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Your weekly Dose of SpurgeonThe PyroManiacs devote some space each weekend to highlights from the lifetime of works from the Prince of Preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. The following excerpt is from According to Promise, pages 28-30, Pilgrim Publications. "If my reader would feel freer and more at home in society than in the church of God, let him know assuredly that he belongs to the world, and let him not deceive himself."Isaac and Ishmael lived together for a time. The self-religionist and the believer in the promise may be members of the same church for years, but they are not agreed, and cannot be happy together, for their principles are essentially opposed. As the believer grows in grace and enters upon his spiritual manhood, he will be more and more disagreeable to the legalist, and it will ultimately be seen that the two have no fellowship with one another. They must separate, and this is the word that will be fulfilled to the Ishmaelite: “Cast out this bond-woman and her son: for the son of this bond-woman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.” Grievous as the parting may be, it will be according to the divine will, and according to the necessities of the case. Oil and water will not mingle, neither will the natural man's religion agree with that which is born of the promise, and sustained by the promise. Their parting will be only the outward result of a serious difference which always existed.Outwardly, and in this present life, the heir of the promise did not appear to have the best of it. Nor, indeed, should this be expected, since they who choose their heritage in the future have, in fact, agreed to accept trial in the present.Isaac experienced certain afflictions which Ishmael never knew: he was mocked, and he was at last laid on the altar; but nothing of the sort happened to Ishmael. You, who like Isaac are the children of the promise, must not envy those who are the heirs of this present life, though their lot seems easier than your own. Your temptation is to do so; even as the Psalmist did when he was grieved because of the prosperity of the wicked.There is in this fretting a measure of running back from our spiritual choice: have we not agreed to take our part in the future rather than in the present? Do we rue the bargain? Moreover, how absurd it is to envy those who are themselves so much to be pitied! To lose the promise is practically to lose everything; and the self-righteous have lost it. These worldly professors have no spiritual light or life, and they desire none. What a loss, to be in the dark and not to know it! They have enough religion to make them respectable among men, and comfortable in their own consciences; but this is a sorry gain if they are abominable in the sight of God. They feel no inward fightings and wrestlings; they find no contention of the old man against the new; and so they go through life with a jaunty air, knowing nothing till their end come. What wretchedness to be so besotted! Again, I say, do not envy them. Better far is the life of Isaac with its sacrifice, than that of Ishmael with its sovereignty and wild freedom; for all the worldling's greatness will soon be ended and leave nothing behind it but that which will make the eternal world to be the more miserable.

Temple Baptist Church - 7-8-2018Romans 8:29-30Introduction:A. As we look at predestination tonight, we need to remember that the Bible plainly asserts that God is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:6-11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; James 2:1) Any doctrine that places God in a position of such is blatantly false!B. Some confuse and equate Divine foreknowledge and foreordination. God can know a matter before hand without predetermining the matter to the point that the people (in this case) are excluded, as far as their will and participation are concerned. Some religionists, nonetheless, maintain such a radical view of predestination that in stressing the sovereignty of God, they have eliminated the will and role of man.C. God “understandeth our thoughts afar off” and, therefore, knows what choices that we will make. God knew that Satan would tempt Eve and that Adam would sin. He did not force or program them to sin. They committed sin by choice. God is a God of love and ultimate equity!D. Biblical predestination is proof of God's omniscience. Furthermore, biblical prophecy is predicated on God's foreknowledge and predestination. The fact that God knew that only a few would accept his Son is also indicative of God's love in sending his Son. "The few" who will be saved are not a group whom God arbitrarily and totally, without any participation on their part, chose to be save, but those who "enter in at the strait gate," which is faith in Jesus Christ!E. First, I hope everyone has the preceding straight. Man has responsibility to come to Jesus Christ for salvation. Period!F. Secondly, predestination has to do with God's purpose in salvation, not selection in salvation. Predestination has to do with foreknowledge! As we look at these verses, we see them from God's side which was precipitated in eternity past, declaring His purpose and man's side which began in verse 7. No man is predestined to either heaven or hell. Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels, not man! (Unless some ignorant theologian thinks that all the unsaved are the “angel-humans” of their “Sons of God” theory in Genesis 6!)G. Let's look at these verses in their context and see what God said concerning predestination. 1. The “For” at the beginning of verse 29 ties it to the preceding verses (Context Principle of Bible Interpretation) and, therefore to us as God's children. There is no mention of the unsaved in these verses! God is declaring the position of those in Christ. The antecedent of “whom” is the plural pronouns found in these verses. There is not one singular pronoun in the context. Paul, through the Holy Ghost, is speaking of the body corporate or the Body of Christ.2. The word “foreknow” is the key to the verses for tonight. God not only knew about us, He knew us! God knows all things. He sees the end from the beginning. Nothing ever surprises God or even occurs to God. He is omniscient. He knew that we would come to trust in Him from the foundation of the world.Ephesians 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Notice the plural pronouns. Predestination and election are always found surrounded with plural pronouns. Never, when referring to man, do you find a singular pronoun in the context. God sees a “finished product” when He sees us!)Ephesians 2:5-6 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (“Ye” is plural because it becomes “we” and “us” and together.)Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (“Ye” is plural because it becomes “yourselves” and “we.” It is the Body of Christ that conforms to the image of Christ.)3. “Predestinate” is to pre-determine. Predestination is our conformity to Christ, not “election” by Christ. What and who did God pre-determine. The collective Body of Christ. God sees us eternally home and like unto Him. He also sees a Bride perfected.Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.4. “Called.” The “called” in this verse are those whom God foreknew that would answer His call. We that are saved are the “called.”Matthew 22:11-14 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: (12) And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. (13) Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (14) For many are called, but few are chosen. (The “wedding garment” is the imputed righteousness of Christ. God's call is a universal invitation but the chosen are those who answer that call.)2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (How are we “chosen?” Through faith! We believed the truth. Sanctification and belief are simultaneous acts.)Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (This verse Biblically answers the question: “Does man have a choice to accept or to reject?”John 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (The Pharisees could have been saved just as Paul was on the Damascus Road.)5. “Them He justified.” To be declared or to render innocent.Galatians 3:6-8 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. (7) Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (8) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. (We are justified through our act of faith, not election or predestination.)6. “Glorified.” As God knew us who are and are being saved before the beginning, He also sees us glorified with Him in eternity! Jude 24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.Conclusion: I think that the conclusion becomes obvious.1. God's Foreknowledge Sees Our Salvation Blood Based.2. God's Foreknowledge Sees Us Conformed To The Image Of His Son.3. God's Foreknowledge Sees Us Holy And Without Blame Before Him In Love.4. God's Foreknowledge Sees Us Finally Home!

Temple Baptist Church - 7-1-2018Romans 8:28Introduction:A. Romans 8:28 is one of those “faith” verses that are much easier quoted than lived.1. What this verse does not say: that all things that affect our lives are good. There things that we face that are unjust, unfair, horrible things that are out of our control. These are not good things. These are things that we wish had never occurred! Bad things happen to good people! Bad things happen to God's people.2. The Bible declares that all things work together for good. God uses these bad things as well as the good things that happen to us to bring us closer to God.B. I am not saying that we should have such a strong faith that we never doubt. I am saying that we are human and occasionally our faith fails us. God does not fail us, we fail God in unbelief.Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (We are not always trusting though we should be.)1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (We are not always thankful though this is the will of God.)Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (We are not always rejoicing though we should be.)C. The key words are “we know.” Yes, we do know! We know that we can trust God with both our salvation and our daily bread. We can trust God with our lives and welfare.Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.D. Romans 8:28 is an important verse because:1. In a world gone mad – “we know”2. In sickness and death – “we know”3. In persecution and hatred – “we know”4. In financial woes – “we know”5. In uncertain times - “we know”1. The People Of Romans 8:28 – “we ... to them that love God”a. Saved By His Loving Grace - 1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.b. Secure Through His Eternal Blood - Hebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.c. Satisfied By His Faithful Provision - Mark 8:4, 8 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? ... So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.2. The Perception Of Romans 8:28 - “know”a. We Rely On God's Word - Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. b. We Recognize God's Guidance - Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.c. We Rest On God's Promises - Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.3. The Providence Of Romans 8:28 - “all”a. God's Sovereignty - Romans 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?b. God's Scheme - Isaiah 14:24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:c. God's Security - Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 4. The Paradox Of Romans 8:28 – “all things”a. The Complexity Of Romans 8:28 - Job 10:15 If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;b. The Completeness Of Romans 8:28 - 1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:c. The Contentment Of Romans 8:28 - Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 5. The Power Of Romans 8:28 – “work...good”a. Suffering Brings Praise To The Saviour - 1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.Jude 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,b. Suffering Brings Purity To The Saint - Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.c. Suffering Brings Perfection To The Sufferer - James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 6. The Purpose Of Romans 8:28 - “together for good”a. Suffering Strengthens Our Faith - 1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: b. Suffering Strengthens Our Resolve- 1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. c. Suffering Strengthens Our Testimony - Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 7. The Prospect Of Romans 8:28 – “for good”a. The Work Of Suffering - Romans 5:3-4 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:b. The Wisdom Of Suffering - Psalms 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. c. The Worship Of Suffering - 1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8. The Plan Of Romans 8:28 - “the called ... purpose”a. God Knows His Purpose - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.b. God Knows Our Needs - Hebrews 10:35-37 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.8. The Person Of Romans 8:28 - “God”Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. a. Romans 8:28 Is Of Godb. Romans 8:28 Is Through Godc. Romans 8:28 Is To God

Your weekly Dose of SpurgeonThe PyroManiacs devote some space each weekend to highlights from the lifetime of works from the Prince of Preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. The following excerpt is from the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, volume 49, sermon number 2,824, "Mocked of the soldiers.""Far be it from us to seek a crown of honour where our Lord found a coronet of thorn."I do believe—I cannot help believing—that our blessed Master, when he was in the hands of those cruel soldiers, and they crowned him with thorns, bowed before him in mock reverence, and insulted him in every possible way, all the while looked behind the curtain of the visible circumstances, and saw that the heartless pantomime,—nay, tragedy,—only partially hid the divine reality, for he was a King, even then, and he had a throne, and that thorn-crown was the emblem of the diadem of universal sovereignty that shall, in due season, adorn his blessed brow; that reed was to him a type of the sceptre which he shall yet wield as King of kings, and Lord of lords; and when they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” he heard, behind that mocking cry, the triumphant note of his future glory, “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The Lord God omnipotent reigneth; and he shall reign for ever and ever!” for when they mockingly bowed the knee to him, he saw all nations really bowing before him, and his enemies licking the dust at his feet. Our Saviour knew that these ribald soldiers, unconsciously to themselves, were setting before him pictures of the great reward of his soul-travail. Let us not be discouraged if we have to endure anything of the same sort as our Lord suffered. He was not discouraged, but remained steadfast through it all. Mockery is the unintentional homage which falsehood pays to truth. Scorn is the unconscious praise which sin gives to holiness. What higher tribute could these soldiers give to Christ than to spit upon him? If Christ had received honour from such men, there would have been no honour in it to him. You know how even a heathen moralist, when they said to him, “So-and-So spoke well of you yesterday in the market,” asked, “What have I done amiss that such a wretch as that should speak well of me?” He rightly counted it a disgrace to be praised by a bad man; and because our Lord had done nothing amiss, all that these men could do was to speak ill of him, and treat him with contumely, for their nature and character were the very opposite of his. Representing, as these soldiers did, the unregenerate, God-hating world, I say that their scorn was the truest reverence that they could offer to Christ while they continued as they were; and so, at the back of persecution, at the back of heresy, at the back of the hatred of ungodly men to the cross of Christ, I see his everlasting kingdom advancing, and I believe that “the mountain of the Lord's house shall be exalted above the hills,” and that “all nations shall flow unto it,” even as Isaiah foretold; that Jesus shall sit upon the throne of David, and that of the increase of his kingdom there shall be no end, for the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honour unto him, “and he shall reign for ever and ever. Hallelujah!” Glory be to his holy name!

Here is the now completed series of B.R.I.D.G.E. Ministries (Laredo, Texas) podcasts covering the doctrines of grace (the so called TULIP acrostic):Teachers include Dr. John Frame, Pastor Jeff Durbin, Pastor John Samson, Dr. James White, Dr. Tim Trumper� & Dr. Joel Beeke.1. The Sovereignty of God - Dr. John Frame: Podcast: Play in new window | Download