R.C. Sproul's Blog, page 510

The Gospel and the Gender Wars

Here's an excerpt from The Gospel and the Gender Wars, Russell Moore's contribution to the October issue of Tabletalk.

Lewis Grizzard, the famous Atlanta newspaper columnist, wrote frequently of his ill-fated marriages, divorces, and remarriages. Eventually, he said he was going to give up on marriage altogether, that there wouldn't be another Mrs. Grizzard. "I'm just going to find a woman who hates me and buy her a house," he quipped. Grizzard's lament elicited laughter, despite the obvious tragedy of his relational life, because it rang true to an American culture increasingly rife with gender wars. The universal tensions between men and women sometimes show up in their most innocuous form in jokes from women about men who fail to clean up after themselves around the house, or f rom men about women who can't remember to keep their cell phones turned on. But the gender tensions run into much darker territory.

The divorce culture around us is the most obvious sign of men and women in conflict with one another, as marriages are ripped asunder and the custody of children fought over in law courts in virtually every major city on the planet. Even beyond that, many reverberations of the sexual revolution are built on self-protecting mechanisms for men and women who, at best, don't trust one another and, at worst, want to exploit one another. Divorce courts and abortion clinics, porn sites and chick flicks— these all reveal men and women who, far from merging into some sort of unisex utopia, find it impossible to give themselves fully to the other.

Continue reading The Gospel and the Gender Wars.

Luther and the Psalms: His Thunder

In critical periods of the church, certain books of the Bible have played a pivotal role in shaping the spiritual direction of those history-altering eras. These key biblical books have been used by God to launch reformations and spark revivals. They have strategically defined epochs and birthed movements in the church. One such book is the New Testament epistle of Romans. Another is Israel's ancient hymn book, the Old Testament book of Psalms. These two monumental books of Scripture — Romans and Psalms — uniquely came together in the life of one pivotal figure in church history. Such a man was Martin Luther.

Since the time of the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, this famed German Reformer has been largely identified with the book of Romans. In particular, one specific verse, Romans 1:17 —'The just shall live by faith' (KJV) — is the text that God used in the conversion of Luther. In his famous 'tower experience,' this passage contained the truth that revolutionized his life and subsequently launched the Reformation. This verse became the theological cornerstone for this mighty movement. This doctrine, known as justification by faith alone, defined the very substance of the gospel in this historic movement. In short, sola fide is the means by which an unholy sinner may be right before a holy God.

However, it is often forgotten that before Luther was converted through his reading of the book of Romans, he first taught the book of Psalms. As Professor of Bible at the University of Wittenberg, he began expounding this inspired book of praise in the classroom on 16 August 1513. Later, in 1517, Luther published his first book, an exposition of seven penitential psalms. To be sure, the study of the Psalms infused his inner man with a transcendent view of God so great that, once converted, this German Reformer was fortified to stand against the world, if need be, for the message of the gospel of grace.

Romans gave Luther his theology, but it was the Psalms that gave him his thunder. —Steven Lawson

It was these two strategic books — Psalms and Romans — that Luther was predominantly studying and teaching in the years preceding his posting of the Ninety-five Theses.1 It was these two books of Scripture that radically affected Luther and changed the course of human history. While Romans would principally formulate his doctrine, it was the Psalms that dramatically emboldened him to proclaim God's message to the world. In other words, Romans gave Luther his theology, but it was the Psalms that gave him his thunder. The Psalms gave Luther a towering view of God, so much so that in preaching the gospel, he was ready to fight the devil himself. In so doing, these two biblical books laid the scriptural foundation for the Protestant Reformation.

This is an excerpt from Steven Lawson's Preaching the Psalms. For a limited time, we're giving readers an opportunity to win one of six copies of this book. See below for details:

Next week we will post part two, Luther and the Psalms: His Solace and Strength.

Copyright 2012 Steven J. Lawson. Preaching the Psalms published by EP Books.

Twitter Highlights (10/7/12)

Here are highlights from our various Twitter accounts over the past week.

We are pleased to announce that we now feature shows from @ravizacharias and Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Learn more: bit.ly/PGGSR8

— RefNet (@RefNet) October 1, 2012

Do not expect to grow in holiness if you spend little time alone with God and do not take His Word seriously (@joelbeeke).

— Tabletalk Magazine (@Tabletalk) October 1, 2012

I've never read in the OT where God shows up and the people are bored, or that anybody walks away saying, "this was irrelevant". —RC Sproul

— Ligonier Ministries (@Ligonier) October 1, 2012

If Christ could make a complaint, it would be, "My bride never talks to me." —R.C. Sproul

— Ligonier Ministries (@Ligonier) October 2, 2012

A sincere heart loves to do much for Christ, and not to be seen by any but Christ (Thomas Brooks).

— Ligonier Academy (@LigonierAcademy) October 4, 2012

Sound doctrine does not enter into a hard and disobedient heart (Justin Martyr).

— Tabletalk Magazine (@Tabletalk) October 4, 2012

The glory of God is so bright, so blazing, that even the angels in Heaven have to cover their eyes with their wings... —R.C. Sproul

— Ligonier Ministries (@Ligonier) October 5, 2012

You can also find our various ministries on Facebook:

Ligonier Ministries | Ligonier Academy | Ligonier Connect | RefNet
Reformation Bible College | Reformation Trust | Tabletalk Magazine

When Disability Hits Home

What happens when disability really hits home—when God hands you a challenge that tests your convictions in practical, heart wrenching ways?

The Sproul family was featured in an episode of "Joni and Friends" which offered a glimpse into the life of Shannon Sproul, daughter of R.C. Sproul Jr. and granddaughter of R.C. Sproul, who was born with a condition that left her profoundly disabled. This episode won a Silver Telly Award, which honors the very best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web.

Shannon Macfarlane Sproul went home to be with the Lord this past Wednesday. "Joni and Friends" have graciously allowed us to share with you the segment that featured Shannon. You will see how she brought challenges and blessings to her family, but most significantly, how through her life, God's sovereignty, compassion, and tenderness were undeniably displayed.

You can watch the entire episode here.

6 Reasons Christians Should Study the Tabernacle

"You shall make upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood. Ten cubits shall be the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame. There shall be two tenons in each frame, for fitting together. So shall you do for all the frames of the tabernacle. You shall make the frames for the tabernacle: twenty frames for the south side; and forty bases of silver you shall make under the twenty frames, two bases under one frame for its two tenons, and two bases under the next frame for its two tenons...(Exodus 26:15-19)

Riveting stuff, isn't it? All too often well-meaning Christians set out to read through their Bibles, only to get bogged down in the minutiae of the tabernacles frames, curtains, rings, and bases. This leads many of us to see this portion of Scripture as irrelevant to our daily lives. Why study the tabernacle, then? Let me encourage you to do so for six reasons.

1. This is the Word of the Lord, to which you should respond, "Thanks be to God!"

When Paul reminded Timothy that from the days of his childhood, "you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus," he included this section of the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15). This section, then, just as much as any other, are "breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16–17).

2. Reading this portion of the Word is an act of devotion that should lead you to worship the triune God.

The great psalm that extols the Word of God par excellence, Psalm 119, shows how knowledge of God's Word leads to praise of Him when it says, for example, "I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules." (v. 7) The poet laureate of Israel, David, also spoke of the connection between the Word and worship when he said: "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes" (Ps. 19:7–8).

3. You have in the New Testament revelation of God himself the key to reading and understanding the Old Testament, including the tabernacle.

The Old Testament is incomplete. It is merely the first of two volumes. While God did speak "at many times and in many ways" in the Old Testament (Heb. 1:1), it is only now in the New that He has spoken in His Son, bringing that old revelation to completion (Heb. 1:2). In the words of Augustine: "In the Old [Testament] the New [Testament] is concealed, and in the New [Testament] the Old [Testament] is revealed." What is the reason for this? The Holy Spirit, who reveals the deep things of God (Rom. 8:1–27; 1 Cor. 1:18–2:16) and the realities of your redemption by removing the veil of unbelief from your eyes (2 Cor. 3:12–18).

4. This leads to the reality that the tabernacle is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

As Jesus said, "…the Scriptures…bear witness about me" (John 5:39). After His resurrection He led downcast believers through the Word of God to teach them of Himself: "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27). He then spoke to those He had made Apostles: "Then he said to them, 'These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.' Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:44–45). John Owen expressed this Christ-centered approach, when he said of the tabernacle: "By the coming of Christ in the flesh, and the discharge of his mediatory office in this world, the substance of what [the tabernacle and temple] did prefigure is accomplished; and in the revelations of the Gospel the nature and end of them is declared."

5. When you read the tabernacle narrative ask simple questions such as, "What does this passage teach me about God, about my sins, about Christ's redemptive work, and about how I am to live for the glory of God?"

This is in contrast to speculating. In the words of John Calvin: "It would be puerile [childish] to make a collection of the minutiae wherewith some philosophize; since it was by no means the intention of God to include mysteries in every hook and loop; and even although no part were without a mystical meaning, which no one in his senses will admit, it is better to confess our ignorance than to indulge ourselves in frivolous conjectures."

6. Read these narratives to lead you to holiness.

When Paul said the Scriptures were given "for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16), he was saying that their effect in us is holiness. We see this, for example, in Paul teaching in 1 Corinthians 10. Because the Israelites were "our fathers" who ate "the same spiritual meat" and drank "the same spiritual drink," he says the history of their corporate life "took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did" and that "these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come (1 Cor. 10:6, 11). The tabernacle is a story of your holy God calling you to be holy as He is holy (Lev. 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16).

Learn more about the tabernacle and our relationship with God in Daniel Hyde's latest book, God in Our Midst. Available now from ReformationTrust.com

$5 Friday: Grace, Preaching, & Joy

It's time for our weekly $5 Friday sale. This week's resources cover such topics as preaching, Jonathan Edwards, Islam, Nehemiah, the doctrines of grace, worldviews, God's holiness, missions, joy, and more. We thank Desiring God for their partnership this week.

Sale runs through 12:01 a.m. — 11:59 p.m. Friday EST.

View today's $5 Friday sale items.

Shannon Macfarlane Sproul

It was beautiful. There a few rows ahead of me during Lord's Day worship sat a father with his children. As the congregation sang, this father sang over, with, and to one of his daughters who was bound to a wheelchair. The father delighted in this and, from the smile on her face, she knew how much her earthly father loved her. This was one of the most poignant moments I've experienced in corporate worship.

This beautiful young woman died yesterday. Shannon Macfarlane Sproul, daughter of Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr. and granddaughter of Dr. R.C. Sproul, was fifteen years old. She was born with a condition called Lissencephaly, a condition that left her profoundly disabled. She was a blessing to all who knew her. In fact, a few years ago, Joni Eareckson Tada produced a short TV program that showed how Shannon and her family handled disability in light of the sovereignty of God. Shannon now has not only the memory of her earthly father singing over her, but in a way that we cannot fathom, has the joy of having her Heavenly Father sing over her (Zeph. 3:17).

A season of mourning has come again to the Sproul household. If you have followed this blog for awhile, you will know that R.C. Jr. lost his wife Denise to cancer last December. Please keep the Sproul family in your prayers.

Visitation will be this Friday, 5–7 pm at the Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home in Sanford with the memorial service at Saint Andrew's Chapel on Saturday at 10 am. In lieu of flowers you may donate to the Denise Sproul Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Feeding Your Soul

Here's an excerpt from Feeding Your Soul, Jon Bloom's contribution to the October issue of Tabletalk.

When your soul is in turmoil, it's hard to see clearly. Fear, anger, sorrow, and despair can distort your perception of reality. It's hard to keep things in perspective. They can actually magnify your troubles.

Often, when you're feeling overwhelmed, what you need is somebody to take you by the shoulders, look you square in the eye, and speak some sense to you. Sometimes that somebody is you.

I get this from the Bible. Listen to the psalmist talk to himself: "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God" (Ps. 43:5).

This was a man in trouble. He felt threatened and overwhelmed. And in the first part of the psalm, he was doing exactly the right thing by pouring out his soul in prayer to God. But then he stopped praying and spoke directly to his soul.

Continue reading Feeding Your Soul.

What is Kingdom-Focused Prayer?

Henry was an ornery agnostic. His wife, Eunice, was a devout Christian. They lived in a farming community, where a yearlong drought was devastating the local economy. At the request of many of the farmers, the pastor of a local church called the community together to pray for rain. As Eunice was leaving to go to the church, Henry challenged, "Do you really believe that it will rain if you ask for it?"

Eunice opened her Bible and read to Henry: "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit" (James 5:16–18). Eunice continued: "Praying for the drought to end is a big prayer, but I believe there is nothing too hard for God. If I didn't believe that God can answer our prayer and break the drought, I would not go to this prayer meeting."

Henry mocked, "If you really believe that God will answer this 'big prayer' and give rain, where is your umbrella?"

Eunice picked up her umbrella and went to the prayer meeting. She returned home without having to use the umbrella, but that night it rained and the drought was broken.

What makes a "big" prayer? A multitude of words doesn't do it. Only prayers that are consistent with God's character and focus on advancing God's kingdom can truly be called "big."

The Bible provides many examples of such prayers. In response to big prayers, God delivered His people from the dreaded Assyrians (2 Kings 19:14–37). The restoration of the people of God from the Babylonian captivity was an answer to big prayers (see Jer. 29:10–14; 50:4–5; Dan. 9; Ezra 8:21; Neh. 1:4–11; 4:4–5; 9:1–38). Samson, in his weakness, received strength to pull down Dagon's temple through big prayer (Judg. 16:28–30). In answer to big prayers, God gave the greatest outpouring of the Spirit on the church in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:14).

Jesus prayed big prayers. Some would say that our Lord's High Priestly Prayer in John 17 was His biggest prayer. In this prayer, He asked that His people would be kept from the evil one (v. 15), that they might become one (v. 21), and that they might be with Him and behold His glory (v. 24). As the hour drew near when He would die, Jesus prayed that the work of redemption would be accomplished, even at the cost of His life (Matt. 26:39, 42). Now at the right hand of the Father, He lives forever to pray big prayers of intercession, pleading the power of His sacrifice to counter the accusations of the adversary against His people (Heb. 7:25).

God is the high priority in the model prayer given by our Lord. The best Greek manuscripts omit the closing sentence: " 'For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen' " (Matt. 6:13). There is abundant evidence, however, that these words were used almost universally in the worship of the early church. Some believe congregations recited these words in unison after each petition. If they did, then focus on the kingdom of God is underscored. I infer from this that all prayer should focus on God's kingdom. What is kingdom-focused prayer? It is not mere instinctive prayer, but it is Spirit-enabled. It is not man-centered, but God-centered. It is not self-serving or sentimental, but Scriptural—in both principle and content. It is not timid, but bold! It is not passive resignation, but proactive cooperation. It is both solo and concerted. In summary, kingdom-focused prayer is the Spirit-enabled cry of God's adopted children seeking their Father's glory by persistently asking Him for the nations, their promised inheritance.

The Reformers prayed big prayers. The Protestant Reformation was initiated, achieved, and maintained by big prayers. Among the enemies of the Reformation were the Muslims, the emperor, and the papists. Martin Luther believed in praying big prayers. He taught, "The Lord is great and high, and therefore He wants great things to be sought from Him and is willing to bestow them so that His almighty power might be shown forth." Thus, Luther prayed: "Dear Lord, I know that You have still more, You have much more than You can ever bestow; in You I shall never want, for if there were need, the heavens would rain guilders [dollars]. Be my treasury, my cellar, my storehouse; in You have I all riches; if I have You, I have enough."

God indicates there is nothing too hard for Him (see Jer. 32:27), and so He challenges us to pray big prayers: " 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know' " (Jer. 33:3).

Praying big prayers requires childlike faith. Patrick Johnston tells a story about his wife, Jill. For a long time she was burdened to help children pray big prayers for world evangelization. She began to write a book to this end in 1990. She lived at the headquarters of the Dorothea Mission in London. As Jill completed each chapter, a group of praying children used the information to intercede for each country. Albania was one of the first countries in her project. It was a communist hermit state, which proudly claimed to be the first atheistic country in the world. All religious expression was illegal. The Gospel was banned and there were no known believers in the entire country. The children began praying for the needs of the children in Albania. They prayed for religious freedom to come to that land. A few months later, the communist government fell, and freedom for worship and witness came. Jill had to rewrite the Albania chapter in her book. When these children heard this, they were delighted. One of them shouted, "We have changed Albania!" Today there is a Gospel witness in virtually every Albanian town and city. May God give us the faith of these little children.

Evaluate your prayer life by answering the following questions. More than 40 percent of the earth's surface is in a state of drought—are you praying for rain? Like Hezekiah, are you praying for deliverance from terrorists throughout the world? Have you thanked the Lord for His intercession for you? Like our Lord, are you praying " 'not as I will, but as You will,' " even if it costs your life? Are your prayers "kingdomfocused"? Are your prayers big enough to honor God? Are you praying for enemies of the cross to be converted? If they will not be converted, are you asking God to restrain them so they cannot disturb the growth of His church? Like the children who prayed for Albania, do you pray for God to change the world? Are your big prayers becoming bigger prayers?

Dr. Archie Parrish is founder and president of Serve International, is on the board of directors of Ligonier Ministries, and is the editor of A Simple Way to Pray. This article was originally published in Tabletalk magazine.

Audio And Video Now Available — 2012 Fall Conference

Last month we held our 2012 Fall Conference at Reformation Bible College on the theme, "Surprised by God." Leading up to the conference R.C. Sproul expressed his fear that, "too many of us have domesticated God." Our prayer during this time of learning, edification, and fellowship, was that many would be humbled, recognizing their position as creatures before our transcendent and holy Creator.

We are now pleased to announce that the audio and video from each session is available either to purchase or stream for free:

The Lamb Who Reigns (Pre-Conference Round Table) with Grant, Mathison, Morales, Nichols, Sproul Jr., and Sproul.
A Rekindled Flame: The Reformation's Rediscovery of God by Stephen Nichols
Inklings of Wonder by George Grant
God in a Book by Stephen Nichols
The Call to Wonder by R.C. Sproul Jr.
Questions & Answers with Grant, Morales, Nichols, Sproul Jr., and Sproul
Shekinah by Michael Morales
The Eclipse of God by R.C. Sproul

We hope to see many of you at our other events in early 2013: 2013 National Conference, Caribbean Cruise, and British Reformation Tour.