Theological Treatises

  We Are So Broken/Christ Is So Wonderful It is one of God's expressions of His merciful kindness to us, His beloved church, when He shows us "glimpses" of just how profoundly twisted, contorted, perverted, and broken we actually  are  in our Fall in Adam, and in our natural state outside of our Lord Jesus Christ.  None of us like to have to "see" this, because it is so ugly, horrifying, and disgusting--but, ironically, when we  do  behold it (even just a little) it has a most  sanctifying  effect on us.  Moses asked God to show him (Moses) His (God's) "glory," (Ex. 33:18); we should ask God our Father to show us our sinfulness, (cf. Ps. 38:18 & 51:3).  The reasons for this are at least threefold: 1) we will recognize afresh just how utterly lost and hopelessly wretched we are aside from Jesus; 2) our sight of Christ (by faith) in light of our need of Him will make our blessed Redeemer appear even  more  glor...

  The Holy Spirit, Jonathan Edwards, and The Very Messy World In light of what was happening in The First Great Awakening (of the 1730's & '40's); and in response to criticism of some (or all) of the dynamics of that Awakening--I think that Jonathan Edwards was moved (ultimately by God) to carefully assess human nature in the context of religious life and excitement.  Pastor Edwards' most prolific antagonist was Charles Chauncy, who greatly resisted the Awakening, (and who, later in life, showed his true colors as a full-blown heretic).   But Jonathan Edwards did such a great job of  dissecting  the human soul in the matrix of a time of great and general interest in the things of God, and religion in general.  The book where he (Edwards) codified his findings is the classic,  The Religious Affections .   It has been a while since I personally read  Affections , but I am going to try to accurately remember some of the categories ...

  "Therefore I Endure Everything For The Sake of The Elect . . . " This Pauline comment (above) is the ESV translation of 2 Timothy 2:10a.  It is really a rather remarkable statement; and it is made in the context of  these  glorious wonders: the primacy of Jesus Christ, His resurrection triumph, and His human lineage (v. 8); Paul's suffering for his gospel proclamation (v. 9a); and the invincibility of the Word of God (v. 9b). . . . Because of these astounding miracles, the Apostle could and did say, that he "endure[d] everything for the sake of the elect."   The reason Paul did this, was, so "that they [the elect] also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory," (v. 10b).   There is a very real sense in which a regenerated and truly-called Reformed gospel minister of the faithful church of Jesus Christ  also  "endure[s] everything for the sake of [God's] elect."  This means that every gospel sermon (v. 8)...

  Advice For Reformed Pastors For a man to be truly called by Christ to pastor a Reformed church congregation in the fullness of the Spirit and in the grace of the gospel, is certainly the highest vocational privilege that can be granted to a sinful (and yet regenerated) soul. . . . Your calling is great; but it is also difficult.  Allow me to share some thoughts from my own experience; and use (or do not use) them according to your own discretion (being led by the Holy Spirit). . . .   First of all, I would say to you, know who you are in Christ; and be very secure in your calling.  Understand that you will be pushed and pulled in all kinds of directions; and be sure that your spiritual "feet" are "cemented" into Jesus, His gospel, His grace, His mercy, and His faithfulness.  Smile sweetly, and kindly acknowledge receipt of all the recommendations that are coming your way--but do not pursue any paths to which you cannot wholeheartedly give yourse...

  Theology: The Queen of The Sciences Probably throughout most of New Covenant Church Age history, at least in all Christianized lands, Theology has been considered, "The Queen of The Sciences."  The very word "science" has been a bit hijacked in recent western history, so that it is thought (wrongly) by many people, that "science" means what is (properly-termed)  empirical  science.  The word "science" is simply the Latin, for "knowledge."  So, historically, "science" applied to the following general (and important) categories: 1) the Being and nature of God, (the Triune God); 2) the creation, redemption, and providence of God with regard to His creatures; and 3) the nature of created beings and matter (themselves).  The study of this latter category is what is often today considered "science"--but, in fact,  actual  science is much bigger and broader than that; (not that the study of the creation is not a worthy e...

  The Great Debt America Owes To The British (and even to their crown) As America just celebrated her 250th birthday, a lot of people have been reflecting on the events surrounding 1776; and how one people became two, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  (Though, back then, few souls had much hope that it would "hold.") . . .   But we Americans should seriously consider what we  owe  the British, our national "distant cousins," (now).  We should think of this in both "positive" and "negative" terms--but we should always remember that the Sovereign God works out all of His purposes for His own glory, and His church's good.   First of all, because of the British crown's persecution of "dissenting" Christians, many of them left their native land--some first for the Netherlands, and then, in some cases, for the New World.  Therefore, without the crown's persecution, the Pilgrims would likely never have arrived o...