In 1740 Edwards preached a sermon devoted exclusively to the children in the congregation, those up to age 14. He simplified his language but it is the same theologically rich vision of the loveliness of God. The bulk of the sermon lists reasons why children should love Jesus. Here is the first. There is no love so great and so wonderful as that which is in the heart of Christ. He is one that delights in mercy; he is ready to pity those that are in suffering and sorrowful circumstances; one that delights in the happiness of his creatures. The love and grace that Christ has manifested does as much exceed all that which is in this world as the sun is brighter than a candle. Parents are often full of kindness towards their children, but that is no kindness like Jesus Christ’s. . . . Everything that is lovely in God is in him, and everything that is or
The sufficiency of Christ
Christ + Something = Insult
You’ve gotta ask the right questions. “The Bible is a Book full of right answers — but only to the right questions.” Tony Reinke: The following excerpt is transcribed from handwritten sermon notes by John Piper from a message he preached at Perlacher Chapel in Munich, Germany on June 24, 1973. Before digging into Ephesians 1–2, he opened with these words: The plight of us finite, sinful human beings is seen not merely in the fact that we have so many unanswered questions, but also in the fact that we often don’t even know the right question to ask. The Bible is a Book full of right answers — but only to the right questions. I want to think together this morning about a question of Christian experience which, I think, is often asked in an unanswerable form, but for which there is a correct, and answerable form. But for the right question Paul offers an answer in his letter
Identifying the Colossian Heresy
. Nicholas T. Batzig writes: One of the more difficult aspects of biblical interpretation is identifying the precise historical background of the book or letter being read. In the NT epistles there are almost always enough internal clues for the interpreter to come to a settled understanding of what error, if any, is being confronted. Of all the polemical letters (which would include almost every book in the NT. For a brief survey see this!) most of us would agree that Galatians is the far and away the most polemical and–in some ways–the most difficult to interpret; the letter to the Colossians, however, is certainly not far behind. In fact, the nature of the Colossian heresy–which the apostle sought so vigorously to refute with the Gospel–is perhaps the most difficult to identify. On first glance the internal evidence seems to show three errors that had infiltrated the fledgling church: (1) Philosophical speculation (Col. 2:2-4; 8), (2) Angel worship (2:18), and (3)
Our families belong not to us but to Christ
“I have now to ask whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure to a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life; whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean, to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India, to every kind of want and distress, to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death. Can you consent to all this, for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home and died for her and for you, for the sake of perishing, immortal souls, for the sake of Zion and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with a crown of righteousness brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall redound to
Wash and be clean, drink and be refreshed
On that day a fountain will be opened … to cleanse them from sin and impurity.(Zechariah 13:1) “Jesus is a fountain containing all good, and flowing with streams of richest, choicest blessings. Nothing can be needed — but Jesus has it. Nothing can be desired that has a tendency to make us blessed — but Jesus has promised to bestow it. Here we may wash and be clean. Here we may drink and enjoy immortal health. Here we may live and find every needful good. This fountain flows in streams as clear as crystal, making glad the city of God. Why then should we live smarting under the wounds of sin, or groaning beneath its load? Behold, the living, the open fountain — wash and be clean, drink and be refreshed. Why should we complain of spiritual need, or groan in indigence and poverty? Let us go to Jesus. His immortal fullness contains all we can need, and he bids us
Already Not Yet 