Faith & Hope!

John Calvin said concerning the relationship of fides and spes at the end of his great chapter Inst. III, 2 and with reference to Hebrews 11:1-4 … Where there is a living faith in the Word of God, it cannot be otherwise than that faith should have hope as its inseparable companion, or rather, that it should beget and create it. If we have no hope, we can be sure that we have no faith. Those who believe, those who apprehend the truth of God with the certainty which corresponds to it, which is demanded and imparted by it, expect that God will fulfill the promises which He has spoken in truth … Waiting quietly for the Lord, hope restrains faith, preventing it from rushing forward in too great a hurry. It confirms it so that it does not waver in its trust in God’s promises or begin to doubt. It revives it so that it does not grow weary. It keeps it fixed on its final goal so that it does not give up half-way or when it is in captivity. It continually renews and reestablishes it, thus seeing to it that it continually rises up in more vital forms and perseveres to the end. -K. Barth

Simplicity of Barth’s faith

The simplicity of Barth’s faith is beautifully illustrated in an incident described by J. M. Boice:

“Several years before his death the Swiss theologian Karl Barth came to the United States for a series of lectures. At one of these, after a very impressive lecture, a student asked a typically American question. He said, ‘Dr. Barth, what is the greatest thought that has ever passed through your mind?’ The aging professor paused for a long time as he obviously thought about his answer. Then he said with great simplicity:‘Jesus loves me! This I know. For the Bible tells me so’ ” - Foundations of the Christian Faith.

Hebrews 11.6: Faith’s Object!

The Christian life is characterized by faith. For, without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11.6). The emphatic generalization (11.6) that faith is pleasing to God who rewards the seeker, corresponds with the two elements in the description of faith given in Hebrews 11.1. Anyone who comes to (lit. ‘draws near to’, as in Hebrews 4:16; 7:25; 10:22; 12:22) God must believe that he exists (be certain of what is not seen) and believe that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (trust that his promises will be fulfilled).

SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT (REMINISCERE)

Mathew 21:28–32; Hebrews 11:1f., 6, 8–10, 17–19

Faith is not, therefore, a standing, but a being suspended and hanging without ground under our feet. Or conversely, in faith we abandon whatever we might otherwise regard as our standing, namely, our standing upon ourselves (including all moral and religious, even Christian standing), because in faith we see that it is a false and unreal standing, a hanging without support, a wavering and falling. We abandon it for the real standing in which we no longer stand on ourselves (on our moral and religious, or even our Christian state), and in which we obviously do not stand on our faith as such but - now at least firmly and securely - on the ground of the truth of God and therefore on the ground of the reconciliation which has taken place in Jesus Christ and is confirmed by Him to all eternity.

Barth, K., Bromiley, G. W., & Torrance, T. F. (2004). Church dogmatics, Volume V: Index, with Aids for the Preacher (353). Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark.

Access & Assurance!

Let us draw near to God with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water (Heb. 10:22). For through Jesus we … have access by one Spirit unto the Father (Eph. 2:18). In deed we have boldness and access with confidence trough faith in Jesus (Eph. 3:12). So let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16).

Enjoy!

TreeChair!

In the picture below a man is standing by what looks like a chair-tree. Now, you know nothing else about the tree other than what you can infer from a visual inspection.

Multiple Choice:

1. The tree probably obtained this shape through chance.
2. The tree probably obtained this shape through mechanical necessity.
3. The tree probably obtained this shape through a combination of chance and mechanical necessity.
4. The tree probably obtained this shape as the result of the purposeful efforts of an intelligent agent.
5. Other.

Select your answer and give supporting reasons.

PS. Kudos to Uncommon Descent blog for this one!

PSS. Romans 1.20ff

Enjoy, ron

Heart Broken!

“Faith lives in a broken heart. ‘He cried out with tears, Lord, I believe.’ True faith is always in a heart bruised for sin. They, therefore, whose hearts were never touched for sin, have no faith. If a physician should tell us there was a herb that would help us against all infections, but it always grows in a watery place; if we should see a herb like it in color, leaf, smell, blossom, but growing upon a rock, we should conclude that it was the wrong herb. So saving faith always grows in a heart humbled for sin, in a weeping eye and a tearful conscience.” –Thomas Watson

PS. "God loves a broken heart, not a divided heart."

enjoy, ron

Dungy's Lord!

Getreligion.org’s dpulliam says: How do you tell a story that’s essentially been told over and over again? That is the trouble for reporters who are assigned to write about the release of a book by Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy who is as consistent as anyone when it comes to expressing the important things in his life.

You can’t have an interview or even a conversation with Dungy without recognizing that his personal faith in Jesus Christ is the most important thing to him…..

View article...

Enjoy, ron

Esau Sells Out!

Esau Sells his Birthright to Jacob

by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (1606 – 1669)

drawing with pen and brush ca. 1648/50 - British Museum, London

Want more: Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn biography.

This work is linked to Genesis 25:30

Below is an extract from Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (1678, public domain). With one exception (Bible), Pilgrim's Progress was considered the most important writing in English, for a century or two.

Note: HOPE: is Hopeful, Christian's companion, CHR: is Christian, the main character of this book, on his way from the City of Destruction to the Heavenly City and RON: is me (not found in actual text)!

HOPE: Why art thou so tart, my brother? Esau sold his birthright, and that for a mess of pottage, and that birthright was his greatest jewel; and if he, why might not Little-faith do so too? (Hebrews 12:16)

CHR: Esau did sell his birthright indeed, and so do many besides, and by so doing exclude themselves from the chief blessing, as also that caitiff did; but you must put a difference betwixt Esau and Little-faith, and also betwixt their estates. Esau's birthright was typical, but Little-faith's jewels were not so; Esau's belly was his god, but Little-faith's belly was not so; Esau's want lay in his fleshly appetite, Little-faith's did not so. Besides, Esau could see no further than to the fulfilling of his lusts; "Behold, I am at the point to die, (said he), and what profit shall this birthright do me?" [Genesis 25:32] But Little-faith, though it was his lot to have but a little faith, was by his little faith kept from such extravagances, and made to see and prize his jewels more than to sell them, as Esau did his birthright.

You read not anywhere that Esau had faith, no, not so much as a little; therefore, no marvel if, where the flesh only bears sway, (as it will in that man where no faith is to resist), if he sells his birthright, and his soul and all, and that to the devil of hell; for it is with such, as it is with the ass, who in her occasions cannot be turned away. [Jer. 2:24] When their minds are set upon their lusts, they will have them whatever they cost. But Little-faith was of another temper, his mind was on things divine; his livelihood was upon things that were spiritual, and from above; therefore, to what end should he that is of such a temper sell his jewels (had there been any that would have bought them) to fill his mind with empty things? Will a man give a penny to fill his belly with hay; or can you persuade the turtle-dove to live upon carrion like the crow? Though faithless ones can, for carnal lusts, pawn, or mortgage, or sell what they have, and themselves outright to boot; yet they that have faith, saving faith, though but a little of it, cannot do so. Here, therefore, my brother, is thy mistake.

RON: Little faith is enough if it is in Christ Jesus alone!

enjoy, ron

Faith, Race & Coach!

Let’s hear it for Tony Dungy! He knows the true relationship between faith and race. In rather timely fashion, it seems Tony has an implicit word or two to say with reference to African American History Month. As you can read below, Dungy challenges the idea that his race matters more than his faith. As quoted in the NYT:

“I tell you what, I’m proud to be representing African-American coaches, to be the first African-American coach to win this,” Dungy said. “It means an awful lot to our country. But again, more than anything, I said it before, Lovie Smith and I, not only the first two African-Americans, but Christian coaches showing you can win doing it the Lord’s way. We’re more proud of that.”

Note #1:“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (ESV, Matthew 6.33)

Note #2: Of course Tony is not the first or only Christian coach to have won the Super Bowl.

Note #3: At the rate things are going, it won’t be long before our great Nation will be celebrating a Christian American History Month.

Enjoy, ron