Carl Trueman Is Not Humble, but At Least He Knows It

Carl Trueman Is Not Humble, but At Least He Knows It

I am a man divided against myself; I want to be the centre of attention because I am a fallen human being; I want others to know that I am the special one; and as long as the new me and the old me are bound together in a single, somatic unity, I will forever be at war with myself.

What I can do, however, is have the decency to be ashamed of my drive to self-promotion and my craving for attention and for flattery and not indulge it as if it were actually a virtue or a true guide to my real merit.

I am not humble, so I should not pretend to be so but rather confess it in private, seeking forgiveness and sanctification.

And, negatively, I must avoid doing certain things.

I must not proudly announce my humility on the internet so that all can gasp in wonder at my self-effacement.

I must make sure I never refer to myself as a scholar.

I must not tell people how wonderful I am.

I must resist the temptation to laugh at my own jokes.

I must not applaud my own speeches.

I must deny myself the pleasure of posting other people’s overblown flattery of me on my own website, let alone writing such about myself.

I must never make myself big by clinging to the coat-tails of another.

In short, I must never take myself too seriously.

You can read the whole thing at Reformation21.

(Via Justin Taylor.)

Important words from John MacArthur

A Colossal Fraud :: Grace to You

How many manifestos and written declarations of solidarity have evangelicals issued condemning abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, and other social evils? It’s fine, and fairly easy, to oppose wickedness and injustice in secular society, but where is the corresponding moral outrage against these religious mountebanks who openly, brashly pervert the gospel for profit 24 hours a day, seven days a week on international television?

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They don’t build’em like they used to, and that’s a good thing.

YouTube – 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air Vs. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu IIHS Offset

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With “The Lost Symbol,” his “Da Vinci” follow-up, Brown spins a wild Freemason conspiracy — then never solves it. “…no one has ever gone broke telling Americans that they can have whatever they want if they only think sufficiently happy thoughts.”

For the sake of life lose the reasons for living

“Besides, while Christ avoided dangers, he did not turn aside a hairsbreadth from the course of duty; for to what purpose would life be maintained and defended, but that we may serve the Lord? We ought always to take care, therefore, that we do not, for the sake of life, lose the reasons for living.”

John Calvin on John 7:1

Shorter Catechism Qs 91-93

Q. 91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?
A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them.

Q. 92. What is a sacrament?
A. A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.

Q. 93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament?
A. The sacraments of the New Testaments are, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.

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“Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”” (Matthew 26:26–29 ESV)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:19–20 ESV)

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The word “sacrament” basically means “holy things.” But the word takes a more defined and nuanced meaning in the context of our Christian faith. The sacraments are the outward and visible representations of the internal and invisible work of God’s grace. The two sacraments (they are sacraments because the Lord Jesus himself commanded them to be practiced perpetually) are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These two things are effectual means of salvation in that, and only in so far as, they point us beyond the thing itself to the saving love of God accomplished in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is received by faith alone. The power is not in the sacraments, but in Jesus working through his Spirit. Neither do we receive any benefit from them unless we receive in faith. The sacraments are not effectual means of salvation if by that we mean the naked, physical acts of receiving them save us from God’s judgment or convey any spiritual blessings to us. Sacraments are effectual means of salvation not by their own power or the power of the one performing them, but by what is meant by them: Christ and faith in him.

We can also think of the sacraments as an effectual means of salvation if we view salvation as the total process begun with our conversion and finished when we are delivered or “saved” out of this fallen world. If we think of salvation not just as the beginning of our Christian faith but the whole experience that includes the beginning, the middle, and the end, we can see the many ways the sacraments convey essential spiritual blessings we need for our life on this side of heaven. Of course, when we are in heaven there will be no more sacraments. Who needs symbols when you have the real thing? Who needs a foretaste of the glories to come when the glory has come in full? Heaven has no room for signs and symbols, because heaven only has the real things. So it helps to think of the sacraments as the spiritual provision God gives to sojourners in this world.

In that regard, the two sacraments of baptism and Lord’s Supper work a little differently and mean somewhat different things. DV, in the weeks to come we will see how they work and what exactly they mean. In the mean time, there are obvious ways to benefit from the sacraments. For example, as believers we should remind ourselves of our baptism. If when we are faced with temptation, and then call to mind how we have been baptized and called into Christ’s gracious kingdom, then we will see with a little more clarity the true nature of sin, which crucified our dear Lord, and the gracious and redeeming love of our Savior. Of course, we don’t typically make much of our baptism the way we may make much of our political leanings, artistic preferences, etc. But we need to make much of our baptism, and make much of sin’s nature and Christ’s love.

We can benefit from the Lord’s Supper as well. We should really be surprised why something Jesus himself has commanded is not obeyed frequently, and how we have replaced Christ’s commands with traditions of man. The Lord’s Supper should be practiced far more frequently than is the case in many churches today.

And as often as we receive the Supper we need to remember we are receiving but a foretaste of heaven, and look forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The Supper should shake our priorities straight every time we receive it. We live not for this age, but for the age to come. In the mean time, Christ never turns away from his table the weakest believer. All struggling believers who come with faith and repentance are welcome. The only price of admission is your empty hands. Receive the bread and the cup rejoicing in the richness of God’s mercy. The weary and hard-pressed always have a seat at the table of Christ’s body and blood.

Shorter Catechism Qs 88-90

Q. 88. What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?

A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption are, his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.

Q. 89. How is the Word made effectual to salvation?

A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.

Q. 90. How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?

A. That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

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Simon Peter answered [Jesus], “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16)

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Our God is a giving God. He supplies us everything we need to fulfill his commandments. Of course, this is the heart of the gospel. He gave us Jesus Christ, whose active obedience (perfect obedience to God’s Law) is imputed to us as our righteousness. Thus the righteousness that God demands from us is supplied to us freely through Jesus Christ. In fact, we never really understand God unless we know him as a God who gives everything we need: righteousness for eternal life, and strength for the present life.

Our heavenly Father’s giving heart is no where more clearly seen in the ordinances he has given us. Chief among the many gifts he gave us are the Word, sacraments, and prayer. It is a little bit unfortunate to call them “ordinances,” because to us the word “ordinance” has somewhat of a restrictive connotation. After all, when was the last time an ordinance (e.g. civic ordinance) filled us with joy?

But not so with God’s ordinances. God instituted especially three things and ordered them to be the means by which we receive strength for our daily life. “Ordinary means of grace” in this sense does not mean “not special,” but shares the basic meaning of “ordinance,” which is something decreed by God.

The three things God has ordained (this word also shares the same basic meaning) for such use are the Word, sacraments, and prayer. In the weeks to come we will discuss the sacraments and prayer. For now we focus on God’s Word.

One of the greatest blessings we enjoy is the easy access we have to God’s Word. It was not always so. In times past, as well as many places in the world today, people simply did not have access to God’s Word. Sometimes people were forbidden, as is the case still today in some places. Sometimes God’s Word was simply not available because they were not translated into common languages (again, this is still the case today in many places). But a typical English speaker today has no lack of access to the Bible. Local libraries stock them without an exception. We can read it for free online. There are people who give away Bibles for free!

If so, we certainly need to recognize God’s kindness to us in making his Word so readily available to us. And not squandering the gift or the opportunity, apply ourselves to study God’s Word. By the way, you do know that studying God’s Word is actually good for you, don’t you? God’s Word is the means by which he communicates to us the benefits of redemption!

So, then, how should we read and hear God’s Word?

First, with diligence, preparation, and prayer. God gave us his Word because he wants us to learn. That means the essential meaning of God’s Word is not beyond our grasp. Yet we need to apply our due diligence to study. In the same way we encourage our children to apply themselves to practice and study their school subjects, we need to remind ourselves to do the same. There are, indeed, some things in the Bible that are difficult, and by God’s providence not everyone reaches the same level of understanding. In those matters we need to be humble. Just because we don’t understand something in the Bible does not mean the authority shifts from the Word to us. Be humble, stand firm on what you do know, and with prayer and humility seek to understand better.

Second, we read and hear with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives. It means we read and hear God’s Word not only with our minds to gather information, but also with our heart. Love the One who speaks in the Word. Obey the One who speaks in the Word. Only when both our mind and heart are engaged do we experience the power of God’s Word to give us understanding, life, and joy.

Here are some practical questions. Are you joyful in the Lord? If you are not, there may be a number of reasons. But we should certainly examine how we read and hear God’s Word. Is it with gratitude you read and hear? Is it with humility? Do you listen to find fault in others? Listen rather to gain a better understanding of what you are without Christ, and what you are in Christ.

Shorter Catechism Qs 82-84

Q. 82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?
A. No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.

Q. 83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?
A. Some sins in themselves, and by reasons of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.

Q. 84. What doth every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.

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Shorter Catechism Qs 79-81

79. Q. Which is the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.

80. Q. What is required in the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbor, and all that is his.

81. Q. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbor, and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.

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Shorter Catechism Qs 76-78

Q. 76. Which is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Q. 77. What is required in the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own and our neighbor’s good name, especially in witness bearing.

Q. 78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own, or our neighbor’s, good name.

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