Category: Confessions and Catechisms

Timely article. Mike is right there is a mystery in this. And so easy to mishandle. You would think we could just follow Jesus’ teach us how to pray examples. But so many abuse it within Prosperity Gospel realm, Word of Faith and NAR movements, to the Contemplative Prayer guru’s and Lectio Divina, literally meaning “divine reading,” is an ancient practice of praying the Scriptures.….right up to the classic Roman Catholic doctrines of praying to/through Mary and the Saints.

Like many things in faith perhaps there truly is a narrow way.

Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Good points Mike.
Jesus taught about building on the solid rock and not the sand. I think you capture that with the words:

“A person who is doing this correctly will evidence this through their commitment to Christ’s personal Lordship and their presupposition of the Word of the Lord as having authority in all parts of their life.“

Mat 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

I like the inclusion of the word “life” in your sentence. Reminds me of how the old Westminster Confession of Faith refers to God’s word in Chapter 1 section 6…..” 6. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men….”

One most often today hears, if doctrine is spoken at all, on this applying only to Personal faith and practice in the church…..our whole lives are not addressed. Let alone anyone else’s.

Good post Mike. Interestingly, in my small study group we are just studying Rev 3:1-3. I’ve found the best study on Revelation to be in Dr. Steven Dilday’s course and translation work on the book. As it relates to the churches one could sample through the readings at:

https://www.fromreformationtoreformation.com/post/revelation-2-1-christ-s-inspection-of-the-churches

https://www.fromreformationtoreformation.com/post/poole-on-revelation-3-1-remedy-for-spiritual-deadness-part-1

But I would suggest one go back to the beginning work he has on the book. Not for the casual reader though as his will be a multi-year study.
Be sure to listen to the Sermon Audios which are embedded in the comments for each verse.

BTW, Thanks for sending me on a scavenger hunt, with your 2009 quote of Piper. I have not seen much on him lately. It was interesting reading your post on the letter to him back 10 years ago. You got lots of comments on that one. In another post I saw 👀 a Machen quote you put up, one of my favorites, and shows that for a hundred years we have been on this path.

“In such a time of kaleidoscopic changes, is there anything that remains unchanged?  When so many things have proved to be untrustworthy, is there anything we can trust?

  “One point, at least, is clear – we cannot trust the Church.  The visible Church, the Church as it now exists upon this earth, has fallen too often into error and sin.”   J. Gresham Machen