Notable & Newsworthy

Here are the top stories and links for today…

Get Robert Letham’s “The Work of Christ” (Contours of Christian Theology) for 60% OFF at Westminster Bookstore

Enter to win books by Brian Croft, Joel Beeke, Mez McConnell, and Matthias Media at 20 Schemes

Enter to win a copy of each one of Jared Wilson’s books from 20 Schemes

Enter to win a genuine leather ESV Study Bible from Crossway and 20 Schemes

Enter to win Alex Chediak’s “Preparing Your Teens for College” from Blogging Theologically

Enter to win books by John MacArthur, Tim Keller, and R.C. Sproul from Tim Challies and CBD Reformed

Enter to win Thom Rainer’s “Autopsy of a Dead Church” and a genuine leather HCSB Study Bible

Last chance to enter to win a Zondervan Jesus Bible and “The Jesus Story Book Bible” by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Ligonier’s $5 Friday featuring “The Creedal Imperative” by Carl Trueman

Ergun Caner’s attempts to suppress the truth about his history/conversion foiled again

Matt Walsh’s “homophobic rant” about Michael Sam, the hypocrisy of the NFL, and the intolerance of our culture

Help distribute ESV Global Study Bibles to Pastors in the southern hemisphere

“The lost will eternally suffer in the satisfaction of justice. But they will never satisfy it. Christ satisfied justice.” (John Murray)

“God takes away the world, that the heart may cleave more to Him in sincerity.” (Thomas Watson)

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Covenant of Grace

“The origin of the covenant of grace was the unparalleled, incomprehensible love of God to sinners of the human race. The obstacles in the way of accomplishing the salvation of those, whose death was demanded by law and justice, were apparently insuperable. It may be presumed, that if the problem, how God could be just and yet justify the ungodly, had been proposed to a conclave of the brightest angels in heaven, they could not have worked out a satisfactory answer: it would have baffled their utmost intellectual efforts. That God cannot cease to treat his creatures according to the principles of eternal justice is most evident; and that justice required that the sinner should suffer, according to his demerit, is equally evident. Where, then, is there any foundation for hope in regard to those who have once transgressed? And not only the justice, but the truth of God stood in the way of the sinner’s salvation. God had threatened the penalty of death, interminable death; and the Ruler of the universe must maintain the truth of his word, as it respects his threatenings as well as his promises… But that which could not be discovered by the wisdom of creatures, was devised by the infinite wisdom of God. In the counsels of the adorable Trinity the plan was agreed upon. Between the Father and the Son, a transaction took place, which may strictly be termed a covenant, for, speaking after the manner of men, there were mutual stipulations entered into between the high contracting parties.” (Archibald Alexander)

For more on this subject, please visit the Biblical Theology page.

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According to the Word of God

“If we take heed to our way in the light of God’s Word, we will consider seriously where our way will end… The fact is that a holy God must punish sin and, for Christ’s sake, reward the godly. Again it is the Word of God which gives the necessary perspective, not only on this life, but also on the eternity which lies beyond it. And the Word shows us the one, narrow, way to heaven–through Jesus Christ, the crucified Redeemer–although it is so much despised by those who want to believe that they are thoroughly up to date in their thinking. They may be up to date, but that is of no advantage when their thinking is wrong.” (Kenneth Macleod)

For more on this subject, please visit the Pastoral Theology page.

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The Doctrine of Justification

“There was a time, not so long ago, when the blessed truth of justification was one of the best known doctrines of the Christian faith, when it was regularly expounded by the preachers, and when the rank and file of church-goers were familiar with its leading aspects. But now, alas, a generation has arisen which is well-nigh totally ignorant of this precious theme, for with very rare exceptions it is no longer given a place in the pulpit, nor is scarcely anything written thereon in the religious magazines of our day; and, in consequence, comparatively few understand what the term itself connotes, still less are they clear as to the ground on which God justifies the ungodly… This blessed doctrine supplies the grand divine cordial to revive one whose soul is cast down and whose conscience is distressed by a felt sense of sin and guilt, and longs to know the way and means whereby he may obtain acceptance with God and the title unto the Heavenly inheritance. To one who is deeply convinced that he has been a life-long rebel against God, a constant transgressor of His holy law, and who realizes he is justly under His condemnation and wrath, no inquiry can be of such deep interest and pressing moment as that which relates to the means of restoring him to the divine favour, remitting his sins, and fitting him to stand unabashed in the divine presence: till this vital point has been cleared to the satisfaction of his heart, all other information concerning religion will be quite unavailing.” (A.W. Pink)

For more on this subject, please visit the Systematic Theology page.

 

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Grace: How Strange the Sound

“God is intolerant of sin, but just as infinite in his love and long-suffering. God is just and righteous, unable to let bygones be bygones, and yet he is free to have mercy on whom he will have mercy. To have mercy on the wicked, however, God cannot suspend his justice. God’s justice did not require the salvation of anyone, so his grace is totally free. When God is gracious toward sinners, it is not because his justice is sacrificed to his love, but because he has freely found a way to be ‘just and the justifier of the ungodly’ (Rom. 3:26). At the cross, not only God’s love but his strangeness–his utter difference from us–is most clearly displayed.” (Michael Horton)

For more on this subject, please visit Modern Reformation.

 

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Soli Deo Gloria

HELL AND THE GLORY OF GOD

“God has created a universe in which his mercy has meaning precisely because it does not nullify his justice. In order for God to be just and extend mercy, he must keep his promise to punish transgression. In the Bible’s presentation of the true story of the world, God upholds justice at the cross and in hell. Jesus died on the cross to establish God’s justice and ensure that those who repent of sin and trust in Christ receive mercy that is also just. God punishes the wicked in hell to uphold justice against all who refuse to repent of sin, glorify him as God, and give thanks to him.” (James Hamilton)

For more on this subject, visit IX Marks.

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