Reformation Theology Blog

Thou Hast Quickened Me

Psalm 119:93

“I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.”

Exposition

“For with them thou hast quickened me.” The quickening Spirit delights to work by means of the Word; but though the Word be the means, the benefit comes from God: “For with them thou hast quickened me.” Life comes from the Fountain of Life. The gospel is a sovereign plaster, but it is God’s hand that must apply it and make it stick—make it peace, comfort, and quickening to our souls.

Calvin on the Lord's Supper

As for the sacred Supper, it could be administered very fittingly if it were offered to the Church frequently, and at least once each week, in the following manner. First, the service should begin with public prayers, followed by the preaching of the word. Then, with bread and wine set upon the table, the minister should recite the institution of the Supper and afterward declare the promises left to us in it. At the same time, he should exclude from it all those who are barred by the Lord’s prohibition.

Obedience is Not Legalism

We are Not Antinomian

Do we believe Christians should obey God’s commands? Yes.

Do we believe that obedience, holiness, love, and mercy are necessary marks of the Christian life? Yes.

Do we believe that sinners are saved by Christ alone, apart from works? Absolutely.

How do we reconcile these seemingly contradictory truths?

Good works, love, and mercy necessarily flow from our union with Christ, but they never contribute to the righteousness by which we are justified. They are the fruit of salvation, not its foundation.

The Ultimate Test of our Spirituality

“The ultimate test of our spirituality is the measure of our amazement at the grace of God.”
— Martyn Lloyd-Jones

The more clearly a person understands God, sin, Christ’s cross, and salvation, the more astonishing grace becomes. Spiritual maturity does not produce the thought, “God was wise to save me.” It produces: “Why would God show mercy to someone like me?”

Why amazement is such an important test:

Does Election Make the Gospel Unnecessary?

Election doesn't bypass the gospel - it ensures someone will believe it

The gospel is not God's backup plan after election; it is God's eternal plan for bringing His elect to Christ. God eternally ordained not only who would be saved, but how they would be saved; through the proclamation of Christ.

"...we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." 1 Corinthians 1:23-24

Chosen from Eternity, Saved in Time

Visitor:
If the elect were chosen from eternity, aren't they already saved? Why do they still need the gospel?

Response:

Election, considered by itself, does not save apart from the means God has appointed to accomplish it.

Repentance: Coming to Christ That We Might Forsake Sin

Repentance is often misunderstood because we are tempted to place it on the wrong side of grace. We imagine repentance as the sinner's contribution, the cleansing of the hands before approaching Christ, the moral improvement that makes us fit to be received. But the gospel teaches something far better: we do not forsake sin in order to come to Christ; we come to Christ in order that we might forsake sin.

Why God Judged the Nations: Moral Law vs. Ceremonial Law

It is important to note that the prohibitions found in Leviticus 20 against practices such as child sacrifice (Lev. 20:2), consulting mediums and necromancers (Lev. 20:6), adultery (Lev. 20:10), homosexual acts (Lev. 20:13), and bestiality (Lev. 20:15) were not given merely as uniquely Israelite regulations. God explicitly states that He was judging the pagan nations for committing these very sins before Israel entered the land:

Moral Courage Indispensable to a Minister of the Gospel

Few personal qualities are more indispensable to a minister of the Gospel, than a high degree of moral courage. His mind must be familiar with great things, and preserve itself undaunted amidst opposition and danger. The fear of man bringeth a snare, and should find no place in the pulpit.

Intersex Person

Visitor email inquiry:

Subject: Intersex Person

Message: Given a genotypic XY, phenotypic female, androphillic person (one such person having given birth), is such a person a homosexual who cannot enter heaven? If yes, then is not the Bible inerrant? If no, then is not the Bible errant?
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Response:

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