Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Faith (Evangelism 101.11)

A Christian in Canada Presents - Faith

What is Faith and where does it come from? 








John Calvin's commentary on Eph 2:8-10 is quoted in the video.http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/comment3/comm_vol41/htm/iv.iii.iii.htm 

And here we must advert to a very common error in the interpretation of this passage. Many persons restrict the word gift to faith alone. But Paul is only repeating in other words the former sentiment. His meaning is, not that faith is the gift of God, but that salvation is given to us by God, or, that we obtain it by the gift of God.

God declares, that he owes us nothing; so that salvation is not a reward or recompense, but unmixed grace. The next question is, in what way do men receive that salvation which is offered to them by the hand of God? The answer is, by faith;and hence he concludes that nothing connected with it is our own. If, on the part of God, it is grace alone, and if we bring nothing but faith, which strips us of all commendation, it follows that salvation does not come from us.

When, on the part of man, the act of receiving salvation is made to consist in faith alone, all other means, on which men are accustomed to rely, are discarded. Faith, then, brings a man empty to God, that he may be filled with the blessings of Christ.

Created to good works. They err widely from Paul's intention, who torture this passage for the purpose of injuring the righteousness of faith. Ashamed to affirm in plain terms, and aware that they could gain nothing by affirming, that we are not justified by faith, they shelter themselves under this kind of subterfuge. "We are justified by faith, because faith, by which we receive the grace of God, is the commencement of righteousness; but we are made righteous by regeneration, because, being renewed by the Spirit of God, we walk in good works." In this manner they make faith the door by which we enter into righteousness, but imagine that we obtain it by our works, or, at least, they define righteousness to be that uprightness by which a man is formed anew to a holy life. I care not how old this error may be; but they err egregiously who endeavor to support it by this passage.

When Paul lays down the cause of justification, he dwells chiefly on this point, that our consciences will never enjoy peace till they rely on the propitiation for sins.

The Gospel (Evangelism 101.10)

The bad news is we're all sinners who are going to be judged by a perfect righteous Judge.

The Good News (the Gospel) is that Jesus Christ paid our price!

In this video I review the content of the Gospel to see what "in accordance with the Scriptures" means.

Here's the Gospel as prophesied in the Old Testament.

Christ's substitutionary death (Isa. 53:5), burial (Isa. 53:9), resurrection (Isa.53:10), and manifestation to His offspring (literally "seed," Isa. 53:10; cf. Jn.12:23-24, 14:1916:16-22,20:19-23, etc.). David records a similar prophecy outlining the Messiah's death (Ps. 22:14-16), burial (Ps. 22:15; cf. Ps. 104:29), resurrection (Ps. 22:19-21), and manifestation to His brethren (Ps.22:22; cf. Matt. 28:10; Jn. 20:17; Heb. 2:11-13).[3] This is also the gospel according to the apostle Paul (cf. Acts 13:26-41, 26:22-28; 1 Cor. 15:1ff, etc.)

The order of witnessing the Risen Christ:
• Mary -- John 20:10-18
• Mary Magdalene and the other Mary -- Matthew 28:1-10
• Peter (Cephas) -- 1 Corinthians 15:5
• Two Disciples -- Luke 24:13-35
• Ten Apostles -- Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23
• Eleven Apostles -- John 20:24-31
• Seven Apostles -- John 21
• All Apostles -- Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-18
• 500 Brethren -- 1 Corinthians 15:6
• James -- 1 Corinthians 15:7
• All Apostles -- Acts 1:4-8
• Paul -- Acts 9:1-9; 1 Corinthians 15:8

Many more prophecies are detailed at this websitehttp://bible.org/article/messianic-prophecies

I do not endorse this website or the organization that runs it. I have found particular page to be helpful.

I'm a Christian in Canada. What about you?


Monday, October 10, 2011

God Who Cannot Lie?

I've asked a question in other places, and I will ask it here as well.

Can God, who cannot lie, say something that is subjectively true but NOT objectively true? 

I'm most interested in how 5 Point Calvinists will answer this question, but how would YOU answer this question? Are you sure?

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Think Different



It is terrible news that Steve Jobs died today at age 56. We are handed an opportunity to explain why this world truly has nothing to offer however. Let us remember the severity of the eternity sinners face, and let that terror drive us to reach them, to reason with them, and PLEAD WITH THEM to be reconciled to God.