Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 1, 2008

Worship God in Truth!

“Mingled vanity and pride appear in this, that when miserable men do seek after God, instead of ascending higher than themselves as they ought to do, they measure him by their own carnal stupidity, and neglecting solid inquiry, fly off to indulge their curiosity in vain speculation.  Hence, they do not conceive of him in the character in which he is manifested, but imagine him to be whatever their own rashness has devised.  This abyss standing open, they cannot move one footstep without rushing headlong to destruction.  With such an idea of God, nothing which they may attempt to offer in the way of worship or obedience can have any value in his sight, because it is not him they worship, but, instead of him, the dream and figment of their own heart.  This corrupt procedure is admirably described by Paul, when he says, ‘thinking to be wise, they became fools.’ ”  John Calvin.  This Meditation was found in the Sunday, June 29, 2008 bulletin of  Southeast Protestant Reformed Church pastored by Rev. William Langerak.
 
Do we seek to worship God in truth?  Or, are we content with our own image of God?
 
Do we make such “solid inquiry” as Calvin states?  Do we read the whole Bible?  Or, do we just read a verse or chapter or two that seems to fit our image of God?
 
Do we read Scripture with the primary purpose to feel better about ourselves?  Or, do we read Scripture with the primary purpose to learn about God?
 
Do we just listen to our favorite Pastor on Sunday?  Or, do we also read Scripture throughout the week?
 
Do we listen or read just what our favorite preachers and teachers state?  Or, do we also consider the historical confessions and creeds of the church?  
 
Do we just accept as truth any Christian teaching or doctrine without thoughtful analysis or research?  Or, do we also examine the Scriptures to see if that Christian teaching or doctrine is true according to Scriptures?  (“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”  Acts 17:11)
 
Do we diligently search for the truth and test it as if it were treasure?  Or, do we just dig a little and accept whatever glitters?
 
Do we worship God as He has ordained in Scripture?  Or, do we feel that we can worship God however we want?
 
In conclusion, Jesus said:  “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.  “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”   John 4:23-24. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 26, 2008

Why would Jesus want those who see to become blind?

“And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”   John 9:39.  At first reading, this may seem like a most peculiar verse.  Why would Jesus want those who see to become blind?  It is against all the doctrine that Arminians believe to think that Jesus would want those who see to become blind.  But, it is in accord with all the doctrine that Calvinists believe.   

Calvinists admit that they can not see.  They believe in “Total Depravity” – the “T” in “TULIP”.  They believe than all men in their fallen state are dead in sin, cannot understand the things of God, are hostile to God, and are enslaved to sin and Satan.

Arminians believe that they can see.  They believe that they are not dead in sin, but only wounded.  They believe that they can understand the things of God.  They believe that they are free and capable and wise and good enough to choose and come to Jesus Christ by their own free will.

John Chapter 9 tells the story of the man born blind that Jesus healed.  The Pharisees did not want any of the glory of the healing to go to Jesus.  The blind man’s parents caved in and pleaded ignorance in fear of being put out of the synagogue.  But, the blind man concluded:  “If this man (Jesus) were not from God, He could do nothing.”  John 9:33.  The Pharisees then put the blind man out of the synagogue.   

“Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”  He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”  John 9:35-36.
 
Note that despite the miracle and despite his confession of faith and despite him being put out of the synagogue, the blind man still did not affirm Jesus’ deity.  The blind man admitted that although he could now see in the physical sense, he still could not see in the spiritual sense. 
                                                                    
“Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.”  And he (the blind man) said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.”  John 9:37-38.

It is only after Jesus caused him to see a second time (this time spiritually after causing him to see physically the first time) that the blind man believed and worshipped Jesus. 

“And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”  Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?”  Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”  John 9:39-41. 

In conclusion, it is amazing (but really not to the Calvinists who understand Total Depravity) that throughout the last two thousand years of Christian preaching and teaching since Christ came to the earth, there are those who still think that they can see.  They believe that they can understand and are free and capable and wise and good enough to choose and come to Jesus Christ by their own free will.   Just like the Pharisees did not want any of the glory of the healing to go to Jesus, God does not want any of the glory of salvation to go to man’s free will. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 24, 2008

Common Grace: What is it? Why is it denied? Why is it Important?

What is “Common Grace”?  The Three Points of “Common Grace” were adopted by the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in 1924.  The following link quotes the three points exactly and literally – http://www.prca.org/articles/article_7.html .  A brief answer, point by point, to these three points is provided by the Protestant Reformed Churches in the following link – http://www.prca.org/articles/article_5.html 
                                                                
For purposes of this short blog, a short and partial summary of “Common Grace” and a short and partial summary of its denial by the Protestant Reformed Churches, although in a different point format, is provided in the following two paragraphs and are close to a quote from The Summary of Declaration of Principles of the Protestant Reformed Churches.  You can read more at the web site of Covenant of Grace Protestant Reformed Fellowship located at http://www.reformedspokane.org/  and click on the link “Reformed” under “Doctrine”. 
                                                                     
First, “Common Grace” holds that there is a grace of God to all men, including the reprobate, manifest in the common gifts to all men.  Second, “Common Grace” holds that the preaching of the gospel is a gracious offer of salvation on the part of God to all that externally hear the gospel.  Third, “Common Grace” holds that the natural man through the influence of common grace can do good in this world.
                                                             
Why is “Common Grace” denied?  The Protestant Reformed Churches deny “Common Grace”.  First, they maintain that the grace of God is always particular, i.e., only for the elect, never for the reprobate.  Second, they maintain that the preaching of the gospel is not a gracious offer of salvation on the part of God to all men, nor a conditional offer to all that are born in the historical dispensation of the covenant, that is, to all that are baptized, but an oath of God that He will infallibly lead all the elect unto salvation and eternal glory through faith.  Third, they maintain that the unregenerate man is totally incapable of doing any good, wholly depraved, and therefore can only sin.                          
                                                            
It is very important to note that the Protestant Reformed Churches admit that, as part of God’s providence, God does give good gifts, like sunshine and rain, to all men, but He never gives these good gifts as part of GRACE to all men. 
The prosperity of the wicked is not a sign of God’s favor on them.
“When I pondered to understand this,  It (the prosperity of the wicked) was troublesome in my sight 
Until I came into the sanctuary of God;  Then I perceived their end. 
Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.”  Psalm 73:16-18 
Moreover, the suffering and deprivation of the righteous is not a sign of God’s disfavor on them.  “They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.  And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.”  Hebrews 11:37-40. 

Grace is always particular, never common.  Grace is given only to His Elect.    

Why is the denial of “Common Grace” important?  We, the Bride of Christ, must trust our Husband, Christ, that He only loves us, the Elect.  What husband would want his wife to believe that he loved everybody?
                                                         
Ephesians 5:25-28 states:  “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.  So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies.”
                                      
This is a peculiar love, a special love just for His Church, the Elect.  Just as a husband should not love and give himself up for all women, but only his own wife, Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for the church, not for all the world.  
                                                       
If the world claims, “God loves everybody and shows common grace everybody!”  We, the Church, as Christ’s loyal and faithful and believing Bride, should defend our Husband, Christ, and exclaim:  “NO!  Christ (God) only loves us, the Elect!  God only shows grace to us, the Elect!  God only loves His Elect who were given to Christ, and thankfully I know that I am numbered among those people and thankfully you may also know that you too are numbered among those people!” 
                                                                          
The following e-mail will explain how we can know that we are among the Elect.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 24, 2008

How can we know that we are among the Elect?

It is obvious that Scripture does not individually list our names in the Bible among the Elect.  How can we know and be comforted that we are among the Elect?
                                                                                    
We know that we are among the Elect by a true faith in Jesus Christ, a worshipful fear of God as our Father, a godly sorrow for sin, and a hungering and thirsting for righteousness.  “The elect in due time, though in various degrees and in different measures, attain the assurance of this their eternal and unchangeable election, not by inquisitively prying into the secret and deep things of God, but by observing in themselves with a spiritual joy and holy pleasure, the infallible fruits of election pointed out in the Word of God – such as a true faith in Christ, filial fear, a godly sorrow for sin, a hungering and thirsting after righteousness, etc.”  Article 12 of Canons of Dort.  
                                                                      
We know that we are among the Elect by the Holy Spirit who so assures us that we are children of God.  “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,”  Romans 8:14-16. 
 
We know that we are among the Elect by the Holy Spirit who makes us wholeheartedly willing and ready to live for him.  2 Peter 1:10-11 states it this way:  “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;  for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”  So, what are “these things”?  The prior verses tell us:  “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.”  2 Peter 1:5-7.  Notice that these qualities are also fruit of the Holy Spirit:  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control …”  Galatians 5:22-23.        
 
Tying these last two things together, The Heidelberg Catechism, Q & A 1, states:  “Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.” 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 21, 2008

Seeking the Glory of God

John 7:18 states:  “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory;  but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
 
So, how can we best glorify God?
                                
CALVINISM FOCUSES ON GOD.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON MAN.
                                                              
According to Theologian B. B. Warfield, Calvinism focuses on God:  “It begins, it centers, and it ends with the vision of God in His glory: and it sets itself before all things to render to God His rights in every sphere of life activity.” 
 
“It is the vision of God in His majesty, in a word, that lies at the foundation of Calvinistic thinking,”:  states Theologian B. B. Warfield.
                                                                                    
Westminster Shorter Catechism states it this way:  “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him for ever”.
                                                
Armianism focuses on the free will of man.
                          
CALVINISM FOCUSES ON THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON THE ATTRIBUTES OF A GODLY MAN.
                                                              
I heard of a seminar titled:  “Seven Attributes of the Godly Man”.  It may very well be a good seminar, yet the title made me think:  “I wish there was a seminar on “Seven Attributes of God”.
 
“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;
but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.   Jeremiah 9: 23-24 (emphasis added).
 
Does this Scripture praise understanding and knowing the Godly man, or does this Scripture praise understanding and knowing God?
 
Psalm 40:10 states:  “I have not hidden Thy righteousness within my heart;  I have spoken of Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation;  I have not concealed Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth from the great congregation.” (emphasis added).
 
Much more important than improving our righteousness is learning about the righteousness of God.  Much more important than trying to be more faithful is learning about the faithfulness of God.  Do we want to learn more about ourselves or God?  Do we want to learn more about what we should do or more about what God has done for us???
                                        
CALVINISM FOCUSES ON WHAT GOD HAS DONE.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON WHAT MAN SHOULD DO.
                                               
“Therefore they (the Jews) said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’ ”  (Emphasis added.)  John 6: 28-29.
                                                                   
Calvinism focuses on the TULIP containing the Unconditional Election of God, the Irresistable Grace of God, and the Perseverance of the Saints a/k/a Preservation of the Saints. 
                                                                                
Arminianism focuses on the Free Will of man, the Obstructable Grace (grace that can be obstructed by man), and Fall from Grace (man can lose his salvation).
                                  
CALVINISM FOCUSES ON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON THE ALLEGED “FREE WILL OF MAN”.
                            
CALVINISM HUMBLES MAN BY THE FIRST POINT OF CALVINISM:  TOTAL DEPRAVITY.
ARMINIANISM EXALTS MAN BY THEIR FIRST POINT:  FREE-WILL.
                                     
CALVINISM KNOWS THE GOD THAT EXERCISES LOVINGKINDNESS, JUSTICE, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. 
ARMINIANISM KNOWS THE GOD WHO ONLY EXERCISES LOVINGKINDNESS.
                                                                 
Calvinism preaches and teaches that God only loves His Elect and only gives them (but all of them) the lovingkindness of salvation and that God hates the Reprobates and gives them justice (punishment including hell).  
                                                                              
Armianism preaches and teaches that God loves everybody, but they only appreciate and glorify God for His lovingkindness of salvation given to those men whom first choose God by their Free Will. 
  
CALVINISM KNOWS THE GOD WHO HAS ACHIEVED TOTAL PERFECT TRIUMPH. 
ARMINIANISM KNOWS THE GOD WHO IS OFTEN DEFEATED BY MAN’S FREE-WILL, BY MAN’S OBSTRUCTION OF GOD’S GRACE, AND BY MAN’S FALL FROM GRACE.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 19, 2008

The Bread of Life: Identified, Sought, and Given

The Bread of Life is identified in John 6:33 as “that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”  Jesus said in John 6: 35:  “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”  The Bread of Life is eternal life.  John 6:40.
 
The Bread of Life is sought.  Jesus said in John 6:27:  “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”  Likewise, we are exhorted in Matthew 6:33:  “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Philippians 2:12 commands us:  “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;”.
 
So then, it was quite reasonable for the Jews to ask Jesus in John 6:28:  “Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”.
 
Then, Jesus gives the most astonishing answer in John 6:29 which transfers the subject from “Bread Sought” to “Bread Given“:  “Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  Jesus changes the focus from what man should do to what God has done.  Jesus changes the focus from works to faith.  Jesus changes the focus from man self-generating his own faith to God even giving faith.   “Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.”  John 6:32. 
 
So, we have seen that God, the Father, has given this true bread out of heaven and that Jesus is the bread of life.  How does one receive this true bread?  The Jews, again quite reasonably, thought in terms of asking for it.  “Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”  John 6:34.  But, even though the Jews saw and heard Jesus, and even though the Jews asked for this bread, Jesus said to them:  “But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.”  John 6:36.
 
So, what does it then take to receive this true bread of heaven, this eternal life???
 
It takes Unconditional Election, Irresistable Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints a/k/a Preservation of the Saints (“TULIP” in summary).  Jesus said:  “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”  John 6:37.  “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.”  John 6:39.  “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”  John 6:40.  “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”  John 6:44.  Jesus concludes in John 6:65:  “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”   

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 16, 2008

The Secret of the LORD

“The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him,  And He will make them know His covenant.” 
 
John 14:25 to John 15:16 is one of the last discourses that Jesus had with His disciples.  It is a wonderful example of God’s revealing His secret and God making known His covenant of which the foregoing Psalm 25:14 speaks.  (These may not necessarily be two different things;  in other words, it could be that the secret of the LORD is knowing His covenant.)  It is also a wonderful example of God giving peace and joy.  I quote those verses in this passage which best describe this truth. 
 
John 14:

 25  “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.

 26  “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

 27  “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you   Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

 28  “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you ‘ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

 29  “Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.

 John 15:

 3  “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

 4  “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

 5  “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

7  “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

8  “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

9  “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.

11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

15  “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

16  “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”

 
Although we, His Elect, continue in His covenant of friendship, there does seem to me to be those special times when our LORD gives us what I call “special glimpses” of what He is doing.  I include these special glimpses within the “secret of the LORD”.  Those special glimpses may be God giving us better vision for a brief time or new sight to new things.  Those special glimpses also give us a stronger feeling of closeness to Him.  It is like we understand a secret of the LORD.  It is like we feel His friendship stronger or deeper or in a new way.  God draws near to us to reveal a secret to us and to make us feel His presence more strongly or more clearly.
 
Usually, for me, the special glimpses comes to me as mercy.  I become lost, sometimes in sin and sometimes in difficulty or troubles, and Christ comes to me and says to me:  “Here I am!”.  Immediately, I am no longer lost.  Immediately, I understand.  Immediately, I feel His love.
 
Sometimes, for me, the special glimpses come to me as lovingkindness,  Sometimes, these glimpses come through my daily devotion or through a sermon that I hear.  I understand a “secret of the LORD” from Scripture.  It is a new understanding of Scripture, and I get excited and want to share it.
                                                                    
During college while at Cambridge Bank and Trust Company, during some difficult time, I had a very distinct and powerful special glimpse.  The LORD directed my attention to a bank sign near a stairs:  “Trust Department – Upstairs”.  The LORD was impressing me that I needed to trust Him. 
                                                                          
“Trust Me!” is a common special glimpse.  Even in the Psalm 25 chapter which contains the key verse above, there is one of the most powerful promises that helps us to trust:  “Who is the man who fears the LORD?  He will instruct him in the way he should choose.”  Psalm 25:12.  God’s promise, that He will instruct and guide us, helps us to trust God.  Psalm 32:8-10  states:  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;  I will counsel you with My eye upon you.  Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.  Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.”   
 
The single word “TULIP” was a special glimpse for me.  Although I grew up in the Christian Reformed Church in Muskegon, Michigan, I moved to Florida in 1977 to go to law school, and I stayed here in Florida.  I attended and was a member, even a lay leader, in a large range of churches from Assembly of God to Baptist to Calvary Chapel to United Methodist to nondenominational churches and small fellowships.  At first, I did not realize that Reformed doctrine would not necessarily be preached in all Christian Protestant churches.  I thought that the problem was just with a particular minister.  Eventually, a childhood friend, who now lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, asked me if I remembered “TULIP”.  That word “TULIP” was a special glimpse, a “Here I am!”.  That word “TULIP” brought me peace and joy and brought me, this prodigal son, back home to Reformed doctrine. 
 
Dealing with a dark background of a belief instilled by the Baptists that God was often defeated, dismayed, and discouraged by seeing His children refuse to accept Him and go to hell, I received a special glimpse of God’s TOTAL PERFECT TRIUMPH.  God gave me this special glimpse through Jeremiah 9:23-24.                                                   
“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9: 23-24. 
This Scripture gave me a special glimpse into what I call “TOTAL PERFECT TRIUMPH” by which God delights in both demonstrating His justice and His lovingkindness.  His loved ones, the Elect, receive the lovingkindness of heaven.  His hated ones, the Reprobates, receive the justice of hell.  God’s Will is totally, perfectly, and triumphantly done.  This understanding of God’s TOTAL PERFECT TRIUMPH grows over time and becomes more clear and more bright like going from a sunset of defeat to a sunrise and day of victory that grows brighter and brighter.
                                                       
What does this secret of the LORD usually involve?  The secret of the LORD usually involves a new understanding, a closer or stronger feeling of the presence of the LORD, and an experience of peace and joy. 
 
How do we get this secret of the LORD?  The Scripture of Psalm 25:14 tell us that the secret of the LORD is  for those who fear the LORD.  First, in all cases, you have to be the Elect a/k/a those who fear the LORD.  Second, you draw near to God.  You seek Him whether by prayer or by reading or by hearing His word or by otherwise obeying Him .  You earnestly seek such secret.  However, you may not get the secret at the time, for example during devotion that you think you are seeking him.  It often will come later, sometimes much later.  Third, it comes to you as pure grace.  Sometimes, you may get the secret when you think you do deserve it (but you still really don’t deserve it – remember it is grace), such as immediately in devotion.  Other times, you will get the secret when you are lost, and you definitely know that you don’t deserve it.
 
In conclusion, Matthew 6:33 tells us:  “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Hebrews 11:6 tells us:  “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Come and seek the secret of the LORD and draw nearer to God within His covenant.  The following audio sermon by Rev. Nathan Brummel that I heard this past Sunday morning titled “A Passion for Drawing Near to God” can help.  Here is the link – http://www.hudsonvilleprc.org/Ministers/Brummel-N.htm 
God bless you! 
 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 12, 2008

God of our Fathers

The following is my commentary on 2 Chronicles Chapter 14.  I was struck by the three points which I have put in bold italic both in my following comments and in the following Scripture:

1.  The praise for Asa focused on Asa removing the idols.  Our idols today are not golden calves, but they may be false prophets or false doctrine.  We need to zealously remove the idols of false prophets and false doctrine whenever and wherever they may appear. 
 
2.  As is done here, God is sometimes referred to in the Bible as “God of their fathers” or “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”.  The description of God may be so related, because it is important that we do not form our own image of God.  
 
In this day and age, when we have so many nondenominational and independent churches, and when we have so many denominational churches resistant to confessions, creeds, or doctrinal standards, the danger is that such churches may be just doing what is right in their own eyes.  They may be forming their own false image or false doctrine of God.  Judges 21:25 condemns the situation:  “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”  
 
From time to time, we need to be reminded of the “God of our fathers”.  Although Scripture certainly is the best source to form our image of God, the Protestant Reformers such as Luther and Calvin based their image of God on Scripture, and they are also our spiritual fathers to whom we should refer as a secondary source in forming our image of God.  Each church should not have to reinvent the wheel in forming their image of God, but they should be able to “cross reference” as a secondary source the teachings of Luther, Calvin, and other Protestant Reformers who are our spiritual fathers in addition to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.   
 
3.  Notice the emphasis on seeking the LORD.  We also should seek the LORD, the “God of our Fathers”.  We should be careful that we do not just seek the “God of our imaginations or our desires”, but rather that we seek the “God of our Fathers” as revealed by Scripture first, and then secondly compare that to the image of God presented by our spiritual fathers, the Protestant Reformers, to make sure our image of God is sound.  Confessions, creeds, or doctrinal standards written by our spiritual fathers, such as The Belgic Confession, The Heidelberg Catechism, The Canons of Dort, and The Westminister Confession of Faith (and related catechisms) are helpful to us to seek the LORD and to keep our doctrine sound and pure. 
                                                                

2 Chronicles 14: 1-7

Asa Succeeds Abijah in Judah

” 1  So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and his son Asa became king in his place. The land was undisturbed for ten years during his days. 2  Asa did good and right in the sight of the LORD his God,

 3  for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim,

 4  and commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment.

 5  He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. And the kingdom was undisturbed under him.

 6  He built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was undisturbed, and there was no one at war with him during those years, because the LORD had given him rest.

 7  For he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.”

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 11, 2008

Our Deeds, including our Faith (our act of belief) are Wrought in God

“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” John 3:23.
 
Our passion for Reformed doctrine is to manifest that our deeds, including our faith (our act of belief) are wrought in God.  We would not come to faith unless we were born of God.  We were dead in sin, and we would not come to faith, unless we were made alive.  We were hostile to God and enslaved to sin by Satan, and we would not come to faith in Christ, unless God drew us to Christ.    
 
The beginning of John 3 makes it very clear that “being born again” is wrought in God.  “Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”  Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’  “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  John 3:3-8.
 
Even our faith is a gift of God.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10.  Our deeds, including our faith (our act of belief) are wrought in God.
 
John 1:12-13 makes it clear that “being born again” is not an act of our faith or our will, but of God.  Our faith is wrought in God.  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  (Emphasis added.)
 
In conclusion, how can we come to Christ, “the Light”, without declaring and showing that our deeds, including our faith (our act of belief) are wrought in God?  If our faith was just a product of our “free will”, then we could boast.  But, as is the case, if our deeds, including our faith, are wrought in God, God gets all the glory.  So, we bang the drum loudly about Reformed doctrine which declares that our deeds, including our faith (our act of belief) are wrought in God.           

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 10, 2008

The Importance of Doctrine

Even though doctrine is simply defined as “teachings”, some churches portray doctrine as unnecessary, divisive, or worse.  However, doctrine cannot be avoided unless a preacher or teacher just quotes Scripture without making any summary or other comment.  We need to determine how important is doctrine.Here are some Scriptural references on the importance of doctrine:                                                        

I. There are those who worship God in vain who teach or believe in doctrines based on the ideas of man. Those who worship God in vain are not saved. 
                                                           
“BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.” Matthew 15: 9.
“BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.”Mark 7: 7.
                                                
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,” 2 Timothy 4: 3.
                                             

II. We should not be carried about by every kind of doctrine. Doctrine does matter, and we need to establish our faith on sound doctrine.                    

“As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;” Ephesians  4:14.     

————————————————-  
 

 

Consider what the Founder of Calvary Chapel, Chuck Smith, said in his final concluding paragraph in his writing, 

 

CALVINISM, ARMINIANISM & THE WORD OF GOD
A CALVARY CHAPEL PERSPECTIVE
“I would rather have the wrong facts and a right attitude, than right facts and a wrong attitude“.

Unbelievable! This is one example of how doctrine is being dismissed or minimized. The prevalent attitude today in many Protestant churches seems to be: “It doesn’t really matter what I believe, so long as I love everybody.”
                                                     
Doesn’t that seem a lot like the position of the Jews – that zeal is more important than truth? In Romans 10:2, Paul states about the Jews: “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.”

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The following portions of Calvin’s Commentary on Galatians 1:6-9 show how important doctrine is, especially the doctrine of salvation.

PORTIONS OF CALVIN’S COMMENTARY ON GALATIAN’S

TREATMENT OF PREACHING OR TEACHING FALSE

DOCTRINE

 

Galatians 1:6-9

6. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

    See Calvin’s Commentary below. 

7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

 

8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

 

9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

 

(Note: Bill has deleted portions to emphasize the remaining portions. Bill has also added bold, italic, and underline to Calvin’s commentary.)

Calvin’s comments about Paul’s statements in Galatians 1:6-9:

“ his greatest severity of language is directed, as we shall see, against the false apostles. He charges them with turning aside, not only from his gospel, but from Christ; for it was impossible for them to retain their attachment to Christ, without acknowledging that he has graciously delivered us from the bondage of the law. But such a belief cannot be reconciled with those notions respecting the obligation of ceremonial observance which the false apostles inculcated. They were removed from Christ; not that they entirely rejected Christianity, but that the corruption of their doctrines was such as to leave them nothing more than an imaginary Christ.

On the same principle, he calls it another gospel, that is, a gospel different from the true one. And yet the false apostles professed that they preached the gospel of Christ; but, mingling with it their own inventions, by which its principal efficacy was destroyed, they held a false, corrupt, and spurious gospel.

When he says that they were called by Christ through grace, this tends to heighten the criminality of their ingratitude. To revolt from the Son of God under any circumstances, is unworthy and disgraceful; but to revolt from him, after being invited to partake salvation by grace, is more eminently base. His goodness to us renders our ingratitude to him more dreadfully heinous. 

The gospel of Christ. To know what are the leading points of the gospel, is a matter of unceasing importance. When these are attacked, the gospel is destroyed.

In order to destroy more completely the pretensions of the false apostles, he rises so high as to speak of angels; … It is impossible, no doubt, for angels from heaven to teach anything else than the certain truth of God.

But when the credit due to doctrines which God had revealed concerning the salvation of men was the subject of controversy, he did not reckon it enough to disclaim the judgment of men, without declining, at the same time, the authority of angels.”

Final note by Bill on this Scripture and Calvin’s Commentary:

We need to stand steadfast by the true doctrine of salvation. No one is beyond the realm of suspicion, not the angels, not Paul, not the Pope, not John Wesley, not Charles Finney, not Billy Graham, and not even John Calvin. In other words, we cannot conclude that just because a leader reaches a position of highest power and authority in the Christian world or seems to be most zealous and most effective, that such accomplishments cause the preaching of any other gospel to be acceptable. If they do preach another gospel, they are to be considered accursed.

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