Four Implications of Martin Luther’s Theology

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What do the sovereignty of God, salvation by grace, justification by faith, and new life in union with Christ mean for the living of the Christian life? For Martin Luther, they carry four implications:

The first implication is the knowledge that the Christian believer is simul iustus et peccator, at one and the same time justified and yet a sinner. This principle, to which Luther may have been stimulated by John Tauler’s Theologia Germanica, was a hugely stabilizing principle: in and of myself, all I see is a sinner; but when I see myself in Christ, I see a man counted righteous with His perfect righteousness…. Continue reading →

Elders at Harvest Formally Disqualify James MacDonald From Ministry

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“We have communicated to James that he needs to find a small group of godly brothers to restore him biblically in the spirit of gentleness. He needs an extended period of time away from ministry in order to focus on repentance and to seek relational reconciliation and restitution where it is possible. We are all in need of God’s grace. And we have implored James to humble himself and fully surrender to the Lord.”

(Julie Roys)  The Elders at Harvest Bible Chapel today formally disqualified former pastor, James MacDonald, from ministry, saying his behavior did not meet the qualifications for an elder, according to Scripture. Elder Karl Jackson read the following letter to the congregation: Continue reading →

Bill Clinton ‘Credibly Accused’ Of Rape, Investigation Long ‘Overdue’

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“I further demand an FBI investigation into the sexual assault allegations against Bill Clinton by @kathleenwilley and Leslie Millwee @Astroluvr And many others. WE deserve to be heard too.”

(Ryan Saavedra – Daily Wire)  Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ronan Farrow, who recently released the blockbuster book “Catch and Kill,” said during an interview on Friday that an investigation  into “credible” rape accusations that have been made against former Democrat President Bill Clinton is long “overdue.” Continue reading →

Crisis of Faith

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I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. 2In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. 3When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah  Psalm 77:1-10 (Read verses 4-10 on the site) 

Here is a man who is really trying to be honest. He says, “I have analyzed my situation: I tried prayer all night long. In the past I have been given help, but no help has come now. God has made my heart to sing in the past, but it is empty, barren, and cheerless now. Why is this?…. Continue reading →

Belief and unbelief

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21 Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath; And a fire was kindled against Jacob And anger also mounted against Israel, 22 Because they did not believe in God And did not trust in His salvation. Psalms 78:21-22 (NASB) 

There are only two groups of people in the world. There are Christians, the elect, and everyone else, the non-elect. What separates them? What is the difference? It is not that different streams of faith, which are all equal and going to the same place…. Continue reading →

Former Gay Man Stuns with ‘Nothing But the Blood’ in U.S. Capitol

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , ,

Byrd thought of himself as a “transsexual.” One night, a woman walked up to him at a bar and told him about Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to change him.

(Pulpit & Pen)  The Gospel Coalition (TGC) is tramping out a gaggle of same-sex attracted Christians (Sam Allberry, Rebecca McLaughlin, Rachel Gilson, Jackie Hill Perry) and many others who still struggle with their queerness and haven’t yet been set free indeed from their former lusts. Their singular message is this: God will not change your desires, so learn to deal with them.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:36)

Continue reading →

New Founders 14-Minute Trailer Accuses Matt Chandler and Other SBC Leaders of Abandoning Scripture

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“Other targets of criticism include Jarvis Williams, a prominent and influential professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) under Al Mohler as well as Matthew Hall, the provost of SBTS — both staunch proponents of Critical Race Theory.”

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  A few months ago, Tom Ascol and Founders Ministry faced a lot of backlash after releasing a 3-minute trailer that indicted a multitude of Southern Baptist leaders for racial instigation and mission drift…. Continue reading →

Adam Schiff’s drive to impeach Trump based on opinions, deception and illusions – Not facts

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“It is folly for Democrats to argue that a diplomatic conversation of this nature somehow constitutes an impeachable offense. Schiff, the illusionist, can offer nothing but impressions, perceptions, judgments and opinions. It is all irrelevant and a sham. Facts are what matter.”

(Greg Jarrett – Fox News)  Rep. Adam Schiff is a poor man’s Harry Houdini. He is a cheap illusionist performing amateurish parlor tricks of deception in his quest to convince his audience that he possesses damning evidence of an impeachable offense committed by President Trump. Continue reading →

Disgraced Pastor Mark Driscoll to Speak at Larry Osborne’s Conference on ‘Healthy, Thriving Ministries’; Sponsors Drop

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“Osborne…has a history with Driscoll dating back 15 years and served on Mars Hill’s Board of Accountability (BOAA) and Advisors until Mars Hill closed in 2015. In 2014, when the church planting network Acts 29 kicked Driscoll out of its organization for “ungodly and disqualifying behavior,” the BOAA refused to do the same. Since then, Osborne has continued to partner with Driscoll, speaking at Driscoll’s church, endorsing Driscoll’s books, and speaking with Driscoll at ministry events.”

(Julie Roys) Mark Driscoll, the disgraced, former pastor of Mars Hill Church who resigned amid allegations of bullying and abuse of power, is slated to headline Sticky Teams West 2020—a “premier leadership conference,” on building “healthy, thriving ministries.” As a result, sponsors are dropping their support of the conference. Continue reading →

Televangelist Paula White joins White House staff

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Donald Trump & Paula White. Photo credit: Christian Today

Prosperity health & wealth preacher Paula White, who is one of President Trump’s spiritual advisers, once asked her followers to give a “first fruits” financial offering claiming that there are “consequences” for those who don’t do so out of “ignorance or direct disobedience.” White urged people to click on a donate button to give their first fruits offering to her ministry. “I want you to click on that button,” she pleaded, “and I want you to honor God with His first fruits offering.” At one time there was a YouTube video of this but, not surprisingly, it’s no longer available. As well, any mention that she encouraged people to give a “first fruits” offering has been removed from her website (More here). Word of Faith/prosperity/health & wealth/name-it-and-claim-it beliefs are unbiblical. In fact, the prosperity gospel saves no one.… Continue reading →

Dordt (Christian) University Now Teaching Gender is Determined by Clothing Choice

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The instructor’s clip says “Gender…is your own internal sense of self, how you express yourself, cultural expectations for what it means to be a man and a woman, or one’s biological sex.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  A Christian University in America’s heartland originally named after the Synod of Dordrecht – an important council of Protestant Reformed history that opposed Arminianism – has apparently adopted a science-fiction view of gender and is now teaching that it is determined by clothing choice rather than God’s immutable decrees as revealed in human biology. Continue reading →

SBC Pastor Says Mohler ‘Might Be Good’ For SBC Pres. So Long as He Doesn’t Interfere With Progressive Shift

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“While we can appreciate some of Mohler’s views on certain social issues as it pertains to culture, it’s going to be difficult to see Mohler as an effective leader of the denomination when — by any discernible standard — he refuses to deal with plaguing issues in his own denomination.”

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  Southern Baptist pastor and race-baiter, Dwight McKissic is a fully woke, charismatic egalitarian social justice warrior who has spent his entire career railing against non-existent “white supremacy” in the Southern Baptist Convention. Continue reading →

Massachusetts Bill Would Legalize Abortions Up to Birth, Allow Infanticide

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“The pro-life organization posed the scenario of a pregnant 13-year-old who could be abandoned to her sexual abuser and forced into an abortion without her parents’ knowledge. Parental consent laws help protect young girls from abuse and help ensure that they make an informed decision before ending their baby’s life.”

(Micaiah Bilger – Life News) Massachusetts abortion activists upped the pressure this week on state lawmakers to pass a bill legalizing abortions for basically any reason up to birth. Continue reading →

Who is this who even forgives sins?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

48 And he said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 And the ones reclining with him began saying among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Luke 7:48-49 (translated from the NA28 Greek text)

In Luke 7:36-50 there are three main characters. There is our Lord Jesus Christ, Simon the Pharisee, and an unnamed woman who is referred to in v37 and v39 simply as ἁμαρτωλός (hamartōlos), “sinful, sinner.”…. Continue reading →

The Hit

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“Most Americans rightly praised President Obama for bold action in taking out bin Laden.  But President Trump gets little credit from the opposition in sending al-Baghdadi to the netherworld.”

(Bill O’Reilly)  In May, 2011, U.S. intelligence pinpointed the hiding place of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. President Obama then canvassed his top advisors about how to deal with the situation.
Almost all of them, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, encouraged Mr. Obama to order a special forces raid on bin Laden’s compound and, eventually, that’s what happened….

Continue reading →

BREAKING: Al Mohler to be Nominated as Next Southern Baptist Convention President

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“This may come as a shock to some, but Mohler is no conservative. To be fair, he isn’t a liberal either. He is a moderate — at least on the political spectrum. Theologically speaking, he tends to be on his game when it comes to the essential issues of doctrine and faith. However, Mohler has continually supported, promoted, and platformed both theological and political liberals under his watch.”

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  This news may come as a surprise to some, but to those who are intricately aware of how the Southern Baptist Convention operates, this is really old news…. Continue reading →

‘Great Discussion and Celebration’: Faith Leaders Pray for Trump at White House

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Clearly those on the list who prayed for President Trump are not ‘faith leaders’ because most of them are false teachers who hold to unbiblical New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) beliefs. Pretty sure Ralph Reed, Greg Laurie, Robert Jeffress, James and Shirley Dobson, Tony Perkins, Gary Bauer, Michelle Bachmann, Cissie Graham Lynch and a couple of others aren’t NAR, but who knows. We’ve informed you that Pastrix Paula White, who’s President Trump’s spiritual adviser, is a dangerous Word of Faith prosperity preacher. But of course CBN wouldn’t know that, as that publication has zero discernment. What you need to be aware of is that in their zeal to defeat liberalism and to bring a modicum of sanity back to America, Religious Right a.k.a Christian Right (CR) leaders such as some of those mentioned above decided to join forces with people who profess to know and serve God, but are actually wolves in sheep’s clothing…. Continue reading →

‘Christian’ Fortune Tellers Now Offer Destiny Card Readings

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Christalignment, a group that has no connection to the Lord Jesus Christ, uses what they call “destiny cards” to practice the prophetic. These are actually tarot cards, which is a tool of the occult, but the cards have been given a new name. Many people, including professing Christians, sadly, will actually allow someone to attempt to tell them their future. Using cards to tell one’s future is really no different from gazing into a crystal ball or doing a teacup reading to see what the future holds. Other occult practices include spells, incantations and speaking to or channeling spirits. God forbids His people getting involved in these sorts of things — we’re not to know the future! In the Bible these practices are called sorcery. Continue reading →

Longing for a heavenly body

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13 I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 2 Peter 1:13-14 (NASB) 

Unlike Peter, the Lord has not made it clear to me the putting off of my body is imminent (see the passage above). However, I do not deny that my desire for the ending of this tabernacling in this earthly tent grows deeper with each skirmish or battle in the Truth War. I am not overly sad here…. Continue reading →

The Gospel Coalition Author Employs Gay Rights Activist as Personal Pastoral Assistant at Church

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Giddens is a long-time member of Grace Meridian and is in good standing. Giddens is also a gay activist. Apparently, when she’s not assisting “Pastor Duke,” she can be found on the streets at various gay pride marches promoting “equality.”

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  If you’ve followed Reformation Charlotte at all over the last year, you are most likely well-aware that we believe The Gospel Coalition (TGC) to be a subversive progressive propaganda machine designed to turn the Evangelical Church sharply to the left…. Continue reading →

‘Progressive Christian’ Children’s Book to Offer a Different Picture of Creation

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“We must teach our children, starting in Genesis. Teach them that they are fearfully and wonderfully made in the very image of God. Teach them about God’s original “very good” creation. Instruct them that mankind’s sin broke God’s creation and brought death and suffering into it. Teach them that we needed someone to pay the penalty for our sin, and that’s why Jesus stepped into history as the God-man…”

(Ken Ham – Answers In Genesis)  What’s on your child’s bookshelf? The books we read to our children can have a huge impact in shaping their views, beliefs, and theology…. Continue reading →

6 Crazy School District Responses To Parents Mad About LGBT Indoctrination Of Preschoolers

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My Princess Boy video by Cheryl Kilodavis

In my article last week, I sampled the district’s “age-appropriate curriculum” for children ages 3 to 5. It included numerous LGBT picture books such as the well-known “Heather Has Two Mommies” and “They He She, Easy as ABC” about using trans pronouns.

(Joy Pullmann – The Federalist)  Last week I wrote about a suburban Chicago school district’s Oct. 7-11 week of LGBT curriculum as an example of what the state legislature has required all Illinois public schools to teach starting next July. Although the Evanston/Skokie school district is in a very liberal area, not all parents were comfortable with their preschoolers being taught, among other things, that polyamorous families are equivalent to families of sexually faithful married biological parents, and that being gay simply means “loving” someone of your own sex. Continue reading →

Would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

47 While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:47-48 (NASB) 

When the dogs and swine come to harass and distract, it is not pleasant, but I can bear it. However, when someone approaches this ministry as if a friend only to be discovered later to be a deceiver, it is a difficult pill to swallow…. Continue reading →