Counting the Cost, Scene 4

By James Boice
Theme: Considering the Cost
 
This week’s lessons show the price that must be paid to follow Christ, as well as the blessings that come when we do.
 
Scripture: Luke 14:25-35
 
It is not hard to be an outward Christian. A person can go to church once or twice on Sunday and pretend to be tolerably upright during the week. There is no self-denial, no sacrifice here.
It is not hard to be an outward Christian. A person can go to church once or twice on Sunday and pretend to be tolerably upright during the week. There is no self-denial, no sacrifice here. If this kind of mere outward Christianity is all it takes to gain heaven, then, as Ryle suggests, we must alter our Lord’s words to read: “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to heaven” (Matthew 7:13, emphasis added). We must imagine Jesus saying to the rich young man: “You lack nothing. Keep what you have, and you shall have treasure in heaven too.” We must suppose Him to be teaching, “You can serve God and Money.” 
 

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Counting the Cost, Scene 3

By James Boice
Theme: Implications for Sola Fide and Sola Gratia
 
This week’s lessons show the price that must be paid to follow Christ, as well as the blessings that come when we do.
 
Scripture: Luke 14:25-35
 
Yesterday we looked at sola Scriptura.  Today we look at sola fide and sola gratia.
 
2. Sola fide. The second great distinctive is sola fide.
 
Yesterday we looked at sola Scriptura.  Today we look at sola fide and sola gratia.
 
2. Sola fide. The second great distinctive is sola fide. It teaches that salvation is by the work of Christ received through faith alone. It is to protect this truth particularly that some teachers repudiate any thought of cost in obtaining salvation. But saving faith is not mere intellectual belief, as we have seen several times already. It is a living union with Christ, who is both Savior and Lord. It involves commitment to Him. No one can be a follower of Jesus who clings to lesser loyalties.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Once more unto the breach... and then no more: A final reply to Dr. Grudem

Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 by Carl Trueman on Postcards from Palookaville

My final comment on Dr. Grudem's latest response to Liam Goligher and myself.

I do not have the time to respond to all of Dr. Grudem’s Ref21 post.  His use of the sources is critiqued in detail elsewhere.  But as I am named in his piece, some remarks are in order.

 

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Counting the Cost, Scene 2

By James Boice
Theme: Implications for Sola Scriptura 
 
This week’s lessons show the price that must be paid to follow Christ, as well as the blessings that come when we do.
 
Scripture: Luke 14:25-35
 
Jesus also said many specific things about the cost of salvation. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?

Jesus also said many specific things about the cost of salvation. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or supposing a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:28–33). 

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

A Letter to Professors Grudem and Ware

Posted on Monday, June 20, 2016 by Aimee Byrd on Housewife Theologian

Might you be willing to import your speech about God into the pactum rather than place it in God in se?

I am pleased to share another guest post from Liam Goligher, with a request where maybe we could move forward:
 
Professors Ware and Grudem,
 
Thank you for your quick, gracious and clear responses to my recent posts. I have no desire to cause either of you hurt or harm, and grieve that you have felt I did.

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Mortification of Spin is a casual conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Mortification of Spin and the mission of the Alliance.

Counting the Cost, Scene 1

By James Boice
Theme: What Is the Cost?
 
This week’s lessons show the price that must be paid to follow Christ, as well as the blessings that come when we do.
 
Scripture: Luke 14:25-35
 
I was talking with a distinguished doctor who was commenting on missionary practices in his area of the world. According to him, there is much valuable work being done, and the people doing it are certainly earnest and dedicated believers. But there is one thing lacking.

I was talking with a distinguished doctor who was commenting on missionary practices in his area of the world. According to him, there is much valuable work being done, and the people doing it are certainly earnest and dedicated believers. But there is one thing lacking. “We want so much to win the people to Christ,” he said, “that we are watering down the gospel to the point where believing in Christ hardly means anything. There is no repentance, no change of life. It is easy to become Christ’s follower.” I was interested in this man’s opinion, because, as I assured him, the same thing is true of much “gospel preaching” here.

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

My Husband is a Total Idiot

Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2016 by Aimee Byrd on Housewife Theologian

A Father's Day tribute to my husband. Happy Idiot's Day, Babe.

Seriously. I mean that in an endearing way. In fact, I hope I’m an idiot, and I think we need a lot more idiots in the church. So does Ted Kluck.
 
I hosted my book review club this Monday evening at my house. This is where we all read whatever book we want and come together to review it. It doesn’t have to be a Christian book, but it has turned out that all of us who attend are believers. So as we give our reviews everyone uses their gospel filter to analyze.

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What Would Jesus Buy?

by Nick Batzig • June 17, 2016

When we think of Jesus, we dont tend to think of Him as One who had many possessions. After all, the Scriptures are clear that "though He was rich, yet for our sakes, He became poor that we through His poverity might become rich" (2 Cor. 8:9). At His own admission, we know that the Savior was homeless--His earthly ministry depended, in part, on the financial support of certain disciples and friends (Luke 8:3; 10:38). Nevertheless, the Scriptures also have much to tell us about what sort of things Jesus purchased. 

When we think of Jesus, we dont tend to think of Him as One who had many possessions. After all, the Scriptures are clear that "though He was rich, yet for our sakes, He became poor that we through His poverity might become rich" (2 Cor. 8:9). At His own admission, we know that the Savior was homeless--His earthly ministry depended, in part, on the financial support of certain disciples and friends (Luke 8:3; 10:38). Nevertheless, the Scriptures also have much to tell us about what sort of things Jesus purchased. 

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"But Is He with Us?" Section 5

By James Boice
Theme: Are They with Us?
 
This week’s lessons remind us of the need to show unity in the gospel with other believers, including those who are different from us.
 
Scripture: Mark 9:33-40
 
Yesterday we looked at the first three varieties within the church. Today we look at the last two.
 
4. There is a variety of methods. When I wrote of “styles” a moment ago I was approaching this area.
Yesterday we looked at the first three varieties within the church. Today we look at the last two.
 
4. There is a variety of methods. When I wrote of “styles” a moment ago I was approaching this area. But style is more an individual thing; method is organizational. When we speak of methods we are speaking of the difference between those who prefer to work within an institution to change it and those who prefer to work outside, between those who prefer direct confrontation and those who try to win by tact and persuasion, between those who work one-on-one and those who prefer to mount national campaigns. 

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance.

Why I Am Not Mortified

Posted on Thursday, June 16, 2016 by Todd Pruitt on 1517

Doctrinal controvery is necessary, not evil. 

John Stevens has posted an article expressing dismay over the current debate concerning the doctrine of the Trinity. I do not know John Stevens. I’m sure he’s a fine fellow. But there is more wrong with his post than I possibly have time to critique. My response then will be fairly narrow. 
 
In his post Stevens asks the question, “Why now?” But of course the concerns raised on Mortification of Spin are nothing new.

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