Theological Treatises

Who Are The People of God? At  first  blush, this question may seem easy to answer; but, in fact, it is a bit more complex than we might imagine--and the Holy Scriptures themselves provide the reason for this.   We might conceive of a slight difference between the "people" of God, and the "children" of God--but, for our purposes, I will not pursue that distinction.   It is my understanding, based in my perusal of the Sacred Text, that there are at least  four  distinct categories that cover this question,  "Who are the people of God?"  Without further ado, here they are. . . .   First,  what I am calling, the " Identified ," or " Covenantal " people of God.  These souls are properly-baptized Christian church members.  They are "signed" and "sealed" through the sacrament of baptism, into the covenant (church) of God.   The  second  category I have in mind, is what I am calling, the " Prospectiv...

  The  Centrality  of  Christ  The  Answer  To  All  Theological Questions Actually, the title of this treatise could end  this  way, " . . . The Answer To All Questions  Whatsoever" --but I would like to restrict our consideration to issues of theology, and how these affect our Christian church lives.   In an effort to make this more-eminently practical, let us first consider the question of the Fourth Commandment:  "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,"  (Ex. 20:8/ESV).  All people who take the Bible seriously--regenerated Christians and all the rest--agree that this commandment is still "in play"; and that God never pared-down His decalogue, ("ten words), to an "ennea-logue," (nine words).  Therefore, we are  all  settled: God has  Ten  Commandments; and they are to be observed by  everyone   everywhere  until the great Day of Judgment.   Now, i...

  What Every Truly-Called Pastor Knows . . . If you are a  truly-called-by-Christ  ecclesiastical minister of the gospel of grace, then this very short treatise is a  little  bit directed to you.  If you are not a person specifically (and really) called into the formal ecclesiastical ministry, feel free to "listen in."   I think that  what  might well be true of  any  honorable calling in life, is  eminently  the case with regard to the ministry of souls.  What I mean, is that the path/plan/method/or approach that may seem very "right" to others (maybe  many  others), you know (via the Holy Spirit's guidance using the Holy Scripture's principles), is not "right" for you to pursue, (at least at this time).   Sometimes very well-meaning people will say things like this to us,  "You should do this, or that" --but, in fact, you  know,  in your heart, that you should  not  ...

  The Greatness of John Calvin Though I think it is wise and prudent, not to make  too  much of  any  one  fallen  human being as being  too  special--nonetheless, we do God an honor by acknowledging the astounding work He does in some very remarkable individuals.  These people are those extremely rare geniuses--which come along maybe once every thousand years, or so.  Of course, these unique souls represent all kinds of different aspects of life on earth. . . . Calvin was a pastor/theologian; Mozart was a musician; Einstein was a physicist.  Compared to Jesus, none of these men are anything--any more than any of us are, either.  But, notwithstanding this obvious fact, their astonishing giftedness, received from God alone, is not to go unrecognized, to the possible disparagement of the supreme greatness of the Triune Sovereign who meted it out.   In my opinion, the most amazing thing about John Cal...

  The Uniqueness and Universality of Christian Imitation After writing a daily devotion, I became intrigued by this subject of Christian  imitation .  The text I had referenced, Philippians 3:17, says this,  " Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us ,"  (ESV).  This is not, of course, the  only  place where the Apostle Paul wrote something like this; as I would also reference for you Php. 4:9, and 1 Cor. 4:16.   There are a few points I would like to make about Christian imitation; and then, I would like to point out why and how  Christian  imitation is the only truly- valuable  form of imitation in the  entire  fallen world.   First of all, consider the  uniqueness  of Christian imitation.   Every  other religion, worldview, or philosophy of life is  unworthy  of being imitated, especially universall...

  The Sensation of The Love of God To personally  experience  the love of God has got to be the greatest and most-exalted "sensation" possible.  This love is communicated by the Holy Spirit,  it  is centered on the Lord Jesus Christ,  and  it emanates from our eternally-benevolent Heavenly Father.   Anyone who truly and sincerely  wants  to know and "feel" the love of God  might  indeed--(if God sees it to be to their advantage)--be the recipient of this most-glorious dynamic--so long as it is sought in God's one and only way.  That "way" is the way of  faith  in the divine/human Second Person of the blessed Holy Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself--who is received in the preaching of the gospel of grace.   Once we are "in" Jesus, firmly and securely situated in His Person, His atonement, and His church, we are free to enjoy God's love, as it is copiously poured-out on us in the Person of t...