Thursday, September 09, 2010

Quote of the Day #11 - John MacArthur

A quote from the opening sermon of the 2010 Shepherd's Conference concerning separating from unbelievers:
We don’t get together in a prayer meeting with nonbelievers. What would be the point of that? To give them the illusion that they could talk to God and He would care? We don’t get together in any kind of enterprise with a spiritual end, and a spiritual goal, with nonbelievers.
~John MacArthur (Separating from Unbelievers – Shepherd’s Conference 2010)

If you would like to listen to the entire message which this quote came from you can find it on sermonaudio here.

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Quote of the Day #8 - Paul Washer
Quote of the Day #9 - Charles Spurgeon
Quote of the Day #10 - Leonard Ravenhill

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Cain and Abel: An Offering - Genesis 4:3-5

After the the birth of Cain and Abel, an unrecorded part of history passed. During this time, Cain and Abel grew from infancy to maturity— Eve likely gave birth to more children. But the sinfulness of humanity did not disappear during this time. Man still remained cursed and fallen. But the wickedness of man comes forth most in that the next event recorded of in Genesis explains how the first murderer in history came to execute his crime.
So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard... (Genesis 4:3-5).
There is some debate as to why God had regard for Abel's offering and not Cain's. Some suggest that perhaps God had revealed some form of animal sacrificial system similar to that which would later be put into place in Israel (and so the reason God did not regard Cain's offering was because it was not an animal sacrifice). But such reasoning is very speculative (and if you wish to investigate farther, such reasoning would likely be inconsistent with Romans 5:12-14).

Instead of focusing on the type of offering, the passage focuses much more on the quality and heart behind the offering. The passage makes one clear distinction between the two offerings: Abel offered the firstlings of his offering, but Cain merely offered an offering.

When Christ was on earth, he pointed out an offering which a poor widow made:
And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44)
From this it is evident that it is not so much the quantity offered which is important, but it is the motive behind the giving which determines if an offering is good. Abel gave the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. It wasn't just any offering, it was the best he had.

But Cain simply gave an offering. Doubtless he did give some sort of offering, but he did not give it in the right manner. He was like the hypocrites, simply giving so that he might appear to be righteous. But God saw through Cain's false motives: for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). And because of the heart behind each offering, the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard.

Related Posts:
Cain and Abel: Two Routes - Genesis 4:1-2 - (Part 1)
The Fall: No Repentance - The Christian Worldview
The Fall: Humanity Cursed - The Christian Worldview
Why Is Sin Unavoidable? (Part 1) - The Christian Worldview
COMMING SOON! Cain and Abel: Anger

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Quote of the Day #10 - Leonard Ravenhill

A quote from Leonard Ravenhill on the importance of the Gospel:
“Many pastors criticize me for taking the Gospel so seriously. But do they really think that on Judgment Day, Christ will chastise me, saying, ‘Leonard, you took Me too seriously’?”
~Leonard Ravenhill

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The Gospel (1 of ∞)
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Monday, September 06, 2010

Cain and Abel: Two Routes - Genesis 4:1-2

There is more to Cain and Abel than a climatic murder. The account of these two brothers also provides teaching on offerings, anger, discipline, sin, and repentance. But in addition to this, the account of Cain and Abel provides the first glimpse of humanity after the fall. A glimpse which reveals the ignorance and wickedness of fallen man.
Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD." Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel (Genesis 4:1-2).
After man was driven out of the Garden of Eden, humanity began multiplying. Since it seems no time elapses between the birth of Cain and the birth of Abel, some speculate that Cain and Abel might have been twins.

Genesis 4:1 also indicates that Eve likely repented of her sin. The words out of Eve's mouth after giving birth to Cain were not words of cursing because of the pain; rather, they were words in which she recognized her dependence upon God.
And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground (Genesis 4:2).
The two brothers took different routes in life. They had different likes and interests. Often when we read the account of Cain and Abel, it's easy to see Cain as a viscous tyrant, but to see Abel as the complete opposite- peaceful and lovable, perfect in all his ways.

While some of these qualities are accurate by the time of the murder, it would be unreasonable to assume it was this way from their birth. They each chose different occupations. Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. But neither of these occupations is inherently superior to the other. Both are equally good occupations and both can be used to glorify God.

But as these two brothers took two very different routes in their choice of work, so these two brothers began to form two very different opinions of God. One brother began to see his sinfulness, but the other brother continued to grow in pride...

Related Posts:
Cain and Abel: An Offering - Genesis 4:3-5 - (Part 2)
Why Is Sin Unavoidable? (Part 1) - The Christian Worldview
The Fall: No Repentance - The Christian Worldview
The First Marriage - The Christian Worldview
The Fall: Humanity Cursed - The Christian Worldview

Sunday, September 05, 2010

The Few - Piper, Washer, Ravenhill, Conway, Leiter - Sermon Sunday

This is a very well put together video from illbehonest. It contains audio from sermons preached by John Piper, Paul Washer, Leonard Ravenhill, Tim Conway, and Charles Leiter.


Saturday, September 04, 2010

Quote of the Day #9 - Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon on defending the gospel:
A great many learned men are defending the gospel; no doubt it is a very proper and right thing to do, yet I always notice that, when there are most books of that kind, it is because the gospel itself is not being preached.
Suppose a number of persons were to take it into their heads that they had to defend a lion, a full-grown king of beasts! There he is in the cage, and here come all the soldiers of the army to fight for him. Well, I should suggest to them, if they would not object, and feel that it was humbling to them, that they should kindly stand back, and open the door, and let the lion out! I believe that would be the best way of defending him, for he would take care of himself; and the best “apology” for the gospel is to let the gospel out.
~Charles Spurgeon (2467.256)

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Friday, September 03, 2010

Why Is Sin Unavoidable? (Part 2) - The Christian Worldview

In Galatians 5:16, all believers are commanded:
Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
If Christians walk by the Spirit, they will not carry out the desire of the flesh (the desire they have due to lingering sinful tendencies). Galatians 5:17 states:
For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
The believer has a powerful weapon to combat sin with: the Spirit. But the unbeliever has no sufficient weapon. All the unbeliever has in opposition to the flesh is a gnawing conscience which prevents him from fully manifesting his wretchedness. Romans farther states that those in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:8).

How is it that out of the billions upon billions of people who have lived in this world, not one of them has successfully avoided sin? Clearly there is something terribly wrong in men. It has nothing to do with a man’s environment or surroundings. There is something wrong with man’s nature—it is terribly corrupt. The book of Ephesians states that believers all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest (Ephesians 2:3).

Related Posts:
Why Is Sin Unavoidable? (Part 1) - The Christian Worldview
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How Bad Is Sin? (Part 4) - The Christian Worldview