Category: Holy Spirit

Leaving the Holy Spirit Out of It

7/15/2015

In a recent blog post, Julie Rodgers indicates her predictable movement from believing that Christians can call themselves gay and still be Christians to plainly approving of same-sex romantic relationships. She writes, "I've become increasingly troubled by the unintended consequences of messages that insist all LGBT people commit to lifelong celibacy."

In Rodgers's mind, there appear to be only two possible ways of proceeding for the "gay Christian": either you commit to lifelong celibacy (the option insisted on by gay-harming Conservatives) or you give yourself to a same-sex "marriage." But are these really the only two options?

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Sermon Notes: What Does Killing Sin Mean?

5/13/2015

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We've talked about death, which is God's curse on disobedience. And we've talked about the cure for death, which is faith in Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we've addressed the necessity of believers putting sin to death and our need of the Holy Spirit to do it. Now we're finally getting to what it actually means to put to death the deeds of the body, to mortify the flesh—to kill sin.

And to get a grasp of what it means to kill sin, let's talk about—you guessed it—what killing sin doesn't mean…

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What Does the Holy Spirit Do?

4/27/2015

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In closing his great work on the mortification of sin in believers, John Owen outlines the sin-destroying work that the Holy Spirit effects in the life of a Christian:

The Holy Spirit…

clearly and fully convinces the heart of the evil and guilt and danger of the corruption, lust, or sin to be mortified (put to death).

reveals unto us the fullness of Christ for our relief; which is the consideration that stays the heart from false ways and from despairing despondency (Col. 2:8).

establishes the heart in expectation of relief from Christ; which is the great sovereign means of mortification (2 Cor. 1:21).

brings the cross of Christ into our hearts with its sin-killing power; for by the Spirit are we baptized into the death of Christ (Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:13).

is the author and finisher of our sanctification; gives new supplies and influences of grace for holiness and sanctification (Eph. 3:16–18).

—John Owen, The Mortification of Sin in Believers

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The Difference between Believers and Unbelievers

4/14/2015

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The difference between believers and unbelievers as to knowledge is not so much in the matter of their knowledge as in the manner of knowing. Unbelievers, some of them, may know more and be able to say more of God, his perfections, and his will, than many believers; but they know nothing as they ought, nothing in a right manner, nothing spiritually and savingly, nothing with a holy, heavenly light. The excellency of a believer is, not that he has a large apprehension of things, but that what he does apprehend, which perhaps may be very little, he sees it in the light of the Spirit of God, in a saving, soul-transforming light; and this is what which gives communion with God, and not prying thoughts or curious-raised notions.

—John Owen, Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers

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Should you Follow Your Heart?

3/10/2015

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This blog post over on Desiring God does a good job diagnosing and rebuking the worship of the idol of our own hearts.

If you're between the ages of 4 and 28, you probably grew up with a healthy dose of Disney propaganda. Our beloved princes and princesses, brave heroes and cuddly animal friends, steadfastly preach one of our dearest false gospels: "Follow your heart; believe in yourself."

Even my high school guidance counselor, when I was trying to figure out where to go to college and what to do with my life, told me in all sincerity, "Just follow your heart." She had faith that if I had faith in me that all my hopes and dreams would come true. And who knows, maybe they would have. But "what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36)

Serve the LORD your God and seek the help of the Holy Spirit in aligning your heart's desires with His perfect will. And yes, that means your desires will have to change. But God can change them. Isn't that wonderful?

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Sermon Notes: By the Spirit

2/16/2015

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Leaving the Holy Spirit Out of It

Sermon Notes: What Does Killing Sin Mean?

What Does the Holy Spirit Do?

The Difference between Believers and Unbelievers

Should you Follow Your Heart?

Sermon Notes: By the Spirit

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