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Dig Those Plausibility Structures

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D.A Carson has a helpful comment on ‘plausibility structures’ – patterns of thought that are taken for granted within a given culture – and how these change over time:-

As western culture progressively drifts from its Judeo-Christian heritage, new challenges to accurate and forceful communication are erected. It is sometimes helpful to think in terms of ‘plausibility structures’. A plausibility structure is a social structure of ideas that is widely taken for granted without argument, and dissent from which is regarded as heresy.

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What should we pray for?

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This piece by John Piper answers this question by directing us to the prayers of the New Testament.  Do our prayers have anything like the same breadth and depth?

They called on God to exalt his name in the world.  Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name (Matthew 6:9).

They called on God to extend his kingdom in the world.  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10 ).…

The sufficiency of Scripture

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Three lines of argument converge to persuade us of the sufficiency of Scripture:-

(a) Jesus Christ. As Heb 1:1-2 asserts, the previous, and partial revelation of God is completed by the final and perfect revelation in Jesus Christ. And the Bible is the divinely-inspired testimony to the person and work of Christ.

(b) Salvation history. All that God has to do, and say, in connection with the bringing of salvation to the world, has been done and said.…

Calvin on ‘common grace’

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Calvinist theology is beset by some unfortunate terminology, which turns many would-be visitors away at the door.

One of those bits of unfortunate terminology is the expression ‘total depravity’.  It is too readily taken to mean that humankind is completely and utterly wicked, and that no good at all can be found in an unregenerate heart, mind or behaviour.

In order to correct this misunderstanding, we can turn to Calvin himself, and his teaching on ‘common grace’. …

Why boast in the Cross of Christ?

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Because it is:-

1. The measure of man’s guilt, Acts 3:13-15.
2. The manifestation of God’s love, Rom 5:6-8.
3. The means of salvation, Jn 3:14-15.
4. The mark of separation, Gal 6:14.
5. The motive of service, 2 Cor 5:14f.
6. The melody of heaven, Rev 5:8-10.

(Source unknown)…

Lordship salvation

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For centuries, the watchword of Christians within the reformed and evangelical tradition has been justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  However, those same Christians have taught and practiced definite standards of moral behaviour.  Believing faith must and will be accompanied by true repentance.

What, then, is the relationship between salvation by grace and obedience to God’s moral law?  Can a person be a believer without being a disciple?  What must I do to be saved? …

Tactfulness

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Tactfulness is a notable virture. Although worldly people can show it to a remarkable degree, Lk 16:8, in its highest form it is a Christian grace. It is the offspring of love and wisdom. It is the ability to be honest without being rude.

God himself is the model for tactfulness, as shown in his dealings with our first parents, Gen 2:18-24; 3:9-19; with Cain, Gen 4:7, 15; with Abraham, Gen 12:1-3; and Jonah, Jon 4:10,11.…

Agape and Eros

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It is a commonplace amongst preachers to distinguish between the various Greek words for ‘love’ (philia, storge, eros and agape) and assert that agape is the word that fits Christian love.

There is a considerable amount of truth in this, of course.  Agape, scholars inform us, was a little-used word in secular Greek and therefore was conveniently available to have Christian meaning poured into it.

But the matter can easily be over-stated. …

Spurgeon on divine predestination and human responsibility

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It is interesting that the great Baptist preacher C.H. Spurgeon placed a chapter entitled, ‘A Defence of Calvinism’ near the beginning, and not near the end, of his autobiography.  For the ‘doctrines of grace’ were not, for him, some distant climax of his faith, but, rather, its heart-beat and its foundation.

Listen to Spurgeon:-

‘That God predestines, and yet that man is responsible, are two facts few can see clearly.  They are believed to be inconsistent and contradictory, but they are not. 

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Quotes on the Bible

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1. Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself but because it contradicts them.

2. The Bible was the only book Jesus ever quoted, and then never as a basis for discussion but to decide the point at issue. (Leon Morris)

3. When you are reading a book in a dark room, and find it difficult, you take it to a window to get more light. So take your Bible to Christ. (McCheyne)

4.…