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Coram Deo (July 2016)
Coram Deo: We dare not be ashamed of Christ even when we face ridicule and worse. Although He will forgive us when we repent for being ashamed of Him, persistently refusing to be identified with Jesus indicates that we are not truly His disciples. Matthew Henry comments, “They shall not share with [Christ] in his glory then, that were not willing to share with him in his disgrace now.” Therefore, let us consider it a great honor to be known as followers of Jesus.
Doubt enters our minds for all sorts of reasons, but ultimately, doubt is fueled by the weakness of our flesh and the pride of our hearts. Worry, fear, and doubt are close companions, and they conspire together to try to destroy us. Doubt is one of the enemy’s chief weapons in his arsenal as he seeks to undo us. —Burk Parsons in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Though God grants us many blessings on this side of glory, nothing created can ever fully satisfy us. We grow bored and tired of even the greatest pleasures. That will not be the case with the beatific vision. We will see God as He is, and we will never tire of seeing His beauty. Are you looking forward to heaven and the vision of God Himself?
Confession is like a declaration of bankruptcy. God requires perfection. The slightest sin blemishes a perfect record. —R.C. Sproul
Coram Deo: Most Christians know of “mountaintop experiences,” encounters with God so rich that we want them to last forever. Such experiences are gifts of the Lord’s grace and foretastes of the coming age. But they are not meant to last on this side of glory. Our desire ought not to be like Peter’s desire in the transfiguration—to prolong our mountaintop experiences. Instead, we must call others to meet God not on a mountaintop but through faith in Christ alone.
For the first time in the history of Western civilization, Christianity appears to be on the underside of morality, and those who hold to biblical teachings concerning human sexuality are now “ousted” from the position of high moral ground. —Albert Mohler in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Christ’s teaching on John’s death and the death of the Son of Man reveals what Martin Luther called the “theology of the cross.” The theology of the cross tells us that there is no path to glory except through suffering. Even the Messiah had to suffer in order to be glorified; thus, we must not think that there will be a different way to glory for us. May we encourage one another as we suffer for Christ that we may be reminded that the end thereof is glory.
There is not the slightest detail that is overlooked by the gaze of God. —R.C. Sproul
Coram Deo: When Christ utters harsh words to His people, He never means to destroy but to call our attention to our sin that we may repent and be restored. Thus, whenever we find Jesus rebuking others in the Gospels, we should see how those words apply to us. Then, let us turn to Him in repentance, confident that He will forgive us and strengthen our faith.
We’re living in a time of crisis. Many Christians are decrying the decadence of American culture and complaining about the government and its value system. I understand that, but if we want to be concerned for our nation and culture, our priority must be the renewal of the church. We are the light of the world. —R.C. Sproul in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Dr. R.C. Sproul writes in his commentary Mark, “Staying close to the Word, listening to the promises of our Redeemer, and opening my heart to Him are the things that kill unbelief and build a powerful faith that does not let me down in the midst of afflictions.” Let us strengthen our faith by pursuing the Lord through Bible study and prayer.
Secular humanism has no way of explaining either the greatness or the tragedy of human existence. However, the biblical story of creation and the fall provides the basis for affirming both human dignity and depravity. —Michael Horton in Tabletalk Magazine
God’s discipline is not like ours (Heb. 12:9–10). He does not want us to grow weary or fainthearted in our fight for faith. We will be trained, tested, and strained, but as we walk by faith and not by sight, we walk in the knowledge that God is treating us like His children. And His discipline yields sweet rewards. We can rest assured that there is a great purpose in all He does. He acts for our good. —Trillia Newbell in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: No Christian would ever say that absolute dependence on Jesus is optional. However, it is nonetheless easy even for believers to go through their day as if they can do so under their own power. Lest we become self-reliant in a negative way, we must remain aware of our need for Jesus. Regular prayer helps us do that, for by it we remember our full dependence upon Him.
Coram Deo: Because of the influence of sin on our hearts and minds, we should expect Jesus’ words to sound strange to us at times. When we find His teaching hard to receive, we dare not shape it to fit our preconceived notions of what God must be like; rather, let us seek to conform our understanding of our Creator to what God’s Word teaches. His revelation is our standard, not our opinions of what He must be like.
Hope, for the believer, is certain knowledge of the destiny that awaits us after death. It is not the weak substitute for hope that we hear all around us: “I hope it doesn’t rain today.” “I hope I get a promotion at work.” It is hope founded on the “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” —Ben Dunson in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: We live in a culture obsessed with fame, with achieving “greatness” so that it can be lorded over others. But Jesus explains that we will find true greatness only through serving others. In all of our interactions with other people, our first question should be, how can we best serve them?
I rest solely in His righteousness and in His atonement because I know there is nothing I can do to make up for my own iniquity. —R.C. Sproul
Coram Deo: The kingdom of God has as its citizens people from all backgrounds and all walks of life. It is not a community for only the powerful and those who “have it all together.” In reality, it is a community for those who recognize that they are sinners, who know that in themselves they are nothing. Our churches must be places where society’s castoffs and leaders alike are welcome.
Friendships are important for the Christian life and ministry because they create a supernatural, compelling community that displays and protects the gospel, transforms lives and communities, and shines as a beacon of hope in a dark world. —Ryan Townsend in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Dr. R.C. Sproul cautions us in his commentary Mark to avoid the error of thinking all differences between Christians divide us in an essential way as well as the error of thinking that no division is important. We must work with other Christians without compromising the essential truths of the faith. Doing this takes great discernment, and we should be continually asking God to make us a discerning people.
When we face difficulties, our deepest motivation should not be for our lives to be easier, safer, more enjoyable, or more prosperous. Even if it means that we must endure unbearable pain, we are to desire something far more important than our own benefit—the honor and glory of God. —Richard Pratt Jr. in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: The children of God are immeasurably loved by Him, and He will not take kindly to any who lead them astray or cause them to sin. John Calvin comments that the millstone punishment (Mark 9:42) shows us “how dear and precious those persons [believers] are in the sight of God.” That is reason enough to be careful in our words and conduct lest we cause others to transgress God’s law.
God’s Word offers daily reminders of His love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Spending time with Jesus transforms and renews your mind, fortifying you against feelings of unworthiness and shame. —Melissa Kruger in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Hell is a reality that’s perhaps painful for us to think about, so from one perspective it is understandable that we do not often like to talk about it. However, we must not view things from our perspective but from God’s perspective. He calls us to preach the reality of hell—the bad news—so that people might understand how much they need the good news of the gospel. Let us not neglect hell as we tell other people about Jesus.
Faith equals justification plus works. —R.C. Sproul
Coram Deo: God gave the gift of marriage to our first parents with the design that it would be a permanent union, a joining of complementary divine image-bearers as one flesh for the Lord’s glory. In our post-fall context, this means that no human being can legitimately divorce husband or wife for reasons other than those God Himself has given. There are many implications of this point, the most basic of which is that divorce is not acceptable in trivial circumstances.
Maybe you are enduring trials that have caused your confidence in God’s provision to be rattled. It is also possible that your doubt is the result of unbelief and a lack of trusting in God’s promises. In times such as these, we must be reminded that the Lord of heaven and earth delights to bend down to hear the cries of His people. —John Tweeddale in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: God permitted divorce in this fallen world to protect injured spouses. However, just as the innocent person in a biblically permissible divorce is not required to stay married when he or she is sinned against, neither is he or she required to seek a divorce when sinned against. Making the right decision depends on studying God’s Word and receiving much godly counsel.
The Christian life is to live all of your life in the presence of God. —R.C. Sproul
Coram Deo: That which is legally and morally permissible coincide perfectly in the law of God. His law is our fixed, unchanging standard for all ethical decision-making. It is forever fixed in the heavens. No true Christian can be a moral relativist, for all those to whom God has granted faith and repentance know that His law is the absolute standard for right and wrong.
What’s passing away before us, with the slow-motion collapse of the Bible Belt, is nominal, cultural Christianity, or “normal” American religion. Good riddance. We now have the opportunity for people to see Christianity for what it really is, not a message on how to be a good American but a freakishly strange message of a virgin birth, bloody cross, and empty tomb. —Russell Moore in Tabletalk Magazine
The one who embraces the absolute sovereignty and unbreakable love of God, in light of our own moral inability to do good or please Him, will be struck with awe and overwhelmed with meekness. The Father chose us, the Son died for us, and the Spirit awoke us when we were rebelling, refusing, and resisting. Salvation is truly of the Lord, leaving us no room for boasting or pride. —Joe Thorn in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Dr. R.C. Sproul notes that Christian ethics are theonomic, that is, governed by God’s law. This does not mean the church is called to institute a theocracy in the civil realm. It does mean that no correct ethical decision can be made apart from reflection on God’s law. Many Christians neglect the study of the law of the Lord, but if we do not seek to understand His commandments, we will lack the wisdom needed to discern between right and wrong in our decisions.
To look to works as a means of gaining assurance is essentially counterproductive and pastorally deadly. Only Christ can save us, and assurance, when lacking, must be found by looking to Him. Apart from faith in Christ, no work on our part will assure us of anything except Pharisaism. —Derek Thomas in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: People try but fail to suppress the voice of natural law on their consciences. Any reminder of that law is anathema to them because they exert such strenuous efforts to silence the voice of conscience. As we call attention to natural law, people will try to silence us. Yet we must press on to help people see the reality of their sin. That is the most loving thing we can do—help people know they are sinners so that they can turn to Christ for forgiveness.
Coram Deo: Sinners justify all manner of ungodly decisions by appealing to what they think love compels them to do. That is a grave error. We are not autonomous creatures who can be laws unto ourselves with respect to figuring out what love means. Instead, we must trust the only sure source for defining love—the Word of God. If we would love God and neighbor, we must define love according to the standard the Lord has given us.
Coram Deo: Christians are ambassadors of Christ, representatives of His sovereign reign over creation. As such, we have a special responsibility to represent our Lord’s actual teaching. The only way we can do that is through careful study of our Savior’s words. Sitting regularly under the preached Word of God, personal Bible study, small-group Bible studies, and other such things are how we will grow in our understanding of the words of Jesus.
As soon as we think God owes us mercy, we're not thinking about mercy any more. —R.C. Sproul
Coram Deo: Augustus Toplady’s hymn “Rock of Ages” includes this line: “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.” These lyrics wonderfully encapsulate Jesus’ teaching in Mark 10:13–16. We come into the kingdom only by admitting that we have nothing to give, that all we can do is rely on Christ for grace and forgiveness. But once we are in the kingdom, we continue to come to Him admitting the same things. We never lose our need to depend wholly on Jesus.
To live is not wealth. To live is not worldly success. To live is not sex. To live is not family. To live is Christ. We were created by Jesus and for Jesus, the merciful Savior who stood in our place and offers us new life. —Trip Lee in Tabletalk Magazine
We often hear that the New Testament has little to say about the church. That’s because we assume that the purpose of the church is to address our felt needs. Approached from this perspective, the doctrine of the church is truncated to matters of taste and pragmatic concerns. But the place to start in developing a doctrine of the church is not to ask, “What does the body need?” As important as that question is, we must first ask, “What does the Head want?” We cannot address the needs of the body of Christ until we understand the desires of the Head of the church. —Joe Thorn in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Doubt enters our minds for all sorts of reasons, but ultimately, doubt is fueled by the weakness of our flesh and the pride of our hearts. Worry, fear, and doubt are close companions, and they conspire together to try to destroy us. Doubt is one of the enemy’s chief weapons in his arsenal as he seeks to undo us. —Burk Parsons in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Though God grants us many blessings on this side of glory, nothing created can ever fully satisfy us. We grow bored and tired of even the greatest pleasures. That will not be the case with the beatific vision. We will see God as He is, and we will never tire of seeing His beauty. Are you looking forward to heaven and the vision of God Himself?
Confession is like a declaration of bankruptcy. God requires perfection. The slightest sin blemishes a perfect record. —R.C. Sproul
Coram Deo: Most Christians know of “mountaintop experiences,” encounters with God so rich that we want them to last forever. Such experiences are gifts of the Lord’s grace and foretastes of the coming age. But they are not meant to last on this side of glory. Our desire ought not to be like Peter’s desire in the transfiguration—to prolong our mountaintop experiences. Instead, we must call others to meet God not on a mountaintop but through faith in Christ alone.
For the first time in the history of Western civilization, Christianity appears to be on the underside of morality, and those who hold to biblical teachings concerning human sexuality are now “ousted” from the position of high moral ground. —Albert Mohler in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Christ’s teaching on John’s death and the death of the Son of Man reveals what Martin Luther called the “theology of the cross.” The theology of the cross tells us that there is no path to glory except through suffering. Even the Messiah had to suffer in order to be glorified; thus, we must not think that there will be a different way to glory for us. May we encourage one another as we suffer for Christ that we may be reminded that the end thereof is glory.
There is not the slightest detail that is overlooked by the gaze of God. —R.C. Sproul
Coram Deo: When Christ utters harsh words to His people, He never means to destroy but to call our attention to our sin that we may repent and be restored. Thus, whenever we find Jesus rebuking others in the Gospels, we should see how those words apply to us. Then, let us turn to Him in repentance, confident that He will forgive us and strengthen our faith.
We’re living in a time of crisis. Many Christians are decrying the decadence of American culture and complaining about the government and its value system. I understand that, but if we want to be concerned for our nation and culture, our priority must be the renewal of the church. We are the light of the world. —R.C. Sproul in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Dr. R.C. Sproul writes in his commentary Mark, “Staying close to the Word, listening to the promises of our Redeemer, and opening my heart to Him are the things that kill unbelief and build a powerful faith that does not let me down in the midst of afflictions.” Let us strengthen our faith by pursuing the Lord through Bible study and prayer.
Secular humanism has no way of explaining either the greatness or the tragedy of human existence. However, the biblical story of creation and the fall provides the basis for affirming both human dignity and depravity. —Michael Horton in Tabletalk Magazine
God’s discipline is not like ours (Heb. 12:9–10). He does not want us to grow weary or fainthearted in our fight for faith. We will be trained, tested, and strained, but as we walk by faith and not by sight, we walk in the knowledge that God is treating us like His children. And His discipline yields sweet rewards. We can rest assured that there is a great purpose in all He does. He acts for our good. —Trillia Newbell in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: No Christian would ever say that absolute dependence on Jesus is optional. However, it is nonetheless easy even for believers to go through their day as if they can do so under their own power. Lest we become self-reliant in a negative way, we must remain aware of our need for Jesus. Regular prayer helps us do that, for by it we remember our full dependence upon Him.
Coram Deo: Because of the influence of sin on our hearts and minds, we should expect Jesus’ words to sound strange to us at times. When we find His teaching hard to receive, we dare not shape it to fit our preconceived notions of what God must be like; rather, let us seek to conform our understanding of our Creator to what God’s Word teaches. His revelation is our standard, not our opinions of what He must be like.
Hope, for the believer, is certain knowledge of the destiny that awaits us after death. It is not the weak substitute for hope that we hear all around us: “I hope it doesn’t rain today.” “I hope I get a promotion at work.” It is hope founded on the “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” —Ben Dunson in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: We live in a culture obsessed with fame, with achieving “greatness” so that it can be lorded over others. But Jesus explains that we will find true greatness only through serving others. In all of our interactions with other people, our first question should be, how can we best serve them?
I rest solely in His righteousness and in His atonement because I know there is nothing I can do to make up for my own iniquity. —R.C. Sproul
Coram Deo: The kingdom of God has as its citizens people from all backgrounds and all walks of life. It is not a community for only the powerful and those who “have it all together.” In reality, it is a community for those who recognize that they are sinners, who know that in themselves they are nothing. Our churches must be places where society’s castoffs and leaders alike are welcome.
Friendships are important for the Christian life and ministry because they create a supernatural, compelling community that displays and protects the gospel, transforms lives and communities, and shines as a beacon of hope in a dark world. —Ryan Townsend in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Dr. R.C. Sproul cautions us in his commentary Mark to avoid the error of thinking all differences between Christians divide us in an essential way as well as the error of thinking that no division is important. We must work with other Christians without compromising the essential truths of the faith. Doing this takes great discernment, and we should be continually asking God to make us a discerning people.
When we face difficulties, our deepest motivation should not be for our lives to be easier, safer, more enjoyable, or more prosperous. Even if it means that we must endure unbearable pain, we are to desire something far more important than our own benefit—the honor and glory of God. —Richard Pratt Jr. in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: The children of God are immeasurably loved by Him, and He will not take kindly to any who lead them astray or cause them to sin. John Calvin comments that the millstone punishment (Mark 9:42) shows us “how dear and precious those persons [believers] are in the sight of God.” That is reason enough to be careful in our words and conduct lest we cause others to transgress God’s law.
God’s Word offers daily reminders of His love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Spending time with Jesus transforms and renews your mind, fortifying you against feelings of unworthiness and shame. —Melissa Kruger in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Hell is a reality that’s perhaps painful for us to think about, so from one perspective it is understandable that we do not often like to talk about it. However, we must not view things from our perspective but from God’s perspective. He calls us to preach the reality of hell—the bad news—so that people might understand how much they need the good news of the gospel. Let us not neglect hell as we tell other people about Jesus.
Faith equals justification plus works. —R.C. Sproul
Coram Deo: God gave the gift of marriage to our first parents with the design that it would be a permanent union, a joining of complementary divine image-bearers as one flesh for the Lord’s glory. In our post-fall context, this means that no human being can legitimately divorce husband or wife for reasons other than those God Himself has given. There are many implications of this point, the most basic of which is that divorce is not acceptable in trivial circumstances.
Maybe you are enduring trials that have caused your confidence in God’s provision to be rattled. It is also possible that your doubt is the result of unbelief and a lack of trusting in God’s promises. In times such as these, we must be reminded that the Lord of heaven and earth delights to bend down to hear the cries of His people. —John Tweeddale in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: God permitted divorce in this fallen world to protect injured spouses. However, just as the innocent person in a biblically permissible divorce is not required to stay married when he or she is sinned against, neither is he or she required to seek a divorce when sinned against. Making the right decision depends on studying God’s Word and receiving much godly counsel.
The Christian life is to live all of your life in the presence of God. —R.C. Sproul
Coram Deo: That which is legally and morally permissible coincide perfectly in the law of God. His law is our fixed, unchanging standard for all ethical decision-making. It is forever fixed in the heavens. No true Christian can be a moral relativist, for all those to whom God has granted faith and repentance know that His law is the absolute standard for right and wrong.
What’s passing away before us, with the slow-motion collapse of the Bible Belt, is nominal, cultural Christianity, or “normal” American religion. Good riddance. We now have the opportunity for people to see Christianity for what it really is, not a message on how to be a good American but a freakishly strange message of a virgin birth, bloody cross, and empty tomb. —Russell Moore in Tabletalk Magazine
The one who embraces the absolute sovereignty and unbreakable love of God, in light of our own moral inability to do good or please Him, will be struck with awe and overwhelmed with meekness. The Father chose us, the Son died for us, and the Spirit awoke us when we were rebelling, refusing, and resisting. Salvation is truly of the Lord, leaving us no room for boasting or pride. —Joe Thorn in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: Dr. R.C. Sproul notes that Christian ethics are theonomic, that is, governed by God’s law. This does not mean the church is called to institute a theocracy in the civil realm. It does mean that no correct ethical decision can be made apart from reflection on God’s law. Many Christians neglect the study of the law of the Lord, but if we do not seek to understand His commandments, we will lack the wisdom needed to discern between right and wrong in our decisions.
To look to works as a means of gaining assurance is essentially counterproductive and pastorally deadly. Only Christ can save us, and assurance, when lacking, must be found by looking to Him. Apart from faith in Christ, no work on our part will assure us of anything except Pharisaism. —Derek Thomas in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Coram Deo: People try but fail to suppress the voice of natural law on their consciences. Any reminder of that law is anathema to them because they exert such strenuous efforts to silence the voice of conscience. As we call attention to natural law, people will try to silence us. Yet we must press on to help people see the reality of their sin. That is the most loving thing we can do—help people know they are sinners so that they can turn to Christ for forgiveness.
Coram Deo: Sinners justify all manner of ungodly decisions by appealing to what they think love compels them to do. That is a grave error. We are not autonomous creatures who can be laws unto ourselves with respect to figuring out what love means. Instead, we must trust the only sure source for defining love—the Word of God. If we would love God and neighbor, we must define love according to the standard the Lord has given us.
Coram Deo: Christians are ambassadors of Christ, representatives of His sovereign reign over creation. As such, we have a special responsibility to represent our Lord’s actual teaching. The only way we can do that is through careful study of our Savior’s words. Sitting regularly under the preached Word of God, personal Bible study, small-group Bible studies, and other such things are how we will grow in our understanding of the words of Jesus.
As soon as we think God owes us mercy, we're not thinking about mercy any more. —R.C. Sproul
Coram Deo: Augustus Toplady’s hymn “Rock of Ages” includes this line: “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.” These lyrics wonderfully encapsulate Jesus’ teaching in Mark 10:13–16. We come into the kingdom only by admitting that we have nothing to give, that all we can do is rely on Christ for grace and forgiveness. But once we are in the kingdom, we continue to come to Him admitting the same things. We never lose our need to depend wholly on Jesus.
To live is not wealth. To live is not worldly success. To live is not sex. To live is not family. To live is Christ. We were created by Jesus and for Jesus, the merciful Savior who stood in our place and offers us new life. —Trip Lee in Tabletalk Magazine
We often hear that the New Testament has little to say about the church. That’s because we assume that the purpose of the church is to address our felt needs. Approached from this perspective, the doctrine of the church is truncated to matters of taste and pragmatic concerns. But the place to start in developing a doctrine of the church is not to ask, “What does the body need?” As important as that question is, we must first ask, “What does the Head want?” We cannot address the needs of the body of Christ until we understand the desires of the Head of the church. —Joe Thorn in July's Tabletalk Magazine
Monday 8 August 2016
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