I reioyced, when they sayd to me, We wil go into the house of the Lord. Psalme 122:1 (Geneva Bible)

HYMN 10, S. M.
The blessedness of gospel times.
Isa. lii. 2,7—10; Matt. xiii. 16,17.
by Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

ow beauteous are their feet
Who stand on Zion’s hill!
Who bring salvation on their tongues,
And words of peace reveal!

How charming is their voice!
How sweet the tidings are!
“Zion, behold thy Savior King;
He reigns and triumphs here.”

How happy are our ears
That hear this joyful sound,
Which kings and prophets waited for,
And sought, but never found!

How blessed are our eyes
That see this heav’nly light
Prophets and kings desired it long,
But died without the sight.

The watchmen join their voice,
And tuneful notes employ;
Jerusalem breaks forth in songs,
And deserts learn the joy.

The Lord makes bare his arm
Through all the earth abroad;
Let every nation now behold
Their Savior and their God!

—The Psalms & Hymns of Isaac Watts. Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Book I: Collected from the Holy Scriptures (Soli Deo Gloria, 1997).

salme 13 (Geneva Bible)
To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid.

1 Howe long wilt thou forget me, O Lord, for euer? howe long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsell within my selfe, hauing wearinesse dayly in mine heart? how long shall mine enemie be exalted aboue me?
3 Beholde, and heare mee, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, that I sleepe not in death:
4 Lest mine enemie say, I haue preuailed against him: and they that afflict me, reioyce when I slide.
5 But I trust in thy mercie: mine heart shall reioyce in thy saluation:
6 I will sing to the Lord, because he hath delt louingly with me.

ecommended
Sermons

Bret Capranica
Steve Weaver
Phillip M. Way
Jason Robertson
John MacArthur
Phil Johnson & Don Green
David Legge
David Strain
R.C. Sproul

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lorde Jesus Christ.

My testimony is no doubt much like many others, but very unlike most that are shared publicly. I cannot point to a moment in time at which I was saved. All I can say is, “Whereas I was blind, now I see.” Due largely to the confused theology that I was raised on, I cannot say when that was.

I was raised in a very conservative, evangelical Lutheran denomination. Justification was by faith alone, and no question about that. Man was utterly incapable of obtaining salvation through his own efforts. Salvation came by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. In that, my church was quite orthodox.

Evangelism was a high priority in our denomination. Every year, as well as I can remember, a guest evangelist was invited for a week of evening evangelistic services. This is where the confusion comes in. While the Gospel was faithfully preached (again, this is to the best of my recollection), the call to “receive Christ” was very Arminian. There was always a heavy emphasis on emotional appeals. If the Holy Spirit didn’t move anyone to repentance and faith, the preacher surely would. Consequently, I prayed a “sinner’s prayer” and “asked Jesus to come into my heart” more times than I can remember.

On one of those occasions, I remember asking the evangelist why, when I had gone through all the necessary steps on previous occasions, it hadn’t “stuck”? I had prayed the prayer, and I had really, really meant it, but I hadn’t stayed saved. I was told that I needed to preserve my faith through diligent Bible reading and prayer. I confessed that, although I had begun well, I had gradually slacked off in my devotions and drifted away. He encouraged me to do better this time, and promised that he would remember to pray for me, that my faith would not fail. I remember the man, and met him on several occasions in subsequent years, and I have no doubt that he made that promise in good faith and kept it. Yet, I did fall away as before—which, I now realize, meant I was probably not saved at all.

Now you may ask, was I really not saved, or was I backslidden? How can I say? There is no doubt that I was under conviction of sin. I understood quite clearly that Jesus died in my place for my sin, and that if I confessed my sin and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, my sin would be forgiven and I would be saved. Perhaps I was truly saved, but I don’t believe I was.

As I grew older, I drifted steadily farther away from the faith I was taught. If I was merely backslidden, it was a long slide. Through my high school years, no one who knew me on a daily basis would have imagined I was a Christian. I certainly did not believe I was, but I had determined to come back—someday, when the cost was not so high, when there was less fun to be had, when it became necessary to get serious about life and eternity. I would buy my ticket before the box office closed. I even told my drinking buddies that I still believed the preaching I was raised with, and that someday I would get seriously religious. They thought that was funny. Perhaps they would have taken me more seriously if I hadn’t been their best source of ribald humor.

Through those years, I continued to put on my saved face for church. I’m sure few people in our small town were fooled, but I didn’t always stay in town. I made a point of attending every Bible Camp I could and going to several retreats put on by our denominational Bible School. I learned to sing and quote Scripture and became reasonably handy at “sharing” around the campfire. I made several friends at those retreats, including one who, it turns out, was playing almost the same game as I. However, God was providentially working on both of us through that time. Twenty-six years after we met at Flathead Lake, Montana, he is still my best friend.

I left home at the earliest possible opportunity and headed for the Twin Cities, not exactly to seek my fortune, but to leave the old town behind, and maybe even the old life. I was undecided, but I thought I might give God a try again. I chose the Twin Cities for two reasons: first, because several of my Bible Camp acquaintances were attending the denominational Bible School in the suburb of Plymouth, west of Minneapolis, and second, because my older sister lived with her husband in New Brighton, north of St. Paul. They had offered me a room if I wanted to come.

I arrived in the Cities in the Fall of 1983. On my way to my sister’s apartment complex, I stopped for gas at a Standard station in Arden Hills. Seeing a “HELP WANTED” sign in the window, I asked for the manager and applied for a job. I was hired on the spot. I had barely enough money to pay for my tank of gas. If you think that was providential, a day or two later, before my first day of work, my thermostat went out and I blew a radiator hose two blocks from the Standard station. I took advantage of my employee discount and free towing before I had even punched in.

As you might expect, “giving God a try” didn’t go so well. It wasn’t long before I was back to my old ways. It was not uncommon for me to be involved in some variety of ungodly behavior with my suburban St. Paul friends on Friday night, and be in church on the Bible School campus in Plymouth on Sunday morning. God would have to wait. A year went by. Then, two events coincided to disrupt my happy, irresponsible existence. I lost my job (one of the few things that I still maintain was not my fault), and my sister got pregnant—we need your room, could you please move out?

I will now skip my adventures as a wandering nomad for several months.

I finally landed in an apartment with some friends who had attended the Bible School, and was working two jobs. I was now thinking seriously about spiritual matters. I was attending church semi-regularly, and I was listening with real interest to the Christians around me, all of whom believed I was one of them. It was not really that they had anything to say that I didn’t already know. I had spent my life immersed in evangelical Christianity and orthodox theology. I understood the Gospel better than some of them. The question that troubled me was, why didn’t it work for me? Why was it real for them, and just knowledge for me?

One Sunday evening I attended church with my best friend from camp days. I don’t know how it happened, but I found myself in the very uncomfortable position in the pew between him and a girl he was sweet on. The service had started, the church was packed, and we were in the second or third pew from the front, so I couldn’t just get up and move. Anyway, because of my discomfort, and because I didn’t think it was a very good sermon, I wasn’t really listening to the preacher. As I sat there, my mind wandering, I began to feel really out of place. The people around me, they belonged there. I did not. Why not? I believed everything I had to believe, and more. I wanted to be a Christian. But what they believed changed them, while I was still the same old sinner. I determined at that moment to be a Christian. I knew it didn’t work that way, but I didn’t know what else to do. I had “gone forward” and prayed a “sinner’s prayer” so many times that it was meaningless. I had, in effect, been vaccinated against salvation.

In the following weeks and months, I read my Bible more or less regularly, and prayed. I doubted that God heard me.

After some time, I began to realize that when I confessed my sins, I really was sorry. It wasn’t just a rote prayer. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When I gave thanks, I was truly thankful. I loved hearing God speak through Scripture. Wait! God speaks? God speaks! To me!

And just like that, I knew that God had created a clean heart in me. He had granted me repentance. I was a new creature. Like Lazarus, he had called me forth from the grave. All the Scriptures that I had learned in Sunday School applied to me. I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ—I was saved!

When did God breath life into me? I don’t know. Sometime in the Spring or Summer of 1985, I think. All I know is, whereas I was blind, now I see.

The last Name that Quote I posted was exceedingly obscure. So obscure was it that I should have offered a prize to the one who could identify the speaker (no one could). Today’s quote is much less so, and so it would be unfair to offer a prize this time.

. . . what can I say to an Islamic brother who has fed the hungry, and clothed the naked? You say, “But he hasn’t a personal relationship with Christ.” I would argue with that. And I would say from a Christian perspective, in as much as you did it to the least of these you did it unto Christ. You did have a personal relationship with Christ, you just didn't know it.

Hint: While I normally post quotes from dead theologians, this one is still living—physically, anyway.

No Googling!

G1577 εκκλησια (ekklesia)
Thayer Definition:
1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly
1a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating
1b) the assembly of the Israelites
1c) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously
1d) in a Christian sense
1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting
1d2) a company of Christian, or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for order’s sake
1d3) those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body
1d4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth
1d5) the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven
Part of Speech: noun feminine
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564
Citing in TDNT: 3:501, 394

Ekklesia appears 115 times in the New Testament. It is most often translated as church, sometimes as assembly, and once, in the NASB, as congregation (Acts 7:38).

Why bring up this rather mundane fact? A comment was posted here earlier today claiming,

In the reality, the word "church" occurs not at all in the Bible. The biblical name of the Church is the great whore, and Babylon the great.

We must leave all churches and denominations before Jesus comes. And those that not want to obey his word, God comes to count as accessory in the sins of the great harlot and they get their part of her plagues.

I have neither the interest nor the energy to refute this statement, and I really don’t need to. However, if anyone is interested, what follows is a complete listing of every occurrence of ekklesia in the New Testament. Like I said, I’m no expert, but not only is it in there a lot, it seems to be kind of important. You be the judge.

115 occurrences of ekklesia in 112 NT verses

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.

Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

Acts 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

Acts 11:22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Acts 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

Acts 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

Acts 15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Acts 16:5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Acts 18:22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

Acts 19:32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

Acts 19:39 But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

Acts 19:41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Romans 16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

Romans 16:4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

Romans 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

Romans 16:16 Salute one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

Romans 16:23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.

1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified37 in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

1 Corinthians 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

1 Corinthians 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

1 Corinthians 7:17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

1 Corinthians 10:32 Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

1 Corinthians 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

1 Corinthians 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

1 Corinthians 11:22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

1 Corinthians 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh, with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

1 Corinthians 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

1 Corinthians 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

1 Corinthians 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

1 Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

1 Corinthians 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1 Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

1 Corinthians 16:19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

2 Corinthians 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2 Corinthians 8:18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

2 Corinthians 8:19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:

2 Corinthians 8:23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

2 Corinthians 8:24 Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

2 Corinthians 11:8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

2 Corinthians 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

2 Corinthians 12:13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

Galatians 1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

Galatians 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

Galatians 1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ:

Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Ephesians 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.

Ephesians 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Philippians 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Philippians 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Colossians 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

Colossians 4:16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

2 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Thessalonians 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

1 Timothy 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

1 Timothy 5:16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

Philemon 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house:

Hebrews 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

3 John 1:6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

3 John 1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

3 John 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Revelation 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Revelation 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

Revelation 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Revelation 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Revelation 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

Revelation 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Revelation 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Revelation 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Revelation 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Revelation 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

I reioyced, when they sayd to me, We wil go into the house of the Lord. Psalme 122:1 (Geneva Bible)

We Will Make Thee Borders of Gold, with Studs of Silver
by Ralph Erskine (1685-1752)

bject not, saying, “How shall I,
So weak, so black a swain,
Such beauties in Jehovah’s eye
Or furnish or maintain?”

For with united power divine
We Father, Son, and Spirit,
Do stand engaged thee to refine,
And make thy form complete.

Keep thou no finite powers view,
To grace and deck thee thus;
Creation-work, both old and new,
Belongs to none but Us.

We’ll make thee yet more radiant gems
Of grace, without thine aid,
To fence thy robe, like golden hems,
With silver studs inlaid.

Thy growing grace shall thrive and bear
A perfect crop at length;
Yet by no might within thy sphere,
But Our concurring strength.

Thy gold and silver ornament
Must strong and lasting prove;
For, lo, it is the pow’rful vent
Of Our eternal love.

Of old the good, the great Three-One,
Did jointly take thy part;
Thy naked soul We thought upon
With pity in Our heart.

We held a counsel for thy good,
Where I, without a sob,
Did choose a vesture dipped in blood
To buy thy golden robe.

—from Worthy Is the Lamb (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004).

salme 20 (Geneva Bible)
To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid.

1 The Lorde heare thee in the day of trouble: the name of ye God of Iaakob defend thee:
2 Send thee helpe from the Sanctuarie, and strengthen thee out of Zion.
3 Let him remember all thine offerings, and turne thy burnt offerings into asshes. Selah:
4 And graunt thee according to thine heart, and fulfill all thy purpose:
5 That we may reioyce in thy saluation, and set vp the banner in the Name of our God, when the Lord shall performe all thy petitions.
6 Now know I that the Lord will helpe his anointed, and will heare him from his Sanctuarie, by the mightie helpe of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, & some in horses: but we will remember the Name of ye Lord our God.
8 They are brought downe and fallen, but we are risen, and stand vpright.
9 Saue Lord: let the King heare vs in the day that we call.

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Bret Capranica
Steve Weaver
Phillip M. Way
Jason Robertson
John MacArthur
Phil Johnson & Don Green
David Legge
David Strain
R.C. Sproul

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lorde Jesus Christ.

One of the books I am presently reading is Revival & Revivalism by Iain Murray. The following quote refers to a revival that took place in Virginia in 1787–1790.

The most important consequence of the Great Revival for the Presbyterians was the new ethos which came to prevail in the churches. Old Side prejudices lost their hold and a ‘unanimity of sentiment’ came to distinguish the denomination in the South. The main cause for this was undoubtedly the priority now given to experimental religion. Prayer was restored to its rightful place and ‘fervent charity’ came to be expected among all Christians. The same influence inevitably brought a return to biblical standards of church membership. It was no longer assumed that those who attended church from birth were Christians, nor was ‘profession of faith’ henceforth taken as sufficient evidence of conversion. Ministers and elders considered how people lived, and what they did, as well as what they said. It was understood afresh that the true usefulness of the church is bound up with her spirituality and her unity. The premature admission of men and women and young people to the Lord’s Table (communicant membership), which had formerly been too common, now gave way to a more faithful examination of candidates. The wisdom of the counsel of John Blair Smith was universally recognized: ‘He advised those who were awakened not to be too hasty in professing conversion, and urged them to examine the foundations of their hopes well before they entertained a hope they had made their peace will God . . . Generally months, and in some instances a year or more was suffered to pass before they were received into the church."

William Hill believed that the revival ‘gave a character to the Presbyterian Church of the South for vital, exemplary piety which has pervaded several States and given a tone to religious exercises far and wide’. How this affected the churches in practical way is well illustrated by a statement of principle drawn up by one of the many new churches of the 1790s:

1. A church is a society of Christians, voluntarily associated together, for the worship of God, and spiritual improvement & usefulness.
2. A visible church consists of visible or apparent Christians.
3. The children of visible Christians are members of the visible church, though in a state of minority.
4. A visible Christian is one, who understands the doctrines of the Christian religion, is acquainted with a work of God’s Spirit in effectual calling, professes repentance from dead works, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and subjection to him as a king and whose life and conversation corresponds with his profession
5. Sealing ordinances ought not to be administered to such as are not visible Christians.
6. A charitable allowance ought to be made for such, whose natural abilities are weak, or who have not enjoyed good opportunities of religious instruction, when they appear to be humble and sincere.
7. Children and youth, descended from church members, though not admitted to all the privileges of the church, are entitled to the instructions of the church, and subjected to its discipline.

What would our churches look like today if this represented the general practice of congregations?

I reioyced, when they sayd to me, We wil go into the house of the Lord. Psalme 122:1 (Geneva Bible)

THE SPIRIT AS TEACHER

O God the Holy Spirit,

hat which I know not, teach thou me,
Keep me a humble disciple in the school
of Christ,
learning daily there what I am in myself,
a fallen sinful creature,
justly deserving everlasting destruction;
O let me never lose sight of my need of a Saviour,
or forget that apart from him I am nothing,
and can do nothing.
Open my understanding to know
the Holy Scriptures;
Reveal to my soul the counsels and works
of the blessed Trinity;
Instil into my dark mind the saving knowledge
of Jesus;
Make me acquainted with his covenant undertakings
and his perfect fulfilment of them,
that by resting on his finished work
I may find the Father's love in the Son,
his Father, my Father,
and may be brought through thy influence
to have fellowship with the Three in One.
O lead me into all truth, thou Spirit of wisdom
and revelation,
that I may know the things that belong unto
my peace,
and through thee be made anew.
Make practical upon my heart the Father's love
as thou hast revealed it in the Scriptures;
Apply to my soul the blood of Christ, effectually,
continually,
and help me to believe, with conscience
comforted, that it cleanseth from all sin;
Lead me from faith to faith,
that I may at all times have freedom to come
to a reconciled Father,
and may be able to maintain peace with him
against doubts, fears, corruptions, temptations.
Thy office is to teach me to draw near to Christ
with a pure heart,
steadfastly persuaded of his love,
in the full assurance of faith.
Let me never falter in this way.

—from The Valley of Vision, Arthur Bennett, editor (Banner of Truth Trust, 2002).

salme 27 (Geneva Bible)
A Psalme of Dauid.

1 The Lord is my light & my saluation, whom shall I feare? the Lorde is the strength of my life, of whome shall I be afraide?
2 When the wicked, euen mine enemies and my foes came vpon mee to eate vp my flesh; they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an hoste pitched against me, mine heart should not be afraide: though warre be raised against me, I will trust in this.
4 One thing haue I desired of the Lorde, that I will require, euen that I may dwell in the house of the Lorde all the dayes of my life, to beholde the beautie of the Lorde, and to visite his Temple.
5 For in the time of trouble hee shall hide mee in his Tabernacle: in the secrete place of his pauillion shall he hide me, and set me vp vpon a rocke.
6 And nowe shall hee lift vp mine head aboue mine enemies rounde about mee: therefore wil I offer in his Tabernacle sacrifices of ioy: I wil sing and praise the Lord.
7 Hearken vnto my voyce, O Lorde, when I crie: haue mercie also vpon mee and heare mee.
8 When thou saidest, Seeke ye my face, mine heart answered vnto thee, O Lorde, I will seeke thy face.
9 Hide not therefore thy face from mee, nor cast thy seruat away in displeasure: thou hast bene my succour: leaue me not, neither forsake mee, O God of my saluation.
10 Though my father and my mother shoulde forsake me, yet the Lorde will gather me vp.
11 Teache mee thy way, O Lorde, and leade me in a right path, because of mine enemies.
12 Giue me not vnto the lust of mine aduersaries: for there are false witnesses risen vp against me, and such as speake cruelly.
13 I should haue fainted, except I had beleeued to see the goodnes of the Lord in the land of the liuing.
14 Hope in the Lord: be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart, and trust in the Lord.

ecommended
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Bret Capranica
Steve Weaver
Phillip M. Way
Jason Robertson
John MacArthur
Phil Johnson & Don Green
David Legge
David Strain
R.C. Sproul

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lorde Jesus Christ.

I'm sitting at my wife's computer, cursing technology--or, rather, my dependence on technology that fails. After six years of mostly faithful service, my computer has crashed. Hopefully, I'll get it fixed fairly soon, but until then, I'll be mostly off-line. While I'm gone, take a look at The World from Our Window. Ken Fields is working on a sidebar links thingy similiar to my On the Web links.

Note to Jonathan Moorhead: Stop gloating. I will not be getting a Mac.

I'm still mostly off-line, but while I'm away, here is a question for you to ponder and come up with a good answer for me.

The first of God's laws existed prior to his verbal or written decrees. They are found in his creation. We know much of how God wants things to be because he made them a certain way. For example, even before he spoke concerning homosexuality, he created an order requiring heterosexuality. Based on this reasoning, when God's Word is silent on a question, I look to creation to see what it tells me, if anything, about God's will on the issue. For another, more personal, example, I wear a beard partly because God put it there. I don't believe shaving is in any way sinful, but I do believe that the presence of hair follicles on my face indicates God's intention. Of course, if I see something that appears naturally right, and Scripture disagrees, I know I have a mistaken understanding of nature — which brings me to my question.

1Corinthians 11:14 says, "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair*, it is a shame unto him?" My question is, how does nature teach us this? Scripture says so, therefore it is true. However, if men let their hair grow, it naturally grows long, so I would be inclined to believe the opposite.

How does nature itself teach us that long hair on a man is shameful?