Can Someone Visit Heaven?

There is a new movie coming out based on the book, "Heaven is for Real." It is a book by a pastor named Todd Burpo about his son's trip to heaven and back. Can someone really go to heaven and come back? Pastor John MacArthur weighs in with this excellent article:

Are Visits to Heaven for Real?

A.W. Pink: "False Profession or True Conversion"

The following is a section from an article by A.W. Pink from the 1933 issue of Studies in the Scriptures titled: Heart Work:

False Profession or True Conversion

The sincerity of our profession largely depends upon the care and conscience we have in keeping our hearts. A very searching example of this is found in 2 Kings 10:31, “But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart.” Those words are the more solemn because of what is said of him in the previous verse: “And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” Jehu was partial in his reformation, which showed his heart was not right with God; he abhorred the worship of Baal which Ahab had fostered, but he tolerated the golden calves which Jeroboam had set up. He failed to put away all the evil. 

Ah, my reader, true conversion is not only turning away from gross sin, it is the heart forsaking all sin. There must be no reserve, for God will not allow any idol, nor must we. Jehu went so far, but he stopped short of the vital point; he put away evil, but he did not do that which was good. He heeded not the law of the Lord to walk in it “with all his heart.” It is greatly to be feared that those who are heedless are graceless, for where the principle of holiness is planted in the heart, it makes its possessor circumspect and desirous of pleasing God in all things—not from servile fear, but from grateful love; not by constraint, but freely; not occasionally, but constantly.

- A.W. Pink
  Studies in the Scriptures (Sept. 1933)

Saved By The Trinity - The Son's Role in Salvation

In the last post, we discussed the Father's role in salvation, which was election. In this post we are going to consider the Son's role in salvation. Christ in His work on the cross shed His blood for the elect, in other words He paid for the sins of God's elect. His death secured our salvation!

Saved By The Trinity - The Father's Role in Salvation

So the last post was an introduction to this entire series on each member of the Trinity's role in salvation. It contained a quick reminder and a very important warning. Please make sure that you read the introduction before proceeding to read this article and the articles to come. In this post we are going to be considering the Father's role in salvation which is: election.

A Visual Explanation of the Trinity

This is a chart that explains the Trinity visually. I think it would be beneficial to understand the basic concepts of the Trinity before entering a discussion on their roles in salvation. The Trinity, as Martin-Lloyd Jones describes it, "is the differentiating doctrine of the Christian faith" (This quote is also at the bottom of the chart).

If you read some of the creeds and confessions from throughout church history, you will notice that they do not seek to explain the Trinity. They just affirm what Scripture says and leave it there. We must be careful that we do not seek to go further than what Scripture asserts. 

This is a high and divine mystery! It is something that our finite, human minds cannot comprehend. Job 11:7 comes to mind as we consider this doctrine:

"Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?" 

Courtesy of Tim Challies: http://www.challies.com/resources/visual-theology-the-trinity

Saved By The Trinity - Introduction

I want to devote the next few posts to discussing salvation as a work of the Trinity. Today it is common to think, "I am saved by Christ!" Well, that is partially true. We are saved by Christ, but we are not saved only by Christ; we are saved by the Father and the Holy Spirit as well.

God's Sovereignty and Man's Responsibility: Two Truths That Must be Held Together

A.W. Pink comments on the importance of "preserving the balance of Truth" when discussing the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man:

"In our Foreword to the second edition (pages 13, 14) we acknowledge the need for preserving the balance of Truth. Two things are beyond dispute: God is sovereign, man is responsible. In this book we have sought to expound the former; in our other works we have frequently pressed the latter. That there is real danger of over-emphasising the one and ignoring the other, we readily admit; yea, history furnishes numerous examples of cases of each. To emphasise the sovereignty of God, without also maintaining the accountability of the creature tends to fatalism; to be so concerned in maintaining the responsibility of man, as to lose sight of the sovereignty of God, is to exalt the creature and dishonor the Creator."

- A.W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God, Baker Books, p. 229

Does Prayer Change Events?

When we speak of the sovereignty of God, we say how He has ordained all things, and nothing can thwart or disrupt His plan. This immediately raises the question: is prayer worthless? I mean, if God is going to work out His plan, and nothing can change His mind, then why pray?

A.W. Pink on the Gospel

A.W. Pink in his book, The Sovereignty of God, makes a very good point regarding the Gospel.  

"Concerning the character and contents of the Gospel the utmost confusion prevails today. The Gospel is not an "offer" to be bandied around by evangelistic peddlers. The Gospel is no mere invitation, but a proclamation, a proclamation concerning Christ; true, whether men believe it or no. No man is asked to believe that Christ died for him in particular. The Gospel, in brief, is this: Christ died for sinners, you are a sinner, believe in Christ, and you shall be saved. In the Gospel, God simply announces the terms upon which men may be saved (namely, repentance and faith) and, indiscriminately, all are commanded to fulfill them."

- A.W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God, Baker Books, p. 209

 

R.J. Rushdoony on Asking for Wisdom

This article is an excerpt from R.J. Rushdoony's book, "A Word in Seasons: Daily Messages on the Faith for All of Life."

How often do you ask for wisdom in your prayers?

Asking for Wisdom

A verse that often comes to mind is James 1:5: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." When was the last time you asked for wisdom? I have been to a great many prayer meetings over the years, but I don't recall hearing many prayers for wisdom. Either church folk are content to be stupid, or else they assume that they are wise.

Proverbs 13:13: Do You Fear the Word of God?

Proverbs 13:13 (NKJV)

"He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded."

If you do not already do so, I highly encourage all of my readers to pick up the Proverbs and read one chapter a day, and read the chapter that matches the day. For example, today is the 13th of January, so I read the 13th chapter of Proverbs.

This Proverb, first of all, is a contrast. That is the basic framework that we want to remember as we begin to investigate this verse. Notice the contrast: the man who despises the Word of God, and the man who fears it. The man who despises the Word of God will be destroyed, but the man that fears it will be rewarded.

Man's Inability

A common objection when speaking about the sovereignty of God is: Why does God hold people accountable for something that they cannot do? A sinner is responsible to repent and believe the Gospel, but the sinner is unable to do so unless the Father draws him/her (John 6:44). All humans are required to obey, love, and serve God; but Romans 8:8 clearly says that those "that are in the flesh cannot please God." So how can God hold them responsible?