R.C. Sproul's Blog, page 74

Blessed Hope: A New Teaching Series from W. Robert Godfrey

Trumpets, beasts, and a thousand-year reign—the book of Revelation often generates curiosity and confusion. Do these visions have any meaning for us today?

In this new video teaching series, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey guides us through the book of Revelation chapter by chapter, clearing away uncertainty while offering practical insight. Rather than a mere puzzle book filled with secrets for the future, Revelation is a help for us in the here and now. When it seems that the enemy is winning and opposition to the church is closing in, Revelation reminds us of our blessed hope: Jesus Christ has risen, He is reigning, and soon He will return. On that day, all things will be made new.

This teaching series is available now for purchase on DVD or CD, and as a digital download. And for a limited time, you can create a free Ligonier Connect study group for this course, allowing you to study each lesson with friends or members of your church. The digital study guide is also currently free to download.

Twenty-Four 23-Minute Messages:

A Book of Blessing
Time, Cycles, & Symbols
Understanding the Seven Letters
Letters to Ephesus & Smyrna
Letters to Pergamum, Thyatira, & Sardis
Letters to Philadelphia & Laodicea
The Heavenly Throne Room
Worthy Is the Lamb
Salvation Belongs to the Lord
From Seals to Trumpets
Fifth & Sixth Trumpets
The Final Trumpets
The Woman & the Dragon
The Two Beasts
The Mark & the Call to Endure
The Vindication of the Saints
Plagues, Armageddon, & the Wrath of God
The Splendor & Fall of Babylon the Great
The Wicked Lament & the Saints Rejoice
The Victorious Rider & the Chained Dragon
The Final Judgment
The New Jerusalem
Come, Lord Jesus
Questions Answered

Watch This Brief Clip from Dr. Godfrey:

Watch a Message from This Series for Free:

 

Purchase Options:

Purchase on DVD ($70.20)
Purchase on CD ($46.80)
Download audio and video ($43.20)
Purchase the corresponding study guide ($12.00)
Enroll on Ligonier Connect ($9.00/month)

Buy Now

 

Dr. W. Robert Godfrey is a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and president emeritus and professor emeritus of church history at Westminster Seminary California. He is also the featured teacher for the six-part Ligonier teaching series A Survey of Church History and author of several books, including Saving the Reformation.

There Is No Temple in the New Jerusalem

Near the very end of the Bible, the Apostle John describes the New Jerusalem as having no temple (Rev. 21:22). In this brief clip, W. Robert Godfrey explains why this is wonderful news for all who trust in Christ.

Transcript:

This city has no temple, and that's because a temple is always, first of all, symbolic. We don't need symbols anymore. It's fulfilled. But a temple also always, architecturally, is a place that separates the worshiper from God. That was particularly true of the old covenant temple, right? There were a whole series of separations. If you were a Gentile, even a convert to Israel, the closest you could get to the temple was the court of the Gentiles. Then, the next court was the court of the women, and the next court was the court of the men of Israel. Then was the holy place, where only the priests could go, and then the most holy place, where only the high priest could go once a year. So, the whole vision of the temple, in part, is forcing mankind to recognize how separated they are from God, how much distance there must be between the holy God and sinful mankind. And now, there's no temple, because there's no separation, because there's no distance, because the Holy God has surrounded Himself with a holy people whom He has made holy.

What Are Justification and Sanctification?

The words justification and sanctification have largely fallen out of use in Western culture. Sadly, they are also fading from sight in the Christian church. One reason this decline is distressing is that the Bible uses the words justification and sanctification to express the saving work of Christ for sinners. That is to say, both terms lie at the heart of the biblical gospel. So, what does the Bible teach about justification and sanctification? How do they differ from one another? How do they help us understand better the believer's relationship with Jesus Christ?

Justification is as simple as A-B-C-D. Justification is an act of God. It does not describe the way that God inwardly renews and changes a person. It is, rather, a legal declaration in which God pardons the sinner of all his sins and accepts and accounts the sinner as righteous in His sight. God declares the sinner righteous at the very moment that the sinner puts his trust in Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:21-26, 5:16; 2 Cor. 5:21).

What is the basis of this legal verdict? God justifies the sinner solely on the basis of the obedience and death of His Son, our representative, Jesus Christ. Christ's perfect obedience and full satisfaction for sin are the only ground upon which God declares the sinner righteous (Rom. 5:18-19; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 1:7; Phil. 2:8). We are not justified by our own works; we are justified solely on the basis of Christ's work on our behalf. This righteousness is imputed to the sinner. In other words, in justification, God puts the righteousness of His Son onto the sinner's account. Just as my sins were transferred to, or laid upon, Christ at the cross, so also His righteousness is reckoned to me (2 Cor. 5:21).

By what means is the sinner justified? Sinners are justified through faith alone when they confess their trust in Christ. We are not justified because of any good that we have done, are doing, or will do. Faith is the only instrument of justification. Faith adds nothing to what Christ has done for us in justification. Faith merely receives the righteousness of Jesus Christ offered in the gospel (Rom. 4:4-5).

Finally, saving faith must demonstrate itself to be the genuine article by producing good works. It is possible to profess saving faith but not possess saving faith (James 2:14-25). What distinguishes true faith from a mere claim to faith is the presence of good works (Gal. 5:6). We are in no way justified by our good works. But no one may consider himself to be a justified person unless he sees in his life the fruit and evidence of justifying faith; that is, good works.

Both justification and sanctification are graces of the gospel; they always accompany one another; and they deal with the sinner's sin. But they differ in some important ways. First, whereas justification addresses the guilt of our sin, sanctification addresses the dominion and corruption of sin in our lives. Justification is God's declaring the sinner righteous; sanctification is God's renewing and transforming our whole persons—our minds, wills, affections, and behaviors. United to Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection and indwelt by the Spirit of Christ, we are dead to the reign of sin and alive to righteousness (Rom. 6:1-23; 8:1-11). We therefore are obligated to put sin to death and to present our "members to God as instruments for righteousness" (6:13; see 8:13).

Second, our justification is a complete and finished act. Justification means that every believer is completely and finally freed from condemnation and the wrath of God (Rom. 8:1, 33-34; Col. 2:13b-14). Sanctification, however, is an ongoing and progressive work in our lives. Although every believer is brought out once and for all from bondage to sin, we are not immediately made perfect. We will not be completely freed from sin until we receive our resurrection bodies at the last day.

Christ has won both justification and sanctification for His people. Both graces are the concern of faith in Jesus Christ, but in different ways. In justification, our faith results in our being forgiven, accepted, and accounted righteous in God's sight. In sanctification, that same faith actively and eagerly takes up all the commands that Christ has given the believer. We dare not separate or conflate justification and sanctification. We do distinguish them. And, in both graces, we enter into the richness and joy of communion with Christ through faith in Him.

This post was originally published in Tabletalk magazine.

Columns from Tabletalk Magazine, June 2020

The June issue of Tabletalk The June 2020 features articles on the theme of the ordinary means of grace. Westminster Shorter Catechism 88 says that “the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.” In our day, however, there has been a neglect of these ordinary means in many churches. Many congregations and individual Christians instead look for spiritual growth in the right programs, style of music, church growth strategy, and other places where God has not promised to bless His people. Believers need to return to the ordinary means of grace appointed by Christ in order to see renewal in our day. This issue helps readers better understand and appreciate the ordinary means of grace.

For a limited time, the new TabletalkMagazine.com allows everyone to browse and read the growing library of back issues, including this month's issue. You can also purchase the issue or subscribe to get the print issue every month.

The Ordinary Means of Grace by Burk Parsons
What Is a Means of Grace? by Nicholas T. Batzig
The Word of God as a Means of Grace by Robert VanDoodewaard
Prayer as a Means of Grace by Christopher J. Gordon
The Sacraments as Means of Grace by William Barcley
Appropriating the Means of Grace by Ryan M. McGraw
Living with a Sacrificial Heart by Shona Murray
Welcoming New Church Members by Don Bailey
The Witness of the Communion of Saints by A. Craig Troxel
The Dead Sea Scrolls by John D. Currid

Read the Entire Issue

Subscribe to Tabletalk today for only $23 a year, and $20 to renew. You save even more if you get a 2- or 3-year subscription (as little as $1.36 per issue). Get your subscription to Tabletalk today by calling one of Ligonier Ministries’ resource consultants at 800-435-4343 or by subscribing online.

Reformation Trust eBook Sale: This Week Only

This week only, you can download select Reformation Trust ebooks for only $1, $2, or $5 each. Now’s the time to stock up on summer reading and fill your smartphone, tablet, or computer with a searchable library at a fraction of the price.

Our wide-ranging collection includes favorites like R.C. Sproul’s Everyone’s a Theologian and features new releases from John MacArthur, Gabe Fluhrer, and other gifted teachers. From commentaries to children’s titles, you’ll find ebooks for every age and stage of the Christian life.

Shop now and save up to 80% on select ebooks. These deep discounts are only available for one week, so don’t delay. Build your affordable collection of digital resources on theology, biblical studies, the Christian life, and more.

And remember, you can download all of the ebooks from R.C. Sproul’s Crucial Questions series for free. These digital booklets are excellent resources for evangelism, discipleship, or personal and small group study.

All ebooks are available for purchase in ePub and MOBI formats, making them compatible with most devices. Sale excludes the Reformation Study Bible and Crucial Questions ebooks.

Who Was Charles Finney?

Perhaps no figure casts his shadow over American evangelicalism more than Charles Finney. From one of our Ask Ligonier events, Stephen Nichols addresses elements of Finney’s theology that have had negative and lasting effects.

If you have a biblical or theological question, just visit ask.Ligonier.org to ask your question live online.

Read the Transcript

The Meaning of "El Shaddai"

“And the Lord said to Job: ‘Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it’” (Job 40:1–2).

Of the many Hebrew names for God that have been transliterated into the English language and used in Christian worship, El Shaddai is certainly among the best known. Literally, this name means “God Almighty,” and it is among the most frequently appearing names for God in the Bible.

Scripture often borrows words from the Semitic language-speaking peoples of its day and invests them with brand-new, divinely-inspired meanings. Looking at a Hebrew term that is used in other contexts can give us important clues as to why certain words were borrowed from surrounding cultures and not others. There is some debate as to the reasoning behind the choice of El Shaddai. Certain scholars think it originally meant “the thunderer,” which is not a surprise given how the other pagan Semitic cultures frequently identified specific gods with weather patterns. When we consider what the Bible says about our Creator, it makes sense to see a name that might have originally meant “the thunderer” chosen to describe His might, as thunder is certainly a force that suggests power. Unlike paganism, however, Scripture never identifies God with His creation. He is creation’s transcendent Lord and is not subject to it (Gen. 1).

A better foundational meaning of El Shaddai may be “the overpowerer,” which emphasizes God’s power to achieve all His purposes (Ex. 15:6; Matt. 19:26). Qualifying His power in this way is important, as the Bible never suggests God can do everything and anything. He cannot do anything that would violate who He is; for example, He cannot tempt anyone with evil (James 1:13). Nevertheless, the Lord’s strength is absolutely perfect and cannot be increased or diminished (vv. 16–17). Ultimately, it is impossible for anyone or anything to keep Him from accomplishing His sovereign decrees (Ps. 115:3).

The book of Job uses the name El Shaddai more than any book in the biblical canon. This makes sense, for God gives Job a particularly clear and awe-inspiring description and display of His power (Job 38–42). Job spends most of the book questioning God’s purposes, but the Lord’s display of His wisdom and power finally silences him.

“Then Job answered the Lord: ‘I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more’” (Job 40:3–5).

All who know the greatness of God share this response.

Will You Pray for Awakening? Download Your Free Prayer Guide

We live in a world that needs awakening. Millions of people do not know Jesus Christ. The church itself needs renewed zeal for the truth, for spiritual growth, and for missions. Scripture reveals how this awakening comes about: by a powerful movement of the Spirit of God. It also tells us that when just two men—Paul and Silas—prayed, the earth itself shook (Acts 16:25–26). So we are dedicating the entire year of 2019 to pray for awakening, and we hope you will, too.

To help as many people as possible, we produced this free prayer guide. Download it today at PrayForAwakening.com, find it in the PrayerMate app, or order the prayer booklet in packs of ten to share with your loved ones.

To use the guide, find the prayer that corresponds to the current week. Each week of the month focuses on a different group to pray for, starting with you and your family and expanding to the world and the global church. You can also share your desire to #PrayForAwakening on social media.

JUNE PRAYER FOCUS:

Week 1: Pray that you and your family will gladly do what God wills, as is outlined in His Word. “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10)
Week 2: Pray that you and your church will live holy lives before friends and neighbors so that your witness to the gospel will have a credible testimony. “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Pet. 2:9)
Week 3:  Pray that your nation and city will praise God and not curse Him. “Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!” (Ps. 67:3)
Week 4: Pray that your church will remain discerning and will remain devoted to truth and not be deceived by the teachings of demons. “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.” (1 Tim. 4:1)

We hope this prayer guide encourages you this year and in future years. Join us in praying fervently for a mighty movement of God’s Spirit today, thankful that He has graciously promised to hear us, and confident that He will answer our prayers according to His will.

DOWNLOAD NOW

The First Vatican Council

How much authority does the pope still claim to have in an increasingly secularizing Western world? In this brief clip, W. Robert Godfrey examines how the Roman Catholic Church attempted to respond to the problem of papal authority with its First Vatican Council.

Transcript:

And so, Pius IX, who lived a long time – he reigned down till 1878, 32 years; that is a very long papal reign at any time in history – Pius IX concluded that there ought to be an ecumenical council of the church called. It would meet in the Vatican, and its primary task would be to reassert and clarify the power of the papacy. This council meeting in 1870 in the Vatican is known today as the First Vatican Council, since there has been a second one since in the 20th century. But this First Vatican Council was intended by Pius to be a strong and effective testimony to who the pope was, how he must be recognized, and what should be thought of the papacy. And so, the declarations of the First Vatican Council are very important for us to remember because they continue to be the official position of the Roman Catholic Church.

What Does It Mean That “by His Wounds We Are Healed”?

Does Isaiah 53:5 promise physical healing for Christians? From one of our Ask R.C. events, R.C. Sproul explains how the atonement of Jesus relates to the ultimate healing of God’s people.

Do you have another biblical or theological question? Ask Ligonier is your place for answers.

Read the Transcript