Grace Alone

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God”

  

Adam and Eve hid. 

Humanity has been hiding ever since.

We had some hiding going on in our house this week.

Our oldest son knew he wasn’t supposed to look in the garage closet.  Mommy and daddy had told him that there were Christmas presents in there and for him and his brothers not to open that door.  Just like it would be for all of us, the instruction not to look in the closet combined with the temptation to see Christmas presents in October proved too potent for resistance.

Once the door had been opened, the brothers staged a coup and tattled on him.  Amid cries of “He opened the door and looked in!,” The elder brother pled for mercy and responded honestly and helplessly “But I didn’t see anything!”

I told him that he would have to tell his mother.

As we sat down at the supper table to pray, I asked if he had told his mother.  With a beet-red face and glassed-over eyes as big as cue balls, he quietly shook his head “no.”  I told him that after supper he could share with mommy what he had done.

We made it through supper, but our son was not his chatty self.  You could count all his bites that night on two hands.  Earlier than usual, the burdened little boy asked if he could be excused.  He carried his plate to the sink and then went silently upstairs. 

After supper, Amy went upstairs and found him in bed with the covers pulled up over his head.  With a heavy broken heart, mommy saw that he was hiding.

The two of them talked about the Christmas presents and about obeying mommy and daddy, but more importantly they talked about sin and grace. 

Mommy asked what Adam and Eve did when they sinned.  He quickly said, “They hid.” 

“That’s right,” mommy said, “and God was gracious to forgive them—in spite of what they had done.”

“I’m sorry, mommy”

Mommy said, “I love you.  Now get out from under those covers and let’s go downstairs with the rest of the family.

Sin Committed.  Wrong acknowledged.  Grace extended.  Relationship restored.

As we celebrated Reformation Day, we all thanked God for the truth of Grace Alone.

Remembering the 95 Theses...Celebrating Reformation Day

Out of love and concern for the truth, and with the object of eliciting it, the following heads will be the subject of a public discussion at Wittenberg under the presidency of the reverend father, Martin Luther, Augustinian, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology, and duly appointed Lecturer on these subjects in that place. He requests that whoever cannot be present personally to debate the matter orally will do so in absence in writing.

1. When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said "Repent", He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.
2. The word cannot be properly understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, i.e. confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy.
3. Yet its meaning is not restricted to repentance in one's heart; for such repentance is null unless it produces outward signs in various mortifications of the flesh.
4. As long as hatred of self abides (i.e. true inward repentance) the penalty of sin abides, viz., until we enter the kingdom of heaven.
5. The pope has neither the will nor the power to remit any penalties beyond those imposed either at his own discretion or by canon law.
6. The pope himself cannot remit guilt, but only declare and confirm that it has been remitted by God; or, at most, he can remit it in cases reserved to his discretion. Except for these cases, the guilt remains untouched.
7. God never remits guilt to anyone without, at the same time, making him humbly submissive to the priest, His representative.
8. The penitential canons apply only to men who are still alive, and, according to the canons themselves, none applies to the dead.
9. Accordingly, the Holy Spirit, acting in the person of the pope, manifests grace to us, by the fact that the papal regulations always cease to apply at death, or in any hard case.
10. It is a wrongful act, due to ignorance, when priests retain the canonical penalties on the dead in purgatory.
11. When canonical penalties were changed and made to apply to purgatory, surely it would seem that tares were sown while the bishops were asleep.
12. In former days, the canonical penalties were imposed, not after, but before absolution was pronounced; and were intended to be tests of true contrition.
13. Death puts an end to all the claims of the Church; even the dying are already dead to the canon laws, and are no longer bound by them.
14. Defective piety or love in a dying person is necessarily accompanied by great fear, which is greatest where the piety or love is least.
15. This fear or horror is sufficient in itself, whatever else might be said, to constitute the pain of purgatory, since it approaches very closely to the horror of despair.
16. There seems to be the same difference between hell, purgatory, and heaven as between despair, uncertainty, and assurance.
17. Of a truth, the pains of souls in purgatory ought to be abated, and charity ought to be proportionately increased.
18. Moreover, it does not seem proved, on any grounds of reason or Scripture, that these souls are outside the state of merit, or unable to grow in grace.
19. Nor does it seem proved to be always the case that they are certain and assured of salvation, even if we are very certain ourselves.
20. Therefore the pope, in speaking of the plenary remission of all penalties, does not mean "all" in the strict sense, but only those imposed by himself.
21. Hence those who preach indulgences are in error when they say that a man is absolved and saved from every penalty by the pope's indulgences.
22. Indeed, he cannot remit to souls in purgatory any penalty which canon law declares should be suffered in the present life.
23. If plenary remission could be granted to anyone at all, it would be only in the cases of the most perfect, i.e. to very few.
24. It must therefore be the case that the major part of the people are deceived by that indiscriminate and high-sounding promise of relief from penalty.
25. The same power as the pope exercises in general over purgatory is exercised in particular by every single bishop in his bishopric and priest in his parish.
26. The pope does excellently when he grants remission to the souls in purgatory on account of intercessions made on their behalf, and not by the power of the keys (which he cannot exercise for them).
27. There is no divine authority for preaching that the soul flies out of the purgatory immediately the money clinks in the bottom of the chest.
28. It is certainly possible that when the money clinks in the bottom of the chest avarice and greed increase; but when the church offers intercession, all depends in the will of God.
29. Who knows whether all souls in purgatory wish to be redeemed in view of what is said of St. Severinus and St. Pascal? (Note: Paschal I, pope 817-24. The legend is that he and Severinus were willing to endure the pains of purgatory for the benefit of the faithful).
30. No one is sure of the reality of his own contrition, much less of receiving plenary forgiveness.
31. One who bona fide buys indulgence is a rare as a bona fide penitent man, i.e. very rare indeed.
32. All those who believe themselves certain of their own salvation by means of letters of indulgence, will be eternally damned, together with their teachers.
33. We should be most carefully on our guard against those who say that the papal indulgences are an inestimable divine gift, and that a man is reconciled to God by them.
34. For the grace conveyed by these indulgences relates simply to the penalties of the sacramental "satisfactions" decreed merely by man.
35. It is not in accordance with Christian doctrines to preach and teach that those who buy off souls, or purchase confessional licenses, have no need to repent of their own sins.
36. Any Christian whatsoever, who is truly repentant, enjoys plenary remission from penalty and guilt, and this is given him without letters of indulgence.
37. Any true Christian whatsoever, living or dead, participates in all the benefits of Christ and the Church; and this participation is granted to him by God without letters of indulgence.
38. Yet the pope's remission and dispensation are in no way to be despised, for, as already said, they proclaim the divine remission.
39. It is very difficult, even for the most learned theologians, to extol to the people the great bounty contained in the indulgences, while, at the same time, praising contrition as a virtue.
40. A truly contrite sinner seeks out, and loves to pay, the penalties of his sins; whereas the very multitude of indulgences dulls men's consciences, and tends to make them hate the penalties.
41. Papal indulgences should only be preached with caution, lest people gain a wrong understanding, and think that they are preferable to other good works: those of love.
42. Christians should be taught that the pope does not at all intend that the purchase of indulgences should be understood as at all comparable with the works of mercy.
43. Christians should be taught that one who gives to the poor, or lends to the needy, does a better action than if he purchases indulgences.
44. Because, by works of love, love grows and a man becomes a better man; whereas, by indulgences, he does not become a better man, but only escapes certain penalties.
45. Christians should be taught that he who sees a needy person, but passes him by although he gives money for indulgences, gains no benefit from the pope's pardon, but only incurs the wrath of God.
46. Christians should be taught that, unless they have more than they need, they are bound to retain what is only necessary for the upkeep of their home, and should in no way squander it on indulgences.
47. Christians should be taught that they purchase indulgences voluntarily, and are not under obligation to do so.
48. Christians should be taught that, in granting indulgences, the pope has more need, and more desire, for devout prayer on his own behalf than for ready money.
49. Christians should be taught that the pope's indulgences are useful only if one does not rely on them, but most harmful if one loses the fear of God through them.
50. Christians should be taught that, if the pope knew the exactions of the indulgence-preachers, he would rather the church of St. Peter were reduced to ashes than be built with the skin, flesh, and bones of the sheep.
51. Christians should be taught that the pope would be willing, as he ought if necessity should arise, to sell the church of St. Peter, and give, too, his own money to many of those from whom the pardon-merchants conjure money.
52. It is vain to rely on salvation by letters of indulgence, even if the commissary, or indeed the pope himself, were to pledge his own soul for their validity.
53. Those are enemies of Christ and the pope who forbid the word of God to be preached at all in some churches, in order that indulgences may be preached in others.
54. The word of God suffers injury if, in the same sermon, an equal or longer time is devoted to indulgences than to that word.
55. The pope cannot help taking the view that if indulgences (very small matters) are celebrated by one bell, one pageant, or one ceremony, the gospel (a very great matter) should be preached to the accompaniment of a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.
56. The treasures of the church, out of which the pope dispenses indulgences, are not sufficiently spoken of or known among the people of Christ.
57. That these treasures are not temporal are clear from the fact that many of the merchants do not grant them freely, but only collect them.
58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the saints, because, even apart from the pope, these merits are always working grace in the inner man, and working the cross, death, and hell in the outer man.
59. St. Laurence said that the poor were the treasures of the church, but he used the term in accordance with the custom of his own time.
60. We do not speak rashly in saying that the treasures of the church are the keys of the church, and are bestowed by the merits of Christ.
61. For it is clear that the power of the pope suffices, by itself, for the remission of penalties and reserved cases.
62. The true treasure of the church is the Holy gospel of the glory and the grace of God.
63. It is right to regard this treasure as most odious, for it makes the first to be the last.
64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is most acceptable, for it makes the last to be the first.
65. Therefore the treasures of the gospel are nets which, in former times, they used to fish for men of wealth.
66. The treasures of the indulgences are the nets which to-day they use to fish for the wealth of men.
67. The indulgences, which the merchants extol as the greatest of favours, are seen to be, in fact, a favourite means for money-getting.
68. Nevertheless, they are not to be compared with the grace of God and the compassion shown in the Cross.
69. Bishops and curates, in duty bound, must receive the commissaries of the papal indulgences with all reverence.
70. But they are under a much greater obligation to watch closely and attend carefully lest these men preach their own fancies instead of what the pope commissioned.
71. Let him be anathema and accursed who denies the apostolic character of the indulgences.
72. On the other hand, let him be blessed who is on his guard against the wantonness and license of the pardon-merchant's words.
73. In the same way, the pope rightly excommunicates those who make any plans to the detriment of the trade in indulgences.
74. It is much more in keeping with his views to excommunicate those who use the pretext of indulgences to plot anything to the detriment of holy love and truth.
75. It is foolish to think that papal indulgences have so much power that they can absolve a man even if he has done the impossible and violated the mother of God.
76. We assert the contrary, and say that the pope's pardons are not able to remove the least venial of sins as far as their guilt is concerned.
77. When it is said that not even St. Peter, if he were now pope, could grant a greater grace, it is blasphemy against St. Peter and the pope.
78. We assert the contrary, and say that he, and any pope whatever, possesses greater graces, viz., the gospel, spiritual powers, gifts of healing, etc., as is declared in I Corinthians 12 [:28].
79. It is blasphemy to say that the insignia of the cross with the papal arms are of equal value to the cross on which Christ died.
80. The bishops, curates, and theologians, who permit assertions of that kind to be made to the people without let or hindrance, will have to answer for it.
81. This unbridled preaching of indulgences makes it difficult for learned men to guard the respect due to the pope against false accusations, or at least from the keen criticisms of the laity.
82. They ask, e.g.: Why does not the pope liberate everyone from purgatory for the sake of love (a most holy thing) and because of the supreme necessity of their souls? This would be morally the best of all reasons. Meanwhile he redeems innumerable souls for money, a most perishable thing, with which to build St. Peter's church, a very minor purpose.
83. Again: Why should funeral and anniversary masses for the dead continue to be said? And why does not the pope repay, or permit to be repaid, the benefactions instituted for these purposes, since it is wrong to pray for those souls who are now redeemed?
84. Again: Surely this is a new sort of compassion, on the part of God and the pope, when an impious man, an enemy of God, is allowed to pay money to redeem a devout soul, a friend of God; while yet that devout and beloved soul is not allowed to be redeemed without payment, for love's sake, and just because of its need of redemption.
85. Again: Why are the penitential canon laws, which in fact, if not in practice, have long been obsolete and dead in themselves,—why are they, to-day, still used in imposing fines in money, through the granting of indulgences, as if all the penitential canons were fully operative?
86. Again: since the pope's income to-day is larger than that of the wealthiest of wealthy men, why does he not build this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of indigent believers?
87. Again: What does the pope remit or dispense to people who, by their perfect repentance, have a right to plenary remission or dispensation?
88. Again: Surely a greater good could be done to the church if the pope were to bestow these remissions and dispensations, not once, as now, but a hundred times a day, for the benefit of any believer whatever.
89. What the pope seeks by indulgences is not money, but rather the salvation of souls; why then does he suspend the letters and indulgences formerly conceded, and still as efficacious as ever?
90. These questions are serious matters of conscience to the laity. To suppress them by force alone, and not to refute them by giving reasons, is to expose the church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christian people unhappy.
91. If therefore, indulgences were preached in accordance with the spirit and mind of the pope, all these difficulties would be easily overcome, and indeed, cease to exist.
92. Away, then, with those prophets who say to Christ's people, "Peace, peace," where in there is no peace.
93. Hail, hail to all those prophets who say to Christ's people, "The cross, the cross," where there is no cross.
94. Christians should be exhorted to be zealous to follow Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hells.
95. And let them thus be more confident of entering heaven through many tribulations rather than through a false assurance of peace.

It's going to be great!



Pastor Josh and our entire faith family have been working and are looking foward to a fantastic fall festival this weekend.  Come on Saturday night.  Bring your family and friends.  Plan to eat some dogs, munch on some chips, get some candy, play some games, hang out with people from all over, and have a real good time. 

There are many, many more reasons, but here are the Top Ten reasons to be a part of this year's Fall Festival.

10.  It's back!

9.  See the different generations loving each other and having a great time together.

8.  Free hotdogs and nachos.

7.  Games, booths, and lots of stuff to do with the family.

6.  Great costumes.  (I've got mine!  What are you wearing???)

5.  CANDY, CANDY, and more CANDY!!

4.  Fantastic phot ops!  Bring your camera.

3.  Fellowship and Service!

2.  Fun!

1.  loving God, loving people...come put into action the words on our church doors.  This is a great way to get to know the people of Paducah, to let them know we are here, and to let them know that we love them.

Come and bring folks with you.

Amy and I will have four little boys with us.  We're also bringing Gram.

See you Saturday night!

Pastor Todd

A Stuffy Heart

This week at Midweek

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust  destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

1 Timothy 6:17-19

Pastor Todd

Give us clean hands. Give pure hearts. Let us not lift our souls to another.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Matthew 5:8

We'll be asking God to give us pure hearts at Midweek

6:00 P.M.

The Great Room

See you there!

An Appealing Church?

WHAT MAKES YOUR CHURCH APPEALING?

     Good music?

     Comfortable for outsiders?

     A traditional service?

     People who look like you?

     Authenticity?

 

HOW ABOUT GOING FOR A SUPERNATURAL APPEAL, SOMETHING LIKE...

     a group of pardoned rebels

     from multiple ethnicities and classes
     whom God embraces

     and refashions in his Son's image

     --holy, loving, united--
     with his own Spirit
     before an onlooking universe
     as the display of his glory?


(from the 2007 IX Marks Report Card)


Pastor Todd

God Loves Marriage and Deacons

Sunday is going to be another great day at FBC!

First, we will celebrate the marriages of 43 couples who have been married for 50 years or more. 

Marriage matters at First Baptist Church because marriage matters to God.  God designed for the marriage between a man and a woman to be a vivid reflection of the relationship that Christ has with the church.  Few things are a more powerful witness of God’s love and grace than a faithful marriage.

Today’s society approaches marriage like we think about wearing clothes—we wear them for a season or until we are tired of them…then we throw them away.

We desire faithful and Godly marriages among our faith family.  We long for men to love their wives, for women to love their husbands, and for children to see the gospel on display every day in the way that their parents treat one another.

Don’t miss Sunday.  In the 11:00 service, we will recognize these couples who have been married for a combined total of over 2,517 years, and we will celebrate our great God who has given us the gracious gift of marriage!

Second, we will begin the process of electing deacons to serve our church. 

The early church chose deacons as they had needs (Acts 6:1-7).  Likewise, FBC is selecting men to serve as deacons for the ministry areas of caring and senior adults, facilities, Lord’s Supper, personnel, sound and television, transportation, bereavement, and men’s ministry. 

In too many churches, the deacon body is seen as a group who argues over and rubber stamps the initiatives of others.  Not so at FBC!  I am thankful for the good and godly men who love and serve our faith family by meeting needs.

The deacon body and committee structure were recently combined to focus and enhance our ministry efforts as well as increase effectiveness and efficiency across the board.  Deacons serve as “Point Men” for particular areas of service and provide leadership to their team/committee which executes ministries.  Deacon Point Men meet needs, maintain unity, and support the ministry of the Word through their service.  They also are liaisons to the corporate meetings of the deacon body and give regular attention to church finances and serve as a sounding board concerning potential significant pastoral leadership initiatives.

Deacons are biblical.  Read and pray over Acts 6:1-7 and 1 Timothy 3:8-13, talk with others in the church about those you might recommend, and turn in your nominations before November 14.  You can pick up a form at church.

I look forward to seeing YOU Sunday with a Bible in your hand and someone by your side.

Pastor Todd

Midweek at FBC--A Talking Heart

Our words reveal our hearts.  Our words reflect our hearts.  Our words proceed from our hearts. 

As a tree is revealed by its fruit, a person is known by his words.  We speak according to the kind of people we are.

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.  You brood of vipers!  How can you speak good, when you are evil?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.  Matthew 12:33-37

See you at Midweek!

Pastor Todd

loving God, loving people...El Salvador

Several great folks from our First family just got back from a week in El Salvador with Paducah’s Starfish Orphan Ministry.  How good it has been to read the heartfelt words and see the many pictures from this incredible experience.  

http://starfishorphanministry.blogspot.com/ has alot of good stuff to see and read, and you can check it out for yourself.

"learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause."  Isaiah 1:17

 

God is opening our eyes, and he is giving us a greater heart for the peoples of the world!

Pastor Todd

Before God Moves

Comparing the ministry of Charles Spurgeon with the “principles” of great awakenings as recorded in James Burns’ Revivals, Their Laws and Leaders, Lewis Drummond writes:               

   “…there is always an ebbing tide before the awakening flood comes.  A general defection from “the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) often infects the Church just before awakenings dawn.  Dullness and lethargy pervade God’s people.  Dark days settle in.  These periods are also characterized by straying from the central task of evangelism.  Churches and pastors begin to substitute secondary ministries for this primary responsibility.  Priorities get reversed.

     Along with these problems, deviations from apostolic theology can subtly creep in.  Compromise on ethical and moral principles tends to follow hard on the heels of doctrinal errors.  A critical and blasé  attitude envelops many as people grow cynical about those whom they label as “puritanical” and “pious.”…Some actually defect and fall into open sin.  In a word, plain “worldliness” takes over, and the Church sinks into a Laodicean syndrome.  Yes, church programs go on, often with greater fervor.  There is a form of godliness but a denying of real spiritual power (2 Timothy 3:5).  With spiritual power missing, and the Church neither hot nor cold, it stands in dire danger of the Lord’s Laodicean rejection (Revelation 3:16).

     Although ebb times seem inevitable, the Church and the people who make up the Church are not thereby exonerated and blameless for their defections.  In the final analysis, believers become what they want to become, and bear the consequences of their own actions.  Christians also reap what they sow, individually and collectively.”

O God, how today’s Church needs you to move!

Pastor Todd

Gospel Children: Pressing the Next Generation Up into the Gospel

Our First Family is blessed to have a God-focused, Christ-centered, gospel-driven children’s ministry. Our pastor for children’s and family ministries, Josh Cornett provides great leadership not only to the children of our church, but also to our parents.  Amy and I are certainly beneficiaries of his excellent and holistic work, and he is helping us to be more intentional, more strategic, more God-honoring, and more faithful in our parenting.

You will want to check out Josh’s excellent blog, Gospel Children: Pressing the next generation up into the gospel at http://gospelchildren.wordpress.com.  This is a great resource which will come your way regularly when you subscribe to Gospel Children.  Amy and I always look forward to the next post of Gospel Children.

Josh recently posted a recent article which appeared in the Wall Street Journal.  This article provides good words for anyone with boys.  Having four of our own, we were eager to read the following and encouraged by Thomas Spence's words. 

Check it out...How to Raise Boys Who Read - Hint:  Not with gross-out books and video game bribes

In addition to others, Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.,  president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has commented on this article.  Read his thoughts here. 

Gospel Children is a great resource!  Subscribe today!

Pastor Todd

The Beach, My Boys and John Spurgeon

The Bradys are in Seagrove, FL this week.  In between building sand castles on the beach with Jack, William, Isaac, and Benjamin, and eating peel’ em and eat ‘em shrimp with mom, Grandad and Grandmama, I a devouring Lewis Drummond’s biography Spurgeon—Prince of Preachers (Kregal, 1992).

While I feel as though Charles Haddon Spurgeon (the 19^th century’s greatest preacher) is vacationing with us this year, it is his father of whom I find myself most fond this afternoon.  The following quote by Charles’s father makes me realize the importance of parenting and children.

“As the parent of seventeen children, I have frequently worn a shabby coat, when I might have possessed  a good one, had I cared less for my children’s education.”

                                                          John Spurgeon

Pastor Todd

Get Low

Attention all Paducah residents.   Get Low is showing downtown at the Maiden Alley Cinema.

Get Low, starring Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, and Bill Murray is a movie inspired by the true story of Felix “Bush” Breazeale, who attracted national attention and the largest crowd to assemble up to that date when he threw himself a living funeral party in 1938 in Roane County, Tennessee.

“Bush” Breazeale was Amy’s grandfather’s cousin.  If you have time and want to read about this most interesting character, check out www.sonyclassics.com/getlow/.  There’s more information about the movie and some good history as well.

This post is neither a personal commendation of the movie nor a condemnation.  Whether you like the movie or not, at least you will enjoy some downtown time at the Maiden Alley Cinema. 

You’ll also be able to tell people that you have seen the movie about your pastor’s wife’s grandfather’s cousin!

Ha!

Pastor Todd