Monthly Archive for November, 2009

Thanksgiving

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Mike Holtzinger
on November 27, 2009
in Uncategorized
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CB006061Psalms 69:30 ( NKJV ) 30 I will praise the name of God with a song,     And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

As I reflect on this Thanksgiving Day, I find myself thankful not only for the blessings of family and the freedom we enjoy here in America and much more, but I am in awe of the God of the Universe who in His mercy and for His reasons (grace), redeemed me.  I have found myself lately contemplating my absolute unworthiness to be counted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:4-6).  It amazes me and confounds any reasoning I am able to conjure up!  Now, just how is it that my salvation is “according to  the good pleasure of His will… and to the praise and glory of His grace” (vv. 5-6)?  The latter is somewhat easier to understand in light of my unworthiness but I still find myself stunned by the reality of it all and completely given over to thankfulness for the incredible miracle of new birth in Christ and to be “accepted into the beloved” (vs.6).

When the Scriptures state that our salvation  ” is not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 9:11, Titus 3:5), it is total in its meaning.  There was no good thing found in any of us.  We were utterly dead (Ephesians 2:1-3,5; Colossians 2:13; Hebrews 9:14), incapable of pleasing God.   If  we have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-8; 5:21; Ephesians 2:1,5), we stand in Christ by the sole work of Christ on Calvary’s Cross.

The simple point is this;  our salvation is really not about us but about Christ.  He redeemed us for His glory (Ephesians 1:3-5; 2:7), to demonstrate His grace, certainly not for any so called inherent goodness within us. So our thankfulness is to His glory, for His praise, unto His honor. Even His love toward us in redemption points us to Him and Him alone.  And lest we forget, God loved us  while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8) , not the other way around (1 John 4:10).

~ Michael Holtzinger

John Piper – Be Courageous President Barack Obama

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Mike Holtzinger
on November 26, 2009
in Uncategorized
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Regeneration

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Mike Holtzinger
on November 25, 2009
in Gospel, Harmartiology and Theology 101
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Romans 8:30 ( NKJV ) 30Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

regenerationI have been enjoying a book on the life of John Calvin, edited by Burk Parsons, called “John Calvin, A Heart For Devotion Doctrine and Doxology.”  As I was reading I was impressed by the clarity of Keith A. Mathison in chapter 14, “Transforming Grace,”  and his clear and persuasive explanation of the reformer’s biblical view of the doctrine of regeneration.  This view has been lost to a great extent by those who claim to be “Protestant” and “Evangelical,” and as a result much of the church that claims to be “Bible believing” has moved to an evangelism that is semi-Palagian (seeker sensitive), not to mention Armenian. So, without further ado, here are two salient paragraphs:

“Regeneration is the act of the Holy Spirit by which he brings a man from the state of spiritual death to spiritual life.  It is in effect, spiritual “resurrection.”  In the act of regeneration, the Holy Spirit changes the disposition of the soul and renews the will.  The new life given in regeneration immediately manifests itself in faith, and repentance.  Regeneration is, therefore, not the result of faith, as Armenians and others assert.  Rather, faith is the result of regeneration.  The state of the sinner is analogous to the state o Lazarus in the tomb (John 11:1-44).  Like the unbeliever, Lazarus was dead, unable to do anything to change his condition,  Jesus commands this corpse to come out of the tomb (in one brief statement, He destroys the claim of those who say that if God commands something we must have the natural ability to do it).

The command Jesus gives to Lazarus is analogous to the external call made to all unbelievers.  Like Ezekiel preaching to the valley of dry bones (37:1-14), the external call is made to the spiritually dead.  Those who proclaim the gospel preach in a graveyard.  Lazarus cannot obey Christ’s command until he is given new life, and this is something only God can do.  When Lazarus is given new life, he immediately responds and exits the tomb.  In the same way, the spiritually dead sinner cannot respond to the gospel until he is given new life through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.  Once he is regenerated, however, he immediately responds placing his faith in Jesus.  He is the justified by God”  (Keith A. Mathison, “John Calvin, A Heart For Devotion Doctrine and Doxology”, pg.175, ed. Burk Parsons, Reformed Trust Publishers 2008)

Buy the book.  It will encourage your heart.

~Michael Holtzinger

Quote Of The Day

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Mike Holtzinger
on November 19, 2009
in Uncategorized
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Matthew 16:24-25 ( NKJV ) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.   For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

“Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to bow low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting sol is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess everything, that to bear is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive.  Let me find thy light in my darkness, thy joy in my sorrow, thy grace in my sin, thy riches in my poverty, thy glory in my valley, thy life in my death,”

~Arthur Bennett, ed., : “The Valley of Vision”, Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1975, introductory prayer

Drawing A Line In The Sand – Part 2

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Mike Holtzinger
on November 18, 2009
in Uncategorized
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crossinthesandFor our Lord there was a clear line in the sand.  There were things that were non-negotiable, so important, simply because the eternal fate of men’s souls, the truth of God’s Word,  and the glory of God were at stake.

I can think of no stronger passage of Scripture from the lips of our Lord than that of Matthew 10:32-38 where our Lord clearly and definitively draws a line in the sand.

Matthew 10:32-39 ( NKJV ) 32“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  33But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. 34“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  35For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’£ 37He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  38And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  39He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
Continue reading ‘Drawing A Line In The Sand – Part 2′

Quote Of The Day

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Mike Holtzinger
on November 17, 2009
in Uncategorized
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One suburban church sent out a mailer recently, promising an “informal, relaxed, casual atmosphere,”  “Great music from our band,”  and that those who came will, “Believe it or not, even have fun.”  That’s all great if you’re a coffeehouse.  But anyone who claims to be calling people to the gospel of Jesus Christ with those as his priorities is calling them to a lie.

It’s Christianity for consumers:  Christianity Lite, the redirection, watering down, and misrepresentation of the biblical gospel in an attempt to make it more palatable and popular.  It tastes great going down and settles light.  It seems to salve your feelings and scratch your itch; it’s custom-taylored to your preferences.  But the lightness will never fill you up with the true, saving gospel of Jesus Christ, because it is designed by man and not God, and it is hallow and worthless.  In fact it is worse than worthless, because people who hear the message of Christianity Lite think they’re hearing the gospel – think they’re being rescued from eternal judgment – when, in fact, they’re being tragically misled.

~ John MacArthur, “Hard To Believe”, pg 1-2, 2003, Thomas Nelson Publishing

Drawing A Line In The Sand – Part 1

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Mike Holtzinger
on November 13, 2009
in Apologetics, Gospel and Theology 101
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Jude 1:3 ( NKJV ) Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

line-in-the-sandThere seems to be two extremes that run through broader evangelicalism. One that is strident and will argue over any deviation of theology or methodology and the other extreme that sees little value in strongly held doctrine and a view of methodology that is purely pragmatic – if it works, then it’s OK.  Whether it’s fundamentalism, seeker driven, emergent, or much of mainline evangelicalism, finding when and where to draw the line in the sand, knowing where to take a stand is an issue that is absolutely necessary to know if we are to “contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.”  Just where is that line?   To even raise the question for many is offensive.  But it must be asked and it certainly needs an answer.
Continue reading ‘Drawing A Line In The Sand – Part 1′

Quote Of The Day

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Mike Holtzinger
on November 13, 2009
in Hermenutics and Quote of the Day
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God therefore bestows a gift of singular value, when, for the instruction of the Church, he employs not dumb teachers merely, but opens his own sacred mouth; when he not only proclaims that some God must be worshipped, but at the same time declares that He is the God to whom worship is due; when he not only teaches his elect to have respect to God, but manifests himself as the God to whom this respect should be paid.

The course which God followed towards his Church from the very first, was to supplement these common proofs by the addition of his Word, as a surer and more direct means of discovering himself. And there can be no doubt that it was by this help, Adam, Noah, Abraham, and the other patriarchs, attained to that familiar knowledge which, in a manner, distinguished them from unbelievers. I am not now speaking of the peculiar doctrines of faith by which they were elevated to the hope of eternal blessedness. It was necessary, in passing from death unto life, that they should know God, not only as a Creator, but as a Redeemer also; and both kinds of knowledge they certainly did obtain from the Word.

~John Calvin, Institutes of Religion, Chapter 6, section 1

What Is Authoritative?

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Mike Holtzinger
on November 3, 2009
in Uncategorized
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Psalms 119:9-10 ( NKJV ) How can a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed according to Your word.sola_scriptura_bible_alone With my whole heart I have sought You;  Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

Psalms 119:89 ( NKJV ) Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.

Psalms 119:105 ( NKJV ) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

What is authoritative? This question for me, when I think about my spiritual life is paramount and should be for you too.  Just where do I go to know truth?  Is it the church?  Is it the pastor?  Do I rely on church publications or what?  For me my reliance for many years had been to rely on what the church I attended told me.  And there is no doubt that I learned a number of things that were true, but did I have a comprehensive knowledge, a knowledge, that was verifiable from a reliable source about what is true about God?  Until my early twenties I was convinced I did.  Then one night in Seoul Korea my world was turned upside down as I realized as I was confronted with the Scriptures, what I new and believed  along with twelve years of religious training in a parochial school was very much suspect and  incomplete.  So incomplete that I wasn’t able to answer the most important and basic question the Bible addresses; the desperate need of man and God’s solution for that need found in Christ, especially in the light of Scripture.   I remember telling myself that fateful night as I headed for bed that  I needed to get a Bible (since I didn’t own one) and study these things out and then once again have this conversation with my friend who had exposed my spiritual ignorance. Continue reading ‘What Is Authoritative?’