Reading Scripture - By Rev. Dr. Robert S. Rayburn - Faith Presbyterian Church, Tacoma, WA

• Reading the Bible for All It's Worth
• Reading the Bible for All It's Worth. Introduction No. 2
• Reading the Bible for All It's Worth. No. 3
• Reading the Bible For All It's Worth #4
• Reading the Bible for All It's Worth. No. 5. Chastity and Eroticism
• Reading the Bible for All It's Worth. No. 6. Universal & Special Priesthood
• Reading the Bible for All It's Worth. No. 7. Equality and Diversity of Genders

Historica Ecclesiasitica

Michael Haykin, recently appointed as church history professor at Southern Seminary, lists the top 9 biographies that have had the greatest impact on his life.

1. Iain Murray, DM Lloyd-Jones (2 vols.)

2. Faith Cook, Grimshaw of Haworth

3. Courtney Anderson, To the Golden Shore (Adoniram Judson)

4. Timothy George, Faithful Witness (W Carey)

5. Andrew Fuller, Memoirs of Samuel Pearce

6. A Dallimore, George Whitefield (2 vols.)

7. Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo

8. George Marsden, Jonathan Edwards

9. Iain Murray, Jonathan Edwards

Greek Words Translated 'Love' In The NT - Ed F. Sanders

Greek Words Translated 'Love' In The NT

Classic / Ancient Greek

Classical Greek is a robust language that is sometimes difficult to translate into English since both languages have various words with different shades of meanings. This sometimes makes interpreting difficult because translators may translate different Greek words with one English word. In order to understand what the text really says and means it is necessary to analyze the original language. An example is the word 'love' that is the translation of several Greek words that have important differences in meaning.

In 'Classical' Greek there were several different words for 'love' and affection, the four most significant are:

• agape - agape - voluntary love
• phileos - phileos - emotional love
• eros - eros - physical or sensual love
• storge - storge - (natural) affection

NT Words for 'love'

The New Testament was written in Koine Greek, the common street language of the time (whereas classical Greek was more of an 'academic' language). There are two Greek words that are translated 'love' in the NT:

1. Phileo (phileo): 'brotherly or familial', an emotional love [total KJV occurrences: 26]
2. Agape (agape): 'supreme' love, an 'unconditional love', always voluntary, esp. when referring to the love of God [Total KJV occurrences: 142]

NT Examples Of The Word 'love':

Both phileo and agape [phileo and agape] are used in John 21:15-17 (1):

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."

He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep".

Note that Jesus asks twice using 'agape', both times Peter responds with 'phileo':

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love [agape] me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love [phileo] you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love [agape] me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love [phileo] you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

Jesus asks the 3rd time using 'phileo':

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love [phileo] me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love [phileo] me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love [phileo] you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
Seeing the 2 different Greek words show a deeper richness of meaning to the passage.

An example of 'agape' used in reference to Love of God: Mat 22:37-40

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke’s Commentary On The NT; comments on Mat 22:37f:

It is remarkable that in these three questions our Lord uses the verb αγαπαω, which signifies to love affectionately, ardently, supremely, perfectly…and that Peter always replies, using the verb φιλεω, which signifies to love, to like, to regard, to feel friendship for another. As if our Lord had said, “Peter, dost thou love me ardently and supremely?” To which he answers, “Lord, I feel an affection for thee - I do esteem thee - but dare, at present, say no more.”

Vines Word Studies In The NT; comments on the word translated 'love' in the NT:

To love is expressed by two words in the New Testament, φιλέω and ἀγαπάω. Ἁγαπάω indicates a reasoning, discriminating attachment, founded in the conviction that its object is worthy of esteem, or entitled to it on account of benefits bestowed. Φιλέω represents a warmer, more instinctive sentiment, more closely allied to feeling, and implying more passion.

Recommended Books For NT Greek Word Study:

1. Word Study Greek-English New Testament (McReynolds): a new work that is excellent. If you can only afford one Greek reference book this would be a good choice.
2. Vines Word Studies In The NT: an excellent tool that is use for students without a knowledge of OT Hebrew or NT Greek. CAVEAT: Vine is a dispensationalist and his bias towards that theology is stong in some articles.
3. Thayer's Greek - English Lexicon: an older work but is still one of the best lexicons available for general use.
4. The New Strong's Complete Dictionary Of Bible Words (Nelson Publishers): Strong's Lexicon is in the public domain and comes in a variety of versions. It has a numbering system that is used in a number of publications and software packages. A version of Strong's lexicon is a 'must-have' book.
5. Liddell And Scott Greek-English Lexicon (Oxford Press): the 'standard' lexicon for classical Greek and very useful for NT studies.

Copies of these books can be found at almost any Christian book store or distributor. Used copies can sometimes be found on ebay.com or amazon.com at a reasonable price.
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Notes: (1) All quotes from the English Standard Version (ESV).

www.theologue.org

Worship in the Church - Modern Reformation

Michael Horton talks with pastors from three denominations - Lutheran, Reformed, and Presbyterian - about what it means to give glory to God through worship in the church, and in turn receive God's gifts of peace, righteousness, and satisfaction.

Quote: "We're not talking about an ecstatic, overwhelming sense of God's majesty and my smallness, his grace and my need; but acknowledging afresh God's word of judgment and justification in Christ. Isn't that what takes place in worship?"

Kingdom-Centered Prayer - redeemer.com

People are used to thinking about prayer as a means to get their personal needs met. However we should understand prayer as a means to praise and adore God, to know Him, to come into his presence and be changed by Him. We need to better learn how to pray, repent and petition God as a people.

Biblically and historically, the one non-negotiable, universal ingredient in times of spiritual renewal is corporate, prevailing, intensive and kingdom-centered prayer. What is that?

1. It is focused on God's presence and kingdom.
2. It is bold and specific.
3. It is prevailing, corporate.

Ten assertions about today’s Christian culture*

1. Today’s Christian Culture lacks a basic appreciation of God’s holiness—that we are to serve Him with reverence and awe—substituting romanticized amicability for Godly fear.
2. Today’s Christian Culture is ashamed of the Word of the Cross, preferring to sensitize “seekers “ on their own terms, swelling the ranks of the deluded with a perverted gospel.
3. Today’s Christian Culture fails to adequately comprehend the saving work of Christ, jettisoning its essential legal-forensic framework to offer a “personal relationship with Jesus.”
4. Today’s Christian Culture defends the notion that a life of principled obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, out of love for Him and gratitude for His saving grace, is optional—not required.
5. Today’s Christian Culture promotes a type of ”spirituality” that is often little more than an emotional, content-void, self-absorbed, mystical flight of presumptuous human imagination.
6. Today’s Christian Culture denies the innate goodness of Creation, forbidding the appropriate use of things God has given us to enjoy freely, legislating a morality that is rooted in cultural taboos.
7. Today’s Christian Culture suffers from last days madness, having been served up a constant stream of “end times” speculations and prophetic scenarios which have never come to pass.
8. Today’s Christian Culture shuns teaching that is careful to expound the God-intended meaning of Scripture, preferring careless sermons and bible expositions that are mostly autobiographical.
9. Today’s Christian Culture enables church fellowships to function as de facto cults: masses of mind-numbed followers led by powerful gifted leaders who control everything.
10. Today’s Christian Culture has nothing meaningful to offer the world, because there’s nothing meaningful to distinguish it from the world, only a culturally irrelevant, compromised, so-called “Christian” witness that has lost its ability to turn the world upside-down.

But if the salt has become tasteless how will it be made salty again?

It is good for nothing any more, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

the gospel according to Matthew chapter 5, verse 13

* By “Today’s Christian Culture” we mean the vast network of people—ministries, businesses, bookstores, magazines, musicians, TV & radio programs and the like—who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ today. © Ten assertions about today’s Christian culture*

Yes, I Wrote a Book - by Tim Keller

How do you tell people something they probably want to know without playing into the great American hype machine? I've been getting so many questions about this I thought I would write a simple newsletter article to members and friends to let you know that, yes, I wrote a book.

I've been working for some time on a book for the ordinary (which means very sharp) spiritually skeptical New Yorker. Ever since I got to New York nearly two decades ago I've wished I had a volume to give people that not only answered objections to Christianity (what has been called 'apologetics') but also positively presented the basics of the gospel in an accessible yet substantial way. I had some books that did the one and some that did the other, but only one did both—Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. As you know, I think Lewis' book is peerless, and foolish would be the author who tried to replace him!

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
by Timothy Keller
This title will be released on February 14, 2008. Pre-order now from

Barnes & Noble | Amazon.com

However, the issues in the public discourse around Christianity have become much more complex than they were in the mid and late 20th century. The questions are now not just philosophical (e.g. Is there evidence for God's existence?) They are also now cultural (Doesn't strong faith make a multicultural society impossible?), political (Doesn't orthodox religion undermine freedom?) and personal. Also fifty years ago, when C.S. Lewis was writing, there was general agreement that rational argument and empirical method were the best ways to discover truth. That consensus has vanished. Today there are deep disagreements over how we know things and how certain we can be about anything. Most of the older books presenting Christianity now are only persuasive and even comprehensible to a very narrow range of people.

All this means that there is a great need for new literature that speaks to our time and says, "Christianity makes sense." I know I'm only one of many who are trying to do this over the next few years. My contribution is slated to be released February 14, 2008, by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Books. Its title is The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. You can find a little more information about it on Amazon.com.

Even though the book is not addressing believers, I still hope it will be a help to the members and friends of Redeemer. It may make it easier to represent your heartfelt beliefs to people you love. That's my prayer.

Redeemer Presbyterian Annual Prayer Campaign Week - Nov. 26

Prayer Campaign '07

Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NY (Tim Keller) is having their annual prayer campaign week starting November 26 through December 2. Goto to prayer campaign page for resources. Encourage your Church to have a prayer campaign week. Download the Prayer Campaign Week Corporate Prayer Guide '07.

"When a man is born from above, the life of the Son of God is born in him, and he can either starve that life or nourish it. Prayer is the way the life of God is nourished. Our ordinary views of prayer are not found in the New Testament. We look upon prayer as a means of getting things for ourselves; the Bible idea of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself."

— Oswald Chambers

MNA: Church Renewal - Becoming an Evangelistic Church

Most churches that are committed to being or becoming an evangelistic church, who want to reach the lost with the gospel, normally start to think of training in personal evangelism or even various strategies for attracting the lost to church or getting the gospel to the lost. But before those things are pursued there are some very obvious, “simple” things that a church can and should do first as it seeks to become more outward faced and effective in evangelism. These things do not require lots of money or great or extraordinary levels of commitment. All these things take is a fundamental commitment to be a church that strives to “seek and save that which is lost”. Some of these are:

1. Mobilize to pray. Pray for the vitality of the church, for the community itself, for a specific list of lost people supplied by the members (family, co-workers, neighbors, etc.). This prayer can take place in small groups, in a monthly or weekly prayer gathering with for this particular purpose, in a Sunday School class, and by individuals.
2. Build into the pastor’s job description and schedule 5-10 hours a week to spend with non-Christians and visitors to the church including networking in the community.
3. Become visitor friendly. Things such as adequate signage, a warm and helpful greeting, a clean and orderly nursery, and a simple but attractive facility will go along way in opening doors for the gospel. Without them many visitors simple don’t return and the opportunities are lost.
4. Preach in such a way that Christians will invite their unsaved, unchurched friends and associates.
5. Serve your community. Identify and find ways for your congregation to be active in the community addressing real and tangible needs. People are often much more receptive to the gospel once they see your concern, your care for them as individuals and as a community. Encourage your congregation to be active members of the community, serving on boards, participating in the schools, taking advantage of park district activities, etc.

Once these pre-requisites are taking place in the life of the church any training that the church members receive will be much more enthusiastically embraced and will be all the more effective since many doors of opportunity will normally be generated and the congregation will have much more of an outreach mindset.

Some resources that can be considered for training/equipping the congregation include:

1. “Building Bridges, Tearing Down Walls” by Jerram Barrs (available through Covenant Seminary).
2. “3-D Evangelism” by Randy Pope (available through Perimeter Church, Atlanta).
3. “Christianity Explored” by Rico Tice.
4. “Evangelism Explosion” (still an excellent tool).
5. “Breakout Churches” and “The Unchurched Next Door” by Thom Rainer (+ “Surprising Insights From the Unchurched").

New Book: The Five Dilemmas of Calvinism - Craig Brown Paperback , 127 pages

After a brief survey of the historical development of the theological school now known as Calvinism and a comparison of Calvinism and Arminianism, Brown turns to a consideration of five dilemmas that Arminians typically associate with Reformed doctrines. The author then attempts to demonstrate that these "problems" are largely misunderstandings of Calvinism.

Written in a winsome and engaging style, Brown’s work is an excellent primer on Calvinism and some of the critiques that have been leveled against it. As such, the book provides both apologetic help for Calvinists and answers for Arminians with honest questions.

"Craig Brown battles misunderstandings that have dogged Calvinism for long years. In so doing, he provides apologetic help for Calvinists stymied by the misinformed questions of their Arminian friends. And, of course, he kindles light for those who have never considered alternatives to the Arminian system."
- From the forward by R.C. Sproul

Senate Committee Investigating Six Major Ministries

Senate Committee Investigating Six Major Ministries

Sen. Grassley probes "possible misuse of donations" to Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, and others.

Ted Olsen | posted 11/06/2007 08:44AM

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, is investigating several major church-based ministries known for their leaders' lavish lifestyles and prosperity teachings.

Related articles and links

"Recent articles and news reports regarding possible misuse of donations made to religious organizations have caused some concern for the Finance Committee," Grassley wrote to the ministries in letters asking for detailed financial records.

None of the ministries targeted—those led by Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Eddie Long, Joyce Meyer, and Randy and Paula White—are required to file the financial disclosure Form 990 with the IRS because they are are designated as churches.

Grassley "is not just asking them to come in and talk, he is asking them for everything," Kenneth Behr, president of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, told The Tampa Tribune, which in May ran a lengthy investigative report on the Whites' Without Walls church and its finances.

The ministries have until December 6 to submit audited financial statements, compensation reports, records for ministry jet travel, and other documents. The Tampa Tribune has posted the letters to each ministry.

Some of the ministries contacted by news organizations say they will respond to the requests.

Creflo Dollar told CBS News his ministry is an "open book" and said he would comply with any "valid request" from Grassley. But he also warned that Grassley's investigation possibly affects "the privacy of every community church in America."

Joyce Meyer Ministries noted an October letter from the IRS stating, "We determined that you continue to qualify as an organization exempt from Federal income tax." The ministry also said that audited financial statements are available on its website. "JMM is committed to conducting itself with excellence and integrity, choosing to go above and beyond the level of accountability required by law," the organization told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which published a series of investigative reports on the ministry in 2003.

Randy and Paula White, who recently announced their divorce, told The Tampa Tribune they found the request "unusual, since the IRS has separate powers to investigate religious organizations if they think it's necessary. So we find it odd that the IRS did not initiate this investigation. It also seems odd that they have asked about areas that have no relationship to the operation of the church."

Grassley's office told the Tribune that the IRS "has been unable to keep up with the exponential growth of all tax-exempt organizations, including churches and ministries."

While Grassley is not proposing any changes to the law or tax code, he's suggesting that he may do so after the investigation. "Based on initial review, the way ministries operate has changed significantly over the last 20 years to 25 years, while the tax laws governing them for the most part have not," his office said.

Copyright © 2007 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

The Future of Justification for the Rest of Us

From Desiring God Blog

(Author: Mathis)

Not everyone should read John Piper's new book on justification. Some readers—perhaps those already aware of N. T. Wright and the New Perspective on Paul (NPP)—will want to read The Future of Justification from cover to cover. But not everyone.

In his most recent book, Piper engages Wright on academic turf. Are you familiar with 4QMMT? Or Ed Sanders and Jimmy Dunn? Most Christians don't need to be. If you haven't heard of the NPP, that's fine. It's a discussion that started among those with a very different view of the Bible than most evangelicals. Your good doctrine may have kept you out of this fray. And much of this book may be unhelpful to you in your context.

But if you're in that category and you still want a taste of what Piper's been working on the last couple years, here's a plan for how to make the most of The Future of Justification:

• Remember that you can read it free online (PDF).
• Look at the table of contents. This will give you an overall picture of the book and a familiarity with it if you need to reference it in the future.
• Read the introduction. Here you'll see what's at stake in the book. This will prove especially helpful for those who've never heard of Wright.
• Read chapter 11, entitled “That in Him We Might Become the Righteousness of God.” This chapter is Piper's effort “to give biblical foundation to the doctrine of the imputation of God's righteousness in Christ through faith alone, now and for eternity.” If you only read one section of the book, make it this chapter and the short concluding chapter that follows.
• Browse the appendices to see if anything grabs your interest. These weren't written to interact with Wright specifically, but they're included “to give…wider understanding of justification and related exegetical issues.”

Don't feel out of the loop or way behind if you haven't heard of Wright and the NPP. You shouldn't necessarily feel the need to familiarize yourself with them. But reading some of these key sections and chapters may help strengthen your theology of justification and ward off attacks on this precious doctrine when they come.

In Honor of Veterans Day (Nov 11th) - Great War Movies

World War I

1. Sergeant York
2. A Very Long Engagement
3. Gallipoli
4. The Lost Battalion
5. African Queen
6. Wings
7. All Quiet on the Western Front
8. A Farewell to Arms
9. The Dawn Patrol
10. Flyboys

World War II

The European Front

1. Saving Private Ryan
2. Band of Brothers
3. Schindler's List
4. The Longest Day
5. Patton
6. Das Boot
7. Casablanca
8. Where Eagles Dare
9. The Great Escape
10. The Guns of Navarone

The Pacific Theater

1. Letters From Iwo Jima
2. Flags of Our Fathers
3. Tora! Tora! Tora!
4. Empire of the Sun
5. From Here to Eternity
6. The Great Raid
7. The Thin Red Line
8. The Bridge On the River Kwai
9. 30 Seconds Over Tokyo
10. Midway

Korea

1. M*A*S*H
2. Macarthur
3. Manchurian Candidate
4. Pork Chop Hill
5. The Bridges at Toko-Ri

Vietnam

1. Platoon
2. Full Metal Jacket
3. The Deer Hunter
4. Apocalypse Now
5. The Quiet American
6. Born on the Fourth of July
7. Good Morning Vietnam
8. We Were Soldiers
9. Gardens of Stone
10. Birdy

The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World : Desiring God

Six of today’s leading pastor-theologians—John Piper, Voddie Baucham, D. A. Carson, Tim Keller, Mark Driscoll, and David Wells—have joined together to offer Christians a practical, biblical vision of Christ’s supremacy, so they will be better prepared to present the undeniable truth to a searching society.

After grounding readers in the important truths of Christ’s deity and the gospel, The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World strives to help believers understand how to share these truths in a postmodern society. As readers begin to apply the lessons from this book, they will gain a practical, biblical vision of ministry for the twenty-first century.

This book is based on messages given at our 2006 national conference.

Read this book online (2.9MB PDF).

BUY THIS BOOK FOR $5.00 FROM Desiring God

All Narnia, All the Time - Mark Sommer (Hollywood Jesus)

Unless you have been hiding under a rock somewhere, I'm sure you know that Disney has decided to continue the Chronicles of Narnia movies. Prince Caspian is scheduled for release May 16, 2008 in the United States. For release dates in other countries go here.

The Disney Pictures site has its own Production Blog with information on the making of the film, including pictures of some of the armor and weapons being created by the Weta Workshop.

Here at HJ, I'm taking up the baton handed off by Greg and Jenn Wright, who hosted the LWW news blog for over eighteen months!

Visit the HJ Narnia News Blog for near-daily updates on all things Narnia.

Latest news:

• Douglas Gresham Interview at NarniaFans
• New Concept Art from Disney
• News Tidbits from the Heartland Film Festival

Hollywood Jesus

Free Downloads - Christianaudio.com

Each month christianaudio.com gives away a premium audiobook download for free. The way our Free Audiobook of the Month program works is like this: we give away one audiobook download each month totally free. The audiobook we give away is available for free only once - ever.

Use the coupon code NOV2007 to redeem this month's free audiobook download from christianaudio.com (goto download)

The Associated Press: Pagan Holidays Added to Excused Absences

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — When George Fain visits a grave to mark a pagan holiday, she won't have to worry about the work she's missing in her classes at Marshall University.

That's because her absence Thursday on the Samhain holiday has been approved by the Huntington school, which for the first time is recognizing pagan students' desire to be excused from class for religious holidays and festivals. (More)

John MacArthur on the Church

Ministering in the church constitutes the highest privilege. Nothing could be more honorable or have greater eternal significance than serving our Christ in His church. This privilege is also the most serious responsibility a person can undertake. Fulfilling this privilege and discharging this responsibility demands a comprehension of the church and its ministries that is correct according to God’s Word. In order to grasp the issues of the church and establish that understanding as a foundation for ministry, we need to understand a few basic truths:

1. The church is the only institution that our Lord promised to build and to bless (Matt. 16:18).
2. The church is the gathering place of true worshipers (Phil. 3:3).
3. The church is the most precious assembly on earth since Christ purchased it with His own blood (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 5:25; Col. 1:20; 1 Pet. 1:18; Rev. 1:5).
4. The church is the earthly expression of the heavenly reality (Matt. 6:10; 18:18).
5. The church will ultimately triumph both universally and locally (Matt. 16:18; Phil. 1:6).
6. The church is the realm of spiritual fellowship (Heb. 10:22–25; 1 John 1:3, 6–7).
7. The church is the proclaimer and protector of divine truth (1 Tim. 3:15; Titus 2:1, 15).
8. The church is the chief place for spiritual edification and growth (Acts 20:32; Eph. 4:11–16; 2 Tim. 3:16–17; 1 Pet. 2:1–2; 2 Pet. 3:18).
9. The church is the launching pad for world evangelization (Mark 16:15; Titus 2:11).
10. The church is the environment where strong spiritual leadership develops and matures (2 Tim. 2:2).

The ten items above are precisely why I love the church and have devoted my life to it. Understanding those truths is the foundation of effective ministry. Unless spiritual men devoted to these realities lead the church, the next generation of churches will not be without blemish. I am concerned over a growing trend to produce strong natural leaders who know how to manage a business or enterprise but do not understand the church from Christ’s perspective. Their leadership style and substance is earthly, not biblical and spiritual.

John MacArthur, F., Jr, Richard Mayhue and Robert Thomas, L., Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry : Shaping Contemporary Ministry With Biblical Mandates, Electronic ed., Logos Library Systems, 3 (Dallas: Word Pub., 1995).

What happened on October 31, 1517?

It’s been 490 years since “a monk with a mallet” nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. God used Martin Luther to start the greatest revival the world has seen. Though there were many benefits to the Protestant Reformation, the publishing of God’s Word in common languages was united to a hunger for the right understanding of that Word. The year 1517 saw a display of God’s grace in human history and every year since we have the opportunity to remember. Let us redouble our efforts to be faithful to the historic Christian faith. Martin Luther is one of the more important figures in Western history, as his thought has impacted family life, politics, church-state relations, individual liberties, and a host of other societal issues. His powerful expositions of the Gospel remain one of his most important legacies. In an era when the Gospel had been eclipsed by a system of human merit, Luther and the other reformers were able to remind the people of God that we are declared righteous in the sight of the Lord through faith alone in the person and work of Christ Jesus. Join Ligonier Ministries in celebrating Reformation Day with a one-day special! On Wednesday, October 31st, buy a hardcover Reformation Study Bible (ESV) for only $15.17. Prefer a leather Bible? Purchase one for only $26.83 more. To take advantage of this special offer, please call our resource consultants at 800-435-4343 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST or order online. Orders may only be placed on October 31st.

Happy 490th Anniversary of the Reformation

HAPPY REFORMATION ANNIVERSARY!

Are you despairing of your own righteousness today, realizing that you are more sinful before God than you had thought before? Are you realizing that when all is said and done you just are not righteous before God? Or perhaps you are thinking more highly of yourself and your good works before God?

If you are doing either of these things, you are looking to yourself and your own righteousness to affirm and assure yourself before God. When you look to yourself you make null and void the work of Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:21).

If you have sought your salvation and righteousness in yourself, and you have realized the depth of your sins before God in words, thoughts, and deeds, then you know how Martin Luther felt when he cried out to his friend John Staupitz, saying: “Who can abide the Day of the Lord’s coming? And who shall stand when he appears?!” (Mal. 3:2).

Continue reading "Happy 490th Anniversary of the Reformation" »