GospelDrivenLife

4th most translated

Now I go that from a very reliable scholarly source.  It is a book I stumbled upon, but one I cherish now.  It begins with this question:

What is your only comfort in life and in death?

Know it now?

It was written by a team of men, including Ursinus.

It was written in 1562.

. . . . . .

It is:

The Heidleberg Catechism.

It is gracious, warm, pastoral, redemptively centered -- a true reflection of Lutheran thinking.  And it contains some remarkable portions.

For example, the major part of the answer to that first question:

What is your only comfort in life and in death?

That I am not my own, but belong body and soul, in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.  He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.  He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father who is in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

One of my favorites and 4th most translated Christian book . . .

Do you know what it is?

Look for a post on it Monday . . . .

Favorite quotes on . . .

Be deeply affected with the mischievous effects and consequences of schisms and divisions in the societies of the saints, and let nothing beneath a plain necessity divide you from communion with one another; hold it fast till you can no longer without sin.  At the fire of your contentions your enemies warm their hands, and say, Aha, so would we have it. 

— John Flavel  

Favorite quotes on . . . from an unusual source

It occurs to me that man is born for conflict.  We just like a fight.  I have noticed that when certain subjects come up on blogs, people dive in.  Piper asks Rick Warren to come.  Someone makes a comment about school preferences.  Church polity is debated.  A noted leader speaks unadvisedly or quotes a black listed author.  The result is a flood of "comments."

Most of the comments are made in ignorance, or out of anger, or spitefully. 

I think this is because we like fights.  We have argumentative hearts.  We enjoy pontificating and passing judgment with next to no facts.  We think we know the "real reasons" and know the hearts of men.

Well, whenever I get into a fighting mood, or see a group of believers engaged in contention, or find a blog engaged in strife, I go back to this simple quote from Mark Twain's work: Huckelberry Finn.

It is a very clear discussion between two boys.  It is a clear description of conflict and the fruit of hearts filled with conflict.

Did you want to kill him, Buck?

Well I bet I did.

What do he do to you?

Him?  He never done nothing to me.

Well, then, what did you want to kill him for?

Why, nothing – only its on account of the feud.

What’s a feud?

Why, where was you raised?  Don’t you know what a feud is?

Never heard of it before – tell me about it.

Well, says Buck, a feud is this way: A man has a quarrel with another man, and kills him; then that other man’s brother kills him; then the other brothers, on both sides, goes for one another; then the cousins chip in – and by and by everybody’s killed off, and there ain’t no more feud.  But it’s kind of slow, and takes a long time.

Has this one been going on long, Buck?

Well, I should reckon.  It started thirty years ago or som’ers along there.

What was the trouble about, Buck – land?

I reckon maybe – I don’t know.

Well, who done the shootin?

Laws, I don’t know.  It was so long ago.

Don’t anybody know?

Oh, yes, Pa knows, I reckon, and some of the other old people, but they don’t know what the row was about in the first place. 

--Mark Twain

Remind them . . . . to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
(Titus 3:1-5 ESV)

Favorite quotes on . . .

Men are born, educated, and called under a variety of circumstances. Habits of life, local customs, and even bodily constitution, have more or less influence in forming their characters, and in giving a turn to their manner of thinking.

The result is this: in whatever is essential to their peace and holiness, they are led by the same Spirit and think the same things. But in matters of a secondary nature their sentiments may, and often do, differ, as much as the features on their faces. A uniformity of judgment among them is not to be expected while the wisest are defective in knowledge, the best are defiled with sin, and while the weaknesses of human nature are common to them all.

They might maintain a unity of spirit, and live in mutual love, were it not that everyone believes that they are bound in conscience to prescribe their own line of conduct as the standard to which all others must conform. Their little differences form them into so many separate interests. They defend their own plans and oppose all who cannot agree with them in a small matter. This makes them forget they are children in the same family and servants of the same master.

-John Newton on Humility

Favorite quotes on . . . gossip

Perusing my large quotes file brings back memories and conviction and gladness at the mercy of God.

Once upon a time there were just a few options for us when we got mad at someone else and wanted to malign them.  We could walk across the town square and gossip with our neighbor about our neighbor.  Then the telephone created more temptations.  Now the internet is filled with half the story ill will. 

I know the temptations.  Many times I have yielded to the desire to spread my perspective on someone else to the hearts of others.  Many times I have entertained such venom gladly.  I find I am deeply curious about the latest smear, the publication of half truths.  I don;t think it is a godly curiosity.

I have advocated the wise and godly use of blogs from the beginning.  Issues may be discussed, but not people.  God cherishes his good name and wants us to cherish each other's good name.

Few things are more a grief to God than gossip.  The accused had no opportunity to reply.  Nor is it even possible.  Nor wise to do so.

I have found benefit for myself in this quote by a man who lived in a sea of gossips.  I find it helps me guard my words and helps me guard my ears.  Simeon was a pastor in Cambridge in the last 19th and early 19th centuries.

The longer I live the more I feel the importance of adhering to the rules which I have laid down for myself in such matters. First, to hear as little as possible what is to the prejudice of others. Second, to believe nothing of the kind until I am absolutely forced to. Third, never drink into the spirit of one who circulates an ill report. Fourth, always to believe, that if the other side were heard, a very different account would be given of the matter.

I consider love as wealth; and as I would resist a man who should come to rob my house, so would I a man who would weaken my regard for any human being.

-Charles Simeon, on Gossip

The Deep Things of God with addendum

Fred Sanders, Biola Professor, on the faculty at their Torrey Honors Institute, and a recent teacher of my daughter, has written a barnburner.  That is pretty amazing for theology.

This book is easily on my list of best books in the last year, would be on my top books of the last ten years, and may become one I read again and again.  That latter list is very short.  God has given us a gift of grace through this book. 

Why would I say this?

It is well written. It is rare for me to start into a book and not want to put it down. That is especially true with theology books, and more so with books on the doctrine of the Trinity. That is because most theologians could use a course in good writing.  This book is clear and deep.  It develops the glory of the Godhead and does so without superficial summary or theological jargon. That does not mean it is simplistic.  It will call you to engage with the revealed God of glory.

It is mature. This is not an off the cuff work.  There is depth here.  There are clearly years of reflection.  The author has read widely and thoughtfully in his field. He holds the jewel of the Trinity up in the light and explores its many facets.  That God is Triune is not lightweight, but this truth does not have to be esoteric. Because he has reflected on this for years, Sanders makes a deep subject sing.  He connects the dots clearly and winsomely.  He offers critique with humility and humor.  He offers a grander Gospel and a grander worship and a grander reading of the Bible by showing the meaning of the doctrine of the Trinity.

It is timely. I have grown to see the redemptive center of the Bible.  I am an advocate of Gospel-centrality.  Sanders is gospel centered, but he calls us to revisit the background to the Gospel.  He notes that while our emphasis is the Gospel, when we lose the eternal glory of the Godhead, the Gospel is diminished or narrowed or reduced. 

I think he is correct.  There has been a lack. 

A few, like Piper in God is the Gospel, hinted at it.  Sanders mines it. He takes us back to the eternal glory of God -- the happy life of the Trinity.  What he insists on is this: God as God the Father, Son, and Spirit is the deep foundation of the Gospel.  The goodness of the good news is rooted in the happy and blessed fullness of the Triune God.  In the Gospel this God, our of sheer generosity, gives himself to us.

Sanders picks up where Piper left off. He develops the doctrine more. He notes that while we are emphatic about Christ, grace, sacrifice, atonement, faith, justification -- those emphases become shallow when they are not set deep in the Triune God. 

That is a bit shocking.  I think he wonderfully makes the case.  On the other side of my justification is more than imputed righteousness.  I have been imputed righteous so that God may give himself to me as my God, and I may see his glory.  I think the prayer of John 17, especially vesres 21-26 have taken on a new meaning.

But that is just one instance.  Many times I had flashes of light (as in Eph 1:14-23) come to my heart as he connected the dots.  This is the first book in a long while that has compelled me to stop my reading and adore my God.  It has fueled my sight of the beauty of God in worship on Sunday.  It has stirred new faith for preaching. 

Preachers -- your people need this.  They need a vision of the glory to which the God of grace calls them.

Each chapter is a stand alone, fruitful for extended study and meditation. He shows that this is not just for scholars. Considering the glory of the Godhead is not something I recall thinking about, but Susannah Wesley (mother of 17 I think) did and found it glorious and practical while she tended house.  I do not remember the last time I considered that my prayer or the reading of the Word were Trinitarian.  I could go on.  The quotable quotes are many and fun (that one about Nicky Cruse writing the only book on the Trinity that has a knife fight!)

It is in the Great Tradition. But one more item. I have become more and more persuaded that my calling is to be as unoriginal as possible.  I am passing on the deposit of faith, entrusted to the Apostles.  I have also become more and more persuaded that history informs my grasp of Scripture.  I am an heir to the Great Tradition. 

For some years now I have been dipping into writings on the Trinity and the early church fathers. I have noted their influence on early Protestants too.  I am one who, without reading them, used to think the fathers missed it.  I now think, and Sanders confirms, that they got it better than I do.  When they wrote the Trinitarian creeds, they had a grasp of the deep source of our salvation.  God the Father Almighty, his only Son our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son are working symphonically to save, to redeem, and to exalt the bride of Christ into their presence. Chalcedon was profound.  

Some may not have missed these rich resources of faith.  Perhaps I have just been in the narrow confines of sectarian American evangelicalism. But the early church fathers had a grasp on God in Trinity and the Incarnation that is rooted in Scripture and life-shaping. I want to consider it more.

Fred is in that Tradition, though he carefully confines his citations to the rich resources within Protestant evangelicalism. He is not calling us to become liturgical.   He is calling us to bring out of the background what we know to be true,  He is calling us to rediscover the resources of our our tributary of the Great Tradition. 

I for one want to go back to learn from those men and the ones who went before them.  I am grateful for this book which I hope sells out and is reprinted and circulated to as many people as possible.  It is a gift to see the glory of the Triune God as the root and foundation of our redemption.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

Addendum: This is Dr Sanders life message.  Its implication and applications and connections to life can be worked out for many years to come.  My wife, who is a woman soaked in the Word and in the Triune God, wants to apply this to her daily life.  She is asking for a chapter in a future book called, "The Tacit Trinitarianism of Housework" and with it, "The Tacit Trinitarianism of Marriage and Family." 

Favorite quotes on . . .

O my children, if only we would make up your minds never to doubt the love of another brother or sister in Christ, but always to think the best and never admit an unkind thought in your heart, how happy, how heavenly life would be.

-Amy Carmichael. On UNITY