The Exposed Roots Of Transparent Christian Growth (via Kristin Pichura at Just The Clay)

Gary Ware

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May 24, 2021

Though Spiritual, Christian growth and maturity are now magical occurrences; they are product of time, diligent use of the means provided by God, and desire for growth.
Enabling others to be aware of the effort and commitment of Christian growth encourages them to follow the walk the same course.

Kristin Pichura reflects on the visible roots of the Banyan tree as an analogy for this visible, even exposed pattern of growth:

As we pursue the disciplines of grace, enabled by the Author of grace, we can encourage and help equip those around us to press on towards Christlikeness.
The watching world, our church family, and our children need to see that growth in Christ isn’t something that just magically occurs by our own strength, or that it is for a special few on whom the Lord has placed His favor. It’s not a “super-Christian” thing…it’s a supernatural work done through the Holy Spirit and the power of God in the lives of His kids. Our growth in the grace and knowledge of the Lord is only possible as we abide in Christ and keep sending down roots in Him. This is not “one and done”, “I said the prayer” kinda living. This is a “daily dependence, denying self, deep-rooted in the soil of His Word” kinda living.
The more we show our roots, even though it may expose us in ways that are humbling and make us feel vulnerable, the more we display the glorious work of God in transforming lives. And we encourage others as they see His mercy and grace that enables them, too, to be “steadfast, immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord”.

source

I’m Not Ashamed To Own My Lord – Sunday Songs

Gary Ware

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May 23, 2021

A rendition of I’m Not Ashamed To Own My Lord Nathan Clark George and family.
This is to the tune PISGAH.
It is not a tune with which I am familiar, but this is wonderful introduction.

The lyrics:
1
I’m not ashamed to own my Lord,
or to defend his cause,
maintain the honor of his Word,
the glory of his cross.
2
Jesus, my God! I know his name,
his name is all my trust;
nor will he put my soul to shame,
nor let my hope be lost.
3
Firm as his throne his promise stands,
and he can well secure
what I’ve committed to his hands
’til the decisive hour.
4
Then will he own my worthless name
before his Father’s face,
and in the new Jerusalem
appoint my soul a place.

Westminster Larger Catechism – Lord’s Day 21

Gary Ware

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May 23, 2021

Westminster Larger Catechism – Lord’s Day 21

Q & A 75
Q What is sanctification?
A Sanctification is a work of God’s grace, whereby they whom God has, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit *1 applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them *2, renewed in their whole man after the image of God *3; having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts *4, and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened *5, as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life *6.

Q & A 76
Q What is repentance unto life?
A Repentance unto life is a saving grace *7, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit *8 and Word of God *9, whereby, out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger *10, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins *11, and upon the apprehension of God’s mercy in Christ to such as are penitent *12, he so grieves for *13 and hates his sins *14, as that he turns from them all to God *15, purposing and endeavouring constantly to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience *16.

Q & A 77
Q Wherein do justification and sanctification differ?
A Although sanctification be inseparably joined with justification *17, yet they differ, in that God in justification imputes the righteousness of Christ *18; in sanctification of his Spirit infuses grace, and enables to the exercise thereof *19; in the former, sin is pardoned *20; in the other, it is subdued *21: the one does equally free all believers from the revenging wrath of God, and that perfectly in this life, that they never fall into condemnation *22 the other is neither equal in all *23, nor in this life perfect in any *24, but growing up to perfection *25.

Q & A 78
Q Whence arises the imperfection of sanctification in believers?
A The imperfection of sanctification in believers arises from the remnants of sin abiding in every part of them, and the perpetual lustings of the flesh against the spirit; whereby they are often foiled with temptations, and fall into many sins *26, are hindered in all their spiritual services *27, and their best works are imperfect and defiled in the sight of God *28.

*1 Ephesians 1:4; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13.
*2 Romans 6:4-6.
*3 Ephesians 4:23-24.
*4 Acts 11:18; 1 John 3:9.
*5 Jude 20; Hebrews 6:11-12; Ephesians 3:16-19; Colossians 1:10-11.
*6 Romans 6:4, 6, 14; Galatians 5:24.
*7 2 Timothy 2:25.
*8 Zechariah 12:10.
*9 Acts 11:18, 20-21.
*10 Ezekiel 18:28, 30, 32; Luke 15:17-18; Hosea 2:6-7.
*11 Ezekiel 36:31; Isaiah 30:22.
*12 Joel 2:12-13.
*13 Jeremiah 31:18-19.
*14 2 Corinthians 7:11.
*15 Acts 26:18; Ezekiel 14:6; 1 Kings 8:47-48.
*16 Psalm 119:6, 59, 128; Luke 1:6; 2 Kings 23:25.
*17 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Corinthians 1:30.
*18 Romans 4:6, 8.
*19 Ezekiel 36:27.
*20 Romans 3:24-25.
*21 Romans 6:6, 14.
*22 Romans 8:33-34.
*23 1 John 2:12-14; Hebrews 5:12-14.
*24 1 John 1:8, 10.
*25 2 Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 3:12-14.
*26 Romans 7:18, 23; Mark 14:66; Galatians 2:11-12.
*27 Hebrews 12:1.
*28 Isaiah 64:6; Exodus 28:38.

Forgiveness – The Essence Of Christian Living In Open Time (via Jeff Hual at Mockingbird)

Gary Ware

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May 22, 2021

Tomorrow is Pentecost.
Since the beginning of December Christians have reflected on the first and second comings of Jesus, of the humility of his life and the triumph of his death and death and resurrection.
After Pentecost the remainder of the Church year is spent in what is termed Ordinary Time.
It may seem that without the great themes of the Christian faith that this time lacks in comparison.
That, of course is not true, just as our life awaiting the fulfilment of all things is not a diminished life.
Ordinary Time celebrates the everyday blessing of Christian life – living as a reconciled and reconciling people.
The triumph theme of Ordinary Time is forgiveness.

From Jeff Hual at Mockingbird.

Forgiveness is the one word that is the heart of the matter. It is the heart of the matter in terms of our relationship with God, and with Christ, and it is the fundamental building block of our relationship with one another.
That sheds a whole new light on the church’s mission: moving into Pentecost and beyond, what’s often called “ordinary time.” The months between Easter and Christmas, this time of the ordinary, is a time for forgiveness and reconciliation. It does not celebrate a dynamic event or story in the life of Jesus, but the essential good news of God’s grace. Our life is sustained by the ordinary: water, food, and shelter; the Christian is sustained by forgiveness. What would it look like for us to live into a world of forgiveness, a world in which we who have been forgiven through Christ live into our call to forgive others in Christ’s name? How might that change our congregations, our neighborhoods, perhaps even the world as we know it?
This, friends in Christ, is the heart of the matter.

Read the whole post here.

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