Nathan W. Bingham’s Microblog

Kim Riddlebarger announced that there will be a live taping of the White Horse Inn this Friday (12th Feb.). I was blessed watching the last video the team did together so I'm hoping they make this video available for download as well. Here's is what they'll be discussing:

Live taping and Q&A regarding the topic of "Contending for the Faith" – How did the apostles contend for the faith in the book of Acts?  Did they appeal to the practical benefits of living life Jesus’ way?  Did they share their testimonies or inner experiences?  Did they encourage bland faith?  On this special live edition of White Horse Inn, the hosts will walk through the apologetic sermons in the book of Acts in order to discover the proper way to both defend, and contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.

You can find all the details (it's free to attend) here.

In approximately 24-hours entries will close. Don't miss your final opportunity to win 1 of 3 Michael Horton Book Packs!

To help begin 2010 in a good book and glorifying God for His amazing gospel of grace, my good friends at the White Horse Inn have donated three "Michael Horton Book Packs" exclusively to my readers. If you would like to subscribe to be eligible to enter you can do so freely via RSS or via email.

Three entries will be drawn on Friday, January 15th 2010 (US) with each valid entry winning one of the three available "Michael Horton Book Packs."

Michael Horton Book Pack

Each pack includes the following:

1 x The Gospel-Driven Life
1 x Christless Christianity
1 x Putting Amazing Back into Grace

How do I enter the giveaway?

1. You must be a subscriber of Nathan W. Bingham's Microblog via RSS or email.
2. Complete this form with all your contact and subscriber details.
   
3. That's it! On January 15th 2010 (US) three entries will randomly be drawn with each valid entry winning one of the three available "Michael Horton Book Packs." You will be contacted via email for your shipping details and you must respond within 72 hours before your prize is forfeited.

Can I increase the odds of winning?

Please only enter the competition once. However, if you're a blogger you can increase the odds of being drawn. If you have a blog, add Nathan W. Bingham's Microblog to your blogroll / sidebar before submitting your entry. Then, when you complete your entry simply provide the URL of your blog on the optional last question. When the giveaway closes, all those who have correctly supplied a link will have their entry automatically duplicated, doubling their chances of winning!

Happy New Year to all my readers.  Soli Deo Gloria!

How many times have you heard a sincere Christian try to explain to an unbeliever that Christianity is all about having "a personal relationship with God"? Well, as sincere as that may be, it is simply not the case and is a distortion of the truth. Michael Horton (I know I've already quoted him this week, but this is the problem with reading a good book) aptly puts it this way:

"It is simply not true that unbelievers do not have a personal relationship with God. Paul here in Romans 1 says they do! It is not just that God's existence can be discerned by his works, but that everyone already knows God - at least as judge. "So they are without excuse" (Rom. 1:20). It is precisely because unbelievers--even professing atheists--do have a personal relationship with God that, as creatures obligated to keep his law, they are under his wrath."

Quote by Michael Horton, taken from The Gospel-Driven Life (p. 53)

I really appreciate Michael Horton's description of Postmoderns:

"If the concept of the modern self was that of a master of all it surveyed, the postmodern self is best described as a tourist. There is no destination; just personal journeys from nowhere to nowhere in particular."

Quote by Michael Horton, taken from The Gospel-Driven Life (p.34)

I was talking with some men recently and we were discussing Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism. One man who had the privilege of growing up his whole life with sound Reformed (Biblical) teaching found it difficult to understand why anyone would want to be a Pelagian or Semi-Pelagian. In light of the amazing gospel of grace it is a fair question and we tossed around several answers. However, last night I listened to Michael Horton on Covenant Radio and I thought he summed it up well:

"We fail to realize that our default setting is Pelagian; that's what we go back to as a "dog returns to its vomit." (Pro. 26:11) ...that is our human nature. We have to be preached out of Pelagianism every Sunday."

Preachers, remember this next Lord's Day and every Lord's Day. Preach the gospel to your hearers! As Horton said, "[preach them] out of Pelagianism every Sunday."

Evangelism according to the Book of Acts:

1. Proclaim the judgment of God on all mankind.
2. Proclaim the Gospel truth, which is that Christ has fulfilled the Scriptures.
3. Baptize the many who, convicted of their sin and of the truth of the Gospel, cry out in belief, throwing themselves upon God's mercy in Christ.

Todd Pedlar suggests the above pattern [adapted from Michael Horton's Gospel-Driven Life (p.93)] and then comments:

Why can't we do it that simply? If the Word of God is the power of God unto salvation to those who believe, why can't its simple proclamation (in the whole counsel thereof) be sufficient for us? God cannot be marketed. The Truth simply must be proclaimed, and the results left to God.

I totally agree and look forward to hearing Todd (and Bill) interview Michael Horton later this week on Covenant Radio on the subject of Gospel-Driven Life.

Evangelism according to the Book of Acts:

1. Proclaim the judgment of God on all mankind.
2. Proclaim the Gospel truth, which is that Christ has fulfilled the Scriptures.
3. Baptize the many who, convicted of their sin and of the truth of the Gospel, cry out in belief, throwing themselves upon God's mercy in Christ.

Todd Pedlar suggests the above pattern [adapted from Michael Horton's Gospel-Driven Life (p.93)] and then comments:

Why can't we do it that simply? If the Word of God is the power of God unto salvation to those who believe, why can't its simple proclamation (in the whole counsel thereof) be sufficient for us? God cannot be marketed. The Truth simply must be proclaimed, and the results left to God.

I totally agree and look forward to hearing Todd (and Bill) interview Michael Horton later this week on Covenant Radio on the subject of Gospel-Driven Life.