John MacArthur's TFG2008

Sam Storms reveiw of "Why Were Not Emergent."

Sam Storms gives a great overview of the book. I have personally read "Why we're not Emergent", and loved it. Kevin and Ted do a great job in giving an overview of this misguided movement. Click on me and I'll take you to Sam's overview of the book.
One can pick up a copy of this book at Monergism.com. It's a great, fun read.

Sovereignty

Psalms 115:3
Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.

Notice the personal touch the Psalmist gives, "Our" God. Not some random God, but his God. A God he relates to, a God he believes in and a God who transcends this world, yet is still active in it.

This personal God that the Psalmist writes about is sovereign, "he does ALL that he pleases". That little article"all" has strong overtones with it. It implies nothing hinders this God, nothing can stop this God, nothing is able to withstand Him when he decides to act. This Sovereign God does all that he pleases, and all that he does is pleasing unto him self, none can with stand or with hold from him. Yet he's also personal and relational; the Psalmist cries out our God.

As Followers of Jesus we can take courage that he's sovereign, he's personal, and that he does all that he pleases, and all that he does is pleasing unto himself. This gives us great hope and security in this life, because we are his children.

The voice of truth.

"If the Lord's bearing our sin for us is not the gospel,
I have no gospel to preach."
(C.H. Spurgeon)

Once again a voice from the past needs to be heard in our day. If the Gospel isn't Christ and him crucified for our sins, then as a generation, were lost. The Gospel isn't about social reform, caring for the poor, or being GREEN. It's about the God-Man (Jesus) who came down in human flesh, who lived a sinless life, yet was crucified in our place. He paid my dept, he removed God's wrath towards me and he imparted his righteousness into my life. That's the Gospel. The social reform, caring for the poor, and even being green should and will come forth out of a life changed, yet it's a result of a life being change by the gospel not the Gospel it's self.

The God who won't die

Sinners be warned,

Your adversary doesn't sleep.
He doesn't lose heart in pursuit.
He faints not.
None can withhold his hand.
His sword never dulls.
His hatred burns forever.

Were would you run, were would you hide?
Turn, repent, call out for Mercie...before it's to late.

Psams 107:23-29 & Mathew 8:23-27

"Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
they saw the deeds of the Lord,
his wondrous works in the deep.
for he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits' end.
Then they cried to the Lord in their distress.
He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed."

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?"

"they Cried to the Lord in their distress" vs. "They went and woke him, saying 'Save us, Lord; we are perishing'".

"He made the storm be still" vs. "he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, an there was a great calm".

In the Psalms the word for Lord is the supreme title for God (Adonia, which means sovereign one). Hence in the Psalms you have the Sovereign One calming the storm when his people call unto him, and in the N.T you have Jesus calming the storm when his disciples call out to him.

The disciples probably would be at least familiar with the Psalms, especially this one, since it deals with their livelihood (fishing, being in a boat, etc.). What they once memorized and had to recite became a reality in their lives.

No wonder the Disciples were more fearful after the threat of the storm was past, Adonia was in the boat with them...

The Cross of Philemon.

Philemon our beloved fellow worker.

Philemon isn't just an ordinary Christian, he's active in his faith. Philemons faith isn't just something he did once upon a time, walked an isle, said a quick prayer, winked at the evangelists. Faith was active, it wasn't only vertical minded but also horizontally focused. Philemon loved other believers, he consistently refreshed others. In fact it was what he was known for.

Paul in a letter to Philemon, mentions all of these things. Paul reminds Philemon of what he's done for the Lord, he reminds him of his past faithfulness to Christ by his service towards others.

So far this is great, Philemon is a godly man, people recongnized it. Yet over this seemingly great person of faith and works there is a shadow. Philemon was a slave owner, one of his slaves, Onesimus ran away after possible stealing from Philemon. Onesimus wasn't a follower of Christ, and it bags to reason, why? Philemon who is known for his Christian love for believers some how fell short in is love for slaves? or maybe Philemon would tell his slaves about Jesus and Onesimus just refused to listen, after all he's a slave. Why would he chose to become a slave to another, that is Christ. Maybe he was hoping that one day Philemon would be thrown into prison for his beliefs, after all other Christians were be imprisoned during this time. Philemon wasn't imprisoned for his faith, so Onesimus ran. We don't know.

Yet within the providence of God, this runaway slave made his way up to Rome and some how landed within the circle of Paul's influence. God works in mysterious ways. Onesimus hears the gospel, and God opens up his heart so that he response in faith, and now he's a child of God.

Onesimus is free, both physically and spiritual. He's with Paul, he's a child of God, yet he's wronged a brother in Christ, Philemon his master. Paul breaks Jewish protocol, and sends a runaway slave back to his master, yet in reality he's sending back a brother to be reconciled to a fellow brother. Onesimus agrees and the expression "tack up your cross and follow me" takes on a new meaning for him. Following Christ isn't always easy, it's not about having your best life now, or finding your purpose. It's about following after Christ, no matter the cost.

Philemon has to make a choice. Does he receive Onesimus back or does he do what is culturally acceptable and even expected...capital punishment. He lives in a culture and a way of life that is built upon slavery. If one slave runs away and isn't punished others will follow. He needs to die, or the whole of society could claps. Also not to mention the disgrace he must feel.

Yet know Philemon isn't just dealing with a useless slave, he's dealing with a brother in Christ.
One whom, just like him was saved by grace. Philemon has to chose, extend grace to an undeserving slave, or punish. Philemon, I believe, thinks about a cross, and about the man who hung on it so he didn't have to face the wrath of God. Philemon choses to forgive, after all, Onesimus's offenses were nothing in comparison to what Christ forgave him.

Philemon like Onesimus takes up his cross and follows Christ.

We live in a time were Christianity is cheep. Christianity cost nothing, requires nothing, changes nothing. Yet our modern, or post-modern Christianity doesn't square with biblical Christianity. Biblical Christianity is costly, it counter culture, it can cost you your life.

I pray that God would raise up a generation of Christians like Onesimus and Philemon. People who will take up their cross and follow their Master. Men and women who are more concerned about living for Jesus and pleasing him, then they are about anything else.

I pray that God would help empower me, that I may also "take up my cross and follow Christ" no matter the situation or cost.

Christ centered Interpretation:

Interpretations:

The major theme that runs through the whole Bible, is the theme of redemption. when interpreting the scripture one needs to keep this in mined. One may ask, isn't this forcing a pre-condition on every text of the Bible?

Yes, and no.

Jesus when talking to the pharisees said, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." (John 5:38-40)
Also another time Jesus talks with some disciples, "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27)

So to answer the question, yes it is forcing a pre-condition on a text, but no, one does so with the authority of Jesus. All of scripture testifie to the Son of God, they either look forward to his plan of redemption (the fulfillment of the Promise), or the look back to the Promise fulfilled.

Go Mark Driscoll.

It's real.