Steps Across the Bridge

Thoughts at the passing on of my Step-Father

2011-02-03T10:40:00.002+09:30

"The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away; and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death" (Isaiah 57:1-2)

Last evening my brother, who himself is doing battle with cancer, phoned me and said that our step-father had chosen to reject renal dialysis and face the latter stages of internal organ deterioration. My mother has asked that we pray that the Lord take him soon, and that the first organ to deteriorate is the heart.

I do not know the eternal state of my step-father, all I can do is comment on the manifest fruits of his life. My step-father has been a humble man who has exhibited the gracious qualities of industry, faithfulness, kindness, devotion and thoughtfulness. He feared God, and I believe that he loved God. Formerly a Roman Catholic, since marrying my mother, our step-father has been attending a High Anglican church in Melbourne.

At the death of my birth father, I had no comfort or encouragement from the Lord that his eternal state was secure. However, last night I was woken at 2 am, and the verses quoted above were brought to my attention.

Our step-father walked uprightly. His life was full of good works, and his character was godly. When I shared the Bible verses with my mother, she was able to draw comfort from them, which suggests to me that they were from the Lord.

It is times like this that we need to take stock, and chech our own spiritual barometer. What would others say of my life when I have finished up? Am I truly in the faith, or am I merely a pretender? What will the Lord say to me as I step into eternity: "Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your reward." Or will he say, "Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"

Oh Lord, please wash me in the blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Please, renew me in the spirit of my mind, and cause me to live for Your glory and for the extension of Your Kingdom in time and on earth.

Thoughts at the Beginning of a New Year

2011-01-01T11:21:00.005+09:30

"In the beginning God ..." (Genesis 1:1).

"And without faith it is impossible to please Him (God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who (diligently) seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).

At the commencement of this new calendar year, it is good to re-affirm the bedrock foundation for all that is real, true and which exists. That foundation being: "God is." Every thing else emanates from that pre-supposition. In the beginning God ..., and from that given we can then explore and give meaning to every area of life and endeavour.

"For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire" (I Corinthians 3:9-15).

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1)

The New Testament concurs with the Old Testament, that the foundation of all things is God. However, the New Testament gives content to the Word 'God;' identifying and equating God with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The fuller self-revelation of the God who is from the beginning is identified to us as the Triunity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ being "the (express) image of (this) invisible (Triune) God, the first-born of all creation. For in (and by) Him (that is the Lord Jesus Christ) all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created by (through) Him, and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:15-17).

At the commencement of this New Year I humbly request of the Lord that He keep His pre-eminence ever before me, both in my conscious mind, and my unconscious core. May I be found building upon this only foundation with gold, silver and precious stones, and may I expunge from my life's activities all things that hint of wood, hay and straw.

So, what kind of woman will your son marry?

2010-12-23T21:16:00.004+09:30

He that finds a (virtuous) wife, finds a good thing, and receives favour of the Lord [He that is joined with a virtuous woman in marriage is blessed of the Lord] (Proverbs 18:22)

I have commenced reading the book, Bonhoeffer, by Eric Metaxas, and the thing that has jumped out at me from the outset is the quality of the woman who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer's mother. Even her skeptical husband (Dietrich's father, Karl) deferred to Paula's spiritual integrity.

As I was meditating on the Scriptures this morning, I was drawn to the book of Proverbs and the book's recommendations and warnings concerning the kind of woman that a young man should look for in a wife. I then thought about the responsibility of a father in his duty to raise godly young women to be the kind of wife that Paula Bonhoeffer was for her family.

As I located Scriptures, I then looked at Matthew Henry's commentary on the passages, and the result was as follows. I will let the Scriptures and the commentary speak for themselves:

Proverbs 11: 16, 22 a gracious (modest) woman attains honour. ... As a jewel of gold in a pig's snout, so is a fair woman which lacks discretion (is of uncomely behaviour).

"It is taken for granted that a gracious woman is as solicitous to preserve her reputation for wisdom and modesty, humility and courtesy, and all those other graces that are the true ornaments of her sex, as strong men are to secure their estates; and those women who are truly gracious will, in like manner, effectually secure their honour by their prudence and good conduct. A gracious woman is as honourable as a valiant man and her honour is as sure. ...

By discretion here we must understand religion and grace, a true taste and relish (so the word signifies) of the honours and pleasures that attend an unspotted virtue; so that a woman without discretion is a woman of a loose and dissolute conversation; and then observe, 1. It is taken for granted here that beauty or comeliness of body is as a jewel of gold, a thing very valuable, and, where there is wisdom and grace to guard against the temptations of it, it is a great ornament, (Gratior est pulchro veniens de corpore virtus—Virtue appears peculiarly graceful when associated with beauty); but a foolish wanton woman, of a light carriage, is fitly compared to a swine, though she be ever so handsome, wallowing in the mire of filthy lusts, with which the mind and conscience are defiled, and, though washed, returning to them. 2. It is lamented that beauty should be so abused as it is by those that have not modesty with it. It seems ill-bestowed upon them; it is quite misplaced, as a jewel in a swine’s snout, with which he roots in the dunghill. If beauty be not guarded by virtue, the virtue is exposed by the beauty. It may be applied to all other bodily endowments and accomplishments; it is a pity that those should have them who have not discretion to use them well.

Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman is the crown of her husband: but she that makes him ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

Note, 1. He that is blessed with a good wife is as happy as if he were upon the throne, for she is no less than a crown to him. A virtuous woman, that is pious and prudent, ingenious and industrious, that is active for the good of her family and looks well to the ways of her household, that makes conscience of her duty in every relation, a woman of spirit, that can bear crosses without disturbance, such a one owns her husband for her head, and therefore she is a crown to him, not only a credit and honour to him, as a crown is an ornament, but supports and keeps up his authority in his family, as a crown is an ensign of power. She is submissive and faithful to him and by her example teaches his children and servants to be so too. 2. He that is plagued with a bad wife is as miserable as if he were upon the dunghill; for she is no better than rottenness in his bones, an incurable disease, besides that she makes him ashamed. She that is silly and slothful, wasteful and wanton, passionate and ill-tongued, ruins both the credit and comfort of her husband. If he go abroad, his head is hung down, for his wife’s faults turn to his reproach. If he retire into himself, his heart is sunk; he is continually uneasy; it is an affliction that preys much upon the spirits.

Proverbs 14:1 A wise woman builds her house (That is, takes pains to profit her family and to that which concerns her duty): but the foolish destroys it with her own hands.

Note, 1. A good wife is a great blessing to a family. By a fruitful wife a family is multiplied and replenished with children, and so built up. But by a prudent wife, one that is pious, industrious, and considerate, the affairs of the family are made to prosper, debts are paid, portions raised, provision made, the children well educated and maintained, and the family has comfort within doors and credit without; thus is the house built. She looks upon it as her own to take care of, though she knows it is her husband’s to bear rule in, Esth. 1:22. 2. Many a family is brought to ruin by ill housewifery, as well as by ill husbandry. A foolish woman, that has no fear of God nor regard to her business, that is wilful, and wasteful, and humoursome, that indulges her ease and appetite, and is all for jaunting and feasting, cards and the play-house, though she come to a plentiful estate, and to a family beforehand, she will impoverish and waste it, and will as certainly be the ruin of her house as if she plucked it down with her hands; and the husband himself, with all his care, can scarcely prevent it.

Proverbs 18:22 He that finds a (virtuous) wife, finds a good thing, and receives favour of the Lord (He that is joined with a virtuous woman in marriage is blessed of the Lord).

Note, 1. A good wife is a great blessing to a man. He that finds a wife (that is, a wife indeed; a bad wife does not deserve to be called by a name of so much honour), that finds a help meet for him (that is a wife in the original acceptation of the word), that sought such a one with care and prayer and has found what he sought, he has found a good thing, a jewel of great value, a rare jewel; he has found that which will not only contribute more than any thing to his comfort in this life, but will forward him in the way to heaven. 2. God is to be acknowledged in it with thankfulness; it is a token of his favour, and a happy pledge of further favours; it is a sign that God delights in a man to do him good and has mercy in store for him; for this, therefore, God must be sought unto.

Proverbs 19:13-14 ... the contentions of a wife are like a continual dripping ... a prudent wife comes from the Lord.

... A cross peevish wife is as great an affliction (as a foolish son): Her contentions are continual; every day, and every hour in the day, she finds some occasion to make herself and those about her uneasy. Those that are accustomed to chide never want something or other to chide at; but it is a continual dropping, that is, a continual vexation, as it is to have a house so much out of repair that it rains in and a man cannot lie dry in it. That man has an uncomfortable life, and has need of a great deal of wisdom and grace to enable him to bear his affliction and do his duty, who has a sot for his son and a scold for his wife. ...

1. A discreet and virtuous wife is a choice gift of God’s providence to a man—a wife that is prudent, in opposition to one that is contentious, v. 13. For, though a wife that is continually finding fault may think it is her wit and wisdom to be so, it is really her folly; a prudent wife is meek and quiet, and makes the best of every thing. If a man has such a wife, let him not ascribe it to the wisdom of his own choice or his own management (for the wisest have been deceived both in and by a woman), but let him ascribe it to the goodness of God, who made him a help meet for him, and perhaps by some hits and turns of providence that seemed casual brought her to him. Every creature is what he makes it. Happy marriages, we are sure, are made in heaven; Abraham’s servant prayed in the belief of this, Gen. 24:12. 2. It is a more valuable gift than house and riches, contributes more to the comfort and credit of a man’s life and the welfare of his family, is a greater token of God’s favour, and about which the divine providence is in a more especial manner conversant. A good estate may be the inheritance of fathers, which, by the common direction of Providence, comes in course to a man; but no man has a good wife by descent or entail. Parents that are worldly, in disposing of their children, look no further than to match them to house and riches, but, if withal it be to a prudent wife, let God have the glory.

Proverbs 21:9, 19 It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, than with a contentious woman in a wide house (a great family). ... It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman.

See here, 1. What a great affliction it is to a man to have a brawling scolding woman for his wife, who upon every occasion, and often upon no occasion, breaks out into a passion, and chides either him or those about her, is fretful to herself and furious to her children and servants, and, in both, vexatious to her husband. If a man has a wide house, spacious and pompous, this will embitter the comfort of it to him—a house of society (so the word is), in which a man may be sociable, and entertain his friends; this will make both him and his house unsociable, and unfit for enjoyments of true friendship. It makes a man ashamed of his choice and his management, and disturbs his company. 2. What many a man is forced to do under such an affliction. He cannot keep up his authority. He finds it to no purpose to contradict the most unreasonable passion, for it is unruly and rages so much the more; and his wisdom and grace will not suffer him to render railing for railing, nor his conjugal affection to use any severity, and therefore he finds it his best way to retire into a corner of the house-top, and sit alone there, out of the hearing of her clamour; and if he employ himself well there, as he may do, it is the wisest course he can take. Better do so than quit the house, and go into bad company, for diversion, as many, who, like Adam, make their wife’s sin the excuse of their own. ... Note, 1. Unbridled passions embitter and spoil the comfort of all relations. A peevish angry wife makes her husband’s life uneasy, to whom she should be a comfort and a meet help. Those cannot dwell in peace and happiness that cannot dwell in peace and love. Even those that are one flesh, if they be not withal one spirit, have no joy of their union. 2. It is better to have no company than bad company. The wife of thy covenant is thy companion, and yet, if she be peevish and provoking, it is better to dwell in a solitary wilderness, exposed to wind and weather, than in company with her. A man may better enjoy God and himself in a wilderness than among quarrelsome relations and neighbours. See v. 9.

Proverbs 25:24 It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

This is the same with what he had said, ch. 21:9. Observe, 1. How those are to be pitied that are unequally yoked, especially with such as are brawling and contentious, whether husband or wife; for it is equally true of both. It is better to be alone than to be joined to one who, instead of being a meet-help, is a great hindrance to the comfort of life. 2. How those may sometimes be envied that live in solitude; as they want the comfort of society, so they are free from the vexation of it. And as there are cases which give occasion to say, "Blessed is the womb that has not borne,’’ so there are which give occasion to say, "Blessed is the man who was never married, but who lies like a servant in a corner of the house-top.’’

Proverbs 27:15-16 A continual dropping in the day of rain, and contentious women are alike. He that hides her, hides the wind, and she is the oil in his right hand, that utters itself.

Here, as before, Solomon laments the case of him that has a peevish passionate wife, that is continually chiding, and making herself and all about her uneasy. 1. It is a grievance that there is no avoiding, for it is like a continual dropping in a very rainy day. The contentions of a neighbour may be like a sharp shower, troublesome for the time, yet, while it lasts, one may take shelter; but the contentions of a wife are like a constant soaking rain, for which there is no remedy but patience See ch. 19:13. 2. It is a grievance that there is no concealing. A wise man would hide it if he could, for the sake both of his own and his wife’s reputation, but he cannot, any more than he can conceal the noise of the wind when it blows or the smell of a strong perfume. Those that are froward and brawling will proclaim their own shame, even when their friends, in kindness to them, would cover it.

Proverbs 30:23 ... things (for which) the earth is perturbed ... (which the earth) cannot bear up: ... a hateful (odious) woman when she is married ...

An ill-natured, cross-grained, woman, when she gets a husband, one who, having made herself odious by her pride and sourness, so that one would not have thought any body would ever love her, yet, if at last she be married, that honourable estate makes her more intolerably scornful and spiteful than ever. It is a pity that that which should sweeten the disposition should have a contrary effect. A gracious woman, when she is married, will be yet more obliging.

Proverbs 31:10-31 Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “ Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

This description of the virtuous woman is designed to show what wives the women should make and what wives the men should choose; it consists of twenty-two verses, each beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in order, as some of the Psalms, which makes some think it was no part of the lesson which Lemuel’s mother taught him, but a poem by itself, written by some other hand, and perhaps had been commonly repeated among the pious Jews, for the ease of which it was made alphabetical. We have the abridgment of it in the New Testament (1 Tim. 2:9, 10, 1 Pt. 3:1-6), where the duty prescribed to wives agrees with this description of a good wife; and with good reason is so much stress laid upon it, since it contributes as much as any one thing to the keeping up of religion in families, and the entail of it upon posterity, that the mothers be wise and good; and of what consequence it is to the wealth and outward prosperity of a house every one is sensible. He that will thrive must ask his wife leave. Here is,I. A general enquiry after such a one (v. 10), where observe, 1. The person enquired after, and that is a virtuous woman—a woman of strength (so the word is), though the weaker vessel, yet made strong by wisdom and grace, and the fear of God: it is the same word that is used in the character of good judges (Ex. 18:21), that they are able men, men qualified for the business to which they are called, men of truth, fearing God. So it follows, A virtuous woman is a woman of spirit, who has the command of her own spirit and knows how to manage other people’s, one that is pious and industrious, and a help meet for a man. In opposition to this strength, we read of the weakness of the heart of an imperious whorish woman, Eze. 16:30. A virtuous woman is a woman of resolution, who, having espoused good principles, is firm and steady to them, and will not be frightened with winds and clouds from any part of her duty. 2. The difficulty of meeting with such a one: Who can find her? This intimates that good women are very scarce, and many that seem to be so do not prove so; he that thought he had found a virtuous woman was deceived; Behold, it was Leah, and not the Rachel he expected. But he that designs to marry ought to seek diligently for such a one, to have this principally in his eye, in all his enquiries, and to take heed that he be not biassed by beauty or gaiety, wealth or parentage, dressing well or dancing well; for all these may be and yet the woman not be virtuous, and there is many a woman truly virtuous who yet is not recommended by these advantages. 3. The unspeakable worth of such a one, and the value which he that has such a wife ought to put upon her, showing it by his thankfulness to God and his kindness and respect to her, whom he must never think he can do too much for. Her price is far above rubies, and all the rich ornaments with which vain women adorn themselves. The more rare such good wives are the more they are to be valued.II. A particular description of her and of her excellent qualifications.1. She is very industrious to recommend herself to her husband’s esteem and affection. Those that are good really will be good relatively. A good woman, if she be brought into the marriage state, will be a good wife, and make it her business to please her husband, 1 Co. 7:34. Though she is a woman of spirit herself, yet her desire is to her husband, to know his mind, that she may accommodate herself to it, and she is willing that he should rule over her. (1.) She conducts herself so that he may repose an entire confidence in her. He trusts in her chastity, which she never gave him the least occasion to suspect or to entertain any jealousy of; she is not morose and reserved, but modest and grave, and has all the marks of virtue in her countenance and behaviour; her husband knows it, and therefore his heart doth safely trust in her; he is easy, and makes her so. He trusts in her conduct, that she will speak in all companies, and act in all affairs, with prudence and discretion, so as not to occasion him either damage or reproach. He trusts in her fidelity to his interests, and that she will never betray his counsels nor have any interest separate from that of his family. When he goes abroad, to attend the concerns of the public, he can confide in her to order all his affairs at home, as well as if he himself were there. She is a good wife that is fit to be trusted, and he is a good husband that will leave it to such a wife to manage for him. (2.) She contributes so much to his content and satisfaction that he shall have no need of spoil; he needs not be griping and scraping abroad, as those must be whose wives are proud and wasteful at home. She manages his affairs so that he is always before-hand, has such plenty of his own that he is in no temptation to prey upon his neighbours. He thinks himself so happy in her that he envies not those who have most of the wealth of this world; he needs it not, he has enough, having such a wife. Happy the couple that have such a satisfaction as this in each other! (3.) She makes it her constant business to do him good, and is afraid of doing any thing, even through inadvertency, that may turn to his prejudice, v. 12. She shows her love to him, not by a foolish fondness, but by prudent endearments, accommodating herself to his temper, and not crossing him, giving him good words, and not bad ones, no, not when he is out of humour, studying to make him easy, to provide what is fit for him both in health and sickness, and attending him with diligence and tenderness when any thing ails him; nor would she, no, not for the world, wilfully do any thing that might be a damage to his person, family, estate, or reputation. And this is her care all the days of her life; not at first only, or now and then, when she is in a good humour, but perpetually; and she is not weary of the good offices she does him: She does him good, not only all the days of his life, but of her own too; if she survive him, still she is doing him good in her care of his children, his estate, and good name, and all the concerns he left behind him. We read of kindness shown, not only to the living, but to the dead, Ruth 2:20. (4.) She adds to his reputation in the world (v. 23): Her husband is known in the gates, known to have a good wife. By his wise counsels, and prudent management of affairs, it appears that he has a discreet companion in his bosom, by conversation with whom he improves himself. By his cheerful countenance and pleasant humour it appears that he has an agreeable wife at home; for many that have not have their tempers strangely soured by it. Nay, by his appearing clean and neat in his dress, every thing about him decent and handsome, yet not gaudy, one may know he has a good wife at home, that takes care of his clothes.2. She is one that takes pains in the duty of her place and takes pleasure in it. This part of her character is much enlarged upon here. (1.) She hates to sit still and do nothing: She eats not the bread of idleness, v. 27. Though she needs not work for her bread (she has an estate to live upon), yet she will not eat it in idleness, because she knows that we were none of us sent into this world to be idle, that when we have nothing to do the devil will soon find us something to do, and that it is not fit that those who will not labour should eat. Some eat and drink because they can find themselves nothing else to do, and needless visits must be received with fashionable entertainments; these are eating the bread of idleness, which she has no relish for, for she neither gives nor receives idle visits nor idle talk. (2.) She is careful to fill up time, that none of that be lost. When day-light is done, she does not then think it time to lay by her work, as those are forced to do whose business lies abroad in the fields (Ps. 104:23), but her business lying within-doors, and her work worth candle-light, with that she lengthens out the day; and her candle goes not out by night, v. 18. It is a mercy to have candle-light to supply the want of day-light, and a duty, having that advantage, to improve it. We say of an elaborate piece, It smells of the lamp. (3.) She rises early, while it is yet night (v. 15), to give her servants their breakfast, that they may be ready to go cheerfully about their work as soon as the day breaks. She is none of those who sit up playing at cards, or dancing, till midnight, till morning, and then lie in bed till noon. No; the virtuous woman loves her business better than her ease or her pleasure, is in care to be found in the way of her duty every hour of the day, and has more true satisfaction in having given meat to her household betimes in the morning than those can have in the money they have won, much more in what they have lost, who sat up all night at play. Those that have a family to take care of should not love their bed too well in a morning. (4.) She applies herself to the business that is proper for her. It is not in a scholar’s business, or statesman’s business, or husbandman’s business, that she employs herself, but in women’s business: She seeks wool and flax, where she may have the best of each at the best hand, and cheapest; she has a stock of both by her, and every thing that is necessary to the carrying on both of the woollen and the linen manufacture (v. 13), and with this she does not only set the poor on work, which is a very good office, but does herself work, and work willingly, with her hands; she works with the counsel or delight of her hands (so the word is); she goes about it cheerfully and dexterously, lays not only her hand, but her mind to it, and goes on in it without weariness in well-doing. She lays her own hands to the spindle, or spinning-wheel, and her hands hold the distaff (v. 19), and she does not reckon it either an abridgment of her liberty or a disparagement to her dignity, or at all inconsistent with her repose. The spindle and the distaff are here mentioned as her honour, while the ornaments of the daughters of Zion are reckoned up to their reproach, Isa. 2:18, etc. (5.) She does what she does with all her might, and does not trifle in it (v. 17); She girds her loins with strength and strengthens her arms; she does not employ herself in sitting work only, or in that which is only the nice performance of the fingers (there are works that are scarcely one remove from doing nothing); but, if there be occasion, she will go through with work that requires all the strength she has, which she will use as one that knows it is the way to have more.3. She is one that makes what she does to turn to a good account, by her prudent management of it. She does not toil all night and catch nothing; no, she herself perceives that her merchandise is good (v. 18); she is sensible that in all her labour there is profit, and that encourages her to go on in it. She perceives that she can make things herself better and cheaper than she can buy them; she finds by observation what branch of her employment brings in the best returns, and to that she applies herself most closely. (1.) She brings in provisions of all things necessary and convenient for her family, v. 14. No merchants’ ships, no, not Solomon’s navy, ever made a more advantageous return than her employments do. Do they bring in foreign commodities with the effects they export? So does she with the fruit of her labours. What her own ground does not produce she can furnish herself with, if she have occasion for it, by exchanging her own goods for it; and so she brings her food from afar. Not that she values things the more for their being far-fetched, but, if they be ever so far off, if she must have them she knows how to come by them. (2.) She purchases lands, and enlarges the demesne of the family (v. 16): She considers a field, and buys it. She considers what an advantage it will be to the family and what a good account it will turn to, and therefore she buys it; or, rather, though she have ever so much mind to it she will not buy it till she has first considered it, whether it be worth her money, whether she can afford to take so much money out of her stock as must go to purchase it, whether the title be good, whether the ground will answer the character given of it, and whether she has money at command to pay for it. Many have undone themselves by buying without considering; but those who would make advantageous purchases must consider, and then buy. She also plants a vineyard, but it is with the fruit of her hands; she does not take up money, or run into debt, to do it, but she does it with what she can spare out of the gains of her own housewifery. Men should not lay out any thing upon superfluities, till, by the blessing of God upon their industry, they have got before-hand, and can afford it; and then the fruit of the vineyard is likely to be doubly sweet, when it is the fruit of honest industry. (3.) She furnishes her house well and has good clothing for herself and her family (v. 22): She makes herself coverings of tapestry to hang her rooms, and she may be allowed to use them when they are of her own making. Her own clothing is rich and fine: it is silk and purple, according to her place and rank. Though she is not so vain as to spend much time in dressing herself, nor makes the putting on of apparel her adorning, nor values herself upon it, yet she has rich clothes and puts them on well. The senator’s robes which her husband wears are of her own spinning, and they look better and wear better than any that are bought. She also gets good warm clothing for her children, and her servants’ liveries. She needs not fear the cold of the most pinching winter, for she and her family are well provided with clothes, sufficient to keep out cold, which is the end chiefly to be aimed at in clothing: All her household are clothed in scarlet, strong cloth and fit for winter, and yet rich and making a good appearance. They are all double clothed (so some read it), have change of raiment, a winter suit and a summer suit. (4.) She trades abroad. She makes more than she and her household have occasion for; and therefore, when she has sufficiently stocked her family, she sells fine linen and girdles to the merchants (v. 24), who carry them to Tyre, the mart of the nations, or some other trading city. Those families are likely to thrive that sell more than they buy; as it is well with the kingdom when abundance of its home manufactures are exported. It is no disgrace to those of the best quality to sell what they can spare, nor to deal in trade and send ventures by sea. (5.) She lays up for hereafter: She shall rejoice in time to come, having laid in a good stock for her family, and having good portions for her children. Those that take pains when they are in their prime will have the pleasure and joy of it when they are old, both in reflecting upon it and in reaping the benefit of it.4. She takes care of her family and all the affairs of it, gives meat to her household (v. 15), to every one his portion of meat in due season, so that none of her servants have reason to complain of being kept short or faring hard. She gives also a portion (an allotment of work, as well as meat) to her maidens; they shall all of them know their business and have their task. She looks well to the ways of her household (v. 27); she inspects the manners of all her servants, that she may check what is amiss among them, and oblige them all to behave properly and do their duty to God and one another, as well as to her; as Job, who put away iniquity far from his tabernacle, and David, who would suffer no wicked thing in his house. She does not intermeddle in the concerns of other people’s houses; she thinks it enough for her to look well to her own.5. She is charitable to the poor, v. 20. She is as intent upon giving as she is upon getting; she often serves the poor with her own hand, and she does if freely, cheerfully, and very liberally, with an out-stretched hand. Nor does she relieve her poor neighbours only, and those that are nigh at hand, but she reaches forth her hands to the needy that are at a distance, seeking opportunities to do good and to communicate, which is as good housewifery as any thing she does.6. She is discreet and obliging in all her discourse, not talkative, censorious, nor peevish, as some are, that know how to take pains; no, she opens her mouth with wisdom; when she does speak, it is with a great deal of prudence and very much to the purpose; you may perceive by every word she says how much she governs herself by the rules of wisdom. She not only takes prudent measures herself, but gives prudent advice to others; and this not as assuming the authority of a dictator, but with the affection of a friend and an obliging air: In her tongue is the law of kindness; all she says is under the government of that law. The law of love and kindness is written in the heart, but it shows itself in the tongue; if we are kindly affectioned one to another, it will appear by affectionate expression. It is called a law of kindness, because it gives law to others, to all she converses with. Her wisdom and kindness together put a commanding power into all she says; they command respect, they command compliance. How forcible are right words! In her tongue is the law of grace, or mercy (so some read it), understanding it of the word and law of God, which she delights to talk of among her children and servants. She is full of pious religious discourse, and manages it prudently, which shows how full her heart is of another world even when her hands are most busy about this world.7. That which completes and crowns her character is that she fears the Lord, v. 30. With all those good qualities she lacks not that one thing needful; she is truly pious, and, in all she does, is guided and governed by principles of conscience and a regard to God; this is that which is here preferred far before beauty; that is vain and deceitful; all that are wise and good account it so, and value neither themselves nor others on it. Beauty recommends none to God, nor is it any certain indication of wisdom and goodness, but it has deceived many a man who has made his choice of a wife by it. There may be an impure deformed soul lodged in a comely and beautiful body; nay, many have been exposed by their beauty to such temptations as have been the ruin of their virtue, their honour, and their precious souls. It is a fading thing at the best, and therefore vain and deceitful. A fit of sickness will stain and sully it in a little time; a thousand accidents may blast this flower in its prime; old age will certainly wither it and death and the grave consume it. But the fear of God reigning in the heart is the beauty of the soul; it recommends those that have it to the favour of God, and is, in his sight, of great price; it will last for ever, and bid defiance to death itself, which consumes the beauty of the body, but consummates the beauty of the soul.III. The happiness of this virtuous woman.1. She has the comfort and satisfaction of her virtue in her own mind (v. 25): Strength and honour are her clothing, in which she wraps herself, that is, enjoys herself, and in which she appears to the world, and so recommends herself. She enjoys a firmness and constancy of mind, has spirit to bear up under the many crosses and disappointments which even the wise and virtuous must expect to meet with in this world; and this is her clothing, for defence as well as decency. She deals honourably with all, and she has the pleasure of doing so, and shall rejoice in time to come; she shall reflect upon it with comfort, when she comes to be old, that she was not idle or useless when she was young. In the day of death it will be a pleasure to her to think that she has lived to some good purpose. Nay, she shall rejoice in an eternity to come; she shall be recompensed for her goodness with fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore. 2. She is a great blessing to her relations, v. 28. (1.) Her children grow up in her place, and they call her blessed. They give her their good word, they are themselves a commendation to her, and they are ready to give great commendations of her; they pray for her, and bless God that they had such a good mother. It is a debt which they owe her, a part of that honour which the fifth commandment requires to be paid to father and mother; and it is a double honour that is due to a good father and a good mother. (2.) Her husband thinks himself so happy in her that he takes all occasions to speak well of her, as one of the best of women. It is no indecency at all, but a laudable instance of conjugal love, for husbands and wives to give one another their due praises.3. She gets the good word of all her neighbours, as Ruth did, whom all the city of her people knew to be a virtuous woman, Ruth 3:11. Virtue will have its praise, Phil. 4:8. A woman that fears the Lord, shall have praise of God (Rom. 2:29) and of men too. It is here shown, (1.) That she shall be highly praised (v. 29): Many have done virtuously. Virtuous women, it seems, are precious jewels, but not such rare jewels as was represented v. 10. There have been many, but such a one as this cannot be paralleled. Who can find her equal? She excels them all. Note, Those that are good should aim and covet to excel in virtue. Many daughters, in their father’s house, and in the single state, have done virtuously, but a good wife, if she be virtuous, excels them all, and does more good in her place than they can do in theirs. Or, as some explain it, A man cannot have his house so well kept by good daughters, as by a good wife. (2.) That she shall be incontestably praised, without contradiction, v. 31. Some are praised above what is their due, but those that praise her do but give her of the fruit of her hands; they give her that which she has dearly earned and which is justly due to her; she is wronged if she have it not. Note, Those ought to be praised the fruit of whose hands is praise-worthy. The tree is known by its fruits, and therefore, if the fruit be good, the tree must have our good word. If her children be dutiful and respectful to her, and conduct themselves as they ought, they then give her the fruit of her hands; she reaps the benefit of all the care she has taken of them, and thinks herself well paid. Children must thus study to requite their parents, and this is showing piety at home, 1 Tim. 5:4. But, if men be unjust, the thing will speak itself, her own works will praise her in the gates, openly before all the people. [1.] She leaves it to her own works to praise her, and does not court the applause of men. Those are none of the truly virtuous women that love to hear themselves commended. [2.] Her own works will praise her; if her relations and neighbours altogether hold their peace, her good works will proclaim her praise. The widows gave the best encomium of Dorcas when they showed the coats and garments she had made for the poor, Acts 9:39. [3.] The least that can be expected from her neighbours is that they should let her own works praise her, and do nothing to hinder them. Those that do that which is good, let them have praise of the same (Rom. 13:3) and let us not enviously say, or do, any thing to the diminishing of it, but be provoked by it to a holy emulation. Let none have an ill report from us, that have a good report even of the truth itself. Thus is shut up this looking-glass for ladies, which they are desired to open and dress themselves by; and, if they do so, their adorning will be found to praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

I Timothy 2:9 ff. I desire ... that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair (The word signifies to plait, to crisp, to braid, to fold, to bush, to curl, or to lay it curiously: whereby all pomp and wantonness is condemned which women use in trimming their heads) or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

I. Here is a charge, that women who profess the Christian religion should be modest, sober, silent, and submissive, as becomes their place. 1. They must be very modest in their apparel, not affecting gaudiness, gaiety, or costliness (you may read the vanity of a person’s mind in the gaiety and gaudiness of his habit), because they have better ornaments with which they should adorn themselves, with good works. Note, Good works are the best ornament; these are, in the sight of God, of great price. Those that profess godliness should, in their dress, as well as other things, act as becomes their profession; instead of laying out their money on fine clothes, they must lay it out in works of piety and charity, which are properly called good works. 2. Women must learn the principles of their religion, learn Christ, learn the scriptures; they must not think that their sex excuses them from that learning which is necessary to salvation. 3. They must be silent, submissive, and subject, and not usurp authority. The reason given is because Adam was first formed, then Eve out of him, to denote her subordination to him and dependence upon him; and that she was made for him, to be a help-meet for him. And as she was last in the creation, which is one reason for her subjection, so she was first in the transgression, and that is another reason. Adam was not deceived, that is, not first; the serpent did not immediately set upon him, but the woman was first in the transgression (2 Co. 11:3), and it was part of the sentence, Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee, Gen. 3:16. But it is a word of comfort (v. 15) that those who continue in sobriety shall be saved in child-bearing, or with child-bearing—the Messiah, who was born of a woman, should break the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15); or the sentence which they are under for sin shall be no bar to their acceptance with Christ, if they continue in faith, and charity, and holiness, with sobriety. II. Here observe, 1. The extensiveness of the rules of Christianity; they reach not only to men, but to women, not only to their persons, but also to their dress, which must be modest, like their sex; and to their outward deportment and behaviour, it must be in silence, with all subjection. 2. Women are to profess godliness as well as men; for they are baptized, and thereby stand engaged to exercise themselves to godliness; and, to their honour be it spoken, many of them were eminent professors of Christianity in the days of the apostles, as the book of Acts will inform us. 3. Women being more in danger of exceeding in their apparel, it was more necessary to caution them in this respect. 4. The best ornaments for professors of godliness are good works. 5. According to Paul, women must be learners, and are not allowed to be public teachers in the church; for teaching is an office of authority, and the woman must not usurp authority over the man, but is to be in silence. But, notwithstanding this prohibition, good women may and ought to teach their children at home the principles of religion. Timothy from a child had known the holy scriptures; and who should teach him but his mother and grandmother? 2 Tim. 3:15. Aquila and his wife Priscilla expounded unto Apollos the way of God more perfectly; but then they did it privately, for they took him unto them, Acts 18:26. 6. Here are two very good reasons given for the man’s authority over the woman, and her subjection to the man, v. 13, 14. Adam was first formed, then Eve; she was created for the man, and not the man for the woman (1 Co. 11:9); then she was deceived, and brought the man into the transgression. 7. Though the difficulties and dangers of childbearing are many and great, as they are part of the punishment inflicted on the sex for Eve’s transgression, yet here is much for her support and encouragement: Notwithstanding she shall be saved, etc. Though in sorrow, yet she shall bring forth, and be a living mother of living children; with this proviso, that they continue in faith, and charity, and holiness, with sobriety: and women, under the circumstance of child-bearing should by faith lay hold of this promise for their support in the needful time.

I Peter 3:1-6 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord (sir, master), whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror (but willingly do your duty; for your condition is not the worse for your obedience).

The apostle having treated of the duties of subjects to their sovereigns, and of servants to their masters, proceeds to explain the duty of husbands and wives.I. Lest the Christian matrons should imagine that their conversion to Christ, and their interest in all Christian privileges, exempted them from subjection to their pagan or Jewish husbands, the apostle here tells them,1. In what the duty of wives consists.(1.) In subjection, or an affectionate submission to the will, and obedience to the just authority, of their own husbands, which obliging conduct would be the most likely way to win those disobedient and unbelieving husbands who had rejected the word, or who attended to no other evidence of the truth of it than what they saw in the prudent, peaceable, and exemplary conversation of their wives. Learn, [1.] Every distinct relation has its particular duties, which ministers ought to preach, and the people ought to understand. [2.] A cheerful subjection, and a loving, reverential respect, are duties which Christian women owe their husbands, whether they be good or bad; these were due from Eve to Adam before the fall, and are still required, though much more difficult now than they were before, Gen. 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:11. [3.] Though the design of the word of the gospel is to win and gain souls to Christ Jesus, yet there are many so obstinate that they will not be won by the word. [4.] There is nothing more powerful, next to the word of God, to win people, than a good conversation, and the careful discharge of relative duties. [5.] Irreligion and infidelity do not dissolve the bonds, nor dispense with the duties, of civil relations; the wife must discharge her duty to her own husband, though he obey not the word. (2.) In fear, or reverence to their husbands, Eph. 5:33.(3.) In a chaste conversation, which their unbelieving husbands would accurately observe and attend to. [1.] Evil men are strict observers of the conversation of the professors of religion; their curiosity, envy, and jealousy, make them watch narrowly the ways and lives of good people. [2.] A chaste conversation, attended with due and proper respect to every one, is an excellent means to win them to the faith of the gospel and obedience to the word.(4.) In preferring the ornaments of the mind to those of the body. [1.] He lays down a rule in regard to the dress of religious women, v. 3. Here are three sorts of ornaments forbidden: plaiting of hair, which was commonly used in those times by lewd women; wearing of gold, or ornaments made of gold, was practised by Rebecca, and Esther, and other religious women, but afterwards became the attire chiefly of harlots and wicked people; putting on of apparel, which is not absolutely forbidden, but only too much nicety and costliness in it. Learn, First, Religious people should take care that all their external behaviour be answerable to their profession of Christianity: They must be holy in all manner of conversation. Secondly, The outward adorning of the body is very often sensual and excessive; for instance, when it is immoderate, and above your degree and station in the world, when you are proud of it and puffed up with it, when you dress with design to allure and tempt others, when your apparel is too rich, curious, or superfluous, when your fashions are fantastical, imitating the levity and vanity of the worst people, and when they are immodest and wanton. The attire of a harlot can never become a chaste Christian matron. [2.] Instead of the outward adorning of the body, he directs Christian wives to put on much more excellent and beautiful ornaments, v. 4. Here note, First, The part to be adorned: The hidden man of the heart; that is, the soul; the hidden, the inner man. Take care to adorn and beautify your souls rather than your bodies. Secondly, The ornament prescribed. It must, in general, be something not corruptible, that beautifies the soul, that is, the graces and virtues of God’s Holy Spirit. The ornaments of the body are destroyed by the moth, and perish in the using; but the grace of God, the longer we wear it, the brighter and better it is. More especially, the finest ornament of Christian women is a meek and quiet spirit, a tractable easy temper of mind, void of passion, pride, and immoderate anger, discovering itself in a quiet obliging behaviour towards their husbands and families. If the husband be harsh, and averse to religion (which was the case of these good wives to whom the apostle gives this direction), there is no way so likely to win him as a prudent meek behaviour. At least, a quiet spirit will make a good woman easy to herself, which, being visible to others, becomes an amiable ornament to a person in the eyes of the world. Thirdly, The excellency of it. Meekness and calmness of spirit are, in the sight of God, of great price-amiable in the sight of men, and precious in the sight of God. Learn, 1. A true Christian’s chief care lies in the right ordering and commanding of his own spirit. Where the hypocrite’s work ends, there the true Christian’s work begins. 2. The endowments of the inner man are the chief ornaments of a Christian; but especially a composed, calm, and quiet spirit, renders either man or woman beautiful and lovely.2. The duties of Christian wives being in their nature difficult, the apostle enforces them by the example, (1.) Of the holy women of old, who trusted in God, v. 5. "You can pretend nothing of excuse from the weakness of your sex, but what they might. They lived in old time, and had less knowledge to inform them and fewer examples to encourage them; yet in all ages they practised this duty; they were holy women, and therefore their example is obligatory; they trusted in God, and yet did not neglect their duty to man: the duties imposed upon you, of a quiet spirit and of subjection to your own husbands, are not new, but what have ever been practised by the greatest and best women in the world.’’ (2.) Of Sara, who obeyed her husband, and followed him when he went from Ur of the Chaldeans, not knowing whither he went, and called him lord, thereby showing him reverence and acknowledging his superiority over her; and all this though she was declared a princess by God from heaven, by the change of her name, "Whose daughters you are if you imitate her in faith and good works, and do not, through fear of your husbands, either quit the truth you profess or neglect your duty to them, but readily perform it, without either fear or force, out of conscience towards God and sense of duty to them.’’ Learn, [1.] God takes exact notice, and keeps an exact record, of the actions of all men and women in the world. [2.] The subjection of wives to their husbands is a duty which has been practised universally by holy women in all ages. [3.] The greatest honour of any man or woman lies in a humble and faithful deportment of themselves in the relation or condition in which Providence has placed them. [4.] God takes notice of the good that is in his servants, to their honour and benefit, but covers a multitude of failings; Sara’s infidelity and derision are overlooked, when her virtues are celebrated. [5.] Christians ought to do their duty to one another, not out of fear, nor from force, but from a willing mind, and in obedience to the command of God. Wives should be in subjection to their churlish husbands, not from dread and amazement, but from a desire to do well and to please God.

Whither the Floods in Pakistan

2010-08-29T14:38:00.004+09:30

Of recent days I have heard such sentimental and humanistically focused talk about the floods in Pakistan. There is a God in heaven, and He is angry with the wicked every day.

Go to this website: http://hem.passagen.se/dpaul/

and read about the Government-sanctioned persecution of Christians throughout the political state of Pakistan. God heard the screams of the Christian men, women and children as they were burned alive and massacred by apostate mobs all in the name of a false and evil religion: Islam.

Just as God heard the cries of the martyrs in the days leading up to the destruction of apostate Jerusalem in AD 70, so God has heard the cries leading up to the discipline of apostate Pakistan.

The compassion expressed by Christains towards the perpetrators of such evil and merciless persecution, must also be couched in the message of repentance. "Pakistan, stop your evil persecution of Christian people within your borders; turn from your wilful rejection of the only name given amongst men whereby which we must be saved; that is, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Learn to fear the Triune God, lest His anger be increased towards you."

And the situation in Pakistan must be a warning to all nations that turn their back on the Living God. Australia, America, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, and every other nation that has in the past made the Lord Jesus Christ the foundation of its political existance, return to the Lord, or you also will feel the heat of His wrath and vengeance.

Jeremiah 2:4-13 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. Thus says the Lord: What wrong did your ancestors find in Me that they went far from me, and went after worthless things, and became worthless themselves? They did not say, 'Where is the Lord who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that no one passes through, where no one lives?' I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruit and its good things. But when you entered you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination. The priests did not say, 'Where is the Lord?' Those who handle the law did not know Me; the rulers transgressed against Me; the prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after things that do not profit. Therefore once more I accuse you, says the Lord, and I accuse your children's children. Cross to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has ever been such a thing. Has a nation changed its gods, even through they are no gods? But My people have changed their glory for something that does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this, be shocked, be utterly desolate, says the Lord, for My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water."

Our Australian Constitution begins:

"WHEREAS the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland; and Tasmania, humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God, ..."

yet, many of the Representatives elected to our most recent Parliament (2010) are seriously talking about introducing such legislation as the legalisation of homosexual marriages. This is a contradiction to the Law of God, which is evoked by the above quoted portion of the Preamble to our Constitution. God's blessing is only imparted to those nations which obey His Law. Those nations which spurn His Law, and treat His people with disdain, shall receive of His just vengeance (as exemplified in the recent floods in Pakistan).

Christian people of the West, shake off your lethargy, wake up from your spiritual stupor, recognise the judgements of the Triune God in the earth, lest they overtake us in our disobedience, for judgement must begin at the house of God.

The Election we had to have

2010-08-22T02:30:00.005+09:30

I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; indeed I sought him, but he could not be found. (Psalm 37:35-36)

... the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the Lord, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. (Psalm 37:20)

Every godly person in Australia could be understood if they were in deep sadness at the state of the nation as reflected in the August 21, 2010 Election. The Greens leader, Senator Bob Brown, gloated over the increased support for the Greens in the Election, and commented that the Greens holding the balance of power in the Senate will bring both the Coalition and the ALP into the 21st Century, forcing them to accept homosexual marriages, embrace the liberalization of abortion and euthanasia laws, and take on other equally abominable acts, as defined by the Law of God.

The nation follows the church, and the condition of the church is exemplified in the experience of a friend who was speaking to a young Church-attending boy, from an upstanding "Christian" family, who told my friend that they were going to vote for the Greens (obviously reflecting the voting preference of the parents). When challenged with the fact that the Greens advocate same-sex marriage, support the murder of babies in their mothers' wombs and the killing of old people and handicapped children, the young person said, "Oh, I didn't realize that." How many other young Christian, first-time voters, supported the Greens because they thought the Greens were simply about caring for the environment?

My encouragement, after the Election, comes from Psalm 37. It is the Lord who fattens the wicked for the day of slaughter. Though the wicked seem to prosper in the short term, in the longer term, it is the righteous who shall inherit the earth.

When God's people become spiritually lazy, and fail to discern the signs of the times, because of their refusal to know the Law of God, then God's people shall be disciplined of the Lord. However, if the discipline is followed by repentance, and a returning to the ways of the Lord, then the Lord shall remove the wicked from the Land, and the godly, in Christ Jesus, shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

What contrasts were seen on the television towards the end of the evening's counting of votes: the Leader of the Greens with his homosexual partner in the background; contrasted with the adulterous Leader of the ALP, kissing her defacto husband on stage; contrasted with the Leader of the Coalition standing with his wife and three daughters representing God's order for the family.

"... those cursed by [the Lord] shall be cut off" (Psalm 37:22b) and be assured that all who live a mockery of God's declared order are cursed; all such shall, in time, be cut off. This is the hope of every true Christian, in the face of such an Election that we have just witnessed.

I do not agree with the Leader of the Coalition's comment that voters should focus on policy, not on the behaviour of the Candidates. Character makes the man, not his promises.

Amen!

Q & A Compromise: Our Salvation is in the Lord

2010-08-16T22:56:00.005+09:30

The Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will save us. (Isaiah 33:22)

I have just finished watching Tony Abbott give a convincing performance, convincing me that there is nothing that can be gained by trusting in politics or politicians. Our only hope is to trust in the Lord God.

Several times Tony Abbott capitulated when asked important questions on the Q & A program this evening. He capitulated when asked about the recognition of homosexual marriages; he capitulated when asked about his personal faith and its part in the process of political decision making.

The questioners revealed how far our nation has moved from its Biblical Christian heritage.

I have no trust in politicians, no matter what political persuasion. My trust is in the Lord Jesus Christ. He, and He alone, is the Saviour.

Some Thoughts Leading Up to an Election

2010-08-07T17:21:00.005+09:30

In his book, 'Conscience Voting,' Jeremy Lee wrote:

'Fourteen years ago (1966), the retiring Liberal Member for Franklin in Tasmania, Mr Charles Falkinder, made some pertinent comments in his final speech. He said that the relationship between the executive and the parliament was gradually but surely militating against parliamentary democracy. Members were giving away their right to express their views on what became law. The trouble was that "members sublimate their minds to the wish of the Party." Once elected, Members of Parliament are bound to vote on Party lines -- "the fate of the man who tries to pursue an independent course is pretty certain." The result, said Mr Falkinder after 20 years of the system, is that "Parliament as such has lost its real touch and ability to be a law-making force."'

'One year earlier, in 1965, the former Clerk of the House, Frank Green, warned: "With increased party organization and discipline the initiative of the private member has gone, ... it has divided parliament into two disciplined forces, a major force whose primary objective is to keep the government party in office, and a minor force whose aim is to discredit and replace it. Because the Opposition will seize every opportunity to discredit the the government, the government party must swallow its objections to government policy and support it, abdicating the duty of frank and candid criticism. That debate is unimportant, because whatever is said, that the division will be on party lines is well understood. But there is a deeper implication -- the futility of modern party debate in itself ... neither party is anxious to discuss the issue fully for fear that such discussion would reveal its own divisions ..."' (p. 13)

As Christians, it is evil for us to vote on Party lines. Our Westminster style, Representative Civil Government was designed for representatives to represent the will of their constituents to the Monarch [whose practical authority is exercised by the Governor-General and the Governors], who has covenanted, in a solemn church service, to rule in the fear of God, and in the light of His Law and His Gospel.

It is incumbent, then, for Christians not to vote in the coming election in the light of Party Policy, or with the question of "Who is to be the Prime Minister?" on their minds. As Christians we must vote in the light of God's political injunctions. Our vote must be on the basis of the character of the man to represent our will to the Monarch.

On page 49 of his book, Mr Lee further writes that Christians should cast a vote according to conscience, not according to policy. A Conscience Voting Manifesto could perhaps look "something like this:

"I believe that my vote is a right I have been granted by Almighty God, to be used in His Name and His Service.

"I believe that my vote should not be used on any account to sanction evil -- great or small.

"I believe that my vote is my own responsibility, and I therefore believe that any attempt to cajole, buy, pervert or restrict my vote is an attack on my God-given liberty.

"I believe that I have not only a right but a duty to withhold my vote completely if I feel that the choices I am offered do not conform to what I believe is God's will.

"I believe it is my lawful right to voluntarily associate my vote with the votes of others in seeking right choice and good government.

"I believe that I can only use my vote to its fullest potential by humbly relying on God's grace and guidance for my actions.

"I believe that my prayer for those in authority should be matched with my action in seeking good government, and that to do so is a responsibility which God expects me to fulfill.

"I believe that my committal to a lawful and right use of my vote is not a vain one, and that God will at all times and in all places comfort and help those who seek to serve Him.

"In the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord -- Amen." (p. 49)

The Bible does not leave us in doubt as to the nature and character qualities of the person that we should vote for. In Deuteronomy 17:14-20, the qualities of a candidate for Civil Leadership are:

1. Someone who is "chosen of the Lord"
2. Someone who is a member of the community of the Redeemed
3. Someone who is not of a foreign religion or culture
4. Someone who is not in covenant with others who are of a foreign religion or culture
5. Someone who is not a philanderer, but who is proven by having raised a family
6. Someone who is not given to self-indulgence, but is generous to others
7. Someone who knows the Law of God, studies the Law of God, lives the Law of God

In Leviticus 21, some of the qualities of a person who can be appointed to leadership are:

1. Someone who can grow a beard
2. Someone who can marry a woman
3. Someone who has testicles
4. Someone who is the son of another
5. Someone who is set apart by God

In I Timothy 3: 1-13, the qualities that someone must possess before becoming a Christian leader in any sphere are:

1. they must have an aspiration for leadership
2. they must be above reproach
3. they must be the husband of one wife
4. they must be temperate
5. they must be prudent
6. they must be respectable
7. they must be hospitable
8. they must be able to teach others
9. they must not be addicted to strong alcoholic drink
10. they must not be pugnacious (quarrelsome and inclined to fighting)
11. they must be from the love of money
12. they must be able to manage his household well
13. they must not young and inexperienced
14. they have a good reputation in the local community
15. they must not be double-tongued (they should keep their word to their own hurt)
16. they must hold the mystery of the Faith with a clear conscience
17. they must have had their character tested

Titus 1:5-9 adds to this list:

18. someone not self-willed
19. someone not rebellious
20. someone who is a lover of the things that are good
21. someone who is sensible
22. someone who is just
23. someone who is devout
24. someone who is self-controlled
25. someone who holds fast the Faithful Word which is in accordance with the Apostolic teachings
26. someone who is able to refute those who contradict God's Word

Elsewhere, Jesus said that Christian leaders are to be "servant leaders" (Matthew 20:25-28; Mark 10:42-45; Matthew 23:6-12; Luke 22:25-27). Members of a Political Party are disciplined by 'whips' who ensure Party loyalty. Whereas, Biblical Christian Members of Parliament will be obedient to the commands of Jesus, and faithful to the wishes of their constituents (to the extent that those wishes do not contravene God's Holy Law) - they will be servants of all, not slaves to the Party machine.

As Christians, we need to know the members of God's Covenant Household. Those who aspire to Civil Office, need to live a transparent life so that the Redeemed Community can confidently elect them to represent their community at higher echelons of civil government.

Under no circumstance are we to vote for people simply because they belong to the Party of our preference, or because they are members a Party that will block the Party that we do not want to see in office.

A Christian community that will not exercise its voting rights in the light of God's Word, will get the Civil Government it deserves. On the other hand, if Christians will take care of their responsibility to vote for godly candidates in their own community, then the Sovereign Lord will take care of the bigger picture, and work all things together for the general good, for the glory of His Son, and for the extension of His Kingdom in time and on earth.

Amen!

The Paradoxes of the Bible: Not Either / Or, But Both

2010-08-02T01:02:00.004+09:30

The Bible has many apparent paradoxes. However, we are not to settle with either / or, but to hold both with equal conviction. God is God, and only He is able to fully comprehend the multiple facets of His self-revelation. The Scripture says that God is Love, and this is true. However, if we hold to this as the only understanding of the nature of God, we will create in our minds an idol, which is a caricature of the Biblical God. Whilst God is Love, at the same time, His is Holy, Just, Angry, True, Jealous, and many other things as well.

The God we serve is all these things, and many more, and all at once and at the same time, in all places, and He has never changed, and will never change.

We become like the god that we hold in our mind. If the god we think upon is an idol, we will live a false life, inconsistent with the realities of the universe.

We must receive the Biblical revelations of the many facets of the Triune God, and receive them as stated. This is imperative if we are to gain an understanding of reality as it is. Otherwise, we will try to live our lives against the flow of the entire universe, and such foolishness will end in death.

Judges are not to show partiality in judgement

2010-06-29T21:12:00.003+09:30

It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, or to overthrow the righteous in judgement (NKJV).

It is not good to accept the person of the wicked (that is, to favour him & support him), to cause the righteous to fall in judgement (Geneva).

It’s not right to go easy on the guilty, or come down hard on the innocent (Message).

To show partiality to the wicked is not good, nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgement (NASB).

It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the innocent of justice (NIV). [Proverbs 18:5]

The foundation of this Scripture is in Leviticus 19:15:

Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favouritism to the great, but judge your neighbour fairly (NIV).

You shall do no injustice in judgement; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbour fairly (NASB).

You shall not do unjustly in judgement. You shall not favour the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty, but you shall judge your neighbour justly (Geneva).

You shall do no injustice in judgement. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbour (NKJV).

Commenting on the above verse, R.J. Rushdoony, in his commentary on the Book of Leviticus, wrote:

“In (Lev. 19:5) we are told that justice means no respect for persons, i.e., no favouritism to the poor because they are poor, or to the rich because they are rich, nor to anyone in terms of their race or religion. Thus, while the law insists on the protection of the poor from injustice, it does not allow injustice to prevail out of partiality for them. Class justice is an untenable doctrine, but it is now the basic doctrine of socialism in all forms, and always evil. Justice is to be done to all, because justice is not a class doctrine but God’s nature and His requirement of us.

“In order to facilitate impartiality in a trial, some Jewish authorities, especially Maimonides, held that both parties in a case, the rich and the poor, had to be dressed alike and seated alike. Bonar said,

‘Causes must be heard, not persons,’ says Trappe. There must be in us no affection of kindness to the poor, even as there must be no fawning flattery of the great. Especially in matters of judgement the judge must be impartial. The eye of God is on him; and as He is a just God, and without iniquity, He delights to see His own attributes shadowed forth in the strict integrity of an earthly judge.

If these are God’s holy principles, it follows that the misery and oppression and suffering of the lower classes will furnish no reason for their acquittal at His bar, if they be found guilty. Suffering in this world is no blotting out of sin. Hence we find at Christ’s appearing, “the great and the mighty men, and every bondman,” cried to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne” (Rev. VI. 15).

“The law cannot be man’s will or purpose, but only God’s word, the expression of His nature. Thus, the modern beliefs in class justice, racial justice, economic justice, and so on, are all perversions of justice and law: they enthrone man’s will as law. Verse 15 (of Leviticus 19) sums up the preceding verses and is also a preface to the following verses of Leviticus 19.

“Noth is right in stating that this is not simply a word to judges, but to all members of the community. Hence it is that the next verse, closely tied to v. 15, condemns slander.

“If these are laws of justice, then why are they interspersed with laws requiring charity? If the earth is the Lord’s (Ex. 9:29), then we rob God when we do not tithe, when we do not give Him what is His rightful portion (Mal. 3:8-12), and we are again guilty of theft and injustice when we are not given to charity. Charity is not the poor’s due in essence, but it is God’s requirement of us; it is God’s possession, given to those to whom He assigns it.” (2005, R. J. Rushdoony, Commentaries on the Pentateuch: Leviticus, Ross House Books: Vallecito, California)

The Biblical Family - a Trustee Family

2010-06-13T13:09:00.005+09:30

In service, this morning, we had a very long reading from the Book of I Kings, and there is an important principal recorded in the reading. The principal was not addressed in the sermon, but my thoughts were filled with the principal throughout the service. The passage reads:

¹ And it came to pass after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. ² So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.” ³ But Naboth said to Ahab, “The LORD forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!” ⁴ So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food. ⁵ But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, “Why is your spirit so sullen that you eat no food?” ⁶ He said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’” ⁷ Then Jezebel his wife said to him, “You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” ⁸ And she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth. ⁹ She wrote in the letters, saying,

Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people; ¹⁰ and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, “You have blasphemed God and the king.” Then take him out, and stone him, that he may die. ...

¹⁵ And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” ¹⁶ So it was, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.¹⁷ Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ¹⁸ “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who lives in Samaria. There he is, in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it. ¹⁹ You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?”’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.”’”

²⁰ So Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD: ²¹ ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. (I Kings 21:1-10; 15-21)

According to Carle Zimmerman, in his paper, Sociology of the Family, historically there have been three kinds of family, the Atomistic Family, the Domestic Family, and the Trustee Family. The Atomistic Family is the kind of family where each of the members lives his/her own life independently of the other members, and there is no commonly shared faith, culture or life.

The Domestic Family sees the family established in the headship of the Father, but the property and concern of the Father only extends to the establishment of the children in their own families; after which the parents indulge themselves in retirement, spending on themselves the accumulated wealth gathered over the lifetime of the Father. The children fend for themselves beyond the University degree, and the wedding ceremony.

On the other hand, the members of a Trustee Family are less important than the family, and the family extends back into the past, and forward into the future for hundreds/thousands of generations. This third kind of family is a Biblical Family. There may exist "Christian" Atomistic families, and there may exist "Christian" Domestic families, but only a Trustee family is a Biblical family, and only a Trustee family can be properly blessed by God.

The Trustee family looks back, and embraces the religion, the traditions, the wealth and property of past generations, and holds them in Trust. The family works to add to the inheritance and heritage of the past, and then carefully passes that inheritance and heritage to the emerging generations (that is the godly line, not the ungodly members), carefully instructing them in their duty to pass on all they have received, with added interest, to their children's children, looking forward to at least a thousand generations down the track.

The unfettered State is envious of the Trustee family and is an enemy of the Trustee family. In the story above, King Ahab, representing the State, lusted after the property of Naboth. Naboth understood his position as current Trustee of his Trustee family's wealth. No amount of money or other alternatives could convince Naboth to betray his trust. So the State went to the point of murdering Naboth, under the testimony of false witnesses, to acquire the property it lusted after.

There is s lesson to be learned in this. The modern Trust system facilitates Biblical Trustee families to pass on their wealth without State interference. However, our present Federal Government is lusting after the wealth held in trust by these families. Proposals have been made to tax Family Trusts.

Where is the voice of the church speaking against this vicious attack on Biblical Christian Trustee families? To deny the security of Trusts to "bad families" will deny the security to "godly" families as well. Strong, godly families, with a strong sense of faith, tradition, secure wealth and heritage form the backbone of a culture. Allow the State to reduce these families, by giving it license to plunder that which is held in Trust for future generations, is national suicide. "All those who hate me (the Wisdom of God) love death." (Proverbs 8:36)

THAT WOMAN JEZEBEL: A Biblical Study Of Women In Leadership Roles

2010-06-04T04:17:00.006+09:30

The argument of this blog is based on the following assumptions, which are gleaned from the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechisms.[1]

The 66 books of the Protestant Bible “are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life”.

“Holy Scripture is to be received, believed and obeyed because it is the word of God”.

“The whole will of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, and for our salvation, faith and life, is either expressly stated in Scripture, or by good and necessary reasoning may be deduced from Scripture”.

“Scripture is to be interpreted by Scripture. Scripture does not have several different meanings but one true and genuine meaning (which may embrace several different applications) arising from the words properly understood in context”.

God has complete sovereign dominion over His creatures to do by, to or for them whatever He pleases. God is completely holy in all His purposes, in all His works, and in all His commands. To Him is due whatever worship, service or obedience He is pleased to require from angels, human beings and all other creatures.

Argument

The Apostle Peter called the Apostle Paul’s writings Scripture, equal to all other Scripture that has been written (2 Peter 3:15-16). Jesus said that the Scriptures could not be broken [meaning: altered] (John 10:35). He also said that the Law of Moses could not be broken (John 7:23). Paul said that the things he has written are to be received as “the commandments of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37). Therefore, the things that Paul wrote on the issue of women and leadership roles are to be received as Scripture (which cannot be broken/altered), they are to be received as the commandments [Law] of the Lord Jesus, and Jesus’ Law cannot be broken. The Apostle John wrote: “Everyone who sins breaks the Law; in fact, sin is lawlessness” (I John 3:4). Therefore, it is a sin to adopt a position that is contrary to the Apostle Paul’s writings on the issue of women in leadership roles.

Much of the discussion on the issue of women in leadership is informed by feminist propaganda. Sadly, this propaganda has, in many cases, been accepted by church leaders [hence the twisting of the plain teaching of Scripture that only men may qualify as elders and deacons to justify women in leadership roles in the church]. If we have committed ourselves to being informed by Scripture, and by the Reformed standards, which point us to the authority of Scripture for faith and practice, then that may mean that we are compelled to adopt a position that is contrary to the main stream; perhaps even a position that is illegal in the eyes of secular humanist authorities, as the Apostle Peter did when he said, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you (God’s delegated authorities who were acting contrary to God’s Law) rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).

Paul identified four foundations for his teaching on gender roles. The four foundations are:

The account of the Creation and Fall that appear in the first three chapters of Genesis;

The testimony of the Creation itself;

The Law of God; and

The relationship between Christ and His Church (the type and the archetype).

A. The Creation/Fall Foundation

From the Creation Account, Paul clearly states that man (male) was created as the image and glory of God, woman (female) was created for the glory of man. Man was not from woman, but woman was from man. Man was not created for woman, woman was created for man. Because of this pre-Fall, historical reality, women need a symbol of authority on their heads (I Corinthians 11:3-16). A woman, because of the Creation order, is to be under authority, and not in authority.

Further, Paul writes that Adam was formed first, then Eve. From the account of the Fall, he notes that Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into transgression (1 Timothy 2:8-15).

Paul assumed a literal and historical interpretation of Genesis Chapters 1, 2 & 3. These chapters, therefore, form an important foundation for our understanding of gender roles. What do they teach?

First, God created a man in His own image, as a sovereign act. We can only understand a man’s personhood through an understanding of God Himself. We can only understand God through the revelation of Himself that He has given us in the pages of the Bible. The first man was created for a purpose, and that purpose was rulership under God. Male and female were created with distinctive and definable roles. However, the roles were to be complementary, not competitive. When the roles were in cooperation, then the task that God gave them would be achieved (Genesis 1:26-31).

Second, God created the male first. God created an environment and a task for the male – to cultivate (including the making of culture) and keep the garden. In consideration of man’s aloneness in the task, God took part of the male (part of his side), shaped it, and made a female for the male. The woman was to be a complementary helper,[2] for and to the man. The woman was brought to the man. She was received by the man as part of himself, to which he was to cleave. Their union instituted the law of division of labour. This law only works where there are definable roles, and specific tasks set within those roles. Procreation was secondary to dominion in the relationship (Genesis 2:7-9, 15-24).

Third, the woman was deceived by the tempter (Genesis 3:1-6a). The woman tempted her husband (Genesis 3:6b). The woman received a curse because of her being deceived: sorrow would be multiplied, conception would be multiplied, childbirth would be painful, she would have a desire for a husband, and her husband would rule over her (Genesis 3:16a). She would be a victim in the battle between the seed of Satan and the Seed of God (Genesis 3:15).

Fourth, Adam was cursed because he listened to the voice of his wife: his dominion task would be frustrated with problems and inconveniences (Genesis 3: 16b-17).

So, what can we understand from the account of the Historical Creation/Fall event in regards to gender roles?

God deliberately and specifically created men and women different for a different purpose. The different purposes were to be complementary, so that there was to be a single direction in the relationship between the male and the female.

God created the male for Himself (for God’s glory), and the female for the male (for the man’s glory, and to assist the man in his dominion task under the government of God).

The male was created first, and as a consequence, has a functional priority. This functional priority means also a higher degree of accountability and responsibility.

Men are to be under God’s authority (in submission to His Law/Word), but in authority when engaged in the affairs of men. Women are to be under authority; either under the authority of a father, a husband, or church authorities. However, this is only to be within the defined limits of God’s Law/Word. Being under authority is not to be thought of as being a slave to or owned by the authority. A man’s authority over a woman is not to be despotic and absolute, rather it is to be governed by the limits and conditions set by God in the Scriptures.[3]

This line of authority was established in the Creation order. It is pre-Fall. The Fall made the order of authority more pressing, and also injected frustrations and discontent with God’s sovereign decree, because of sin (sin on the part of women who revel against God’s sovereign order, and sin on the part of men who exercise their authority in a sinful way (either by being despotic or by refusing to exercise their authority at all).

Paul’s plain writings give no indication that the creation order has been superseded after the resurrection. He does advocate a redemptive equality between men and women (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11). This inclusivity is on the level of equality between Jew and Gentile in their access to God for salvation. However, redemptive equality does not equate with functional equality. In every reference to functionality, Paul reinforces the distinction that was established historically in the Creation/Fall account. Salvation is not for the purpose of breaking free from the Law of God. We are saved so that we have access to all of God’s resources (His Holy Spirit, His Law/Word, the blood of Jesus, the cross of Calvary, the Triune name of the Lord Jesus Christ, etc.) that enable us to become Law-abiding (Jeremiah 31:33-34; Ezekiel 36:24-27).

B. The testimony of the Creation itself

Paul identifies a woman’s hair as a symbol of her need to be under authority.

“For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head ... Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonour to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering” (1 Corinthians 11:10, 13-15). In Romans, Paul tells us that: “since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ...” (Romans 1:20).

From these Scriptures we can understand that the Creation itself clearly reveals elements of God’s eternal purpose, so clearly, in fact, that men are without excuse. The Creation, amongst other things, demands that a woman needs to be under authority, not in authority, and her hair is given to her as a symbol of this requirement.

C. The Law of God

In addition to the account of the Creation/Fall, and the testimony of the Creation itself, Paul makes his argument on the basis of what the Law of God states on the matter. Paul writes:

Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church (1 Corinthians 14:34-35).

So, what does the Law say? There are so many Scriptures on this issue, it would be prohibitive to mention them all in the context of this short essay. However, the following number that are cited will be convincing to those who want to be convinced. If there are exceptions, then they will be very few, and will tend to reinforce the rule, rather than negate it. We must also keep in mind that John wrote: “sin is the transgression of the law (lawlessness)” (1 John 3:4). Jesus also said of those who have a form of godliness, but live it without obedience to the Law of God, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:23). “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness” (Matthew 13:41). “Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:28). Without too much commentary, we will let the plain reading of Scriptures speak for itself.

Many times God refers to sinful acts as “an abomination.” Very few times does he refer to a person as an abomination. However, one of these few occasions is found in the following reference:

A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination (detestable) to the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 22:5).

Most commentators identify in this more than just the wearing of clothing that pertains to the opposite sex (although it includes that). The commentators refer to the intention of addressing the confusion of gender roles[4]. Men who assume feminine roles, and women who assume masculine roles are an abomination to God. The unisex dress of the 1960’s (jeans and T-shirt) was a deliberate move to blur sex distinctions, and pave the way for a blurring of gender roles. The wearing of the clothing of the opposite sex succeeded in paving the way for a feminist agenda to be applied throughout the western world, and beyond to much of the rest of the world. Moving beyond unisex, there is the contemporary notion of metrosexual. The metrosexual man is a blurring of male and female identity to such an extent, that the metrosexual can neither be called a man, nor can he be called a woman. This transvestite identity is exactly what God calls an abomination in Deuteronomy 22:5.[5]

The Law of God, itself, is written from a male perspective (refer Deuteronomy 6:2[6]). The Ten Commandments were especially written from a perspective of male functional priority (Exodus 20:1-17): families are identified in terms of fatherhood (v.5); fathers are mentioned before mothers, a Scriptural means of identifying functional priority (v.12); the sin of covetousness is addressed to men directly, and to women indirectly and by implication (v.17). God entrusted His Law to men, and men were commissioned by God to be custodians and administrators of that Law.

In Deuteronomy 24:1-4, it is a man who takes a wife, it is a man who marries a woman, and it is a man who issues a certificate of divorce. The laws of marriage are addressed to men, not to women.

In Deuteronomy 25:5-10, widows are commanded to be remarried. This is to ensure that they come under covering and authority and headship. Nowhere in Scripture is the same commandment given to men. As confirmation of this notion, Paul writes: “Therefore I desire that the younger widows (re-)marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully” (1 Timothy 5:14). The reason Paul commands this, is that younger women are vulnerable without male covering (1 Timothy 5:11-16; 1 Timothy 2:14).

In Exodus 21:1-11 piercing is a symbol of submission and service. The one who is pierced is in submission to the one doing the piercing. Without trying to be crude, the reality of God’s design of males and females is that women are designed to be pierced by a man. This is an ongoing symbol of a woman’s submission to the man. By implication, God calls an abomination the act of a man piercing another man (Leviticus 18:22). Once again, Paul writes: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord (Colossians 3:18), and this submission incorporates the sexual relationship.[7]

In Exodus 34:19, only male sacrifices were acceptable, and sacrifice was made so that firstborn males could be redeemed (Exodus 34:20). This highlights God’s value place on Male functional priority; the female was not acceptable as a sacrifice, nor was the firstborn daughter received in the same way as the firstborn son (see also Leviticus 1:3)[8].

The priesthood, ecclesiastical leadership, was an exclusively male domain under the Law (Exodus 39:27; Numbers 8:5-26). Religious leadership was to be given by Aaron and his sons, not his daughters (see also Leviticus 8).

After childbirth, God differentiated between the days of uncleanness between boys and girls. For sons it was 7 days plus 33 days. For daughters it was 14 days and 66 days (Leviticus 12). This highlighted the functional priority of males over females.

The Law accords honour to old men (Leviticus 19:32). Nowhere is mention made of old women, and this is because of the assumption that men would take the public profile that is necessary in leadership. A woman’s place, under the Law, was not in a public office of leadership.

The Law made provision for unmarried sisters, but not unmarried brothers (Leviticus 21:3). This emphasised the fact that women need covering. A brother did not need this same covering.

The prerequisite qualifications of the priesthood are all related to men (Leviticus 21)[9]. It was assumed under the Law that women would not take up ecclesiastical leadership (Numbers 18:1-2).

Civil leaders of the nation were to be men, under the Law (Numbers 4:34; 7:2; 11:16; Deuteronomy 1:13ff.). Judges, the administrators of the Law, were also to be men (Deuteronomy 1:13ff.).

Under the Law, only men who were heads of households were to be included in the census (Leviticus 4:34; Numbers 26). The men were the Federal heads of their household, representing the whole family that was under their authority and care. Women were not given this functional priority, under the Law. A woman had to find her place under a Federal head; either her father or her husband. She could not be a Federal head.

Under the Law, the test of jealousy was given to women, not to men (Numbers 5:11-31).

Women and children were judged with the judgement of God that was placed upon the lives of their Federal heads. God dealt Federally with His covenant, and through the Federal head, the man (Numbers 14:26-38).

Under the Law, God differentiated between a man and woman’s vow ((Numbers 30). A man’s vow was binding, and could not be annulled. A woman’s vow was subject to the approval of her covering (either her father or her husband). If her covering did not approve of the vow, the vow was annulled.

The Law made provision for male soldiers, and women were not included in defence and policing provisions of the Law (Numbers 31:12-54). The laws that governed warfare were applicable to men (Deuteronomy 20:1-9).

Under the Law, land was apportioned to men as heads of families (Numbers 34:16-29).

Inheritance was through fathers, according to the Law (Numbers 36).

All of God’s Covenants have been made with men. He has made NO Covenants with women: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Israel (the nation = “My son”), David, Jesus. Israel’s covenant was renewed with the men (Joshua 24).

God relates to His people as a man relates to His son [not daughter] (Deuteronomy 8:5).

The Lord’s delight was with the fathers (Deuteronomy 10:15), who federally represented the women folk.

God’s Law concerning civil leadership and how it was to conduct itself was written to men. The qualifications to be a civil leader could only apply to men (Deuteronomy 17:14-20): “neither shall he multiply wives for himself” could never apply to a woman.

The laws that governed witnesses were written from a male perspective (Deuteronomy 19:15-21). It was assumed, under the Law, that justice would be administered by men, not by women.

The Elders of a city were to be men (Deuteronomy 21:1-9). In Proverbs 31, it is the husband of the virtuous wife who sits as civil and ecclesiastical leader at the gates of the city, not the wife (Proverbs 31:23). Her role is to so order the home, and administer he domestic duties so efficiently and faithfully, that her husband can fully trust her to discharge her duties while he attends to his public, civil and ecclesiastical duties (Proverbs 31:11a, 23).

The firstborn son was to be given priority in inheritance because the son would assume the governmental role over the family that he was to be trustee of (Deuteronomy 21:15-17).

A woman who attacks the symbols of a man’s masculinity, and in so doing challenges his role as image-bearer of God, and administrator of God’s covenantal Law, was to be punished WITHOUT PITY (Deuteronomy 25:11-12).

Under the Law, the men were to represent the tribes (Joshua 4:2).

Men were circumcised into the covenant of God, as representatives of their families (Joshua 5:3). A woman’s equivalent to circumcision took place at marriage, when she was circumcised into the marriage covenant with her husband (Deuteronomy 22:13-21) through the breaking of the hymen.

Achan’s family, women and children, was federally imputed with Achan’s sin (Joshua 7:24).

It is recorded that the men of Israel spoke in public gatherings, not the women (Joshua 9:7).

Throughout God’s Law, males are stated to be the referent, and females are identified as the male counterpart. There is a very clear functional priority for men.

Under the Law, the few times that women did take up roles of leadership, it was ALWAYS in the context of God’s judgement. In Judges 4, the context was: “the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord”. In verse 9 we read that female leadership was a shame and a judgement.

The Prophet Isaiah wrote that because Judah was so wicked, God would take away their male leadership (Isaiah 3:2-4). In the place of men, because God was angry with the people, He would give them children and women to rule over them (Isaiah 3:4, 12). Of these female leaders God says, “O my people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.” The initial failure of Judah was not laid at the feet of the women, but by default at the feet of the men who abjectly failed in their leadership duties. In some churches, men fail to step up to the responsibility of leadership. When candidates are asked for, for diaconate roles, the men are conspicuous by their absence. Women, perhaps by fallen nature, but also (if the Isaiah passage is considered) by God’s judgmental decree, are more than eager to step up to the place and have a go at the leadership positions[10].

1. Some argue that the cultural context of the Law is a patriarchal society, and that we are not to apply laws that were made by men who were dominant in their culture to an enlightened culture that gives a better place to women. The Apostle Paul said that the Law of God determined the role and place of women in regards to civil and ecclesiastical leadership. The Law of God is just that, “the Law of God.” The male dominance of the Hebrew culture was shaped by the Law that God gave to them. The Law was not written in the flavour of the culture that pre-existed it. The Law of God is a Law for all men, for all times, in all places. The Law of God is a revelation of God’s holiness, and a declaration of His sovereignty. To question the Law’s integrity is to question the integrity of God Himself. To do so is blasphemy.

2. The Law of God clearly states a functional priority of men over women. Men are functionally leaders, and women are functionally helpers. The Law of God reflects the order that God established in Creation, and then reaffirmed at the Fall.

3. It is because of sin that women are unsatisfied with God’s ordination in this regard; sin both in dissatisfied women, and also a greater sin in men who selfishly and self-centredly exercise their leadership role, or who refuse to exercise that role at all.

4. Under the Law of God, it is clearly an indication of God’s judgment upon a people when they are submissive to female leadership. It is a prelude to greater corporate sanctions upon a disobedient and covenant-breaking people.

D. The Relationship Between Christ and His Church

Finally, Paul identifies that the functional relationship between husbands and wives is based on the relationship between Christ and His church. By implication, this speaks to the separate and different roles of men and of women.

Wives, submit to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church; and He is the Saviour of the body. Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything (Ephesians 5:22-24).

The relationship between men and women is a prophetic type of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Every male / female relationship preaches Christ, and reveals to the world Christ’s relationship with His people. The message is either glorifying of Christ, or denigrating to Him.

When women take up leadership roles over men, they distort the type of Christ in relation to His Church. Christ is the Head, and the Church is to live in submission to His Word. When a woman is in leadership, typically it states that Christ is subservient to the Church – and this is blasphemy.

Jesus Himself stated what an abomination female leadership in the church was:

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who call herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants ... (Revelation 2:20).

The story of Jezebel is found in 1 Kings 16:31; 21:25. She exercised civil leadership, effectively, and introduced Baal worship (statism). By referring to Jezebel, Jesus condemned both civil and ecclesiastical leadership by women.

In the context of the church, Paul stated that women were to learn in silence, not to speak, not to teach, nor to have authority over a men. In fact, Paul stated, it was shameful for women to assume these responsibilities in the church

(1 Timothy 2:8-15; 1 Corinthians 14:34-35). When women take authority in the church, it proclaims to the world that Christ is subject to the will of man. This is not true. Christ is the sovereign God, to whom man must submit. His offer of grace is extended, but the offer is to become a covenant-keeper, and obedient keeper of God’s Law-Word through cleansing by the blood of Christ, and by the empowering of the Spirit of God.

E. Conclusion

Paul argues that there are four clear foundations for the doctrine that relates to women in leadership. These foundations are:

The account of the Creation and the Fall;
The testimony of the Creation itself;
The clear commandments of the Lord; and
The typical relationship between Christ and His Church.

These four foundations are consistent, and each is based on the foundation preceding. There is no indication in Scripture that God has changed His standards on this issue. In fact, Christ’s last words on the issue, in the Book of Revelation, reaffirms and underscores God’s original statement on the matter. Redemptively, men and women are equal. In Christ there is no male nor female. However, this does not, in anyway, alter the functional differences between men and women. Men were created to be functionally in leadership, and women were created for the supporting and helping role. Just because someone can, doesn’t mean that they ought; just because women can take up leadership roles in the church, doesn’t mean that they ought to. In the Book of Genesis God clearly states that He reserves the right to declare that which is right and that which is wrong (Genesis 2:9b; 16-17). God calls those who reverse gender roles an “abomination”, and Biblically an abomination was something that was set apart for destruction. Isaiah affirmed that this was the case culturally, when women took up political leadership. Such a culture was poised for greater corporate sanctions, unless it repented. Jesus pronounced His judgment upon a church that admitted women leaders. His message to them was the same, “Repent or be caste into great tribulation.” The same is implied in a family when the head is not a man. Such a family is at risk of judgment unless it repents and re-establishes God’s order.

[1] Burges, Cornelius, 1976 [1646], The Confession of Faith, The Larger and Shorter Catechisms with the Scripture Proofs at Large Together with the The Sum of Saving Knowledge (Contained in the Holy Scritpures, and Held Forth in the Said Confession and Catechisms,) and Practical Use Thereof, Scotland: The Publications Committee of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

[2] A comment from Steve Swartz in an email: “Feminist thinkers find this concept of ‘helper’ demeaning, as if it denotes subservience and weakness. But what then when we speak of God as being our help and strength (Psalm 46:1)? One person cannot help another unless he/she is stronger in some area. You cannot help me to learn something unless you know more about it than I do!”

[3] Rushdoony, Rousas John. 1973. The Institutes of Bibilical Law. U.S.A.: The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company. pp. 211-218.

[4] Henry, Matthew. 1960. Commentary on the Whole Bible (New One Volume Edition). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Regency Reeference Library. p. 193. “2. It forbids the confounding of the dispositions and affairs of the sexes.”

Rushdoony 1973. op.cit. pp. 434-438.

[5] Wikapedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrosexual “Metrosexual is a neologism generally applied to heterosexual men with a strong concern for their appearance, or whose lifestyles display attributes stereotypically seen among gay men. The metro- (city) prefix indicates this man's purely urban lifestyle, while the -sexual suffix comes from "heterosexual," meaning that this man, although he is usually straight, embodies the heightened aesthetic sense often associated with certain types of gay men.”

[6] “...that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.”

[7] This thought was stimulated by the musings of Steve M, Schlissel (a converted Jew), who wrote: “... piercing is normally an act appropriate only for women and, in some cases, male slaves. Delicacy is difficult her—and I want to avoid a charge of misogyny—but the fact is that woman, by her from-the-creation role in the marriage act, is a “piercee.” Within marriage, of course, no stigma at all attaches to his, but outside of marriage, Scripture often refers to it as a “humbling” (Dt. 21:14; 22:24; 22:29). (In this regard, too, childbirth is woman’s triumphant vindication—consider when exegeting 1 Tim. 2:15). Obviously, piercing for a woman need not involve sodomy or “lowering.” She was made a woman, for man, a fact to which her body testifies. Man, however, was not made a woman nor was he made to abide piercing. It is still a universal that he is not expected to. .... Piercing may or may not bring a woman down, depending on many factors. But piercing always brings a man down. That piercing bespeaks a relational subordination is implicitly recognized even in our American culture, yet often below the surface.” Schlissel, Steve M., My Back Pages Tattoo You? p.2.

[8] It is not irrelevent to include laws that relate to animals in this discussion about male and female roles. In 1 Corinthians 9:8-10 Paul establishes that the Law’s application to animals in the first instance has a secondary application to human affairs. “‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it reads out the grain.’ Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plaws should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partake of his hope.” (see also 1 Timothy 5:17-18).

[9] A priest: is a master, husband, chief man; has a beard; can take a wife; may be the father of a daughter; has testicles; is a male descendent of Aaron. None of these qualities can be sported by a woman.

[10] Latter comment suggested by Steve Swartz in an email.

How Should we Address the Holy Spirit?

2010-05-25T12:18:00.010+09:30

Recently, in the context of a Pentecost Sunday sermon, I heard the Holy Spirit being referred to as "he or she; him or her." This was stated not just once, but was underscored at least 3 or 4 times.

The doctrine of the Tri-unity of God (the Trinity) is a fundamental and foundational doctrine of the Christian Faith. Each Sunday, as a Congregation, we declare: "This is our faith, the faith of the Church: 'We believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.'"

As Rousas Rushdoony points out in his book, The Foundations of Social Order, the doctrine of the Trinity is foundational in the development of the liberties of Western Civilization; it informed the careful balance between the One and the Many (the unity of the corporate but at the same time, the liberty of the individual).

How we understand each of the members of the Trinity, and how we address them is important to an understanding of the Trinity, and how we should relate to God in faith and lifestyle.

So, is the Holy Spirit a He, a She or an It?

According to the Pentecost Sunday sermon, the Holy Spirit is either a He or a She. The Holy Spirit is definitely not an it, because "it" implies non-person status, and the Bible very clearly expounds the personhood of the Holy Spirit. As the article at www.GotQuestions.org states:

[The Holy spirit] has the attributes of personhood, performs the actions of persons, and has personal relationships. He has insight (1Corinthians 2:10-11). He knows things, which requires and intellect (Romans 8:27). He has a will (1 Corinthians 12:11). He convicts of sin (John 16:8). He performs miraclesw (Acts 8:39). He guides (John 16:13). He intercedes between persons (Romans 8:26). He is to be obeyed (Acts 10:19-20). He can be lied to (Acts 5:3), resisted (Acts 7:51), grieved (Ephesians 4:30), blasphemed (Matthew 12:31), even insulted (Hebrews 10:29). He relates to the apostles (Acts 15:28) and to each member of the Trinity (John 16:14; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). The personhood of the Holy Spirit is presented without question in the Bible, ... (http://www.gotquestions.org/Printer/Holy-Spirit-gender-PF.html)

So, taking the personhood of the Holy Spirit as a given, it was suggested that there was some ambivalence as to whether we should address the Holy Spirit as He or She. This proposition has very far-reaching implications, and needs to be addressed with very serious importance.

Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit as "He." All the major English translations of the Scriptures ascribe He/Him/Himself as the way in which Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit. For example, the New King James Version says:

"If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Parakleton) that He may abide with you forever -- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:15-17)

"These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper (Comforter, Parakletos), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father, will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." (John 14:25-26)

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Parakletos) will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ... However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth: for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:7-8, 13-14)

Very few of the free-standing pronouns used in the English translations, actually appear in the original Greek texts. In Greek, the pronouns are indicated primarily in the suffixes added to the verbs. Free-standing pronouns are used to topicalize, or give emphasis to, the person or thing being spoken about in the verb.

In Greek, nouns are relegated to one of the three gender categories - masculine, feminine or neuter. It is important when considering the matter of grammatical gender, not to confuse it with physical gender. For the most part, English does not have gender as a category applied to nouns. For instance, we do not think of pencils as masculine, or pens as feminine (as in French).

Some of the nouns ascribed to the Holy Spirit, in the Greek, are masculine and some of them are neuter. But none of them are unambiguously feminine. For example, Spirit is the translation of the "pneuma" (which is grammatically neuter). Whereas, Comforter is the translation of the "parakletos" (which is grammatically masculine).

Do the words of Jesus Himself give us any clear, unambiguous clue as to the way in which we are to think of the Third Person of the Trinity in terms of human gender, and beyond that, sexuality?

Yes, they do. In John 16:7, Jesus used the intensive pronoun "auton" which is translated "Him." He did not use the feminine form of the pronoun "auten" nor the neuter from of the pronoun "auto." The parakletos (masculine noun), is to be referred to as "Him," according to Jesus. Then again, in John 16:8, Jesus uses the demonstrative pronoun "ekeinos" which means "that one," referring back to parakletos in verse 7. Once again, Jesus did not use the feminine form "ekeine" or the neuter form "ekeino." Furthermore, in John 16:13, Jesus uses the reflexive pronoun "heautou" which translates as "Himself" in reference to the neuter noun 'pneuma" which translates as "Spirit." Jesus does not use the feminine form "heautes" or the neuter form "heautou."

Jesus leaves us with absolutely no ambiguity. He referred to the Holy Spirit as He/Him/Himself, and deliberately avoided the feminine and neuter forms in His use of free-standing pronouns, when referring to the Holy Spirit specifically.

Jesus wasn't confused. And Jesus did not sow any doubts as to whether the Holy Spirit was to be referred to as He or She. Jesus unclouded all ambiguity and implied that the Holy Spirit is always to be referred to as He/Him/Himself.

So where might the implied ambiguity of the Pentecost Sunday address come from?

Because the Hebrew word for Spirit (ruach) is grammatically feminine, and the Hebrew word for the presence of God (shekhinah) is also feminine; and also because some of the activities ascribed to God, are often regarded as feminine traits, there are those who claim that the Godhead is both masculine and feminine. This is, of course, in spite of the fact that when asked how to pray, Jesus commanded His disciples to pray: "Our Father (not "Our Father/Mother ..."), which art in heaven, ..." (Luke 11:1-4) However, one feminist writer (http://www.grailchurch.org/sophia.htm) has suggested: "The name for God in the Hebrew language is 'Elohim'. Most scholars acknowledge that this word has a plural ending, which some use to suggest an Old Testament anticipation of the Trinity. What most scholars either do not know or care not to inform their constituents is that 'Elohim' is not the plural of 'El' the masculine form of the name. It is plural of the feminine, 'Elowah'. Strictly speaking, we can translate the Old Testament name for God as 'goddesses'." Her argument is very tenuous indeed, and could be considered blasphemous.

Syriac Gnostics, Eastern Orthodox churches, apocryphal texts, Branch Davidians, the Unity Church and other non-Trinitarian sects, some Messianic Jews and mormons ascribe to a feminine Holy Spirit (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_of_the_Holy_Spirit).

Sophia worship is gaining ascendancy in what previously were orthodox Christian denominations. This movement began as an accommodation to the disquiet of feminists in churches, not on the basis of careful exposition of Scripture. A fuller discussion of this movement can be found at http://www.gotquestions.org/sophia-goddess-wisdom.html

It would appear that the ascription of "She" to the person of the Holy Spirit is a move to placate the feminist movement. It is not for us to "re-image" God into our comfort parameters. Rather, God, the Triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - is the sovereign, and only potentate of the universe. His self-revelation is to be received, and we are to bow to His sovereign declaration of what is right and what is wrong.

God has declared that male and female are to be redemptively equal, but functionally different. To govern is a male function (and this is reflected in the fact that the sovereign God ascribes to Himself the gender title "He/Him") A female function is to submit, and not to rule over the male (and this is reflected in the fact that the human component of the God/Man relationship is called the Bride of Christ - the Church - and the Church is to submit to her head, the Lord Jesus Christ). A further discussion of this idea is found at my blog: Who can be Church leaders? And also at my blog: That Woman Jezebel.

In His Triune Redemptive Name, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that Jesus bears the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:36; Colossians 2:9; Acts 8:12; Acts 8:16; Acts 10:48; Acts 19:5). It is to this name that every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Although Jesus expressed Himself in ways that are not usually described as masculine traits (gathering His people under his wings as a mother hen gathers her chicks - Matthew 23:37), yet there is no question as to how we should address Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, husband of the Church - that is: He/Him. Despite the fact that there were times that God attributed to Himself, feminine roles (Isaiah 66:13), yet all the names ascribed to the Triune God in the Old and New Testaments are grammatically masculine in form (Yaweh, Elohim, Adonai, Kurios, Theos, etc.). (http://www.gotquestions.org/Printer/Holy-Spirit-gender-PF.html)

As for me and my house, we will side with the Lord Jesus Christ, and will unambiguously refer to the Holy Spirit as "He/Him" as we shall also refer to Jesus and the Heavenly Father.

It is not that hard to know the Lord

2010-04-06T07:24:00.005+09:30

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy29:29)

When Christians drift from the plain teaching of the Scripture, they wander into dark alleys and hidden caves. The Faith becomes hard and elusive, other-worldly and removed from the realities of life.

This Scripture pulls us back to the simplicity of knowing the Lord. We come to know Him, by obeying His commandments. If a Christian is fully converted to the Lord, faith is manifested in childlike trust, "If God has said it, it must be true. If it is true, then I must do as God has said."

This is not a secret thing. This is not hidden from our eyes. This does not required weeks of fasting, prayer and godly counsel. This simply requires the knowledge of the commandments of the Living God, and a willingness to obey what they command:

You shall have no other gods besides (before) Me
You shall not make an idol, nor bow down nor serve them (neither mental nor physical)
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain (calling yourself God's but living the life of a devil)
You shall remember the sabbath (working six days and resting one day each week)
You shall honour your father and your mother (and all other legally appointed authorities)
You shall not murder (physically and reputationally)
You shall not commit adultery (or any other persverse sexual act proscribed by God)
You shall not steal (even if you are a collective of politicians)
You shall not bear false witness
You shall not covet (including acquiring through debt)

These are the things that belong to us, and that make for righteousness peace and joy, when lived out through the inspiration of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Amen!

Lord, teach me the fear of Your name

2010-04-04T02:50:00.004+09:30

You, Yourself, are to be feared; and who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry? You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared and was still, when God arose to judgment, to deliver all the oppressed of the earth. [Selah] Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; with the reminder of wrath You shall gird Yourself. (Psalm 76:7-9)

A jealous husband is a fit of rage. Woe unto the wife who commits infidelity. God, Himself, is a husband, and His wife is the bride of Christ, the Church. How does God respond to a church that prostitutes itself to other gods, and walks about full of all kinds of iniquity with no shame or remorse for unfaithfulness?

On two separate occasions, over the last couple of days, I have heard of infidelities in the church; adulterous relationships perpetrated by both men and women who are supposedly "upstanding church members."

It sends shivers up my spine, as I imagine and anticipate the rage of an angry God. His rage can be placated, but there needs to be deep repentance, with restitution. Yes, God is quick to forgive, but only such as repent of their evil ways.

I am very much afraid of the greasy grace that I hear too often being peddled as "the Gospel." There is so little of the fear of God in the ranks of too many churches that I have been associated with.

Oh that I may know the fear of God! May I walk in such reverential awe of Him, that I will love Him with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind and with all my strength.

How serious the degrading of a man's manhood?

2010-04-03T04:58:00.003+09:30

If two men fight together, and the wife of one draws near to rescue her husband from the hand of the one attacking him, and puts out her hand and seizes him by the genitals, then you shall cut off her hand; your eye shall not pity her. (Deuteronomy 25:11-12)

Public humiliation of a man's manhood, by women, is a serious offense, and should be punished without pity. Such public humiliation of men, by women, is common place in our media; especially in our sit coms. This should not be.

What kind of wife does your daughter asipire to be?

2010-03-29T07:07:00.005+09:30

An excellent wife (a wife of valor, a virtuous woman) is the crown of her husband: but she who causes him shame (who makes him ashamed) is like rottenness in his bones (is as corruption in his bones). (Proverbs 12:4 -- combination of NKJV & Geneva Bible)

Matthew Henry explained this verse in this way:

He that is blessed with a good wife is as happy as if he were upon the throne, for she is no less than a crown to him. A virtuous woman is pious and prudent, active for the good of her family, makes conscience of her duty, a woman that can bear crosses without disturbance. She is faithful to him and by her example teaches his children and servants to be so too.

A Bad wife is no better than rottenness in his bones, an incurable disease, besides that she makes him ashamed. She that is silly and slothful, wasteful and wanton, passionate and ill-tongued, ruins both the credit and comfort of her husband.

Matthew Henry's comments are insightful, and accurate. Parents must counsel their sons to choose their life partner carefully; and they must train their daughters to be the kind of person who has the character to fulfill the roll of an excellent, virtuous wife, full of valor.

Do as you think best, within the boundaries of the Law

2010-03-24T04:07:00.006+09:30

This is what the Lord commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, 'Let them marry whom they think best, but they may marry only within the family of their father's tribe.' (Numbers 36:6)

The Law of God is an incredibly liberating Law. It provides an opportunity for the greatest dimensions of liberty of all the law-systems that are in existence; that is, the greatest measure of liberty to live above and beyond the enslaving chains of sin.

Sin is transgression of the Law of God. Every thought, word or deed that contradicts the Law of God is a sin. However, the boundaries of the Law of God provide enormous liberties to lawfully live life.

In highly legislated societies, the choices open to individuals and groups progressively become more and more restricted. In the days of Chairman Mao, everyone was required to wear the same style of clothing made of the same colour of cloth. God's Law, on the other hand, says that we must dress modestly and must not be attired in the clothing that distinguishes the opposite sex; with no restrictions on colour of cloth, style, cut and a multiplicity of other factors which reflect individual taste. Clearly, God's Law is much more liberating than Mao's law, in regards to clothing.

God's Law consists of 613 statements, many of which are not accompanied with a negative sanction to be administered in this life. It is possible to memorize the Law of God, and apply it consistently, as mediated through the teachings, life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and as facilitated by the work of the Person of the Holy Spirit.

In the statement of the Law mentioned at the beginning of this blog, God defined the limits of marriage - it must be within the boundaries of the covenant. Why is this so? For inheritance sake. When marriages take place outside the covenant, more often than not spiritual and material inheritance is dissipated, and as a consequence the family entity is weakened. On the other hand, marriage within the covenant of God, is blessed by God and inheritance is compounded and the family unit is strengthened.

Yet, within this logically sensible boundary, God commands, 'Let them marry whom they think best, ...' Within the boundaries of the covenant there are simply no restrictions. Within the boundaries of the covenant there is enormous liberty. Within the boundaries of the covenant rational thought, emotional response and other considerations can be taken into consideration, and marriages can be arranged according to what the individuals consider to be the best combination of factors.

This is a context for enormous liberty.

Good on you N.T. Wright

2010-03-21T04:47:00.008+09:30

(Jesus) said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God ... because for this purpose I have been sent." (Luke 4:43)

I recently read the book, "Justification" by the Anglican Bishop, N.T. Wright. Whatever the reader's position on Wright's view of Justification, honest people must respond to his challenge that Evangelicals have often twisted the plain reading of Scripture to suit their presuppostion that the central focus of the purposes of God is the salvation and guarantee of a place in heaven for individuals.

Well, Jesus didn't seem to think that this was the central purpose for His incarnation. Accdording to the passage above, the central purpose was the preaching of the kingdom of God. Jesus' teaching only briefly intimated concerning life beyond the grave. However, He spent an enormous amount of time talking about how to live life now, today, in the context of His kingship and government through the operation of the Person of the Holy Spirit and the application of every word that continues to proceed from the mouth of God.

I loved reading Wright's book, and he seemed to tie together a lot of thoughts that have been bouncing around my head for many years. It has emboldened me to press on in the cause of being a part of the answer to Jesus' model prayer: " ... hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom COME, Your will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven."

Don't ever break the type

2010-03-13T04:33:00.003+09:30

Then the children of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there and was buried there. Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: “If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink.” So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” This was the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel contended with the LORD, and He was hallowed among them. (Numbers 20:1-13)

Why was God so angry with Moses in this instance? Previously Moses had struck the "Rock" and it gave water (c.f. Exodus 17:1-7), but this time, striking of the "Rock" resulted in Moses not being allowed to lead the Children of Israel into the land promised to them. Moses saw the land, but he never entered in (c.f. Exodus 3:23-29).

The key to understanding this passage is found in the Book of I Corinthians (I Corinthians 10:3-5); the Rock that followed the Children of Israel in the Wilderness was Christ. By striking the Rock the second time, Moses broke the type. Christ was to be crucified only once. He is not to be crucified over and over again. To do so is to make His Atonement of no greater effect than that of bulls, goats, sheep, doves, and all the other animals that were sacrificed over and over again under the Levitical sacrificial system.

Christ's once for all sacrifice is eternally efficacious. Now all we have to do is ask, and we shall receive all that is asked according to the will of the Father. This is why the Roman Catholic notion of Transubstantiation is such a wicked doctrine; it presents Christ as re-crucified over and over again; which can never be.

So, Who's the Fool?

2010-03-10T06:32:00.004+09:30

The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. (Psalm 53:1)

Recently Richard Dawkins was interviewed on television as he was preparing for the International Atheists Convention in Melbourne. Openly, publicly, unashamedly Richard Dawkins declares that for him and his companions, "There is no God."

The Holy Spirit, through the prophet David declares that such people are fools, and out of their foolishness no good can be done. They are a well-spring of abominable iniquity.

These are not my words, these are the words of the Living God, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Eternal Judge and only wise Saviour.

In time, all fools shall give an account of their foolishness. The Bible states: "The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom."

My prayer is that Richard Dawkins, and all like him, shall before their death learn the fear of God, and out of that fear, repent of their abominable iniquity, and face the Eternal Judge justified by the gace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He, and He alone, is our wisdom.

God does judge in time.

2010-02-28T23:28:00.005+09:30

This morning I listened to a sermon that I radically disagreed with. Our Rector expounded Luke 13:1-9, and came to the conclusion that a loving God does not judge individuals in this life, and that the calamities that befall men and nations are not from the hand of God.

¹ There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ² And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? ³ I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
⁶ He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. ⁷ Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ ⁸ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’”

The image of the fig tree is a repeated image throughout Scripture that represents Old Covenant Israel. The reference to the fig tree in this parable is primarily to the Israel of Jesus' day. He was portending the immanent 'charem' that was to be pronounced upon the nation, whose apostasy had become so serious, that it was to be judged irrevocably.

Sure, space was given for repentance, and the goodness and lovingkindness of the lord persevered for another 40 years after the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the tree did not bring forth the looked for fruit, and eventually was crushed to powder by the stone which was rejected.

Jesus was equalizing the sinfulness of His co-extant generation. The self-righteous sinners could not point to the victims of Pilate's bloodletting, and the catastrophe of the tower of Siloam and say that they were more righteous than those victims. God's judgments are not predictable specifically, but they are predictable inevitably. It is only genuine repentance that will stay the hand of God's judgment. And even though God may tarry, and give space for repentance, if there is no repentance, then rest assured, God will wipe the wicked from the face of the earth, because He is angry with the wicked every day. This is Bible, and this is the Word of the Lord.

The Rage of a Jealous Husband

2010-02-03T06:01:00.003+09:30

... jealousy is a husband's fury, therefore (He) will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will accept no recompense, nor will (He) be appeased though you give many gifts. (Proverbs 6:34-35)

The NIV translation puts it this way:

"... for jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse the bribe, however great it is."

We in the West live in a culture that has degenerated to such depths of moral laxity, that the full impact of this Scripture cannot be initially felt. The commentary in the Geneva Bible, on this passage, says:

"He (the writer of the Proverb) shows that man by nature seeks his death, that has abused his wife, and so concludes that neither God's Law nor the law of nature admits any ransom for the adultery."

God, on His part, is a jealous husband: "for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" (Exodus 34:14); "for your Maker is your husband, The LORD of hosts is His name;" (Isaiah 54:5).

God has a furious rage that is directed towards all suitors who seek to seduce His bride from Him. God is also angry with His bride who allows herself to be seduced. Who (or What) are these suitors? The Apostle James writes:

"You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? (James 4:3-5)

Pleasure seeking, in the context of worldliness, is an adulterous practice. The Holy Spirit, within the believer, is roused to jealousy, when we are seduced into a pleasure-seeking lifestyle.

Elsewhere it is written concerning such pleasure-seekers:

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (II Timothy 3:1-6)

In the Lord is to be found all the pleasures that will satisfy our desires and needs. To seek satisfaction in anyone, or anything, else is spiritual adultery. As a jealous husband, God's vengeful anger cannot be cooled down by bribes, gifts or any other attempts to placate His sense of indignation. Nothing short of death is adequate.

May the Lord teach us the fear of God. May we call on Him to grant us the spirit of repentance to turn away from all adulteries, which begin in the lust of worldly pleasure-seeking. Amen!

Praying Down Fire From Heaven

2010-01-10T22:37:00.008+09:30

A friend asked me to put down some thoughts on imprecatory prayer. At church today I was rebuked by a fellow parishioner for praying an imprecatory prayer. I was told, "It is wrong to pray something bad on someone else."

I had simply asked the Lord to frustrate the plans of the organizers of the Global Atheist Conference to be held in Melbourne this coming March.

What did Jesus teach concerning imprecatory prayer? Did I do the wrong thing in church this morning?

It is my conviction that the heresy of pietism has driven imprecatory prayer out of the intercessions of the church in session, and this is one of the reasons why evil seems to be on the rise in our generation.

We can find many prayers of imprecation in the Old Testament, and there are several Psalms that are dedicated to imprecation. I will come back to those later. However, there is much regarding prayers of imprecation in the New Testament, and Jesus actually commanded His disciples to pray in an inprecatory way. Jesus prayed imprecatory prayers, Paul prayed imprecatory prayers, the Apostles prayed imprecatory prayers, and the congregations of the early church prayed imprecatory prayers, especially as they prayed through the book of Psalms as their guide to praying. Were all these wrong?

Let us explore some of the Scritpures, as they relate to prayers of imprecation:

1. (Matthew 21:18 ff.) Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry, and seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither away so soon?" So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea, whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. ... Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that he was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.

Both the fig tree (Judges 9:10) and the mountain (Daniel 9:16) are Old Testament pictures of the Jewish nation. Jesus cursed the fig tree because of its fruitlessness, portending the destruction that was to come in AD 70 because apostate Judaism was not producing the fruit of the Kingdom of God. Then, having demonstrated to the disciples what was to come, he then commanded them to pray in that destruction: "... say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea, whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." To say that Jesus was talking about going around cursing trees, and uprooting geographical features and by some trick of levitation, dumping them into the sea is ludicrous. God is not the God of chaos, and He will not ask us to create a chaos of His creation in this way.

However, if we understand what the types were pointing to, then what Jesus was saying to the disciples was this: "The Jewish nation has become fruitless. They have sinned to the point of Judicial blindness, and it is time to place them under the curse of the cherem (to devote to religious uses - especially destruction [see Malachi 4:6]). If you, the disciples, will pray in faith, then you will see the Jewish nation lifted from its place in the land, and drowned in the sea of gentilic dispersion."

The Book of Revelation reveals that the first century Christians actually prayed these imprecatory prayers in the period leading up to the destruction of the city and the temple in AD 70. Revelation 6:9-10 states: "When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Revelation 8:3-6: "Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. ..."

2. Matthew 16:18-19 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Here, the Lord Jesus commanded Peter, and in Peter all church leaders, to bind and loose. This implies blessing and imprecation. If someone's sins are bound to him (because he refuses to repent of them, for instance), then he has been committed to the judgments of God, and ultimately, if there is no repentance after the judgments of God have been implemented, then eternal damnation. Paul later talks of this process when he writes: "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 5:4-5). This is practical imprecation as it relates to members of the church, and it is to be exercised in the context of the assembled congregation, under the direction of properly ordained church leadership.

3. Paul writes: I Corinthians 16:22: "If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema (accursed - set aside for destruction). Maranatha (come Lord - to execute your judgments upon the unbelievers)".

Galatians 1:8: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema - be set aside for destruction)".

In these passages, and other passages, the Apostle Paul prayed imprecatory prayers against unbelievers in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

4. The Old Testament psalms have been appointed to be read and sung by the church throughout its history. To read the imprecatory psalms, or to to sing them with faith, is to pray their content. Besides the list of Psalms that are dedicated to imprecation (Ps. 5, 7, 35, 58, 68, 69, 73, 83, 109, 137, 140), many of the Psalms have imprecatory portions (e.g., Ps. 1:4-6; 3:7; 6:8-10; 34:16; 37:12-15; 54:7; 104:35; 139:19-22). And according to David Chilton, in his book, the Days of Vengeance, "... all the Psalms are implicitly imprecatory, in that the blessings of the righteous are mentioned with the corollary assumed: The wicked are cursed."

Many modern liturgies have awkward dissections of the Psalms read or sung, removing the imprecatory bits. But this is artificial, is not in the flow of general church history, and has weakened the modern church's resolve against evil in the nation. A church that will not call down God's judgment upon wickedness in the marketplace, will itself, eventually, be over-run by the wicked, and receive God's judgment for liturgical disobedience.

5. The Apostle John writes: "For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an anti-Christ. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds" (2 John 7-11). Jude wrote: "Michael the archangel ... said, 'The Lord rebuke you!"

We are not to entertain those who are of the spirit of ant-Christ; we are not to receive them into our homes, and in fact we are to pray over them: "The Lord rebuke you!" an imprecatory prayer.

I would like to sum up with a large quote from David Chilton. His book, The Days of Vengeance, is a commentary on the Book of Revelation, and for me, is the only commentary that comes any where near resolving some of the very difficult passages in the book:

"... the breaking of the Fifth Seal reveals a scene in heaven, where the souls of those who had been slain are underneath, or around the base of, the altar. The image is taken from the Old Testament sacrifices, in which the blood of the slain victim would stream down the sides of the altar and form into a pool around its base ("the soul [Heb. nephesh] of the flesh is in the blood," Lev. 17:11). The blood of the martyrs has been poured out (cf. 2 Tim. 4:6), and as it fills the trench below the altar it cries out from the ground with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood upon those who dwell on the Land? The Church in heaven agrees with the cherubim in calling forth God's judgments: How Long? is a standard phrase throughout Scripture for invoking divine justice for the oppressed (cf. Ps. 6:3; 13:1-2; 35:17; 74:10; 79:5; 80:4; 89:46; 90:13; 94:3-4; Hab. 1:2; 2:6). The particular background for its use here, however, is again in the prophecy of Zecharaiah (1:2): After the Four Horsemen have patrolled through the earth, the angel asks, "O LORD of Hosts, how long wilt Thou have no compassion for Jerusalem?" St. John reverses this. After his Four Horsemen have been sent on their mission, he shows the martyrs asking how long God will continue to put up with Jerusalem. St. John's readers would not have failed to notice another subtle point: If the martyr's blood is flowing around the base of the altar, it must be the priests of Jerusalem who have spilled it. The officers of the Covenant have slain the righteous. As Jesus and the apostles testified, Jerusalem was the murderer of the prophets (Matt. 23:34-37; Luke 13:33; Acts 7:51-52). The connection with "the blood of Abel" crying out from the ground near the altar (Gen. 4:10) is another indication that the passage as a whole refers to judgment upon Jerusalem (cf. Matt. 23:35-37). Like Cain, the "older brothers" of the Old Covenant envied and murdered their righteous "younger brothers" of the New Covenant (cf. I John 3:11-12). And so the blood of the righteous cries out: The saints pray that Christ's prophecy of "the days of vengeance" (Luke 21:22) will be fulfilled.

That this blunt cry for vengeance strikes us as strange just show how far our pietistic age has degenerated from the Biblical worldview. If our churches were more acquainted with the foundational hymnbook of the Church, the Psalms, instead of the sugary, syrupy, sweetness-and-light choruses that characterize modern evangelical hymnals, we would understand this much easier. But we have fallen under a pagan delusion that it is somehow "unchristian" to pray for God's wrath to be poured out upon the enemies and persecutors of the Church. Yet that is what we see God's people doing, with God's approval, in both Testaments of the Holy Scriptures. It is, in fact, a characteristic of the godly man that he despises the reprobate (Ps. 15:4). The spirit expressed in the imprecatory prayers of Scripture is a necessary aspect of the Christian's attitude (cf. 2 Timothy 4:14). Much of the impotence of the churches today is directly attributable to the fact that they have become emasculated and effeminate. Such churches, unable even to confront evil--much less "overcome" it--will eventually be captured and dominated by their enemies." (pp.193-195)

Conquer, or be conquered! Overcome, or be overcome! This is the battle cry of the Bible-believing Church. But the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (they are not to be guns, riots, rebellion, and such like). The weapons of our warfare are mighty through God; they are strong to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. The weapons of our warfare include, as one of a range of weapons, imprecatory prayer.

The Geneva Bible 1560 Edition

2009-12-14T23:32:00.012+09:30

To the Most Virtuous and Noble Queen Elizabeth, Queen of England, France and Ireland, etc. Your humble subjects of the English Church at Geneva, wish grace and peace from God the Father through Christ Jesus our Lord.

How hard a thing it is, and what great impediments let, to enterprise any worthy act, not only daily experience sufficiently shows (most noble and virtuous Queen) but also that notable proverb does confirm the same, which admonishes us, that all things are hard which are fair and excellent. And what enterprise can there be of greater importance, and more acceptable unto God, or more worthy of singular commendation, than the building of the Lord's Temple, the house of God, the Church of Christ, whereof the Son of God is the head and perfection?

When Zerubbabel went about to build the material Temple, according to the commandment of the Lord, what difficulties and stays daily arose to hinder his worthy endeavours, the books of Ezra and Esdras plainly witness how that not only he and the people of God were sore molested with foreign adversaries, (whereof some maliciously warred against them, and corrupted the King's officers: and others craftily practised under pretence of religion) but also at home with domestic enemies, as false Prophets, crafty worldlings, faint-hearted soldiers, and oppressors of their brethren, who as well by false doctrine and lies, as by subtle counsel, cowardice, and extortion, discouraged the hearts almost of all: so that the Lord's work was not only interrupted and left off for a long time, but scarcely at the length with great labour and danger after a sort brought to pass.

Which thing, when we weigh aright, and consider earnestly how much greater charge God has laid upon you in making a builder of his spiritual Temple, we can not but partly fear, knowing the craft and force of Satan our spiritual enemy, and the weakness and unability of this our nature: and partly fervent in our prayers toward God that he would bring to perfection this noble work which he has begun by you: and therefore we endeavour ourselves by all means to aid, and to bestow our whole force under your grace's standard, whom God has made as our Zerubbabel for the erecting of this most excellent Temple, and to plant and maintain his holy word to the advancement of his glory, for your own honour and salvation of our soul, and for the singular comfort of that great flock which Christ Jesus the great shepherd has bought with his precious blood, and committed unto your charge to be fed both in body and soul.

Considering therefore how many enemies there are, which by one means or other, as the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin went about to stay the building of that Temple, so labour to hinder the course of this building (whereof some are Papists, who under pretence of savouring God's words, traitorously seek to erect idolatry and to destroy your majesty: some are worldlings, what as Demas have forsaken Christ for the love of this world: others are ambitious prelates, who as Amasiah and Diotrephes can abide none but themselves: as Demetrius many practise sedition to maintain their errors) we persuaded ourselves that there was no way so expedient and necessary for the preservation of the one, and the destruction of the other, as to present unto your Majesty the holy Scriptures faithfully and plainly translated according to the languages wherein they were first written by the holy ghost. For the word of God is an evident token of God's love and our assurance of his defence, wheresoever it is obediently received: it is the trial of the spirits: and as the Prophet says, It is a fire and a hammer to break the stony hearts of them that resist God's mercies offered by the preaching of the same. Yes, it is sharper than any two edged sword to examine the very thoughts and to judge the affections of the heart, and to discover whatsoever lies hidden under hypocrisy and would be secret from the face of God and his Church. So that this must be the first foundation and groundwork, according whereunto the good stones of this building must be framed, and the evil tried out and rejected.

Now as he that goes about to lay a foundation surely, first takes away such impediments, as might justly either hurt, let or disform the work: so is it necessary that your grace's zeal appear herein, that neither the crafty persuasion of man, neither worldly policy, or natural fear dissuade you to root out, cut down and destroy these weeds and impediments which do not only deface your building, but utterly endeavour, yes and threaten the ruin thereof. For when the noble Josias enterprised the like kind of work, among other notable and many things he destroyed, not only with utter confusion the idols with their appertinances, but also burnt (in sign of detestation) the idolatrous priests' bones upon their altars, and put to death the false prophets and sorcerers, to perform the words of the Law of God: and therefore the Lord gave him good success and blessed him wonderfully, so long as he made God's word his line and rule to follow, and enterprised nothing before he had inquired at the mouth of the Lord.

And if these zealous beginnings seem dangerous and to breed disquietness in your dominions, yet by the story of King Asa it is manifest, that the quietness and peace of kingdoms stands in the utter abolishing of idolatry, and in advancing of true religion: for in his days Judah lied in rest and quietness for the space of thirty-five years, till at length he began to be cold in the zeal of the Lord, feared the power of man, imprisoned the Prophet of God, and oppressed the people: then the Lord sent him wars and at length took him away by death.

Wherefore great wisdom, not worldly, but heavenly is here required, which you grace must earnestly crave of the Lord, as did Solomon, to whom God gave and understanding heart to judge his people aright, and to discern between good and bad. For if God for the furnishing of the old temple gave the Spirit of wisdom and understanding to them that should be the workmen thereof, as to Bezeleel, Aholiab, and Hiram: how much more will he imbue your grace and other godly princes and chief governors with a principal Spirit, that you may procure and command things necessary for this most holy Temple, foresee and take heed of things that might hinder it, and ablish and destroy whatsoever might impare and overthrow the same?

Moreover the marvellous diligence and zeal of Jehoshaphat, Josiah, and Hezekiah ar by the singular providence of God left as an example to all godly rulers to reform their countries and to establish the word of God with all speed, lest the wrath of the Lord fall upon them for the neglecting thereof. For these excellent Kings did not only embrace the word promptly and joyfully, but also procured earnestly and commanded the same to be taught, preached and maintained through all their countries and dominions, binding them and all their subjects both great and small with solemn protestations and covenants before God to obey the word, and to walk after the ways of the Lord. Yes and in the days of King Asa it was enacted that whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel, should be slain, whether he were small or great, man or woman. And for the establishing hereof and performance of this solemn oath, as well Priests as Judges were appoointed and placed through all the cities of Judah to instruct the people in the true knowledge and fear of God, and to minister justice according to the word, knowing that, except God by his word did reign in the hearts and souls, all man's diligence and endeavours were of none effect: for without this word we cannot discern between justice, and injury, protection and oppression, wisdom and foolishness, knowledge and ignorance, good and evil. Therefore the Lord, who is the chief governor of his Church, wills that nothing be attempted before we have inquired thereof at his mouth. For seeing he is God, of duty we must give him this pre-eminence, that of ourselves we enterprise nothing, but that which he has appointed, who only knows all things, and governs them as may best serve to his glory and our salvation. We aught not therefore to prevent him, or do anything without his word, but as soon as he has revelied his will, immediately to put it into execution.

No as concerning the manner of this building, it is not according to man, nor after the wisdom of the flesh, but of the Spirit, and according to the word of God, whose ways are divers from man's ways. For if it was not lawful for Moses to build the material Tabernacle after any other sort than God had showed him by a pattern, neither to prescribe any other ceremonies and laws than such as the Lord had expressly commanded: how can it be lawful to proceed in this spiritual building any other ways, than Jesus Christ the Son of God, who is both the foundation, head and chief cornerstone thereof, has commanded by his word? And for as such as he has established and left an order in his Church for the building up of his body, appointing some to be Apostles, some Prophets, others Evangelists, some pastors, and teachers, he signifies that every one according as he is placed in this body which is the Church, aught to inquire of his ministries concerning the will of the Lord, which is revealed in his word. For they are, says Jeremiah, as the mouth of the Lord: yes he promises to be with their mouth, and that their lips shall keep knowledge, and that the truth and the law shall be in their mouth. For it is their office chiefly to understand the Scriptures and teach them. for this cause the people of Israel in matters of difficulty used to ask the Lord either by the Prophets, or by the means of the High Priest, who bare Urim and Thummim, which were tokens of light and knowledge, of holiness and perfection which should be in the Hight Priest. Therefore when Jehoshaphat took this order in the Church of Israel, he appointed Amariah to be the chief concerning the word of God, because he was most expert in the law of the Lord, and could give counsel and govern according unto the same. Else there is no degree or office which may have that authority and privilege to decide concerning God's word, except withall he has the Spirit of God, and sufficient knowledge and judgement to define according thereunto. And as every one is imbued of God with greater gifts, so aught he to be herein chiefly heard, or at least that without the express word none be heard: for he that has not the word, speaks not by the mouth of the Lord. Again, what danger it is to do any thing, seem it never so godly or necessary, without consulting with God's mouth, the examples of the Israelites, deceived hereby through the Gibeonites: and of Saul, whose intention seemed good and necessary: and of Josiah also, who for great considerations was moved for the defence of true religion and his people, to fight against Pharoah Necho King of Egypt, my sufficiently admonish us.

Last of all (most gracious Queen) for the advancement of this building and rearing up of the work, two things are necessary, First, that we have a lively and steadfast faith in Christ Jesus, who must dwell in our hearts, as the only means and assurance of our salvation: for he is the ladder that reaches from the earth toheaven: he lifts up his Church and sets it in the heavenly places: he makes us lively stones and builds us upon himself: he joins us to himself as the members and body to the head: yes he makes himself and his Church one Christ. The next is, that our faith bring forth good fruits, so that our godly conversation may serve us as a witness to confirm our election, and be an example to all others to walk as appertains to the vocation whereunto they are called: lest the word of God be evil spoken of, and this building be stayed to grow up to a just height, which cannot be without the great provocation of God's just vengeance and discouraging of many thousands through all the world, if they should see that our lives were not holy ad agreeable to our profession. For the eyes of all that fear God in all places behold your countries as an example to all that believe, and the prayers of all the godly at all times are directed to God for the preservation of your majesty. For considering God's wonderful mercies toward you at all seasons, who has pulled you out of the mouth of the lions, and how that from your youth you have been brought up in the holy Scriptures, the hope of all men is so increased, that they cannot but look that God should bring to pass some wonderful work by your grace to the universal comfort of his Church. Therefore even above strength you must show your self strong and bold in God's matters: and though Satan layall his power and craft together to hurt and hinder the Lord's building: yet be you assured that God will fight from heaven against this great dragon, the ancient serpent, which is called the devil and Satan, till he has accomplished the whole work and made his Church glorious to himself, without spot of wrinkle. For albeit all other kingdoms and monarchies, as the Babylonians, Persians, Grecians and Romans have fallen and taken end: yet the Church of Christ even under the Cross has from the beginning of the world been victorious, and shall be everlastingly. Truth it is, that sometime it seems to be shadowed with a cloud, or driven with a stormy persecution, yet suddenly the beams of Christ the sun of justice shine and bring it to light and liberty. If for a time it lie covered with ashes, yet it is quickly kindled again by the wind of God's Spirit: though it seem drowned in the sea, or parched and pined in the in the wilderness, yet God gives ever good success, for he punishes the enemies, and delivers his, nourishes them and still preserves them under his wings. This Lord of lords and King of kings who has ever defended his, strengthen, comfort and preserve your majesty, that you may be able to build up the ruins of God's house to his glory, the discharge of your conscience, and to the comfort of all them that love the coming of Christ Jesus our Lord.

From Geneva, 10 April, 1560

Have the mind of Christ

2009-12-09T06:33:00.003+09:30

... that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:4-8)

The mind of the Holy Spirit is of the same mind as Christ, and the mind of the Holy Spirit is set on the "righteous requirements of the law." If we are to have the mind of Christ, then we need to think His thoughts after Him. It is the Holy Spirit who teaches us the thoughts of Christ, and these are taught through the law of God, as recorded in the Bible.

If we are to be spiritual, then we are to be found meditating in God's law day and night. The enemy of God is a carnal mind, and such a mind is not subject to the law of God, and such a mind cannot please God.

The mind of Christ ranges all of life, in every context. If we truly have the mind of Christ, then our thoughts will be relevant to every situation in this life, and we will be properly fit for the life to come.

... we establish the Law.

2009-12-07T06:38:00.005+09:30

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law. (Romans 3:27-31)

Those who are truly justified by faith will be so changed in their heart, that where before they hated the Law of God, now the Holy Spirit within them will cry, "Oh how I love Thy Law! It is my meditation all the day."

We are saved by grace through faith; not of works, so that no man may boast any kind of contribution to salvation. Our salvation is all of Him, and to Him we owe eternal gratitude. On the other hand, the Law is not made void through such faith. In fact, the Law of God is established as the measure of sanctification. All who truly believe, will, over time, progressively become more and more a keeper of God's Law; not out of compulsion, but out of love and gratitude for His wonderful grace.

How can anyone who has been saved from his sin, and the consequences of sin, want to return to the pig-pen of a sinful life? The Bible says, "... sin is transgression of the Law ...)

We serve whom?

2009-12-05T05:00:00.004+09:30

... He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. (II Corinthians 5:15)

Evidence of a changed heart is a changed motivation for life. Those who truly have been born again are spoiled for anything and everything that is less than a 100% commitment to doing the will of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ; no cost spared.

A Christian does not serve other causes, nor does he serve other men. A Christian serves the Lord Jesus Christ, and seeks to do all things in obedience to His commandments.

Oh Lord! Is that my motivation, or have I compromised in any way! Lord, please show me my heart and ensure that I live only for the glory of Your Name and the extension of Your Kingdom, in time and on earth.

Amen!

Keep the commandments of God; that is what matters

2009-11-30T06:49:00.004+09:30

But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. (I Corinthians 7:17-19)

In this passage, the Apostle Paul very clearly resolves the conundrum of whether we are under the Law or under grace. The external, religious rituals of the Law are done away with, in Christ Jesus. However, the clear moral commandments of the Law continue, and are "what matters."

Jews were so caught up with ceremonial minutiae, that they made an external, religious ritual a substitute for obedience; circumcision, for instance, was considered a protection against judgement for committing adultery (circumcision serving as a talisman).

Well, without the circumcision of the heart, circumcision of the flesh was nothing; and continues to be nothing. There are some health benefits for circumcision, but no eternal benefits. However, there are eternal benefits for remaining faithful to the wife (husband) of one's youth.

We are not saved by our good works (circumcision, animal sacrifice, keeping of the feasts and religious rituals) ... we are saved for good works (worship of the Triune God, respect for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, true sabbath rest, respect for parents and those in properly constituted authority, hard word at a vocation, and so forth) which God has prepared before hand that we should walk in them; these are the commandments of which Paul says, "keeping the commandments of God is what matters."

Preach and teach the resurrection of Jesus Christ

2009-11-26T07:02:00.003+09:30

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. (Acts 17:30-31)

God commands repentance of all men, He does not invite them to think about whether they would like to make Him their Heavenly Santa. The options are:

1. Repent and live a holy life before a holy God; or
2. Be judged with the world by the Lord Jesus Christ, against His standard of righteousness.

Christ's raising from the dead was the evidence that this is true. The resurrection, therefore, is the most critical doctrine of the Christian Church, and needs to be a central focus of our preaching and teaching.

Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”
(Acts 17:2-3)

Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. (Acts 17:18b)

Overcome the world!

2009-11-25T06:02:00.003+09:30

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:3-5)

Elsewhere the Scriptures say:

'And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”' (Acts 2:40)

And further the Scriptures say:

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (I John 2:15-16)

We live in an evil age, in a perverse generation, where the world system has pervaded. It is so tempting to fall into despair. However, the Bible says:

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

... they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (II Peter 2:20)

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (I John 4:4)

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (I John 5:3-5)

Be not overcome by the world and its evil and perverse generation, but overcome through abiding faith in the the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the resurrected Son of God, Who alone can save us from Sin, Satan, the World and the Flesh. Amen!

Let me remove the speck from your eye.

2009-11-22T07:50:00.004+09:30

Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20)

Jesus said that we are to love our neighbour as ourselves. Part of our loving one another as Jesus loved us is to look out for one another. This means that there will be times when we must point out sin and error in the life and testimony of others. To fail to do so is to wish judgement and death upon our erring brother.

The safe-guard, however, is in Jesus commandment:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)

As we allow the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin, and lead us to repentance, then we are made fit to help others walk away from their sins. The goal is that we will all walk a sanctified life, progressively becoming more and more consistent in lifestyle with what God declared us to be when He justified us through the atonement of Jesus Christ upon the cross of Calvary.

Is a church to have a minister or ministers?

2009-11-21T04:47:00.005+09:30

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. (Acts 13:1-3)

The Church at Antioch had a range of church officers, which included the ministries of prophet and teacher. These prophets did several things:

1. They ministered to the Lord.
2. The fasted.
3. They prayed.
4. They heard the Holy Spirit speaking to them.
5. They received instructions from the Holy Spirit.
6. They laid hands upon others, setting them aside for a specific task.
7. They gave authoritative instruction.

These prophets and teachers were Elders of the Church who had specific roles: some as prophets and some as teachers. Amongst the Eldership there may also have been: Apostles, Evangelists and Pastors. These five ministries (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers) Paul tells us, are gifts that have been given to the church for a specific purpose:

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:11-16)

The church in our day needs these five ministries to be operating, and each of the ministries given room to function as God intended them to. They were not just ministries for the first century church, they continue to be necessary gifts to the church so that the Body of Christ may grow up into the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ

Oh how I love Thy Law! It is my meditation all the day.

2009-11-19T06:50:00.003+09:30

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:34-43)

There is no such thing as Christianity without good works. We are not saved by our good works, we are saved by grace through faith; and God has chosen from the foundation of the earth such as shall be saved, and who shall be condemned. However, without good works, there is no evidence of saving faith; the good works are the evidence that we were made acceptable to God through the atoning work of Jesus Christ upon the Cross of Calvary.

What constitutes a good work? Those deeds which are righteous. And what constitutes a righteous deed? Those deeds which are in accordance with God's righteous and holy Law. Sin is the transgression of God's Law. Our acts of transgression of God's Law are remitted through faith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the remission of our sins is not so that we may become Lawless. Rather, the remission of our sins is so that we may love God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength, and in so doing, progressively become more and more a keeper of God's Law and less and less lawless.

Oh what a glorious Word!

2009-11-18T06:09:00.004+09:30

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this:

“ He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
³³ In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.”

So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. (Acts 8:26-40)

Philip was spoken to by an angel, then by the Holy Spirit, and finally an Ethiopian Eunuch responded positively to the message that Philip presented to him. No wonder Philip's tongue became lucid, such that he was able to open the Scriptures, preaching Jesus from city to city.

We also have a sure word that was delivered by angels and inspired by the Holy Spirit. That sure word is the Bible; the inerrant, infallible, relevant, cosmic Word of the Living God.

Oh Lord! So fill me with love for your Word, that I cannot but preach from house to house, city to city until the whole world is turned right side up at the preaching of Jesus Christ and His glorious Kingdom; His resurrection and enthronement.

Are the elements of the Communion merely symbols?

2009-11-15T07:12:00.004+09:30

And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. (Luke 24:35)

There are dimensions to the Lord's Supper (the Eucharist, the Table of the Lord, the 'breaking of bread') that are not appreciated in many Evangelical churches because of their reductionist view that the Communion is simply a symbolic act.

As John Calvin wrote:

"... the apostle said, "The bread which we break is a participation in the body of Christ; the cup which we consecrate to this by word and prayers is a participation in his blood" [ICor. 10:16p., order changed]. There is no reason for anyone to object that this is a figurative expression by which the name of the thing signified is given to the sign. I indeed admit that the breaking of bread is a symbol; it is not the thing itself. But, by having admitted this, we shall nevertheless duly infer that by the showing of the symbol the thing itself is also shown. For unless a man means to call God a deceiver, he would never dare assert that an empty symbol is set forth by him. there fore, if the Lord truly represents the participation in his body through the breaking of bread, there ought not to be the least doubt that he truly presents and shows his body. And the godly ought by all means to keep this rule: whenever they see symbols appointed by the Lord, to think and be persuaded that they truth of the thing signified is surely present there. For why should the Lord put in your hand the symbol of his body, except to assure you of a true participation in it? But if it is true that a visible sign is given us to seal the gift of a thing invisible, when we have received the symbol of the body, let us no less surely trust that the body itself is also given to us." [pp.1370-1371 Institutes of the Christian Religion Vol. 2]

Behold the Man!

2009-11-13T06:03:00.003+09:30

Then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
He answered him and said, “It is as you say.”(Luke 23:3)

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” (John 18:36-38)

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, “I am,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am. (John 18:4-8)

Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” (John 19:5)

In the discourses between Jesus, Pilate and those who came to arrest Jesus, the spiritual condition of Pilate and the others was made plain; all were men of the flesh, and were spiritually blind.

By declaring Himself to be, "I am" Jesus was ascribing to Himself the Eternal name of God that was revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:14); yet after all his discourse with Jesus, Pilate declares, "Behold the man." Pilate admitted Jesus to be the "King of the Jews," but did not have the spiritual eyes to recognise Jesus for who He really was, the King of kings and the ruler of the entire Universe.

Too many of us are locked into a perception of Christ after the flesh. Yes, He is the Son of Man, and dwelt amongst us as one of us, yet at the very same time, He is the Son of God. We celebrate Christmas year by year, and meditate upon the baby in a manger; a Jesus that we can control and be emotional about. However, in His ascended glory, Jesus is now an awesome King to Whom we owe unflinching allegiance and obedience:

¹ Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
² The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
³ “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”

⁴ He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
⁵ Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
⁶ “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion (the Church).”

⁷ “I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. ⁹ You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”

¹⁰ Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. ¹² Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (Psalm 2)

¹¹ Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³ He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. ¹⁵ Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16)

Where are the bounds of grace?

2009-11-12T05:23:00.005+09:30

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. (Matthew 27:15-26)

The grace of God is not to be presumed upon, and although it is enormous and beyond our reckoning, it has its Biblically defined limits. There are very few times in Scripture where God says, "I will not forgive." However, there do exist instances of such excessive sin that God pronounces the end of His grace:

(Matthew 12:22-32) Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

(Romans 1:18-32) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

(II Kings 21:16) Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin by which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the LORD. (II Kings 24:3-5) Surely at the commandment of the LORD this came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, and also because of the innocent blood that he had shed; for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the LORD would not pardon. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

(I John 5:16-17) If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

The grace of God ended for the nation of Israel when the leaders of the people evoked upon themselves, their children and their children's children the curse of innocent blood; a sin which God says that He "would not pardon." The grace of God ends for those cultures that allow the politicisation of homosexual behaviour; of which God says that He gave them over to because of their wilful idolatry. The grace of God ends for those who attribute the work of God's Holy Spirit to Satan; a sin of which God says there is no forgiveness, neither in this life or in the life to come. God also says that there is a sin which leads to dead, and we are forbidden to pray for those who commit such a sin. We are to pray for those who do not commit such sins leading to death.

Very clearly, the Bible indicates that there is a limit to the grace of God. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God, and we utterly depend upon the grace of God to keep us within the bounds of the grace of God.

Oh Lord! Keep thy servant back from presumptuous sins. Amen!

Do we pray as Jesus prayed?

2009-11-11T04:07:00.004+09:30

“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. (John 17:6-10)

Jesus does not pray for the world; He prays for those who were given to Him by the Father. Jesus loves His own; all who belong to the Father. To the Christians, Jesus said:

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you." (John 14:12-14)

Elsewhere, Christians are commanded:

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (I John 2:15-16)

The focus of our prayer life must echo the payers of Jesus.

Is this really modern Europe?

2009-11-09T05:49:00.004+09:30

Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly. Matthew (26:69-75)

Last night I gave in to my wife and went to a movie that she said she really wanted to see. She had read the review, and it sounded really good. I do not recommend the movie. It was pornographic and depressing.

However, it did give an insight into why much of Christian Europe has been visited with judgements and is poised for yet greater judgements to come. Europe has betrayed the Lord, squandered its inheritance and denied its heritage of Christian scholarship.

Throughout his journey through Christian Europe, interacting with people from the nations of Greece, Italy, Spain, Germany and France, the muslim lead in the film is subjected to nudism, homosexual rape, seduction, gluttony, drunkenness, racism, commercial exploitation of illegal immigrant labour, pornography, and much more.

The conclusion to the film is that "magic" is the salvation and only hope of the world, but even the magician, who teaches the magic, is a conman in the end. The final message of the film is that you have to exercise your own magic and remake the world after your own imagination.

If this is the Europe that Europe has become, and if this is the gospel that the glorious Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has degenerated to, then no wonder the Islamic world is rising in protest, and successfully spreading its influence.

I have no doubt that there will come a day when the word of the Lord shall be fulfilled: "But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." However, it took 470 years from the time of God's announcement of His curse upon Israel's degenerate condition in Malachi, to the final, irrevocable, destruction of the Temple and the City in AD 70. God will have to deal with the degenerate cesspool that now seems to be modern Europe, and give his Kingdom to another nation producing the fruit of it.

I feel so violated by the film; intellectually, emotionally and spiritually defiled. I certainly will not be listening to my wife's request to go to the movies in the very near future, if ever again.

Much of Europe's demise is the consequence of the Great Reformers' neglect of the Law of God as the measure of the Holy Spirit's work of sanctification, and their failure to apply the Law of God as the Law-base of their political structures. When we compromise with the truth, even in just a small way, the accumulated consequences, over time, result in a degeneracy of culture that often requires destruction and starting all over again.

Civilisations have come and gone in the past. They will come and go in the future, but one day:

The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power; in the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth. The LORD has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries. He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; therefore He shall lift up the head. (Psalm 110)

Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.” “I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (Psalm 2)

Do we live in a "Sheep Nation" or a "Goat Nation"?

2009-11-08T04:42:00.005+09:30

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

for I was hungry and you gave Me food;

I was thirsty and you gave Me drink;

I was a stranger and you took Me in;

I was naked and you clothed Me;

I was sick and you visited Me;

I was in prison and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)

Only a few days ago, I heard it said that there are many nations that are not able to run organisations that depend upon donations (such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service). The reason is that the people of those nations DO NOT GIVE DONATIONS and cannot raise volunteers to collect donations.

It is very interesting to note that the difference is in the historic response to the Gospel, and the preaching of the Law of God.

Those nations which have been officially "Christian" nations, and have had the Law of God preached are the nations that do support organisations which depend upon public donations. Those nations which do not have a Christian heritage are unable to both support organisations which depend upon public donations, and do experience general poverty throughout the nation.

At the end of time there will be both sheep nations and goat nations; and their ongoing inheritance will depend upon their obedience to God's Law in relation to caring for the poor, the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, the prisoner, and so on.

Are you feeding or fleecing the sheep?

2009-11-07T08:50:00.005+09:30

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:45-51)

The Master is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Household is the Church. The servant is the church officer appointed by the Lord to feed the members of the Household.

There are both wise and faithful servants, and there are evil servants. Church officers need to regularly search their hearts and consider whether they are feeding or fleecing the sheep.

There are serious temporal and eternal sanctions for those who are negligent in their duties.

Walk in the Light!

2009-11-03T07:27:00.004+09:30

"... While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “ Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:
“ He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”

These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. (John 12:35-41)

Elsewhere I have spoken of judicial blindness. This is a very real condition, and those who find themselves in that condition cannot see their own state.

The Anglican order of service is designed to help communicants walk in the light. The preaching of the Word of God and the affirmation of the historic creeds of the church precede the searching of the soul, personal confession of sin, absolution and covenant renewal in the taking of the communion.

Those who have eyes to see, and ears to hear, week-by-week, have an opportunity to maintain their personal sanctification before the Lord, and thus, "walk in the light as He is in the light."

This is not to say that the Anglican Church is the perfect church; it is not. However, there is much that God-fearing Christians can learn from the liturgy of the Anglican Church.

All Christians need to learn how to walk in the light, otherwise they risk the pronouncement upon themselves that Jesus declared over the apostate Jews: "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them."

Judicial Blindness!

2009-11-02T06:15:00.003+09:30

"Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:41-44)

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. Several times, God identifies that judicial blindness is a real possibility for those who wilfully, stubbornly, and continuously live in sin without repentance. The end of the road for judicial blindness is destruction.

On a daily basis we need to ask the Lord, as David asked:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

And when the Lord reveals to us those things that are impediments to our peace with God and with our fellow believers, then we need to renounce our sin, and ask the Lord to cleanse us and give us a new heart.

The Church's Greatest Rival

2009-10-31T05:09:00.002+09:30

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:29)

God has appointed three Institutions which are established on Covenantal Oath, require Covenantal renewal, and bear covenantal sanctions. These three Institutions are: the family, the church and civil government (often called, 'the State'). Of these three, the church is the most foundational and has the highest priority in the purposes of God. Jesus identified the patriarchal family as the greatest hindrance in the dominion work of the Kingdom of God; His criticisms towards idolatrous family ties were much stronger than His criticisms of the State:

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:26).

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it (Matthew 10:34-39).

Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom. For son dishonors father, daughter rises against her mother, daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own household. Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. (Micah 7:5-7)

The church is the only protection that the family has against an oppressive state. A strong family, in the context of a weak church , will always side with the State. An oppressive State can only be subdued by a strong church, for it is the church to which Jesus has given the keys of the Kingdom of God (they have been given neither to the State, nor to the family):

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter (a small stone), and on this rock (a large rock = the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (neither the Patriarchal family, nor the oppressive State) shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-19)

Despite all her faults, we are to love the church, as Christ loved her and gave His life for her.

You have to read this

2009-10-26T22:06:00.002+09:30

I have been away for the last five days, so have not been able to keep up with my daily meditations.

The following blog is a must read:
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2065_why_was_zedekiah_roasted_in_the_fire/

God bless you all.

Bridge

So, what do the signs of our time indicate?

2009-10-20T06:51:00.003+09:30

Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed. (Matthew 16:1-4)

Much of Christendom has walked away from a conviction that God's Law still applies, and that departures from the revealed will of God (as enunciated in the Law of God) will result in God's judgements on earth and in time -- before the final judgement at the Consummative return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

If we truly fear God, then the signs of our time are obvious. We are in a period of history that reflects many of the qualities that exemplified the period leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70. That period was a time when there was a transference of Kingdom responsibilities and positive sanctions from one nation to another; from the Jewish nation, to the nation of king/priests called the church:

"Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." (Matthew 21:43-44)

Every manifestation of the church in the world at this moment is not in rebellion against the revealed will of God, but many local expressions are, and many denominational confederations of churches are. As Peter wrote:

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? (I Peter 4:17)

I fear God. I believe in the ongoing eschatalogical visitations of the Lord Jesus Christ, looking for the fruit of the Kingdom of God amongst those who call themselves, "Christians".

¹⁹ Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
²⁰ For they speak against You wickedly;
Your enemies take Your name in vain.
²¹ Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
²² I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
²⁴ And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:19-24)

So, what is a man to do?

2009-10-19T05:35:00.004+09:30

"Here is my recommendation: go to church, tithe to it, and take the Lord's Supper. Not too radical a conclusion, is it? Warning: don't start your own home church. Don't ordain yourself. Above all, don't serve communion to yourself. ... The family cannot be made sacramental without making it a cult, a substitute for the institutional church. For those who refuse to abandon home communion, there are sanctions in history (I Cor. 11:30). These sanctions are real. They will be applied." ( pp. 68 & 71 Baptized Patriarchalism: The Cult of the Family by Gary North).

These are serious conclusions, suggested by Gary North. What happens, however, when the local church leaders do not teach the truth? What do you do then?