"Our business is to present the Christian faith clothed in modern terms, not to propagate modern thought clothed in Christian terms. Confusion here is fatal." - J.I. Packer
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Staring down the barrel Riding headlong into battle One hand on the Sword The other gripping the saddle Stand firm, Holding fast – Fighting down to the last man Odds may never be in my favor But I’m still leaving nothing to chance
I leave my life in God’s Hands And throw caution to the Wind I’m not concerned with wins and losses Because the only certainty is the end As I’m wielding with conviction Ready to face down any affliction Every blow the enemy’s thrown Will be met with the worst of intentions
Making no distinction Between the body and the soul A Master without a rival All impostors will surely fold A Kamikaze, Samurai – Servant of the Most High Defender of the Evangelion And crusader for the Light
(cf. Ecclesiastes 11:5; Ezekiel 37:9; Luke 9:23-27, 62; John 3:8; 13:16; Romans 6:6, 8:13; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Galatians 5:24; Ephesians 6:10-20; Colossians 3:5; 1 Peter 4:1)
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:8-9 ESV
Soli Deo Gloria,
Shon
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water." - 1 Peter 3:18-20 ESV
"For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does." - 1 Peter 4:6 ESV
Heaven didn’t just come down…
It went underground
We couldn’t go and get it
It had to come and get us
Because we were held hostage
In the darkness…slaves to the dust
A bunch of guilty as charged
Criminals at large
Conspiring since the beginning
To assassinate God
And if you find that statement offensive
It’s understandable
But you still have no defense against it
And you know it –
Your fingerprints are showin’
And herein lies the biggest problem
Because even if you’re Robin Hood
You’re still a thief –
Because you’re robbin’
No sob story is good enough
To regain that trust
Our red-handed antics
Have left us stone cold busted
And in case you couldn’t tell
We’re disgusted with the outcome
But too prideful and bitter to ask for help
So we put our roots down firm
And build ziggurats wherever we dwell
But how we gonna reach the Kingdom
When we don’t even speak the same language amongst ourselves?
And when our stairway to Heaven was vanquished
It all came crashing down in an epic fail…
The most frightening attribute of God’s character
Is that He is good and a Just Judge
So He will always rule in favor of righteousness
Not based on what I think I am
Or who I thought I was
Truth is…
I’m a lying, cheating
Backsliding heathen
Full of murderous intent
And I’m stealing by just breathing
With no plan to give up the lifestyle
Anytime soon
So the mercy of the Court
Will have to be way more than prevenient
Because I’m already doomed…
Therefore grace has to intrude
As the Kingdom manifests the expanse
Of its territorial boundary
To dig us up out of our whitewashed tombs
And shut down all of the foundries
‘Cause the Devil’s melting down the metal
Turning plows and pruning hooks into swords
But the Kingdom of Heaven came among us
To suffer the violence
So Death can never have the Final Word
"From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force." - Matthew 11:12 ESV
So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. - Romans 9:16 ESV
A brief, but biblical, examination of the fundamental tenets of Reformed Theology, the doctrines of grace (also known by the acronym of TULIP):
Total Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance (and/or Preservation) of the Saints
We discuss why we as a community stand by these truths based on their biblical foundation. Also, we do this as an offering to help clear up any confusion about what people often refer to as "Calvinism" (or "Augustinianism"); to show that these points are not the invention of John Calvin (or Augustine before him), but what is clearly taught in the Scriptures themselves. These five points, are linked in a chain which only have one goal...to show the sovereignty, merit, and glory of our salvation belong to a merciful and gracious God alone.
We pray that as you ponder these things, that you also search the Scriptures to find out whether or not these things are so.
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
(Romans 7:24 ESV)
What happens when the taste
Becomes stronger than grace?
When I’m more about seeking the thrill
Than seeking your face?
The burnout is inevitable
But the rush is so incredible
You only live once
And I don’t want it to be regrettable
Half of me says, “One time never hurt anybody.”
The other half says I worry too much:
“You don’t even have to think about it.”
Eat, drink, and be merry
Never seems to be scary
Until you discover
That the meal’s being prepared
In an environment that’s unsanitary
An occasional lick of the spoon
Now turns into a toxic addiction
And my microscopic pursuit of joy
Has led to a life of telescopic affliction
Tried to divide my passions
Between redemption and lies
But when the latter won my affection
It left me with no way to climb…
Yet your mercy still abounds
Like a shot to the heart
While I was on the ground dying
(In this case, not a bad place to start)
Behaviors I used to savor
No longer renew my confusion
Now I’m infused with new life
To comprehend your mercy and beauty
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
(Romans 6:1-4 ESV)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:9 ESV)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
(Mark 4:35-41 ESV)
Why are you downcast, oh my soul?
Because there’s a dark cloud rolling in
And it's about to get cold
No matter where I turn
Just more of the same thing
As I sing, "It is well..."
I'm distracted with the trouble
I know tomorrow will bring
You told us to count it all joy
When we encounter these trials
But every step I take
Feels like another hundred miles
I'm not praying for a miracle
I'm just waiting for relief
I know you'd never leave me or forsake me
Lord, help my unbelief
Remind me that the struggle
Is what you so graciously give
To conform me to your will
For the benefit of your glory
Grant me the wisdom to be still
And know that the same Spirit
That enabled the Savior
To take beatings, thorns and nails
Is the same that now abides within me
A peace which no circumstance can assail
So when life is crashing down around me
And the flood waters start to get higher
Let my fears be diminished
In the truth that, "It is finished"
And the Accuser is a liar...
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Refused to render to Caesar what belonged to Jesus
And so became a part of the feast
Fed to lions with eyes still fixed on Zion
Followed their master into martyrdom
Even though painful death was certainly common
They took it all with a reckless abandon
Forsaking the world and everything in it
Knowing their sins had been forgiven
They faced the sword with no regard
Knowing in Christ, now their lives had been hidden
So as I hear the sirens coming
And I see the war at home
I’m reminded of the greater war
And exactly who’s side I’m on
Come what may, we’re here to stay
We’ll never be dismayed
The history’s already been written
We will not be made ashamed
Abashed and in awe the Devil stood
And saw what was so incredibly good
That it stoked the embers of envy in his heart
Now, he’d kill us if he could
But over the wood and nails
Our Surety prevails
So even if our blood is to be spilled
“He was bruised for our transgressions
And by His stripes, we are healed.”
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
- (Psalm 37:7 ESV)
And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
- (Mark 4:39 ESV)
Still…
As the words pour from His mouth
Bring eternal life to the dead
And surety of death to the lifeless
Still…
Seated on His throne from on high
Righteous in judgment;
“King of Kings and Lord of Lords” on His thigh
Still…
Let the killers kill
Let the dealers deal
If you’re filthy, stay filthy
And if you’re righteous, be certain
Still…
Let the world be shocked and stunned
When the Kingdom comes
Put an end to sin and death
By the power of His tongue
Every knee bow at the return of the Son
The Righteousness of God –
The Holy risen One!
From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
- (Revelation 19:15-16 ESV)
And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” - (Luke 21:34-36 ESV)
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood?!
Yeah right…don’t get me started
If you live here in this city of lights
You might say it’s ironic
Because so many love the darkness
So come and get your fill
In the carnival o’ carnage
Pitch black hearts hurling stones with no regard
With intent to do harm – the anger, the swarm
No prison can hold ‘em – gone is the calm
No need for a need to sound the alarm
Because the watchmen have been taken
In a hostage situation
With Stockholm syndrome, now they’ve forsaken their post
And everything they stood for on the day
That they first took the oath…
So instead of a ringing bell
Now it’s a running joke
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
"Believing doesn't make you a part of His flock; being a part of His flock allows you to believe." - John Piper
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:7-18 ESV)
The definite redemption of the saints is in view here; it is not only definite, but also universal. Jesus came not to save some particular type of people, but a particular people made of every tribe, tongue, and nation (Revelation 5:9-10). Also to be noted, if you are in Christ, you cannot fall away, because as his sheep we only hear His voice and no other. By his atoning work on the cross, he seals them, thereby they are unable to fall away from their faith in an ultimate sense...
If these words of Christ don't bring confidence to the life of Christian faith and the assurance of salvation, I don't think that anything would (John 17:12; Jude 24).
