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Gospel and Nothing Else…

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Have you ever heard anyone talking about the good news of salvation found in Jesus alone, how God has done everything to save us and gotten nervous.  Maybe you’re a believer and think, yeah, but I still have to do this or that and it’s all about my life, now right?  This objection comes often in circles where grace exists.  A few years ago, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones predicted as much:

There is no better test as to whether a man is really preaching the New Testament gospel of salvation than this, that some people might misunderstand it and misinterpret it to mean that it really amounts to this, that because you are saved by grace alone it does not matter at all what you do; you can go on sinning as much as you like because it will redound all the more to the glory of grace. That is very good test of gospel preaching. If my preaching and presentation of the gospel of salvation does not expose it to that misunderstanding, then it is not the gospel. (from his exposition of Romans 6)

Undoubtedly, we are not to continue in sin that grace may abound.  However, this underestimates the power of the Gospel to change.  You are not the person you once were.  You are a new creation.  The old has passed away, the new has come.  Today, rest in the amazing Gospel of grace.  God has chosen to save you apart from anything you do.  Faith is merely tapping into that reality.

Knowing Heretics

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There’s nothing new under the sun so says Ecclesiastes. Last night, my Wed PM class, which is working through Lloyd Jones excellent work on 1 John entitled Life in Christ: Studies in 1 John, came face to face with the Doctor’s opinion on this as it relates to the truth of Jesus. He said, in his explanation of 1 John 4:2-3, the following:

There is no modern heresy. All the clever people who propound their apparently new ideas about Christ are simply repeating what has already been said; there have literally been no new heresies since the first centuries. (p.415)

In that regard, then, let me recommend a series over on the Resurgence entitled Know Your Heretics. It is great know these things so that when things come up, we can “test the spirits” and have some measure of discernment against the standard of Christ.

MLJ on Finding God’s Will

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Justin Buzzard has an excellent post, with the relevant quote available as a PDF, on what he calls “The Most Helpful Thing I’ve Ever Read About God’s Guidance” from D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones advising his daughter when she was seeking to know God’s will. It is taken from Volume 2 of Iain Murray’s excellent bio (p.177):

These are the rules which I would advise you to observe:
1. Never speak to anyone about it. Don’t tell people what you are feeling and discuss it and ask for advice. That always leads to still more uncertainty and confusion. Make an absolute rule of this at all costs. Say nothing until you are absolutely certain, because we are all subject to self suggestion.

2. Do not even think about it and discuss the pros and cons with yourself. Once more this leads to auto suggestion and confusion.

3. In meetings, etc., do not start with the thought in your mind, ‘I wonder whether this is going to throw light on my question or help in any way?’

4. In other words, you must not try to anticipate God’s leading. Believing as I do that God does ‘call’ very definitely, and in a distinct and definite doctrine of a call, and a vocation is distinct from the ‘need is the call’ idea, I believe that God will always make His will and His way plain and clear. With reverence, therefore, I
say leave it to God entirely as regards purpose, time and all else.

All you have to do is to tell God that you are content to do His will whatever it may be and, more, that you will rejoice to do His will. Surrender yourself, your life, your future entirely to Him and leave it at that… You must not go on asking God to show you His way. Leave it to Him and refuse to consider it until He makes it impossible for you not to do so.

God Speaks…

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Last night, in my Wed PM discussion group, we were discussing part 1, chapter 7 of D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones book Life in Christ. On p.80, MLJ says:

We have said that communion [with God] means realizing the presence of God, and there is a basic minimum in this matter, that those who can claim that they are in communion with God and say they have fellowship with Him must be able to say, ‘I have known that I was in the presence of God who graciously give me tokens of this; He gives me manifestations.’ You can see the dangerous thing I am saying, how it opens the door to fanaticism and excesses; but we have no fellowship with God unless in some way we have known that He was there, that He gave His gracious intimation of His nearness and His presence. He also speaks in His own way to the soul, not always with an audible voice, but He speaks. He gives us consolation, He creates within us holy desires and longings; it is He who does that.

My mind immediately went to the many-linked-to story from yesterday from Justin Taylor celebrating and remembering John Piper’s call to ministry 30 years earlier. God does speak in amazing ways often. Praise God that we aren’t left wondering if we have fellowship with God but that He makes Himself known by speaking.