Category Archives: Scripture

T4G Wednesday Lunch & PM Sessions

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When 5,000+ folks adjourn for the lunch hour it can seem like a new olympic event. There are a limited number of fast food restaurants (and the fancy ones are too expensive and slow). My strategy: let my friend Ron walk back to the hotel, while I jogged west a couple of blocks to an “out of the way” Quiznos sub shop. Right! The line overflowed the little shop when I got there! But, practicing my patience, 20 minutes later I had our two hot subs and was off to the hotel for lunch with Ron.

Session #5 — Dr R.C. SPROUL
I was 30 minutes early to hear Dr Sproul Wednesday afternoon. I’ve met him a couple of times over the years, and consider myself a student of his (albeit at a distance). He’s a ‘father in the faith’ to me and to so many. My eyes welled with tears to see the clear signs of age (and illness) upon him. He arrived in a wheelchair (due to troubles with vertigo), and spoke while sitting at the pulpit on a bar stool. But none of this hindered his passion for the Word or for his task!

His topic was: The Curse Motif of the Atonement. You cannot grasp of the work of the cross without consideration of the wrath it displays against sin. “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” the Bible says [Gal. 3:13]. Jesus, the Son of God, sinless Lord of heaven, hung on a tree! Dr Sproul opened texts from the OT in order to explain this passage in Galatians 3, and the context of God’s blessing and curse. RC preached a powerful message, not only as a serious theologian, but as the lover of God’s glory and the souls of men under the curse. I was much moved, and blessed.

A wonderful panel discussion followed, with great questions and simple (but profound) answers shared. How I long for such doctrine-loving camaraderie with other pastors in my own area!

Session #6 — Dr. Albert MOHLER
And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood? is a line from the great hymn by Wesley, which Dr Mohler quoted at the outset of his address. The cross ought always raise our hearts and minds in endless wonder — how is it that we should gain life by the death of Christ? Specifically his address on the doctrine of the atonement (on “penal substitution”) focused on why men hate this doctrine so much. In the midst of this far reaching academic message much was learned, and the conclusion seemed to hinge on the difference between human forgiveness and that of God — Who cannot simply forgive men (and condone their sin), but must maintain His justice and punish every sin.

I am so glad that Jesus died in my place, satisfying the Law’s demands, brining me peace.

T4G Wednesday AM

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This is a great conference — with in depth teaching, sweet songs of praise and hymns of worship (before and after each session) and good times of spiritual fellowship throughout the day. Unfortunately, my friend and roommate Ron is sick with a bad cough/cold, and has missed a session or two. Please pray for his health to improve.

There were four speaker sessions today, and three panel discussions. I can’t post more than a few thoughts from each session, but have been deeply affected and instructed by these godly men who have been preaching to us.

Session #3 — John MacARTHUR
The first of the speakers today was John MacArthur, who received a standing ovation as he walked to the pulpit. His assignment was: The Sinner Neither Able nor Willing: The Doctrine of Absolute Inability (or total depravity). Moving through two dozen NT passages, he built a strong biblical case for this often neglected doctrine. He said a denial of this doctrine is at the heart of liberalism, and, that an “incipient Arminianism” had overrun evangelicals. Somehow too many preachers today believe that better methods on Sunday (everything from lighting, power-points, to informality of talk) makes sinners more likely to respond to the gospel. This is not the case, for man’s problem is (in my own words) not spiritual disinterest, but spiritual death. Man is unable and unwilling to turn to God, until the grace of God comes upon him. Depravity is a hard doctrine, but (as MacArthur said) ‘hard preaching makes soft people.’

Session #4 — Mark DEVER
The second speaker of the morning was Mark Dever, with a powerful expose of varous wrongs done to the gospel in our own day, by professing Christians. His address was titled: Improving the Gospel? Exercise in Unbiblical Theology. Dever summarized five ‘cries’ presently raised about how we ought to “improve” the gospel.

(1) Some wrongly cry, “Make the gospel public”
(2) Some wrongly cry, “Make the gospel larger”
(3) Some wrongly cry, “Make the gospel relevant”
(4) Some wrongly cry, “Make the gospel personal”
(5) Some wrongly cry, “Make the gospel kinder”

Each of these refers to a grouping of efforts to add to, amend or even change the very content of the gospel message in a given direction. The first cry refers to efforts to replace the message of the cross and the call to conversion with social action and efforts to influence the culture. Granted that individual believers ought to be active in mercy ministries and in molding our public policies — but these things are not of the essence of the gospel message. The second cry refers to those who blur the implications of the gospel with the content of the gospel (or, the ‘fruit’ with the ‘root’). Charles Colson was named in this group, for confusing “doing the gospel” with the message we must believe to be saved. The last few points were also powerful in their analysis of our modern culture and their wrong-headed attempts to change our precious gospel.