2 Peter 3:9 is All Greek To Me, Or is it?

I was recently challenged by a seminary professor on my handling of the Greek for the passage of 2 Peter 3:9 which seems to be saying that God wants everyone to saved. We know that this passage is not teaching universalism, and I don't believe that it's teaching that what God wants - He can't or won't have. Herein lies the debate over this passage. So I've invited the seminary professor to demonstrate where my handling of the Greek text is wrong. Let's see if it is. ... [Read More!]

Why Point Out Attacks on Truth?, by Tom Ascol    Link

Christians sometimes debate the propriety of exposing the public errors of others. After all, love covers a multitude of sin and keeps no record of wrongs. Isn't it at least, then, unloving to call attention to the theological foibles of others? I do not think so, although I do think it can be a dangerous task. Scripture has ample instructions and illustrations about the wisdom, value and even necessity of exposing erroneous teaching. Jesus did it. Paul did it. And Paul instructed Timothy and Titus to do it... [Read Link]

Does 1 Timothy 2:4 Teach That God Wants Everyone Saved?

Ripped out of it's context, it appears that this passage is teaching us that God wants everyone to be saved. In response to Calvinists appealing to the context of this passage however, our friend Houston John declared: "God provided the means for the gift of salvation for all (and I do mean 'all' instead of the redefinition of the word to 'all kinds' by Calvinists)". Is it true that Reformed Theology actually changes the meaning of words such as 'all'? Let's take a look. ... [Read More!]

Today's Predestination Paranoia is Unwarranted   JC Ryle

First of all let me entreat every reader of this paper not to refuse this doctrine of Election, merely because it is high, mysterious, and hard to be understood. Is it reverent to do so? Is it treating God's Word with the respect due to revelation? Is it right to reject anything written for our learning, and to give it hard names, merely because some misguided men have misused it, and turned it to a bad purpose? These are serious questions. They deserve serious consideration. If men begin rejecting it, they are on slippery ground. There is no saying how far they may fall. ... [Read More!]

There is No Formula For Making Revival Happen   

A fitting follow-up to yesterday's post about the man-made revivalism that is sweeping our land. This post instead, speaks of the God-given revival that we would all rather see. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who was perhaps England's greatest preacher of the last century answers the question "when does the timing of revival come?" The answer is "in God's own time", and never at any other time. We are fortunate to have some recordings of the late MLJ, from back in the 1960's and 1970's, and this is a short MP3 audio excerpt of one of his sermons. My pastor's father had a chance to meet Lloyd-Jones several decades ago, and recounts how he was apprehensive to even allow voice recordings of his sermons back in those days. He felt that the Spirit moved in conjunction with the preaching at the time it was happening, and that's not something that you can store. No doubt that's true, but these recordings are still a tremendous blessing that many of us have benefited from. I'm glad the decision was eventually made to record his sermons. When you hear them, you realize right away that the man was not known as a great preacher because of a powerful voice, but instead - because of the content of what he said. Take a few minutes now and listen-in on this short excerpt on revival. ... [Read More!]

Manipulated 'Decisions' Lead To Gospel-Hardening   Joel Beeke

The Puritans showed a profound dependence upon the Holy Spirit in everything they said and did. They felt keenly their inability to bring anyone to Christ as well as the magnitude of conversion. "God never laid it upon thee to convert those he sends thee to. No; to publish the gospel is thy duty," William Gurnall said to ministers. ... [Read More!]

The Benefits of Not Ignoring Election in Your Bible   James Boice

So many people think that election is useless and perhaps even pernicious. It is nothing of the sort. It is part of the Bible's inspired teaching and is therefore "useful," as Paul insisted all Scripture is (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Here's a look at ways election impacts things like evangelism and worship: ... [Read More!]

Election - a Most Sacred Truth, Horatius Bonar

If I am asked, how can you preach a free gospel, and yet believe in election? I answer, I believe in both, and preach both, because I find both in the Bible. I have no authority for preaching an unconditional gospel but what I find in the Bible; and I have the same authority for preaching an unconditional personal election. God has told me that both are true; and woe be to me if I profanely attempt to mutilate either the one or the other. ... [Read More!]

God's Great Golden Chain    Link

This is one of the most profound and assuring promises in all of Scripture. It is commonly referred to as, "The Golden Chain of Salvation." It is a chain of five eternal links: God foreknew; God predestined; God called; God justified; and God glorified. Every aspect of our salvation is all and only of Him. No room for man's self-glory here; no room for a hint of human praise; no room for boasting in ourselves. This is the great work of the Lord alone in our salvation. Past, present and future hope secured for us in Christ Jesus. ... [Read Link]

Absence of Consensus Does Not Mean Stalemate

I recently had an interesting conversation with another believer,
who contended that it is admirable to admit the fallibility of our beliefs. He advocated being open to correction in our beliefs, because after all - we could be wrong. In a word, he said, this is being "humble". When asked whether he was certain about things like the Incarnation and Resurrection, he indicated that we SHOULD have certainty about those because they are "essential doctrines". He then went on to define "essential" by saying: "For me, an essential doctrine or teaching is one for which there is no biblical or theological argument to the contrary."... [Read More!]

"The Number of Easter Salvations Was Exactly..."

If you've been around Old Truth long enough, you know that unsubstantiated convert counting is something that I'm passionate about, in a negative sense. First of all, only God knows the real numbers and we could be way off when we count microwavable 'decisions'. Usually the same people who are so geared-up to rebuke anyone for saying that some deviant bible teacher is NOT saved, all too often make the same category mistake by assuming someone IS saved when they really have no idea whether they are or not. Secondly, it too often leads to boasting and assuming that our own methodologies are the reason for people being born again, rather than it being 100% the work of the Holy Spirit. Those are just a couple of reasons why this "counting of unhatched chickens" is wrong. Let's take a look at a few examples of it in action, from yesterday's Easter services. ... [Read More!]

Five Pioneer Missionaries    Link

I suppose it's one of the benefits of growing up in a Christian home, with a pastor for a father and first-hand exposure to some of our day's greatest missionaries; Tom Chantry always seems to know of hidden jewels like this one. He recently introduced me to one of the best books on missions that I have ever read. Five Pioneer Missionaries is a series of biographical sketches based on the lives of John Eliot and David Brainerd who ministered here on the homefront to the American Indians. I spent several weeks reading to my kids from this book's account of Henry Martyn who was an Anglican missionary in India. Also included in the book's five are the Scottish Missionaries to the Far East - William Chalmers Burns and John G. Paton. These were great missionaries by any denominational standard, but the fact that their efforts were born out of Calvinistic zeal towards God's grace through Christ Jesus ought to lay to rest any claims of alleged theological incompatibilities between evangelism and fervent belief in Election. Five Pioneer Missionaries was January's book of the month at Christ Reformed Baptist Church in Milwaukee. My family and I are thankful for Pastor Chantry's recommendation of this book, and I am passing along the same tip to you. Be sure to add this one to your shopping cart at Amazon or wherever you buy books online. ... [Read Link]

Evangelism By The Book: Avoid Deadly Shortcuts

During a great war, there was a man who invented a parachute that was one hundred percent trustworthy. It made no difference whether the user was large or small; it opened every time and got him safely to the ground. The key was in the way it was folded. Every part of the parachute had to be carefully and painstakingly placed in certain positions, following the instructions given by the manufacturer. True, it was somewhat arduous, but it was well worth the effort. It had the effect of ensuring that the life of every precious human being who trusted the parachute would be preserved. Many years after the war began, a group of young men known as "fast-folders" entered the packing room. These men so influenced the workers with their new fast and easy method of folding that soon they all completely ignored the instruction book given by the manufacturer. Production increased greatly and everyone
rejoiced in the obvious and quantifiable results. ... [Read More!]

How Did You Come Up With THAT Interpretation?!

I've never seen the bible twisted that badly before. It was about five years ago when I read a local newspaper article about the Metropolitan ("Christian homosexual") church in my city. The church was implying that all of the things in the bible that seem to oppose homosexuality are just a big misunderstanding. A page on their website took each of the scriptures apart one at a time, and assigned their own creative meanings. They essentially played the bible like a musical instrument, making it sound any way they wanted. That was the first time it ever hit me that it's possible to make the scriptures say almost anything you want them to say, with a little bit of twisting and self-deception. But how is that even possible? ... [Read More!]