Links to Leithart

I enjoy Peter Leithart's blog. A lot of his stuff is over my head. He reads books far above my pay grade. But he does a lot of work in particular books of the Bible. Right now he is working through Zechariah. All his biblical work is helpful, often tying together various parts of the Scripture. Here are a couple of posts he did recently. The first is his sermon notes on parenting in the Spirit. The second is an observation on the effect of Barbie on young girls. Both of these are worth your time.

We Need Better Men, Not Better Laws

A commonwealth can possess every imaginable law, but if its rulers are steeped in evil, then its laws are reduced to worthless paper, and its constitution becomes empty and useless. (John Calvin, Sermons on Micah)

Sermon: Micah 4:1-5

Here is my sermon outline from last Sunday. If you want to listen to it you can find it here. (As you can see I have not yet figured out how to indent.)

Christ Church of Morgantown
4th Sunday of Easter
April 25th, 2010
Sermon: The Kingdom of Christ
Micah 4:1-5

Exordium
What is the Kingdom of Christ? If I was to ask you to describe it, what would say it looks like? What characterizes the Kingdom of Christ? Can we even bring the Kingdom of Christ into the present age?
All of the Christian life and the life of the Church can be grouped into three different phases: definitive, progressive and final. Here are some examples.

Personal Salvation
Definitive-Justification
Progressive-Sanctification
Final-Glorification

Corporate Salvation
Definitive-Church was saved at the Cross
Progressive-Church is being saved throughout the ages
Final-Church will be saved when Christ returns

The Kingdom of Christ
Definitive-The Kingdom came with Christ (Matthew 10:7, 12:28)
Progressive-The Kingdom comes in history (Matthew 6:10)
Final: The Kingdom will come when Christ returns (Matthew 25:31-34)

Therefore we must not push what we read here in Micah 4-5 into some future heavenly state. Yes it will be perfectly realized in the new heavens and new earth. But we are to drag the future into the present. We are to make the Kingdom incarnate among the nations of the world. This will never be perfect on earth, just as our sanctification will never be complete on earth. But we are still to pursue our sanctification. So too, we are still to pursue the building of the Kingdom of Christ here on earth.
So Micah gives us some characteristics of the kingdom here at the beginning of chapter 4. We are to take these characteristics and weave them into the life of our church and in our homes.

Exegesis
1. The Kingdom of Christ is glorious (vs. 1)
a. A great reversal from 3:12 to 4:1. In 3:12 the Kingdom is plowed under and destroyed. Here is 4:1 it is lifted up above all mountains. The kingdom has been raised from the dead.
b. Do we value the Church as we ought? Do we despise the glorious kingdom which God has set up?
c. Are we grateful for our inclusion in this glorious kingdom? Do we realize that our adoption in Christ has brought us into the greatest kingdom? Do we take this for granted or feel as if we deserve it?

2. The Kingdom of Christ is centered on God’s Word (vs. 2)
a. The picture here is of a people who hunger and thirst for God’s Word. This is not a people who see God’s Word as a duty or chore. God’s Word is their delight.
b. They are not going to learn God’s Word so they might have more information. They are going to learn God’s Word so they might “walk in his paths.” The goal is obedience.
c. Do we long for God’s Word? Is this what we hunger for? Do we simply know about the Bible? Or do we obey it?

3. The Kingdom of Christ is community (vs. 2, 5)
a. Note the language in this section. It is not “I” am going up to God’s house. It is “let us go to the mountain of the Lord.” And then in verse 5 “we will walk in the name of the Lord our God.”
b. We need to see ourselves not as individuals going to worship God. Or as individuals trudging through the Christian life. We need to see ourselves as belonging to the throng of God’s people who ascend to Mt. Zion. Even when we are alone, we are still united to our brothers and sisters in Christ by the Spirit. Our first identity is not “I,” but we.
c. Illustration: One of the few failings of Pilgrims Progress, is that the picture given of the Christian life is that of an individual pushing his way through the Christian. The Biblical picture is normally that of a group/community

4. The Kingdom of Christ is Peace (vss. 3-5)
a. Because Christ reigns (vs. 3a)
b. Because all members work for the welfare of the other members(vs. 3b)
c. Because God provides for His people (vs. 4)
i. cross-reference Philippians 4:6-7
d. Because our hearts are undivided (vs. 5)
i. Verse 5 gives a picture of a people who are fully devoted to God and refuse to be pushed off the path of righteousness.

Final Application
Do those who see us see an accurate picture of the Kingdom of Christ? It will never be perfect on earth. Are our homes and churches filled with the peace of Christ? Do we live in community? Are we developing community? Is the Word of God our life, our bread? Finally, do we realize that we belong to the most glorious Kingdom that has ever existed?

Charles Hodge on Baptism

Here is a good quote by a classic Presbyterian on how baptism works. The link between the word and baptism is very helpful. The quote comes from his commentary on Ephesians.

“How then is it true that baptism washes away sin, unites us to Christ, and secures salvation? The answer again is, that this is true of baptism in the same sense that it is true of the word. God is pleased to connect the benefits of redemption with the believing reception of the truth. And he is pleased to connect these same benefits with the believing reception of baptism. That is, as the Spirit works with and by the truth, so he works with and by baptism, in communicating the blessings of the covenant of grace. Therefore, as we are said to be saved by the word, with equal propriety we are said to be saved by baptism.” (Commentary on Ephesians)

HT: Mark Horne

Luther on Pursuing Marriage

Here is a quote from Getting Serious About Getting Married. The book argues why singleness is not the preferred status for men or women. It is not perfect, but it is a step in the right direction. Here is one of my favorite quotes in the book. Not unexpectly, it comes from Martin Luther.

Many think they can evade marriage by having their fling for a time and then becoming righteous....If one in a thousand succeeds in this that would be doing very well. He who intends to lead a chaste life had better begin early, and attain it not with but without fornication either by the grace of God or by marriage...

Why should one not forestall immorality by means of marriage? For if special grace does not exempt a person, his nature must and will compel him to produce seed and multiply. If this does not occur in marriage, how else can it occur except in fornication and secret sins?

But, they say, suppose I am neither married nor immoral, and force myself to remain continent [celibate/single/chaste]? Do you not hear that restraint is impossible without special grace? For God's Word does not admit restraint; neither does it lie when it says, "Be fruitful and multiply."....You can neither escape nor restrain yourself from being fruitful and multiplying; it is God's ordinance and takes its course....

Whoever finds himself unsuited to the celibate life should see to it right way that the has something to do and to work at it; then let him strike out in God's name and get married.

Back To It

I let the blog slide while I decided what the exact purpose of it was. I also needed to deal with other projects. Now I have determined to get back to it with a renewed sense of purpose and direction. Enjoy!