Working out salvation

May 26, 2011
catechism

Q. Whence ariseth the imperfection of sanctification in believers?

A. The imperfection of sanctification in believers ariseth from the remnants of sin abiding in every part of them, and the perpetual lustings of the flesh against the spirit; whereby they are often foiled with temptations, and fall into many sins, are hindered in all their spiritual services, and their best works are imperfect and defiled in the sight of God.

Q. May not true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the many temptations and sins they are overtaken with, fall away from the state of grace?

A. True believers, by reason of the unchangeable love of God, and his decree and covenant to give them perseverance, their inseparable union with Christ, his continual intercession for them, and the Spirit and seed of God abiding in them, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

(Questions LXXVIII and LXXIX of the Westminster Larger Catechism.)

Eye for an eye

May 24, 2011
biblephrases

This week’s phrase is from Exodus 21:24:

Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot

When this verse was given, punishment by the state for crime was usually excessive and so it was to ensure that the punishment fitted the crime – that justice was done.

Today it is generally used to state ones personal entitlement to revenge rather than justice!

Burning bush

May 17, 2011
biblephrases

This week’s phrase is from Exodus 3:2

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

In modern English, this phrase is used to indicate an epiphany.

Complete joy

May 8, 2011
sermonnotes

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

1 John 1:1-4

Scapegoat

May 6, 2011
biblephrases

This week’s phrase comes from Leviticus 16:10:

But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

Much like in the Old Testament where the sins of the people were symbolically placed upon an innocent goat, the phrase is used today to refer to someone, or something, which is blamed for something instead of the guilty party.

Saved and being saved

April 28, 2011
catechism

Q. Wherein do justification and sanctification differ?

A. Although sanctification be inseparably joined with justification, yet they differ, in that God in justification imputeth the righteousness of Christ; in sanctification of his Spirit infuseth grace, and enableth to the exercise thereof; in the former, sin is pardoned; in the other, it is subdued: the one doth equally free all believers from the revenging wrath of God, and that perfectly in this life, that they never fall into condemnation the other is neither equal in all, nor in this life perfect in any, but growing up to perfection.

(Question LXXVII of the Westminster Larger Catechism.)

Thou shalt not kill

April 26, 2011
biblephrases

This week’s phrase is actually repreated a few times in the bible. Its most notable reference is probably Exodus 20:13:

Thou shalt not kill.

It’s generally used as read, although a better translation would be “You shall not murder”, rather than kill.

8 years ago!

April 20, 2011
musicrambling

I was listening to some mp3 files on my phone recently and this popped up. I can’t believe 8 years has passed since I did this!

Dvorak Sonatina IV

A peace offering

April 19, 2011
biblephrases

This week’s phrase is from Leviticus 3:6

And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.

To turn aside someone’s wrath through an offering.

Manna from heaven

April 6, 2011
biblephrases

This week’s phrase is from Exodus 16:15:

And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

To quote Merriam-Webster:

…sudden and unexpected source of gratification, pleasure, or gain.

When we walk with the Lord…

March 31, 2011
catechism

Q. What is repentance unto life?

A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and Word of God, whereby, out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, and upon the apprehension of God’s mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, he so grieves for and hates his sins, as that he turns from them all to God, purposing and endeavouring constantly to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience.

(Question LXXVI of the Westminster Larger Catechism.)

Harden your heart

March 31, 2011
biblephrases

This week’s phrase is from Exodus 4:21:

The LORD said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go…

To harden one’s heart to to be stubborn, obstinate, unwilling to change, even if the facts clearly put one in the wrong!

The land of Nod

March 10, 2011
biblephrases

This week’s phrase is from Genesis 4:16:

And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

Originally, Nod referred to a place east of Eden, where Eden is paradise. It meant a place of exile and of discomfort. Today it is more likely to mean quite the opposite – to be fast asleep!

Let there be light

March 4, 2011
biblephrases

This week’s phrase is from Genesis 1:3

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Used metaphorically when one suddenly understands an idea, or literally when there is illumination!

O how the grace of God amazes me!

February 24, 2011
catechism

Q. What is sanctification?

A. Sanctification is a work of God’s grace, whereby they whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, renewed in their whole man after the image of God; having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts, and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened, as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.

(Question LXXV of the Westminster Larger Catechism.)