(By: Eddie Goodwin)

 

continued from last week…

 

Special Responsibility

Along with this special privilege, Adam also had a special responsibility.  Adam was not only responsible for his own actions as an individual, but as the first man, the head of humanity, his actions and the consequences of his actions would positively or negatively affect all of his children after him.  As the representative of all mankind, his one act of obedience or disobedience would not only cause him to personally gain or forfeit the reward of life, but all of his children would gain or forfeit right along with him.  In the case of disobedience, none of Adam’s children would ever inherit eternal life unless it pleased God to bring forth a New Adam to offer the obedience required by His character and law.        

 

Application:

Sadly, we know from Genesis chapter three and our text this morning (Rom. 5:16-17) that Adam disobeyed God.  As a result, all the children of Adam from that time until now suffer the legal penalty pronounced against his sin.  None of us will ever be good enough to go to heaven.  None of us will ever gain access to the reward of the tree of life by our own obedience because that privilege was ruined by Adam.  The judgment of God hangs over all of us.  The entire human race by nature, without exception, is condemned as a result of Adam’s sin. 

 

Pastor A.N. Martin once described the representation of Adam as being like playing piggy back with your father.  Children, have you ever played piggy back or tried to ride on your dad’s back like a horse?  What happens when dad falls?  Is it only dad who falls?  No, you and anybody else who is on his back will automatically fall with him as soon as he falls.  The same is true of Adam.  His disobedience caused all of us fall under the wrath and judgment of God.  We will never be good enough to go to heaven because we are under the judgment of God as children of Adam.  We suffer death and condemnation as a result of his one transgression. 

 

(to be continued…)

(By: John Miller)

Last week, we considered Fuller’s upbringing and conversion, especially how God brought Fuller to saving faith despite the High Calvinism in his own home church. This week we shall consider Fuller’s ministry and the influences that shaped his thinking in his struggle against High Calvinism.

After his conversion in November 1769, Fuller was baptized in the spring of 1770 and joined the church in Soham. John Eve left the church for another pastorate in 1771, and Fuller was called to be the pastor in 1775, where he remained until 1782 when he went to pastor the Particular Baptist church in Kettering. While in Soham, Fuller began to question the doctrines of High Calvinism, which he held at the time. These doubts came to his mind “chiefly from thinking on some passages of Scripture, particularly the latter part of the second Psalm, where kings, who ‘set themselves against the Lord, and against his Anointed,’ are positively commanded to ‘kiss the Son;’ also the preaching of John the Baptist, Christ, and his apostles, who, he found, did not hesitate to address unconverted sinners…”[1] Fuller was also secondarily influenced in his thinking through reading the books of John Owen and Jonathan Edwards, such as Edward’s Inquiry into the Freedom of the Will. Another important influence upon Fuller’s thinking was the friendships he had with fellow Particular Baptist pastors who also questioned the tenets of High Calvinism. One such friend was Robert Hall, Sr., who had taken part in Andrew Fuller’s ordination. In a sermon published in 1781 Hall states, “If any should ask, ‘Have I a right to apply to Jesus the Savior, simply as a poor, undone perishing sinner, in whom there appears no good thing?’ I answer yes; the gospel proclamation is, ‘Whosoever will, let him come.’” [2]

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[1] Andrew Fuller, The Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation, in The Complete Works of Andrew Fuller, ed. Joseph Belcher, vol. 2, Controversial Publications (1845, reprint, Harrisonburg, VA: Sprinkle Publications, 1988), 328-329.

[2] Raymond Brown, The English Baptists of the Eighteenth Century, vol. 2 of A History of the English Baptists, ed. B. R. White (London, England: The Baptist Historical Society, 1986), 72.

(By David Giarrizzo)

When I was ten years old,
I remember thinkin’ how cool it would be,
When we were goin’ on an eight hour drive,
If I could just watch T.V.

And I’d have given anything
To have my own PacMan game at home.
I used to have to get a ride down to the arcade;
Now I’ve got it on my phone.

…So go the words of a silly song by Brad Paisely about the changes in technology over the past couple of decades. It is true that so much has changed about the way humans communicate in modern times just over the past one or two generations. As if a cordless telephone with PacMan on it wasn’t enough of an ingenious invention, it is almost mind-blowing to think about the infinitude of the World Wide Web.

Of course, as is often noted within the Christian community—and rightfully so, — with such a vast storage of information as the internet is, there are also many dangers. The sins of lust and adultery are commonly mentioned when discussing the dangers of the internet, and again, rightfully so. Additionally, the dangers that online communication and social networking pose to modern day believers have also been well documented. I agree with many of these identified problems that virtual communication presents. But while I understand that the use of modern technology presents potential concerns for Christians, I likewise believe that technology offers many wonderful opportunities. So I want to take a different approach in this post and briefly examine a few blessings that technology—especially communication technology such as cell phones, email, and the internet—provides for Christians today.

Consider for a moment the positive attributes of the internet with all of its wonderful means of communication and social networking: e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, blogs (like Ardent Cries), church and ministry websites, audio and video-recorded sermons, Christian book and music dealers, conference advertising, etc., etc. If you are reading this blog, you probably surf the web everyday and you already understand its many good uses. But allow me to illustrate a few simple examples of how communication technology can benefit believers.

• Formal and informal online education – Hundreds of thousands of people are now getting perfectly valid college educations via accredited online universities every year; in fact, more and more theological seminaries are beginning to look in the direction of the internet as a means reaching more people and increasing their student counts. The possibility for a lay-elder or church member to better his understanding of theology or the Bible languages is a wonderful prospect that our generation can hope to see more of through the increase in formal seminary classes offered via the web. Already we can observe the hunger of many Christians for the truths of Scripture as seen through the success and popularity of websites such as SermonAudio.com, Spurgeon.org, and the thousands of theological websites that comprise the Christian blogosphere.  So for those who are serious about gaining a better understanding of theology or nouthetic counseling skills or Greek and Hebrew, may more seminaries offer this form of distance learning via internet courses as they remain firmly planted on the truths of God’s Word.
• Email and Blackberries – Just today I was reminded of one of the blessings of technology when I received an email to my Blackberry. The email was from our church elders asking for prayer on behalf of some church members with urgent needs. I don’t get these kinds of emails often because, thankfully, medical emergencies of this kind aren’t common. But when I received this email today on my phone, I was able to stop what I was doing and lift up my brothers and sisters in prayer. Sure, our elders could have called everyone in the church to update them; but because of the technology of email, and in my case, the technology of email direct to my Blackberry phone, the elders were able to alert the congregation of these urgent prayer needs more efficiently. As silly as it may sound, I thank God for blessing me with the luxury (as opposed to necessity) of a cell phone with internet and email capabilities that allows me to pray specifically for the brethren on a moment’s notice.
• Facebook and Twitter – Every time I attend a conference I inevitably make new friends. Thanks to Facebook, I have been able to stay in contact with those brothers and sisters months and years after those conferences are over. Facebook was designed for the purpose of social networking. For the Christian, however, social networking includes more than making new friends; it is fellowship, mutual encouragement, and a visible representation of the unity of the saints. Christians are more than friends; they are family members in the household of God. This is one of the reasons I appreciate Facebook: while I sit here in Mesa, Arizona, I can stay in touch with brothers and sisters in Ontario, California or Bremen, Indiana or Jackson, Georgia or even in Toronto, Canada! Twitter, like Facebook, allows me similar opportunities. But even more so, as John Piper pointed out, these networking devices can actually be a means of evangelism, not narcissism. May we use Facebook, Twitter, and similar sites wisely, making the most of every opportunity to point others to Christ.
• Everything else – I am an avid news junkie. I was speaking to my grandpa about two weeks ago about the news. He asked me, “Do you get the newspaper at home?” to which I replied, “Yes. But we get it on the internet, not our front porch.” Just like my grandfather who reads his morning newspaper with a cup of coffee and toast and fruit, I check out the Drudge Report and my Christian blog lineup in Google Reader almost every morning with my cup of Joe. Again, this attachment to the outside world isn’t a need, it’s a blessing. Through the internet I can stay connected to far-away friends, register for an upcoming conference, watch James White contend for the Faith on YouTube, order Calvin’s complete commentary set, read Al Mohler’s insightful weekly postings, and stay in touch with current events on the other side of the world. These are some of the blessings God has given believers living in the 21^st century. May we seek to glorify Him as we utilize the gifts and tools with which He has graciously supplied us.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Cor. 10:31

(By: Christopher Powell)

 

Psalm 23:

 

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

 

As a young boy, I was often troubled with the horrors of hell. You would think that that was all that I heard from our church’s pulpit, but, of course, that wasn’t the case. While my pastor/father preached the reality of Hell, he also focused on the amazing grace of God. The reality was that I was under increasing conviction of my sinfulness and that I feared the ultimate consequences. In the end, the Lord used this Psalm to teach me that only He could give comfort to my restless mind and guilty conscience. Only He could shepherd me and guide me into the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. That’s something I need to remind myself of today just as I first came to understand it 29 years ago this last April. Thank you, Lord Jesus!

 

Last week I had “one of those days” where I was in the doldrums. It was a day where I needed much reminder of the Gospel of grace. Today, as I was going through some old quotes that I collect and I came across this from John Bunyan – it summarizes much of what I first appreciated about this Psalm. I continue to need Gospel reminders like this. I hope it and particularly the Psalm itself encourages you today as it did me.

 

“Like sheep, we are weak, destitute, defenceless, prone to wander, unable to return, and always surrounded by wolves. But all is made up in the fulness, ability, wisdom, compassion, care, and faithfulness of our great Shepherd. He guides, protects, feeds, heals, and restores, and will be our guide and our God even until death. Then he will meet us, receive us, and present us unto himself, and we shall be near to him, and like him, and with him for ever.”

 

(By: Eddie Goodwin)

continued from last week… 

The Bible is clear in its teaching that none of us are good enough to go heaven.  Romans chapter five verses sixteen and seventeen reveals at least three reasons why.  The first reason we’ll never be good enough to go to heaven is the fact that we are all under the judgment of God as the children of Adam.  Notice verse sixteen with me: the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation.

 

Reason #1 — We are all under the judgment of God as children of Adam.

Now the language in this verse is fairly straightforward.  At one time in history, one person sinned (that is to say one person transgressed, violated or broke the law of God).  Not only did one person sin, but the consequences of this one person’s sin affected everyone.  According to the verse and its context, judgment arose from this one sin and a guilty sentence of condemnation was pronounced against the entire human race as a result.  Who was this person?  How could their sin affect everyone?  If you’ll glance at verses 12-14, you’ll quickly see the answer.  The person was named Adam and it was through him that sin and death entered the world.

 

Those of you who are familiar with the Bible know that Adam was the first man ever created by God.  If you are not familiar with this story take some time this afternoon to read Genesis chapters one through three.  Among a lot of other amazing details concerning man and the Garden of Eden, you will find that as the first created man, Adam had a special privilege and a special responsibility.

 

Adam’s Special Privilege

Adam had a special privilege in that it was possible for him to receive an incredible blessing or reward from God.  If he perfectly obeyed God’s commandment not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he would be rewarded with the tree of life, which is everlasting or eternal life, and would have eternal fellowship with God.  But, if he disobeyed or sinned, he would be punished with death and his fellowship with God would be broken.  His special privilege would be lost forever through only one single act of disobedience.

 

(to be continued…)

(By: John Miller)

Last week we looked at the decline of Particular Baptists in 18th century England, and some of the causes. This week we will consider the entrance of Andrew Fuller into those difficult times, and how God in His mighty sovereign grace brought Fuller out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His Son, despite the prevailing Hyper-Calvinism of his day.

It was during the period of decline that Andrew Fuller was born in the village of Wicken on February 6, 1754. Fuller’s parents, Robert and Phillipa, were dairy farmers by trade, and Calvinistic Baptists by conviction. Thus, they took their family to the local Particular Baptist congregation for worship each Lord’s Day. The Fuller family moved to the village of Soham when Andrew was seven years old, where they sat under the ministry of John Eve, who was a Hyper-Calvinist. As Andrew Fuller stated, “[We] were in the habit of hearing Mr. Eve, a Baptist minister, who, being what is here termed High in his sentiments, or tinged with false Calvinism, had little or nothing to say to the unconverted. I, therefore, never considered myself as any way concerned in what I heard from the pulpit.”[1] When Fuller was fourteen, he began to be spiritually affected through reading such books as Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners and Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan, along with Gospel Sonnets by Ralph Erskine. While Fuller came under a conviction of his sin, it did not last, and he did not repent and believe in Christ at that time. A year and a half later Fuller was again confronted with conviction for his sins, but he struggled to trust in Christ to deliver him from his sins due to High Calvinist teaching. As Fuller stated, “I was not then aware that any poor sinner had a warrant to believe in Christ for the salvation of his soul; but supposed there must be some kind of qualification to entitle him to do it.”[2] Nevertheless, he came to say in the spirit of Esther, “I must – I will – yes – I will trust my soul, my sinful, lost soul in [Christ’s] hands. If I perish, I perish!”[3] Thus, God converted Fuller and he overcame the High Calvinist notions. As he stated, “This notion [of High Calvinism] was a bar that kept me back for a time; though, through divine drawings, I was enabled to overleap it.” [4]

Next week we will consider Fuller’s ministry and fight against Hyper-Calvinism.

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[1] Michael A. G. Haykin, The Armies of the Lamb: The Spirituality of Andrew Fuller (Dundas, Ontario: Joshua Press, 2001), 59.

[2] Ibid., 71.

[3] Ibid., 72.

[4] Ibid.