Mike, I love the new focus on Spurgeon’s messages. It must help you balance your work load and the messages are so relevant. “ THIS should be a great encouragement to try to do good, since God has among the vilest of the vile, the most reprobate, the most debauched and drunken, an elect people… Continue reading God is Sovereign man is not
Category: Confessions and Catechisms
Dialogue about Doctrine in the Protestant Church
I will make this point, but I expect it will ruffle some feathers. It’s now several years gone by since I taught through the Westminster Confession and the Shorter Catechism point by point early Sunday morning. But we met at 7:30am. For years we debated what was right or out of place in the contemporary… Continue reading Dialogue about Doctrine in the Protestant Church
The Nature of a Truly Transformed Heart
Thanks Mike. I probably over repost your work. But you do articulate well the points that if I were a better witness I would make. And it makes for thoughtful reflection and dialogue. I only wish I could persuade others to follow.
We all fall short of what Peter encourages. It’s a common Strawman argument today to ignore doctrine and focus on one aspect of the Bible’s teaching. It’s rare and hardwork to pursue all it’s teachings.
Some four thousand years ago we read about that in Judges.
“In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6)
But it didn’t begin there. But we have to try…
Jesus said:
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20)
A more complete knowledge and understanding is critical.
2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
by Mike Ratliff
10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 2 Peter 1:10 (NASB)
Some “evangelical leaders” in our time will tell you that transformation is actually part of the gospel and that the evidence of salvation is how busy a person is in “working in church ministry.” No where in God’s Word is transformation given as part of the Gospel. The Gospel is based in who Jesus Christ is and what He has done to be the propitiation for the elect. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, including the elect. No one is able to do any work of any kind to deserve or earn salvation, that is, justification. However in Ephesians 1:3-23; Ephesians 2:1-10, the Apostle Paul gives us God’s solution…
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Judging Correctly and Incorrectly
Mike makes good points about judging in a Biblical way. One rarely hears this explained so well. In today”s world where any Judgment is rapidly rebuked. Yet hypocritical today the cry’s for Justice abound. “Everybody wants Justice and nobody wants Judgment” is the way I characterize it. I read the Bible in the old KJV where I’ve noted in the Old Testament the word translated in the modern versions as Justice is still overwhelming translated a Judgment.
I am curious about the subject and particularly Scriptural support for the ministry of discernment….and will for one read the ebook he mentions at the end.
I do note that Solomon did ask God for good discernment. But recognized God’s sovereignty in ultimate Judgment.
1Ki 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
Ecc 3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
by Mike Ratliff
1 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2 (NASB)
It is impossible to walk through one’s day without having to make judgments. In fact our Lord Jesus who made the oft misquoted and misunderstood command found in Matthew 7:1 and Luke 6:37 to “Judge Not!” also made the following command.
14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. 15 The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?” 16 So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the…
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Rainbow Trout 