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The Doctrine of Assurance For the Children of Grace

  The Doctrine of Assurance For the Children of Grace   If the church has ever produced a theologian who wrote more on the doctrine of Christian  Assurance,  than that of Thomas Goodwin, I have  no  idea who that person would be.  Goodwin invested a  lot  of time (and ink) on this subject--and I, for one, am glad that he did.   Pastor Goodwin argues that the "first," (original) faith that newborn Christian believers exercise is *not* that of "assurance"--but rather it is of salvation (itself).  He then insists that subsequent "acts" of faith, to be made progressively throughout the entirety of our regenerated church lives in Christ, are basically  acts of faith in the assurances God provides His children;  (all that italicization is mine).  In other words, the whole project of the Christian life, with regard to our sanctified will's understanding, is to  grow   up  in Christ, via being...
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Jonathan Edwards' Commentary on Isaiah 55:1

  Jonathan Edwards' Commentary on Isaiah 55:1   OK; I admit, right off the bat, that this is an unapologetic quotation straight out of my fairly-recently-purchased  Jonathan Edwards Study Bible , published by Thomas Nelson.  The citation comes from pp. 805 & 806 of this excellent resource.   So, without further ado, here is the text of Isa. 55:1;  and  Pastor Edwards' commentary on the verse. . . .  "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price,"  (NKJV). . . . "God has given even fallen man such a gift, that He has left nothing for man to do that he may be happy, but only to receive what is given him. Though he has sinned, yet God requires no amends to be made by him; He requires of him no restoration; if they will receive His Son of Him, He requires neither money nor price; he is to do no penance in order to be forgiven. What...
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True Christianity/False Christianity

  True Christianity/False Christianity   Religion--when it is "True," gracious, Christ-loving, Holy Spirit-filled, gentle, tender, humble, pure, and powerful--is the most  wonderful  and  beautiful  entity in all the world.   All  other religion--be it of a "Christian" stripe, or otherwise--is, as we would expect, the most  ugly  and  disgusting  thing in the universe.   So, how can "religion" be so  diametrically  opposite to, and at odds with itself?  Simply put: by the nature of its Subject (or "subject") matter.   True  Religion is consumed with Jesus Christ in the power and love of the Holy Spirit.   False  Religion is consumed with self: self-adulation, self-fulfillment, self-justification, self-righteousness.   It would be  one  thing, if this dynamic was bifurcated between the "Christian" religion, and every other religion. . . . But, this is...
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Comfort For the Children of God

  Comfort For the Children of God   By  "children of God,"  I mean, in this little paper, the regenerated members of the body (church) of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Not all born again souls have the advantage of joining themselves with the visible (and faithful) church--and, if this is your situation, you are also to be numbered among the "children of God."   Our comfort comes to us immediately through the presence, indwelling, and filling of the blessed Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.  The Holy Spirit conveys His comfort to us, Christ's church, via His renewing in us of the glories of the atonement for our sins (in Jesus' blood), and in our being adopted into the family of God.   The Holy Spirit also uses the preached gospel word of God--spoken to us every Sunday in corporate Sabbath Worship; and, in light of this preached gospel, He also employs the entire written word of God (the Holy Scriptures) for our encouragement ...
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God's "Secrets"

  God's "Secrets"   God has His secrets, and He shares them with whomever He wishes.  Usually, this is with His dear and regenerated churched children; and, even among them, He is selective.  It is likely that our Sovereign Triune God also conveys His "secrets" to some or all of His angelic host.  The Lord may withhold some of His secrets from His children for their own good, (at least for a while, or at a particular time in their lives).   God's "secrets" are special; and it is an honor to be the recipient of them.  Sometimes these secrets are "hidden" in "plain sight."  At other times the Blessed Holy Spirit "whispers" them into the "ears" of the hearts of God's intimates (in His church).  The "exposed" secrets are found (openly) in the Holy Scriptures themselves; and anyone is "free" to peruse them-- though  only those given private access to these mysteries understand them.  A clas...
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Viewing People Through The Person of Jesus Christ

  Viewing People Through The Person of Jesus Christ   The longer we live, the more we realize how  different  people are from us, and from one another.  There is a lot of  individuality  in God's creative genius.  Often, this leaves us asking ourselves,  "How and what is the best way to reach this person with the gospel of Jesus; and all the benefits of God in Him?"   We come to understand that what "works" for us, may not "work" for them.   The problem is, that there is just no way we can really know the basic nature of the  particular  issue or issues that are governing the hearts of people  with  and  to  whom we wish to minister.  It  is  true, that we can, without doubt, know that the basic  general  problem is sin, and all its attendant attitudes and defenses and deflections (of truth), etc. . . . But, as we seek to minister to people--all of whom need ...
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"Sheep To Be Slaughtered"/But Also Perfectly Protected

  "Sheep To Be Slaughtered"/But Also Perfectly Protected   The elect and redeemed members of the body of Christ, the church of the Living God, are, without doubt, a unique and fascinating company of souls.  At  once,  we are the beloved of God the Holy Trinity; while, at the  same  time, we are the target of the rage and fury of all God's enemies: be they demons or unredeemed humans.   Our loving Heavenly Father Himself affirms that we, His children, are, [quoting from Rom. 8:36, which itself is citing Ps. 44:22],  "Sheep to be slaughtered."   And yet, at the  same  time, all of the promises of God, which are all "Yes," and "Amen" in our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1:20), are  also  ours (who are in Christ Jesus).  Among those promises, are those numerous sweet ones found in Psalm 91.  There, we discover that, though others fall and die, the saints stand and live.   . . . What are we ...
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