary on Ezekiel 36:31, I found it to be of great value in showing how repentance takes one to a place of self-loathing. The following 4 points are the subheads of J. R. Thomson’s comments: I. SIN BLINDS MEN TO THEIR REAL CONDITION, AND FOSTERS UNDUE SELF-SATISFACTION. II. GOD’S CHASTISEMENTS AND GOD’S MERCIES AWAKEN MEN TO REFLECTION AND TO SELF-KNOWLEDGE. III. SELF-KNOWLEDGE, BY REVEALING INIQUITY IN ITS TRUE LIGHT, LEADS TO SELF-LOATHING. IV. THUS SELF-KNOWLEDGE LEADS TO REPENTANCE AND TO A BETTER LIFE. [The last point is profound and worthy of meditating on; all these points indicate that it is absolutely essential to examine your sin for your motives in committing and more that God will reveal to you – see, Categories, Jonathan Edwards, Glimpses into his spiritual life for help in such things]

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Ezekiel 36:31 Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds…and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities….

In the sermon excerpt, by Voddie Baucham, that I posted yesterday, he stated that Christians ought to loathe themselves for their sins. I remembered the statement from Ezekiel; but am thinking that contemporary Christians may question the sternness of such repentance. This post aims to show that the thoughts of Ezekiel 36:31 are also New Testament theology. The following cross references are from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge at Bible Hub; also there are several sermons on Ezekiel 36:31

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This Is Why Most People Are Going To Hell – Voddie Baucham

In the 12 minute sermon excerpt of this post Dr. Voddie Baucham uses scripture to explain why most people are going to hell; that includes, most Christians also. He explains sin, repentance, faith in terms of how it looks in a person’s real-life experience. He talks briefly about the preachers who lead people onto the broad way of destruction and the kinds of beliefs that keep one there and he contrasts those beliefs with biblical truth

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Our Thorn – J. R. Miller

The apostle Paul spoke of his thorn and why God gave it to him in the following verses: 2 Corinthians 12:7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” In his 5 minute devotional, J. R. Miller provides details about Paul’s meaning in the aforementioned verses; Miller’s words will be useful in your daily walk with Christ

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Ponder These Words For Your Spiritual Health

Since I read the following words from Jonathan Edwards diary, I’ve taken great comfort in them, especially at times of personal failure. Those words also make me want to learn how to lean on the Holy Spirit instead of myself. I am posting them without comment that you might read and reread them, because such observations are not easy to come by in modern evangelicalism. 

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What Does The Holy Spirit’s Intercession Look Like In Our Daily Life?

There are several posts from this blog linked to this post because they are directly related to the last post about how the Holy Spirit helps the weak. These linked posts are about the following: the five stage struggle of faith developed by Jonathan Edwards; instruction about self-observation, examination, journaling…from Jonathan Edwards; instruction in basic doctrines such as justification and faith; and lastly, some basic instruction on God’s purpose in affliction; and spiritual disciplines that help Christians deal with the aforementioned

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