about the sidebar.

I don’t think I’ve mentioned that I’ve been going through an old series of posts from the old blog—the ones on the people of faith in Hebrews 11—and editting and moving them over here to this blog. I’ve been linking them as favorite posts way over there on the right below the photo.

I hope to get the more substantial posts from the old and ugly Blogger blog moved over—within my lifetime, if I live long enough—but rather than have too many reposts right up front here, I’m dating most of them with their original dates so they’ll be way back there in the archives. But for those who might be interested, I’ll link each one over there in the favorite posts when I transfer it.

Okay now. Back to work. Class dismissed. As you were. Return to sender.

What do Christians mean when they say the Bible is inerrant? The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy tells us what leading inerrantist mean by inerrancy. I’ll be posting a section of this statement each week until I’ve posted the whole thing.

The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy was formulated in 1978 by approximately 300 evangelical scholars at a conference sponsored by the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy, held in Chicago. The statement was designed to defend the position of Biblical inerrancy against trends toward liberal conceptions of Scripture and higher biblical criticism. The undersigners came from a variety of evangelical denominations, and include James Montgomery Boice, Carl F. H. Henry, Roger Nicole, J. I. Packer, Francis Schaeffer, and R. C. Sproul. (Source: Theopedia)

Preface

The authority of Scripture is a key issue for the Christian church in this and every age. Those who profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are called to show the reality of their discipleship by humbly and faithfully obeying God’s written Word. To stray from Scripture in faith or conduct is disloyalty to our Master. Recognition of the total truth and trustworthiness of Holy Scripture is essential to a full grasp and adequate confession of its authority.

The following Statement affirms this inerrancy of Scripture afresh, making clear our understanding of it and warning against its denial. We are persuaded that to deny it is to set aside the witness of Jesus Christ and of the Holy Spirit and to refuse that submission to the claims of God’s own Word which marks true Christian faith. We see it as our timely duty to make this affirmation in the face of current lapses from the truth of inerrancy among our fellow Christians and misunderstandings of this doctrine in the world at large.

This Statement consists of three parts: a Summary Statement, Articles of Affirmation and Denial, and an accompanying Exposition. It has been prepared in the course of a three-day consultation in Chicago. Those who have signed the Summary Statement and the Articles wish to affirm their own conviction as to the inerrancy of Scripture and to encourage and challenge one another and all Christians to growing appreciation and understanding of this doctrine. We acknowledge the limitations of a document prepared in a brief, intensive conference and do not propose that this Statement be given creedal weight. Yet we rejoice in the deepening of our own convictions through our discussions together, and we pray that the Statement we have signed may be used to the glory of our God toward a new reformation of the Church in its faith, life, and mission.

We offer this Statement in a spirit, not of contention, but of humility and love, which we purpose by God’s grace to maintain in any future dialogue arising out of what we have said. We gladly acknowledge that many who deny the inerrancy of Scripture do not display the consequences of this denial in the rest of their belief and behavior, and we are conscious that we who confess this doctrine often deny it in life by failing to bring our thoughts and deeds, our traditions and habits, into true subjection to the divine Word.

We invite response to this statement from any who see reason to amend its affirmations about Scripture by the light of Scripture itself, under whose infallible authority we stand as we speak. We claim no personal infallibility for the witness we bear, and for any help which enables us to strengthen this testimony to God’s Word we shall be grateful.

— The Draft Committee

Good news from Heav’n, good news for thee,
There flows a pardon, full and free,
To guilty sinners, through the blood
Of the incarnate Son of God;
He paid the debt that thou didst owe,
He suffered death for thee below,
He bore the wrath divine for thee,
He groaned and bled on Calvary.

Refrain

Good news from Heav’n, good news for thee,
There flows a pardon, full and free,
To guilty sinners, through the blood
Of the incarnate Son of God.

Good news from Heav’n, good news for thee,
The Savior cries, “Come unto Me
All ye who toil, with fears oppressed;
Come, weary one, oh, come and rest.”
He loves thee with o’erflowing love,
He hears thy prayer in Heav’n above,
He all thy pasture shall prepare,
And lead thee with a shepherd’s care.

Good news from Heav’n, good news for thee,
Has echoed from eternity;
And loud shall our hosannas ring,
When with the ransomed throng we sing.
“Worthy the Lamb,” whose precious blood
Has made us kings and priests to God;
Our harps we’ll tune to noblest strains,
And glory give to Him who reigns.

—J. C. Ryle

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• Heavenly Sunlight at The Happy Wonderer
• Lord’s Day 6, 2010 at The Thirsty Theologian
• At All Times Praise the Lord at Whatever Is Good
• I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say at Hiraeth
• Heart Aflame - Psalm 16:1-2 at The Upward Call
• I Belong to Jesus at Field Stone Cottage
• God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength at Whatever Things
• Praise Ye the Lord at Count it all Joy
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: Games Liberals Play
• Holy, Holy, Holy, Christ, Thy Disciples at Conjubilant with Song

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by emailing me at the address in the sidebar and I’ll add your post to the list.

The subject of this chapter is the believer’s union with Christ. You’ll not find union with Christ in most orders of salvation, but  John Murray includes it—and I’m glad—in his discussion of the application of redemption.

Union with Christ, he says, is unlike the phases in the application of redemption already discussed in this book because “in its broader aspects it underlies every step in the application of redemption.” What’s more, union with Christ extends beyond the application of redemption.

• Eternal election is “in Christ”, so at the very beginning of salvation, we find union with Christ.
• When he died on the cross and rose again, Christ was united with his people. “In the Beloved” we have redemption.
• New creation is “in Christ Jesus.” It is through union with Christ that we are created anew.
• Our new life continues through union with Christ, in the “fellowship of Jesus’ resurrection.”
• Believers die in Christ. Death is real, but “the separated elements of the person are still united to Christ.”
• Believers will be resurrected and glorified in Christ.

There you have it: Union with Christ comes from eternity past and reaches its full purpose in the consummation. It runs from “no beginning” to “no end.” There is, for the believer, no way to think “of the past, present, or future apart from union with Christ.” It is, as you can see, a comprehensive matter.

Yet there is a specific time in our lives when we become, by our effectual calling, actual partakers of our union with Christ. Until that time, scripture says we are “without Christ” and “children of wrath.”

What is the nature of the union with Christ in which we come to partake?

• It is spiritual, not as some sort of airy-fairy thing, but as something worked and maintained by the Holy Spirit. Christ “dwells in us by the Spirit.” Murray writes that “it is a union of an intensely spiritual character consonant with the nature and work of the Holy Spirit so that in a real way surpassing our power of analysis Christ dwells in his people and his people dwell in him.”
• It is mystical. This word, of course, must be understood in a scriptural way. It “is mystical because it is a mystery.” All the varied illustrations in scripture used to picture this relationship should tell us that this union is something not exactly like anything else. It is communion with Christ and like no communion among men. Our faith “must have the passion and warmth of love and communion because communion with God is the crown and apex of true religion.”

Yes, “[u]nion with Christ is the central truth of the whole doctrine of salvation.” We are elected in Christ; redeemed in Christ; called, regenerated, justified, adopted, and sanctified in Christ. “There is no truth, therefore, more suited to impart confidence and strength, comfort and joy in the Lord than this one of union with Christ.”

And there is still one more important thing about union with Christ. It brings us not only into communion with Christ, but through him to communion with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Or maybe it is better to say, as Murray does, that union with Christ “draws along with it” union with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Here is mysticism on the highest plane. It is not the mysticism of vague unintelligible feeling or rapture…. It is faith solidly founded on the revelation deposited for us in the Scripture and it is actively receiving that revelation by the inward witness of the Holy Spirit. But it is also faith that stirs the deepest springs of emotion in the raptures of holy love and joy.

• Enough food.
• Enough warm bedding.
• Enough energy to do what I really must do.
• Enough help.
• A good enough car.
• A good enough home.
• Enough revelation from God that I can know him.

On Thursday’s throughout this year, I plan to post a few thoughts of thanksgiving along with Kim at the Upward Call and others.

I just posted the very last question in the Westminster Larger Catechism. That’s 196 questions and answers, one per week for 3 years and 40 weeks.

Come back next week to see which historic church document I’ve decided to post next.

The conclusion of the Lord’s prayer (which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.),[1] teaches us to enforce our petitions with arguments,[2] which are to be taken, not from any worthiness in ourselves, or in any other creature, but from God;[3] and with our prayers to join praises,[4] ascribing to God alone eternal sovereignty, omnipotency, and glorious excellency;[5] in regard whereof, as he is able and willing to help us,[6] so we by faith are emboldened to plead with him that he would,[7] and quietly to rely upon him, that he will fulfil our requests.[8] And, to testify this our desire and assurance, we say, Amen.[9]

Here’s a sample from a column written in November 2004:

On Porcupine River is low water, but even that some boys always go up river to look for caribou or either moose. Sometime they get one or two caribou and come back they were glad to bring caribou home. Everyone in Old Crow raise with caribou meat and also moose so they can stand without wild meat. And also fish to, when they get fish women cut it up and dry it with smoke fire and they eat dry fish in winter time. They get use to eat caribou meat and also moose meat soon they get it and they cut it up and make dry meat. When they make dry meat it last with them all winter.

There you have it. I used to clip her columns from the paper and mail them to my parents because they were one-of-a-kind. It’s sad to know there will be no more of them.

People in Order

People In Order: From Age 1 to 100 from James Price on Vimeo.

Just for the Fun
I’ve been commenting here, starting at comment #19. (Evangel) Everytime I start something like this I end up spending way too much time at it, but I do love it. And I learn from it.

Speaking of Scripture
Here’s a helpful summary of the internal evidence in Scripture for the canon of Scripture. (Triablogue)

Things That Rankle
Anything that feels trendy, for one, and this is one such thing. (Kevin DeYoung) Yes, I’m a grouchy old fogey. Undoubtedly, sometimes there are important reasons for it, but I’m thinking mostly there aren’t.

Six More Weeks of It
So you might as well learn something about it. (mental_floss Blog)

original sin
The sinful state and condition in which all human beings are born, which includes both imputed guilt (the guilt of Adam’s sin counted as their own) and inherited corruption (a disposition toward sin).

• From scripture:

  Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

  15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

  18 Therefore, as one  trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:12-21 ESV)

  And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV)
  

• From The Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 18:

  Q. 18. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
  A. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.

• From Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware:

  Because Adam was the first man, and all the rest of us, throughout all of history, have come from Adam, then God saw all of the rest of us connected to Adam and his sin. So, when Adam sinned, all of us who come from Adam would receive sin in our own inner lives (our natures). We  are born into this world, then, with sinful natures that trace back to the sin of Adam. And when Adam sinned, all of us who come from Adam also received God’s judgment of death, the punishment for sin that God gave to Adam and all who come from Adam. Adam’s sin, then is our sin. Adam’s sinful nature results in our having sinful natures. And Adam’s guilt and condemnation carry over to our being guilty and deserving death.

• From Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem: 

  When we first confront the idea that we have been counted guilty because of Adam’s sin, our tendency is to protest because it seems unfair. We did not actually decide to sin, did we? Then how can we be counted guilty? Is it just for God to act this way?

  In response, three things may be said: (1) Everyone who protests that this is unfair has also voluntarily committed many actual sins for which God also holds us guilty. These will constitute the  primary basis of our judgment on the last day…. (2) Moreover, some have argued, “If any one of us were in Adam’s place, we also would have sinned as he did, and our subsequent rebellion against God demonstrates that.” ….

  (3) The most persuasive answer to the objection is to point out that if we think it is unfair for us to be represented by Adam, then we should also think it is unfair for us to be represented by Christ and to have his righteousness imputed to us by God. For the procedure that God used was just the same, and that is exactly Paul’s point in Romans 5: 12-21….

Learn more:

1. R. C. Sproul: Adam’s Fall and Mine
2. Jonathan Edwards: The Great Doctrine of Original Sin Defended
   
3. Curt Daniel: Original Sin (mp3)
4. S. Lewis Johnson: The Imputation of Adam’s Sin to His Posterity (mp3 and more)
   
5. Here at this blog: Quiz on Original Sin
   

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it.

I’m also interested in any suggestions you have for tweaking my definitions or for additional (or better) articles or sermons/lectures for linking. I’ll give you credit and a link back to your blog if I use your suggestion.

Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms organized in alphabetical order or by topic.

The Sands of Time Are Sinking

The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of Heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for—the fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark hath been the midnight, but dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

O Christ, He is the fountain, the deep, sweet well of love!
The streams on earth I’ve tasted more deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Oh! Well it is forever, Oh! well forevermore,
My nest hung in no forest of all this death doomed shore:
Yea, let the vain world vanish, as from the ship the strand,
While glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

There the Red Rose of Sharon unfolds its heartsome bloom
And fills the air of heaven with ravishing perfume:
Oh! To behold it blossom, while by its fragrance fanned
Where glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

The King there in His beauty, without a veil is seen:
It were a well spent journey, though seven deaths lay between:
The Lamb with His fair army, doth on Mount Zion stand,
And glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Oft in yon sea beat prison My Lord and I held tryst,
For Anwoth was not heaven, and preaching was not Christ:
And aye, my murkiest storm cloud was by a rainbow spanned,
Caught from the glory dwelling in Immanuel’s land.

But that He built a Heaven of His surpassing love,
A little new Jerusalem, like to the one above,
“Lord take me over the water” hath been my loud demand,
Take me to my love’s own country, unto Immanuel’s land.

But flowers need nights cool darkness, the moonlight and the dew;
So Christ, from one who loved it, His shining oft withdrew:
And then, for cause of absence my troubled soul I scanned
But glory shadeless shineth in Immanuel’s land.

The little birds of Anwoth, I used to count them blessed,
Now, beside happier altars I go to build my nest:
Over these there broods no silence, no graves around them stand,
For glory, deathless, dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Fair Anwoth by the Solway, to me thou still art dear,
Even from the verge of heaven, I drop for thee a tear.
Oh! If one soul from Anwoth meet me at God’s right hand,
My heaven will be two heavens, In Immanuel’s land.

I’ve wrestled on towards Heaven, against storm and wind and tide,
Now, like a weary traveler that leaneth on his guide,
Amid the shades of evening, while sinks life’s lingering sand,
I hail the glory dawning from Immanuel’s land.

Deep waters crossed life’s pathway, the hedge of thorns was sharp;
Now, these lie all behind me Oh! for a well tuned harp!
Oh! To join hallelujah with yon triumphant band,
Who sing where glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

With mercy and with judgment my web of time He wove,
And aye, the dews of sorrow were lustered with His love;
I’ll bless the hand that guided, I’ll bless the heart that planned
When throned where glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Soon shall the cup of glory wash down earth’s bitterest woes,
Soon shall the desert briar break into Eden’s rose;
The curse shall change to blessing the name on earth that’s banned
Be graven on the white stone in Immanuel’s land.

O I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved’s mine!
He brings a poor vile sinner into His “house of wine.”
I stand upon His merit—I know no other stand,
Not even where glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

I shall sleep sound in Jesus, filled with His likeness rise,
To love and to adore Him, to see Him with these eyes:
’Tween me and resurrection but Paradise doth stand;
Then—then for glory dwelling in Immanuel’s land.

The Bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory but on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth but on His piercèd hand;
The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel’s land.

I have borne scorn and hatred, I have borne wrong and shame,
Earth’s proud ones have reproached me for Christ’s thrice blessed Name:
Where God His seal set fairest they’ve stamped the foulest brand,
But judgment shines like noonday in Immanuel’s land.

They’ve summoned me before them, but there I may not come,
My Lord says “Come up hither,” My Lord says “Welcome home!”
My King, at His white throne, my presence doth command
Where glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

—Anne R. Cousin

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• Redeemed, Restored, Forgiven at The Happy Wonderer
• Lord’s Day 5, 2010 at The Thirsty Theologian
• My Song Shall Bless the Lord of All at Whatever Is Good
• Mighty God, While Angels Bless Thee at Hiraeth
• Heart Aflame - Psalm 15:1 at The Upward Call
• Come, Let Us to the Lord Our God at Field Stone Cottage
• Jesus, and Shall It Ever Be? at Whatever Things
• Mighty to Save at Count it all Joy
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: The Blind Leading the Blind Till They Both Fall in a Ditch
• Behold the Lamb (Communion Hymn) (video) at promptings
• Behold the Lamb (Communion Hymn) (words) at Challies.com

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by emailing me at the address in the sidebar and I’ll add your post to the list.