Theological Treatises

  Performance- vs. Depravity-Based Righteousness In all the world there are only two paths to "righteousness."  The most popular, by far, is "performance"; and the road "far less traveled," is by an acknowledgment of absolute, total personal depravity apart from Christ. The "performance" path is doomed before the first act is embarked upon.  The "depravity" way, as it finds its perfect analog in Jesus Christ's righteousness, is crowned with glory, salvation, life, forgiveness, love, and all good things (all in Christ). Those who conceive of themselves as only "circumstantially" sinful, i.e. only as guilty of bad habits or actions, are far from the kingdom of God--in fact, they are lost.  Only those who honestly know themselves to be "constitutionally" wretched, even infinitely-guilty sinners in the sight of God, are candidates for gospel grace in Jesus' blood and righteousness. In our natural pre-Fallen condi...

Loving Christ  When regenerated Christians love the Lord Jesus Christ, they are uniting their hearts, souls, and lives to the One who not only supremely matters; but also to everything and everyone that is good and valuable. Everything in the world seeks to assert its primacy; but, in the end, nothing has any ultimate worth, if it is in anyway separated from Jesus.  No matter how passionate one may be about their importance, no one (and no thing) has significance, if it does not willingly serve King Jesus. This truth, of course, has huge consequences. It means that all false forms of Christianity; as well as all other religions: Judaism, Islam, and all the others, are essentially worthless. Let all the true church's saints find our all-in-all in Christ alone; and let us spread His gospel of grace, love, and mercy all around the world. Rev. Mark J. Henninger Treatise #91 16 April 2026 https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com/...

  "Who Died, and Left [Blank] In Charge?" Have you ever,  like  me, been listening to a stream of music on YouTube, when these intervening commercials come on, interrupting the songs you want to hear?  Some of these ads are fine, innocuous, and (even occasionally) interesting, or helpful. . . . But, have any of you ever heard the one, where the woman comes on, and says ( demands ) with great passion:  "NEVER, NEVER say, 'How are you doing?' "?   And she goes on with another injunction, (but I am not [happily] remembering it right now).  These kinds of ads are the ones you can break a leg, foot, or neck, seeking to get to the "Skip" button, before you are subjected to more intense fervor.   . . . My  whole  point, is simply this:  "Who died, and left this woman in charge of whether or not I should ask someone, 'how are you doing?'?"   Bottom line:  who  is this lady-- no matter how  well -intended ...

  Movie Review: "A Great Awakening" Lesley and I just returned home from seeing the premier showing of the movie, "A Great Awakening."  It was really good--one of the best movies she or I have ever seen.  The casting is outstanding; the acting is fantastic; and the plot line is wonderful.  I do not know who produced this movie--but they should be congratulated on doing excellent work; and; more than that, for being unashamed of the gospel of grace.   The way the producers weave the themes of the American Constitutional Convention (held years after the end of the American Revolution), with savory effects of The Great Awakening, is masterful.  The man who plays Benjamin Franklin is so well-cast, that you could almost imagine this being the original Benjamin Franklin.   George Whitefield is the main character in the movie; and he is also spectacularly-cast.  His voice, his demeanor, and his ways are completely convincing; and...

  Walking In Heaven In the old King James Version, Philippians 3:20 reads this way:  "Our conversation is in heaven."   The Greek word for "conversation" can mean "citizenship," or even "commonwealth."  The point is, that for the regenerate saints of the true church, our "conversation," our life, our "citizenship," is indeed,  "in heaven" --even as we still dwell here on Earth, as the church militant.   . . . In fact, our most  real  "conversations" or lifestyles, or actions are in heaven, (even now).  They are the most  authentic  ones/the most  satisfying  ones/and the most  enduring  ones.   So, the obvious questions that must be answered, are,  "What  does this  mean?"   And,  "How  is this  achieved?"  . . . For the Christian saint to  "live in heaven,"  is to have his or her  mind  there,  united  to Christ and Hi...

  The Fear of God I confess, that for a long time I do not think I really understood what the Bible (mostly) meant, by the phrase,  "The Fear of God,"  or, " The Fear of the Lord."  . . . I knew that it was  not  a carnal, fleshly, slavish "fear" of a deity that would squash myself and other sinners if we did not obey; and who was always angry and perturbed.  I also knew that it had to be  more  than "respect" or "reverence"--though, clearly, those things are important, too. . . .   So, I have come to  believe  that  "The Fear of God"  is the  realization  that the one, true, holy, sovereign, powerful, and loving Triune Deity is  so inscrutably wise and wonderful --in both "positive" and "negative"  ways,  that my only  reasonable  response to Him, is  fear .   Think about it  this  way: should we not  fear  a God who could create the universe that ...