Sermon Notes: The Loved of God

In Sunday's sermon introducing our new series on the cross, I argued that one of the reasons why the cross matters is because it Personifies the Love of God. At the cross we clearly see His Divine Love for only His radical, unconditional, agape love can explain why He would send His Son to die in the place of sinners like us.

For us, this means we define love by looking at the cross. Throughout the New Testament we find the apostles exhorting believers to walk in love following the example of God in Christ seen at the cross. Thus when we speak of God's love, the New Testament often points us to the cross. I highlighted a few of the verses which support this thesis and below I want to offer even more for you own studies.

Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:37 – But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Ephesians 1:4-5 – just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

Ephesians 2:4-5 – But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Ephesians 5:2 – and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Ephesians 5:25 – Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

2 Thessalonians 2:16 – Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace,

Titus 3:4-5 – But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

1 John 3:1a – See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are

1 John 3:16 – We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

1 John 4:9-11 – By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:19 – We love, because He first loved us.


For more:
March 3, 2013 | God Pursues Sinners
November 14, 2010 - God is Love
MacDonald on the Love of God   
March 28, 2010 - Matthew 5:43-48: Love God as He Loved You
Weekly Recommendation: "The God Who Loves"

May 5, 2013 | Jonah 3:1-10 - Some Things Never Change: Divine Stubbornness & Why Grace is Unconditional

Here is part four of five of our sermon series on the wonderful Book of Jonah.

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, ² “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.” ³ So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk. ⁴ Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”
 
⁵ Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. ⁶ When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. ⁷ He issued a proclamation and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. ⁸ But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. ⁹ Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.”

¹⁰ When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.




Audio
Notes


April 7, 2013 | Jonah 1:1-3 - You Can Run But Not Hide: Why That is Really Good News
April 14, 2013 | Jonah 1:4-17 - Grace Goes Both Ways You Know: Why that is Really Really Good News
April 21, 2013 | Jonah 2:1-10 - Salvation is From the Lord: Why I Stand Amazed  & Not Condemned
May 5, 2013 | Jonah 3:1-10 - Some Things Never Change: Divine Stubbornness & Why Grace is Unconditional


For more:
How Are We to Understand Jonah: As Historical?
How Are We to Understand Jonah: As Midrash?
How Are We to Understand Jonah: As Allegorical?
Holman Dictionary on Jonah
Bibledex on Jonah
VeggieTales and Jonah 
Man Swallowed By Hippo & Lived to Tell About It

March 3, 2013 | God Pursues Sinners

In the second sermon introducing the subject of church discipline, we discuss that God loves sinners and thus pursues them. Do we?




Audio
Notes


January 27, 2013 | Matthew 17:24-27 - We Are Free Indeed: The Glorious Truth of the Gospel
Matthew 18:1-4 | Children Only: The Secret to being great in the Kingdom of God
February 17, 2013 | Matthew 18:5-14 - Primum Non Nocere: The Kingdom & the Treatment of Children
February 24, 2013 | God Hates Sin
 

February 24, 2013 | God Hates Sin

We continue our series in Matthew Gospel but first we need some context. In order to understand Matthew 18:15-20 regarding church discipline, we must first survey what the Bible says regarding God's holiness, the nature and seriousness of sin, and God's love and pursuit of sinners. In the following sermon, we begin by looking at God's hatred of sin - including ours.




Audio
Notes


January 27, 2013 | Matthew 17:24-27 - We Are Free Indeed: The Glorious Truth of the Gospel
Matthew 18:1-4 | Children Only: The Secret to being great in the Kingdom of God 
February 17, 2013 | Matthew 18:5-14 - Primum Non Nocere: The Kingdom & the Treatment of Children

God's Providence in Scripture

Tomorrow we will finish our series on the book of Philippians by discussing contentment. Key to contentment, as we will see, is God's providence. Scripture presents a high view of God's providence wherein He is in complete control over every aspect of our lives & of history. Below are some important passages of Scripture that defend this view:

Isaiah 37:26 - “Have you not heard? Long ago I did it, From ancient times I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, That you should turn fortified cities into ruinous heaps.

Isaiah 22:11 - And you made a reservoir between the two walls For the waters of the old pool. But you did not depend on Him who made it, Nor did you take into consideration Him who planned it long ago.

Psalm 139:16 - Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.

Job 14:5 - “Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass.

Isaiah 46:10-11 - Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; ¹¹ Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it. 

Isaiah 14:24-27 - ²⁴ The Lord of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand, ²⁵ to break Assyria in My land, and I will trample him on My mountains. Then his yoke will be removed from them and his burden removed from their shoulder. ²⁶ This is the plan devised against the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out against all the nations. ²⁷ For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?”

Job 42:2 - “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

Jeremiah 23:20 - “The anger of the Lord will not turn back Until He has performed and carried out the purposes of His heart; In the last days you will clearly understand it.

Zechariah 1:6 - ⁶ But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said, ‘As the Lord of hosts purposed to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’”’”

Proverbs 16:4 - The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.

Isaiah 40:12 - Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales?

Jeremiah 10:12-13 - ¹² It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom; And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens. ¹³ When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain, And brings out the wind from His storehouses.

Proverbs 16:33 - The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.

Proverbs 19:21 - Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand. 

Luke 21:20-22 - ²⁰ “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. ²¹ Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; ²² because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled.

Matthew 26:24 - ²⁴ The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

Matthew 1:22 - ²² Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

Acts 2:23 - this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

Acts 4:27-28 -  ²⁷ For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, ²⁸ to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.

Acts 1:16 - ¹⁶ “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

1 Corinthians 12:18 - ¹⁸ But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 

1 Corinthians 15:38 - ³⁸ But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 

Colossians 1:10 - ¹⁰ so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Galatians 3:8 - ⁸ The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.”  

Galatians 1:15 - ¹⁵ But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 

Romans 9:20-23 - ²⁰ On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? ²¹ Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? ²² What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? ²³ And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,

Ephesians 1:11-12 - ¹¹ also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, ¹² to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

Romans 8:28 - ²⁸ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

 

 

For more:

April 29, 2012 | Ruth 1:1-22 - Better or Bitter: When Providence Means Suffering
May 6, 2012 | Ruth 2:1-13 - And It Just So Happened ...: When God's Invisible Hand Becomes Visible 
May 20, 2012 | Ruth 2:14-23 - Grace in Abundance: That's Why Its So Amazing
May 27, 2012 | Ruth 3:1-9 - Resting in the Providence of God - Part 1

June 10, 2012 | Ruth 4:1-15 - When Providence and Grace Kiss  

GBC - Repost | "A Sweet & Bitter Providence" by John Piper
GBC - Tony Evans on God and Purpose
Sermon - September 19, 2010 - God is Provident
GBC - Calvin on Providence 
August 1, 2010 - Matthew 6:25-34 - Worry and the Providence of God:  What Our Anxiety Says About What We Believe About God
April 18, 2010 - Haggai 2:1-9 - And the Lord Said, "Get-r-Done"
August 30, 2009 - Psalm 23:6 - The Peace of the Shepherd's Providence 
Sermon - Esther 4 - God's Providence 
GBC - Providence and Prayer:  Carson Responds 

November 20, 2011 | Psalm 23:1 - The Peace of Contentment 

Spurgeon on Psalm 137

The mother of all Imprecatory Psalms, 137, is a real challenge especially verse 9 which calls for the infaticide of the children of Babylon in violent language:  How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock. The apparent barbarism of this verse is immediately apparent and how do we reconcile a verse like this (and others could be used here) with the message of Scripture of grace, forgiveness, and mercy?

Well, the Prince of Preachers, Charles H. Spurgeon, warned us of viewing this in the wrong light.  He writes:

Let those find fault with it who have never seen their temple burned, their city ruined, their wives ravished, and after children slain; they might not, perhaps, be quite so velvet mouthed if they had suffered after this fashion. It is one thing to talk of the bitter feeling which moved captive Israelites in Babylon, and quite another thing to be captives ourselves under a savage and remorseless power, which knew not how to show mercy, but delighted in barbarities to the defenceless. -Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Psalm 137.

Spurgeon, as always, is right.  It is easy for us to judge the Psalmist for his strong language, but just listen to the voice of the mother who pleads for the death penalty against the man who murdered her child. Is it barbarism or a cry for justice and vengeance?  This Psalm is echoed in the voice of the angry father who’s daughter was raped. This Psalm is echoed in the voice of the child who watches his parents destroy each other in anger and abuse.  This Psalm is echoed in the voice of a nation who at the rubble of two buildings scream, “Go get them George!” Who then replies, “I hear you, the whole world hears you, and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!”

Before we speak in outrage over this text, let us realize that we have uttered similar things and it is right to beg God to defend the righteous and to judge the wicked.


For more:
Sermon - October 16, 2011 | Psalm 23 - The Lord is My Shepherd: Peace in the Shepherd's Arms
Sermon - October 23, 2011 | Psalm 99 - The Lord is My King
Sermon - October 30, 2011 | Psalm 8 - The Lord is My Lord
Sermon - November 6, 2011 | Psalm 1: The Lord is My Delight
Sermon - November 13, 2011 | Psalm 51:  The Lord is My Salvation
Sermon - November 20, 2011 | Psalm 136: The Lord is My God

Repost | Justice and the Implications of Atheism: Doug Wilson Hits the Nail on Its Head

Sunday we will be discussing Psalm 137 - the mother of all Imprecatory Psalms.  As I sit here and prepare, I can't help but think about how the dangerous implications of the church's effort to wussify God.  By watering down what it means to love and defining God as love with that weak definition can lead to only 2 logical conclusions about God and evil:

If wrongs will not be made right, if judgment will not reign down, if wickedness will not be destroyed either (1) God is either Wicked or a Wimp or (2) Wickedness & evil are relative & illusions.

I came across this realization from a brief quote from Douglas Wilson.  Consider the following:

The following quote was just published by Doug Wilson at his blog Blog and Mablog regarding the difference between Christianity and atheism regarding justice and the problem of theodicy.  It is simply too good to not to pass along.  The quote is taken from Wilson's book Letter From a Christian Citizen:  A Response to "Letter to a Christian Nation" by Sam Harris.

If the two of us [an atheist and Christian] were looking at a new report of the latest atrocity, I would say that at some point in the future, in some fundamental way, that will be put right. You want to say, as an atheist, that it will not ever be put right. But you refuse, for some reason, to take the next logical step and admit that there is therefore nothing wrong with it now. (54).

I can't think of a better way of confronting the issue of theodicy with an atheist then that.  Great post from Wilson.


HT:  Doug Wilson 


For more:
Blogizomai - Collision:  An Important Documentary About Faith and Atheism  
Blogizomai - Atheism and Moral Relativistic Parenting: Touchstone Takes on Harris
Blogizomai - Harris on the Science of Morality:  Nice Try But No Cigar  
Blogizomai - Natural Morality:  The Disconnect Between Darwinism and Morality
Blogizomai -Freud's Wish Fulfillment: Why Atheism Can't Explain Atheism
Blogizomai -The Atheist Debates
Blogizomai -Atheism Is Not Great - The D'Souza and Hitchens Debate
Blogizomai -John Lennox: The New Atheism and the Gospel  Blogizomai -D'Souza: Are Atheists Cultural Christians
Blogizomai -Survival of the Moral: Can Man Be Moral Without God?
Blogizomai - Re: Survival of the Moral: Can Man Be Moral Without God?
Review -"Atheism Remix" by Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Review -"The Delusion of Disbelief" by David Aikman
Review -"The End of Reason" by Ravi Zacharias
Review -What's So Great About Christianity? by Dinesh D'Souza

Review - "Life After Death" by Dinesh D'Souza 

Reviews -D'Souza - Letters To A Young Conservative 

Reviews -  D'Souza - Ronald Reagan 

Reviews - Mohler:  An Argument Against Atheists - Dinesh D'Souza on Christianity

FLAME - Power [with Rap-Along lyrics]

As I prepare for Sunday morning, I couldn't help but sing the following song "Power" by Christian rapper Flame. The second verse is particularly similar to our text (Psalm 136). Flame point is that remembering and reflecting on what God has done assures us that God is active and has power today. This is why the Jews repeatedly referred back to the Exodus and other mighty acts of God.

And before you hit play, remember that the following is rap. You can't say that I didn't warn you :o)




Here are the lyrics:

[Chorus:]
He got power man, You ain't never seen it like this
He got power man, His words make the world exist
He got power man, He can turn your situation 'round
I've seen Him do it, do it, do it, do it, do it

[Verse 1:]
I've seen the Lord do a lot of things in my day
Time after time, He blows my mind and He blows my faith
I like to read, and see what He's done in the past
He can do in the present, if His people would ask
I've seen Him shut a whole strip down
Full of strip clubs, now the dude's a Christian now
Wow, now that's power like you've never seen
How He dug in the man, and made his soul clean
Oh, I've even seen Him heal a broken home
Couple couldn't get along, now you be like, get a room
Man, I'm so impressed with His slate
I want to trust Him more and more, and strengthen my faith
Yes, I hope you know it's true, all power's in God's hands
What can't you make it through, the proof is the Godman
Nobody took His life, but Jesus He laid it down
And three days later, yes, He popped outta the ground

[Verse 2:]
Now for the record, we're talking about Almighty God
Please don't forget, what He did with Moses' rod
Please don't forget, when He split the Red Sea
What is a light bill, or a deadly disease
What is a marriage problem, or one that's on the rocks
To the One who speaks to storms, and storms stop
To the One who got Lazarus outta the grave,
Not after one, but two, three, four days
He is the Life, and the Resurrection
You give Him your filth, and get His perfection
I'm trying to get you to see, if He can save a soul
Defeat Satan and sin, all else is micro
And if He chooses to not grant a request
It's not because He lacks power, but He's seeking our best
It's not because He lacks strength, but He's seeking our good
Now go and walk through that trial, like Jesus would

[Verse 3:]
I know some people in my hood, that's been struggling with some things
They've been addicted for so long, they don't think that they can change
Then I tell them about Jesus, and how He can set them free
But they choose to stay away, man now that's just unbelief
But He's worthy to be trusted, He's a keeper of His word
But it's either you don't believe in Jesus, or that's just scared
Now what you're scared of, you shouldn't be scared of your sin
And not trusting in His name, that's the danger you're in
But you ain't gotta stay that way, you can pray and confess
Live a, life of repentance, receive Jesus' best
Himself, His love, His grace, His power
Give you strength in the darkest hour, so you won't be devoured
Give you strength against temptation, because He's stronger than sin
He's much stronger, than your corruption, erupting within
He's much strong, than your addiction to sex or a drug
To alcohol, or a club
Homie, that's what He does

[Verse 3:]
I know some people in my hood, that's been struggling with some things
They've been addicted for so long, they don't think that they can change
Then I tell them about Jesus, and how He can set them free
But they choose to stay away, man now that's just unbelief
But He's worthy to be trusted, He's a keeper of His word
But it's either you don't believe in Jesus, or that's just scared
Now what you're scared of, you shouldn't be scared of your sin
And not trusting in His name, that's the danger you're in
But you ain't gotta stay that way, you can pray and confess
Live a, life of repentance, receive Jesus' best
Himself, His love, His grace, His power
Give you strength in the darkest hour, so you won't be devoured
Give you strength against temptation, because He's stronger than sin
He's much stronger, than your corruption, erupting within
He's much strong, than your addiction to sex or a drug
To alcohol, or a club
Homie, that's what He does

Psalm 8, the Majesty of God, & that Pale Blue Dot

Sunday morning we will be studying Psalm 8 - a Psalm about the majesty of God.  One of the famous verses in that passage is vs. 4 which says, What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? As I study this text, I can't help but think about the difference between atheism and Christianity as we both look up at the skies.  Atheism studies the cosmos and sees our small, seemingly insignificant planet of existence and finds purposelessness.  In other words, atheism sees the cosmos and all they can see is our insignificance.  Christianity, on the other hand, looks up at the skies and is overwhelmed by God's majesty.  In atheism, we are small.  In Christianity, God is majestic. This makes that question in verse 4 all the more relevant, What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?

This is the point raised in world renown astronomer and agnostic (atheist?) Carl Sagan.  The picture above, known as the Pale Blue Dot, portrays the earth taken from 3.7 billion miles away in space.  The earth, in the vastness of the cosmos, is nothing more than a pale blue dot.  Sagan, who encouraged NASA to take the picture, was inspired by the picture to write a book by the same title.  Below is the famous section of the book where Sagan offers the emptiness of atheism/agnosticism.  He sees our insignificance, but Christians see the amazing fact of our worth and the power of our God.





Here is the quote written out:

Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there--on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.

The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.

The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.

It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.


For More:
Blogizomai - There Is No Such Thing As Atheists: Hawking's Curious Theism
Blogizomai - Before There Was Time: Hawking on the Origina of Everything
Blogizomai - Causation and the Existence of God:  How Scientists Continue to Prove Aquinas's Point
Blogizomai - Just Add Universes: The Foolishness and Motivation Behind Atheism's Leap of Faith
Blogizomai - Creation or Manipulation:  The Limits of Man and the Evidence for God
Blogizomai - Evolution Animated & Refuted 
Blogizomai - Justice and the Implications of Atheism: Doug Wilson Hits the Nail on Its Head
Blogizomai - On Why Darwin Still Matters
Blogizomai - Expelled: A Film About Freedom, Evolution, and Intelligent Design
Blogizomai - Expelled:  A Movie We Must Take Seriously 
Blogiozmai - D'Souza:  Ben Stein Exposes Richard Dawkins
Blogizomai - Collision:  An Important Documentary About Faith and Atheism  
Blogizomai -The Atheist Debates
Blogizomai -Atheism Is Not Great - The D'Souza and Hitchens Debate
Blogizomai -John Lennox: The New Atheism and the Gospel 
Blogizomai - Natural Morality:  The Disconnect Between Darwinism and Morality  
Blogizomai -D'Souza: Are Atheists Cultural Christians
Blogizomai -Survival of the Moral: Can Man Be Moral Without God?
Blogizomai - Re: Survival of the Moral: Can Man Be Moral Without God?
Blogizomai -Freud's Wish Fulfillment: Why Atheism Can't Explain Atheism
Blogizmai - "Why God Won't Go Away" by Alister McGrath
Review - "Why God Won't Go Away" by Alister McGrath  
Review -"Atheism Remix" by Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Review -"The Delusion of Disbelief" by David Aikman
Review -"The End of Reason" by Ravi Zacharias
Review -What's So Great About Christianity? by Dinesh D'Souza

Repost | A Letter & Gift From God: Palin's Letter on Trig & the Challenge of Down Syndrome

Former governor of Alaska and Vice-President candidate Sarah Palin needs no introduction.  Unlike anyone else in recent memory, Alaskan Sarah Palin has managed to remain in the news though her voice is limited to Twitter, Facebook, books, and appearances on Fox News.  Palin is an outspoken political conservative, but what I find most fascinating about her story isn't what she believes about tax cuts or ANWAR, but how her life changed with the birth of her Down Syndrome child named Trig Palin.

Palin admits in her book Going Rogue: An American Life that she had contemplated abortion due to her son's extra chromosone.  Most would, if honest with themselves, confess that raising a Down Syndrome child would radically alter one's life and present new life-long challenges and abortion (at least on the superficial surface) may seem like an attractive option.  But Palin, as we know refused to abort Trig holding fast to her pro-life convictions.

The reason this story is timely is because of the recent release of over 24,000 emails hacked from Palin's account and poured over by the mainstream media.  It is certainly fascinating that for many politicians we know virtually nothing (for example, we do not have current President Barack Obama's grades from college), but we are constantly bombarded with another attempt by the media and the left to uncover the smoking gun of a woman who has stepped down from her governorship in a state most in America ignore and is right now not a candidate for anything.  She just has her Twitter and Facebook account.  Even her reality TV show has ended.  What are we to gain with these emails?

Nonetheless, these emails have uncovered one gold jewel.  A letter, written by Mrs. Palin, has been released regarding the soon-to-be birth of their child with Down Syndrome.  Palin writes from the persective of His Creator.  As a Christian, I find this fascinating and encouraging.  Palin's language is right in seeing that Trig is not an accident nor unwanted.  God made no mistake by allowing him to have an extra-chromosone.  This does not mean that God rejoices in genetic deficiencies, but that He is greater than any deficiency.  In the letter, Palin seeks to portray God celebrating Trig's birth and thus encouraging the Palin family to celebrate his creation.

Portions of the letter had been released, but now the entire letter has been made available to the public and I strongly encourage you to read the entire thing.  This is not profound theology written by an academic scholar.  It is not a speech to be given by a sitting governor.  It is instead a letter written from a mother to her family as she herself struggles and joyfully anticipates the birth of her child who will have his challenges but bring with him unyielding joy.


SARAH PALIN’S COMPLETE LETTER TO HER FAMILY ABOUT TRIG 

To the Sisters, Brother, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and Friends of Trig Paxson Van Palin (or whatever you end up naming him!):

I am blessing you with this surprise baby because I only want the best for you. I’ve heard your prayers that this baby will be happy and healthy, and I’ve answered them because I only want the best for you!

I heard your heart when you hinted that another boy would fit best in the Palin family, to round it out and complete that starting five line-up. Though another girl would be so nice, you didn’t think you could ask for what you REALLY wanted, but I knew, so I gave you a boy because I only want the best for you!


Then, I put the idea in your hearts that his name should be “Trig”, because it’s so fitting, with two Norse meanings: “True” and “Brave Victory”. You also have a Bristol Bay relative with that name, so I knew it would be best for you!

Then, I let Trig’s mom have an exceptionally comfortable pregnancy so she could enjoy every minute of it, and I even seemed to rush it along so she could wait until near the end to surprise you with the news – that way Piper wouldn’t have so long to wait and count down so many days – just like Christmastime when you have to wait, impatiently, for that special day to finally open your gift? (Or the way the Palins look forward to birthday celebrations that go on for three, four days… you all really like cake .) I know you, I knew you’d be better off with just a short time to wait!

Then, finally, I let Trig’s mom and dad find out before he was born that this little boy will truly be a GIFT. They were told in early tests that Trig may provide more challenges, and more joy, than what they ever may have imagined or ever asked for. At first the news seemed unreal and sad and confusing . But I gave Trig’ s mom and dad lots of time to think about it because they needed lots of time to understand that everything will be OK, in fact, everything will be great, because I only want the best for you!

I‘ve given Trig’s mom and dad peace and joy as they wait to meet their new son. I gave them a happy anticipation because they asked me for that. I‘ll give all of you the same happy anticipation and strength to deal with Trig’s challenges, but I won’t impose on you…

I just need to know you want to receive my offer to be with all of you and help you everyday to make Trig’s life a great one.

This new person in your life can help everyone put things in perspective and bind us together and get everyone focused on what really matters . The baby will expand your world and let you see and feel things you haven’t experienced yet. He’ll show you what “true, brave victory“ really means as those who love him will think less about self and focus less on what the world tells you is ”normal“ or ”perfect”. You will grow and be blessed with greater understanding that will be born along with Trig.

Trig will be his dad‘s little buddy and he’ll wear Carhartts while he learns to tinker in the garage. He’ll love to be read to, he’ll want to play goalie, and he‘ll steal his mom’s heart just like Track, Bristol, Willow and Piper did. And Trig will be the cuddly, innocent, mischievous, dependent little brother that his siblings have been waiting for in fact Trig will – in some diagnostic ways – always be a mischievous, dependent little brother, because I created him a bit different than a lot of babies born into this world today.

Every child is created special, with awesome purpose and amazing potential. Children are the most precious and promising ingredient in this mixed up world you live in down there on earth. Trig is no different, except he has one extra chromosome. Doctors call it “Down’s Syndrome”, and Downs kids have challenges, but can bring you much delight and more love than you can ever imagine! Just wait and see, let me prove this, because I only want the best for you!

Some of the rest of the world may not want him, but take comfort in that because the world will not compete for him. Take care of him and he will always be yours!

Trig‘s mom and dad don’t want people to focus on the baby’s extra chromosome. They’re human, so they haven’t known how to explain this to people who are so caring and are interested in this new little Alaskan. Sarah and Todd want people to share in the joy of this gift I’m giving to the Palin family, and the greater Alaska family. Many people won’t understand… and I understand that. Some will think Trig should not be allowed to be born because they fear a Downs child won’t be considered “perfect” in your world. (But tell me, what do you earthlings consider “perfect” or even “normal” anyway? Have you peeked down any grocery store isle, or school hallway, or into your office lunchroom lately? Or considered the odd celebrities you celebrate as “perfect” on t.v.? Have you noticed I make `em all shapes and sizes? Believe me ,, there is no “perfect”!)

Many people will express sympathy, but you don’t want or need that, because Trig will be a joy. You will have to trust me on this.

I know it will take time to grasp this and come to accept that I only want the best for you, and I only give my best. Remember though: “My ways are not your ways, my thoughts are not your thoughts… for as the heavens are higher than the earth, my ways are higher than yours!”

I wrote that all down for you in the Good Book ! Look it up! You claim that you believe me – now it’s time to live out that belief!

Please look to me as this new challenge and chapter of life unfolds in front of you. I promise to equip you. I won‘t give you anything you can’t handle. I am answering your prayers. Trig can’t wait to meet you. I’m giving you ONLY THE BEST!

Love,
Trig’s Creator , Your Heavenly Father


HT:  The Blaze


And for my own enjoyment, here is my favorite clip from Palin's famous speech at the 2008 Republican National Convention of her daughter brushing the hair of Trig.





The Blaze - ‘A Down’s Syndrome Baby Will Expand Your World’: Sarah Palin’s Poignant, Moving Email About Her Unborn Son Revealed in Email Investigation  
Daily Mail - 'A Down's Syndrome baby will expand your world': How Sarah Palin imagined God talking to her in extraordinary and touching letter about her unborn son 


For more:
Blogizomai - When Politics Hits Home:  Sarah Palin and the Defense to Save Trig  
Blogizomai - The Threat of Trig Palin:  The Return of Life Worthy of Life 
Blogizomai - The Other 10%  
Blogizomai - Eugenics in the Present Tense:  The Reality of Eugenics in America Today - Part 2
Reviews - "Going Rogue" by Sarah Palin  
Reviews - "Sarah" by Kaylene Johnson

June 12, 2011 | Job - Saving Faith is Persevering Faith: Job and the Suffering of the Righteous

Though we are done with the book of Habakkuk, we are continuing our discussion on suffering by looking at various passages in Scripture on the subject.  The Book of Job is really the standard text, like Habakkuk, that seeks to answer the question of theodicy (the problem of evil).  I believe that if we understand Job, we will be able to suffer well.  Remember the three key doctrines of God that apply here:  Sovereignty, Providence, and Immutability (God does not change).  If God is Sovereign we can trust that He will be glorified in the end and no amount of evil or suffering will thwart that.  If God is Provident then we can hope that He remains in control and He will be glorified through us.  God remains on His throne and we are part of His plan.  Finally, if God is Immutable, then we have the assurance that the God of Scripture is still the God of today.

Remember, the God of the cross is still the God of the resurrection.


Audio 





May 22, 2011 | Habakkuk 1:1-2:1 - Praying From the Watchtower:  When God's Answer Leaves Us Unsatisfied
May 29, 2011 | Habakkuk 2:2-20   
June 5, 2011 | Habakkuk 3:1-19  


For more:
October 18, 2009 | 1 Peter 2:21-23 - Christus Exemplar  
Stomach Virus and the Humanity of Christ:  Moore on the Suffering and Sick Servant
Theodicy as Evidence of a Theos  
Some Helpful Answers To Common Questions: DA Carson Weighs In
Sunday Night - "The Agony of Job and the Sovereingnty of God
Weekly Recommendation - "A Grief Observed" by CS Lewis
January 2, 2011 | Matthew 8:1-17 - "Be Cleansed":  The Great Healer & His Great Gospel  
MacArthur on Matthew's Use of Isaiah 53   
Theology - The Immutability of God: Its Truth and Relevancy - Theodicy and God's Sovereignty

June 5, 2011 | Habakkuk 3:1-19

I know I'm really late, but here is the third and last installment of our series on Habakkuk.  However, we will continue the conversation regarding suffering well in light of the cross and the resurrection in the following weeks.  Last Sunday we discussed the book of Job and will go forward looking at Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, Paul's plea that God would remove his "thorn in the flesh," and other important passages.  Suffering is a central issue to discuss in a fallen world and we Christians must look to Christ on the cross as an example.

Audio 
Notes





May 22, 2011 | Habakkuk 1:1-2:1 - Praying From the Watchtower:  When God's Answer Leaves Us Unsatisfied   
June 29, 2011 | Habakkuk 2:2-20   


For more:
October 18, 2009 | 1 Peter 2:21-23 - Christus Exemplar  
Stomach Virus and the Humanity of Christ:  Moore on the Suffering and Sick Servant
Theodicy as Evidence of a Theos  
Some Helpful Answers To Common Questions: DA Carson Weighs In
Sunday Night - "The Agony of Job and the Sovereingnty of God
Weekly Recommendation - "A Grief Observed" by CS Lewis
January 2, 2011 | Matthew 8:1-17 - "Be Cleansed":  The Great Healer & His Great Gospel  
MacArthur on Matthew's Use of Isaiah 53   
Theology - The Immutability of God: Its Truth and Relevancy - Theodicy and God's Sovereignty

May 22, 2011 | Habakkuk 1:1-2:1 - Praying From the Watchtower: When God's Answer Leaves Us Unsatisfied

Last Sunday we started a new series of sermons on the book of Habakkuk - my favorite book of the Old Testament (Jude being my favorite book in the New Testament).  Habakkuk deals with the issue of the theodicy and is written from a personal perspective.  God's answers affect Habakkuk personally and wants to know why there is do much evil and suffering in the world (who doesn't?).  The book is profound and yet at times troubling.  Will we be comforted by the God that exists, or will we comforted by our idols?  Habakkuk makes it clear that idols do not comfort, only the true God does.

We began by looking at Habakkuk 1:1-2:1 covering Habakkuk's request, God's response, and finally Habakkuk's recoil.





Audio
Notes


For more
October 18, 2009 | 1 Peter 2:21-23 - Christus Exemplar  
Stomach Virus and the Humanity of Christ:  Moore on the Suffering and Sick Servant
Theodicy as Evidence of a Theos  
Some Helpful Answers To Common Questions: DA Carson Weighs In  
Sunday Night - "The Agony of Job and the Sovereingnty of God
Weekly Recommendation - "A Grief Observed" by CS Lewis
January 2, 2011 | Matthew 8:1-17 - "Be Cleansed":  The Great Healer & His Great Gospel  
MacArthur on Matthew's Use of Isaiah 53   
Theology - The Immutability of God: Its Truth and Relevancy - Theodicy and God's Sovereignty

Tony Evans on God and Purpose

We started our God series looking at the doctrine of creation and we established that if God is our Creator, then we are not accidents.  We then discussed His Sovereignty and Providence and established that life is not full of luck, but God's divine rule.  Luck and chance are myths.  This brings us great hope even in the bad times because we know that God will work all things out for His glory, even when we suffer.  Remember the cross.

The following video is of Pastor Tony Evans who lays out these issues clearly.  I enjoyed watching it and want to pass it along.





HT: Tim Challies

God: Proper Theology Proper Sermon Series

For the past few months, we have finished the year discussing the subject of God - better known as Theology Proper.  All theology is practical and what we believe about God shapes everything we are, believe, say, think, and do.  It has been a fascinating study and I have enjoyed it a lot and have been challenged by it.  Our God is simply too small.  If we want real hope, comfort, assurance, peace, joy, love, and contentment, then  we need to come meet the God of Scripture and the God of the gospel.

Below are all of the sermon links which include the notes and audio (when available).  In addition I have included every blog post, past sermons that relate the Theology Proper, articles, and book reviews that I have written.  I hope it all helps. 

SERMONS

September 12, 2010 - God is Creator 
September 19, 2010 - God is Provident 
October 10, 2010 - God is Sovereign  
October 24, 2010 - God is Immutable
October 31, 2010 - God is Holy 
November 7, 2010 - God is Jealous
November 13, 2010 -  God is Love
November 20, 2010 - God is Triune:  God the Father
November 27, 2010 - God is Triune:  God the Spirit
December 5, 2010 - Jesus is Lord
December 19, 2010 - Jesus is God

ARTICLES

Calvin on Providence  
Tozer on Immutability  
The Immutability of God Series  
Tozer on Holiness  
Third Day:  Our God is a "Consuming Fire"  
Repost - Is God Jealous?:  Oprah Weighs In  
MacDonald on the Love of God   
DeYoung on the Trinity  
MacArthur on the Comfort of the Spirit 
The Nicene Creed 
Stewart on the Lordship of Christ  
Grudem on the Deity of Christ 
The Gospel Coalition on the Deity of Christ  
Mahaney on the Person and Work of Christ:  Christ Our Mediator  
Stomach Virus' and the Humanity of Christ:  Moore on the Suffering and Sick Servant
Sayers on the Incarnation of Christ  
If Jesus Were Born in Our Digital Age

OTHER

August 1, 2010 - Matthew 6:25-34 - Worry and the Providence of God:  What Our Anxiety Says About What We Believe About God
April 18, 2010 - Haggai 2:1-9 - And the Lord Said, "Get-r-Done"
August 30, 2009 - Psalm 23:6 - The Peace of the Shepherd's Providence 
Esther 4 - God's Providence 
Providence and Prayer:  Carson Responds
This is Who WE Are:  What a Baptist Is and Believes - God   
This is Who We Are:  What a Baptist Is and Believes - God the Father
Theology - The Immutability of God:  Its Truth and Relevancy - Introduction (Part 1)
Theology - The Immutability of God:  Its Truth and Relevancy - Scriptural Foundation (Part 2)
Theology - The Immutability of God:  Its Truth and Relevancy - Scriptural Challenges (Part 3)
Theology - The Immutability of God:  Its Truth and Relevancy - Theological Challenges (Part 4)
Theology - The Immutability of God:  Its Truth and Relevancy - Practical Implications (Part 5) 
Theology - The Immutability of God:  Its Truth and Relevancy - Theological Implications (Part 6)
Sermon Podcast - April 26, 2010 - The Immutability of God 
Sermon Podcast - November 29, 2009 - The Transcendence of the Gospel
Theology - The Stipulation that Paralyzes:  Tony Jones and the Limits of the Emergent Worldview
Theology - Orthopraxy is Rooted in Orthodoxy - The Postmodern Return to Rome
Commentary - Accomodationism Breed Irrelevancy:  Why Liberalism Fails and the Transcendent Gospel Triumphs 

BOOKS

Reviews - "The Gospel According to Jesus" by John MacArthur 
Reviews -  Reviews in Brief - The Doctrine of Divine Creation  
Reviews - "The Benefits of Providence"  
Reviews -Reviews in Brief - The Doctrine of Divine Providence  
Reviews - "The Sovereignty of God"  
Reviews - "The God Who Loves"
Reviews - "Be Happy You Are Loved" 
Reviews - "Godly Jealousy"
Reviews - Reviews in Brief - Trinity 
Reviews - "Their God is Too Small" 
Reviews - "Knowing God"
Reviews - "Gripped By the Greatness of God" 
Reviews - "The Reason for God" 

PREVIOUS SERIES:
The Sermon on the Mount Series
Matthew Thus Far:  Matthew 1-5
The Last Week of Jesus: From Triumphal Entry to Triumphal Grave Series
Fruitie-Tales: Living By the Fruit of the Spirit
Basic Christianity Series
Revelation Study

December 19, 2010 - Jesus is God

I know I'm 10 days late, but here is the audio and notes from the sermon on the Deity of Jesus Christ.

Audio
Notes





For more:
Grudem on the Deity of Christ 
The Gospel Coalition on the Deity of Christ 
September 12, 2010 - God is Creator 
September 19, 2010 - God is Provident 
October 10, 2010 - God is Sovereign  
October 24, 2010 - God is Immutable
October 31, 2010 - God is Holy 
November 7, 2010 - God is Jealous
November 13, 2010 -  God is Love
November 20, 2010 - God is Triune:  God the Father
November 27, 2010 - God is Triune:  God the Spirit  
December 5, 2010 - Jesus is Lord 

December 5, 2010 - Jesus is Lord

Here is the audio and notes from this past Sunday's message on the Lordship of Jesus.  For the month of December, we will be exploring the Doctrine of Christ commonly referred to by theologians as Christology.  We'll discuss particularly His Person/Nature and Work and it should be a great discussion.





Audio 
Notes 


For more:
Reviews - "The Gospel According to Jesus" by John MacArthur 
Stewart on the Lordship of Christ 
September 12, 2010 - God is Creator 
September 19, 2010 - God is Provident 
October 10, 2010 - God is Sovereign  
October 24, 2010 - God is Immutable
October 31, 2010 - God is Holy 
November 7, 2010 - God is Jealous
November 13, 2010 -  God is Love
November 20, 2010 - God is Triune:  God the Father
November 27, 2010 - God is Triune:  God the Spirit  

November 28, 2010 - God is Triune: God the Holy Spirit

Here is the audio and notes from yesterday's message.  I have been really blessed in my own personal study on the doctrine of the Trinity and hope to be able to post more on the subject.  This technically ends our series on the doctrine of God (Theology Proper) as we now turn to discuss the Doctrine of Christ (Christology).  Next Sunday we will be discussing the Doctrine of the Lordship of Christ.

Audio 
Notes






For more:
DeYoung on the Trinity  
MacArthur on the Comfort of the Spirit 
The Nicene Creed 
September 12, 2010 - God is Creator 
September 19, 2010 - God is Provident 
October 10, 2010 - God is Sovereign  
October 24, 2010 - God is Immutable
October 31, 2010 - God is Holy 
November 7, 2010 - God is Jealous
November 13, 2010 -  God is Love 
November 20, 2010 - God is Triune:  God the Father

DeYoung on the Trinity

We have been studying the Doctrine of the Divine Trinity and I have been greatly blessed in all of my ongoing studies of this wonderful doctrine.  The problem for many of us when digger deeper into Scripture and theology is the question of why such an effort is important?  Honestly, what good is studying the Trinity if it isn't practical?  As the old saying goes, what does that have to do with the price of bread in China - or something like that.  Is the doctrine of the Trinity practical?  I believe it is.  In fact, I believe that all doctrine is practice and if we really want to see a change in our hearts and be molded more like God, then the study of theology is paramount of things to do and consider.  All of theology - all doctrine is practical and the Trinity is no different.  In his book The Good News We Almost Forgot: Rediscovering the Gospel in a 16th Century Catechism author and pastor Kevin DeYoung offers three practical reasons why the Trinity matters:

1.   The Trinity mattes for creation.  God, unlike the gods in other ancient creation stories, did not need to go outside Himself to create the universe.  Instead, the Word and the Spirt were like His own two hands (to use Irenaeus’s famous phrase) in fashioning the cosmos.  God created by speaking (the Word) as the Spirit hovered over the chaos.  Creation, like regeneration, is a Trinitarian act, with God working by the agency o the Word spoken and the mysterious movement of the Holy Spirit.  -52


2.    The Trinity matters for evangelism and cultural engagement.  I’ve heard it sad that the 2 main rivals to a Christian worldview at present are Islam and postmodernism. Islam emphasizes unity . . . without allowing much variance for diversity.  Postmodernism, on the other hand, emphasizes diversity – diversity of opinion, beliefs, and background – without attempting to see things in any kind of meta-unity.  Christianity, with its understanding of God as three in one, allows for diversity and unity.  If God exists in 3 distinct persons who all share the same essence, then it is possible to hope that God’s creation may exhibit stunning variety and individuality while still holding together in a genuine oneness.  -52

3.    The Trinity mattes for relationships.  We worship a God who is in constant and eternal relationship with Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Community is a buzz word in American culture, but it is only in a Christian framework that communion and interpersonal community are seen as expressions of the eternal nature of God.  Likewise, it is only with a Trinitarian God that love can be an eternal attribute of God.  Without a plurality of persons in the Godhead, we would be forced to think that God created humans so that He might show love and know love, thereby making love a created thing (and God a needy deity).  But with a biblical understanding of the Trinity, we can say that God did not create in order to be loved, but rather, created out of the overflow of the perfect love that had always existed among Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who ever live in perfect and mutual relationship and delight.  -52

I particularly like the second point raised by DeYoung and that is the issue of unity and community.  Let us not forget that unless the Trinity be true, then eternal realities like love, peace, and community have no real meaning.  We cannot say that God is eternally love unless He be eternally Triune.  This is what the Bible and the gospel means when it says, be holy like God.  God has always been holy and we ought to reflect that holiness.  Part of that holiness includes a love that is defined and exercised by God and He has done so for all of eternity.  When we want peace, we want the peace experienced by the Trinity, not a temporal empty peace we often look for.

This concept of community is hugely practical for us.  Think about it.  If we reflected the Trinity in our own church we would explode without ever fearing of personal prides and agendas getting in the way.  Most church's are at each other's throats because they refuse to participate in the community of the local church reflecting the community shared within the Trinity.  This means that how we act as a body of believers says much about what we believe about our God.  God is both one and yet a community of three Persons.  We ought to reflect this same dictotomy.  We are called to be one as He is One within a local community called the Church.

All doctrine, as I like to remind us all, is practical.


For more:
GBC - November 20, 2010 - God is Trinue:  God the Father  
GBC - MacArthur on the Comfort of the Spirit 
GBC - The Nicene Creed 
GBC - This is Who We Are  What a Baptist Is and Believes - God the Father
GBC - This is Who We Are:  What a Baptist Is and Believes - God the Son 
GBC - This is Who We Are:  What a Baptist Is and Believes - God the Spirit  
GBC - Shai Linne:  Triunne Praise