Mirroring Jesus

"It's one thing to profess God, it's another thing to resemble Him."

- Thomas Watson, The Godly Man's Picture, pg 32

There are many glorious truths within the Gospel, but one in particular that is literally life-changing and soul-transforming is it's power to radically alter the very nature of a defiled sinner into the exquisite beauty and spiritual likeness of Jesus Christ.  This is where sanctification is of utmost importance in the life of a Christian.  Sanctification is often thought of as simply turning a bad person good; but what is the definition or standard of good that a Christian is sanctified into?  This standard is not a set of rules or laws that Christians are to resemble, but rather it is the very image of Jesus Christ as found in the Gospel.   The Gospel does not transform a Christian into some abstract moral goodness, but specifically into the likeness of the one whom the Gospel glories in.  It is the face of Jesus that we are to look to for sanctification as well as salvation.  Jesus not only saves us, but He replicates Himself in us.  At the beginning of Creation, Adam and Eve were created perfectly in the image of God, but then sin entered their hearts and not only separated Man from God, but also marred the image of God in Man.  Jesus Christ came as God manifested in the flesh not solely to reunite Man with God, but also to restore that perfect image of God in Man - and that image is Jesus Himself.

As we look at ourselves in the mirror each day, may we see less and less of our old sinful reflections, and in their place see more and more of Jesus' lovely holiness and beautiful countenance looking back at us.  Through the Gospel, let us take on the appearance of the very one who saves us.  In his book "The Godly Man's Picture" the 17th century Puritan Thomas Watson concludes this way, "As a painter looking at a face draws a face like it in the picture, so looking at Christ in the mirror of the Gospel, we are changed into his similitude. We may look at other objects that are glorious yet not be made glorious by them.  A deformed face may look at beauty, and yet not be made beautiful.  A wounded man may look at a surgeon, and yet not be healed.   But this is the excellence of divine knowledge, that it gives us such a sight of Christ as to make us partake of his nature."

"We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory." - 2 Corinthians 3:18

A Serious Call

Back in December, I wrote a review here of the book "A Serious Call To A Devout And Holy Life" written by the 18th century Puritan William Law.  That particular book is one of the most meaningful books I have read.  Because of Law's profound and expressive look into the type of devotional life that disciples of Jesus Christ are expected to strive for, I put together the video below which is made up of quotes I've taken from Law's book.  I hope this video can give an additional taste of how helpful it could be to submit us to live a holy and devout life unto God.

Praying With The Puritans

The Precious Blood

Blessed Lord Jesus,

Before thy Cross I kneel and see

the heinousness of my sin,

my iniquity that caused thee to be made a curse,

the evil that excites the severity of divine wrath.

Show me the enormity of my guilt by

the crown of thorns,

the pierced hands and feet,

the bruised body,

the dying cries.

Thy blood is the blood of incarnate God,

its worth infinite, its value beyond all thought.

Infinite must be the evil and guilt

that demands such a price.

Sin is my malady, my monster, my foe, my viper,

born in my birth,

alive in my life,

strong in my character,

dominating my faculties,

following me as a shadow,

intermingling with my every thought,

my chain that holds me captive in the empire of my soul.

Sinner that I am, why should the sun give me light,

the air supply breath,

the earth bear my tread,

the fruits nourish me,

its creature subserve my ends?

Yet thy compassions yearn over me,

thy heart hastens to my rescue,

thy love endured my curse,

thy mercy bore my deserved stripes.

Let me walk humbly in the lower depths of humiliation,

bathed in thy blood,

tender of conscience,

triumphing gloriously as an heir of salvation.

- Taken from "The Valley of Vision" A Collection of Puritan Prayers

The Nature of Sin

In chapter 3 of his book "The Christian Directory" the 17th century Puritan Richard Baxter devotes a section to the evil nature of sin, as well as it adverse effects in the life of a person.  Baxter wrote out two lists detailing both aspects of sin, and what I would like to do here is restate his first list detailing what sin actually is in comparison to our holy and righteous God.

It is my hope that reading through this list will help Christians to fully understand sin's abhorrent and ugly nature as truly an enemy to the perfect and glorious nature of God, and that by understanding it in such a way will convict Christians regarding sins in their own spiritual lives.  Richard Baxter put it this way, "If you see not the evil of sin in itself, as well as in the effect, it will but tempt you to think God unjust in over-punishing it; and it will keep you from the principal part of true repentance and mortification; which lieth in hating sin, as sin.  I shall therefore show you, wherein the intrinsical malignity of sin consisteth."

1. Sin is (formally) the violation of the perfect, holy, righteous law of God.

2. It is a denial or contempt of the authority, or governing power, of God; as if we said, Thou shalt not be our Governor in this.

3. It is a usurping the sovereign power to ourselves of governing ourselves, in that act; for when we refuse God's government, we set up ourselves in his stead; and so make gods of ourselves as to ourselves, as if we were self-sufficient, independent, and had right hereto.

4. It is a denying or contempt of the wisdom of God, as if he had unwisely made us a law which is unmeet to rule us.

5. It is a setting up of our folly in the place of God's wisdom, and preferring it before him; as if we were wiser to know how to govern ourselves, and to know what is fittest and best for us now to do, than God is.

6. It is a contempt of the goodness of God, as he is the maker of the law; as if he had not done that which is best, but that which may be corrected or contradicted, and there were some evil in it to be avoided.

7. It is a preferring of our naughtiness before his goodness, as if we would do it better, or choose better what to do.

8. It is a contempt or denial of the holiness and purity of God, which sets him against sin, as light is against darkness.

9. It is a violation of God's propriety or dominion, robbing him of the use and service of that which is absolutely and totally his own.

10. It is a claiming of propriety in ourselves, as if we were our own, and might do with ourselves as we list.

11. It is a contempt of the gracious promises of God, by which he allured and bound us to obedience.

12. It is a contempt of the dreadful threatenings of God, by which he would have restrained us from evil.

13. It is a contempt or denial of the dreadful day of judgment, in which an account must be given of that sin.

14. It is a denying of God's veracity, and giving him the lie; as if he were not to be believed in all his predictions, promises, and threats.

15. It is a contempt of all the present mercies (which are innumerable and great) by which God obligeth and encourageth us to obey.

16. It is a contempt of our own afflictions, and his chastisements of us, by which he would drive us from our sins.

17. It is a contempt of all the examples of his mercies on the obedient, and his terrible judgments on the disobedient (men and devils) by which he warned us not to sin.

18. It is a contempt of the person, office, sufferings, and grace of Jesus Christ, who came to save us from our sins, and to destroy the works of the devil; being contrary to his bloodshed, authority, and healing work.

19. It is a contradiction, fight against, and in that act prevailing against the sanctifying office and work of the the Holy Ghost, that moveth us against sin, and to obedience.

20. It is a contempt of holiness, and a defacing, in that measure, the image of God upon the soul, or a rejecting it; a vilifying of all those graces which are contrary to the sin.

21. It is a pleasing of the devil, the enemy of God and us, and an obeying him before God.

22. It is the fault of a rational creature, that had reason given him to do better.

23. It is all willingly done and chosen by a free agent, that could not be constrained to it.

24. It is a robbing God of the honour and pleasure which he should have had in our obedience; and the glory which we should bring him before the world.

25. It is a contempt of the omnipresence and omniscience of God, when we will sin against him before his face, when he stands over us, and seeth all that we do.

26. It is a contempt of the greatness and almightiness of God, that we dare sin against him who is so great, and able to be avenged on us.

27. It is a wrong to the mercifulness of God, when we go out of the way of mercy, and put him to use the way of justice and severity, who delighteth not in the death of sinners, but rather that they obey, repent, and live.

28. It is a contempt of the attractive love of God, who should be the end, and felicity, and pleasure of the soul.  As if all that love and goodness of God were not enough to draw or keep the heart to him, and to satisfy us and make us happy; or, he were not fit to be our delight.  And it showeth the want of love to God; for if we loved him rightly we should willingly obey him.

29. It is a setting up the sordid creature before the Creator, and dung before heaven, as if it were more worthy of our love and choice, and fitter to be our delight; and the pleasure of sin were better for us than the glory of heaven.

30. In all which it appeareth, that it is a practical atheism, in its degree; a taking down God, or denying him to be God; and a practical idolatry, setting up ourselves and other creatures in his stead.

31. It is a contempt of all the means of grace, which are all to bring us to obedience, and keep us or call us from our sins; prayer, sacraments, etc.

32. It is a contempt of the love and labours of the minsters of Christ; a disobeying them, grieving them, and frustrating their hopes and the labours of their lives.

33. It is a debasing of reason, the superior faculty of the soul, and a setting up of the flesh or inferior faculties, like setting dogs to govern men, or the horse to rule the rider.

34. It is a blinding of reason, and a misusing the noblest faculties of the soul, and frustrating them of the use and ends which they were made for; and so it is the disorder, monstrosity, sickness, or death of the soul.

35. It is, in its measure, the image of the devil upon the soul, who is the father of sin; and therefore the most odious deformity of the soul; and this where the Holy Ghost should dwell, and the image and delight of God should be.

36. It is the moral destruction not only of the soul, but of the whole creation, so far as the creatures are appointed as the means to bring or keep us unto God; for the means, as a means, is destroyed when it is not used to its end.  A ship is useless if no one be carried in it.  A watch, as such, is useless, when not used to show the hour of the day.  All the world, as it is the book that should teach us the will of God, is cast by, when that use is cast by.  Nay, sin useth the creature against God which should have been used for him.

37. It is a contradicting of our own confessions and professions; a wronging of our consciences; a violation of our covenants and self-obligations to God.

38. It is a preferring of time before eternity, and regarding things of a transitory nature, and a moments pleasure, before that which never shall have end.

39. It is a making of a breach in the harmony and order of the world; as the dislocation or deformity of a particular member is the trouble and deformity of all the body, because the comeliness and welfare of the whole, containeth the comeliness, proportion, and welfare of all the parts.  And as the dislocation or breaking of one part in a watch or clock, is against the use of all the engine; so every man being a part of the kingdom of God, doth sin make a breach in order of the whole; and also giveth an ill example to other parts, and makes himself unserviceable to the body; and dishonoureth the whole body with the blot of rebellion; and lets in the judgment on the world; and kindleth a consuming fire in the place where he liveth; and is cruel and injurious to others.

40. Sin is not only a preferring the body before the soul, but it is also an unmercifulness or cruelty against ourselves, both soul and body, and so is contrary to the true use of the indelible principle of self-love; for it is a wounding and abusing the soul and defiling the body in this life, and casting both on the wrath of God, and into the flames of hell hereafter, or a dangerous venturing them into the way of endless damnation and despair, and a contempt of those insufferable torments.  All these parts of malignity and poison are intrinsical to sin, and found in the very nature of it.

The Puritans & Judgment Day

Judgment Day is not something many people think about, much less look forward to.  Even among Christians themselves, Judgment Day is often a topic that is glanced over in the Bible and ignored in many pulpits, conferences and seminars.  There are even some Christians who don't think that as Christians, they will even be required to take part in Judgment Day.  However, the Bible repeatedly declares a coming Day of Judgment in which every single person who has ever lived will stand before Jesus Christ (who will take up His rightful office as "Judge of the living and the dead" - 2 Timothy 4:1) and give account for their lives.  This multitude that is to be judged includes every single Christian as well.  The only difference between the Christian and the non-Christian on that day will be "what" they are judged for.

Non-Christians will be judged for their sins as they lived their own lives without a Savior to cleanse them from their sins, as the Apostle Paul wrote "because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed" - Romans 2:5.  Each Christian will have to stand before God on Judgment Day as well, however they will not be judged regarding if they have salvation or not, because Jesus has been their Mediator throughout their lives and their Advocate on Judgment Day.  But Christians will indeed be judged for the works that they did while living as followers of Christ during their earthly lives, as the Apostle Paul also wrote "Fire will test the quality of each person's work.  If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.  If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved - even though only as one escaping through the flames" - 1 Corinthians 3:13-15.

Judgment Day will be a day attended by all, regardless of whether they are in Christ or outside of Christ.  And because of its universal inclusion, I put together a video of quotes from various writers regarding the reality of the coming Day of Judgment.  All the writers I quoted from are Puritans (with the once exception of A.W. Pink, who lived after the age of Puritanism, although he was himself a great admirer of their writings).  I will link that video below, which I hope will be a wake up call to those who are currently living without Jesus as their future Advocate for that terrible day of wrath, and I hope it will make Christians themselves more sober and sensitive to the fact that they will not themselves be exempt from that day, but will give account for both their words (Matthew 12:36) and their deeds (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

The Westminster Confession of Faith

Of The Holy Scriptures - Chapter 1 Section 7

"All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them."

Puritan Library

"A Serious Call To A Devout And Holy Life"

Written by the 18th century Puritan William Law, the book "A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life" has proved to be a staple manual in helping to guide Christians to a much deeper and more real devotional life towards God.  This book has been used and promoted by great Christian leaders throughout the past three centuries, such as Charles Wesley and George Whitfield (two leaders of the 18th century Great Awakening Revival), William Wilberforce (who was instrumental in ending slavery in 19th century Britain) and C.S. Lewis (the 20th century philosopher and author of "Mere Christianity" and "The Chronicles of Narnia").   A book that could so greatly influence such men of important social impact must be a book that should be read by all Christians.  Having now read the book myself, I can wholeheartedly attest to its deep biblical wisdom and the God-honoring spirit in which Law wrote.

William Law's central thesis in the book is that for a Christian to truly honor God with his life, he must purposefully seek after God's holiness, which entails emulation of that same holiness in the believer's life and to ultimately reflect praise back to God through it.  As Law stated, "If you would be a good Christian, there is but one way you must live wholly unto God; and if you would live wholly unto God, you must live according to the wisdom that comes from God: you must act according to right judgments of the nature and value of things; you must live in the exercise of holy and heavenly affections, and use all the gifts of God to His praise and glory."  Without such a desire for God's holiness, a person then deceives themselves in thinking they actually want God Himself.  For if one does not give themselves over completely to devotion to God's nature, which is holy, then how can one be conformed to that holiness in order to co-exist with God both now and throughout eternity?  Law writes it this way, "Christianity supposes, intends, desires, and aims at nothing else but the raising of fallen man to a Divine life, to such habits of holiness, such degrees of devotion, as may fit him to enter among the holy inhabitants of the kingdom of Heaven."

The specific categories of devotion to God that Law goes into detail are; continual acts of prayer and reliance on God; daily and heart-felt repentance for one's sins against God; living with a spirit of humility before a holy God; as well as living a life that continually interceds for the welfare of others, which Law declares to be one of the greatest acts of conformity to the life and character of Jesus Christ, as Law writes, "As it was the sins of the world that made the Son of God become a compassionate, suffering Advocate for all mankind, so no one is of the Spirit of Christ, but he that has the utmost compassion for sinners."

For those Christians who wish to live out a life that is both pleasing and honorable to the God who so graciously and mercifully forgave them of their sins, and yet still remains a perfectly righteous and holy God Himself, the book "A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life" will both encourage and convict the reader to hunger after a holy life in order to be properly identified with the holy God they serve.

"As sure as Jesus Christ was wisdom and holiness, as sure as He came to make us like Himself, and to be baptized into His Spirit, so sure is it, that none can be said to keep their Christian profession, but they who to the utmost of their power, live a wise and hole and heavenly life.  This, and this alone, is Christianity - a universal holiness in every part of life, a heavenly wisdom in all our actions, not conforming to the spirit and temper of the world, but turning wordly enjoyments into means of piety and devotion to God."
- William Law, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, Chapter 10, pg 106

The Life of God in the Soul of Man

In an earlier post, I wrote a review for the book "The Life of God in the Soul of Man" written by the 17th century Puritan Henry Scougal.  I recently put together a video made up of quotes I've taken from Scougal's book, so I'd like to provide that video here to further promote that wonderfully written and time-enduring treatise about sacrificing one's life entirely to God so He may live fully through you.

Quoting The Puritans

The Church

"If Jesus so loved the church as to give himself for her, much more what he has is settled on her."

- John Flavel, The Fountain of Life Opened Up, pg 530

 "Thou art not saved for being a member of the church of Rome, or Corinth, or Ephesus, or Philippi, or Thessalonica, or of any other such; but for being a member of the universal church or body of Christ, that is, a Christian."

- Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory, pg 52-53

"There is no entering in God's church but by coming into Christ's church; nor are any looked upon as members of the kingdom of God among men but those that are willing to submit to the grace and government of the Redeemer."

- Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, pg 1583

"As Christ was, so His church is to be in this world.  Christ came into this world not to be ministered unto, but to minister, not to be honored, but to save others.  His church, when she understands her work, will perceive that she is not here to gather to herself wealth or honor, or to seek any temporal aggrandizement and position; she is here unselfishly to live, and if need be, unselfishly to die for the deliverance of the lost sheep, the salvation of lost men."

- Charles Spurgeon, from his sermon "The First Cry From The Cross"

The Life and Thought of John Owen

"I owe more, I think, to John Owen than to any other theologian, ancient or modern."

- J.I. Packer, Introduction to John Owen's The Mortification of Sin, pg 5

The 17th century Puritan John Owen is considered to be one of the most brilliant and in-depth Christians in church history.  Even among other fiercely intelligent and strongly devoted Puritans, Owen was referred to as the "Prince of the Puritans."  My own exposure to Owen's writings is by way of his book "The Mortification of Sin" which is a collection of sermons Owen preached in the year 1656 concerning the killing or "mortifying" of personal sins, as well as my current reading of his two monumental works called "Pneumatologia" (which is completely devoted to the person and work of the Holy Spirit), as well as Owen's large theological volume entitled "Biblical Theology - The History of Theology from Adam to Christ."  I have myself only scratched the surface of the wealth of biblical wisdom that Owen was gifted with, and yet I've already been greatly blessed by his mind which was wholly devoted to bringing glory to God.

What I would like to do in this post is to link a video here that I have uploaded to my YouTube channel, which is John Piper giving a biographical sketch of the "Life and Thought of John Owen."  Piper wrote a book entitled "Contending For Our All" in which he wrote three mini-biographies on three men who fought hard to maintain doctrinal integrity both within their lives as well as in the church; one of the those theological warriors is John Owen.  It is my hope that this sermon/biography by Piper on Owen will birth a strong interest in the writings of John Owen which I have no doubt God will use to anoint the hearts and minds of modern-day Christians to seek more hungrily after personal holiness and the glory of God.

"No teaching may truly be called theology which does not rely on, and trust in, a revelation from God by which the theologian may be pleasing to God and at last enjoy Him forever."

- John Owen, Biblical Theology, Book 1, Chapter 3, pg 16

"There is, if I may say, a secret instinct of faith, whereby it knows the voice of Christ when he speaks indeed; as the baby leaped in the womb when the blessed virgin came to Elisabeth, faith leaps in the heart when Christ indeed draws nigh to it."

- John Owen, The Mortification of Sin, Chapter 13, pg 158