Thursday, July 31, 2014
The Devil Can Kiss My Backside
“It is the supreme art of the devil that he can make the law out of the gospel. If I can hold on to the distinction between law and gospel, I can say to him any and every time that he should kiss my backside. Even if I sinned I would say, ‘Should I deny the gospel on this account?’ . . . Once I debate about what I have done and left undone, I am finished. But if I reply on the basis of the gospel, ‘The forgiveness of sins covers it all,’ I have won.” ( Martin Luther).
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Friday, July 25, 2014
Are You a Sinner/Saint or are You a Religious Hypocrite?
Intrinsically
the saints are always sinners; extrinsically, therefore, they are
always justified. Hypocrites, on the other hand, are always [viewing
themselves as] intrinsically righteous; extrinsically, therefore, they
are always sinners.
--Martin Luther, LW 25:257; quoted in Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, 4:194
If you are a saint you are intrinsically always a sinner. Sin belongs to your essential nature. Extrinsically you are always justified, because you know that your justification does not come from you at all, it is a gift by grace from God. On the other hand if you are a sinner but you view yourself as intrinsically righteous you are a hypocrite and are always a sinner extrinsically. If you think basically you are a good person you are deceived and extrinsically you are always a sinner because you don't acknowledge or believe you are a sinner. Justification is not extrinsically yours because its not a basic part of you. Religious people always get this backwards that's why they are hypocrites. Are you a sinner/saint or are you a religious hypocrite? Thanks Marty for this nugget of truth.
--Martin Luther, LW 25:257; quoted in Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, 4:194
If you are a saint you are intrinsically always a sinner. Sin belongs to your essential nature. Extrinsically you are always justified, because you know that your justification does not come from you at all, it is a gift by grace from God. On the other hand if you are a sinner but you view yourself as intrinsically righteous you are a hypocrite and are always a sinner extrinsically. If you think basically you are a good person you are deceived and extrinsically you are always a sinner because you don't acknowledge or believe you are a sinner. Justification is not extrinsically yours because its not a basic part of you. Religious people always get this backwards that's why they are hypocrites. Are you a sinner/saint or are you a religious hypocrite? Thanks Marty for this nugget of truth.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
What is the gospel?
What
is the gospel? Well, you remember the answer of the Apostle Paul, 'It is
the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth' (Rom.
1.16).
How easy it is to forget that. How easy to preach it as a system, to preach it as a collection of ideas, or just to preach it as a truth. Ah, but you can do that without power. There are people, say the Apostle Paul, who 'have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof' (2 Tim. 3.5).
Christianity is primarily a life. It is a power. It is a manifestation of energy.
--Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Revival (Crossway, 1987), 123
How easy it is to forget that. How easy to preach it as a system, to preach it as a collection of ideas, or just to preach it as a truth. Ah, but you can do that without power. There are people, say the Apostle Paul, who 'have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof' (2 Tim. 3.5).
Christianity is primarily a life. It is a power. It is a manifestation of energy.
--Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Revival (Crossway, 1987), 123
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Oh, Sister & Simple Twist Of Fate - Bob Dylan
September 10, 1975 PBS Soundstage WTTW-TV Studios Chicago, Illinois, USA
Friday, July 18, 2014
Monday, July 14, 2014
God Gives Grace To The Humble
He gives grace to the humble. -1 Peter 5:5
God has assuredly promised his grace to the humble, that is, to those who lament and despair of themselves. But no man can be thoroughly humbled until he knows that his salvation is utterly beyond his own powers, devices, endeavors, will, and works, and depends entirely on the choice, will, and work of another, namely, of God alone.
For as long as he is persuaded that he himself can do even the least thing toward his salvation, he retains some self-confidence and does not altogether despair of himself, and therefore he is not humbled before God, but presumes that there is--or at least hopes or desires that there may be--some place, time, and work for him, by which he may at length attain to salvation. But when a man has no doubt that everything depends on the will of God, then he completely despairs of himself and chooses nothing for himself, but waits for God to work; then he has come close to grace.
Martin Luther -- Bondage of the Will, in Luther's Works, 33:61-62
The older I get the more I despair of myself because I know that my salvation is completely beyond my own power my own will my own works and I am depending entirely on the choice, will, and work of God alone.
God has assuredly promised his grace to the humble, that is, to those who lament and despair of themselves. But no man can be thoroughly humbled until he knows that his salvation is utterly beyond his own powers, devices, endeavors, will, and works, and depends entirely on the choice, will, and work of another, namely, of God alone.
For as long as he is persuaded that he himself can do even the least thing toward his salvation, he retains some self-confidence and does not altogether despair of himself, and therefore he is not humbled before God, but presumes that there is--or at least hopes or desires that there may be--some place, time, and work for him, by which he may at length attain to salvation. But when a man has no doubt that everything depends on the will of God, then he completely despairs of himself and chooses nothing for himself, but waits for God to work; then he has come close to grace.
Martin Luther -- Bondage of the Will, in Luther's Works, 33:61-62
The older I get the more I despair of myself because I know that my salvation is completely beyond my own power my own will my own works and I am depending entirely on the choice, will, and work of God alone.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Friday, July 11, 2014
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Jesus Offers Pure Grace
'. . . full of grace and truth.' -John 1:14
Luther, preaching on this text--
This world is a veritable vale of tears, an abode of sadness, a cheerless desert; for we behold Adam and all men full of God's disfavor, displeasure, wrath, curse, and condemnation. Adam is not full of grace.
By contrast, nothing but pure grace, love, peace, joy, and favor is evident in Christ. All of these are lavishly and profusely His, since He is the dear Child of the heavenly Father. Therefore He is a far different man from Adam. The comparison between the two is like that of devil and angel. (LW, 22:119)
We are surrounded by the children of Adam who are lost blinded by the devil and are the children of disobedience. Paul added "among whom we all once lived ... and were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind" Whats the difference? We have received mercy and grace. We were lost in Adam but in Christ we received "nothing but pure grace, love, peace, and favor in Christ" Think about what God has freely given to you and be thankful.
Luther, preaching on this text--
This world is a veritable vale of tears, an abode of sadness, a cheerless desert; for we behold Adam and all men full of God's disfavor, displeasure, wrath, curse, and condemnation. Adam is not full of grace.
By contrast, nothing but pure grace, love, peace, joy, and favor is evident in Christ. All of these are lavishly and profusely His, since He is the dear Child of the heavenly Father. Therefore He is a far different man from Adam. The comparison between the two is like that of devil and angel. (LW, 22:119)
We are surrounded by the children of Adam who are lost blinded by the devil and are the children of disobedience. Paul added "among whom we all once lived ... and were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind" Whats the difference? We have received mercy and grace. We were lost in Adam but in Christ we received "nothing but pure grace, love, peace, and favor in Christ" Think about what God has freely given to you and be thankful.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
"Whipping Post" - The Allman Brothers Band
"Whipping Post" featuring The Allman Brothers Band, from the forthcoming "All My Friends - Celebrating The Songs And Voice of Gregg Allman" Blu-Ray/DVD/CD available 5/6/14 from Rounder Records.
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