After posting yesterday on Owen's counsel to make matters worse with regard to our sin, I read the following quote which searched me about my own approach to mortification. It makes for challenging reading:
'A characteristic of the man with false peace is that when this man falls again into sin he takes it much too lightly...This man says almost as soon as he has fallen, 'It is all right, the blood of Christ covers me'. And up he gets and on he goes as if nothing had happened. You cannot do that if you have any true conception of what sin means, and what the holiness of God really is. This man with a false peace heals himself much too quickly, much too easily, much too lightly. It is because he takes sin as a whole too lightly'
[Lloyd-Jones, Exposition of Romans 5: Assurance, p.27]
31 Jan 2007
Romans Series: Does James Contradict Paul?
Recently on Sunday mornings we've been considering Paul's teaching on 'justification by faith alone' from Romans chapter 4, and the example of Abraham as an illustration of this truth. It's a wonderful passage, presenting as it does the sole sufficiency of Christ as Saviour. I trust that through the muddle of my words God has been speaking about the grounds of our confidence as Christians.
One of the issues that I haven't dealt with on Sunday mornings has been the relationship between Paul's teaching in Romans 4 and the teaching of James 2:14-26. In James' epistle there are statements such as 'was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?' (v21) and 'you see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only' (v24). Right away this presents a problem to our minds, as it appears that Paul's statements that Abraham was justified only by faith (cf.Romans 4:1-3ff) teach something radically different. How are we to reconcile this issue, presenting as it does an apparent contradiction in the New Testament's teaching on salvation?
I had thought of writing an article about this myself, and publishing it here on the blog, rather than cluttering a Sunday morning with what would ultimately be a very technical message. In keeping with the ethos of 'double usefulness', however, I found an excellent treatment of this subject by John Piper on his 'Desiring God' website. The article can be read here, and I would recommend it to anyone who wishes to see how these two passages of Scripture relate to, and ultimately complement, one another. Piper can say things which are beyond my intellectual ability to express, and his generous view of ministry means that I can share his teaching here - and also print copies of his message for folks on Sunday morning who aren't internet compliant! I trust that his words will bolster confidence in the authoritative integrity of the Scriptures, and help us to understand something of the breadth and richness of our salvation.
One of the issues that I haven't dealt with on Sunday mornings has been the relationship between Paul's teaching in Romans 4 and the teaching of James 2:14-26. In James' epistle there are statements such as 'was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?' (v21) and 'you see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only' (v24). Right away this presents a problem to our minds, as it appears that Paul's statements that Abraham was justified only by faith (cf.Romans 4:1-3ff) teach something radically different. How are we to reconcile this issue, presenting as it does an apparent contradiction in the New Testament's teaching on salvation?
I had thought of writing an article about this myself, and publishing it here on the blog, rather than cluttering a Sunday morning with what would ultimately be a very technical message. In keeping with the ethos of 'double usefulness', however, I found an excellent treatment of this subject by John Piper on his 'Desiring God' website. The article can be read here, and I would recommend it to anyone who wishes to see how these two passages of Scripture relate to, and ultimately complement, one another. Piper can say things which are beyond my intellectual ability to express, and his generous view of ministry means that I can share his teaching here - and also print copies of his message for folks on Sunday morning who aren't internet compliant! I trust that his words will bolster confidence in the authoritative integrity of the Scriptures, and help us to understand something of the breadth and richness of our salvation.
30 Jan 2007
The Coming Storm Pt.1
George Orwell is one of my favourite authors. His imaginitative ability, his lyrical economy, and his broad view of life and society give his books an almost prophetic edge in cultural terms. Whether it is the casual brutality of Nineteen Eighty Four with its 'Big Brother' image which remains so current in popular culture, or the deceptively warm and pastoral tones of the early pages of Animal Farm which descend into horror and atrocity, Orwell had a stirling capacity to see beyond immediate context, and imagine the consequences of the world which he inhabited.Animal Farm is significant for our own times in the United Kingdom in terms of its consideration of equality. In the early stages of this short book the amimals take over the farm from its tyrannical owner through a revolution, and establish an egalitarian community, where each animal works for the benefit of others. The slogan of the farmyard community is 'All animals are equal'. As Orwell continues his (not so) veiled criticism of communism, however, this community spirit gives way to the oppressive rule of pigs, who quickly become more cruel and demanding than the human farmer ever was. They change the slogan of the community during the night, to 'All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others'. Ultimately the idea of equality collapses and the farm is worse off than when it began.
In watching our current news programmes/papers, one is almost tempted to mail a copy of Animal Farm to every member of Cabinet. Equality is the great watchword of our culture, and yet it is becoming increasingly evident that secular views of equality are lobsided and uneven. Take for instance the 'Sexual Orientation' laws which are already in place here in Northern Ireland, and will be soon in Mainland Britain. As Evangelical Christians our equality and liberty to proclaim the message of Christ is becoming more and more sidelined and restricted. Events this week over adoption laws for the Catholic Church are perhaps a taste of things to come, whereby central government is dictating to faith groups about the extent to which they can stand by principle and doctrine, and the extent to which they must conform to the agenda of the day.
Perhaps such thinking on my part is a little premature, but at 29 years of age, I now see it as unlikely that I will complete my ministry without opposition, or even persecution (should I live to retirement, and the Lord tarry). 'All people are equal, but people of faith are less equal than others' seems to be the dictum of our society, and eventually the laws being passed by government will come to encroach on our public worship, and our witness to what the Bible says. These are, to quote W.B. Yeats, 'important times' when our religious liberty may be on the wane.
Over the next while I intend to post some sporadic thoughts on how as evangelicals we ought to be preparing for the coming storm, what issues we need to be thinking through, what issues are being faced by our brothers and sisters around the world who are truly and presently suffering, and what encouragements we can take from Scripture on these issues.
Pursuing Purity Pt.5 - Make Matters Worse
One of Bart Simpson's favourite phrases is 'I didn't do it!'. Whatever misdemeanour the cartoon deliquent has pulled off, he constantly seems to be in denial. While John MacArthur has characterised The Simpsons as 'plumbing the depths of moral nihilism', its characters can very often mirror and prove to us our own behaviours in non-cartoon life. Which of us doesn't look back to times in our lives, whether in infancy or adulthood when we have denied the things which we have obviously done wrong - whether that denial is to ourselves or to others?
One form of that denial which we engage in as adult Christians is letting ourselves off the hook too lightly when we offend God by our sin. Perhaps we take a step, entertain a thought, or make a statement which we know is offensive to our Heavenly Father. For a moment the shock and awe of our action makes our heart sink, but almost immediately we find the mechanisms of denial swinging into action. We begin to think of the comparitative innocence of our actions compared to others, we attribute our behaviours to diet/too much sleep/too little sleep/hereditary and a whole host of other factors, until we're persuaded that our sin is something small, insignificant, not all that offensive to God. In so doing we offend our Master even more, and do untold damage to our own consciences.
John Owen writes against precisely this behaviour in The Mortification of Sin. People in the seventeenth century must have been every bit as good at Bart Simpson behaviour as we are today, and so Owen leaves them no quarter for self-commendation in their sin. Rather, he counsels them to make matters worse, to dwell in detail on the offense of their sin, in order that their repentance might be deep and true, their mortification of sin genuine and lasting. His words pack tremendous weight in helping us to watch our own hearts:
"Bring thy lust to the gospel - not for relief, but for farther conviction of its guilt; look on Him whom thou hast pierced, and be in bitterness. Say to thy soul 'What have I done? What love, what mercy, what blood, what grace have I despised and trampled on ? Is this the return I make to the Father for His love, to the Son for His blood, to the Holy Ghost for His grace?"
In the area of personal holiness things really must get worse before they can get better! Mortification isn't a matter of 'I didn't do it' psychology, but 'I did do it against God' theology. Such reasoning will not be pleasant for us, but will yield rich benefits of true holiness if we see our sin in the light of God's salvation.
One form of that denial which we engage in as adult Christians is letting ourselves off the hook too lightly when we offend God by our sin. Perhaps we take a step, entertain a thought, or make a statement which we know is offensive to our Heavenly Father. For a moment the shock and awe of our action makes our heart sink, but almost immediately we find the mechanisms of denial swinging into action. We begin to think of the comparitative innocence of our actions compared to others, we attribute our behaviours to diet/too much sleep/too little sleep/hereditary and a whole host of other factors, until we're persuaded that our sin is something small, insignificant, not all that offensive to God. In so doing we offend our Master even more, and do untold damage to our own consciences.
John Owen writes against precisely this behaviour in The Mortification of Sin. People in the seventeenth century must have been every bit as good at Bart Simpson behaviour as we are today, and so Owen leaves them no quarter for self-commendation in their sin. Rather, he counsels them to make matters worse, to dwell in detail on the offense of their sin, in order that their repentance might be deep and true, their mortification of sin genuine and lasting. His words pack tremendous weight in helping us to watch our own hearts:"Bring thy lust to the gospel - not for relief, but for farther conviction of its guilt; look on Him whom thou hast pierced, and be in bitterness. Say to thy soul 'What have I done? What love, what mercy, what blood, what grace have I despised and trampled on ? Is this the return I make to the Father for His love, to the Son for His blood, to the Holy Ghost for His grace?"
In the area of personal holiness things really must get worse before they can get better! Mortification isn't a matter of 'I didn't do it' psychology, but 'I did do it against God' theology. Such reasoning will not be pleasant for us, but will yield rich benefits of true holiness if we see our sin in the light of God's salvation.
24 Jan 2007
An interesting debate...
The BBC website has an interesting debate running re the Church and the law. Could this be the shape of things to come? Read about it here
23 Jan 2007
Pursuing Purity Pt.4 DIY Deliverance
So far in John Owen's 'Mortification of Sin' we have been brought face to face with the seriousness of indwelling sin which everyone faces. Owen pulls no punches as he portrays the ferocity and persistence of sin, and its ability to ruin our walk with God, not to mention our public testimony.
The temptation for anyone reading his words is to hatch a plan. We hear the writer's warnings about killing sin, about the utmost aim of our sinful impulses, and so we resolve on certain issues, we decide to break certain habits, and change our thinking. In essence we approach the issue of sin in the same way as our 'New Year's Resolutions' (remember those from the start of the month?!). Perhaps we adopt the Boots the Chemist 'Change One Thing' approach and conscientiously avoid certain areas and issues in our minds.
All of this is commendable and vital but, Owen contends, in the absence of an essential ingredient, utterly futile. His concern is that we don't embark on self-help courses in our Christian lives, which will ultimately be frustrated. DIY deliverance is simply not an option. Of those who seek to use purely physical cures to deal with their sin he writes,
'They combat without victory, have war without peace, and are in slavery all their days'.
He also diagnoses the reason for this failure to beat failure:
'There is no death of sin without the death of Christ'.
This is wonderfully rich teaching. Owen is proving that our only hope of deliverance from sin lies in the Lord Jesus Christ and His saving work at Calvary. In other words mortification is spiritual work, not physical. We need a Saviour, and this is what all of our sinful actions point to - we are hopelessly lost without Christ. This might seem elementary, even patronising, but how easily we can gloss over the core and kernal of our Christianity. It begins and ends in Christ - He is all and everything, He is our only hope of redemption, He is all our righteousness. Without Him we are lost in sin, dead to God, without hope.
For the casual professor these words pose a challenge. It is easy to be moralistic, but much more difficult to be pure. It is easy to say we hate sin, and much more difficult to hate it in our own flesh. It could be that the behaviours we manifest are being used by God to show us our own depravity, our own sin, our own need of a Saviour. Perhaps God is allowing us to feel the weight of inquity in order that we might realise how badly broken God's law is in our own lives. Perhaps we've never truly repented of personal sin, and turned with desperate faith to Christ as Saviour. Owen says 'a man may easier see without eyes, speak without a tongue, than truly mortify one sin without the Spirit'.
For the true believer these words are both impetus and comfort. Our ultimate ground and source of deliverance is our Deliverer, Jesus Christ. To pursue purity with no reference to Him or His work, with no cry for help from the Holy Spirit, is nonsensical. WE have no power over sin, but HE does. Our lives must find as their true north the atonement at Calvary - only then can we know something of the liberating influence of the gospel, and the sweet balm of Christ's work. This doesn't mean that we 'let go and let God', in the hope that He will purify us while we do nothing. Rather it means that we will pursue purity for the glory of God's Name, in the power of His Holy Spirit, on the basis of Christ's finished work. 'The use of means for the obtaining of peace is ours, the bestowing of it is God's prerogative'. What a wonderful Saviour we have, let's make him the centre of our pursuit of purity.
The temptation for anyone reading his words is to hatch a plan. We hear the writer's warnings about killing sin, about the utmost aim of our sinful impulses, and so we resolve on certain issues, we decide to break certain habits, and change our thinking. In essence we approach the issue of sin in the same way as our 'New Year's Resolutions' (remember those from the start of the month?!). Perhaps we adopt the Boots the Chemist 'Change One Thing' approach and conscientiously avoid certain areas and issues in our minds.
All of this is commendable and vital but, Owen contends, in the absence of an essential ingredient, utterly futile. His concern is that we don't embark on self-help courses in our Christian lives, which will ultimately be frustrated. DIY deliverance is simply not an option. Of those who seek to use purely physical cures to deal with their sin he writes,'They combat without victory, have war without peace, and are in slavery all their days'.
He also diagnoses the reason for this failure to beat failure:
'There is no death of sin without the death of Christ'.
This is wonderfully rich teaching. Owen is proving that our only hope of deliverance from sin lies in the Lord Jesus Christ and His saving work at Calvary. In other words mortification is spiritual work, not physical. We need a Saviour, and this is what all of our sinful actions point to - we are hopelessly lost without Christ. This might seem elementary, even patronising, but how easily we can gloss over the core and kernal of our Christianity. It begins and ends in Christ - He is all and everything, He is our only hope of redemption, He is all our righteousness. Without Him we are lost in sin, dead to God, without hope.
For the casual professor these words pose a challenge. It is easy to be moralistic, but much more difficult to be pure. It is easy to say we hate sin, and much more difficult to hate it in our own flesh. It could be that the behaviours we manifest are being used by God to show us our own depravity, our own sin, our own need of a Saviour. Perhaps God is allowing us to feel the weight of inquity in order that we might realise how badly broken God's law is in our own lives. Perhaps we've never truly repented of personal sin, and turned with desperate faith to Christ as Saviour. Owen says 'a man may easier see without eyes, speak without a tongue, than truly mortify one sin without the Spirit'.
For the true believer these words are both impetus and comfort. Our ultimate ground and source of deliverance is our Deliverer, Jesus Christ. To pursue purity with no reference to Him or His work, with no cry for help from the Holy Spirit, is nonsensical. WE have no power over sin, but HE does. Our lives must find as their true north the atonement at Calvary - only then can we know something of the liberating influence of the gospel, and the sweet balm of Christ's work. This doesn't mean that we 'let go and let God', in the hope that He will purify us while we do nothing. Rather it means that we will pursue purity for the glory of God's Name, in the power of His Holy Spirit, on the basis of Christ's finished work. 'The use of means for the obtaining of peace is ours, the bestowing of it is God's prerogative'. What a wonderful Saviour we have, let's make him the centre of our pursuit of purity.
What Baptists Believe...
Over at Heavenly Worldliness, Gary Brady is conducting an interesting series on the elements of the 1689 Baptist Confession of faith. It is a fascinating document, and Gary's comments help to explain the essence of what it means to be a Baptist. If you're curious about the background and basis of Baptist belief this makes a superb starting point.
19 Jan 2007
Pursuing Purity Pt.3 - Sin's Ultimate Aim
A couple of years ago I had my first shot (pardon the pun) at clay pigeon shooting. It was at once an exhilarating (I got to fire a real shotgun!) and humilitating (out of the first 28 clays I hit 3!)experience. As the evening went on, however, my aim got better and I began to pose more of a threat to the clay pigeons, and less of a hazard to those around me. The main lesson I learned was the importance of keeping my eye on the target at all times.
As Christians, when it comes to pursuing purity, we find that sin never has a problem with focussing on the target. Our enemy and our own sinful inclinations combine to mount a strategic, sustained, and focussed campaign against our spiritual welfare. But I wonder how aware we are of the single-mindedness with which sin preys on us, and the ultimate goal that it is pursuing in our lives?
Once again Owen is more than helpful. He states 'sin aims always at the utmost every time it rises up to tempt or entice...every unclean thought or glance would be adultery if it could; every covetous desire would be oppression; every thought of unbelief would be atheism, might it grow to its head'. The point being made here is of tremendous importance. If we hold iniquity in any way lightly, if we believe that we can integrate a favourite transgression into our normal living, then we are failing to realise that personal sin is an enemy which aims at our ultimate and absolute destruction as believers. The trifling failure which we so readily put down to a small weakness in our character, is in itself determined to derail and destroy; to bring us and the name of our Saviour into reproach. John MacArthur preached a remarkable sermon on this which is available to purchase on CD here under message number CD80.235. In 'Cauterizing the Conscience' MacArthur proves convincingly that the major public sins which emerge in believers' lives come as the result of a process in which 'lesser' sins are indulged and treasured, thus searing the conscience and opening up the personality to more public and prominent moral failure. How closely we need to guard our own hearts, from an enemy within who seeks our complete moral and spiritual failure!
'Sin aims always at the utmost' and thus we need to 'be killing sin' or it will be killing us!
As Christians, when it comes to pursuing purity, we find that sin never has a problem with focussing on the target. Our enemy and our own sinful inclinations combine to mount a strategic, sustained, and focussed campaign against our spiritual welfare. But I wonder how aware we are of the single-mindedness with which sin preys on us, and the ultimate goal that it is pursuing in our lives?
Once again Owen is more than helpful. He states 'sin aims always at the utmost every time it rises up to tempt or entice...every unclean thought or glance would be adultery if it could; every covetous desire would be oppression; every thought of unbelief would be atheism, might it grow to its head'. The point being made here is of tremendous importance. If we hold iniquity in any way lightly, if we believe that we can integrate a favourite transgression into our normal living, then we are failing to realise that personal sin is an enemy which aims at our ultimate and absolute destruction as believers. The trifling failure which we so readily put down to a small weakness in our character, is in itself determined to derail and destroy; to bring us and the name of our Saviour into reproach. John MacArthur preached a remarkable sermon on this which is available to purchase on CD here under message number CD80.235. In 'Cauterizing the Conscience' MacArthur proves convincingly that the major public sins which emerge in believers' lives come as the result of a process in which 'lesser' sins are indulged and treasured, thus searing the conscience and opening up the personality to more public and prominent moral failure. How closely we need to guard our own hearts, from an enemy within who seeks our complete moral and spiritual failure!'Sin aims always at the utmost' and thus we need to 'be killing sin' or it will be killing us!
16 Jan 2007
Free Grace and Election
I'm up to my eyes with revision (exam tomorrow), and dosed to the hilt with the cold, so Pursuing Purity will be having a rest for a day or two.
In the meantime there's a fascinating debate going on at Pyromaniacs, about election and free grace. If you're new to thinking about these kinds of issues it may not be the best starting point as the discussion has got a bit heated over the past week or so. But if these are issues that you really are grappling with then Phil Johnson's post coupled with a selection from one of Spurgeon's sermons will be a great help.
Just don't get so enamoured with Pyromaniacs that you forget to come back here!!
[Sneezes and sniffles his way back to bed]
In the meantime there's a fascinating debate going on at Pyromaniacs, about election and free grace. If you're new to thinking about these kinds of issues it may not be the best starting point as the discussion has got a bit heated over the past week or so. But if these are issues that you really are grappling with then Phil Johnson's post coupled with a selection from one of Spurgeon's sermons will be a great help.
Just don't get so enamoured with Pyromaniacs that you forget to come back here!!
[Sneezes and sniffles his way back to bed]
11 Jan 2007
Pursuing Purity Pt.2 - Mortal Foes
'Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you'
For a long time John Owen scared the wits out of me. Anyone who spoke of his writings characterised them as beneficial, but difficult and dry - a little like Rivita!! On the contrary, in 'The Mortification of Sin' I've found Owen to be a pastoral companion full of practical godliness and counsel, and this has opened his writings up to me. For me he defines the term 'living truth' in that his exposition is thorough and microscopic, but his application is active, vibrant and authentic.
Today's quote from 'Mortification' sheds further light on our continual war with sin. If self-examination and mortification are the duty of every true believer, then they ought to also be the duty of every single day. If we are not killing sin, then we are inviting it to kill us, to smother and choke, to defy and defeat us. For Owen mortification is a 24/7 activity, something which literally spells life or death for us in our Christian walk.
My mind goes back to a sequence from the beginning of Spielberg's 'Saving Private Ryan'. The horrific scene of soldiers being decimated by machine gun fire as they make their beach landings is punctuated by little cameos of individuals soldiers. One such interlude shows a soldier putting his head above a parapet to inspect what is happening on the rest of the beach. At that moment a bullet passes through his helmet, narrowly missing his skull. He turns to a comrade, says 'That was close' and is then promptly killed by another bullet to the head - this one finding its mark.
Continual vigilence, repeated intolerance of every sinful impulse, is what is needed. As Christians we are locked in a mortal struggle with a foe who will not sleep. How I need to always 'be killing sin', for it is set on destroying me.
For a long time John Owen scared the wits out of me. Anyone who spoke of his writings characterised them as beneficial, but difficult and dry - a little like Rivita!! On the contrary, in 'The Mortification of Sin' I've found Owen to be a pastoral companion full of practical godliness and counsel, and this has opened his writings up to me. For me he defines the term 'living truth' in that his exposition is thorough and microscopic, but his application is active, vibrant and authentic.
Today's quote from 'Mortification' sheds further light on our continual war with sin. If self-examination and mortification are the duty of every true believer, then they ought to also be the duty of every single day. If we are not killing sin, then we are inviting it to kill us, to smother and choke, to defy and defeat us. For Owen mortification is a 24/7 activity, something which literally spells life or death for us in our Christian walk.
My mind goes back to a sequence from the beginning of Spielberg's 'Saving Private Ryan'. The horrific scene of soldiers being decimated by machine gun fire as they make their beach landings is punctuated by little cameos of individuals soldiers. One such interlude shows a soldier putting his head above a parapet to inspect what is happening on the rest of the beach. At that moment a bullet passes through his helmet, narrowly missing his skull. He turns to a comrade, says 'That was close' and is then promptly killed by another bullet to the head - this one finding its mark. Continual vigilence, repeated intolerance of every sinful impulse, is what is needed. As Christians we are locked in a mortal struggle with a foe who will not sleep. How I need to always 'be killing sin', for it is set on destroying me.
10 Jan 2007
Pursuing Purity Pt.1
Reading and writing about Jonathan Edwards Resolutions has really stimulated my thinking on the whole issue of pursuing God and godliness in a self-conscious or 'intentional' way. One area which I think we all struggle with as Christians is that of personal sin. Whether we consider our lapses and failures to be major or minor, there is no doubt that a lack of devotion to purity, and a lack of concern for holiness is characteristic of many of us on a daily basis. This may not be something which we talk about much when we chat to friends or gather for worship, but for many it can be their major spiritual preoccupation in the private sphere.
John Owen's book The Mortification of Sin is the most powerful and practical treatment of sin in the believers' life that I've read, and so over the next while for my own encouragement and that of anyone calling by the blog, I want to share some of his wisdom on this issue. Owen deals with the subject of purity head on, and in true Puritan style highlights the need for mortification, and then proceeds to show how it can be secured in our Christian lives. I trust that these posts will help us to get serious about the war on sin - and pursue purity with grit and determination.
Owen begins by stirring his readers to concern over purity. He leaves us with no room for complacency or a sense of self-righteousness in the area of sin, but shows we all need to assess our walk with the Lord. He states 'the choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin'. In other words (and this is a point Owen highlights again and again) the work of mortification begins not in the aftermath and bitterness of obvious failure, but as a pro-active habit of living, as a pre-emptive approach to the influence of temptation. Self-examination precedes mortification; an honest and continual audit is vital if we are to identify the seeds of sin which are packed with potential to derail our discipleship.
As I read these words it moves me to consider my own life. Owen is not asking for a surface examination of our walk with God, but a deep reflection on our attitudes, motivations, commmitments, omissions and comissions. As we'll see in the next few posts, it is only this 'root and branch' approach to sin which ultimately will help us to know greater purity and grace.
John Owen's book The Mortification of Sin is the most powerful and practical treatment of sin in the believers' life that I've read, and so over the next while for my own encouragement and that of anyone calling by the blog, I want to share some of his wisdom on this issue. Owen deals with the subject of purity head on, and in true Puritan style highlights the need for mortification, and then proceeds to show how it can be secured in our Christian lives. I trust that these posts will help us to get serious about the war on sin - and pursue purity with grit and determination.Owen begins by stirring his readers to concern over purity. He leaves us with no room for complacency or a sense of self-righteousness in the area of sin, but shows we all need to assess our walk with the Lord. He states 'the choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin'. In other words (and this is a point Owen highlights again and again) the work of mortification begins not in the aftermath and bitterness of obvious failure, but as a pro-active habit of living, as a pre-emptive approach to the influence of temptation. Self-examination precedes mortification; an honest and continual audit is vital if we are to identify the seeds of sin which are packed with potential to derail our discipleship.
As I read these words it moves me to consider my own life. Owen is not asking for a surface examination of our walk with God, but a deep reflection on our attitudes, motivations, commmitments, omissions and comissions. As we'll see in the next few posts, it is only this 'root and branch' approach to sin which ultimately will help us to know greater purity and grace.
8 Jan 2007
The Limits of Usefulness
I suppose if I had to sum this blog up in one word it would be 'appreciation'. Appreciation for men and women of God who have lived in past ages, or are living in our present age who provide a blessing through their example or teaching. It enriches and blesses me so much to be in contact with these individuals through Christian literature, and then be able to share some nuggets from them on this site. That being said, there are limits to their usefulness. At the end of the day all humans are only humans, and while their example or teaching might be hugely edifying they are still prone to mistake and error. A quote from Richard Baxter has really clarified the limits of usefulness for me, and I think it gives wisdom as we appreciate those who have gone before us, and current 'heroes of the faith' in the twenty-first century:
'I now see more good and more evil in all men than heretofore I did. I see good men are not as I once thought they were, but have more imperfections. And the nearer approach and fuller trial doth make the best appear more weak and faulty than their admirers at a distance think...It is a grand pernicious error to think that the same man's judgements must be followed in every case. And it is of grand importance to know how to value our guides, as the cases vary'.
I came across Baxter's quote in Iain H. Murray's 'The Old Evangelicalism', which has been helping me so much over the past week or so. It really is an excellent book. Murray succeeds in providing the reader with his normal blend of warm writing style, acute historical sense, and incisive contemporary comment, as he probes the nature of current and historic evangelicalism. His chapter on 'The Cross - the Pulpit of God's Love' is the finest handling of the tension between God's sovereignty and the free offer of the gospel that I have ever read. I'm currently on chapter 5 which is 'What can we learn from John Wesley?', and I can tell by its balanced tone that it is going to be hugely helpful...
'I now see more good and more evil in all men than heretofore I did. I see good men are not as I once thought they were, but have more imperfections. And the nearer approach and fuller trial doth make the best appear more weak and faulty than their admirers at a distance think...It is a grand pernicious error to think that the same man's judgements must be followed in every case. And it is of grand importance to know how to value our guides, as the cases vary'.
I came across Baxter's quote in Iain H. Murray's 'The Old Evangelicalism', which has been helping me so much over the past week or so. It really is an excellent book. Murray succeeds in providing the reader with his normal blend of warm writing style, acute historical sense, and incisive contemporary comment, as he probes the nature of current and historic evangelicalism. His chapter on 'The Cross - the Pulpit of God's Love' is the finest handling of the tension between God's sovereignty and the free offer of the gospel that I have ever read. I'm currently on chapter 5 which is 'What can we learn from John Wesley?', and I can tell by its balanced tone that it is going to be hugely helpful...
5 Jan 2007
High Resolution Living (and dying) Pt.3
Doubt and death are two subjects which confront most Christians at a very deep and personal level - they are also two issues that we seldom talk about publicly or candidly. Edwards' Resolutions deal with both of these issues in a refreshing and God honouring way, facing up to the brutal realities of being a believer.
As with most of the life experiences he describes in his little book Edwards is keen to submit these issues to the sovereignty and sufficiency of God. Edwards is not so pious that he will not admit the presence of doubt in his life, but in resolution no.26 states that he is 'resolved to cast away such things as I find do abate my assurance'. Again it is the note of intentionality that marks out Edwards' treatment of this and other issues. Not content to live as prey to the problem of doubt so easily capitalised on by the Devil, he makes it his aim to identify and neutralise those things which cause his assurance to waver. Which of us would pretend never to have been assailed by doubts about our standing with God, and yet how often do we make an audit of those influences in our lives which add spiritual drag to our experience of God. A friend in England told me once that he doesn't read secular books as he feels they put distance between him and God. He has successfully identified the unique source of discouragement in his own life and put a stop to its influence.
When it comes to death Edwards is equally philosophical. Not content to live as though death will never come he resolves in no.17 that 'I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die'. For Edwards there is no place for arrogant complancency nor hopeless morbidity, but rather a concern for mortal reality - a view which looks ahead to death as an impetus to godly living in the here and now.
This post marks the end of this short series on Edwards' resolutions. Perhaps our own personal resolutions are a little different for 2007, but there can be no doubt that Edwards provides us with food for thought and for godly living in this New Year.
As with most of the life experiences he describes in his little book Edwards is keen to submit these issues to the sovereignty and sufficiency of God. Edwards is not so pious that he will not admit the presence of doubt in his life, but in resolution no.26 states that he is 'resolved to cast away such things as I find do abate my assurance'. Again it is the note of intentionality that marks out Edwards' treatment of this and other issues. Not content to live as prey to the problem of doubt so easily capitalised on by the Devil, he makes it his aim to identify and neutralise those things which cause his assurance to waver. Which of us would pretend never to have been assailed by doubts about our standing with God, and yet how often do we make an audit of those influences in our lives which add spiritual drag to our experience of God. A friend in England told me once that he doesn't read secular books as he feels they put distance between him and God. He has successfully identified the unique source of discouragement in his own life and put a stop to its influence.When it comes to death Edwards is equally philosophical. Not content to live as though death will never come he resolves in no.17 that 'I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die'. For Edwards there is no place for arrogant complancency nor hopeless morbidity, but rather a concern for mortal reality - a view which looks ahead to death as an impetus to godly living in the here and now.
This post marks the end of this short series on Edwards' resolutions. Perhaps our own personal resolutions are a little different for 2007, but there can be no doubt that Edwards provides us with food for thought and for godly living in this New Year.
2 Jan 2007
High Resolution Living Pt.2
Life never seemed easy for Dr Watson in Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes mysteries. The erstwhile medic, of no small intelligence himself, was constantly left in a state of bemusement at the acute deductions of his sleuth companion. Out of nowhere Holmes would evince a truth about someone's behaviour or character, leaving both reader and crime fighting partner amazed. Holmes' secret was 'first principles' - tracing back the apparent evidence to its source, following logical lines of enquiry until the 'mysterious' was made plain. I think that's why I've always loved Sherlock Holmes books and dramas so much.
But what about applying that method to our spiritual lives? In today's resolution from Jonathan Edwards just such a procedure is advocated. Most of us fall into sin, confess, repent, and then fall into the same sin or one like it in a fairly short time. Our resolutions look empty, our hearts grow heavy, and we wonder how we can escape such a tedious and heartbreaking routine.
Edwards suggested a strategy for breaking this cycle which is so helpful. In resolution no.24 he states that he was 'resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavour to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it'. Sound advice indeed, moving us away from accidental living, to intentional living, from passive godlessness to active godliness. That's what I call high resolution living - not being content merely to combat the outcome of sinful impulses, but their causes and seek to cut off at source the reason for so many of our failures.
Elementary my dear Edwards...
But what about applying that method to our spiritual lives? In today's resolution from Jonathan Edwards just such a procedure is advocated. Most of us fall into sin, confess, repent, and then fall into the same sin or one like it in a fairly short time. Our resolutions look empty, our hearts grow heavy, and we wonder how we can escape such a tedious and heartbreaking routine.
Edwards suggested a strategy for breaking this cycle which is so helpful. In resolution no.24 he states that he was 'resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavour to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it'. Sound advice indeed, moving us away from accidental living, to intentional living, from passive godlessness to active godliness. That's what I call high resolution living - not being content merely to combat the outcome of sinful impulses, but their causes and seek to cut off at source the reason for so many of our failures.Elementary my dear Edwards...
1 Jan 2007
High Resolution Living
I know, I know, its either famine or feast - nothing since the 5th December, and now that I'm off for a day an inundation of posts!! I'll try to make it one of my resolutions this year to be more regular and reliable in my blog posts...
Speaking of resolutions, one of the most enriching and endearing documents I've read on the subject is 'Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions'. Its a thin volume, but is composed of 70 resolutions that Edwards made as he completed his preparation for ministry. Every one is a gem, but over the next short while as we stretch the wings of 2007, I'll post some favourite resolutions from Edwards. They're hugely challenging.
Resolution no.5
'Resolved never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can'.
Speaking of resolutions, one of the most enriching and endearing documents I've read on the subject is 'Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions'. Its a thin volume, but is composed of 70 resolutions that Edwards made as he completed his preparation for ministry. Every one is a gem, but over the next short while as we stretch the wings of 2007, I'll post some favourite resolutions from Edwards. They're hugely challenging.Resolution no.5
'Resolved never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can'.
New Year Aspirations
Happy New Year to anyone who happens to pass by this blog!
I love New Year's Day. Not because I believe in any of the hype the media spins us about 'a brand new start', but because as Christians it affords a tremendous opportunity to reflect on God's goodness in the past year, and look ahead to what He will achieve in the coming year DV.
A quote which I've found very helpful in 2006 is in one of C.H. Spurgeon's messages regarding our growth as believers. It has helped me enormously in the past year, and I know it will continue to be an inspiration in 2007. I hope it encourages you as well:
'What downward tendencies the thoughtful must perceive in themselves. We could travel down-hill to hell how easily, but upwards to heaven how hardly! Downward without a hand to help; but upward, no hand less than the Omnipotent must speed our course. Do you not find, Christians, that as men must eat, so you must pray? Is there not a vacuum in your heart, and a pang within it, if you have neglected supplication? Do you not discover that as men must breathe so you must exercise faith on Christ? For if your faith be suspended for a moment there is a suffocation of all your hope, your joy, your love, nay, of your very life. Have you not found that as it is necessary to repair the waste of the body by the frequent meal, so you must repair the waste of the soul by feeding upon the Book of God, or by listening to the preached Word, or by the soul-fattening table of the ordinances? I will not give a farthing for your experience; it cannot be the experience of a child of God, unless you discover a hungering and a thirsting in your inner man, and what are these but proofs that renewal is wanted - signs by which your new nature setteth forth to you a secret necessity which moveth it to these outward longings? Oh! how dull our love becomes if we go for a little time without a sight of Christ! How our faith flickers if we are for a little season absent from the Cross! How depressed are our graces when means are neglected! What poor starvelings some saints are who live without the diligent use of the Word of God and secret prayer! You know you want renewal; you feel you do. What need I say more?'
- C.H. Spurgeon (Sermon 490 'Gracious Renewal')
I love New Year's Day. Not because I believe in any of the hype the media spins us about 'a brand new start', but because as Christians it affords a tremendous opportunity to reflect on God's goodness in the past year, and look ahead to what He will achieve in the coming year DV.
A quote which I've found very helpful in 2006 is in one of C.H. Spurgeon's messages regarding our growth as believers. It has helped me enormously in the past year, and I know it will continue to be an inspiration in 2007. I hope it encourages you as well:
'What downward tendencies the thoughtful must perceive in themselves. We could travel down-hill to hell how easily, but upwards to heaven how hardly! Downward without a hand to help; but upward, no hand less than the Omnipotent must speed our course. Do you not find, Christians, that as men must eat, so you must pray? Is there not a vacuum in your heart, and a pang within it, if you have neglected supplication? Do you not discover that as men must breathe so you must exercise faith on Christ? For if your faith be suspended for a moment there is a suffocation of all your hope, your joy, your love, nay, of your very life. Have you not found that as it is necessary to repair the waste of the body by the frequent meal, so you must repair the waste of the soul by feeding upon the Book of God, or by listening to the preached Word, or by the soul-fattening table of the ordinances? I will not give a farthing for your experience; it cannot be the experience of a child of God, unless you discover a hungering and a thirsting in your inner man, and what are these but proofs that renewal is wanted - signs by which your new nature setteth forth to you a secret necessity which moveth it to these outward longings? Oh! how dull our love becomes if we go for a little time without a sight of Christ! How our faith flickers if we are for a little season absent from the Cross! How depressed are our graces when means are neglected! What poor starvelings some saints are who live without the diligent use of the Word of God and secret prayer! You know you want renewal; you feel you do. What need I say more?'- C.H. Spurgeon (Sermon 490 'Gracious Renewal')
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