Category: Mortification of Sin
I Beseech You Brethren, Do More than Others!
More is to be expected of Christians than others because they have more. “But they are poor,” says one. True, but the poorest Christian possesses more than the richest unbeliever. You shall set before me, now, the pauper who is a Believer and the emperor who has no faith in Christ. I am persuaded that the poor, aged pauper would not exchange her lot though the imperial purple should be offered her. She would refuse to leave ...
I Beseech You Brethren, Do More than Others!
More is to be expected of Christians than others because they have more. “But they are poor,” says one. True, but the poorest Christian possesses more than the richest unbeliever. You shall set before me, now, the pauper who is a Believer and the emperor who has no faith in Christ. I am persuaded that the poor, aged pauper would not exchange her lot though the imperial purple should be offered her. She would refuse to leave ...
Help us be Sanctified by Your Grace!
We may well expect more from Christians than others because it is a fact in the case of those who are truly Christians that they are more than others. It is not mere talk, it is a fact that the Believer in Christ is born again. He is not only as other men are, made by God, but he has been twice made, newly born, newly created in Christ Jesus. It is no fiction but a ...
Help us be Sanctified by Your Grace!
We may well expect more from Christians than others because it is a fact in the case of those who are truly Christians that they are more than others. It is not mere talk, it is a fact that the Believer in Christ is born again. He is not only as other men are, made by God, but he has been twice made, newly born, newly created in Christ Jesus. It is no fiction but a ...
The Imponderable Depths of Sin and Grace
The Bible is God’s word. Therefore, it is profound. How could it not be? God inspired it. He understands himself and the human heart infinitely. He is not playing games with us. He really means to communicate the profoundest things about sin and hell and heaven and Christ and faith and salvation and holiness and death. Paul does not sing out in vain, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! ...
The Imponderable Depths of Sin and Grace
The Bible is God’s word. Therefore, it is profound. How could it not be? God inspired it. He understands himself and the human heart infinitely. He is not playing games with us. He really means to communicate the profoundest things about sin and hell and heaven and Christ and faith and salvation and holiness and death. Paul does not sing out in vain, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! ...
Never Will You See the Beauty of Sovereign Grace!
Augustine is utterly committed to the moral accountability of the human will, even though the will is ultimately governed by the delights of the souls which are ordered finally by God. When pressed for an explanation, he is willing in the end to rest with Scripture in a "profound mystery." This can be seen in the following two quotes: Now, should any man be for constraining us to examine into this profound mystery, why this person ...
Never Will You See the Beauty of Sovereign Grace!
Augustine is utterly committed to the moral accountability of the human will, even though the will is ultimately governed by the delights of the souls which are ordered finally by God. When pressed for an explanation, he is willing in the end to rest with Scripture in a "profound mystery." This can be seen in the following two quotes: Now, should any man be for constraining us to examine into this profound mystery, why this person ...
Sovereign Joy in God Triumphs Over Joy in Sin!
Pelagius was a British monk who lived in Rome in Augustine's day and taught that "though grace may facilitate the achieving of righteousness, it is not necessary to that end." He denied the doctrine of original sin, and asserted that human nature at its core is good and able to do all it is commanded to do. Therefore Pelagius was shocked when he read in Augustine's Confessions, "Give me the grace [O Lord] to do as ...
Sovereign Joy in God Triumphs Over Joy in Sin!
Pelagius was a British monk who lived in Rome in Augustine's day and taught that "though grace may facilitate the achieving of righteousness, it is not necessary to that end." He denied the doctrine of original sin, and asserted that human nature at its core is good and able to do all it is commanded to do. Therefore Pelagius was shocked when he read in Augustine's Confessions, "Give me the grace [O Lord] to do as ...
We Need a Knowledge of an Irresistibly Glorious God
Justifying Faith Is Lust-Fighting Faith Are we not, then, saved by faith—by believing in Jesus Christ? We are indeed! Those who persevere in faith shall be saved ((Matthew 24:13; 10:22; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Colossians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13)). How do you lay hold on eternal life? Paul gives the answer in 1 Timothy 6:12—"Fight the good fight of faith: lay hold on eternal life." That leads us to our main concern this morning—to show that the fight ...
We Need a Knowledge of an Irresistibly Glorious God
Justifying Faith Is Lust-Fighting Faith Are we not, then, saved by faith—by believing in Jesus Christ? We are indeed! Those who persevere in faith shall be saved ((Matthew 24:13; 10:22; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Colossians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13)). How do you lay hold on eternal life? Paul gives the answer in 1 Timothy 6:12—"Fight the good fight of faith: lay hold on eternal life." That leads us to our main concern this morning—to show that the fight ...
If You Don’t Fight Lust, You’re Not Going to Heaven!
Lust Disregards God The text says, take a wife (or control your body/vessel) "in holiness . . . not in the passion of lust." (1 Thess 4:4) Holiness has to do with God—being set apart for God. So verse 5 goes on like this: "Not in the passion of lust like heathen who do not know God." Knowing God and acting like it keeps sexual desire from becoming lust. Look at verse 8: "Therefore whoever disregards this ...
If You Don’t Fight Lust, You’re Not Going to Heaven!
Lust Disregards God The text says, take a wife (or control your body/vessel) "in holiness . . . not in the passion of lust." (1 Thess 4:4) Holiness has to do with God—being set apart for God. So verse 5 goes on like this: "Not in the passion of lust like heathen who do not know God." Knowing God and acting like it keeps sexual desire from becoming lust. Look at verse 8: "Therefore whoever disregards this ...
Rallying to Understand and Battle Sin.
In a strange and wonderful irony, the greatest problem on Earth is resolved by the greatest reality in Heaven. Sin—it is the poisonous nature of humanity. The depth and breadth of sin is evident everywhere in our world. It is the fundamental principle in every person and the driving momentum of every society. From our first parents in Eden to infants drawing their first breath this day, every human is infected with sin's rebellion against God ...
Rallying to Understand and Battle Sin.
In a strange and wonderful irony, the greatest problem on Earth is resolved by the greatest reality in Heaven. Sin—it is the poisonous nature of humanity. The depth and breadth of sin is evident everywhere in our world. It is the fundamental principle in every person and the driving momentum of every society. From our first parents in Eden to infants drawing their first breath this day, every human is infected with sin's rebellion against God ...
Sin’s Painted Pleasures and Sugared Poisions…
As the Scriptures often call attention to the “heart” or “soul” of a person, Owen argues that such references tend to be shorthand for the various faculties, and thus to deal with sin the whole person must be engaged. Although Owen gives ample attention to each of the faculties, let us focus on the affections as a test case to show the nature of sin and temptation. Far too often Christians working within the Reformed ...
Sin’s Painted Pleasures and Sugared Poisions…
As the Scriptures often call attention to the “heart” or “soul” of a person, Owen argues that such references tend to be shorthand for the various faculties, and thus to deal with sin the whole person must be engaged. Although Owen gives ample attention to each of the faculties, let us focus on the affections as a test case to show the nature of sin and temptation. Far too often Christians working within the Reformed ...