We know that the apostle Peter was of the elect of God. He was a true Christian; however, we see him sin against our Lord in Matthew 16:22-23. This was after he gave his undying confession of Jesus in Matthew 16:16. He called Jesus "the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Peter proclaimed the deity of Jesus Christ. It was what Nathanael proclaimed of Christ in John 1:49. Scholars say that Peter is "a" rock or "the" rock. I would say that Christ is "the" Rock but Peter is "a" rock. We are called to be a little Jesus to the world. I think Christ built the church upon Himself. Here are the verses that speak of Peter's betrayal of Christ before His atoning death:
Matthew 16:22 KJV
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Matthew 16:23 KJV
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Jesus in the Gospel accounts mentions someone who is a devil and it was Judas. Someone may think it could mean Peter as well by these verses; however, I think we can say with assurance that Peter is a true Christian. We can learn that God forgives the greatest of sins, because Peter became an "incarnation of Satan." Such a thing is a great sin but Jesus forgave him no doubt. Peter also wrote epistles and instructed the Christian brethren. We can learn that with God forgiveness is possible and actual for the worst offense.
This blog web site is for the in-depth, sound and basic exegetical study of the Bible in Reformed apologetics; that is, I shall expound upon the inerrant and infallible Word of God, the Holy Scriptures. There shall be biblical studies in world religions and non-Christian cults. I also quote and research reformed writers and I am happy to study from them. May the Lord bless everyone who reads this blog with spiritual riches in Christ which is His imputed merit by faith alone.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Christ Alone and Other Works
Do we need good works to enter heaven? There is a work provided for us and it is in Christ alone. We need the work of Christ alone to save us. We need to understand we are saved by the unified work of Christ alone. That is, His life, death and resurrection. The resurrection confirms that His life and death are authentic (Acts 4:12).
Rome says that the Roman Church is necessary for spiritual salvation (CCC 846) and she speaks of a cleansing fire in purgatory and temporal punishment. We know that the blood of Jesus Christ expiates all our sin (Romans 3:25). We need the work of Christ alone and not our deeply and profoundly imperfect works.
Rome says that the Roman Church is necessary for spiritual salvation (CCC 846) and she speaks of a cleansing fire in purgatory and temporal punishment. We know that the blood of Jesus Christ expiates all our sin (Romans 3:25). We need the work of Christ alone and not our deeply and profoundly imperfect works.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
The Blood of Jesus Washes Us Clean
The blood of Jesus washes us clean. I am not referring to the transubstantiated blood of the Roman Eucharist. I suggest to you that it cannot take away sin. I believe only the real and first event atonement of our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ can take away every sin. The Eucharist is a representation of the body and blood of Christ. We should not worship it but we must worship Christ alone.
Let us ponder these Scripture references,
1 Corinthians 10:16
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
1 Peter 1:2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
1 Peter 1:19
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Revelation 1:5
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Let us ponder these Scripture references,
1 Corinthians 10:16
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
1 Peter 1:2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
1 Peter 1:19
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Revelation 1:5
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Choose Jesus Christ This Day
There is no doubt that people should make a decision for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; however, we know by the Holy Scripture that God first chooses us. This is a very serious matter, because it is God who chooses us before we choose Him. He has chosen us to bear much fruit.
I am not advocating decisional regeneration, but I am saying that it matters who makes a decision for Jesus Christ. It matters if Jesus is behind that human decision for Christ. He enables us to chose Him alone for spiritual salvation. No one is good enough to believe. Everyone is total unable to believe Christ.
Total inability comes from total depravity. People are totally depraved and radically corrupt. We do not have a nature that is compatible with the goodness of God. The nature human beings have is at enmity against God. We are rebellious by nature.
No one can choose Christ because we are dead in sin. We are totally hindered to chose Christ. The deadness in sin that we have means we are spiritually dead people. I pray that if someone does choose Christ that is evidence of the work of God. Someone could choose Christ but be unbelieving. However, if someone chooses Christ it could also be the work of the Spirit of God and the Word of God.
I believe that the written Word of God teaches monergistic regeneration. That is, that we are born again not by our decision but by the Spirit and the Word. No decision of anyone ever saved a soul. Only the work of the Holy Ghost and the Scriptures could save a soul.
I acknowledge Jesus Christ before men and chose Christ because He chose me first. I pray that people would chose Christ because of the Spirit and Word alone. May you chose Jesus today for the right reasons and may His grace and peace cover you. Amen.
I am not advocating decisional regeneration, but I am saying that it matters who makes a decision for Jesus Christ. It matters if Jesus is behind that human decision for Christ. He enables us to chose Him alone for spiritual salvation. No one is good enough to believe. Everyone is total unable to believe Christ.
Total inability comes from total depravity. People are totally depraved and radically corrupt. We do not have a nature that is compatible with the goodness of God. The nature human beings have is at enmity against God. We are rebellious by nature.
No one can choose Christ because we are dead in sin. We are totally hindered to chose Christ. The deadness in sin that we have means we are spiritually dead people. I pray that if someone does choose Christ that is evidence of the work of God. Someone could choose Christ but be unbelieving. However, if someone chooses Christ it could also be the work of the Spirit of God and the Word of God.
I believe that the written Word of God teaches monergistic regeneration. That is, that we are born again not by our decision but by the Spirit and the Word. No decision of anyone ever saved a soul. Only the work of the Holy Ghost and the Scriptures could save a soul.
I acknowledge Jesus Christ before men and chose Christ because He chose me first. I pray that people would chose Christ because of the Spirit and Word alone. May you chose Jesus today for the right reasons and may His grace and peace cover you. Amen.
If You Are Under Trails...
We all suffer from something. Some have physical pain and others have emotional pain, but some have mental difficulties. There is no doubt that we are people who suffer from something.
What should we do when it comes upon us? We should turn to the written Word of God. We should turn to prayer. We can have refuge in our reading and reflecting of the Bible alone.
We should not be ashamed if we suffer from physical, emotional or mental suffering. We should rest on the promise of God that He is our strength, refuge and mighty fortress.
If we face trails, it does not mean God does not love us. If we face trails, it does not mean that God will not be compassionate toward us-ward. We can have great hope that once we die we will be glorified. This happens at the moment of death. This is our great hope and confidence and wisdom.
A trail may seem to take us out of God's love; however, such a notion is impossible. Nothing in all creation can take us out of God's love. Not even our own selves can take us out of God's love. Not even our rejection of Him can rid of us of a great and awesome God. That does not mean we should reject Him but it means that He is always there for us to bear our load. Jesus says "Come unto me." He wants us to come to Him because He is kind to the downtrodden and brokenhearted.
Maybe we have committed wrongdoing and we are suffering for our sins. Jesus said to one person "sin no more lest something worse happen to you." There are indeed consequences to sin; however, there was a blind man from birth and neither he nor his parents sinned that he was born blind, but it was done so that the works of God would be manifested within him. That is, it was Jesus' miracles which were the works of God. Suffering is not an illusion but it is something that is real. It is something that people experience.
We ought to focus on JESUS when we suffer. We ought to ask God for deliverance when we suffer. God is faithful and true and He will see us through. He will not abandon us and forsake us. We can be sure that He is kind to the wicked and loving toward His people.
We ought to remember the simplicity of the gospel. We ought to remember that Jesus saves us. There is no one else who is a greater or better friend than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
What should we do when it comes upon us? We should turn to the written Word of God. We should turn to prayer. We can have refuge in our reading and reflecting of the Bible alone.
We should not be ashamed if we suffer from physical, emotional or mental suffering. We should rest on the promise of God that He is our strength, refuge and mighty fortress.
If we face trails, it does not mean God does not love us. If we face trails, it does not mean that God will not be compassionate toward us-ward. We can have great hope that once we die we will be glorified. This happens at the moment of death. This is our great hope and confidence and wisdom.
A trail may seem to take us out of God's love; however, such a notion is impossible. Nothing in all creation can take us out of God's love. Not even our own selves can take us out of God's love. Not even our rejection of Him can rid of us of a great and awesome God. That does not mean we should reject Him but it means that He is always there for us to bear our load. Jesus says "Come unto me." He wants us to come to Him because He is kind to the downtrodden and brokenhearted.
Maybe we have committed wrongdoing and we are suffering for our sins. Jesus said to one person "sin no more lest something worse happen to you." There are indeed consequences to sin; however, there was a blind man from birth and neither he nor his parents sinned that he was born blind, but it was done so that the works of God would be manifested within him. That is, it was Jesus' miracles which were the works of God. Suffering is not an illusion but it is something that is real. It is something that people experience.
We ought to focus on JESUS when we suffer. We ought to ask God for deliverance when we suffer. God is faithful and true and He will see us through. He will not abandon us and forsake us. We can be sure that He is kind to the wicked and loving toward His people.
We ought to remember the simplicity of the gospel. We ought to remember that Jesus saves us. There is no one else who is a greater or better friend than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases,
No, not one! No, not one!
No, not one! No, not one!
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases,
No, not one! No, not one!
Refrain
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
No friend like Him is so high and holy,
No, not one! No, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly,
No, not one! No, not one!
No, not one! No, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly,
No, not one! No, not one!
Refrain
There’s not an hour that He is not near us,
No, not one! No, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us,
No, not one! No, not one!
No, not one! No, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us,
No, not one! No, not one!
Refrain
Did ever saint find this Friend forsake him?
No, not one! No, not one!
Or sinner find that He would not take him?
No, not one! No, not one!
No, not one! No, not one!
Or sinner find that He would not take him?
No, not one! No, not one!
Refrain
Was ever a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! No, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in Heaven?
No, not one! No, not one!
No, not one! No, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in Heaven?
No, not one! No, not one!
Refrain
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Time Wasted
All the time we have is precious. None of it is to be wasted. God gives us all the time we need to accomplish His plans. We have only one life to live, only one. We ought to live with carefulness and discernment. We ought not to waste our time here on earth. God does not want us to use time to trifle with but to take it seriously. We ought to live in light God's promises and in mediating on His Word.
After we are done with this life, we will face eternity. Have you lived with the fullness of Christ and the endurance and work ethic that a Christian should work at? The things we did not accomplish in time and space we may accomplish in eternity. There is enough "time" in eternity to do all the things we couldn't do here on earth in this mortal life. Jesus is preparing a place for us. We ought to be responsible for our time and how we use it. Judas used his time unwisely because he was a devil. Do you use your time wisely?
Time is so important because it is when we do things. Let us not play with time but have things to be done. Maybe we should plan what we do. Let us not be trifle with time because there is but one life to live. Reincarnation is a farce because only resurrection is true. We ought to live life faithfully to Jesus and be obedient to Him no matter what. Time wasted is sin and we would do well to repent of it. We would do well to live like Jesus. Jesus never wasted any time. If we are like Him, we will accomplish much. The apostle John says there is not enough books to be written on how much Jesus has done. Could we say the same about us? Do we waste our time? Are we concerned about the things of God and the eternal destiny of each person? Let us ponder diligently on these things. Amen.
After we are done with this life, we will face eternity. Have you lived with the fullness of Christ and the endurance and work ethic that a Christian should work at? The things we did not accomplish in time and space we may accomplish in eternity. There is enough "time" in eternity to do all the things we couldn't do here on earth in this mortal life. Jesus is preparing a place for us. We ought to be responsible for our time and how we use it. Judas used his time unwisely because he was a devil. Do you use your time wisely?
Time is so important because it is when we do things. Let us not play with time but have things to be done. Maybe we should plan what we do. Let us not be trifle with time because there is but one life to live. Reincarnation is a farce because only resurrection is true. We ought to live life faithfully to Jesus and be obedient to Him no matter what. Time wasted is sin and we would do well to repent of it. We would do well to live like Jesus. Jesus never wasted any time. If we are like Him, we will accomplish much. The apostle John says there is not enough books to be written on how much Jesus has done. Could we say the same about us? Do we waste our time? Are we concerned about the things of God and the eternal destiny of each person? Let us ponder diligently on these things. Amen.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
God Controls Everything
The very hairs of are head are all numbered (Matthew 10:29-30). God the Father is controlling all our circumstances and nothing happens that is not through His care-loving hands. He directs all our circumstances and it is a moment by moment directing. He is sovereign and in complete control. Some think that God is standing away from His creation and letting things flow apart from Him. Nothing trivial escapes His notice. Everything in creation is ordered by God alone.
It is indeed hard to believe when things go dark. It is hard to believe when we are in great pain. We ought to have the response of waiting upon the Lord. We ought to use discernment in the way we should walk in Christ. We ought to keep our eyes on Yeshua and He will safely lead us along life's pathway. It is designed by Him and we can take confidence that He is in control. In fact, we are to be assured that God is controlling all things pertaining to life and godliness. We ought to look to God for deliverance, for light and for help. We call this our precious faith.
It is a awesome thing to discern that God is with us because He controls everything; however, many do not believe this sacred truth. I suggest to you that we should rest upon the absolute sovereignty of God in all things. This will give us hope and increase our faith. He is not the author of sin nor does He have any fellowship with sin.
We ought to never deny God's particular providence. Nothing should baffle us because we know that everything passes through the hands of Jesus our Friend and Advocate with God the Father. There is no god that can take us out of the hand of Almighty God. There is no person who can damn us, condemn us or forsake us under judgment when we have truly trusted Christ. It is because God through His Son has made the matter of spiritual salvation a secure and certain testimony of His abundant and all-sufficient grace. Amen.
It is indeed hard to believe when things go dark. It is hard to believe when we are in great pain. We ought to have the response of waiting upon the Lord. We ought to use discernment in the way we should walk in Christ. We ought to keep our eyes on Yeshua and He will safely lead us along life's pathway. It is designed by Him and we can take confidence that He is in control. In fact, we are to be assured that God is controlling all things pertaining to life and godliness. We ought to look to God for deliverance, for light and for help. We call this our precious faith.
It is a awesome thing to discern that God is with us because He controls everything; however, many do not believe this sacred truth. I suggest to you that we should rest upon the absolute sovereignty of God in all things. This will give us hope and increase our faith. He is not the author of sin nor does He have any fellowship with sin.
We ought to never deny God's particular providence. Nothing should baffle us because we know that everything passes through the hands of Jesus our Friend and Advocate with God the Father. There is no god that can take us out of the hand of Almighty God. There is no person who can damn us, condemn us or forsake us under judgment when we have truly trusted Christ. It is because God through His Son has made the matter of spiritual salvation a secure and certain testimony of His abundant and all-sufficient grace. Amen.
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