Fire in the Mouth

The reform of worship is never a mere matter of removing false practices but is only made complete with the joyful, earnest institution of worship that conforms to the Bible. Josiah did what reformers today must do. Instead of gazing around at the practices of the world for popular modes of praise, he turned his gaze to God's Word. He read it and derived conclusions from it about what ought to be done. Then, as now, the issue was not about style or preference, but about a desire to see God obeye...

So vital is the Bible to any true reform that a return to the Bible—to its reverence and study, to its acceptance as the authoritative and sufficient guide for all of our faith and practice, to its use as the yardstick by which all other claims to truth and wisdom are assessed—is precisely what reformation is all about. —Richard Phillips, 'Turning Back the Darkness: The Biblical Pattern of Reformation', 143. ...

A question for the future: Will the Bible remain the final court of appeal or will Presbyterians be tossed about by innovative theological winds that blow? Building upon a foundational commitment to the authority of Scripture, Calvin and the other Reformers tended to emphasize the core elements of catholic faith. Creeds and confessions were of vital importance to Calvin, especially the Apostles' Creed but he also saw the place for larger Confessions, writing the 'French Confession' ("Gallican C...

What a stop hath been set to Superstition? How good a progress hath been made in Reformation? And may we not yet hope that God will do better unto us then at our beginnings? God’s promise is the ground of hope: and my Text sheweth that God hath promised as much. Go on, Right Honourable, and put forth your utmost endeavours, for bringing on those better things that yet remain. Where there is Hope, their endeavours use to be most earnest: For Hope stirreth up men’s spirits to set upon great thing...

The ground of his joy is said to be the divine word; and this implies, that however much he might seem to be forsaken and abandoned by God, he satisfied himself by reflecting on the truthfulness of his promises. He would glory in God notwithstanding, and although there should be no outward appearance of help, or it should even be sensibly withdrawn, he would rest contented with the simple security of his word. The declaration is one that deserves our notice. How prone are we to fret and to murmu...

A Christian is just as much under obligation to obey God’s will in the most secular of his daily businesses as he is in his closet or at the communion table. He has no right to separate his life into two realms, and acknowledge different moral codes in each respectively—to say the Bible is a good rule for Sunday, but this is a week-day question, or the Scriptures are the right rule in matters of religion, but this is a question of business or politics. God reigns over all everywhere. His will is...

The true proof of faith consists in this, that when we feel the solicitations of natural fear, we can resist them, and prevent them from obtaining an undue ascendancy. Fear and hope may seem opposite and incompatible affections, yet it is proved by observation, that the latter never comes into full sway unless there exists some measure of the former. In a tranquil state of the mind, there is no scope for the exercise of hope. At such times it lies dormant, and its power is only displayed to adva...

In the amplification of this reason, the apostle calls the commandment of honoring parents the “first commandment with promise,” [Eph. 6:2] to show that it is the first which has a particular promise added to it, so it is the first that God gave of any duty to be performed to man. The very order of the Decalogue shows the truth of this. The reason is clear; honor due to parents is the ground of all the duties required in the second table, for if duty is not performed to those who we are bound to...

WORKS OF NECESSITY & MERCY WCF 21.8. This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest, all the day, from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations, but also are taken up, the whole time, in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy. WLC Q. 117. How is the sabbath or the Lord...

"Another issue, quite irrelevant to the whole question and which obscured the real basic differences of doctrine, was the subject of Christian liberty, particularly concerning the drinking of fermented beverages, and the discussion of the so-called separated life, which sets up certain man-made standards apart from the Bible and judges a Christian's spirituality by his conformity to these norms. Professor Allan A. MacRae, Ph.D., assistant professor in charge of the department of Old Testament a...

Second Helvetic Confession (1566) Ch. 30, "Of Magistracy" The magistracy, of whatever sort it is, is ordained of God Himself for the peace and quietness of mankind; and so he ought to have the chiefest place in the world. If he is an adversary to the church, he may hinder and disturb it very much, but if he is a friend and so a member of the church, he is a most useful and excellent member thereof, which may profit it very much, and finally may help and further it very excellently. His chief du...

The man who holds the office of teacher must apply himself to the reception of truth before he attempt to communicate it, and in this manner become the means of conveying to the hands of others that which God has committed to his own. Wisdom is not the growth of human genius. It must be sought from above, and it is impossible that any should speak with the propriety and knowledge necessary for the edification of the Church, who has not, in the first place, been taught at the feet of the Lord. —...

Prayer & Care for Mothers I've had this draft sitting since Monday (May 13), the day after "Mother's Day." I'm glad I waited to publish, since more people have violently reacted to our confessional view of the Lord's Day. Emotional reactions. Not actual refutations. Accusing us of not honoring our mothers. As if all your obedience to the 5th Commandment depends on celebrating Mother's Day. Celebrate Mother’s Day or nothing. That seems to be the sentiment. I guess no Christian ever honored...

The leading ideas of some of the books of the Bible: ❇️ Genesis speaks to all ages until the end of time, of the creation of man in the image of God; of the entrance of sin into the world; and of the initial revelation of God's redeeming grace. ❇️ Exodus acquaints the successive generations of men with the doctrine of deliverance through the shedding of blood, ❇️ while Leviticus teaches them how sinful man can approach God and stand in his holy presence. ❇️ Numbers pictures the pilgrimage of...

The Word of God is an organic production, and consequently the separate books that constitute it are organically related to one another. The Holy Spirit so directed the human authors in writing the books of the Bible that their productions are mutually complementary. They are one in recording the work which God, in the execution of his divine plan, wrought in Christ for the redemption of a people that would glorify him eternally. The Old Testament reveals this work, first of all, ❇️ historical...

And lastly, with all his amiability, the minister should be firm for his principles, and bold to avow and defend them in all companies. When a fair opportunity occurs, or he has managed to create one, let him not be slow to make use of it. Strong in his principles, earnest in his tone, and affectionate in heart, let him speak out like a man and thank God for the privilege. There need be no reticence—there should be none. The maddest romances of Spiritualists, the wildest dreams of Utopian reform...

A MAN SHOULD FIND A WIFE Before I go further, let me take a few moments to address single men. I said that I was not going to rebuke you for being unmarried, and I meant that. Moreover, I realize that it is not always so easy to find a godly wife, and that many earnestly seeking brothers have been greatly frustrated in this pursuit. Still, the Bible's teaching requires me to encourage you to realize how vitally important it is (in the vast majority of cases) that you become married. If you hav...

At one level, of course, these sentiments respecting the correctness of the Reformation's reading of the gospel cannot be rejected out of hand. The confessions themselves acknowledge that they are subordinate to the teaching of the Scripture and liable to correction if necessary. Even the most ardent subscriber to the Reformed confessions must be open to the possibility that they may contain error. This is really only another way of saying that Scripture is the supreme test of faith, and the con...

"You may preach the most solemn warnings, and the most dreadful threatenings, in such an indifferent or careless way that no one will be in the least affected by them; and you may repeat the most affectionate exhortations in such a half-hearted manner that no one will be moved either to love or fear. I believe, brethren, that for soul-winning there is more in this matter of earnestness than in almost anything else. I have seen and heard some who were very poor preachers, who yet brought many sou...

ALL SAINTS’ DAY AND ALL SOULS’ DAY Roman Catholic holy-days. Man made. Not instituted in Scripture. The theology behind these commemorations are the validity of the Church of Rome, the distinction between mortal and venial sin, the existence of Purgatory, the canon of saints of the Roman Catholic Church, and the validity of Roman Catholic worship. In fact, All Saints’ Day is a Catholic “Holy Day of Obligation,” meaning all Catholics are required to attend the Mass. Those who aren’t communing R...

Measured Enthusiasm about "Reformation" in the Philippines The Philippines now has its own "conference circuit." More and more events are being put on that promote "Reformed" theology. Money is being donated, special speakers are invited, people are traveling to attend, and book tables are being set up with all the latest offerings of Reformed and Presbyterian publishers. It's all very exciting, truly. And there's no question that this is an enormous improvement in this country. But is this...

There is always another verse that can be covered and another word that can be said, but ministers are best advised to select passages that allow them to quit before the congregation does. The well-prepared pastor always has more to say than time to say it. Part of the discipline of sermon preparation is setting aside for anther occasion what there is not time to say in this message. We simply will say more that is heard if we preach less than all we know. In the pulpit, less can often mean more...

Without the authority of the Word, preaching becomes an endless search for topics, therapies, and techniques that will win approval, promote acceptance, advance a cause, or soothe worry. Human reason, social agendas, popular consensus, and personal moral convictions become the resources of preaching that lacks “the historic conviction that what Scripture says, God says.” The opinions and emotions that formulate the content of preaching that lacks biblical authority are the same forces that can d...

"Blessed [Happy] are the people whose God is the Lord." Psalm 144:15 An atheist was once addressing a crowd of people in the open air. He was trying to persuade them that there was no God and no devil, no heaven, and no hell, no resurrection, no judgment, and no life to come. He advised them to throw away their Bibles, and not to pay attention to what preachers said. He recommended them to think as he did, and to be like him. He talked boldly. The crowd listened eagerly. It was "the blind lead...

But let us take courage: there are better days yet to come. Our great Redeemer and Liberator has gone before us to prepare a place for His people, and when He comes again our redemption will be complete. The great jubilee year is yet to come: — A few more Christmas and New Year's Days — A few more meetings and partings — A few more births and deaths — A few more weddings and funerals — A few more tears and struggles — A few more sicknesses and pains -- A few more Sundays, Baptisms, an...

Are you free? Then stand firm in your liberty, and don't be entangled again in the yoke of bondage. —Don't listen to those who by good words and fine speeches would draw you back to the Roman Catholic Church. —Beware of those who would try to persuade you that there is any mediator but the one Mediator, Christ Jesus. —Beware of any one who would try to persuade you that there is any sacrifice but the one Sacrifice offered on Calvary. —Beware of any one who would try to persuade you that t...

There is no more perfect doctrine than this to perfectly satisfy the ignorant and the unlearned! Visit the poorest and humblest person who knows nothing of theology, tell him the story of the cross, and the good news about Jesus Christ, and His love to sinners; show him that there is freedom provided for him, as well as for the most educated in the land--freedom from guilt, freedom from the devil, freedom from condemnation, freedom from hell. And then tell him plainly, boldly, fully, unreserve...

We are not born with the freedom in Christ. The inhabitants of many a city enjoy privileges by virtue of their birthplace. Paul, who drew his first lifebreath at Tarsus in Cilicia, could say to the Roman Commander, “I was born free.” But this is not the case with Adam's children, in regards to spiritual things. We are born slaves and servants of sin: we are by nature “children of wrath,” and destitute of any claim to heaven. We do not acquire freedom in Christ by baptism. Every year many a...

Too many are content with a vague idea that Christ will somehow save sinners: but how or why they don’t have a clue. I protest against this ignorance. Let us set fully before our eyes the doctrine of Christ dying in our place—His substituted death, and rest our souls on it. Let us hold on firmly to the mighty truth, that Christ on the cross: Christ on the cross: Stood in the place of His people Christ on the cross: Died for His people Christ on the cross: Suffered for His people Christ on...

The love of the Bible does not consist in never disapproving anybody's religious opinions. Here is another most serious and growing delusion. There are many who pride themselves on never pronouncing others mistaken, whatever views they may hold. Your neighbor, for example, may be a Roman Catholic, or a Mormon. But the "love" of many says that you have no right to think him wrong! If he is sincere, it is "unloving" to think unfavorably of his spiritual condition! From such love may I ever be deli...