* This is part three of three in a series based on a Thanksgiving sermon I preached this past Sunday based on Luke 18:9-14. In this section, I argue that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the source of all acceptable thanksgiving. Or, in other words, we should thank God for justification by faith! For [...]
Posted tagged ‘Justification’
Justified Thanksgiving
November 24, 2010The Quest for (Self) Justification
November 23, 2010* This is part two of three of a series from a Thanksgiving sermon I preached Sunday from Luke 18:9-14. This part focuses on the quest for justification (and its relationship to thanksgiving). To read part one, go here. The most important word in this passage (Luke 18:9-14) is found in verse 14. It is [...]
Unacceptable Thanksgiving
November 22, 2010* This is part one of three of sermon notes I preached Sunday about Thanksgiving from Luke 18:9-14. This passage speaks powerfully to what I called “justified thanksgiving.” This week is a special time in the calendar year. We call it Thanksgiving—a time where family and friends come together to share meals, discuss their lives, [...]
When Justification Is Marginalized
July 7, 2010Check this powerful excerpt describing nominal Christianity evidenced when “the dynamic of justification” is marginalized: “The ultimate concern of most church members is not the worship and service of Christ in evangelistic mission and social compassion, but rather survival and success in their secular vocation. The church is a spoke on the wheel of life [...]
Gospel-Centered Renewal: I Have Been Made New
July 29, 2009I believe one of the defining theological marks of my generation is a passionate commitment to the centrality and sufficiency of the gospel for all of life. Some of this could be understood as a corrective to a truncated or shelved gospel, but I am more inclined to believe that God is awakening His people [...]
Said at Southern Interview N.T. Wright on Justification, Sola Scriptura, and More
November 19, 2007Trevin Wax and Tony Kummer (of Said at Southern) recently interviewed N.T. Wright while he was at Asbury Theological Seminary last week. You can download the podcast by clicking here. Trevin has provided a full transcript of the interview as well as individual excerpts. Here’s the breakdown of the interview: Introduction Wright’s conversion, calling, and [...]
Piper on Justification and the Diminished Work of Christ
November 19, 2007From Desiring God Blog: The audio and manuscript (and now video) are posted of John Piper’s lecture last night at the Evangelical Theological Society in San Diego. Here is John Piper’s closing plea: For the sake of the undiminished fullness of the glory of Christ and for the sake of the radical sacrificial love that [...]
Paul Helm on Word and Spirit in Conversion
November 1, 2007Paul Helm has posted on his blog an important article entitled “Word and Spirit in Conversion” (incidentally something I have been studying in regards to pneumatological inclusivism). He explains, “In this paper I should like to explore the moral side to conversion and to set out two models of this aspect of conversion which have [...]
Book Alert: The Future of Justification (for $5)
October 24, 2007Title: The Future of Justification: A Response to N.T. Wright Author: John Piper Release Date: November 1, 2007 Pages: 240 Format: Trade Paperback ISBN 10-digit: 1-5813-49641 ISBN 13-digit: 978-1581349641 Retail Price: $14.99 Table of Contents: No Intro: No Sample Chapter: No From Crossway: N.T. Wright, a world-renowned New Testament scholar and bishop of Durham in [...]
Those “not far from the kingdom” may be farther than you think
November 22, 2010Reflecting on the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14 makes me think about the temptation to legislate morality by arbitrarily judging which sinners we think are most “savable.” If the Temple that day were a typical Sunday morning, I presume most churches would cater to the man with moral superiority. He shows interest in religion and shows [...]
Categories: Gospel, Personal Commentary
Tags: Gospel, Justification, Repentance, Self-Righteousness
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