Weekly Roundup: 2019.07.05
Life in light of the cross, redemption applied, sexual sin and Pinocchio, 4 ways to think about persecution, and Calvin on the perseverance of faith to the end.
Resources
This week, I pulled most of the resources from Tabletalk Magazine’s April 2019 edition, Christ and Him Crucified.
Life in Light of the Cross | Eric Hausler | Tabletalk Magazine
Like many Reformed believers, I praise God for His amazing grace, not only for my salvation, but for later bringing me to know the doctrines of grace. I vividly remember when I finally came to see how Scripture taught God’s sovereignty in all things: that I had been born again years before, not by my own decision (John 1:13) but by a God who loves me (Eph. 2:4) and who justified me by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (2:8); that He is working out everything according to the purpose of His will (1:11); and that my life and future are held secure in His hands (John 10:28). I even learned to sing with joy: “Amazing love! How can it be, that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?” And yet, for many years I allowed my newfound Reformed faith, and even the cross of Christ, to fuel a heady, sinful spiritual pride. Rather than being humbled and growing in love for others in the body of Christ, I gloried in my theological superiority. It would take many years of the sanctifying work of the Spirit to show me my remaining brokenness and weakness and for the amazing love of my crucified Savior to overflow from my life onto the broken, weak, and wounded all around me.
Redemption Applied | David B. Garner | Tabletalk Magazine
Christ’s life was and is for us. His death was not for Him; it was and is for us. His resurrection was not for Him; it was and is for us. Without His work there is no salvation at all; without His work applied by the Spirit, there is no salvation for us. The Spirit claims us and irrevocably ties us to Christ. Our gospel hope is this: by the Holy Spirit, we receive Christ Jesus who came for us and dwells in us. Christ in us is our certain “hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).
Sexual Sin and the Pursuit of Purity | David E. Briones | Tabletalk Magazine
This may sound strange, but we can learn a lot about the nature of sexual sin from G-rated films. Ever seen the classic film Pinocchio? There is one particular scene that vividly captures the enslaving power of sin. Pinocchio and his mischievous friend Lampwick are lured away by the Coachman. He’s that evil figure who deceitfully rounds up little boys to enjoy Pleasure Island, the place where one’s every desire becomes a reality. Anything goes. Pinocchio and Lampwick can get into a fight, if they’re feeling feisty. They can destroy a home, if they’re feeling naughty. They can even indulge themselves in smelly cigars, frothy beers, and plenty of bar games, though they’re underage. The more they sin, the more they seem to feel like “real adults.” But things suddenly take a turn for the worse. What started off as immensely liberating soon becomes miserably enslaving, and Pinocchio witnesses the oppressive nature of sin firsthand.
4 Ways to Think About Persecution | Tim Keesee
For more articles saved over the years, see my Evernote collection.
Quote
Therefore, as we have already said, we again maintain, that faith remaining fixed in the believer's breast never can be eradicated from it. However it may seem shaken and bent in this direction or in that, its flame is never so completely quenched as not at least to lurk under the embers. In this way, it appears that the word, which is an incorruptible seed, produces fruit similar to itself. Its germ never withers away utterly and perishes. The saints cannot have a stronger ground for despair than to feel, that, according to present appearances, the hand of God is armed for their destruction; and yet Job thus declares the strength of his confidence: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him."
The truth is, that unbelief reigns not in the hearts of believers, but only assails them from without; does not wound them mortally with its darts, but annoys them, or, at the utmost, gives them a wound which can be healed. Faith, as Paul (declares (Eph. 6:16), is our shield, which receiving these darts, either wards them off entirely, or at least breaks their force, and prevents them from reaching the vitals. Hence when faith is shaken, it is just as when, by the violent blow of a javelin, a soldier standing firm is forced to step back and yield a little; and again when faith is wounded, it is as if the shield were pierced, but not perforated by the blow. The pious mind will always rise, and be able to say with David, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me," (Psalm 23:4). Doubtless it is a terrific thing to walk in the darkness of death, and it is impossible for believers, however great their strength may be, not to shudder at it; but since the prevailing thought is that God is present and providing for their safety, the feeling of security overcomes that of fear.
As Augustine says,--whatever be the engines which the devil erects against us, as he cannot gain the heart where faith dwells, he is cast out. Thus, if we may judge by the event, not only do believers come off safe from every contest so as to be ready, after a short repose, to descend again into the arena, but the saying of John, in his Epistle, is fulfilled, "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith," (1 John 5:4). It is not said that it will be victorious in a single fight, or a few, or some one assault, but that it will be victorious over the whole world, though it should be a thousand times assailed.
— Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin. Book Third, Chapter 2, Section 22. Copied from https://www.biblestudytools.com/history/calvin-institutes-christianity/book3/chapter-2.html on July 3, 2019.