The Heidelberg Catechism 1619 A.D. (Qu. 46-54)

46. Q. What do you confess when you say, He ascended into heaven?

A. That Christ, before the eyes of His disciples, was taken up from the earth into heaven,[1] and that He is there for our benefit[2] until He comes again to judge the living and the dead.[3]

[1] Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50, 51; Acts 1:9-11. [2] Rom. 8:34; Heb. 4:14; 7:23-25; 9:24. [3] Matt. 24:30; Acts 1:11.

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47. Q. Is Christ, then, not with us until the end of the world, as He has promised us?[1]

A. Christ is true man and true God. With respect to His human nature He is no longer on earth,[2] but with respect to His divinity, majesty, grace, and Spirit He is never absent from us.[3]

[1] Matt. 28:20. [2] Matt. 26:11; John 16:28; 17:11; Acts 3:19-21; Heb. 8:4. [3] Matt. 28:18-20; John 14:16-19; 16:13.

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48. Q. But are the two natures in Christ not separated from each other if His human nature is not present wherever His divinity is?

A. Not at all, for His divinity has no limits and is present everywhere.[1] So it must follow that His divinity is indeed beyond the human nature which He has taken on and nevertheless is within this human nature and remains personally united with it.[2]

[1] Jer. 23:23, 24; Acts 7:48, 49. [2] John 1:14; 3:13; Col. 2:9.

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49. Q. How does Christ's ascension into heaven benefit us?

A. First, He is our Advocate in heaven before His Father.[1] Second, we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that He, our Head, will also take us, His members, up to Himself.[2] Third, He sends us His Spirit as a counter-pledge,[3] by whose power we seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God, and not the things that are on earth.[4]

[1] Rom. 8:34; I John 2:1. [2] John 14:2; 17:24; Eph. 2:4-6. [3] John 14:16; Acts 2:33; II Cor. 1:21, 22; 5:5. [4] Col. 3:1-4.

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50. Q. Why is it added, And sits at the right hand of God?

A. Christ ascended into heaven to manifest Himself there as Head of His Church,[1] through whom the Father governs all things.[2]

[1] Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 1:18. [2] Matt. 28:18; John 5:22, 23.

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51. Q. How does the glory of Christ, our Head, benefit us?

A. First, by His Holy Spirit He pours out heavenly gifts upon us, His members.[1] Second, by His power He defends and preserves us against all enemies.[2]

[1] Acts 2:33; Eph. 4:7-12. [2] Ps. 2:9; 110:1, 2; John 10:27-30; Rev. 19:11-16.

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52. Q. What comfort is it to you that Christ will come to judge the living and the dead?

A. In all my sorrow and persecution I lift up my head and eagerly await as judge from heaven the very same person who before has submitted Himself to the judgment of God for my sake, and has removed all the curse from me.[1] He will cast all His and my enemies into everlasting condemnation, but He will take me and all His chosen ones to Himself into heavenly joy and glory.[2]

[1] Luke 21:28; Rom. 8:22-25; Phil. 3:20,21; Tit. 2:13, 14. [2] Matt. 25:31-46; I Thess. 4:16, 17; II Thess. 1:6-10.

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53. Q. What do you believe concerning the Holy Spirit?

A. First, He is, together with the Father and the Son, true and eternal God.[1] Second, He is also given to me,[2] to make me by true faith share in Christ and all His benefits,[3] to comfort me,[4] and to remain with me forever.[5]

[1] Gen. 1:1, 2; Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3, 4; I Cor. 3:16. [2] I Cor. 6:19; II Cor. 1:21, 22; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 1:13. [3] Gal. 3:14; I Pet. 1:2. [4] John 15:26; Acts 9:31. [5] John 14:16, 17; I Pet. 4:14.

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54. Q. What do you believe concerning the holy catholic Christian church?

A. I believe that the Son of God,[1] out of the whole human race,[2] from the beginning of the world to its end,[3] gathers, defends, and preserves for Himself, [4] by His Spirit and Word,[5] in the unity of the true faith,[6] a church chosen to everlasting life.[7] And I believe that I am[8] and forever shall remain a living member of it.[9]

[1] John 10:11; Acts 20:28; Eph. 4:11-13; Col. 1:18. [2] Gen. 26:4; Rev. 5:9. [3] Is. 59:21; I Cor. 11:26. [4] Ps. 129:1-5; Matt. 16:18; John 10:28-30. [5] Rom. 1:16; 10:14-17; Eph. 5:26. [6] Acts 2:42-47; Eph. 4:1-6. [7] Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:3-14. [8] I John 3:14, 19-21. [9] Ps. 23:6; John 10:27, 28; I Cor. 1:4-9; I Pet. 1:3-5.

Jesus And Santa

How "Total" Is Our Depravity?

HT: Pyromaniacs

God only knows the vileness of the human heart. There is a depth beneath, a hidden spring, into which we cannot pry. In that lower depth, there is a still deeper abyss of positive corruption which we need not wish to fathom. God grant that we may know enough of this to humble us, and keep us ever low before him! Yet hold, Lord, lest we should yield to despair, and absolutely lie down to die under the black thought of our alienation from righteousness, our naturalization in sin, and the deplorable tendency of our heart to rebel more and more against thee, the faithful and true God! Show us not all our wretchedness…

I have often been startled when I have found in my heart the possibilities of iniquity of which I thought I never could have been the subject, in reveries by day or in dreams of the night. All at once, a blasphemy foul as hell has started up in the very middle of offering a prayer so earnest that my heart never knew more fervour. I have been staggered at myself.

When God has called us into the pulpit,—we thought, at one time, we never could be proud if God so honoured us,—this has seemed to quicken our step in the black march of our depraved heart. Or, when a little cast down and troubled in spirit, we have wished to leave the world altogether, and have been like Jonah, trying to flee to Tarshish that we might not go to this great Nineveh at our Lord's bidding. Little did we reckon that there was such cowardice in our soul. We have thus found out another phase in our own nature.

Does any man imagine that his heart is not vile? If he be a professing Christian, I much suspect whether he ought not to renounce his profession; for, methinks, any enlightened man, who sincerely looks to himself, and whose experience leads him somewhat to lock within, will surely find, not mere foibles, but foulness that literally staggers him. I question the Christianity of that man who doubts whether there are, in his soul, the remains of such corruption as drown the ungodly in perdition; or whether, though a quickened child of God, he hath another law in his members, warring against the law of his mind.

What! hath he no such battle within that the things he would do he often doeth not, while the things that he would not do he often doeth? Hath he no need to be in constant prayer to God to deliver him from the evil in his heart that he may be more than a conqueror over it at last? I do assert, once more, and I think the experience of God's children beareth me out, that, when we shall be most advanced, and when we come, at last, to sit down in God's kingdom above, we shall find that we have not learnt all that there is to be learnt of the foulness of our nature, and the desperateness of our soul's disease.

"The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds and bruises, and putrefying sores." "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" "Cleanse thou me from secret faults." "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Perhaps, if we knew more of this terrible evil, it might imperil our reason. Hardly could it be possible for us to bear the full discovery and live. Among the wise concealments of God, is that which hides from open view the depravity of our heart, and the corruption of our nature.

– C.H. Spurgeon

The Real Christmas Story (John MacArthur)

The Ultimate Focus Of The Christian Life

There is a teaching within the body of Christ today that wants us to believe that the core of Christianity is “The meaning of true eternal life.” It is the idea that the Christian life is all about enjoying now, here on earth, what is reserved for us in heaven (often referred to as Kingdom Theology). According to this teaching, knowing God means we are to place “living in the presence of God” above any other component of the Christian life. I believe this to be in opposition to the focus and meaning of the Christian life. It is of great concern to me. Allow me to explain.

Eternal life does indeed come as a result of knowing God. However, the end of all being is not the happiness of man. The end of all being is the glory of God. Does God not intend to make us happy? Yes, He does. But our happiness comes as a by-product of our salvation. It is not the prime product.

The late Paris Reidhead said this: “The people God witnesses to by His Spirit, so that they might know they are indeed born again, are the people, whether they say it or not, come to Jesus Christ and say something like this: ‘Lord Jesus, I’m going to obey You and love You and serve You and do what You want me to do as long as I live, even if I go to hell at the end of the road, simply because You are worthy to be loved and obeyed and served and I’m not trying to make a deal with You.’”

It is so very important for us to understand that we receive eternal life (life in heaven as opposed to “life” in hell) as an added blessing to the forgiveness for our sins, and that we do not receive eternal life because we are forgiven for our sins.

This teaching will produce Christians who are more concerned with “living it up now,” that they do not focus on preaching the gospel. Instead they focus on enjoying and experiencing the good life now. We need to understand that heaven is the good life. As we live here on earth we ought to be about the business of preaching the gospel. The gospel is the good news that the amazing grace of God is freely poured out on repentant sinners so that they may have their sins forgiven, and in so doing may be saved from the wrath of God (1 Thess. 1:10).

Why did Jesus come? He came so that He might save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). He came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). Yes, with salvation comes eternal life. But eternal life is not a separate component of the saved life. Through having our sins forgiven we are able to know God now and the result of knowing God now is the blessed promise that we can spend all of eternity knowing Him in heaven. The guarantee of eternal life is given to the Christian the moment he or she repents and believes the gospel.

Ephesians 1:11-14 says this: “In Him [Christ] we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.”

The Christian has the promise of eternal life the moment he or she repents and believes the gospel. Eternal life in many ways begins the moment we repent and believe. Yes, that is true. But, it is not the eternal life of heaven. The Christian must endure many tribulations here on earth before entering heaven (Acts 14:22). All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). The Bible says that Jesus came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). But the abundant life is a quality of life that is different to the life of the unregenerate sinner. That “quality of life” is not, by definition, health, wealth and prosperity. I am not saying that God demands we be poor and constantly in lack. As a Christian you may be rich. But the Christian life is not centred on health, wealth and prosperity. It is centred on a life that is in full submission to God. It is centred on a life of self-denial and sacrifice (Luke 9:23).

The quality of life, the abundant life that Christ came to give us is a life in which we have freedom from guilt, not freedom from pain. It involves freedom from judgment, not freedom from suffering. People do not become Christians because they see Christians full of joy and blessing. They become Christians because they have godly sorrow over their sin, which in turn produces repentance, which then leads to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10). How does a person reach a point where they have godly sorrow over their sin? It happens when they hear the gospel. People are saved through the preaching of the gospel. That is God’s ordained plan and that is the ministry we have been called to.

"I Asked The Lord That I Might Grow" - A.W. Pink

HT: Grace Gems

I asked the Lord that I might grow

(Arthur Pink, "Experimental Preaching" 1937)

"Make Your ways known to me, Lord; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me." Psalm 25:4-5

There are two ways of learning of Divine things. The one is to acquire a letter knowledge of them from the Bible, the other is to be given an actual experience of them in the soul, under the Spirit's teaching.

Many suppose that by spending a few minutes in a concordance, they can discover what humility is; that by studying certain passages of Scriptures, they may obtain an increase of faith; or that by reading and re-reading a certain chapter, they may secure more love.

But that is not the way those graces are experimentally developed. Humility is learned by a daily smarting under the plague of the heart, and having its innumerable abominations exposed to our view. Repentance is learned by feeling the load of guilt, and the heavy burden of conscious defilement, bowing down the soul. Faith is learned by increasing discoveries of unbelief and infidelity. Love is learned by a personal sense of the undeserved goodness of God to the vilest of the vile. Patience cannot be learned from books--it is acquired in the furnace of affliction! It is thus with all the spiritual graces of the Christian.

Ah, my reader, we beg the Lord to teach us--but the fact is, that we do not like His method of teaching us! Fiery trials, storms of afflictions, the dashing of our carnal hopes--are indeed painful to flesh and blood; yet it is by them that the heart is purified.

We say that we wish to live to God's glory--but fail to remember that we can do so only as SELF is denied and the Cross be taken up. God's ways of teaching His children are, like all His ways, entirely different from ours!

I asked the Lord that I might grow,
In faith and love and every grace,
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek more earnestly His face.

It was He who taught me thus to pray,
And He I trust has answered prayer.
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair!

I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He'd answer my request.
And by His love's constraining power,
Subdue my sins and give me rest!

Instead of this, He made me feel,
The hidden evils of my heart.
And let the angry powers of hell,
Assault my soul in every part!

Yes, more with His own hand, He seemed,
Intent to aggravate my woe.
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low!

"Lord, why is this?" I trembling cried.
Will You pursue Your worm to death?"
"This is the way" the Lord replied,
"I answer prayer for grace and strength."

"These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set you free;
And break your schemes of earthly joy,
That you may find your all in Me!"

– John Newton

The Implications Of Neo-Darwinian Thought

Myths About Evolution

Myth 6: Apemen and Artistic License

The pervasive ape-to-human montage that shows an ape-like being on the left slowly becoming a human on the right is so much a part of culture that most anyone can recognize it. Natural history museums and TV shows give us supposed glimpses into the past and how human ancestors might have looked. Too bad it’s all a sham.

Fossil apes are difficult to come by, but several species have been found. However, a new ape fossil does not generate as much interest or prestige as one called a “human ancestor,” which is why there is so much focus on how ape fossils tie in to the evolution story. The desire to “fill in the gaps” leads to many false conclusions. For example, some of the supposed “bipedal” characteristics found in fossils are also found in living apes that are not bipedal.

In fact, imagination, wishful thinking, and presuppositions influence a great deal of the “reconstructions” we find in magazines, textbooks, and on TV. Enjoy the science, but don’t be taken in by the fiction.

– Answers in Genesis

EU Threat To Religious Liberty

Important news: From The Christian Institute...

The European Union is proposing a directive to outlaw discrimination on grounds including sexual orientation and religion in the provision of goods or services. Similar laws in the UK and other nations have caused serious erosion of religious liberty and the exclusion of Christianity from public places. This Directive will mean that ‘homosexual rights’ and secular values will govern how Christian organisations provide goods and services to the public. The Directive could mean that a Christian-owned guest house would be forced to provide double rooms to homosexual couples. Or a town council could cease to fund a Christian community project because it may be viewed as favouring one religion over another. A ‘harassment’ provision within the Directive may also affect how Christians communicate their religious beliefs while providing a good or service. Although the UK already has ‘goods and services’ discrimination laws, this Directive could make the British situation even worse.

The Directive is currently in draft form. Its official title is “Proposal for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation” (COM (2008) 426). The proposed Directive is currently under consideration by the Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee. When it reports back with an analysis and any suggested amendments, MEPs will vote on its conclusions and the Council can begin to consider whether to adopt, amend or reject the Directive. This is expected to take place early in 2009. This directive, if it comes into play, will seriously affect issues such as free speech and the right to express religious views.

This proposal has great potential to interfere with religious liberty and free speech. It also hands power to Brussels to control important aspects of discrimination law. PLEASE visit http://www.christian.org.uk/ in order to stay informed. It is vital that Christians keep up-to-date with the latest news about the Directive. The Christian Institute is actively working to defend religious liberty. There will be crucial moments when Christians need to act. Please contact them and they will keep you informed about the campaign and how you can help.

Web: http://www.christian.org.uk/
Email: info@christian.org.uk
Tel: (from UK) 0191 281 5664
Tel: (from EU) +44 191 281 5664

Please write to The Christian Institute and ask them to send you a letter detailing how you can write to your MEP and ask that the directive for religion and sexual orientation be dropped from the proposed discrimination Directive, whilst retaining disability.

To download an introductory briefing click HERE.

Operation 513 London: Leicester Square (5th December 2008)

Friday evening saw a record turn-out in terms of people joining the team for our time of ministry. The team was as follows: Carl, Wesley, my bother James, Philip, James (a friend of Wesley’s), Oliver (a friend of Carl’s), Jannah, Steve, and I. James has only been once before and Oliver was joining us for the first time. It’s wonderful to see the team growing like this, and had Andrew and Adam been able to join us there would have been eleven of us in total, which is really awesome.

After enjoying a time of devotions and prayer together in our new-found café, we headed up to the square. It was quite a sight. The square had been turned into a carnival and there were various rides and stores all over the place. Needless to say, the area was amassed with many people. It was also very noisy. But hey, that’s what happens when a carnival comes to town. We set up in our now usual spot and got ready to minister. I stood up to preach first and asked the people if they knew what an amusement park is. A few people said entertainment and things like that. Well, the word “muse” means to think and “amuse” literally means to not think. The letter “a” placed in front produces the antithesis to the word “muse.” So, simply put, an amusement park is simply a “not thinking park.” It is a centre of entertainment devoid of thinking. Man is always running away from responsibility. As a moral agent and rational being he is obligated to examine his life in view of God’s standard. Ah, but this he would rather not do. Entertainment is far too fun. That’s what sin is to man: fun. Yet oh how temporary that “fun” is.

My intro helped to springboard me into talking about the need for us to think of the big questions we all face in this world today: 1) why are we here, 2) what we ought to be doing while we are here, and 3) what will happen to us when we die. Because of the atmosphere and entertainment going on I did not draw a big crowd. However, a number of people did stop and one man in particular was a great encouragement. He was quite willing to engage with me as I took him through the good person test and reasoned with him of sin, righteousness and judgment. (John 16:8) He listened as I told him of the good news of Jesus Christ; that we can be saved from the wrath of God because of what Christ has done by dying on a cross. (John 3:36) The time came when he had to leave and it was a great joy to see him take both an in-depth gospel tract and Bible as he left. Please pray for him. Unfortunately I did not get his name, but the Lord knows who he is and so do pray that God would grant him both repentance and faith unto salvation.

Below is the audio from my open-air.

Steve sharing the gospel.

After I finished preaching open-air we all turned to talking with people and handing out tracts. After a little while Carl stood up to preach and he delivered a faithful and solid message. Many of the Bibles were taken as were many of the tracts. People were hearing the gospel and there is nothing more important in this world than that. Praise the Lord for yet another fruitful time of ministry.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Atheism: Makes Perfect Sense

Urgent Prayer Request - Two Preachers to Face Court

In April 2008, Josh Mitchell and Keith Rochford were arrested on the Gold Coast (Australia) while preaching the gospel. I put up a post at that time; you can view it by clicking HERE.

Both Josh and Keith have been active members of Operation 513 for a number of years, although Josh has since stepped down from the ministry. At 9am on Wednesday 10th December they will appear before Southport Court. Both of them are facing the possibility of jail time, so we would ask that you keep them in prayer during this time.

It is our hope that God will get the glory from this and that He will allow His gospel to go forth.

Thanks for you prayer.

The Cell - A World That Darwin Never Could Have Imagined

Operation 513 London: Leicester Square (28th November 2008)

Friday night was a night with a difference. I was very excited in that the youth from my church were set to join us. This would be a bit of an eye-opening experience for quite a few of them. I believe it is important that young people understand that sharing the gospel is not restricted simply to what is commonly called “friendship evangelism.” We need to be taking the gospel to people we do not know as much as we are taking the gospel to those we do know.

Barney, who leads the youth group, asked if I would give a talk to the youth before travelling up. This was no problem; however it meant that I travelled up with the youth instead. The team was there to meet us when we arrived, which was a little before 9pm. Philip, my brother James, Steve, Andrew “the Kiwi”, Andrew “the Aussie” and Jannah, were all there to meet us. Because the youth were not able to stay long I kept my preach short. After I came down from preaching we all got stuck in handing out tracts to the people passing by. It was such a blessing and so encouraging to see the young people handing out tracts. The girls, in particular, were really getting into it. It was really wonderful.

It came time for the youth to leave and it was a shame to see them go, however they could not be out too late as it was important for them to get back to meet their parents. We spent the rest of the evening talking with people. I was going to preach open-air again, however Andrew the Kiwi (who has now left to go back to New Zealand – sob, sob!!) and I got talking with a young Muslim gentleman named Umer. He had stopped to listen whilst I had preached open-air. Andrew and I had a good chat with him. He did not seem to be a committed and practising Muslim, however he knew enough of the objections that Muslims are taught with regards to Christianity. These tend to centre on the issue of the Trinity and the veracity of Scripture. I often find it quite amazing that they so attack the veracity of Scripture. It is far, far more authentic and reliable than the Qu’ran and can hold up under the weight of scrutiny far, far more than the Qu’ran could ever hope to do. Still, they persist. I put the challenge to Umer and told him that the Qu’ran contradicts itself in that it mentions the gospel, and that the gospel was delivered through Jesus. The Qu’ran refers to the Bible, and since it does not explain the gospel, the only place for a Muslim to turn to in order to understand the gospel is the Bible. Since the gospel is talked about in the Qu’ran, the Muslim is duty bound to find out what the gospel is. Now, this is where the Qu’ran contradicts itself: the Bible, which came before the Qu’ran, clearly says that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:6) There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) There is only one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5) It is clear. How then can the Qu’ran be true, as it affirms that the gospel comes through Jesus, yet presents a path to salvation that is completely different to the path of salvation found in the Bible?

We had a great chat with Umer. We could see the wheels turning in his head. What we were saying was causing him to think. This was confirmed for us when he asked for a Bible before saying goodbye. Praise God!

It had been a fruitful evening. Praise the Lord for His bountiful blessings.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Operation 513 London: Leicester Square (21st November 2008)

On Friday evening we met once more at Leicester Square for a time of ministry. The team consisted of Philip, my brother James, Carl, Andrew, and a friend of his named Jannah, who attends the same church. Friday night, was, for all intensive purposes, a very difficult night. Because of the extremely low temperature we all knew it was going to be a tough one. When we arrived at our usual spot we encountered yet more difficulties. Mark, the artist I have mentioned before, had clearly decided in his mind that enough was enough. He was not going to let us preach.

After speaking with the police officers about the situation I realised that to minister in the same vicinity as Mark was simply not going to work. We had lost a considerable amount of time already in trying to avoid him as best we could, and seeing that it simply was not going to work, we moved back over to the spot we have used previously, on the opposite side of the promenade. Carl stood up to preach and preached a solid gospel message. It was very cold and so the team moved about speaking to people in an attempt to keep warm.

Our display table consisted of free Bibles, tracts and also some DVD’s of The Jesus Film. The DVD allows you to choose from twenty-four languages and so it was such a blessing to be able to give away this DVD in such a multi-cultural city like London.

We all had some good conversations with people and we gave away a good number of tracts. I was grateful to the Lord that we were able to minister the gospel despite the cold and the resistance we received.

Soli Deo Gloria!