Month: June 2011

Augustine – Quotes from the Confessions

Cover of Confessions (Oxford World's Classics)

The church book club have just gone through the first 5 books (chapters) of Augustine’s Confessions. We intend to read through to book 9 as a group but I’d like read right through them. I’ve previously dipped very briefly into a few on-line versions but never actually read through them. There’s nothing – in my opinion – quite like having a book to read. The translation we are using is by Henry Chadwick and is proving to be very readable in terms of text. I’m really enjoying the book. Before we quote – and comment – from the text, two preliminary observations might be in order. i) Augustine noted what we might call the mundane or ordinary and sees God at work in these in a very powerful and humbling way. ii) Some of the things could have been written yesterday as comment on human behaviour. People are still the same, nothing has changed except maybe the clothes!

A few choice quotes

Book iv (30) p. 70. ‘I had my back to the light and my face towards the things which are illuminated. So my face, by which I was enabled to see the things lit up, was not itself illuminated’

People look out on creation and see its wonders but completely fail to be themselves enlightened at all. Or even to see the beauty of Jesus but again it’s not their own illumination and are still in their sins. And as Augustine said previously ‘…while travelling away from the truth I thought I was going towards it. Book iii (12) p. 43.

Augustine was given amazing insight into his own soul and into ours too. It’s no wonder this book is a classic. Augustine was taken in by the Manichees cult for about 9 years and Faustus one of their most able leaders came on the scene.  Augustine was beginning to question the truthfulness of their teachings to which he writes (Book iv section iv 10 p. 77 & 76):

‘When he came, I found him gracious and pleasant with words. He said the things they usually say, but put it much more agreeably. But what should the most presentable waiter do for my thirst by offering precious cups? My ears were already satiated with this kind of talk, which did not seem better to me because more elegantly expressed. Fine style does not make something true, nor has a man a wise soul because he has a handsome face and well chosen eloquence. They who promised he would be so good were not good judges. He seemed so prudent and wise because he charmed them by the way he talked.’

A quotation with his view of God (Book i p.4 & 5, iv (4).

‘Who then are you my God? What, I ask, but God who is Lord? For ‘who is the Lord but the Lord’, or ‘who is God but our God? (Psalm 17:32). Most high, utterly good, utterly powerful, most omnipotent, most merciful and most just, deeply hidden yet intimately present, perfection of beauty and strength, stable and incomprehensible, immutable and yet changing all things, never new, never old….’

Finally, Book i p. 5, v (5):

‘…’Say to my soul, I am your salvation‘ (Psalm 34:3). Speak to me so that I might hear.’

The Gospel Simply Stated

I’m going to assume my ‘audience’ is someone with very little knowledge of the Christian faith and what they do ‘know’ is probably wrong or hopelessly skewed in the wrong direction. Imagine you are in a lift or something or time is short and you only have a few moments to impart the Christian Gospel. What would you say. I’m not addressing the incredible fact that God the Holy Spirit can use anything – even our foolishness and errors to bring people to Himself. However, we do have a responsibility to impart His message as it is the ordinary means by which He saves. Here’s my first attempt. To be honest it isn’t easy. 100 words doesn’t go very far. Feel free to comment. Have I met the criteria. Can it be done? If you are not a Christian reading this – what do you think? I could do it in fewer words, ‘believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved’ (Acts 16.31). That’s not the challenge though.

The Gospel Message in 100 Words

The Bible is a message from the Creator of all things. God gave a command to Adam & Eve, the first humans, but they rebelled and evil entered the world destroying a perfect relationship. Their offspring through the ages, us, also have this sinful nature. God must judge us when we die because of our wicked nature. But God is so full of love that He sent a rescuer. This Saviour had to die a terrible death as a substitute. His name is Jesus, and everyone calling upon Him for help and forgiveness will be rescued and taken to heaven.

Related articles

Can the Gospel be Simply Stated?

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I’ve been challenged recently in my own mind from a couple of quarters about presenting the Gospel of the Grace of God in a simple and understandable way. I didn’t say simplistic, but simple. There is today an undeniable emphasis on academic credibility within Christian circles. I don’t say this is necessarily wrong, not at all. We are to love God with all our minds. You see this in the writings of earlier generations, The Reformers and The Puritans for example. I’ll try to tease out what I see the difference generally speaking might be between then and now. The plain fact is God has given us brains and we ought to use them.

It’s possible to hear preaching that attempts at critiquing Gospel ministry by saying what the Gospel is and what it isn’t, and yet not actually preaching the Gospel. At such preaching we might be temped to respond by saying ‘did he speak or did he say something’. After such preaching people can come out and wonder just what it is they heard and wonder what on earth is the Gospel. There is a vast difference between preaching about the Gospel and preaching it.

I suppose the reality is that it’s ever been thus but one might articulate the difference between then and now as that of a furnace and a match. Both produce heat but are poles apart in intensity. Ministers ought to be as qualified as they can be BUT not at the expense of Gospel heat. A zeal for the Gospel of Christ ought not to be mistaken for a thirst for knowledge. Be a Gospel man! Having said that the combination of Gospel heat and zeal combined with an academic brilliance is a great gift of God to the Church. We see this particularly in men like Jonathan Edwards, John Owen, Calvin, Luther, Augustine, The Apostle Paul and many many others. The challenge is to the Seminaries of our day to turn out men with such a combination. Thankfully there are such and we ought to pray for more. Many men from earlier times knew more of the cost than we do today, having Gospel fire for some meant they burnt in the fire. But they warned their generation of the eternal fire to come.

I know a number of Gospel ministers so I’m not getting at anybody, all I’m attempting to do is sound a warning bell as a reminder that the ministers prime calling is to preach Christ and Him crucified not to get an education or be so high falutin that no one but themselves can understand what on earth they are on about. An education is fine in so far as it enables them to preach Christ and to minister to the people of God according to their gifts.

The Challenge

We are not all gifted in extraordinary ways but even so, here’s the challenge. First to myself. Can I explain the Gospel simply, clearly, directly and in a brief and understandable manner. Secondly to anyone else that wants to have a go – can you explain the Gospel simply, clearly, directly and in a brief and understandable manner. In a following post I will try to do this. I’ll invite you to i) critique my attempt, and ii) have a go yourself. I think this could be a profitable exercise for anyone wanting to explain the Gospel to a Gospel ignorant generation. This isn’t a game by the way – this is a serious challenge to see if we can communicate the Gospel to our generation. How about setting a limit of 100 words. What do you think?

Peter Hitchens is Spot On

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If you would like to see in an amazingly graphic way where the country stands morally – and specifically on the sexualisation of young girls. Then follow the link below and watch the video clip from BBC Question Time last evening. Peter Hitchens makes his point by telling it how it is – the audience and panel make it quite clear where they stand. Peter implies by deserting a Protestant Christian ethic the country has suffered from a moral collapse.

That isn’t the Gospel, but it ought to make people look for answers. The ONLY answer is ultimately found in Jesus Christ. And just for the record being a moral person will not make you right with God.

Question Time 09/06/2011

I wanted to put the full quote in the post but it’s a bit early for the BBC to make the transcript available.

Christians are For Ever – Perseverance of the Saints

John Owen (1616-1683)
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When in Aberystwyth I like to visit the Christian Bookshop next to Alfred Place Baptist Church and inevitably buy a book. There’s a superb series of books ‘Great Christian Classics’ by Grace Publications that abridges many of the weightier tomes. For example ‘Life by His Death’ an abridgement of John Owen‘s ‘The Death of Death in the Death of Christ’ or ‘Biblical Christianity’ John Calvin’s ‘The Institutes of the Christian Religion’ in 125 pages! Stuart Olyott recommended ‘Life by His Death’ as it would be a taster for the real thing!

The book I bought is ‘Christians are For Ever’ by John Owen – or an abridgement of Owen’s ‘The Perseverance of the Saints’ or Volume 11 of his works.

Here’s a couple of quotations below, one short and one longer one. The first quotation – I think – could address the charge that Christians are hypocrites. No Christian should be a hypocrite, knowing the reality of our own fallen-ness and fact of remaining sin. You point out a couple of faults of mine and I’ll tell you a hundred more. That’s not hypocrisy that’s reality. I don’t claim to be a better person than anyone else but maybe that’s the perception Christians can often give. The actual problem is that we are not explaining the Gospel very well. There’s nothing hypocritical about realising a need for Divine help.

All who have known anything of the strength of indwelling sin know that we need a greater power than common prudence to keep us from falling away eternally. p 11.

Our confession is that we are ‘Kept by the power of God’. We are a kept people – we don’t keep ourselves!

‘Let us examine the claim which is sometimes made that believers may completely fall away. Everyone agrees that believers have the Holy Spirit in them and that they bring forth the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). If this is so, what could possibly cause believers to lose the Holy Spirit totally? What could cause the utter failure of the outworking of his grace in them? Could sin? Certainly sin, if cherished, will weaken our ability to live the Christian life. The Holy Spirit is grieved by sin in the believer but it is unthinkable that sin should prove victorious over the Spirit. The grace which believers have results from their being new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is not obtained by their own efforts. The root is first made good and then the fruit is good. Grace is planted in them by that same mighty power which God showed when he raised Jesus Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:19,20.). Continuance in sin on our part certainly deserves that God should take away his Spirit and grace from us, but will our heavenly Father allow sin to have the final victory over his sons and daughters? Will he not rather come to their aid? He may chastise them but he will not cast them away for ever.’ p 10.

The real problem unbelievers have with failing Christians is with a Gracious Saviour. A Saviour I might add, they are not willing to commit to as they would rather keep their sin and deal with the consequences on their own – how foolish is that!

Bible Study Notes – Union with Christ

Here’s another set of notes. Just a reminder these were used in a discussion. We spent some time discussing when our Union began and even if this aspect of it is actually useful. A really helpful piece of writing on this is found in ‘Redemption: Accomplished and Applied’ by John Murray Part 2 ch 9. If our Union is grounded in an eternal reality this gives incredible security to the believer and should fill us with wonder and praise!

Reading – Ephesians 1: 1 – 9. & Romans 6: 1 – 11. ‘Union with Christ’

Who is this person we are in union with? Read Revelation 1: 12-18. Conversely, who were we in union with? And to some extent still are! 1 Cor 15: 22. We are here faced with a Spiritual Eternal reality and a space-time Historic reality.

It’s not called the Mystical Union for nothing. ‘Here we have union which we are unable to define specifically’ (John Murray) However, it’s not unintelligible – it’s possible to state even though we can’t get our heads round it!

In this respect it’s like the Trinity and the two natures of Christ – and can only be appropriated through faith, and that not of ourselves!

We commented last time about our Adoption in the planning stage – as it were – beginning before the foundation of the world and actualised in time at the New Birth. A Question then: When were we placed In Christ?

“The best proof that He will never cease to love us lies in that He never began.  What we are for Him and what He is for us belongs to the realm of eternal values. Without this we are nothing, in it we have all.”

(Geerhardus Vos: Redemptive History and Biblical Interpretation, ed. By Richard B Gaffin, p.298).

And very closely related to this: When were we In Adam? Romans 5:12

There are indications that we have always been in Christ and the close ties to Election & Adoption are striking. I find this amazing, extraordinary & incredible yet mysterious, veiled & baffling. Let’s see if we can actually state it in doctrinal terms, and then leave the understanding of it perhaps for discussion or to faith in God.

If there is an order to salvation – perhaps this ought to be first, even before Election. Chosen in Him is a phrase that again will take some unpacking.

Eph 1:4  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

‘Before the foundation of the world – This is a very important phrase in determining the time when the choice was made. It was not an “afterthought.” It was not commenced in time. The purpose was far back in the ages of eternity. But what is the meaning of the phrase “before the foundation of the world?” Dr. Clarke supposes that it means “from the commencement “of the religious system of the Jews,” which,” says he, “the phrase sometimes means.” Such principles of interpretation are they compelled to resort to who endeavor to show that this refers to a national election to privileges, and who deny that it refers to individuals. On such principles the Bible may be made to signify anything and everything. Dr. Chandler, who also supposes that it refers to nations, admits, however, that the word “foundation” means the beginning of anything; and that the phrase here means, “before the world began” There is scarcely any phrase in the New Testament which is more clear in its signification than this.’ Albert Barnes Eph 1:4

(2Ti 1:9)  who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

‘which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began’; it is a gift, and a free gift, not at all depending upon any conditions in the creature, and entirely proceeding from the sovereign will of God; and it was a gift from eternity; there was not only a purpose of grace in God’s heart, and a promise of it so early, but there was a real donation of it in eternity: and though those to whom it was given did not then personally exist, yet Christ did, and he existed as a covenant head and representative of his people; and they were in him, as members of him, as represented by him, being united to him; and this grace was given to him for them, and to them in him; in whom they were chosen, and in whom they were blessed with all spiritual blessings. The Ethiopic version reads, “in Christ Jesus, who before the world was“; but without any foundation.’ John Gill.

Calvin: ‘For if God chose us before the foundation of the world, He could not have paid any regard to works for there were none and we ourselves did not exist.’ P. 297

John Murray wrote, “Union with Christ is the central truth of the whole doctrine of salvation,” Quite a statement – what do you think?

Union with Christ (or the Mystical Union) firmly places Christ at the centre of Salvation and not us. It really is all about Him – and I for one a happy about that!

Someone else has said this is ‘An ocean into which all other doctrines (of Salvation) flow’

It’s illustrated in several ways: John 14:23, 17:21-23 – Trinity

Stones of a building and the chief corner-stone – Eph 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4-5.

Adam and all his posterity – Romans 5:12-19; 1 Cor 15:19-49.

Between the head and other members of the body – Eph 4:15-16 This forms His Mystical Body – The Church. More on the Church from Ian,

Last but not least – Marriage Eph 5:32

The illustration of marriage is a picture of our union with Christ. And this is why illicit sexual relationships, adultery, homosexuality and so on bring down the anger of God, especially when it involves the people of God. It’s a violation of the body of Christ. Our society – maybe no society – just doesn’t get this.

It’s a union that ought to express itself in the Church and between believers. Pastor Paul preached on this from Hebrews last week. We have no say in it – we are members one of another. Sometimes that’s not easy. We should forgive then as Christ forgave us – as part of the same body.

Our Union with Christ gives us incredible security as we heard on Sunday. To be forsaken by God is an impossibility because He would have to forsake Christ for that to happen. The Lord Jesus Christ paid the price of separation in order to bring us to God – amazing!

The Bible doesn’t speak of uncertainty – our Salvation is something that has been accomplished! Hebrews 9:12

What then, do we have In Christ? Confidence, Assurance, Security, Life, Fellowship, Suffering, Resurrection, Glory.

All wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption, holiness, love, grace, everything we stand in need of is ours In Christ! We need to try and understand that the things we cannot see are more sure than the things we can see. They are both real but the seen is dependent on the unseen.

In Christ – The shepherd’s scrapbook this guy helpfully gives several practical exhortations.

•             Union with Christ means inclusion into His Body (the Church). This really gets at the heart of the main question: Is the theme of the believer’s union with Christ wed to the theme of union into the body of Christ (the Church)? Or are these separate and distinct unions? The simple answer is that it appears the unions are united in passages like 1 Corinthians 10:17 (see also 12:12–13 and Colossians 3:3 and 3:11–15). That is why I think Manton is correct in saying that “mystical union is the union of believers with Christ the head, and with one another.” Our personal union with Christ is the basis of our union into his body, the Church. Okay, so what are the consequences?

•             Union with Christ, and corporate solidarity, are displayed in the Lord’s Supper. I don’t think we have a clearer visual picture of our union with Christ than in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper (see Matthew 26:26–27 and John 6:41–56). With that in mind, the Lord’s Supper is where we show ourselves to be “one body” as we partake of “one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:16–17).

•             Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ and our union with all those who are in Christ. The NDT states, “Baptism signifies union with Christ in his body, the church, for to be ‘in Christ’ is to be one with all who are united to him.” See Galatians 3:26–28 and 1 Corinthians 12:12–13 for this connection.

•             Union with Christ is the context of our corporate maturity and growth. We are growing up, growing up together, growing up together “in him.” See Ephesians 4:11–16 along with Colossians 3:12–17 (in light of verses 1–4).

•             Union with Christ is the basis of our mutual dependence. We are united to Christ, we are one body. Therefore, we need one another. This unity in Christ showcases the diversity of gifts and our need for one another in 1 Corinthians 12:12–31.

•             Union with Christ is the basis for church membership. In the context of church membership, John Piper writes: “becoming a Christian means being united to Christ, and union with Christ expresses itself in union with a local body of believers. It seems to us that in the New Testament, to be excluded from the local church was to be excluded from Christ” (see 1 Corinthians 5:1–5). Union with Christ and church membership are seemingly inseparable. (This might seem a little controversial in some circles, but to say ‘there is no salvation outside of the Church’ is quite correct.)

Ultimately, the life and vitality of the church is directly connected to the life of the Saviour. Charles Spurgeon perhaps captured this point best in sermon #2653. I’ll close with a quote from it:

Union with Christ is essential to the life of his Church.

Men sometimes lose a, foot, or a leg, or an arm, or an eye, or an ear. It is very remarkable how a man may continue to exist after he has lost several of his limbs, but he cannot live if his head is taken away. Cut that off, and the decapitated body is dead in an instant.

So, brethren and sisters, the Church of God lives because Christ lives, and its life is entirely derived from him. If there were no Christ, there would be no Church; and if there is, anywhere, a body of professors without vital union to Christ, they are not a church. They may have the name of a church, but they are assuredly dead. The Spirit of God flows through Christ into the whole of his true Church, permeating every part of his wonderful mystical body.

Here’s a hymn that puts our Union with Christ very well.

Lord Jesus, are we one with Thee?
O height, O depth of love!
Thou one with us on Calvary,
We one with Thee above.

Such was Thy grace, that for our sake
Thou didst from Heaven come down,
With us of flesh and blood partake,
In all our misery, one.

Our sins, our guilt, in love divine,
Confessed and borne by Thee;
The gall, the curse, the wrath, were Thine,
To set Thy members free.

Ascended now, in glory bright,
Still one with us Thou art;
Nor life, nor death, nor depth, nor height,
Thy saints and Thee can part.

O teach us, Lord, to know and own
This wondrous mystery,
That Thou with us art truly one,
And we are one with Thee.

Soon, soon shall come that glorious day,
When, seated on Thy throne,
Thou shalt to wondering worlds display
That Thou with us art one.

James George Deck (1807-1884)

Who says it always rains in Wales!

Aber Sea Front for coffee

The first time I ever visited Aberystwyth was – I think – in 1980 – to attend the EMW conference when Sinclair Ferguson preached on Jonah. I went to the EMW a couple of other times when Andrew Davies preached an unforgettable series of sermons on Job and another time when Douglas Macmillan preached on the life of Jacob. My memories of Aberystwyth are of sunny days. And since my eldest moved there to study at the University – since married and hasn’t moved back – we have been to Aber many many times. And yes it does rain, but my impression of Aber is still of that sunny place.

Aber Sunset about 9.30

Apparently due to the geography of Aber they do receive less rain than other parts of Wales – and, according to our daughter-in-law less than we do in the Midlands. We visited last week for a few days and the pictures prove my point!

So, whoever it is that keeps saying it always rains in Wales – will they please stop.

Aber Museum

Bible Study Notes – The Trinity

Here’s another set of notes. The studies were very discussion based – and they were good discussions!

Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty

Early in the morning our song of praise shall be

Holy Holy Holy merciful and mighty

God in three persons glorious Trinity

What’s wrong with this verse – anything? Here it is again:

1.            Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.

Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty,

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

2.            Holy, holy, holy!  All the saints adore thee,

casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,

which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

3.            Holy, holy, holy!  Though the darkness hide thee,

though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,

only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,

perfect in power, in love and purity.

4.            Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!

All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea.

Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty,

God in three persons, blessed Trinity.

I trust we will see why this is important.

1Ti 1:11  According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

Tit 3:3  For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. (not so with the blessed God existing in complete harmony)

Tit 3:4  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,

Tit 3:5  he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Tit 3:6  whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Tit 3:7  so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Questions

Are there any Trinitarian verses?

1Pe 1:2  according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Mat 3:16  And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;

Mat 3:17  and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Act 7:55  But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

Act 7:56  And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Act 7:57  But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.

2Co 13:14  The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Mat 28:19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

1Jn 1:3  that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

There’s a strong argument I think, that when we have opportunity to speak of God we should seek to mention the Trinity – for this reason: God is other than we are – this is radically countercultural. The politics of the other and how we must be inclusive etc etc. Well this has also been applied to God. God is not allowed to be a judge, wrathful, he must love everyone equally and so we end up with a God shaped into our own image rather than the other way round.  IMPORTANT – Creator / Creature Distinction.

I’m a Trinitarian, are we Trinitarian?  Is the Trinity just a doctrine that we give assent to – or is there more to it than that? Is it central or not. Is it important? Are we practicing Trinitarians?

Do our services reflect the Trinity in or worship? Should it be? How should it be so?

One God

Judaism; The Shema is an affirmation of Judaism and a declaration of faith in one God. The first line of the Shema, “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One” (Shema Yisrael Adonai eloheinu Adonai ehad) (Deuteronomy 6:4) is repeated throughout the prayer services. It is said in the morning blessings, in the musaf Amidah of Shabbat and holidays, when the Torah is taken out of the Ark on Shabbat and holidays, as a bedtime prayer, as part of the deathbed confessional, and at various other times.

Islam: The Shahadah, also spelled Šehadet (Arabic: الشهادة aš-šahāda audio (help·info)) (from the verb šahida, “he witnessed”), means “to know and believe without suspicion, as if witnessed”/testification; it is the name of the Islamic creed.This is also called as “Kalema-tut-Shahadat” or “Kalema”. The Shahadah is the Muslim declaration of belief in the oneness of Allahu ta’âlâ and acceptance of Muhammad as God’s prophet. The Sunni declaration reads:

لا اله الا الله محمد رسول الله (lâ ilâha illallâh, Muḥammadur rasûlullâh) (in Arabic)

There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger. (in English)

In tradition of the Shia Muslims, there is the optional addition of “و عليٌ وليُّ الله”, transliterated as Ali –un- wali -ul –lah [“Ali is the friend/representative/care taker (cf. Wali) of God”].

A single honest recitation of the Shahadah in Arabic is all that is required for a person to become a Muslim. This declaration, or statement of faith, is called the Kalima, which literally means “word”. Recitation of the Shahadah the “oath/testimony”, is the most important of the Five Pillars of Islam for Muslims. Non-Muslims wishing to convert to Islam do so by a public recitation of the creed.[1] Technically the Shi’a do not consider the Shahadah to be a separate pillar, but connect it to the Aqidah.[2] The complete shahadah cannot be found in the Quran, but comes from hadiths.[3]

Christianity; 1Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, v6  who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. v7  For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

God on the Cross – should we be more careful with our language? E.g. Jesus pays / God pays – Be careful that we don’t slip into Modalism and end up putting the Father on the Cross.

Taking a fresh look at the Trinity has made me think about the balance. E.g. how many Trinitarian hymns are there?

Our full Salvation depends on the Trinity. No Trinity means no Salvation.

Community, Society, Family, Communication, Love, (respect, subordination of function, order?) All these are grounded in the doctrine of the Trinity. Allah has none of these attributes within his being.

We should work towards consistency.

On Creeds & Councils – we should be careful to note that they were not making up doctrines but were confirming doctrines already taught in the Scriptures. They do not have the authority of Scripture but are derived from Scripture. There were the Seven Ecumenical councils drawing from churches all over the world at the time before major divisions occurred.

How do we understand the Trinity – Discuss. How would you describe the Trinity?

Is our ‘fellowship’ then to be a reflection of the ‘fellowship’ found in the Godhead? In fact, more than that for, ‘indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ’. Here is an ellipsis concerning the Holy Spirit – not named but present. 1Jn 1:3  ‘that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.’

How would you illustrate this? Is the doctrine of the Trinity Biblical? How would you demonstrate this?

Someone comes to you and says ‘The Trinity, what’s that all about – it doesn’t make sense. BTW. This could be a Christian asking this!

KJV. ‘when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;’ ESV. ‘After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,’ NASB. ‘When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,’ LITT. ‘having made purification of our sins through Himself, He sat down on the right of the Majesty on high,’ NIV. ‘After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.’

I include this quotation from an anti-Trinitarian. ‘If Trinitarians do not interpret El to be the entire Godhead, then one member of the Godhead is claiming to be “Almighty” over the other two members. Does this manner of interpretation remain consistent with the basic truths of the Bible? It is not consistent with the Bible, nor with common sense!

Clearly this guy has not read the Creeds that answer this.

Or a JW, Mormon, Christadelpian says, ‘Where do you find that in the Bible? You know neither the power of God … (Mark 12:24)

Or a Muslim might say the Trinity is Blasphemy or incoherent or illogical – what do we say?

Why is the Trinity so important for the Gospel – and part of the Christian hope.

 Why is the Trinity important? Is it important? Should it be important?

The language of the Trinity is I think you will agree one of Family. It is of harmony. He is the Happy (blessed) God. It is of Harmony, of Love, of Fellowship, of Relationship, of Communion, of Communication, of Blessedness. As believers this is the circumstance, the blessedness that the Gospel invites us into. Our sin prevents us from fully entering into this, but, as a prospective before us, as a hope (certainty) is this not all that our (and probably everyone else) hearts long for!

The love of God must be very great if the cost to bring sinners into This was at the expense of punishing His own Son. Yet here we do not see or find a disharmony in the relationship as all three persons of the God head are equally involved and united in the mission of Redemption! This fact can be overshadowed at times by an over preoccupation only with Jesus. Please do not misunderstand me here. I think there are times when the involvement of the Trinity in our Salvation can be overlooked. Some statements can push to far.

Is our ‘fellowship’ then to be a reflection of the ‘fellowship’ found in the Godhead? In fact, more than that for, ‘indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ’. 1Jn 1:3  that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

It is not added “and with the Holy Ghost”; for it is by the Holy Ghost or Spirit of the Father and Son in us, that we are enabled to have fellowship with the Father and Son (compare 1Jo_3:24) 1Jn 3:14  We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers (Love: this is a Trinitarian thing to do – the essence of the Trinity). Whoever does not love abides in death.

Some Questions we may be asked

Is the Trinity a contradiction? Is the Trinity illogical? Is the Trinity Un-reasonable?

The law of Non-contradiction – ‘nothing can be and not be at the same time and in the same respect’

The Trinity is Three Who’s and One What (essence) Therefore, this is not a contradiction.

The Athanasian Creed

1.      Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith;Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

2.      And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;

3.      Neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance

4.      For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son and another of the Holy Spirit.

5.      But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.

6.      Such as the Father is, such is the Son and such is the Holy Spirit.

7.      The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated.

8.      The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

9.      The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.

10. And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal.

11. As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensibles, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible.

12. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty;

13. And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty.

14. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God;

15. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

16. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord;

17. And yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord.

18. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every person by himself to be God and Lord;

19. so are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say: There are three Gods or three Lords.

20. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.

21. The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten (that is: eternaly generated).

22. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

23. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.

24. And in this Trinity none is afore, nor after another; none is greater, or less than another.

25. But the whole three persons are co-eternal, and co-equal.

26. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

27. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.

28. Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

29. For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man.

30. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and made of the substance of His mother, born in the world.

31. Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

32. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood.

33. Who, although He is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ.

34. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of the manhood into God.

35. One altogether, not by the confusion of substance, but by unity of person.

36. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ;

37. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead;

38. He ascended into heaven, He sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty;

39. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

40. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies;

41. And shall give account of their own works.

42. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting, and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.

43. This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.

Bible Study Notes – God

I’ve not posted anything for quite some time. So, it might be profitable to post my notes from a few bible studies. Anyway, here’s the first one on ‘God’. The studies  were very discussion based.

The Shared and Unshared Attributes of God:

Unshared attributes = “Incommunicable” attributes:  Those characteristics of God that are unique to him, and are not also characteristics of His creatures.

These include:

Self-existence;     “Solitariness”;      Independence;     Unity;     Trinity;     Sovereignty;        Unchangeableness;     Infinity;    Omnipresence;        Omnipotence;    Omniscience;

Shared attributes = “Communicable” attributes:  The attributes that we share by being made in God’s image.

These include:

Spirituality; Knowledge; Wisdom;      Truthfulness;     Holiness;     Love;     Mercy;     Wrath;     Will;     Freedom;     Beauty;

‘We must understand, again, that insofar as we are created in God’s image, the separation between His incommunicable and communicable attributes is not razor-sharp or absolute:  there is a “flavor” of all of them in us.’

God is “eternal”…not in time….but we are immortal, extending infinitely through time in one direction.

God has three persons in his nature, but we have one person in ours.  We are both personal.

We have knowledge, but God has all knowledge.

Except for self-existence, no incommunicable attribute is completely unshared by us, and no communicable attribute is shared fully by us.

The subject this evening is GOD. But, not just any God – obvious I know, but we are speaking of the God of the Bible. The ideas we have of God are not to be our own thoughts. We may not like the idea of a Wrathful God but it’s not for us to make an image that’s more appealing.

‘The being of God is characterised by a depth, a fullness, a variety, and a glory far beyond our comprehension, and the Bible represents it as a glorious harmonious whole, without any inherent contradictions. And this fullness of life finds expression in no other way than in the perfections of God.’ (Berkhof, p42.)

Three phrases there that may help us: ‘The being of God’ ‘a glory far beyond our comprehension’ ‘the Bible represents it as a glorious harmonious whole’

The attributes of God are usually divided into ‘Communicable’ and ‘Incommunicable’. Can we say what the ‘Incommunicable’ attributes are?

His Immutability, Eternity & Infinity.

What about the ‘Communicable’ attributes? I’m not sure if this going to come up when we get to the study of man – illustrates how integrated all these doctrines are!

God is:

The Creator God – Creator / Creature distinction. He is other than us. He does not need us. We are, and always will be creatures. Only God is eternal needing nothing outside of His own being. We are entirely dependent. We’ll see more of this when we look at the Trinity in a few weeks time.

God does not need us or the rest of creation for anything,

  • Also called the “self-existence” of God.
  • Acts 17:24-28       Ps 50:10-12
  • Did God create us because He was lonely?  John 17:5     John 17:24
  • He alone is independent; all else depends upon Him:  Rev 4:11     John 1:3     Rom 11:35-36     1 Cor 8:6     Ps 90:2
  • The most fundamental, self-given name of God asserts his self-existence:  I AM THAT I AM.  Ex 3:14  He alone determines who he is; He alone really IS;  He is being.
  • God necessarily exists, and we do not.  Our existence depends on His; His existence depends on nothing.  There is one Creator; everything else is Creature.
  • This is the most fundamental difference between God and everything and everyone else. It sets Him apart utterly.
  • Gen 1:1     Eph 1:11
  • Do our praises add anything to God’s glory?  Neh 9:5    Job 35:7,8     Luke 17:10     Is 40:15-18, 22-23     I Tim 6:16

The Covenant God – It is He that has made a Covenant and bound Himself to its requirements. The Covenant is grounded in His character and attributes. The promises of God are Yes & Amen.

The God of Providence – follows on from being the Creator. Nothing is outside of His own Sovereignty. Q. Do we really understand and apply this character of God to our own lives and worship Him for who He is? (See The Heidelberg Catechism below)

He is the Self Disclosing God – Despite the fact that he does not need us, He has chosen to reveal Himself and to manifest His Glory, His Grace, His Love, His Mercy, His Peace, His Wrath, and many other characteristics. Were He to remain silent then we would be (un)blissfully unaware. Interestingly, Schaeffer makes the point that our failures actually point to God. This is consistent with His own Word – Romans 1

There’s an important Apologetic aspect to this: God has revealed Himself to everyone. Romans 1:19–20 (NAS)19) because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made,

Rom 1:19  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

Rom 1:20  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (ESV)

He is a personable God – He may be known. We do not just know about Him but may actually know Him.

All of these attributes and characteristics point us to the obvious truth that we are talking about the God of Scripture and not just ‘God’.

Having looked at these things very briefly it would be profitable to read out a couple of Q & A from the ‘The Heidelberg Catechism’

The Solitariness of God – Exodus 15:11

The Decrees of God – Acts 15:18

The Knowledge of God – Heb. 4:13

The Foreknowledge of God – Acts 2:23

The Supremacy of God – 1 Chron. 29:11, 12

The Sovereignty of God – Dan. 4:35

The Immutability of God – Mal. 3:6

The Holiness of God – Rev. 15:4

The Power of God – Ps. 62:11

The Faithfulness of God – Lam. 3:22, 23

The Goodness of God – Ps. 136:25

The Patience of God – 2 Pet. 3:9

The Grace of God – Eph. 2:8,9

The Mercy of God – Ps. 136:1

The Loving-kindness of God – 36:7

The Love of God – John 3:16

The Love of God to Us – Ephesians 2:4

The Wrath of God – Rom. 1:18

The Contemplation of God – Job 11:7-9

The Bounties of God – Matthew 22:4

The Gifts of God – Isaiah 9:6

The Guidance of God – Proverbs 3:5

The Blessings of God – Proverbs 10:22

The Cursings of God – Jer. 17:5

The Gospel of the Grace of God – Acts 20:24

‘Although the purpose of this page is to give an overview of the Attributes of God, I must apologize because this table is not even “the fringes of His ways and how faint a word we hear of Him!” (Job 26:14) As Horner has written “There can be no condensed learning of God; the very thought is an insult to His transcendent majesty. Rather we have to learn…what it is to slow down and meditate on the truth of His Being, to ruminate over, to ingest and digest the revelations concerning His holy character, to wonder overwhelmingly, to “be still [cease striving] and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10)’ (from CARM website)

Compare this with Allah (probably requires a more detailed post)

Question 26. What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?

Answer: That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them; (a) who likewise upholds and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence) (b) is for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father; (c) on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt, but he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body (d) and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me, in this valley of tears turn out to my advantage; (e) for he is able to do it, being Almighty God, (f) and willing, being a faithful Father. (g) (**The letters in the answers refer to the Bible verse but they take up too much space to put in here.)

Question 27. What dost thou mean by the providence of God?

Answer: The almighty and everywhere present power of God; (a) whereby, as it were by his hand, he upholds and governs (b) heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, (c) fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, (d) riches and poverty, (e) yea, and all things come, not by chance, but be his fatherly hand. (f)

Question 28. What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by his providence does still uphold all things?

Answer: That we may be patient in adversity; (a) thankful in prosperity; (b) and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, (c) that nothing shall separate us from his love; (d) since all creatures are so in his hand, that without his will they cannot so much as move. (e)