Category: Theology

An amazing rescue

For two months, 33 miners were left in darkness, stranded at the bottom of their mine. There was absolutely nothing they could do to rescue themselves. Only wait and hope that one day, the rescuers would reach them and save them from the pit. And then they came. They dug a narrow shaft all the way down. One single narrow shaft in order to bring them out to the light. At last they were out in the open, in the light.

I followed this amazing story with great interest and am amazed at the outcome. I praise God that all these men were rescued. And I thank him for the Lord jesus Christ, the Way, the truth and the life, who came to my rescue when I was stranded in darkness, dead in my sin.

Westminster Shorter Catechism Flash Cards

A few years ago, I learned the shorter catechism. It was a worthwhile exercise, but needs constant practice. I just found someone who has mad a set of flash cards, ready to print to help learning the 107 questions. To find these, follow the link: Westminster Shorter Catechism Flash Cards | D A N G I T B I L L !.

Knowing the catechism proves helpful in many circumstances: when listening to sermons, when preaching, doing Bible studies, talking with a fellow Christian… Reading through Stuart Olyott’s “Preaching pure and simple”, I could see the influence of the shorter catechism on more than one occasions when he explains some doctrines.

Christ’s presence with his people

I found this helpful quote in Gordon Keddie’s little book on the Lord’s Supper (Evangelical Press).

The son of God is present with his people in a distinctly personal way. This is a loving, gracious, caring, guiding presence, in which he acts as the believer’s interface with God as a heavenly Father, in terms of his being the accepted sacrifice for their sin that reconciles them to God. he has told the church in the world, “And lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20). that is, in every situation and circumstance, both collectively (i.e., the church as the temple of God and the body of Christ, 1 Cor. 3:16; 12:27) and individually (i.e., each believer as a temple of the Holy Spirit, 1 Cor 6:19), he is truly and constantly our Immanuel.

Gordon J. Keddie, The Lord’s Supper is a celebration of Grace

Tozer on meekness

The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather, he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God’s estimate of his own life. He knows he is weak and helpless as God has declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is, in the sight of God, more important than angels. In himself nothing, in God everything. That is his motto. He knows well that the world will never see him as God sees him and he has stopped caring. He restes perfectly content to allow God to place His own values. he will be patient to wait for the day when everything will get its own price tag and real worth will come into its own. Then the righteous shall shine forth in the kingdom of their Father. he is willing to wait for that day.

AW Tozer, The pursuit of God.

J E McGoldrick: John Calvin and the Missionary Mandate

The current issue of the Banner of Truth Magazine (August/September 2010) has a very interesting article entitled: John Calvin and the Missionary Mandate. It is a very interesting read, and dispels any misconceived ideas people have about the Reformers view on mission.

He first tackles the critics of Calvin, showing that their negative opinion on Calvin and the Reformers is often based on prejudice rather than facts. He then demonstrates that Calvin had a concern for the losts, wherever they are. Finally, he gives some historical examples showing that Calvin and his followers had a concern for sending preachers to the lost. If you receive the Banner of Truth Magazine, it is worth reading. If you don’t, go out and buy it.