Theological Position

In the past, people asked me about Predestination vs. Free Will, Assurance of Salvation, Calvinist, and etc. In this entry, I want to share my theological position. Now, there are lots of positions out there, but I'll give you one of them. Do I stand on the side of Arminianism or Calvinism/Reformed?

From my understanding of what the Scripture teaches, I stand along the side of/yield towards Reform Theology. You can call me a Calvinist if you want even though I dislike being labelled that way (not that anyone called by that). I am a follower of Jesus Christ, His disciple, and a child of God. That's it. I simply want to be faithful to the teachings of Scripture as a whole. As I read and studied Scripture, I am more convinced that the Bible does teach about Total Depravity, Predestination, Unconditional Election, Irresistible Grace, Perseverance of the Saints. However, Limited Atonement is one of the Doctrines that's tricky and somewhat a problem for me to understand. I do agree that Jesus died for elect, but I also believe that Jesus died for everyone. Here's how I would summarize this: Jesus died for the sins of the whole world but His atonement is only effective to those who believe.

You can read more about it in some detail here: http://www.the-highway.com/compare.html

It's been almost 5 years ever since God saved me through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He loves me despite of who I am - a wretched sinner. His grace is enough and I need Him everyday. Five years, God taught me a lot through Scripture, prayer, other believers, and daily basis. And I still have lots to learn and study from Him through the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is just a surface of where I stand so far. Please don't criticize or judge where I am at if you disagree. I still love you wherever you stand theologically :)

Expressionist

For the past months, I've been filled with joy as I see God working in and through me. As an imperfect person, God still invites me to be part of His plan in redemptive history. Two of my youth are getting baptized next Sunday. I'm very excited and very happy for them and sometimes I just want to cry because I've been praying for them that God would open up their hearts in understanding and receiving the Gospel. God has been very good to me, and I don't deserve any of His goodness. How can I not keep praising Him and worshiping Him with my life? Emma and Albert, if you ever get a chance to read my blogs, I'll be praying constantly that both of you will finish the race that is set before you. May both of you continue to abide yourself in Jesus and in His word. When we stumble, sin and screw up, what we need is not improvement on how to be better...what we need is God's Grace, and His perfect abundant grace can cover our deepest filth of our sins. Continue to pray for those who are lost without Christ and reach out to them with love and with the Gospel and show them that there's hope.

Reference Menu (July 19th, 2012)

State Of Sexual Union

This article from Boundless speaks about the theology of sex, body and chastity. I do wish the editor would provide more Biblical reference to back up their reasoning, but I do think they make a point on describing the meaning of our bodies, sex and chastity.

A couple may have all the Bibles in the world — and Christian dating books on proper boundaries — stacked up between them, but if their vision of chastity is as shallow as "don't have sex before marriage because the Bible says so" and "you might get STDs," they will probably find a way to knock those books down.

Attack on Pastor's Home In Nigeria Kill 50

Pray for Nigeria

Erasing Hell

Francis Chan is a very passionate and humble in speaking about Hell. Additionally, we have to remember that our thoughts are not God's thought. If we try to play the role of God by saying, "This is not what I would do", then we are trying to put God's thought in subject to our thought, and downgrading the Almighty One to our level of thoughts.

But Scripture clearly says:

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
(Isaiah 55:9 ESV)

The Confession

Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
(Proverbs 1:20-22 ESV)

Oh my soul longs to breathe in the Holy Ghost daily and fully submit to His divine power. My soul gushes out in words that are burdensome and inexpressible.

My longing for satisfaction has been yielding toward worldliness that provides a counterfeit for pleasure and satisfaction. This life on earth is temporary, so seize the moment and experience the abundance of life, which speaks Half-Truth. How foolish it is to simply to gain the riches of this world.

I am hungry and thirsty for You. You're everything that I need.

 

Reference Menu (July 5th, 2012)

4 Reasons Men Like Porn

This article speaks from a Biblical Counsel point of view on why men can easily be pulled into pornography and actually like them. This may be helpful for you.

1.) Porn is easy, but relationships are hard.

2.) Porn is comfortable, but life is stressful.

3.) Porn is exciting, but life is boring.

4.) Porn makes men feel powerful, but real life makes them feel powerless.

RC Sproul interviews DA Carson on Biblical Exegesis

Listening to interview, spoken from scholars, is helpful for me and refreshes my thinking and reading of the Bible in context. Encourage you to spend some time listening.

Sproul: What is a brief definition of Exegesis?

Carson: All that exegesis is...is reading the text and finding out what's there.

 

5 Questions To Ask Of A Book

Speaking from a Christian perspective and to my Christian audience out there, we are all book readers. Whenever we read Christian books, it is very important to discern and ask ourselves some questions. Tim Challies offers 5 Questions, in his way of reading Christian books, we could ask ourselves.

1.) Does It Draw Its Truth From Scripture?

2.) Is It Faithful To The Bible?

3.) Does It Have A Gospel Focus?

4.) Does It Lead To Other Sound Teaching?

5.) Is It Well-Written?