Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The Cross of Christ

“As to the object of your affections, in an especial manner, let it be the cross of Christ, which has exceeding efficacy towards the disappointment of the whole work of indwelling sin: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Gal. 6:14). The cross of Christ he [Paul] gloried and rejoiced in; this his heart was set upon; and these were the effects of it—it crucified the world unto him, made it a dead and undesirable thing. The baits and pleasures of sin are taken all of them out of the world. . . . If the heart be filled with the cross of Christ, it casts death and undesirableness upon them all; it leaves no seeming beauty, no appearing pleasure or comeliness, in them. Again, says he, “It crucifies me to the world; makes my heart, my affections, my desires, dead unto any of these things.” It roots up corrupt lusts and affections, leaves no principle to go forth and make provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Labor, therefore, to fill your hearts with the cross of Christ . . . that there may be no room for sin.”

-John Owen, On Indwelling Sin in Believers

Monday, June 20, 2011

Work like an Armenian, Sleep like a Calvinist?

I don’t get it..why can only Calvinists “sleep well”?  I don’t know whether I’m Calvinist or Armenian..all I know is that I can rest fully in Christ.  I am saved by grace through faith, not of myself, but in Christ alone.  I can boast only in Christ.  He is my rock and my salvation.  Salvation comes from the Lord.  The gospel of Christ bought our justification, reconciliation, sanctification and so much more.  I am free from sin, and rest in knowing that He who started a good work in me will finish it. 

“And so I submit for your consideration that we live and sleep simply as Christians. We should work hard without reservation and we can sleep well knowing God is sovereign.” – from http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2010/04/work-like-an-arminian-sleep-like-a-calvinist/

If Christians can say that we can’t explain the Trinity because we can’t understand God with our limited minds, then why do we need to try to explain Calvinism and Armenianism?