From WWUTT: Shocking Admission by a Catholic Priest

Brad Klassen: Grace, Our Tutor

Book Review: The Many Faces of Evil by John S. Feinberg

There are many in the world that wonder about why is there evil in it if we have a good God. The problem of evil has become a stumbling block for many to accept the claims of Christianity. There are some Christians that cannot grasp the concept of evil. Most of it is not their fault. There are a lot of churches that are unequipped to tackle this issue. 

John S. Feinberg's book, The Many of Faces of Evil, addresses the theological and practical issue of evil in the world as well as the theological systems on the subject. The book is very academic and might be a tough read for some, but it is worth to have on your shelf or your e-reader as a tool to help yourself and others in understanding the problem of evil.

After giving an introduction to the book, Feinberg addresses the logical problem of evil by looking at it from different viewpoints. He addresses how theonomy looks at the problem of evil along with the free will defense, and how God view natural and moral evil.

Next, Feinberg the evidence regarding the problem of evil. A lot of people have an issue with why God has not removed evil from the world. It's not because God is a wimp, but He does use evil, not as the author of it, to accomplish His will. We may not understand it, but it does happen. If there evil in the world, that means there must be some ultimate good in it as well. Feinberg goes on to address the doctrine of hell and the religious problem of evil along how suffering is in the world.

As I mentioned earlier, this book is very academic and can be a tough read. This book is worth your time whether you read as in one setting or in bits and pieces from time to time. Theologians and pastors should have this book in their library.

I received this book from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.

A Documentary on William Tyndale

Book Review: Resting in Sovereign Grace by Joshua Banks

Many believers struggle with assurance. Many doubt their salvation for various reasons. It could be a certain sin they are struggling with and cannot seem to get under control. For others it is comparing themselves to other believers and how they are growing in their walk with Christ.

In his book, Resting In Sovereign Grace: How To Have Assurance of Salvation, Joshua Banks gives readers a look into how a believer can truly know they are saved. First, Banks reminds his readers that there is still some corruption within us. We are still in this body of the flesh tainted by sin and still wrestle with it on a day-to-day basis. No believer in Christ is immune to this. 

Next, Banks guides his readers into seeing how we can rest in the grace of God as we call out to Him in prayer. We can cling to the righteousness of Christ as we fight sin. He then reminds the reader that our righteousness is from one who fulfilled the law on our behalf then died on the cross on behalf. 

Because of the righteousness of Christ, we are justified before God. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, which Banks does go over in this book. As we rest in the salvation of Christ, God is working in us by His Spirit. We see the evidence of this work in the Fruit of Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and being in the good works which God has prepared beforehand (Ephesians 2:10). 

Banks concludes saying that we have been given a new identity in Christ. We were people who did not obey God, now we do. Perfectly? No. God's grace is still on us even on our worse days. We can strive to live a holy life before God and rest in Christ knowing that no one, not even ourselves, can snatch us for the Father's hand. 

There has been many confusing books and sermons on assurance. I am grateful for this book because it is backed by the Bible and written with clarity on a subject that should not be difficult. Thankfully, this book will not lead you into antinomianism but into holiness and rest in the assurance we have that Christ has saved us.

I received this book from G3 Press in exchange for an honest review.

There is Still Much to Be Done

As we celebrate the 508th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, we should not be unaware that the work of the Reformation has not been completed. Many of you are probably wondering how so.

Let's be honest. There is still so much confusion on what doctrines are biblical and what are not. The body of Christ still links up with false teachers without regarding the damage they can and have caused. The church is confused on what is a gospel issue and what is not. The church sings songs that are self-centered rather than those that glorify God and make much of Jesus.

The church has failed to distinguish the difference between Christianity and false religions. There are many in our churches that have a poor idea on what the gospel is. Some have drifted away to join false religions such as Roman Catholicism and Mormonism. 

We are not marking and avoiding those who are causing division in the church. We are not marking and avoiding those who will lead people astray. Wolves are in our churches and some of them are behind the pulpit. 

There is still much work to be done after 508 years later.  Pray for the church as we strive to be the body of Christ that honors the Lord in this world. 

From Todd Friel: It’s Time to Take a Stand Against Catholicism’s Push for Unity

Justin Peters and Mike Gendron Discuss the Catholic Church's Pope Problem

A Discussion of the Fall of the Catholic Church with Todd Friel and Nathan Busenitz

The Bible Alone

The Bible alone gives us true views of God. By nature man knows nothing clearly or fully about Him. All his conceptions of Him are low, groveling, and debased. What could be more degraded than the gods of the Canaanites and Egyptians, of Babylon, of Greece, and of Rome?

What can be viler than the gods of the Hindus and other heathen in our own time? By the Bible we know that God hates sin. The destruction of the old world by the flood; the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah; the drowning of Pharaoh and the Egyptians in the Red Sea; the cutting off the nations of Canaan; the overthrow of Jerusalem and the temple; the scattering of the Jews—all these are unmistakable witnesses.

By the Bible we know that God loves sinners. His gracious promise in the day of Adam's fall, His long-suffering in the time of Noah, His deliverance of Israel out of the land of Egypt, His gift of the law at Mount Sinai, His bringing the tribes into the promised land, His forbearance in the days of the judges and kings, His repeated warnings by the mouth of His prophets, His restoration of Israel after the Babylonian captivity, His sending His Son into the world in due time to be crucified, His commanding the gospel to be preached to the Gentiles-all these are speaking facts. The Bible alone explains the state of things that we see in the world around us. There are many things on earth that a natural person cannot explain.

The amazing inequality of conditions, the poverty and distress, the oppression and persecution, the shakings and tumults, the failures of statesmen and legislators, the constant existence of uncured evils and abuses—all these things are often puzzling to him or her. One sees but does not understand. But the Bible makes it all clear that there is a good time certainly coming, and coming perhaps sooner than people expect it—a time of perfect knowledge, perfect justice, perfect happiness, and perfect peace!

Adapted from Our Great Redeemer: 365 Days with J. C. Ryle

Jim Osman: Four Reformation Gospel Truths

Justin Peters on the Ruinous Ruse of Rome

Jon Harris and Megan Basham Debunk the Third Way from Tim Keller

Michael Reeves: The Distinctive Marks of Puritanism

Concerning Mark Driscoll

Mark Driscoll is making the news again. This time he is being featured as a replacement from Voddie Baucham for an upcoming conference and is now being platformed by Turning Point USA Faith. Mark Driscoll is no stranger to controversy which the effects of his ministry are still felt to this day. I know I have benefitted from some of his teaching and have even review a couple of his books.

Why did Driscoll leave a church that he founded, Mars Hill Church, and what are the concerns regarding him? These two videos, I hope will shed some light into the controversy surrounding Driscoll. The first is from Gabrelle Hughes as he shows us why Driscoll resigned from Mars Hill in Mark's own words. The second video is from Justin Peters who shows us why Driscoll must be marked and avoided.

 

The John 1 Trinity Debate: James White vs. Dale Tuggy

This debate features James White and Dale Tuggy discussing if John 1 is a trinitarian passage:

Robert Godfrey on the Necessity of the Reformation

The church is always in need of reform. Even in the New Testament, we see Jesus rebuking Peter, and we see Paul correcting the Corinthians. Since Christians are always sinners, the church will always need reform. The question for us, however, is when does the need become an absolute necessity?

The great Reformers of the sixteenth century concluded that reform was urgent and necessary in their day. In pursuing reform for the church, they rejected two extremes. On the one hand, they rejected those who insisted that the church was essentially sound and needed no fundamental changes. On the other hand, they rejected those who believed that they could create a perfect church in every detail. The church needed fundamental reform, but it would also always need to be reforming itself. The Reformers reached these conclusions from their study of the Bible.

In 1543, the Reformer of Strasbourg, Martin Bucer, asked John Calvin to write a defense of the Reformation for presentation to Emperor Charles V at the imperial diet set to meet at Speyer in 1544. Bucer knew that the Roman Catholic emperor was surrounded by counselors who were maligning reform efforts in the church, and he believed that Calvin was the most capable minister to defend the Protestant cause.

Calvin rose to the challenge and wrote one of his best works, “The Necessity of Reforming the Church.” This substantial treatise did not convince the emperor, but it has come to be regarded by many as the best presentation of the Reformed cause ever written.

Calvin begins by observing that everyone agreed that the church had “diseases both numerous and grievous.” Calvin argues that matters were so serious that Christians could not abide a “longer delay” for reform or wait for “slow remedies.” He rejects the contention that the Reformers were guilty of “rash and impious innovation.” Rather, he insists that “God raised up Luther and others” to preserve “the truth of our religion.” Calvin saw that the foundations of Christianity were threatened and that only biblical truth would renew the church.

Read the entire post here.

Scott Aniol on How Christians Should View Modern Israel

Enthusiasm for the Person of Jesus

The love of the believer for the Lord Jesus is intensely personal and enthusiastic. It rises above all other affections. His love, his sufferings, his perfections, and his glories fill the heart and set it on fire. There is more force in the love of an actual living person than in acceptance of any set of doctrines however important they may be. The courage of a leader has often produced daring deeds which no philosophy could have demanded. Our glorious leader, Christ Jesus, inspires his followers with a burning passion, an all-consuming zeal, and an irrepressible enthusiasm which supplies all the energy that the noblest life can need. It is no small aid to our noblest ambition to have our hearts captured by incarnate holiness.

Adapted from Honest Faith by Charles Spurgeon

Tony Wood: How To Find the Will of God for My Life?