Reformed Baptist Congregation Exaltation | Edification | Evangelism
We should be satisfied with the benefits of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that when we are grafted into his body and made one with him by belief of the gospel, then we may assure ourselves that he is the fountain which never dries up, nor can ever become exhausted, and that in him we have all variety of good things, and all perfection.
John Calvin, Sermons on the Epistle to the Ephesians (trans. A. Golding; Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1973), 355.
John Bunyan lists 7 ways we hold onto our sins
1. If possible, the soul that entertains sin will hide it so that it will not be discovered.
2. The soul that cannot hide its sin will excuse it and plead that it really is not such a bad thing
3. The soul that justifies its sin will seek to cover it with a good name (i.e. change what I call sin into something good)
4. If our convictions will not let us call our sin, sin, then we might flatter God that we will put it away from us in due time – (it’s no big deal)
5. If God pursues us and seeks to see if we have put away our sin – we will give up some part of it but keep the choicest part for ourselves
6. All sin must be abandoned or the soul will have no rest – so we might let our sins go with reluctance
7. If our sins that we have pout away should meet us again – we will court them and commit them in the dark
So sin goes in a circle – it starts in death & ends in death – We must deal sin a death-blow daily, over and over again, as John Owen says. Strike the root. Dig it us and burn it – and then keep on doing that. It is a never ending task – but sin mortified will help us see sin for what it is and help us deal with it as we ought.
Not the Defense of Marriage Act – but the Death of Marriage Act
Samuel Ward in his Sermons (pp.36 – 40) urges us to withdraw apart from all company to seek the Lord and the strengthening of our faith. How must we do this? By prayer, reading and meditation so that we can put strength and life into faith itself. We are to live by faith. Faith is to be active. A believer should go through the world as deep in thought shutting out all that would obstruct his purpose. He hears and sees nothing of the world which would hinder him. We must resolve in our hearts to not miss one day. We must redeem time – using 15 minutes or so here and there to listen to the Lord.
The perversion & subversion of our culture & country – American Idol(atry) & every reality show where adults behave and are treated like children & children behave and are treated like adults.