Words of Wisdom from the Prince of Preachers

Charles H. Spurgeon has been one of my favorite Christian authors for several years.

Perhaps you’ve heard of him.

Known as the “Prince of Preachers,” he was the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, a Baptist church in London, for 38 years in the 1800’s.

He was a prolific author and is arguably the most widely read and published author in the history of Christianity. Most of his sermons were transcribed and are available in print to this day.

Virtually all his sermons and books, since they are in the public domain, can be found online for free.

His best-known book is a mammoth work entitled The Treasury of David. It’s a commentary on the book of Psalms. I’ve been reading it for years and I’m here to tell you, it is a delight!

No one writes like Spurgeon. No one explains Scripture like Spurgeon. I’d like to introduce you to his writing with some samples (in quotes) from a few verses in the Psalms (in bold).

Psalm 4:1 – Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God.
“It is not to be imagined that he who has helped us in six troubles will leave us in the seventh. God does nothing by halves, and he will never cease to help us until we cease to need. The manna shall fall every morning until we cross the Jordan.”

Psalm 4:3 — The Lord will hear when I call to him.
“Since God chose to love us he cannot but choose to hear us.”

Psalm 4:6-7 – Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.
“The true believer drinks not from the muddy pools of Mammon, but from the fountain of life above. The light of God’s countenance is enough for him. This is his riches, his honor, his health, his ambition, his ease. Give him this, and he will ask no more. Christ in the heart is better than corn in the barn or wine in the vat. Corn and wine are but the fruits of the world, but the light of God’s countenance is the ripe fruit of heaven. Let my granary be empty, I am yet full of blessings if Jesus Christ smiles upon me; but if I have all the world, I am poor without him.”

Psalm 4:8 – I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
“They slumber sweetly whom faith rocks to sleep. No pillow so soft as a promise; no coverlet so warm as an assured interest in Christ.”

Psalm 5:1 Give ear to my words, O Lord.
“Words are not the essence but the garments of prayer.”

Psalm 5:1 Consider my sighing.
“Let us cultivate the spirit of prayer which is even better than the habit of prayer. We should begin to pray before we kneel down, and we should not cease when we rise up.”

Psalm 5:2 Listen to my cry for help.
“To a loving father his children’s cries are music, and they have a magic influence which his heart cannot resist.”

Psalm 5:3 Morning by morning, O Lord, you hear my voice.
“We can sooner die than live without prayer . . .  Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night. Devotion should be both the morning star and the evening star. . . Let not our prayers and praises be the flashes of a hot and hasty brain, but the steady burning of a well-kindled fire.”

For free online access to The Treasury of David, visit:
https://archive.spurgeon.org/treasury/treasury.php

 

Posted in Free Books & Other Resources, Thoughts on the Psalms | Tagged , | Leave a comment

What God Has Done for Us Lately

Lately, when I wake up, I have this increasing awareness that the start of a new day is an undeserved gift from God.

Lately, when I go to bed, I have this increasing awareness that I might not wake up in the morning. And if I do, it’s only because God has allowed it.

When I wake up, I’m increasingly aware that I did not wake up in hell. And that this, too, is the work of God. For if I got what I deserved, that’s where I’d be right now – far from the presence of God, receiving the just recompense for my sinful ways.

But I did wake up this morning, and I did not wake up in hell.

Who gets the credit for that? Surely not me.

King Jesus gets the credit. Amen?

When I wake up, these words are ringing in my ears:

“He himself gives all men life and breath and everything else . . . In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:25, 28).

My life is hanging by the slender thread of God’s sovereign grace.

And so is yours.

This is what has been on my mind lately  –  the matchless, amazing grace of God that saved a wretch like me.

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
Psalm 103:8-13

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

How Many People Are in Heaven?

Do you ever wonder what heaven is like?

Thankfully, the Bible tells us.

First and foremost, God is the focus of heaven. His glory is center stage. Heaven is a place that shines the spotlight on a Person, the all-glorious Creator and King of the universe.

Yes, there are angels in heaven, too. How many? Thousands. As John says, “thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand” (Revelation 5:11).

And people are there. How many? Again John tells us: “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count” (Revelation 7:9).

Where do all these people come from? How many nations are represented? Listen to John describe the universal scope of the heavenly population:

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
(Revelation 7:9-10)

What a scene! What a God!

What are all those angels and people doing in heaven? Worshipping God.

Yes, God is the God of the nations – all nations. He is building His church from every nation, tribe, people, and language.

God has always been the God of all peoples. That is why God told Abraham, “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3).

I want to say “Thank you” for reading this email today. You are part of a group of people from many nations. The other day I was looking at my list of blog subscribers and was encouraged to find the following countries represented:

South Africa, Canada, United Kingdom, India, United Arab Emirates, El Salvador, Philippines, Guyana, Malaysia, Czech Republic, Poland, Ghana, Jamaica, Uganda, Thailand, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Denmark, Nigeria, New Zealand, United States of America.

God is the God of all peoples! This is the teaching of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation.

May this truth fill your heart with hope and joy.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

How Were People Saved in the Old Testament?

hammer-719066_1280I love a good question, and this one certainly fits the bill: How were people saved in the Old Testament?

I believe the Bible is clear about this issue, with Romans 4 being the definitive passage.

I urge you to study this chapter carefully – it’s a treasure chest of truth and will bring you much joy!

Here’s a summary of my take on this question:

From Genesis to Revelation, I believe the Bible teaches that there has been only one way to receive salvation – by grace through faith.

In Romans 4, Paul answers this question by directing us to two Old Testament examples: Abraham and David.

Abraham
“What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about — but not before God. What does Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness” (Romans 4:1-5).

Note that Paul quotes Genesis 15:6, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Was Abraham justified (declared righteous in God’s sight and forgiven of his sin) before the law was given, or after the law was given? Before. About 600 years before the Law of Moses was given (and even before Abraham was circumcised), Abraham was declared righteous by God.

And what how was Abraham justified? By his works, or by his faith? By his faith.

David
Let’s continue with Paul’s second example:
“David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
‘Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him.’”
(Romans 4:6-7)

Here Paul quotes Psalm 32:1-2, which was written by David. The apostle says that David describes a person to whom God has credited righteousness apart from works. Such a person has received forgiveness and the covering of their sins. Truly they are blessed because God will never count their sin against them! And He bestows this blessing without taking their works into consideration.

I urge you to read Psalm 32 and ask these questions: Does David sound like a man who is trying to earn God’s forgiveness by keeping the Law? Or does he write this psalm as a man who understands that God’s forgiveness is received by faith expressed through humble repentance and confession of sin?

Like Abraham, David experienced God’s forgiveness of sin “apart from works.” Was David forgiven before or after the Law was given? After. About 400 years after the Law was given, David was forgiven “apart from works” (Romans 4:6).

So, before the Law was given, Abraham was justified by faith, apart from works. And after the Law was given, David also was justified by faith, apart from works.

What I’m saying is not a new teaching. There are many evangelicals who hold to this view. Here are some resources that expound the position that salvation has always been “by grace through faith,” and that the Bible never teaches salvation by works of the Law.

How Were Old Testament Saints Saved?
By Hank Hanegraaff, “The Bible Answer Man”
http://www.christianity.com/theology/how-were-old-testament-saints-saved-11555477.html

“Many people falsely assume that only New Testament believers are saved by grace whereas Old Testament believers were saved by their obedience to the law of Moses and not by grace. The truth is that both the Old and New Testaments clearly teach that everyone who is saved, throughout all history, is saved the same way: by grace, through faith, on account of Christ alone.”

How Were People Saved Before Jesus Came in the Flesh?
https://answersingenesis.org/gospel/salvation/how-were-people-saved-before-jesus-came-in-the-flesh/

“Were there multiple ways of salvation prior to the coming of Jesus in space and time to die as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind? The answer must be a resounding “No.” Paul explained in Romans 4 that salvation has always been and will always be by God’s grace and received through faith alone.”

How Did People Get Saved in the Old Testament?
https://carm.org/how-did-people-get-saved-old-testamentsalvation-old-testament

“People in the Old Testament were saved by faith just like people today. Three passages to examine in the Old Testament regarding justification by faith are Ezekiel 18:26-28, Isaiah 1:18, and Isaiah 55:7.

The Old Testament system of sacrifices was never intended to be salvific (cf. Hebrews 10:4 and context). What it was intended to show was the seriousness of sin.
An important point that Paul makes regarding Abraham is in Romans 4:10:
“How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.”

Paul is showing that Abraham was justified by his faith after which God sealed it with a covenant sign (circumcision) which is equivalent to a Christian’s baptism (cf. Col. 2:12-13). Therefore, people in the Old Testament were saved by faith just like people today.”

How Were Jews Saved in the Old Testament?
https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/otsaints.html

“In both eras (Old Testament and New Testament) God’s people were saved by grace alone. God is holy, and thus, fallen humanity was never saved by observing the Law. In both the Old and New Testament era God’s standard for us remains the same: perfect righteousness, so at all times we would have to keep the Law perfectly to earn our own redemption and win God’s acceptance. The Law is therefore, not meant to save but rather strip us of all hope of looking to self for salvation, a tutor to lead us to Christ (Gal 3:24) for it condemns each of us exposing the deep roots of our sinful nature and thus our desperate need for a Savior. But Christ alone fulfilled all righteousness (Matt 3:15), a sinless savior who died and counts His people free from the condemnation of the Law.

Old Testament saints were clearly saved the same way the New Testament saints were, by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Christ alone, as revealed in the Scriptures alone, to the glory of God alone.

All saints of all time have their hope in Him alone for their redemption. Christ is the center of history and in this light, we should read and interpret both Old and New Testaments.”

What Then is the Purpose of the Law of Moses?
There are Christians who believe that the Old Testament teaches salvation by works and the New Testament teaches salvation by faith. In other words, God has had two different ways for man to be reconciled to God.

According to this view, before Christ came the Jews had to keep the law to be saved. Now that Jesus has died, God’s methodology for granting forgiveness is different. We are no longer required to obey the law to be saved, because the New Testament says “a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law” (Romans 3:28).

As indicated above, I disagree with this interpretation. There are many New Testament verses that teach the truth of Roman 3:28. One of my favorites is Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

We are saved by grace, through faith, not by works – specifically, the works of the law.
The point we’ve been making here is that this “faith not works” approach to salvation has been the only way people have ever been saved.

Why, then, does Paul say repeatedly that salvation is “not by works”? Some would say, “Because this was the Old Testament way, and Paul is telling people that there’s a new and better way, the way of Christ, the way of grace.”

Hmmm. Again I must disagree.

Instead, could it be that many Jews, especially the Pharisees, had corrupted the message of the Old Testament. Yes, there are hundreds of rules in the Law of Moses. These rules had been taught for centuries as the way a Jew was required to live. And by time of Jesus, a system had been created that essentially said, “If you want to be accepted by God, you must adhere to this system. You must earn your salvation by doing good works.”

Paul is not saying, “God’s way to receive salvation has changed.” Rather, he’s saying, “My fellow Jews, you’ve got it all wrong. You’ve misinterpreted the Scriptures and turned forgiveness into something God never intended it to be. God’s way has always been ‘by grace, through faith, not by works.’ But you’ve twisted that into something else entirely. Let’s get back to the right way, the way of faith, the way of Abraham and David. They were saved by faith. And so are we. This is the way it’s always been, but you Jews have turned the meaning of God’s Word upside down and perverted the clear teaching of Scripture.”

I get so excited when I read passages like 2 Timothy 3:15, where Paul says, “you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” What “Scriptures” would Paul be referring to? Well, the New Testament was still being written at this time, so he could not have been referring to that. He was talking about the only Scriptures in existence – the 39 books of the Old Testament!

Yes, the Old Testament plainly teaches “salvation through faith in Christ.” Passages like Genesis 15:6 and Psalm 32:1-2 make it clear that works are not the means of salvation, faith alone is.

What, then, is the purpose of the Law of Moses, as spelled out in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy? An excellent answer to this question is found in How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart. Chapter 9 is devoted to this issue and it entitled “The Law(s): Covenant Stipulations for Israel” (pages 163-180). Please allow me to quote from this book to bring clarity to this topic, for I agree wholeheartedly with what these men say. I highly recommend that you get this book and study this chapter! I found it most enlightening.

Fee/Stuart hold to the view expressed above regarding what the Law was not intended to do. “Nowhere in the Old Testament is it suggested that anyone was saved by keeping the Law . . . The Law was not thought of in Israel as a ‘means of salvation.’ It was neither given for that reason nor could it possibly function in that way” (p. 169-170).

Then what is the purpose of the Law? “Rather, it functioned as a way of establishing loyalty between God and his people. The Law simply represented the terms of agreement of loyalty that Israel had with God. The Law in this sense thus stands as a paradigm (model). It is hardly a complete list of all the things one could or should do to please God in ancient Israel. The Law presents, rather, examples or samples of what it means to be loyal to God” (p. 170).

God expected loyalty from Israel because He had entered into a covenant with their father Abraham, promising them the land of Canaan, countless descendants, and the blessing of being the nation through whom God would bless the whole world. Then God brought His people out of the Egypt, the land of slavery. Before taking them back to the Promised Land, He brought them to Mt. Sinai and said, in effect, “I have done so much for you. I love you and want the best for you, and if you follow my law, you’ll continue to be blessed. Here are the guidelines for how to live as my people.”

In other words, the Law was a “discipleship manual” for Israel. It explained the specific ways they could demonstrate their love and devotion to God.

I would add two other purposes of the Law:

1. The Law makes us aware of our sin and our need of a Savior.
This is taught throughout the New Testament, especially in Romans:
“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin” (Romans 3:20).

“Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what it was to covet if the law had not said, ‘Do not covet.’” (Romans 7:7; see also Romans 7:8-13 and 1 Timothy 1:8-11)

2. The Law points us to Jesus.
The ritual components of the law were object lessons that prepared the world for the coming of Jesus Christ. The sacrifices, the priesthood, the tabernacle and temple, the feasts – God used all these things to meet the spiritual needs of the sincere Old Testament believer. Yet they were temporary, for when Christ came, everything represented in these rituals was fulfilled in Him. The book of Hebrews makes this abundantly clear.

For example, God has always required a blood sacrifice to atone for sins. “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). The Law contained many specifics on how these sacrifices were to be offered. The truly repentant Jew would place his hands on the head of the animal, signifying that his sin was being transferred to the innocent animal, who would die as a substitute for the sinner. This is a vivid illustration of the one supreme sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross of Calvary, for Jesus is the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

My favorite passage in this regard is Galatians 3:24 – “So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.”

Thanks be to God for His gracious gift of the Law! God provided a perfect standard which no one can live up to. We repeatedly break the Law and the Holy Spirit convicts us of our guilt, making us painfully aware of our imperfections. When confronted with our inability to keep the law, we cry out with David, “I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight . . . Surely I have been a sinner from birth” (Psalm 51:3-5).

The realization that we have fallen far short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23) produces the godly sorrow that leads to repentance. Repentance, in turn, leads to the salvation found in Jesus alone (2 Corinthians 7:10), for He is the one and only Savior of sinners. He came to seek and to save the lost; He came to call sinners to repentance.

When we come to the end of ourselves and in despair run to Jesus for forgiveness, our sins are washed away and we are reconciled to God. When we admit that we cannot save ourselves because “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” in the sight of God (Isaiah 64:6), only then will God clothe us with the righteousness of Christ.

We trust Christ to do what the Law could never do – rescue us from the wrath of God that hung over our heads like a black cloud of eternal destruction. God’s love is poured out on us through the death of Christ, and the moment we believe, we are “rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13).

The works of the Law never saved anyone. But God uses the Law to make us aware of our sin, so we can embrace Jesus as Savior and King. When used properly, the Law takes us to the foot of the cross, right where we need to be – for there we can “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

Posted in Salvation | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

The Glory of God in Our Backyard

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
Isaiah 6:3

Sometimes you don’t have to go far to see the glory of God displayed in his creation.

My wife, Julie, happens to be a gardener.

I can walk out the door and see all these manifestations of God’s glory.

Enjoy the glory of God today! Let the beauty of his world take your breath away.

Posted in Attributes of God, Thoughts About God | Leave a comment

How to Re-ignite Your Bible Reading

Need help getting into the Word?

Here’s a great article by David Murray:

Re-ignite Bible Reading That’s Become Boring

Any one of these 12 practical tips may be just what you need if Word-time has become less than it should be lately.

When reading and studying the Bible, I am easily distracted, so I especially like strategy #3:

“Ban the cellphone. If you check your phone before you check your Bible, the Bible is going to lose. The Internet and Social Media is crack cocaine for the brain. The Bible requires careful cutting, chewing, and digesting. The former is quick thrills; the latter is a slow roast. Check your Bible first and it won’t feel such a let down to your brain. And put your phone away as you read; even if it’s not pinging and buzzing, the brain sees it and is expecting it, causing further distraction.”

I love this kind of advice: he cuts right to the chase and gives it to you straight.

For 11 more ways to re-ignite your Bible reading, click below to access the entire article:

http://headhearthand.org/blog/2015/09/23/re-ignite-bible-reading-thats-become-boring/

Let me know what you think of David’s insights by leaving a comment below.

Posted in Bible reading, Bible study | Leave a comment

What the Bible Says about Athletes and Their Awards

I enjoyed watching the Paris Olympics. How about you?

My favorite events are the running races. From the shorter sprints to the longer distances, I like seeing people run around the track at speeds I can only dream about.

Add a few obstacles, like hurdles or pools of water to jump over, and that just makes the race even more exciting.

What does God have to say about these athletes? Plenty. And it’s all for our instruction.

Here are a few verses about runners, their running, their races, and their rewards:

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.  But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:6-8

As you read the verses above, what are your takeaways?

How is the Christian life like a running race?

How is a believer like an athlete?

I’d love to hear what you think, so please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Posted in What the Bible Says | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Am I Really A Christian? (Part 3)

I’ve been reading a little booklet entitled, Am I Really A Christian?

The author, Thomas Boston, explains eight common reasons that believers may doubt the genuineness of their conversion.

Here’s DOUBT #6: “Comparison to others”

“My life falls so far short of the standards of the great saints of the Bible and of the excellent Christians that I know personally. When I look at them, I can hardly stand to look at myself in comparison. How can I claim even to be in the same family with such saints?”

Have you ever felt that way?

“Answer: We can see a measure of grace and holiness in this life that we should have, but cannot ever reach. This should humble us. It should also make us press all the more vigorously toward the mark. The devil wants weak Christians to be tortured by comparing themselves to strong Christians (2 Corinthians 10:12). To give in to this temptation would be like a child doubting his relationship to his father because he is not the same height as his older brother. It is irrational! There are saints of various sizes in Christ’s family. Some are fathers; some are young men; and some are little children. (1 John 2:13-14).”

The two passages mentioned in Boston’s comments shed much light on this topic.
Paul wrote about the foolishness of comparing ourselves to others:

“Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.”
2 Corinthians 10:12

And John provides a helpful picture of the various levels of spiritual maturity among believers:

“I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.”
1 John 2:13

A word
to the wise
from the Word
is sufficient.

I thank God for his straightforward advice on the foolishness of comparing myself to others.

To get a free copy of  Am I Really A Christian: Eight Doubts Answered, visit:
https://www.chapellibrary.org/book/aira/am-i-really-a-christian-bostonthomas

NOTE: This booklet contains selected sections from Human Nature in Its Fourfold State, by Thomas Boston, modernized for easier understanding by today’s reader. Jeffrey T. Riddle, pastor of Christ Reformed Baptist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, provided the abstraction and modernization. Copyright 2015 Chapel Library. www.ChapelLibrary.org

Posted in Free Books & Other Resources, Salvation | Tagged | Leave a comment

Be Not Deceived: Knowing about God and Knowing God Are Worlds Apart

KnowingGodPacker

I’ve been reading Knowing God, by J.I. Packer – for the third time. It’s that good.

There is so much truth in the first few chapters, it’s hard to know where to begin.

These statements stand out from chapter two:

“One can know a great deal about God without much knowledge of Him.”

 

“Knowledge about God, and the capacity to think clearly and talk well on Christian themes, is not at all the same thing as knowing Him.”

“We may know as much about God as Calvin knew . . . and yet all the time (unlike Calvin, may I say) we may hardly know God at all.”

This simple distinction between knowing about God and knowing God is huge. I can accumulate much knowledge about God and yet never really know God.

Packer paints this incriminating picture:

“We find in ourselves a deep interest in theology. We read books of theological exposition and apologetics. We dip into Christian history, and study the Christian creed. We learn to find our way around in the Scriptures. Others appreciate our interest in these things, and we find ourselves asked to give our opinion in public on this or that Christian question, to lead study groups, to give papers, to write articles, and generally to accept responsibility, informal if not formal, for acting as teachers and arbiters of orthodoxy in our own Christian circles. Our friends tell us how much they value our contribution, and this spurs us to further exploration of God’s truth, so that we may be equal to the demands made upon us.”

I apply this to Bible study, for that is the most common way that I acquire knowledge about God. We can pour ourselves into reading the Word and doing any number of other things to gain a thorough understanding of Scripture. Resources abound: commentaries, Bible study guides, websites, sermons. Are we not blessed to have so much Bible information at our disposal? Has any generation had more knowledge about the Bible at its fingertips?

I can study the Bible on my own. Or I can attend any number of institutions of higher education and earn degrees in theology. I can go online and listen to godly men expound every verse from Genesis to Revelation. And I can do this for years and never know God.

This is scary. And it should be. Packer has cut to the chase right out of the gate by focusing on our motive for Bible study.

Why do I read and study the Bible?

That is the question I am asking myself. What is the purpose of opening The Book and striving to understand it? To know about God, or to know God? This is the difference between life and death, heaven and hell.

My response to this teaching is repentance. I realize that I have often studied the Bible for self-glorifying purposes – namely, to be recognized by peers as one who “knows the Word.”

“Oh God, please forgive me for this prideful motive, and please give me the pure motive of studying the Word in order to know you.”

NOTE: This is the first in a serious of posts on Knowing God by J.I. Packer. To read the other posts in this series, click here.

Posted in Bible reading, Knowing God | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Does the Bible Command a Daily Quiet Time?

Here’s a question to ponder:

Do the Scriptures command a daily devotional time of prayer and Bible reading? 

I like how Kevin DeYoung answers this question:

“Not exactly, but they presume something like it.

“On the one hand, we must be honest with what we do and do not see in the Bible. Family worship is not one of the Ten Commandments. Jesus did not outline M’Cheyne’s Bible reading plan in the Sermon on the Mount. The vice lists in the New Testament do not mention “delinquent in devotions,” and “crushes his quiet time every morning” is not listed among the fruit of the Spirit. We must be careful not to make the minutes (or hours) we spend in daily devotions the sine qua non of Christian discipleship. Too many of us have learned to measure our discipleship according to this one criterion, and because we can always spend more time in prayer, we never seem to be measuring up.

“And yet if that’s all we said about ‘having a quiet time’— it’s nowhere commanded in Scripture—we would not be telling the whole story.

“We are often commanded to pray (Matt. 7:7–11; Rom. 12:12; 1 Thess. 5:17). Jesus assumes that God’s people will often be in private prayer (Matt. 6:6) and that the habit of prayer will be daily (Matt. 6:11). We know that Jesus withdrew to desolate places to pray (Mark 1:35) and that godly men like Daniel prayed three times a day (Dan. 6:10).

“Likewise, the Psalms commend to us the habit of meditating on God’s word day and night (Pss. 1; 119). We see in Timothy the example of public and private reading in Scripture (1 Tim. 4:13, 15; 2 Tim. 3:15).

“And, finally, on a number of occasions the Bible exhorts parents, and especially fathers, to instruct their children in the way of the Lord (Gen. 18:19; Deut. 6:5–6; Ps. 78:4; Eph. 6:4). There is no way to be faithful to these scriptural commands and examples if our lives are devoid of prayer, Bible reading, and time with our families in the word.”

He’s got more to say about the topic, so do yourself a favor and check out the rest of his article:

On the Crushing Guilt of Failing at Quiet Time

https://www.crossway.org/articles/on-the-crushing-guilt-of-failing-at-quiet-times

It will take you 10 minutes to read or listen to it. Then let me know your thoughts on this topic by leaving a comment below.

Posted in Bible reading, Bible study, Prayer | Tagged | Leave a comment