Chapter Four of the Westminster Confession discusses creation. The first point tells us that God created everything, and that it was good: "It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and
goodness, in the beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the
world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the
space of six days; and all very good." The second point discusses the sixth day of creation in more depth, specifically the creation of man and woman and their duties and obligations to their Creator. [1] While all of what the Confession says in Chapter Four—brief as it is—is indeed true, a very crucial is point is overlooked by this historic document of Reformed theology.
Continue reading "It is Not Good..." »
In Matthew 16, Jesus asks His disciples who they thought He was. Peter, as usual, is ready with an answer when he proclaims: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus, in confirming Peter's answer tells him that "flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." Jesus continues His point by saying: "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it" (Mt. 16:16-18). Although much has been made of this verse by both Catholics and Protestants, neither Peter nor his confession of Jesus as the Christ will be our focus here. I only want to make the reader aware of a simple pronoun: "My." Jesus referred to the church as "My church." The church belongs to Jesus, not to us.
Continue reading "A New Kind of Church" »
by Brian Carpenter
(This is Part 6 of a series. Click
here to begin at Part 1.)
In the quest for the right use of this life and the things of this life, we are often tempted to go to one extreme or the other. We either despise the things of this world and set up for ourselves (and others) a rigid system that says who can have what and how much. Or else we use our liberty as the pretext for the material equivalent of gluttony.
Continue reading "The Right Use of this Present Life" »
The following is the twenty-eighth chapter from Andrew Murray's
book, Abide in Christ.
"All power is given UNTO ME in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:18)
"Be strong IN THE LORD, and in the power of his might." (Ephesians 6:10)
"My power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
There is no truth more generally admitted among earnest Christians
than that of their utter weakness. There is no truth more generally
misunderstood and abused. Here, as elsewhere, God's thoughts are
heaven-high above man's thoughts.
Continue reading "As Your Strength" »
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