“The just shall live by faith” Romans 1:17
It was this verse that captured Martin Luther and led him out of mere religion into the joy of salvation by grace through faith. In the lead up to commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, Trinity Assembly & Fellowship will begin a study through the Book of Romans. Commencing next week on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, we will walk through the book that arrested Martin Luther and led to both the Bible becoming available and to the exodus from the “Babylonian Captivity of The Church”. Join us, as we study together the letter of Paul that has been called “The cathedral of the Christian faith”.
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The Forbidden ChapterIn the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, there is one chapter that has been excluded from reading in the Jewish synagogue and in fact forbidden for Jews to read... Isaiah 53. The Suffering Servant.
Watch the amazing unfolding of revelation as they read from this chapter for themselves. 1 Samuel 25:29"God has a Book for my name; a Bottle for my tears; a Bundle for my soul; a Bag for my sin"
-George Knowles Have you ever had a dream; a vision; a sense of calling? One that led you to make sacrificial choices, only to find that the dream eluded you because of circumstances or the decisions of others outside your control.
Year after year you find yourself “riding the bench”; your number just never gets called. If that’s you, as it is me, may this video of Mitchel Trubisky inspire you to “respect the journey” and “be ready” when called upon. After being “red-shirted” his first year (ie: practiced with the team, dressed for games, but not allowed to compete) and then riding the bench for the next two years as a backup, when he was called upon for one play, he was ready. But that one play was spectacular. Trubisky ended up only getting 13 starts as QB at North Carolina in four years, but because he kept his head and heart in the game for years without competing, his true talent was rewarded by being the first QB taken and the second overall draft pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The applications of this sports parable are worth considering as we do the work of waiting for our number to be called, both in this life and the life to come. "These words contain God's command to the believer when he is reduced to great straits and brought into extraordinary difficulties. He cannot retreat; he cannot go forward; he is shut up on the right hand and on the left; what is he now to do? The Master's word to him is, "Stand still." It will be well for him if at such times he listens only to his Master's word, for other and evil advisers come with their suggestions. Despair whispers, "Lie down and die; give it all up." But God would have us put on a cheerful courage, and even in our worst times, rejoice in his love and faithfulness. Cowardice says, "Retreat; go back to the worldling's way of action; you cannot play the Christian's part, it is too difficult. Relinquish your principles." But, however much Satan may urge this course upon you, you cannot follow it if you are a child of God. His divine fiat has bid thee go from strength to strength, and so thou shalt, and neither death nor hell shall turn thee from thy course. What, if for a while thou art called to stand still, yet this is but to renew thy strength for some greater advance in due time. Precipitancy cries, "do something. Stir yourself; to stand still and wait, is sheer idleness." We must be doing something at once-we must do it so we think-instead of looking to the Lord, who will not only do something but will do everything. Presumption boasts, "If the sea be before you, march into it and expect a miracle." But Faith listens neither to Presumption, nor to Despair, nor to Cowardice, nor to Precipitancy, but it hears God say, "Stand still," and immovable as a rock it stands. "Stand still;"-keep the posture of an upright man, ready for action, expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing voice; and it will not be long ere God shall say to you, as distinctly as Moses said it to the people of Israel, "Go forward." Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - July 24 Morning Today, there seems to be a growing popularity amongst some who profess to know Christ, to also proclaim that Hell is no longer a reality worthy of a Christian’s sober consideration and declaration. Unfortunately, this seems to be particularly prevalent amongst those who would identify themselves as “Trinitarian[i] or Perichoresis [ii] discoverers”. For example, take this publically posted remark by one such person: "So hell is now off the menu for me. The original biblical texts don't mention it, Jesus condemned nobody to it, the apostles in the early church didn't preach it and for 500 years nobody believed it. Frankly, it is middle ages, flat earth theology that has no place in genuine faith communities. And given that it causes untold physical, mental, emotional and psychological damage, the sooner we are rid of it the better." Really? I don’t think so. [i] Trinitarian referring to both the Triune Nature of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit as well as the theological implications particularly on the Doctrine of Election and the Doctrine of Salvation. [ii] Perichoresis is the term coined by the early Church to describe the inner Trinitarian life of God and the mutual indwelling without loss of distinction by each of the three Persons of the Divine Trinity. From the Greek word “peri” meaning around and “choreo” meaning dance; as in choreography, thus often referred to as “The Great Dance”. Readings: Leviticus 23:15-22 Acts 2 1-13 Ephesians 2:11-22 “What does this mean?” (Acts 2:12) Jewish Feast of Weeks/Pentecost is Fulfilled in The Church’s In-gathering (Eph. 2:11-22)
“I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her... I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.” (Zechariah 12:2-3) Tomorrow, May 14th, is the 69th Anniversary of the rebirth of the Nation State of Israel. Against all odds of probability and yet in perfect keeping with God's promise as recorded in Ezekiel Chapter 37, God has raised a "Valley of Dry Bones" up out of their graves among the nations and brought them back into their own land. Listen to David Reagan tell the story of how this happened, including the amazing role President Harry S. Truman in making the U.S.A. the first nation to recognize the Jewish State of Israel, just eleven minutes after David Ben-Gurion's declaration. This element reminds us that God "is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men" (Dan.4:17). Amidst the nation's raging today, Israel's existence is both a timely reminder of this truth and an even more timely testimony to the assurance we can have in the prophetic promises still to be fulfilled. Look up! Your redemption draws near. (Luke 21:28) “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols”. (1 John 5:21) These are the last words of the Apostle John in his first epistle. In a letter which he begins with a high Trinitarian and Christological declaration, he ends with a warning against idols. Idols are not simply carved images of wood or stone. Rather, for most people today they represent the notions and ideas of God that are simply unworthy of God as He has revealed Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. John Calvin, writing in the opening chapter of his “Institutes”, went so far as to say “…the human mind is so to speak a perpetual factory of idols” (Ch.1.XI.8). Sadly, this idol making factory finds its home in the minds of many Christians today. For far too long and for far too many, we have allowed notions and ideas unworthy of God to collect on the theological shelves of our minds. These idols over time become “sacred cows” that are defended to the death as orthodoxy. Yet, deep in our hearts, we know that they have not brought us Life. In fact, they have stared back at us with the same blank look they produce in us when we try and examine them or reconcile them to the Triune God of Grace. |