Josh King

Tolle Lege: Raised with Christ

Readability: 1

Length: 262

Raised with Christ is not just a good book about the resurrection, that is enough, but it is more. It is a good book about the resurrection applied to life, or, as the subtitle puts it, “How the Resurrection Changes Everything.”

You will not find any bare theologizing about the resurrection here, this glorious truth will be applied to all of life. This is a precious, central truth, the distinguishing truth of our faith. It should make a difference in our minds, hearts, and wills. This book works toward that end.

The church did not create the resurrection stories; instead the resurrection stories created the church.

Have you ever met a wise person who seems to say very few words? Some people use many words, of which we remember very few. Others will remain silent, perhaps even while watching a debate, saying nothing at all. Then when everyone else is finished, they may add a sentence that dramatically cuts through everything that has been said. The theme of resurrection in the Bible is a bit like that wise person. We read patiently through many other subjects, and then suddenly a single phrase interjects, illuminating everything and bringing a hope that goes beyond death itself.

The credit of Jesus’ righteousness is much larger than the debt of our sin. His account had more positive approval than the negative disapproval that was due to all of us. The debt was paid, and as a result, as a righteous man and the beloved Son of God, the Father was entirely just to raise him. Jesus had turned away God’s wrath, he had destroyed sin, our guilt could now be taken away, and we could be counted righteous. If the cross was Jesus’ payment for our sins, then the resurrection marked God’s acceptance of that payment.

The Sweet Dropper: Christ Not Glorified By Pieces

See thy nature abased in Christ, see thy nature glorified in Christ, see thy nature filled with all grace in Christ, and see this, that thou art knit to that nature, thou art flesh of Christ’s flesh, and bone of his bone, and thou shalt be so as he is. In that Christ’s nature was first abased, and then glorified, this nature shall first be abased to death and dust, and then be glorified. Christ died, ‘ and rose again,’ Rom. xiv. 9. Thou art predestinated to be conformable to Christ. For as his flesh was first humbled and then glorious, so thine must be first humble, and then glorious. His flesh was holy, humble, and glorious, and so must ours be. Whatsoever we look for in ourselves, that is good, we must see it in Christ first.

And when we hear in the gospel, in the articles of the creed, of Christ crucified, of Christ dying, of Christ rising, ascending, and sitting at the right hand of God; let us see ourselves in him, see ourselves dying in him, and rising in him, and sitting at the right hand of God. For the same God that raised Christ natural, will raise Christ mystical. He will raise whole Christ ; for he is not glorified by pieces. As whole Christ natural, in his body and members, was raised, so shall whole Christ mystical be. – Richard Sibbes, An Exposition of 2 Corinthians 1

Tolle Lege: The Christian Life

Readability: 1

Length: 201

Author: Sinclair Ferguson

New converts may often err by being overly fascinated with what to do now that they are a Christian, rather than thinking about what has been done to them first. Apparently we default into works even immediately after experiencing grace. Those who counsel these new converts are no help either. Sinclair Ferguson does not make this fault in The Christian Life. Here is a description life of the child of God that is unique; it is as the byline says “A Doctrinal Introduction.”

The bulk of this book deals with what has been done to us, and then turns briefly to what we then do as a result, which is really discussing God’s continuing salvation in us, finally, Ferguson turns what God will do. Here is an approach to the Christian life more concerned with God’s words and truth than our actions. This is not to say our actions are unimportant, rather it is to discover the grounds and power for Christian living. This leads to more Christian living, not less.

What then are the basic needs which are met in the message of the gospel?

(i) We need re-creation by Christ in order that the image of god, once distorted by sin, may be restored. (ii) We need deliverance from the dominion of sin in order that we may live freely for God. (iii) We need to be rescued from the power of Satan so that our lives may be given to Christ the Lord as his glad bondslaves. (iv) We need to be saved from the wrath of God so that, released from this most terrifying of all prospects, we may live the life of forgiven sinners.

We have neither claim nor right to his gracious summons, any more than the unformed mass of darkness and chaos in the primeval time could lay claim to the voice of God to bring light and form order.

The Sweet Dropper: Worship Is His Blessing to Us

The stream gives nothing to the fountain. The beam gives nothing to the sun, for it issues from the sun. Our very blessing of God is a blessing of his.

It is from his grace that we can praise his grace; and we run still into a new debt, when we have hearts enlarged to bless him.

We ought to have our hearts more enlarged, that we can be enlarged to praise God. – Richard Sibbes, An Exposition of 2 Corinthians 1

Tolle Lege: Get Outta My Face!

Readability: 1

Length: 171

Author: Rick Horne

If you are the parent of or work with angry, difficult teenagers I highly commend Rick Horne’s Get Outta My Face! Biblical wisdom and practical experience combine to make this a most useful and God-glorifying resource. Here is how Horne opens the book:

Here’s a fact.

Angry, unmotivated, and disinterested teens, whether Christian or not, are confused, insecure, and often blind to everything except what they want right now. Their desires and actions have been corrupted and polluted by sin. That’s why they have a problem.

Here’s another fact.

Angry, unmotivated, and disinterested teens, whether Christian or not, are made in the image of God. This means that beneath their corrupted desires and actions the image of God remains. That’s the key to solving their problem.

Far from dismissing or sugar-coating sin, this approach opens wide the door to evangelizing the unsaved teen and to helping the Christian teen grow in holiness and wisdom. This book will teach you how to build a bridge to young adults on the basis of the ways in which their desires and actions reflect the image of God and the blessing of common grace.

The Sweet Dropper: Against Transubstantiation, for Ascension

The sun doth more good being in heaven, than he could do if he were on the earth. If the sun were lower, what would become of the earth? But being so remote, and so far above, he hath opportunity to shine over the greatest part of the earth at once; being greater than the earth, he shineth over more than half the earth at once. Christ being in heaven, as the ‘Sun of righteousness,’ he shines more gloriously over all; and we have more comfort, and benefit, and influence from Christ, now in heaven, than we could if he were on earth. –Richard Sibbes in The Fountain Opened

Easter Preparation, Easter Joy

Alex: “Connor, this is a tomb (building with Lincoln Logs). After Jesus died they took him off the cross and put Him in a tomb. And then what happened?

Connor: “Back alive!”

Alex: “Connor, good job! Give me high five.”

[Review] Hipster Christianity

Readability: 1

Length: 247

Author: Brett McCracken

Can cool and Christianity survive together? Brett McCracken does an excellent job answering this question in Hipster Christianity. First after giving us a definition of cool McCracken does an excellent job of journalism in tracking the origins and development of cool. Then McCracken turns to consider the sad history of Christian cool. While this initial work was fascinating in many way I most enjoyed McCracken’s theological analysis of the marrying of cool and Christianity, that is after all why he laid such extensive groundwork. For those who are annoyed or confused by the first two sections you really must read all the way through. In the end McCracken basically says that such a marriage is unholy, but then goes on to give a very nuanced explanation of how they can coexist.

Let’s think for a minute about what Christianity is and why it doesn’t make a good “product.” For one thing, products must be subject to markets, yet God is not subject to the consumer needs or wants of any market. God only and ever deals on his own terms. His grace comes from within him and is bestowed on us as he pleases. It doesn’t come when we are ready for it or when we long for it. We struggle to fathom something that can’t be purchased “on demand” in this day and age, but Christianity is one such thing. God saves at his discretion and on his watch.

Another reason why Christianity doesn’t make a good product is that it doesn’t lend itself to an easy commercial sale. Sure, there are appealing things about it, but there are also not-so-appealing things about it (um… taking up one’s cross, avoiding sin and worldliness, etc.). And although the Gospel is wonderfully simple in the sense that even a child can recognize its truth, it is also mind-blowingly complex in a way that doesn’t lend itself to thirty-second jingles. Marketing requires simplifying, cutting out all friction and obstacles to a sale, and focusing solely on the beneficial, feel-good aspects of a product. To market something is to empty it of all potentially controversial or difficult elements, which is maybe not the best method of communicating the gospel…

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=glo-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0801072220&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr

The Sweet Dropper: His Abasement, Our Advancement

Was our nature advanced in his incarnation? Much more was it glorified in his exaltation, when he carried it to heaven with him. Here was the mystery of the exaltation of our nature. God was as much abased as he could be, being born and dying for us. Our human nature was as much advanced as it could be, when God raised it up to heaven. God could be no more abased, remaining God; and man’s nature can be no more advanced, remaining the true nature of man. This is a ‘great mystery,’ the advancement of our nature in Christ, that was made ‘lower than the angels ;’ he was ‘a worm, and no man.’ Now our nature in Christ is advanced above the angels. Now this nature of ours in Christ, it is next to the nature of God in dignity; here is a mystery. –Richard Sibbes in The Fountain Opened

The Sweet Dropper: Christ the Jewel of the Ring of Faith

How is Christ to be believed on?

1. We must rest upon no other thing, either in ourselves or out of ourselves, but Christ only.… They dishonour Christ to join anything in the world with him….

2. And whole Christ must be received. ‘Believing’ is nothing but a taking or receiving of Christ as a Lord and as a Saviour; as a priest, to redeem us by his blood; and Christ as a king, to govern us. We must take whole Christ. We see what manner of faith is in most men, that snatch out of Christ what they list, to serve their own turn. As he died for their sins, so they are glad of him; but as he is a lord and king to rule and govern them, so they will have none of him… But Christ, as we must rest and rely on him only, so we must receive him and believe on him wholly.

Now faith looks upon Christ as the main object of it, as it justifieth. The same faith it looks upon the whole word of God as a divine truth revealed; but for the main work of it, it looks upon Christ. Christ is the jewel that this ring of faith doth enclose; and as the ring hath the value from the jewel, so hath faith from Christ. In the main point of justification and comfort, faith lays hold upon Christ for mercy; for the distressed afflicted soul it looks first of all to comfort, and peace, and reconciliation; therefore it looks first to him that wrought it – that is, Christ. Now, the same faith that doth this, it believes all divine truths, the threatenings, and precepts, &c. Faith chooseth not its object to believe what it lists, but it carries the soul to all divine truths revealed. But when we speak of justifying faith, then Christ, and the promises, and the mercy of God in Christ, is the first thing that the soul looks unto. –Richard Sibbes in The Fountain Opened