UPDATE – I have commented on criticism this post has received in a post entitled “Who is preaching another gospel?“ The history of the Church is quite simply the history of unlikely heroes who God raises up to meet the challenges of the hour. It was a great delight for me to recently spend some time with two such heroes—Dr. Andrew Sach and Dr. Steve Jeffery. They are both Anglican ordinands studying at Oak Hill Theological Seminary and yet, together... Read more
THEOLOGY FOR ALLAnnual Day Conference Saturday 22nd September 2007 Speaker: Dr. Mark Dever Pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D. C. Mark Dever received his doctorate in ecclesiastical theology from Cambridge University. He has authored several books, including Richard Sibbes (a historical study) and Nine Marks of a Healthy Church. He has also edited a collection of historic Baptist documents on ecclesiology entitled Polity: Biblical Arguments on How to Conduct Church Life, and Leadership: The Deliberate Church –... Read more
As we discuss the atonement, it is vitally important that we come directly to the cross itself. There are two things for us to consider which, by necessity, require penal substitution. The first is that the cross is absolutely essential in the purposes of God to save us. We have hinted at this previously, but if the cross was not an essential part of the plan of God for our salvation, allowing His Son to go through such suffering would... Read more
The following set of sermon notes reflect a message that I preached today at Jubilee Church London In some ways this sermon was connected to the three-part series on Revival I recently preached if only because the last message God’s Reviving Word was also based on Psalm 119. The earlier messages, “Revival” and “Reviving Prayer” are also available. You can download the audio (you may need to right click and save the file onto your PC) or listen right here... Read more
Two weeks ago we began to look at how Christ’s resurrection has already begun to have an effect on us. Today I would like to highlight the concept of having been sealed by the Spirit, and how this sealing is connected to Jesus’ resurrection. To Paul, the sealing with the Spirit is a foretaste of our inheritance, which surely includes our resurrection bodies. Thus, both our guarantee and the reality of it are provided for us because Jesus has been... Read more
I got the following in an email from Logos. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this work and ensuring it is passed down to future generations who will increasingly use only electronic books, now is your chance. It could be a good investment of $200. Lange’s Commentary on the Holy Scriptures is one of the most passionately requested titles we have had in a long time. Unfortunately with 24 oversized volumes coming in at almost 14,000 pages... Read more
Over at Pure Church there is a good article about how we should talk to children about race. It is well worth a read. I have included the headlines here: Talk with your children about ethnicity (the nations) rather than “race.” Talk about ethnicity in a way that magnifies the power and wisdom of God. We should be amazed more often than we are (excuse me for projecting my dullness onto you!) at the sheer power and wisdom of God... Read more
In Romans 15 there is one more excellent summary of the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement. “For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me’.” (Romans 15:3) Thus, Jesus takes on Himself what we deserve. It is important to see that the reason Paul speaks of this here is to demonstrate that Jesus is an example for us. Just in case anyone thinks that in all our emphasis... Read more
It doesn’t seem that long ago that Terry Virgo preached at the church I attend, and it blessed us so much — listening to him always seems to do that to me. It was great to be able download and listen to a sermon this evening entitled Becoming a Member of the Body, preached earlier this month by Terry Virgo at Christ Church London, which meets in a central London theatre. He preached on Ephesians 4, boldly dealing with the... Read more
In many ways the climax of Romans is at the end of chapter 11. In the next few chapters Paul applies his doctrine — he speaks about how we need to live in the good of the wonderful salvation which was bought for us and which saved us from the wrath of God. He cannot resist reminding us a few times of God’s wrath as he does this, however, so that we are reminded of this wonderful salvation. As I... Read more
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