I ran across a blog a few months back entitled How is an Andy Griffith Church going to reach a Lady Gaga World? and I've been trying to find the time to write a response. I feel like a response to this question is fitting for our heavily pragmatic church age. I think this question opens up the door to some very core issues dealing with the nature of man, the nature of God, and power of the gospel and the authority of scripture. What prompted a response from me was the fact of the pastors ending to the blog. He said he just didn't know the answer to this question. I was shocked; shocked mainly because this is a fundamental issue at the core of the gospel and this shepherd of souls doesn't know which way to turn. Well, I've found the time and I wanted to write a reply. The blog might go a bit long, but I think it will be worth sitting down and thinking through. You just can't expect to answer critical questions like this in a five minute snippet. I think if we take a little time to answer three basic questions we can have an answer for all ages, cultures and situations. Those three questions are: What is the nature of God? What is the nature of man? What is nature of scripture and the gospel? I believe that if we get answers to these three questions, the question posed by the blog mentioned above can be put to rest eternally because we will be giving a finite question an answer rooted in the eternal Word and that answer should never change. Here's the thing. Before we get started, if you aren't willing to research the scripture, pray over them and dig through this scripture by scripture then stop right here. Go no further. You aren't willing to seek truth. So close the browser page already. If, on the other hand, you are willing to dig, search, pray and learn then let's move forward with the Spirit of Christ and His Word as our guide. May He meet...

I sent this out as an email on January 24 to several brothers and sisters in Christ after touching on the topic at one of our Sunday night study sessions. What was originally intended to be only a paragraph turned out to be a little more as I begin to think deeply about the subject. I hope that you find it helpful as you explore the deeper things of God.  A popular idea concerning the doctrine of unconditional election is that God looked down the corridors of time, and, seeing who would choose to love and serve him, consequently elected those individuals to salvation and eternal life. This, to me, completely contradicts Romans 8:30.  And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Those who are glorified are first justified. Those who are justified are first called. Those who are called are first predestined. You cannot have one without the other. Therefore, if the only way one can be justified is to first be predestined, how can one be justified without it? Predestination is clearly a requirement for justification according to this text.  Here's what I find even more puzzling. The "corridors of time" theory assumes that God foresaw an alternative series of events in which one could be justified apart from predestination, right? That's the only way it works. If God looked into the future of the created universe (the only place future, as it relates to time, exists) and saw that there would be individuals who freely selected him apart from his intervention, why would he need to predestine anyone? It would be pointless: all the same individuals would come to him regardless by their own autonomy. I think the "corridors" theory assumes of an alternative reality in which man, apart from predestination, can, by his own free will, be justified.  But, then, why would that alternative reality be so vastly different from our reality? Is the man's will not enslaved to sin in this world that God supposedly views through the corridors of time?...

How often do I fail in allowing my knowledge of and faith in the sovereignty of God to shape the way the I look at, from the outset, what appears to be meaningless circumstances? I learned this weekend that my military reserve unit has scheduled multiple training exercises between now and our one-year deployment starting in May. These training exercises will last anywhere from three days to two weeks, and most of them are not essential to our upcoming overseas mission. With the deployment looming over the horizon, the days at home are increasingly precious, even for us "single/no dependent" types who likewise have loved ones that cannot accompany us on our journey. The ride home today was solemn. With a sermon playing on my iPod in the background, I found myself tuning out the words of the speaker and listening instead to those internal ones of my own. Why more time away from home? Anyone of you could easily displace my question with one of your own, and many of you reading this already have. I would encourage you to do so. For those Christians who hold to Augustinian distinctives, it isn't difficult to point to an end: the glory of God, no less. Divine providence is a hallmark of the Reformed tradition. We're Romans 8:28 people. If I may borrow from John Piper, it's all about the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all people. The sovereignty of God is the TV in the living room of our lives: everything faces that center. Everything is pointing in that direction. And yet there's so often a disconnect between this great truth, namely the sovereignty of God in all things, and the attitude we adopt when painful situations arise, as if to say, "Lord, I understand that all things work together for our good, but this, too?" As if our new circumstances have somehow fallen outside of all things; as if there will be no purpose in our pain. What we have to remember is that we have a source of infinitely greater authority than emotion, namely...

I recently taught a lesson on Genesis 22 and a thought that filled my heart, that I said in the class, was "This is better than TV!" Simple, maybe even stupid, but deeply profound this day in age. I find myself saying that phrase often now as I continue diving into the gospel. I truly do wonder at the beauty of the gospel. How can a man never get tired of this? How can someone, who in an age of short snippets, blurbs, quick fixes, and a total lack of long term concentration be so enamored with a single subject. The deeper I dig, the more life I find. Here is another one of those moments where I said to myself, "This is better than TV!" It comes from question 60 of the Heidelberg Catechism. Read each word carefully in the answer below. Question 60. How are thou righteous before God? Answer: Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; (a) so that, though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them, (b) and am still inclined to all evil; (c) notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine, (d) but only of mere grace, (e) grants and imputes to me, (f) the perfect satisfaction, (g) righteousness and holiness of Christ; (h) even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; (i) inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart. (j) (a) Rom.3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Rom.3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: Rom.3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Rom.3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Rom.3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare...

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him." Ephesians 1:3-4 "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." Romans 5:10 "Incomprehensible and immutable is the love of God. For it was not after we were reconciled to him by the blood of his Son that he began to love us, but he loved us before the foundation of the world, that with his only begotten Son we too might be sons of God before we were any thing at all. Our being reconciled by the death of Christ must not be understood as if the Son reconciled us, in order that the Father, then hating, might begin to love us, but that we were reconciled to him already, loving, though at enmity with us because of sin. To the truth of both propositions we have the attestation of the Apostle, 'God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,' (Rom. 5: 8.) Therefore he had this love towards us even when, exercising enmity towards him, we were the workers of iniquity. Accordingly in a manner wondrous and divine, he loved even when he hated us. For he hated us when we were such as he had not made us, and yet because our iniquity had not destroyed his work in every respect, he knew in regard to each one of us, both to hate what we had made, and love what he had made." -Augustine (From John Calvin's Institutes, Book II 16:4)...

8 Minutes in John 6 from Nathan W. Bingham on Vimeo....

I Can’t Repent This article is taken from Spencer's incredible two-volume book, A Pastor's Sketches. [1853]. By Ichabod S. Spencer Ichabod Smith Spencer was born in 1798 in Rupert, VT. He was unconverted until just after his 18th birthday. The previous year his father died and this left him utterly devastated. "It is highly probable that his father's death so deeply felt, and so great a trial, was sanctified to his soul, and overruled to lead his mind and heart, so dark and trembling, to the only true ‘Rock of hope and support.’ It was more than a year, however, after this event occurred, before the grace of God changed his heart, and turned his feet into the way of life." He was converted in Granville, NY and was educated at schools in the upstate NY region. He became a school teacher, and his fame grew to the place that he was in great demand. In fact, in 1830 he was called to be President of the University of Alabama, and in 1832 the President of Hamilton College of NY. He refused these both as the Lord had by this time called him to preach. He was called to serve as colleague-pastor of the Congregational Church in Northampton, MA in 1828, the church made famous by Jonathan Edwards. He refused a call to Park Street Church, Boston, the largest in New England at this time because of his tender health. Later in 1832 he accepted the call to the Second Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, NY. This was a church planting effort with no building and about 40 people. He remained at this post the rest of his life, thus spending 22 years at this church. By the time of his death the church had grown to be one of the largest and most influential in all of NY State. His biographer states that he was one of the greatest preachers the American Pulpit produced during that era. At the same time, his greatest gift and legacy was in the pastoral ministry. He was a true shepherd. He was a man fully...

Read each scripture at least three times and really feel the weight of what it is saying before moving on. John 1:12 "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all [it profits/benefits/yields nothing; not a little something]..." Romans 8:7-8 "For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot [ability, not permission]. Those who are in the flesh cannot [ability, not permission] please God." Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible [ability, not permission] to please him..." A few questions in light of these texts (think hard): 1. Do the scriptures above teach that we have a.) 100% inability, 0% ability b.) 99% inability, 1% ability c.) 0% inability, 100% ability to "choose Christ" or "have faith" in Christ while in the flesh (i.e. unsaved, unregenerate, enemies of God)? 2. If "the flesh" were an ocean, would there be an "island" of righteousness where faith resides? 3. Is faith something that is righteous and accomplishable while in the flesh and acceptable in the sight of God? 4. God commands His creation to obey the ten commandments. Many would instantly say we don't have the ability. God commands His creation to repent and believe the gospel. Many would instantly say we have the ability. Is there a contradiction here? 5. If it is true that humanity has 100% inability and 0% ability, how would this impact your gospel proclamation?...

I recently had a talk with someone I used to do evangelism with (no longer now for one of the reasons mentioned below) who believed that we as creatures dead in sin have a libertarian free will to choose Jesus and we have the faith within ourselves to believe, etc. Of course, I don't believe so. Scripture teaches contrary to that. One of his arguments was that if people can't choose Jesus by their own free will then what is the point in evangelism. I found these verses recently and remember our conversation. Matthew 11:25-28 - At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Red - In the proclamation of the truth to all people, God specifically chose to hide truth from some and reveal it to others (see previous verses 20-24). Why? Because it was pleasing to God to do so. Green - Jesus says no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. John 17:3 says to know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent is eternal life. So this is pretty plain that Jesus chooses who to reveal the Father to, resulting in salvation. Blue - Here is the astonishing part. Immediately after Jesus speaks about no one knowing the Father except the Son and whom he chooses to reavel him to, without pausing, he give a universal invitation for all to come to him. Orange - Notice the character of the person called. One who recognizes their heavy burden of trying to keep the law for righteousness. In other words, it is those...

"Evangelism and theology for the most part go separate ways, and the result is great loss for both. When theology is not held on course by the demands of evangelistic communication, it grows abstract and speculative, wayward in method, theoretical in interest and irresponsible in stance. When evangelism is not fertilized, fed and controlled by theology, it becomes a stylized performance seeking its effect through manipulative skills rather than the power of vision and the force of truth. Both theology and evangelism are then, in one important sense, unreal, false to their own God-given nature; for all true theology has an evangelistic thrust, and all true evangelism is theology in action." -J.I. Packer...

A good analogy of some often misunderstood attributes of God. This snippet (8 min) will give you a great "parable" about the justice and mercy of God when sharing the gospel with the lost. Download it here....

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. I hear evangelists say stuff like, "Tonight, it is your choice whether or not you go to hell. I cannot choose for you. You have to choose for yourself. Each man has to choose for himself." My question is this- How does someone have a choice on whether or not they go to hell when from birth they are headed there already? 1 Corinthians 15:22a says, "For as in Adam all die..." That is universal to the human race. Verse 22b says, "...so also in Christ shall all be made alive." This is particular to the elect children of God. In Adam all die, and unless you are not a homosapien and some alien life form, that includes you. God doesn\'t send someone somewhere they are already headed. John 6:28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” Sounds like our autonomy has just been stripped away....

Well, I had a very interesting Saturday (July 18th). I started out the day by changing the battery in my Jeep around 10:30-11:00 AM. I noticed two people in very nice clothes walking around my neighborhood door-to-door (**smiles very big**). Eventually they made their way over to my drive way and walked up and introduced themselves as witnesses of Jehovah. I introduced myself as a Christian and they said, "Oh, OK. So are we." So, the conversation began and lasted for about 30 minutes.  We talked about the Trinity and how they don't believe that Jesus is God. We also talked about eternal punishment for the wicked in hell and how they don't believe in a literal hell (Charles Taze Russell, the Jehovah's Witness founder, who by the way originally were called Russellites, abhorred the doctrine of eternal punishment and thus began propagating his own lies and false gospel). I don't think they were ready for the conversation. I think they thought they had walked up on another unassuming American boy who needed to be indoctrinated by their cult. Needless to say, by the end of the conversation they were totally disagreeing with orthodox Christian doctrine and I explained to them that there is a huge divide in the Jehovah's Witness doctrine and Christian doctrine. The flat out laughed at me. I did get to share the gospel with them. So they tried to scurry off and I encouraged them to come back and we would sit down over scripture and talk about the Son of God and how he is God. They said they would. Only time will tell. Another interesting thing happened to me later that afternoon. For the first time in my life, no exaggeration, I met a self-described "Pagan Wiccan Gnostic Christian"....Yeah, you figure that one out. We had a doozie of a time talking about everything from the canon of scripture to the way he thinks God is "in" everything, a view called pantheism (which by the way, Rick Warren ascribed to this belief also in one of his books). We talked about true faith, heaven, hell,...

Man-centered God-centered View of God Point of contact with non-Christians is love (God loves you). Therefore, God’s authority is secondary. Point of contact with non-Christians is creation (God made you). Therefore God has authority over your destiny. Love is God’s chief attribute. Holiness and love are equally important attributes of God. God is impotent before the sinner’s will. God is able to empower the sinner’s will. The persons of the Trinity have different goals in accomplishing and applying salvation. The persons of the Trinity work in harmony - salvation accomplished for and applied to the same people. God is a friend who will help you. God is a king who will save you. View of Humanity Fallen, yet has the ability (or potential) to choose the good. Fallen, and will not come to God by own will power. Seeks truth but lacks correct facts. Mind at enmity with God; none seek God. Needs love, help, friendship. Needs new nature (mind, heart, will), regeneration. Makes mistakes, is imperfect, needs forgiveness. Rebels against God, has a sinful nature, needs reconciliation. Needs salvation from the consequences of sin - unhappiness, hell. Needs salvation from guilt and the power of sin. Humanity is sick and ignorant. Humanity is dead and lost. View of Christ Savior from selfishness, mistakes, hell. Savior from sin and sinful nature. He exists for our benefit. He exists to gather a kingdom and receive honor and glory. His death was more important than his life. His death and his life of obedience equally important. Emphasizes his priestly office - Savior. Emphasizes his priestly, kingly, prophetic offices. An attitude of submission to Christ’s lordship is optional for salvation. An attitude of submission to Christ’s lordship is necessary for salvation. View of Response to Christ Invitation waiting to be accepted now. Loving command to be obeyed now. Our choice is the basis for salvation - God responds to our decision. God’s choice is the basis for salvation - we respond to God’s initiative. We give mental assent to truths of the gospel - decision. We respond with our whole person (mind, heart,...

Are you an orator or a herald? Is your pastor an orator or a herald? What's the difference? Is there a difference? How would you know? What does this have to do with whether or not the sermon or your own preaching has anything to do with it being "Junk Food" or "Solid Meal" preaching? Not only is the exegetical preaching of the word of God crucial to Christian growth, it is also crucial in defining how one is to communicate the truth of scripture to the unregenerate. We must get our feet firmly planted as to what our role is as Christian communicators of the gospel of Christ. We think this will help. Take some time to listen to Steve Lawson of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama define and describe for you exactly what your role is as a Christian communicator; whether behind the pulpit or on a soapbox in the middle of park. Listen below:...

I remember growing up as a kid never being really heavily exposed to Biblical theology. I never really attended church much but I could tell a little from the culture that people were “religious” and had a sense of the creator God. Although I was never exposed to theology (in retrospect as a born-again believer) I can look back on the culture that I lived in here in the south and see very heavy presuppositions in the lives of the “religious folk” I lived around. There were presuppositions about God that they were living out that I would find later are in direct contrast to His word. One might say that growing up with a non-Christian background would be a curse. God’s common grace (as differentiated from his special grace in salvation) is for all of His creation (it rains on the just and the unjust) and Christians normally see living outside of the covenant blessings of a Christian home or church family as a curse or “bad thing” for lack of a better word. I agree completely, but I want to put something into perspective. Living outside of the special grace of God allowed me to, after being truly born-again, approach the scriptures with no theological presuppositions. I had no “special glasses” that I was wearing when reading God’s word that would filter out certain doctrines. I had not equipped myself with any particular church’s thoughts and viewpoints, nor armed myself as it were with certain barriers and blockades to fight against and resist competing exegetical thoughts on God’s word. I simply read God\'s word as it was. I faced God and wrestled through His word line by line and bowed before His holy word with fear, reverence and awe. I wanted to understand the mind of God in whatever capacity the Spirit would give me and continue to give. I approached God with my mind as a clean slate for Him to write on it as He wishes. With all of that came battles through historically controversial passages and more than one restless night of reading and prayer. With...

Latin, "the order of salvation." The ordo salutis is the theological doctrine that deals with the logical sequencing of the benefits of Salvation worked by Christ which are applied to us by the Spirit. This first thing to remember is that we must never seperate the benefits (regeneration, justification, sanctification) from the Benefactor (Jesus Christ). The entire process (election, redemption, regeneration, etc.) is the work of God in Christ and is by grace alone. Election is the superstructure of our ordo salutis, but not itself the application of redemption. Regeneration, the work of the Holy Spirit which brings us into a living union with Christ, has a causal priority over the other aspects of the process of salvation. God opens our eyes, we see. God circumcises/ unplugs our ears, we hear. Jesus calls a dead and buried Lazarus out of the grave, he comes; In the same way, the Holy Spirit applies regeneration, (opening our spiritual eyes and renewing our affections), infallibly resulting in faith. All the benefits of redemption such as conversion (faith & repentance), justification, sanctification and perseverance presuppose the existence of spiritual life. The work of applying God's grace is a unitary process given to the elect simultaneously. This is instantaneous, but there is definitely a causal order (regeneration giving rise to all the rest). Though these benefits cannot be separated, it is helpful to distinguish them. Therefore, instead of imposing a chronological order we should view these as a unitary work of God to bring us into union with Christ. We must always keep in mind that the orders expressed in the following articles occur together or happen simultaneously like the turning on of a light switch or a faucet. But God turns on the light/faucet, so to speak. All aspects of the work of God continue together throughout the life of a Christian. Historically in the Church there has been disagreement about the order of salvation, especially between those in the Reformed and Arminian camps. The following two perspectives of God's order in carrying out His redemptive work reveals the stark contrast between these two main...

Read this and reply back with true or false, then substantiate your answer. "To suppose that whatever God requireth of us that we have power of ourselves to do, is to make the cross and grace of Jesus Christ of none effect." John Owen ...

Propitiation - Propitiation means satisfaction or appeasment, specifically towards God. Propitiation is the work of Jesus Christ on the cross by which He appeases the wrath of God who would otherwise be offended by our sin and demand that we pay the penalty for it. The concept of propitiation is often associated with the idea of a substitutionary atonement. On a side note: Romans 9:11(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)  12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.  13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.  14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. There is a popular view of the grace of God called prescience. Prescience derives from two greeek words: pre meaning before and science meaning knowledge. So, this view basically holds to this truth that God flung the universe into existence and with foreknowledge, or prescience, He knew who would "choose" Him for salvation and who would reject Him and based on that He chooses those for salvation. So in other words, God chooses those who first choose Him through His foreknowledge. Let me ask you a very practical and legitimate question. Why in the world would Paul pose the question "Is there unrighteousness with God?" in Romans 9 if prescience were the true way in which God operated. Meaning; How in the world could someone fathom unrighteousness in God (in which Paul anticipates by his question) if God simply chooses because of His foreknowledge of someones choice to choose Him. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Ponder that for a bit....

I would submit to you that the very things you are about to hear (in a very short clip) are the very things you would never hear explained by most "seeker sensitive" pastors. If you got the last email regarding an interview between the pastor and two TV news anchors and were wondering why the pastor wasn't so clear...maybe this will clear things up. This is what I think should have been said: ...