Brad Klassen: The Practice of Bible Study, Part 4

Brad Klassen: The Principles of Bible Study, Part 3

Brad Klassen: The Principles of Bible Study, Part 2

Brad Klassen: The Prerequisites of Bible Study

Book Review: The Character of the True Christian by Paulo Junior

The Sermon on the Mount is perhaps the most famous sermon ever preached. Jesus's words have been studied throughout the centuries especially in Matthew 5:3-12 which are called the Beatitudes, which Paulo Junior takes a deeper look at in his book, The Character of the True Christian.

The book begins with Junior taking a historical look at the Sermon on the Mount followed by proper understanding into what is a beatitude. Junior states the Beatitudes gives us what is the character of those who truly follow Jesus.

The remainder of the book is Junior's commentary, though this book is not technically a commentary on the Beatitudes, which are:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

 

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 

Blessed are the lowly, for they shall inherit the earth. 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 

 

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 

 

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

 

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Junior does a great job explaining each one and how these are characteristics of those who follow Christ. He writes as one who discipling his readers into a better understand of what Jesus was saying. 

As stated earlier, this book is not a commentary, but I am delighted in recommending this one for personal study and even small group reading.

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

What were the Traditions Mention in 2 Thessalonians 2:15?

In 2 Thessalonians 2, the Apostle Paul is addressing the coming Man of Lawlessness to a church that believes the return of Christ could be at any moment. Now who exactly is this Man of Lawlessness is subject for another time but the point that is being addressed is Paul giving the church a warning that this was coming. Another thing that was coming would be people believing in falsehood due to this Man of Lawlessness.

At the end of chapter 2, Paul said:

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, LSB).

Paul tells the Thessalonian church that were loved by God, chosen by Him to obtain salvation, and to stand firm to the traditions they were taught. What are these traditions Paul is referring to? One of the authorities the Roman Catholic church believe they have is traditions passed down by the church fathers. That is not what Paul is saying in 2 Thessalonians 2:15.

The tradition Paul is, as Matthew Henry said, "the doctrine of the gospel, which had been delivered by the apostle, by word or epistle." It is sound doctrine that Paul is saying are the traditions under the Apostolic authority. The Thessalonian church was not the first to receive a command similar to this one:

Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you (1 Corinthians 11:2).

Hold to the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:13).

The same is true for us as we have God's inspired Word as we walk with Jesus in a world that has rejected him:

But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were given over (Romans 6:17). 

And we have as more sure the prophetic word, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts (2 Peter 1:19).

The Bible gives us the "traditions" we need. Man made traditions can be good depending on what they are but the traditions the Apostle Paul mentioned was one of sound doctrine not anything that was man made. 

Book Review: How to Read & Understand the Psalms by Bruce Waltke and Fred Zaspel

The book of Psalms is the most read and quoted book of the Old Testament. The Psalms have also been put into music more than any other book in the Bible as I have mentioned in a previous review. 

The Psalms are written with different types of emotions. Some are rejoicing while others are lamenting over the writer's current circumstance. Many times, when one reads the Psalms, you will notice they are not in context as a historical narrative like most of the Old Testament books. For some, it can be confusing as to what kind of Psalm I am reading. 

Bruce Waltke and Fred Zaspel have written a book to assist believers, whether new or seasoned, in understanding the Psalms titled, How to Read & Understand the Psalms. This book begins with a basic introduction to the Psalms as well as the different types of Psalms. The next few chapters address studying the Psalms whether for a sermon or personal Bible study. 

Waltke and Zaspel even address the genre of the Psalms which is Hebrew poetry. Now I know for a lot of people when they hear the word, poetry, they tend to think of a passage that rhymes with words, which is not the case for Hebrew poetry. The rest of the book, which is nearly over half of it, address the different types of Psalms, what they are, and which Psalms they are in the Bible. 

This book will be a great benefit to new believers who are reading and studying the Psalms for the first time. This will also be a good study aid to pastors as they lead their congregation through the Psalms.

I received this book from Crossway in exchange for a review.

When We Understand The Text (WWUTT) on Romans 13:1-7

Last Week, Gabriel Hughes, the host of When We Understand The Text(WWUTT), during his study of the book of Romans took a look at Romans 13:1-7, which as been used and abused by many evangelical leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bible says:

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (ESV)

Does this passage justify believers to submit to the government when they told us not to gather or sing? Hughes deals with the passage expositionally in the first two episodes and dives into application in the last episode: 

Submit to the Governing Authorities (Romans 13:1-4)

Be Subject for the Sake of Conscience (Romans 13:5-7)

Does Romans 13 Mean Close Your Church if the Government Says So (Romans 13:1-7)

R.C. Sproul: How To Study The Bible

Tom Nettles on Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).

1. “Created in Christ Jesus” – It is both in Christ Jesus and for Christ Jesus that the creation wrought by the new birth finds its power and is sustained for its ultimate goal. The Spirit may be sent into our hearts, for Christ has removed from us the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13; 4:4-6; Romans 5:1, 5). He sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts through the reconciliation of Christ and continues his operations throughout our lives to conform us spiritually to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29; Review also Ephesians 1:23 and look forward to Ephesians 3:16, 17, 21).

2. “For Good works” – Good works always are those works that are expressly contained in the moral law of God or by consequence of scriptural application derived from it. In short, God moves us by his Spirit to love him with all our heart, mind soul, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Ways in which that is done both in the church and in the world are indicated throughout the New Testament (cf. Titus 3:14; 1 Timothy 5:9, 10; 6:17-19; Hebrews 13:20, 21; James 3:13-18; 1 John 4:7-12).

3. “Which God prepared beforehand” – The movement of all things in the world in their fitting relationship with all other things has been established by God as a matter of his wisdom in creation. Even so, the perfect conformity of the human spirit, the imago dei, with the holiness of God and in love toward all other image bearers is the guiding principle by which God had beforehand prepared good works. But also, specifically he calls each of his people within the sphere of their gifts and labor to do what they do “as unto the Lord.” By his sovereignty, he distributes gifts among men; and in his effectual providence and internal promptings he moves us to good works. We should be able to testify with Paul, in his efforts to “present everyone mature in Christ,” “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” (Colossians 1:28, 29).

4. “That we should walk in them.” – Following the good works that God himself has prepared for us should be the manner of our life. Ordering our steps according to his law, in respect of his providence, and with a conscientious view of his glory is our goal and his purpose.

Adapted from God’s Work and Workmanship by Tom Nettles

Tom Nettles on Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

By grace. The unmerited favor of God is the source, established before the foundation of the world (1:4, 6) of every part of God’s restitution of sinners and fitting them for heaven.

1. “You have been saved.” Since he uses here a perfect passive form, he means that this event has occurred and has abiding results. We could say that salvation is initiated experientially in forgiveness of sins and justification. That already has taken place in the life of the Christian and he/she is freed from condemnation and granted the merits by which eternal life is granted.

2. “through Faith”. That aspect of God’s favor towards us is received on our part by our seeing the worthiness of Christ and his work and placing our full trust in him for acceptance before God. We rely on him alone and turn away from any possibility of acceptance through personal merit. No performance of ours escapes the verdict of condemnation but is cast aside as dung when we see the excellence of Christ (Philippians 3:7-9).

3. “And that not of yourselves” – The neuter demonstrative pronoun, “that” refers to the entire process of the grant of all that is involved in forgiveness and justification as well as the granting of faith. The merits are of Christ and the faith is from the power of the Holy Spirit granted to us in the moment of regeneration. While we are dead in trespasses and sins he raises us up to a new spiritual life, the immediate reflex of which is the response of faith toward the working of God and by the working of God. Compare Colossians 2:12, 13.

4. “It is the gift of God.” Literally, “of God, the gift.” No simpler or more absolute way could it be expressed. The fullness of the gift in its every part originates in the mind of God, is prepared by the power of God, and is granted by the grace of God. Its freeness in every part conforms to the trinitarian reality with every person operating to complement, undergird, and sustain the work of each other divine person so that in salvation God is all and in all. In eternal covenant, incarnation, the cross, the resurrection, the ascension, and the sending of the Spirit, Scripture gives evidence of a fitting engagement of Father, Son, and Spirit in each step.

5. “Not of Works” – This reiterates the insistence on grace as the all-encompassing reality of salvation. By “works” is meant our conformity to the law of God. We have broken his law in both tables and in all of its distinct parts and are under its curse. Should we be judged according to works, condemnation would be the result, for, as previously stated, we are “by nature children of wrath.”

6. “So that no one may boast.” At the cross of Christ, none will boast in themselves. Each will say, “Marvelous grace of our loving Lord; grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt; yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.”

Adapted from God’s Work and Workmanship by Tom Nettles

Around The Web-November 14, 2018

The Most Dangerous Question You Can Ask When Studying the Bible by Michael Kelley

Pastors' Talk: On Equipping the Church to Fight Pornography Together (with Deepak Reju)

Collin Hansen—The Strengths, Weaknesses, and Future of New Calvinism from Equipping You In Grace

Why Does Church Membership Matter? by David McLemore

When the Future You Planned for Never Comes by Bryan Stoudt

Repentance and the Power of the Gospel by Martin McNeely

Clint Eastwood reads praise song lyrics.

Around The Web-October 26, 2018

Giveaway: Puritan Treasures For Today

Interview: Justin Taylor on the 10-Year Anniversary of the ESV Study Bible

Living the Cessationist Life by John DiVito

Just Thinking on the Gosnell Movie

10 Things You Should Know about Studying the Bible by Drew Hunter

Pastors' Talk: On Shepherding during Disagreements

Quiz on the Reformation from Josh Buice

Are prophecy and tongues still for today? from Denny Burk

Michael Reeves on the message that Spurgeon wouldn't stop preaching

Around The Web-October 3, 2018

Are Catechisms a Baptist Thing? by Jeff Robinson

Common Objections to the Reformed Doctrine of Predestination

10 Lessons I Learned from Preaching Revelation by Sam Storms

12 Questions To Ask Ourselves In Conflict by Mark Altrogge

How to Prepare a Bible Study by Michael Milton

Does the Bible Teach an Age of Accountability? by Stephen Wellum

The Romans 8 Driven Life by Jared C Wilson

Around The Web-June 22, 2018

Have You Become What You Worship?: An interview with G.K. Beale

Differences Between the Qur’an and the Bible: An Introduction by Eric Davis

8 Habits of the Excellent Bible Teacher by Andrew Hess

If same-sex attraction is sinful, then what? by Denny Burk

6 Attitudes We Need When Studying the Bible by Erik Thoennes

Nate Pickowicz– Directions for a Candidate of the Ministry (The American Puritans Series) (Volume 2) from Equipping You In Grace

Does God Suffer? from Credo

H.B. Charles, Jr explains the importance of the Lord's Supper and Baptism

Book Review: The Baker Compact Dictionary of Biblical Studies

There are many Biblical resources available for anyone to use in studying the Bible. There are commentaries, concordances, and dictionaries. When I say dictionaries, I am talking about Webster's Dictionary, I am talking about Bible dictionaries. Some of them are descent in size while others are more of a compact version, which brings me to The Baker Compact Dictionary of Biblical Studies which is written by Tremper Longman III and Mark L Strauss.

The goal of this dictionary is help students begin a basic study of scripture through various topics. They cover the eschatological beliefs, what the gospel is, and other areas of controversy such as the gospel of Thomas. This dictionary is not an exhaustive resources and is small, which is why the title says "Compact."

While this is a dictionary that is nice for one who is beginning their study of scripture, it does not cover all areas of Biblical studies. There is not mention of election or predestination. There is no mention of propitiation which is a key theological term in understanding the sacrifice of Jesus.

Overall, this dictionary is one that I would pass on for a better tool in studying the Bible.

Thanks Baker Books for letting me review this book.

Around The Web-February 23, 2018

Spurgeon Bobblehead and Journal Giveaway

10 Things You Should Know about Charles Spurgeon by Michael Reeves

Noll, Moore, and George on the Legacy of Billy Graham

Albert Mohler reflects on the life and ministry of Billy Graham

When Bible Study Goes Wrong by David Prince

You Can Win the War Against Sin by Scott Hubbard

Doctrine and Devotion addresses The Florida High School Shooting

The Missing Word in Our Modern Gospel by Kevin DeYoung

Voddie Baucham: Do What The Book Says

Around The Web-February 16, 2018

40 years of counseling distilled into 100 pages from books by David Powlison

10 Things You Should Know about the Cross of Christ by Sam Storms

Repenting of Confirmation Bias Christianity by Jared C Wilson

David Platt Is Ready to Leave the IMB

5 Ways Pastors Can Prepare Their Churches for Suffering by Dave Furman

What's the True Source of Powerful Evangelism? by Casey Lewis

5 Basics of Biblical Interpretation by Dave Jenkins

Six Gospel Themes in First Half of Genesis by Aaron Armstrong

Jonathan Leeman: Biblical Theology Protects Churches from the Prosperity Gospel

Around The Web-November 15, 2017

A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life is 50% off right now at Westminster Bookstore

The Beauty and Power of Sound Doctrine with Ligon Duncan from The Center of Public Theology

Is There a Different Process of Church Discipline for Elders? by Erik Raymond

Living With Hurt by Landon Coleman

Understanding Free Will by R.C. Sproul

Popcorn Theology on Thor: Ragnarok

Pastor's Talk on How Churches Should Find a New Pastor

The State of Evangelicalism in America and all that Blah Blah Blah by Tim Challies

David Mathis gives some basics on how to study the Bible

Podcast Wednesday: A Milestone, Writing, Feminism, and more

Doctrine and Devotion celebrate their 100th episode

Popcorn Theology talk about Feminism and Film with Summer White

Audio Interviews: 9Marks at 9 with ERLC; 9Marks at 9 with Mohler, Akin, and Charles from 9 Marks

Reformation and the SBC: A Round Table Interview with Tom Ascol, Mark Dever, and Jared Longshore from Founders Ministries

Writing and Editing with Excellence to the Glory of God from Equipping You In Grace

John Piper answers: How Can I Better Study a Bible Passage?

For The Church chats with Barnabas Piper