Sunday School : 1689 Confession – 5

This Lord’s Day onwards, Theoblogy is actually beginning our study through the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith in our Sunday School. Our teacher through out its course is Pastor Arden Hodgins of Trinity Reformed Baptist church, in California.  The first chapter in the confession deals with the Holy Scriptures. Pastor Hodgins has a six point outline for this chapter dealing with the Scriptures namely, 1.Revelation, 2.Inspiration, 3.Cessation, 4.Illumination, 5.Interpretation and 6.Translation. The next 11 weeks will be spend on teaching these six key doctrines regarding the Holy Scriptures found in the first chapter of the confession. Today we begin with our study of the doctrine of revelation from paragraph 1 of the confession given below : - 

The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible ^arule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light ^bof nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation. ^cTherefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto ^dwriting; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God’s revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.

(^a 2Ti 3:15-17; Isa 8:20; Luk 16:29,31; Eph 2:20; ^b Rom 1:19-21; 2:14-15; Psa 19:1-3; ^cHeb 1:1;  ^d Prov 22:19-21; Rom 15:4; 2Pe 1:19-20)

Divine Revelation  Listen |  Download

Friday Features : Reformed Theology – 6

Lecture 6, Covenant :

Are we as Christians saved by works, or by faith alone? The key to understanding what part works and faith play in the drama of redemption is to understand the biblical structure and role of covenants. Without a proper understanding of covenants we fail to grasp the grandeur of Christ’s life and work. In this message, Dr. Sproul gives us the covenantal framework of redemption that finds full resolution in the work of Christ.

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John Stott Passes Away

Evangelical Anglican preacher, John Stott is no more. John Stott died today at 3:15pm London time according to John Stott Ministries President Benjamin Homan. Homan said that Stott's death came after complications related to old age and that he has been in discomfort for the last several weeks. Family and close friends gathered with Stott today as they listened to Handel's Messiah. Homan said that John Stott Ministries has been preparing for his death for the past 15 years. "I think he set an impeccable example for leaders of ministries of handing things over to other leaders," Homan said. "He imparted to many a love for the global church and imparted a passion for biblical fidelity and a love for the Savior." [1] He was 90 years old.

John Robert Walmsley Stott was born in London in 1921 to Sir Arnold and Lady Stott.[2] He was ordained in 1945 and for most of his years has served in various capacities at All Souls Church in London, where he carried out an effective urban pastoral ministry. A leader among Evangelicals in Britain, the United States and even around the world, Stott was a principal framer of the landmark Lausanne Covenant (1974). Whether in the West or in the Third World, a hallmark of Stott's ministry has been expository preaching that addresses not only the hearts but also the minds of contemporary men and women.

Stott had remained celibate his entire life. He says, "The gift of singleness is more a vocation than an empowerment, although to be sure God is faithful in supporting those He calls."[3] John Stott’s biographer, Timothy Dudley-Smith, writes: “To those who know and meet him, respect and affection go hand in hand. The world-figure is lost in personal friendship, disarming interest, unfeigned humility—and a dash of mischievous humour and charm. By contrast, he thinks of himself, as all Christians should but few of us achieve, as simply a beloved child of a heavenly Father; an unworthy servant of his friend and master, Jesus Christ; a sinner saved by grace to the glory and praise of God.” [4]

An old pic of John Stott

Though many Evangelicals have expressed concerns on some of the theological convictions of Stott [5], it is still noteworthy that he was the architect of the post-war, New-Evangelicalism in the Western World. His expositions of scriptures was characterized by balanced and biblical articulation of truth. His literary works, amounting to more than 40 books and hundreds of articles, is another wealth containing stimulating and balanced, scriptural teachings, written in a way that is profitable for both ministers and thoughtful laymen.  It has been pointed by many that his self-discipline has played a key role in the gifting of these many priceless works from him.  

David Wells, Distinguished Senior Research Professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, reflecting on Stott said “His leadership was effective, because of his personal integrity and his Christian life. People who knew him always came back to these points. He was known all over the world, but when you met him he was a most devout, humble Christian man. His private life was no different from his public life. It was the same person. That's another way to say that he had integrity. There was no posing”.  Wells was converted through a 1959 John Stott mission in South Africa. He later shared a household with Stott for five years in the early 1960s. In his homage to Stott, Wells writes,  “Stott will be remembered for a long time to come for his roles as writer, speaker, and leader. In these roles he often served different audiences and yet what stands out across a long life is how utterly consistent he was. And that consistency, in public and in private, was rooted in the same, unshakable convictions. At their center, first, was his lifelong commitment to make himself subject to the truth of Scripture. It was because of his own inner commitment at this point that he could preach to others with such insistence and directness. Yet his sermons were not simply words but expositions of divinely given truth. For Scripture is not merely a book but, in and through its teaching, it is the disclosure of God, the unveiling of his character, will, and ways. What this inspired Scripture says, God says. So it was that Stott preached and so it was that he pastored. And the second principle concerned the uniqueness of Christ as God-incarnate and the uniqueness of his substitutionary death on the Cross. Without this work, there is no reconciliation with God, no forgiveness, no justification, and no hope. It is these principles that framed and directed everything he did.”[6]

John Stott will be buried near his beloved retreat in Wales, the Hookses. There will be a funeral service in St. Paul's Cathedral, an honor reserved for those of great prominence in the United Kingdom.[7]

Footnotes  

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[1] Tim Stafford, John Stott Has Died, Christianity Today, July (Web-only) 2011, Vol. 55

[2] Timothy Dudley-Smith, John Stott: The Making of a Leader, Vol. 1

[3] Albert Hsu, Singles at the Crossroads. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, p.178

[4] Timothy Dudley-Smith, Who Is John Stott?, All Souls Broadsheet (London), Apr/May 01

[5] Timothy Dudley-Smith, John Stott: A Global Ministry, Vol.2

[6] Dr. David Wells, John Stott: Prince of the Church Dies

[7] Ibid

Faith and Science

In his exposition of Psalm 19:1, the Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon makes the following observation regarding the relationship between faith and science. His insight, coupled with the quote from Dr.Macosh, makes it clear that faith and science need not be seen as enemies, but rather as friends employed in the pursuit of knowing and praising God’s glory. 

In the expanse above us God flies, as it were, his starry flag to show that the King is at home, and hangs out his escutcheon that atheists may see how he despises their denunciations of him. He who looks up to the firmament and then writes himself down an atheist, brands himself at the same moment as an idiot or a liar. Strange is it that some who love God are yet afraid to study the God-declaring book of nature; the mock spirituality of some believers, who are too heavenly to consider the heavens, has given colour to the vaunts of infidels that nature contradicts revelation. The wisest of men are those who with pious eagerness trace the goings forth of Jehovah as well in creation as in grace; only the foolish have any fears lest the honest study of the one should injure our faith in the other. Dr. Macosh has well said, "We have often mourned over the attempts made to set the works of God against the Word of God, and thereby excite, propagate, and perpetuate jealousies fitted to separate parties that ought to live in closest union. In particular, we have always regretted that endeavours should have been made to depreciate nature with a view of exalting revelation; it has always appeared to us to be nothing else than the degrading of one part of God's work in the hope thereby of exalting and recommending another. Let not science and religion be reckoned as opposing citadels, frowning defiance upon each other, and their troops brandishing their armour in hostile attitude. They have too many common foes, if they would but think of it, in ignorance and prejudice, in passion and vice, under all their forms, to admit of their lawfully wasting their strength in a useless warfare with each other. Science has a foundation, and so has religion; let them unite their foundations, and the basis will be broader, and they will be two compartments of one great fabric reared to the glory of God. Let one be the outer and the other the inner court. In the one, let all look, and admire and adore; and in the other, let those who have faith kneel, and pray, and praise. Let the one be the sanctuary where human learning may present its richest incense as an offering to God, and the other the holiest of all, separated from it by a veil now rent in twain, and in which, on a blood sprinkled mercy seat, we pour out the love of a reconciled heart, and hear the oracles of the living God."[1]

Footnotes  

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[1]  C.H. Spurgeon,  The Treasury of David  Vol. I, Psalm 19:1.

Sunday School : 1689 Confession – 4

Before we actually begin the study of the confession from next week onwards, here is one last introductory study of the confession. Dr. Michael Haykin of Southern Seminary, will introduce the confession by tracking the history of the men who drew this confession. He first draws the historical context of and need for drawing such a confession of faith. He then sketches briefly the lives and ministries of the some of the key men behind the confession. It is a rich study on the history of our Particular Baptist forefathers and their drawing of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.  

The 1689 Confession: The Men  Listen | Download

Friday Features : Reformed Theology – 5

Lecture 5, Faith Alone (Part 2) :

The book of Romans says that we are altogether unrighteous, therefore the grave awaits us. So what can we do? Is there a way to righteousness? How can someone be declared righteous by God? In this message, Dr. Sproul teaches us the most glorious and Christ honoring way, as he affirms that salvation is by “Faith Alone.”

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