We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum. A.W. Tozer
Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the word of God, in favor of that side will be cast the vote of truth. --Basil of Caesarea
Once you learn to discern, there's no going back. You will begin to spot the lie everywhere it appears.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service. 1 Timothy 1:12

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Be Holy!


It is to the extent that we grasp the truth of doctrine that the desire to be holy is created within us.  If I really believe that while I was "dead in trespasses and sins" God quickened me, sent His Son into the world to die for me and for my sins that I might be saved from hell, and might be saved for heaven -- if I really believe that, I must say, "Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."  It is logic, and it demands my soul, my life, my all.  I cannot resist such logic -- I must!  And so we work through all the great doctrines which the Apostle has been laying before us in the first three chapters [of Ephesians], and we remember that we are "no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God."  If I believe that truth as I live my life in this world, I realize that I have no right to live to myself.  "Therefore"! It is undeniable logic, an inevitable deduction.  It is because I believe the doctrine that I want to be holy and I want to be more and more sanctified.  "Be ye holy for I am holy," says the Lord (1 Peter 1:16).


D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Christian Unity: An Exposition of Ephesians 4:1-16, p.21-22

8 comments:

Eternity Matters said...

Jeremiah has really gone off the deep end. TBN beg-a-thons? How nauseating.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

I think you got your comment on the wrong article! :oD

castiron said...

Thanks for posting these gems along-side the disheartening posts. I had not even heard of D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones until you started posting these. I'll have to get that book.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' commentary on Ephesians is 8 volumes in paperback. He also has an excellent book, "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount." I used to have his excellent commentary on Philippians, but I loaned it out and it never came back. A new publication is out on 1 John, and I've ordered that one. I have a cassette series from AIG (no longer available) from Jone's preaching on Genesis.

Jones is excellent, but I have to warn that he has some starch reformed teaching. I just pass over that stuff, but it's there. He was a Welsh pastor.

castiron said...

8 volumes, awesome! I'll see if I can collect some of those before I get into Ephesians. I'm going thru the books of the Bible one at a time (trying to alternate between OT and NT), slowly, and trying to read various commentaries along with my study. I found a Richard Lenski book on Luke that was incredible and for the first time, I was able to understand some things in Luke that always baffled me. I'd like to get the rest of his NT series but they run $300 (the Luke one I found at Goodwill Outlet for 50 cents...)

I'm with you, I have to pass over some doctrinal/denominational things, but appreciate the depth and research these men can bring.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

CBD used to have the 8-volume Ephesians set, and I bought it on sale for about $40 back in 2003. Looking at their site now they show only two volumes, which cover the last part of chapter 6. They have several other books though. Apparently all the books are just collections of Jone's Sermons.

castiron said...

$40, ah, what a deal!! I'll probably hunt for used copies on Amazon and Abe books.

But it looks like a lot of his sermons, and the entire Ephesians series, is online, so maybe I'll listen instead of read:

http://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Castiron,

Thanks for the link - WOW, what resource!