Reformation Theology Blog

Five Directions How to Get our Hearts Free from Earthly-Mindedness

by Jeremiah Burroughs

The First Direction

Firstly, in order to be disengaged from earthly things, be watchful over your thoughts. Do not allow your mind to wander too far into worldly matters. Spend as much time as you can in meditation on spiritual things. Many people think it is okay to let their thoughts roam free, as the things they think about are not necessarily sinful. However, thoughts can easily lead to a wandering heart, so it is important to keep a close eye on your thoughts and make sure they align with what is written in Scripture.

All Strength from God.

by William Gouge

Finally my Brethren be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.- Ephesians 6:10

But alas, what are we, mere flesh and blood? What strength can we have within us to fight against such enemies as will attack us?

To alleviate this concern, the Apostle adds this clause, "in the Lord," etc., by which he demonstrates how we come to be strong, not by any strength within ourselves, but by seeking strength in the Lord, committing ourselves wholly and solely to Him and His power.

No Man is Excluded From Calling Upon God

"Therefore, forasmuch as no man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is set open unto all men; neither is there any other thing which keepeth us back from entering in, save only our own unbelief" - John Calvin, Commentary of the Acts of the apostles 2:21

Open mine eyes

by John Calvin

"Open mine eyes, that I may see the wondrous things of thy law." - Psalm 119:18

Which Comes First in the Order of Nature: Faith or Repentance?

In Thomas Boston's work "The Necessity of Repentance", he clearly articulates that faith precedes repentance in the order of nature. Although the grace of faith and repentance are bestowed simultaneously in time, faith is described as the "spring and source of repentance." This implies that in the spiritual regeneration of an individual, the act of believing in Christ inherently comes before the act of repentance.

What About John 3:16?

Perhaps the biggest weapon the Arminian attempt to use in their arsenal against Calvinists is John 3:16, especially the word "whosoever" when matched up with the word "world". But when we take a little closer look at the passage we discover they must read into it some assumptions that simply are not there.  Let's take a look. 

The word "whosoever" in John 3:16 translates from the Greek phrase "πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων" (pas ho pisteuōn). Let's break this down:

Overwhelming Odds

One scene that left an indelible impression upon my mind was in the movie adaption of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic, "The Lord of the Rings," the Battle of Helm's Deep, also known as the Battle of the Hornburg, where it vividly portrays a scene of desperate defense against overwhelming odds. It's a pivotal moment in "The Two Towers," the second volume of the trilogy.

More on Mixed Fabrics and the Gospel

Visitor:

Have you read the bible? Even wearing mixed fabrics is a sin in your little book. If hell was real, everyone would be going there. That's not love.

Response:

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