It seems like there's an obsession with William P. Young's book The Shack. However, I thought this to be a rather insightful look into William Young's theology.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Quotes (#2)
"Nothing gives the believer so much joy as fellowship with Christ. He has enjoyment as others have in the common mercies of life, he can be glad both in God's gifts and God's works ; but in all these separately, yea, and in all of them added together, he doth not find such substantial delight as in the matchless person of his Lord Jesus...Where can such sweetness be found as we have tasted in communion with our Beloved? In our esteem, the joys of earth are little better than husks for swine compared with Jesus, the heavenly manna. We would rather have one mouthful of Christ's love, and a sip of His fellowship, than a whole world full of carnal delights... All earthly bliss is of the earth earthy, but the comforts of Christ's presence are like Himself, heavenly. We can review our communion with Jesus, and find no regrets of emptiness therein; there are no dregs in this wine, no dead flies in this ointment. The joy of the Lord is solid and enduring. Vanity hath not looked upon it, but discretion and prudence testify that it abideth the test of years, and is in time and in eternity worthy to be called 'the only true delight.' For nourishment, consolation, exhilaration, and refreshment, no wine can rival the love of Jesus."- Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)
Jim McClarty's Sermon: "The Best News You Ever Heard"
Although this sermon was preached in 2007, I just came across it today. I find it a prime example of the proper use of both law and gospel.
John MacArthur on the "Rich Man and Lazarus"
I thought this to be a fascinating expository sermon on this famous story told by Jesus from Luke.
"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'" (Luke 16:19-31)
Now, John makes a comment at 36:57 regarding the fact that the redeemed won't be able to see into hell. However, I would disagree with him on that point, on the basis of Isaiah 66:22-24: "For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make
shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain. From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me,declares the LORD. And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."
"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'" (Luke 16:19-31)
Now, John makes a comment at 36:57 regarding the fact that the redeemed won't be able to see into hell. However, I would disagree with him on that point, on the basis of Isaiah 66:22-24: "For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make
shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain. From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me,declares the LORD. And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."
Monday, November 30, 2009
Quotes (#1)
"Apart from Christ, the Bible is a closed book. Read with him at the center, it is the greatest story ever told...What is the point of the historical books, the Psalms, the wisdom literature, and the Prophets? According to the apostles-and Jesus himself, the Bible is an unfolding drama with Jesus Christ as its central character."-Michael Horton
(Christless Christianity, pg. 14)
(Christless Christianity, pg. 14)
Monday, November 23, 2009
A Bit of Satire
Occasionally, there comes along a piece of satire that I find worthy of passing along. Such as in this case. Enjoy. :)
Monday, November 16, 2009
A Sermon on the Day of Judgment.
In this sermon, Paul Washer preaches on the day of judgment, also known as the "Great White Throne Judgment" The text that he is preaching on is Revelation 20:11-15.
"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (Rev. 20:11-15)
Now, personally, I do believe that there will be a varying degree of punishment in hell, on the basis of whether they heard the Gospel or not. I base this off of Luke 12:47-48, which states: "And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating."
That being said, the unbelievers who stand before the "great white throne and him who was seated on it," will stand ashamed and terrified before almighty God, in the full knowledge that they are standing before King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Now, believers will have been justified by the blood of Christ. However, unbelievers will stand exposed before a Holy and Righteous God.
"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (Rev. 20:11-15)
Now, personally, I do believe that there will be a varying degree of punishment in hell, on the basis of whether they heard the Gospel or not. I base this off of Luke 12:47-48, which states: "And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating."
That being said, the unbelievers who stand before the "great white throne and him who was seated on it," will stand ashamed and terrified before almighty God, in the full knowledge that they are standing before King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Now, believers will have been justified by the blood of Christ. However, unbelievers will stand exposed before a Holy and Righteous God.
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