When you become a Christian, you become a part of a family. Within families, there are brothers. Tony and Jesse are two such brothers.
(6)
Prayer is a vital part of our and is required by God of all believers. In order for our prayers to be accepted, we must offer them in the name of the Son, with the help of the Holy Spirit, and according to His will. Let's make sure to pray with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance. If we are praying vocally, it's important to do so in a known tongue.
The story of Jesus' presentation at the temple, as told in Luke 2:28-35, is a beautiful reminder of God's faithfulness and the power of His promise. Simeon, guided by the Holy Spirit, recognized the newborn Savior as the Messiah and praised God for His faithfulness. It is a powerful reminder of the hope and joy that is found in Jesus.
The Scots Confession of Faith Chapter 1, titled "Of God," is a statement of belief in the nature and character of God. The chapter begins by affirming the belief in one God, who is the creator and sustainer of the universe. He is eternal, all-powerful, and all-knowing, and he is the source of all truth and goodness.
The chapter also affirms the belief that God is a Trinity, consisting of three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - who are united in one being and purpose. It emphasizes the importance of the deity of Jesus Christ, who is the son of God and the savior of humanity.
In addition, the chapter affirms the belief in the sovereignty of God, who is in control of all things and who works all things according to his will and purpose. It also emphasizes the need for believers to trust in and rely on God, and to seek his guidance and direction in their lives.
Overall, the Scots Confession of Faith Chapter 1 is a powerful and inspiring statement of belief in the nature and character of God. It affirms the centrality of God in the life of the believer and the need to trust in and rely on him in all things.
The Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 1, titled "Of the Holy Scripture," affirms the belief that the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God. It states that the Bible is the ultimate authority for Christian beliefs and practices, and that it is the only source of truth and guidance for the Christian life.
The chapter also emphasizes the need for believers to study and understand the Bible, and to apply its teachings to their lives. It affirms the belief that the Bible is sufficient for understanding and practicing the Christian faith, and that it contains all the necessary information and guidance for living a godly life.
In short, the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 1 affirms the centrality and importance of the Bible in the life of the Christian believer. It is a powerful statement of faith that reminds us of the significance of the Word of God in our lives and the need to study and apply it to our daily lives.
In Luke 3:1-6, we read about John the Baptist and his ministry. The passage begins by setting the scene, with John preaching in the wilderness and calling on the people to repent of their sins. This was in preparation for the coming of Jesus, who would bring salvation to the world.
John also performed baptisms, baptizing the people in water as a sign of their repentance. As he baptized the people, John proclaimed that Jesus would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
These verses emphasize the importance of repentance and the need to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus. They also remind us of the powerful impact that John the Baptist had on the people of his time, and the role that he played in paving the way for the ministry of Jesus.
In Zephaniah 3:14-20, the prophet Zephaniah speaks of God's love for his people and his desire for their well-being. He promises to dwell among them and provide for them, and he encourages them to trust in him and to reject their false idols. Zephaniah also speaks of God's judgment against the wicked, but he assures the faithful that they will be saved and that God will rejoice over them and be their strength. This passage reminds us of God's unfailing love and care for his people, and it encourages us to trust in him and to follow his ways.
It is a profound mystery, but in God "all-just" and "all-merciful" are not different things.
God is knowable, but not comprehensively.
As Christians, our life and piety are intimately bound up in the life and piety of other Christians. Confession
There are those within the visible Church who are not elect. Although they participate in the external benefits of the visible Church, they are never united to the internal substance of what is offered.
The ministry of the Word and Sacrament has been given to the appointed ministers in the visible Church, in order to build up those who comprise her members.
God has not ordained that human societies be ruled by anarchy or vigilantes.
That which God has declared to be unlawful can never be made truly lawful by the decrees of man.
The Sacraments signify different things and therefore appertain to different parties.
The attached quote comes from page 67 of the book "The Grand Design" by Dr. Owen Strachan (Kindle edition). As far as I'm aware, Dr. Strachan has never provided another statement which grounds the identity of the persons in another way.
In this quote, he grounds the identity of the Father and the Spirit explicitly in the economic categories of sending/sent. This quote opens Dr. Strachan's view to the valid charge of theistic mutalism. It does so by way of simple logical deduction.
P1) The grounding of the identities of the Father and Spirit is the economic function of sending or being sent.
P2) The concept of sending or being sent is incoherent apart from some reality outside of the immanent Trinity.
P3) All things that are outside of the immanent Trinity are created.
C4) The concept of sending or being sent requires creation
C5) The grounding of the identity of the Father and Spirit requires creation
C6) God is, in some sense, dependent on creation ad intra
This specific argument has been brought to Dr. Strachan's attention directly, multiple times, and he has never to my knowledge provided rebuttal to this argument. At least one of his students at GBTS has acknowledged that if this argument is correct that Dr. Strachan's view is a form of theistic mutalism.
If there is a response to this argument, why hasn't it been provided? If one of these premises is incorrect, why haven't they been rebutted? The answer, is that Dr. Strachan holds to a view of theistic mutalism and so accepts all of the premises, even though he claims to reject the conclusions.
Dr. Strachan should not be considered a reliable source for Christian theology proper.
The State shouldn't pretend to be the Church, and the Church shouldn't pretend to be the State. That doesn't mean that the two are not intended to work together harmoniously.
Since we affirm that the sacraments can only be properly administered when attached to the word lawfully preached, only those who are able to lawfully preach may properly administer the sacraments.
Whether we make a promise to God, or to man, we are equally bound to fulfill that promise.
There are only two sacraments for God's New Covenant People, and one of their primary purposes is to convey to us God's promise.
Although church buildings are useful tools, there is nothing special or sacred about the place we meet.
Petrus van Mastricht, Theoretical-Practical Theology, ed. Joel Beeke, trans. Todd Rester, vol. 1, 4 vols. (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2018).
We do not blindly accept the findings of Church councils. Nor do we blindly reject them. Instead we compare them to the canon of Holy Scripture.
God alone is the Lord of the conscience.
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Tony and Jesse discuss Ash Wednesday, and why Christian's ought not to observe it. Visit us at http://www.reformedbrotherhood.com (http://www.reformedbrotherhood.com/) | Call us at 607-444-2767 | email us at [email protected] ResourcesAsh Wednesday: Picking and Choosing Our Piety - Carl Trueman (http://www.reformation21.org/articles/ash-wednesday.php)
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