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Thursday, September 29, 2016

A stranger in the world, by Philpot

"For we are strangers before thee and sojourners, as were all our fathers; our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding." 1 Chronicles 29:15

"If you possess the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and, Jacob, you, like them, confess that you are a stranger; and your confession springs out of a believing heart and a feeling experience. You feel yourself a stranger in this ungodly world; it is not your element, it is not your home. You are in it during God's appointed time, but you wander up and down this world a stranger to its company, a stranger to its maxims, a stranger to its fashions, a stranger to its principles, a stranger to its motives, a stranger to its lusts, its inclinations, and all in which this world moves as in its native element. Grace has separated you by God's distinguishing power, that though you are in the world, you are not of it. I can tell you plainly, if you are at home in the world; if the things of time and sense be your element; if you feel one with the company of the world, the maxims of the world, the fashions of the world, and the principles of the world, grace has not reached your heart, the faith of God's elect does not dwell in your bosom. The first effect of grace is to separate. It was so in the case of Abraham. He was called by grace to leave the land of his fathers, and go out into a land that God would shew him. And so God's own word to his people is now, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." Separation, separation, separation from the world is the grand distinguishing mark of vital godliness. There may be indeed separation of body where there is no separation of heart. But what I mean is, separation of heart, separation of principle, separation of affection, separation of spirit. And if grace has touched your heart, and you are a partaker of the faith of God's elect, you are a stranger in the world, and will make it manifest by your life and conduct that you are such."
- J. C. Philpot - 1802-1869

I’m but a sojourner below,
As all my fathers were;
May I be well prepared to go
When I the summons hear.
- Isaac Watts, 1719

Hot dog vendor

Author Lisa Harper, on Focus on the Family radio, said that the early Christians were about as popular as a hot dog vendor at a vegan festival.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Denault’s The Distinctiveness of Baptist Covenant Theology, and other reviews

The posting of book reviews does not constitute endorsement of the books or book reviews that are linked.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Philpot and Oden

"Godliness is profitable unto all things." 1 Timothy 4:8
"Under whatever circumstances the child of God may be, 'godliness' or rather the 'exercise' of godliness is profitable. And it is drawn out by these circumstances. It lives in the face of trials; it is strengthened by opposition; it becomes victorious through defeat; it gains the day in spite of every foe: it 'Stands every storm, and lives at last'." -- J. C. Philpot 

"God’s love and grace are the originating causes of salvation. The atoning death of Christ is the meritorious cause. The Spirit of God is the efficient cause. The Word of God is the instrumental cause. Faith is the conditional cause. The glory of God is the final cause.” -- Thomas Oden

Monday, September 26, 2016

An exceeding great and precious promise

Roman 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Paul presents a powerful promise to a powerless people. It gives us confidence and encouragement. It should cause us to sing and rejoice. Evangelist R. A. Torrey (1856-–1928) said that the promise of Romans 8:28 “is a soft pillow for a tired heart.”
  • The promise is knowable, comprehensible, plain (“We know”). It is beneficial to us. Not only is it certain -- else we could not know -- but we reap the benefits of knowing we have God's promise, that God is at work for our good.
  • The promise is complete (“all things”). Not some things. Not a few things, but all things. All things are not good, but in all things God is working good. 
  • The promise is controlled by God (“work together”). Things do not haphazardly, randomly or accidentally work together. “God works” -- He is the cause of the promise and the cause behind the promise. “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” Ephesians 1:11
  • The promise is beneficent (“for good”). It confers benefits through God's kind action and benevolent purpose. We don't live in a world where things just happen, but where things happen for a reason, under the good hand of God. 
  • The promise is distinguishing, directed to a specific people (“to them that love God, to them who are the called”). God can do all the good He wants to anyone He wants at anytime He wants -- but this promise is not to everybody. It is to those whom God has called, to those who love God because He first loved them. These specific people can depend on it, all the time
  • The promise is intentional, directed for a specific purpose (“called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son”). God's work is “for good,” but that alone is not the sole purpose. God's purpose is also described as bringing those He foreknew and predestinated in conformity to the image of His Son. “...be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2
2 Peter 1:3-4 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Sunday, September 25, 2016

All the sermons in Acts


NEW TESTAMENT ADDRESSES IN THE BOOK OF ACTS
Reference
Preacher
Place
Audience
Subject
Text
Acts 1:15-22
Peter
An upper room
Church
Replacement of Judas
Psalms
Acts 2:14-40
Peter
Jerusalem
Assembly on Pentecost
Jesus Christ
Joel 2:28-32
Acts 3:12-26
Peter
Jerusalem
Crowd in Temple area
Jesus Christ, repentance

Acts 4:5-12, 18-20
Peter
Jerusalem
The Sanhedrin
Jesus' power, healing

Acts 4:23-31
Disciples
Jerusalem



Acts 5:1-11
Peter
Jerusalem
Church
Lying

Acts 5:17-42
Peter
Jerusalem



Acts 6:2-4
Twelve
Jerusalem
Church
Deacons

Acts 7:2-60
Stephen
Jerusalem
The Sanhedrin
History of Jews, crucifixion

Acts 8:4
Scattered
Everywhere



Acts 8:5-13
Philip
Samaria
Samaritans
Christ 

Acts 8:20-23
Peter
Samaria
Simon the sorcerer


Acts 8:25
Apostles
Samaria
Many villages
The word of the Lord

Acts 8:27-35
Philip
Desert
Eunuch of Ethiopia

Isa 53:7-8
Acts 9:17-31
Paul
Damascus
Synagogue
Christ as Son of God

Acts 10:34-43
Peter
Caesarea
Cornelius' household
Salvation of Gentiles

Acts 11:1-18
Peter
Jerusalem
Church
Defense of preaching to Gentiles

Acts 13:16-49
Paul
Antioch of Pisidia
Jews and God-fearers
Jesus, resurrection

Acts 14:1
Paul/Barns
Iconium
Jews and God-fearers


Acts 14:6-20
Paul
Lystra

The gospel,

Acts 15:7-11
Peter
Jerusalem
Church
Circumcision, salvation by grace

Acts 15:12
Paul
Jerusalem
Church
God's work among Gentiles

Acts 15:13-21
James
Jerusalem
Church
Circumcision, salvation by grace

Acts 16:25-34
Paul
Philippi
Jailer & family
Believe and be saved

Acts 17:2-3
Paul
Thessalonica
Jews and God-fearers
Jesus, resurrection

Acts 17:10-12
Paul/Silas
Berea
Jews and God-fearers


Acts 17:17
Paul
Athens
Jews and God-fearers


Acts 17:22-34
Paul
Mars Hill, Athens
Philosophers


Acts 18:4-5
Paul
Corinth
Jews and God-fearers
Jesus as Messiah

Acts 18:6-11
Paul
Corinth
Gentiles


Acts 18:24-28
Apollos
Ephesus

Jesus as Messiah

Acts 19:1-7
Paul
Ephesus
About 12 disciples
Holy Ghost, baptism of John

Acts 19:8-20
Paul
Ephesus
Synagogue


Acts 20:7-12
Paul
Troas
Church


Acts 20:17-38
Paul
Miletus
Elders of Ephesus Church


Acts 21:8-14
Agabus
Caesarea
Church


Acts 22:1-21
Paul
Jerusalem
Crowd at Jerusalem


Acts 23:1-11
Paul
Jerusalem
The Sanhedrin


Acts 24:1-27
Paul
Caesarea
Felix and Drusilla


Acts 26:1-32
Paul
Caesarea
Festus and Agrippa


Acts 27:10-26
Paul
Mediterranean Sea
Sailors and Prisoners


Acts 28:17-29
Paul
Prison, Rome
Jewish leaders


Acts 28:30-31
Paul
Prison, Rome
Anybody
Jesus and the kingdom of God


All these might not strictly be considered sermons.