What by Law God required by Gospel provides
The Protagonist’s raiment adorning the bride
Not in part, but the whole,
From beginning to end
God to wed, garments shed
Tailored His now to lend
What by works He demanded by faith He bestowed
In the vow of the Godhead to Abram foretold
Not in part, but the whole,
From beginning to end
God to save plowed the way
By the Seed He had sowed
What by Cross He extinguished by grace He erased
Justified the unrighteous, called sinners His saints
Not in part, but the whole,
From beginning to end
Satisfied He our debt
East to west, we from sin
What by Word was predicted by hope yet remains
That the way by which left will by He come again
Not in part, but the whole,
From beginning to end
Was the Word He with God
And e’er God He with man
~ an original poem/hymn by Todd Henry Van Voorst
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Judge Duty
1 Corinthians 5:1-3, 9-13
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.
...9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
When was the last time you heard you pastor compel the congregation to do this? Must be because we have got everything together now and stuff like this doesn't happen anymore.
It is difficult to know how and when this applies, but rest assured there is a time and place for judging your brother or sister in Christ and overwhelmingly survey says, "We don't know how, when, time or place."
Note the motivation for doing so in verse 4
1 Corinthians 5:4-5
4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord
I have no idea what delivering someone to Satan looks like or entails, let alone the destruction of the flesh. But it is clear that the end goal is to save the soul of an out of control brother or sister.
I hope God reveals to me what this means if He is ever to place me in the context of an out of control brother or sister in Christ that I may assist in saving their soul by the power of the Lord Jesus. I pray that God would do unto me this divine intervention by the use of my brothers and sisters if I should ever get this out of control.
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.
...9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
When was the last time you heard you pastor compel the congregation to do this? Must be because we have got everything together now and stuff like this doesn't happen anymore.
It is difficult to know how and when this applies, but rest assured there is a time and place for judging your brother or sister in Christ and overwhelmingly survey says, "We don't know how, when, time or place."
Note the motivation for doing so in verse 4
1 Corinthians 5:4-5
4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord
I have no idea what delivering someone to Satan looks like or entails, let alone the destruction of the flesh. But it is clear that the end goal is to save the soul of an out of control brother or sister.
I hope God reveals to me what this means if He is ever to place me in the context of an out of control brother or sister in Christ that I may assist in saving their soul by the power of the Lord Jesus. I pray that God would do unto me this divine intervention by the use of my brothers and sisters if I should ever get this out of control.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Family Force 5
My son Finneas Haddon Foxe Van Voorst (click on the names to see the inspiration behind them) was born on 3/6/12 at 9:19 pm!
I now am a father of three.
Crazy!
I honestly did not arrange for the "banner over my household" blog to post on this same day as my son was born. I had a good deal of my blogs scheduled out for future dates as I write them. It is quite fortuitous however. I do pray that this banner over my wife and children would be extended even to little Finn. I pray he adopts many of the qualities of the men for whom he is named and honors Christ in truth and Spirit.
Praise God for allowing me to have such beautiful, healthy children and may I be their pastor and they my mission field that they may know the God of their father, Jesus Christ. I love that I have a faithful partner in preaching the Gospel to my children in the form of my lovely wife. She is doing well and made it through labor beautifully, swimmingly even some might say - I don't know who these "some" are per se but I half suspect they are probably just me.
And for good measure, since we are now a family of 5 (Paige, Atticus, Penelope, Finneas, and myself) I thought I would give you something by which you can enter into our excitement and celebration HERE and HERE.
I now am a father of three.
Crazy!
I honestly did not arrange for the "banner over my household" blog to post on this same day as my son was born. I had a good deal of my blogs scheduled out for future dates as I write them. It is quite fortuitous however. I do pray that this banner over my wife and children would be extended even to little Finn. I pray he adopts many of the qualities of the men for whom he is named and honors Christ in truth and Spirit.
Praise God for allowing me to have such beautiful, healthy children and may I be their pastor and they my mission field that they may know the God of their father, Jesus Christ. I love that I have a faithful partner in preaching the Gospel to my children in the form of my lovely wife. She is doing well and made it through labor beautifully, swimmingly even some might say - I don't know who these "some" are per se but I half suspect they are probably just me.
And for good measure, since we are now a family of 5 (Paige, Atticus, Penelope, Finneas, and myself) I thought I would give you something by which you can enter into our excitement and celebration HERE and HERE.
Psalm 78:1-8
1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
8 and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.
A banner over my household
As I read this Psalm the other day I thought about how concise and thorough it is and how wonderful it would be to have this be a banner for my household.
I hope my wife is able to teach our children well all that the LORD has done and that they grow up knowing and remembering these things as they face fear, temptation, joy, compliments, insults, success, and failure.
God's faithful love endures forever to those Whom He has promised.
In Jesus there is no "'Til death do us part" for not even death can seperate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Read along.
Psalm 111
1 Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the LORD,
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
8 they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!
I hope my wife is able to teach our children well all that the LORD has done and that they grow up knowing and remembering these things as they face fear, temptation, joy, compliments, insults, success, and failure.
God's faithful love endures forever to those Whom He has promised.
In Jesus there is no "'Til death do us part" for not even death can seperate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Read along.
Psalm 111
1 Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the LORD,
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
8 they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!
Monday, March 5, 2012
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Listen HERE.
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Bold move
1 Corinthians 4:16
I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
"Well, that is an arrogant thing to say!"
Did I just read your mind? Maybe not. Maybe you're cool with it because it's the Apostle Paul saying it. What if it were me saying that? What if it were your pastor? It is right to think about who we follow. However, it is wrong to think that the Apostle Paul was not a man like you and me (a sinner saved by grace).
Only a man who is so completely devastated before God in realizing both the weight of his sin and the extent of the grace required to save him may perhaps approach the gull to say, "Imitate me."
Paul is not urging us to live his old life: killing Christians and outward religious devotion. Paul is referring here to his present faith that God justifies the ungodly and the faithful acts of service that result from believing God. He is urging us to live our lives in a manner worthy of the Gospel (not because we have to, but because we get to).
Paul, more than any New Testament writer, stresses the importance of salvation and righteousness by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone! This same man lived a life of service, trial, suffering, charity, humility, boldness, courage, conviction, and evangelism.
Where are the men who are bold, humble, driven, prayerful, assertive, and gentle enough to encourage men to follow them as they follow Christ? It takes courage and humility: confidence in Christ and an abandonment of confidence in oneself.
It is arrogant to encourage people to follow you because you think you have it figured out.
It is evangelism to call others to follow you because you know the One who has it all figured out.
I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
"Well, that is an arrogant thing to say!"
Did I just read your mind? Maybe not. Maybe you're cool with it because it's the Apostle Paul saying it. What if it were me saying that? What if it were your pastor? It is right to think about who we follow. However, it is wrong to think that the Apostle Paul was not a man like you and me (a sinner saved by grace).
Only a man who is so completely devastated before God in realizing both the weight of his sin and the extent of the grace required to save him may perhaps approach the gull to say, "Imitate me."
Paul is not urging us to live his old life: killing Christians and outward religious devotion. Paul is referring here to his present faith that God justifies the ungodly and the faithful acts of service that result from believing God. He is urging us to live our lives in a manner worthy of the Gospel (not because we have to, but because we get to).
Paul, more than any New Testament writer, stresses the importance of salvation and righteousness by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone! This same man lived a life of service, trial, suffering, charity, humility, boldness, courage, conviction, and evangelism.
Where are the men who are bold, humble, driven, prayerful, assertive, and gentle enough to encourage men to follow them as they follow Christ? It takes courage and humility: confidence in Christ and an abandonment of confidence in oneself.
It is arrogant to encourage people to follow you because you think you have it figured out.
It is evangelism to call others to follow you because you know the One who has it all figured out.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Humble Receivers
1 Corinthians 4:7
For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
We all received the Gospel. No one is a Christian by any other means than by hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and believing it. You were not born knowing it. It had to be delivered to you. In that regard, all Christians are alike.
It is a great leveller.
So why do you boast as though you did not receive it?
For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
We all received the Gospel. No one is a Christian by any other means than by hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and believing it. You were not born knowing it. It had to be delivered to you. In that regard, all Christians are alike.
It is a great leveller.
So why do you boast as though you did not receive it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)