TheosGuy

The following passage from Archibald Alexander on stray thoughts causing trouble during the devotional life of a believer, was something to consider for a Monday morning staff devotional.

“The old writer before mentioned introduces a struggling soul mourning on this account: ‘Oh the perplexing trouble of my distracting thoughts! How do they continually disturb the quiet of my mind and make my holy duties become a weariness of my soul! They cool the heart, they damp the vigour, they deaden the comfort of my devotions. Even when I pray God to forgive my sins, I then sin whilst I am praying for forgiveness; yea, whether it be in the church or in the closet, so frequently and so violently do these thoughts withdraw my heart from God’s service that I cannot have confidence he hears my suit, because I know by experience I do not hear myself; surely therefore God must needs be far off from my prayer whilst my heart is so far out of his presence, hurried away with a crowd of vain imaginations.’ To which he applies the following consolations:

‘1. These vain thoughts, being thy burden, shall not be thy ruin; and though they do take from the sweetness, they shall not take from the sincerity of thy devotions.’

‘2. It is no little glory which we give to God in the acknowledgment of his omnipresence and omniscience that we acknowledge him to be privy to the first risings of our most inward thoughts.’

‘3. It is much the experience of God’s children, even the devoutest saints, that their thoughts of God and of Christ, of heaven and holiness, are very unsteady and fleeting. Like the sight of a star through an optic glass held by a palsied hand, such is our view of divine objects.’

‘4. Know thou hast the gracious mediation of an all- sufficient Saviour to supply thy defects and procure an acceptance of thy sincere though imperfect devotions.’

‘5. As thou hast the gracious mediation of an all- sufficient Saviour to supply thy defects, so hast thou the strengthening power of his Holy Spirit to help thy infirmities; which strength is made perfect in weakness. When thou art emptied it shall fill thee; when thou art stumbled, it shall raise thee. The experience of God’s saints will tell thee that they have long languished under this cross of vain thoughts , yet after long conflict have obtained a joyful conquest, and from mourning doves have become mounting eagles.'”

Thoughts on Religious Experience
Archibald Alexander
Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication. 1844

Following are some key texts on the doctrine of imputation:

Following are some additional related texts:

Tags: Cross, Imputation, Righteousness, Salvation

Horatius Bonar wrote this nice little piece on why we as Christians are not to love the world.  It was originally published in The Christian Treasury.

1. Because the gain of it is the loss of the soul.—Matthew 16:25.
2. Because its friendship is enmity to God.—James 4:4.
3. Because it did not know Christ.—John 1:10; 17:25.
4. Because it hates Christ.—John 7:7; 15:18.
5. Because the Holy Spirit has forbidden us.—1 John 2:15.
6. Because Christ did not pray for it.—John 17:9.
7. Because Christ’s people do not belong to it.—John 17:16.
8. Because it will not receive the Spirit.—John 14:27.
9. Because its Prince is Satan.—John 13:31; 16:11.
10. Because Christ’s kingdom is not of it.—John 18:36.
11. Because its wisdom is foolishness.—1 Corinthians 1:20.
12. Because its wisdom is ignorance.—1 Corinthians 1:21.
13. Because Christ does not belong to it.—John 8:23.
14. Because it is condemned.—1 Corinthians 11:32.
15. Because the fashion of it passeth away.—1 Corinthians 7:31.
16. Because it slew Christ.—James 5:6; Matthew 21:39.
17. Because it is crucified to us.—Galatians 6:14.
18. Because we are crucified to it.—Galatians 6:14.
19. Because it is the seat of wickedness.—2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 5:19.
20. Because its God is the evil one.—2 Corinthians 4:4.

‘Love not the world! It cannot be your home,
Thy fatherland must be the world to come;
There lay up treasures for eternity;
And where thy treasure is thy heart shall be.’
—H.B.

The following outline was inspired and adapted from an outline of the same name in the book, Twelve Baskets Full of Original Bible Outlines.¹

1. “He Is Able—We Are Able,” Twelve Baskets Full of Original Bible Outlines, Pickering Hy. (Editor). London: Pickering & Inglis, 1918. p. 21.

Tags: HyP

The following outline about the humiliation and exaltation of Jesus Christ is taken from the book, Twelve Baskets Full of Original Bible Outlines.¹

Seven Steps in His Humiliation
Philippians 2:7-8

1. Made Himself of no reputation.
2. Took upon Himself the form of a slave.
3. Made in the likeness of men.
4. Found in fashion as a men.
5. Humbled Himself.
6. Became obedient unto death.
7. Even the death of the Cross.

Seven Steps in His Exaltation
Philippians 2:9-11

1. God hath highly exalted Him—Humanity occupying the highest place in the universe.
2. Given Him a Name which is above every name.
3. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.
4. Of things in heaven.
5. And things on earth.
6. And things under the earth.
7. And every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.

1. “Christ’s Humiliation and Exaltation,” Twelve Baskets Full of Original Bible Outlines, Pickering Hy. (Editor). London: Pickering & Inglis, 1918. p. 13.

Tags: HyP, Jesus Christ

The following words of exhortation are all from the Book of Hebrews. Hover over the Bible reference to see the words more fully in the context. This outline is adapted from an outline in the book, Twelve Baskets Full of Original Bible Outlines.¹

1. “Words of Exhortation,” Twelve Baskets Full of Original Bible Outlines, Pickering Hy. (Editor). London: Pickering & Inglis, 1918. p. 13.

Tags: Exhortation, HyP

The Apostle Paul warned us of a future time that would come where men would turn from sound doctrine and follow their own lustful self-will. To a large extent self-will has always been a problem for the human race. It’s a wonder why man seems to be in love with the idea of human free will, as human self-will has only caused problems for humanity. As a Christian, I only want my Lord’s will, not my will. The following is a short outline, Self-Will¹ from F.E. Marsh, on the devastation of self-will.

1. Self-will turned Paradise into a desert. It has been well said, “My will and not Thine be done, turned Paradise into a desert. Thy will and not Mine be done, turned a desert into a Paradise.” (Romans 5:1)
2. Self-will is the mother of sin. This is illustrated in Cain, when he in self-will came to God in his own way instead of God’s way, and was jealous because Abel’s sacrifice was accepted and his was rejected, which jealousy led him on to kill his brother (Jude 11).
3. Self-will is the forerunner of disaster. Lot chose the well-watered plain of Sodom, and then soon after was found in Sodom, but he lost all he had in Sodom, and only escaped with his life (Gen 13:10).
4. Self-will shuts out from blessing. Moses struck the rock twice when God told him to speak to it, and was shut out of the promised land in consequence (Num 20:11-12).
5. Self-will brings punishment. King Saul lost his kingdom and the Holy Spirit through consulting his own will in opposition to God’s word, when the latter told him to destroy all the Amalekites (1 Sam 15:23).
6. Self-will brings injury to others. Peter acted on his own authority when he cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest (Luke 22:50).
7. Self-will means loss of blessing. The prodigal son found the difference between the swine troughs and the father’s table, and between the far country and the old homestead. (Luke 15:16-17)

1. 500 Bible Readings, Marsh, F.E., (London: Marshall Brothers, 1897). Reading no. 347.

Tags: Marsh, Theology

The following reading, Things We Obtain by Faith is taken from F.E. Marsh’s, 500 Bible Readings.¹

1. Salvation.. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” — Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV
2. Justification.. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” — Romans 5:1 NKJV
3. Introduction.. “…through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” — Romans 5:2 NKJV
4. Adoption. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” — Galatians 3:26 NKJV
5. Sanctification. “…to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” — Acts 26:18 NKJV
6. Purification. “…and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” — Acts 15:9 NKJV
7. Occupation. “…that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,” — Ephesians 3:17 NKJV
8. Progression. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV
9. Preservation. “…who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” — 1 Peter 1:5 NKJV
10. Expectation. “For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” — Galatians 5:5 NKJV

1. 500 Bible Readings, Marsh, F.E., (London: Marshall Brothers, 1897). Reading number 443.

Tags: Faith, Marsh, Theology

Dr. David Hocking in his study on Ephesians 2, indicated the following four characteristics of spiritual death (Ephesians 2:1). My added thoughts are included in blue.

1. An inability to discern spiritual matters (1 Cor 2:14)

   The “natural man” would include non-believers, but also could include carnal believers. We are told in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 and Romans 8:1-7, that it is possible for the believer to operate in the realm of the “natural man” when he is not walking in the Spirit.

   The non-believer faces both inability and non-capacity for discerning spiritual matters. I think the carnal believer has the ability and has the capacity, but chooses not to operate in either, by walking in the flesh rather than walking in the Spirit.

2. An inability to receive any help from God (Psa 66:18; Isa 59:1-2)

   It may be that the only prayer of a non-believer that is guaranteed to be heard is the prayer of repentance and belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

3. An inability to produce any true good in the eyes of the LORD (Rom 3:10-12)

   I am reminded of the words of Christ that tell me what my personal efforts produce.

   John 15:5 NKJV – “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

4. An inability to please God (Rom 8:6-8)

   Colossians 1:10 NKJV – that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

The following reading, The Name of Jesus in the Epistle to the Hebrews., is from F.E. Marsh’s 500 Bible Readings¹.

1. As Son of Man. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death” (Heb. 2:9).
2. As our High Priest. “We have a great High Priest, who is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God” (Heb. 4:14, and 6:20).
3. As our Surety. “By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better testament” (Heb. 7:22).
4. As the Way into the holiest. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19).
5. As the Author of faith. “Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2).
6. As our Mediator. “And to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant” (Heb. 12:24)’
7. As our Sanctifier. “Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate” (Heb. 13:12).

1. 500 Bible Readings, Marsh, F.E., (London: Marshall Brothers, 1897). Reading number 236.

Tags: Christ, Marsh, Teaching Ideas, Theology