Just Another Wretch

I praise God for what He is doing in & through you...

2009-09-22T11:13:52.114-06:00

I praise God for what He is doing in & through you.

......"well..... I don't know" :)

2009-06-20T20:59:01.131-06:00

......"well..... I don't know" :)

Awesome. And BTW, love the new logo/banner.

2009-06-08T19:05:50.186-06:00

Awesome. And BTW, love the new logo/banner.

Nice work brother, well written. It read like a s...

2009-05-29T09:50:42.833-06:00

Nice work brother, well written. It read like a sermon. Keep it up.
-Mike

Excellent.

2009-05-25T11:27:13.126-06:00

Excellent.

Well there are a couple of things: one I do not kn...

2009-04-11T12:25:00.000-06:00

Well there are a couple of things: one I do not know how to get a hold of you, and two if you got to www.wretchedradio.com and got to the store they actually already have in on DVD for sale. I posted this before I knew that they were going to sell copies of it. Two, I did find a way for people who are not able to get FamilyNet to still be able to watch it, go to http://www.tvunetworks.com/ and download the program and you will be able to watch FamilyNet live!

I can not get Wretched tv, I would love a DVD copy...

2009-04-11T10:47:00.000-06:00

I can not get Wretched tv, I would love a DVD copy..

Kevin

No problem dude, I was excited to see your mug up ...

2009-04-08T09:07:00.000-06:00

No problem dude, I was excited to see your mug up there.

Praise god that you and I will never appear before...

2009-04-06T10:12:00.000-06:00

Praise god that you and I will never appear before the White Throne Judgment but before the Bema Seat of Christ.

What an opportunity to witness, Fishing! You are ...

2009-04-06T10:08:00.000-06:00

What an opportunity to witness, Fishing! You are called to be a fisher of men, and women,Sandy. My prayers for Sandy, and Wretch, keep up the Good Work!

This has nothing to do with the post. But nice bl...

2009-03-22T22:00:00.000-06:00

This has nothing to do with the post. But nice blog.

Becky--Thank you for your comment, I agree that th...

2009-03-14T11:34:00.000-06:00

Becky--
Thank you for your comment, I agree that those going to hell will still hate God, but this was just a dream and not actually his death. I was tying to have him use the "all forgiving God" misconception, and show that begging for forgiveness on that day is too late.

Nice work Brother.

2009-03-13T20:56:00.000-06:00

Nice work Brother.

Matt, this is very well done. There is only one th...

2009-03-12T12:31:00.000-06:00

Matt, this is very well done. There is only one thing I would mention concerning the idea conveyed in this paragraph,

I then start to beg for forgiveness. "Please, forgive me. I am sorry that I violated your Law. I know that you will forgive me and let me go. You have to, I apologized and believe in you."

Once a person dies, they will not change their views, even when face to face with the Lord Jesus Christ. Their hate for Him will stay with them for all eternity. The reality of this can be seen in Revelation 22:11 (taken in the context of the entire chapter and what is being dealt with there) "Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy."

Also in Luke 19:19ff where we see the rich man, in the midst of torment, still desires Lazarus (who is finally at rest in the bosom of Abraham) to come and serve him! Still arrogant, in spite of his state. He wants relief, yes, but he has no remorse. He wants his brothers to be warned about how awful hell is, but God makes it clear that there is nothing more that will bring about repentance than His Word. This is why Romans 1 says that they are without excuse. This is why we share the Gospel...which you know.

Oh and I have to take exception with this:

I am not a writer by any means, but I have had this idea for a story for a while. Please read and enjoy.

I don't know how you define writer, but I think this is a fine example of writing; keep it up, Matt.

Great story brother. Keep it up. Just think, a f...

2009-03-05T19:44:00.000-07:00

Great story brother. Keep it up. Just think, a few months ago you didn't think you could even talk to someone, right? Now you're approaching folks...and it's all out of love! It's beautiful to watch, keep it up brother.

Sometimes I just whisper to myself, "It's not about you, it's not about you, it's not about you....it's about Him."

You could always try the opening line... "I bet yo...

2009-03-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

You could always try the opening line... "I bet you a million bucks you are not good enough to get into heaven!" :)

Mate - keep going! Don't give up! I'm in the same boat too! Jesus told us that we would overcome... and this is just part of that overcoming!!! I heard Ray say one time (referring to Paul's writing in 1 Cor 2:3 "I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.") - The requirement for sharing your faith is weakness, fear and much trembling! That makes us both uniquely qualified!

Way to go!

2009-03-03T04:50:00.000-07:00

Way to go!

While the problem of false converts and carnal ass...

2009-02-23T03:31:00.000-07:00

While the problem of false converts and carnal assurance is a horrible one, I do think that you ought to dwell also on the comfort of justification by faith alone.

"Blessed are the meek in spirit". Many true saints are also greatly troubled by doubts, many of which are exacerbated by their sins etc. All of us struggle now and again. We need to hear the good news of the Gospel, that in Christ, we have full assurance of our salvation.

We also need to hear that Abraham was justified without works, and considered "not his body now dead". There is a common problem, which filtered down from certain Puritan teachings (although most stuff from the Puritans is really good!). This is the idea that "assurance" was only for certain Christians, and almost like a second blessing - which in fact formed the basis for the acceptance of second-blessing Pentecostalism and the perfectionism of John Wesley.

This is totally wrong and contrary to the Gospel. The Gospel assures God's people, not on the basis of their works, but solely on the basis that Christ has died for them personally, so that all their sins are paid for, and so they are saved eternally, and are assured not only of forgiveness today, but of perseverance to the end, and of the sufficiency of God's grace for them throughout all their trials and struggles with sin, that though they may slip and stumble, even frequently, and possibly even into heinous sins (like David who committed murder and adultery, though he hoped on God from an infant - Psa 22:9-10), that the Lord will raise them up, and in Christ, He is their shepherd, so that they shall not be in want.

"Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin". This is a conscious blessing too, and conscious because of the conscious activity of faith in Christ alone without works. Justification by faith alone, is a practical and experiential doctrine. Hebrews 11:1 says that faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see. This means that assurance is not separate from faith. Every believer in Christ alone, is assured of their eternal salvation by His death and resurrection.

The answer to carnality, is not to shed doubt on this doctrine, that we are assured of our salvation, not by our works at all, but entirely by Christ's work on the cross. All believers ought to be certain of our one hope, because the Bible assures us that all those who hope in Christ will not be ashamed. The Spirit of God works this assurance of personal salvation in our heart by the word of God which testifies to us of the truth, and by the Spirit's work, we believe it, and also believe it when it says that if we believe, we will be saved from our sin.

It was ironic calumny of the papists that justification by faith alone was a licentious doctrine. In fact it is precisely the only basis by which we can do anything good in the sight of God. "Whatever is not of faith is sin". And as I said "faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see". It is because we have full assurance of salvation in Christ that we have gratitude towards God and can be zealous in good works.

The answer to carnality is not to try to cause someone to doubt this truth. It is to exercise Christian discipline. I know that I am saved, by faith alone without works, in Christ alone. By faith alone, I am justified before myself, that is, I see that I am justified (declared righteous) before God on the basis alone of Christ's blood shed for me. But for another person to be justified before me, I cannot see their faith, though they may claim to have it. I see then that another is justified, not by faith only, but by their works.

This is the teaching of James 2 and the exhortation of "Examine yourselves". "yourselves" is plural and so we understand in the context of the rest of the Bible that it is an exhortation to support one another, and stir each up to love and good deeds, and take on the responsibilities of godly Christian discipline (I Cor. 5). II Pet. 1 has another commonly misunderstood verse. He says "make your calling and your election sure", but this does not refer to convinced yourself of your salvation by your works.

It is to make it sure to others, to give them comfort an encouragement, and that God's name would be santified among His people, especially before the heathen. "Let everyone who names the name of Christ, depart from iniquity." This is very evident from the fact the additions are made onto the foundation of faith. Which as we read, is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.

Nor does this passage suggest a possibility of falling from salvation. Adding to our faith, all these things, and endeavouring to make our election and calling sure to others will keep us from sin (which is an appropriate translation). The prior verse is translated imprecisely in the King James, it refers again to James 2, that if a man lacks these things, we can only assume that he is blind to the Gospel, and has "forgotten the purification for his sins of old" (i.e. born in sin, sinned in Adam, no attention given to his need of Christ). Not that he was actually purged.

I could go on, but you get the picture. Justification by faith alone is the heart of the Gospel, and can never be compromised. Biblical faith in Christ alone cannot be separated from personal assurance of salvation. Assurance is not by works, but by the Spirit's work in us, the sealing of the Spirit which is precisely faith in Christ alone (Eph 1:13). We know we are sealed, by faith, not works. If it were by works, we would never have assurance, and would forever be doubting our salvation. This is doubting the truth of the Gospel, and whomsoever believeth shall not perish.

Assurance by works is contrary to the Gospel, and cultivates doubt, not faith. It is Christian discipline which must be exercised, and those excommunicated from the church will know that they need to repent, because the impenitent will not inherit the kingdom of God, so ordinarily, there is no salvation outside the true church (that is, a church which is a pillar and ground of the truth).

Blessings.

That was great. Thank you for sharing that and con...

2009-02-23T02:41:00.000-07:00

That was great. Thank you for sharing that and contending firmly here. A state has gone a long way when it legalises the murder of helpless innocent individuals. I could not begin to describe my horror at abortion.

That girl can preach! Steve Harvey has a routine ...

2009-02-07T12:09:00.000-07:00

That girl can preach! Steve Harvey has a routine like that, but this girl has the Gospel. You have a great site! i will be back. God bless you, come visit my site, I would like to hear your opinions.

Matt, I have to say, though we don't always see ey...

2009-01-29T01:18:00.000-07:00

Matt, I have to say, though we don't always see eye to eye, I am so happy for you! I can see and feel how happy you and Jenn are and it makes me happy! I enjoy reading your points of view and seeing a different perspective. You work very hard both on this blog and for your family, and I very much admire you for that.
I hope you had a very happy birthday. You and Jenn truly are the best friends anyone could ever have.

That'd be great. No more "post-rational" nonsense....

2009-01-26T03:13:00.000-07:00

That'd be great. No more "post-rational" nonsense. If the Bible doesn't make sense rationally and logically, then our faith doesn't make sense rationally and logically, and Jesus doesn't make sense rationally and logically, and God is nonsense and we can never know Him. If His revelation is not given according to our powers of reason and logic and rational nature, then Christ has not come, and God has revealed nothing to us, and our faith is vain, and we are still in our sins.

If Brian McLaren and Rob Bell are right, all is vanity and we need not even fear God nor hell. This applies also to people who speak of contradictory wills of God. Let's get back to the biblical and Reformed doctrine of the simplicity of God - He is non-contradictory within Himself. This is the very first word of the tables of the Law. "Hear O Israel! The LORD is one."

This is very good. Diligent study is very importan...

2009-01-26T03:02:00.000-07:00

This is very good. Diligent study is very important, and it is a great encouragement to me to see this being pursued so zealously and carefully.

One small note: I don't think the original uses capital letters.

A few comments: An accompanying study on being filled with the Spirit may be appropriate, as it is something certainly not possible apart from salvation, but it refers to God's power working within us so that we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh but instead walk according to the Spirit. That is, to be obeying God's commandments, out of a true faith in Christ alone, for the glory of God. Being filled with the Spirit is the means and power by which we walk in fellowship with God. Though reconciled to God by the blood of Christ objectively, the manner in which we experience this fellowship is by being filled with the Spirit - whereas being drunk in disobedience, we do not experience this.

Note also that this command "be filled with the Spirit" is not one which we are able to obey of ourselves, nor aid in anyway to its accomplishment (John 3:8). As with all God's commands, we are entirely unable to obey. God alone must work the obedience in us (Php 2:13), yet experientially we work (Php 2:12) and strive to be filled with the Spirit, knowing that all this is only God's work.

It would also be worth exploring the meaning of "debauchery" to understand specifically why Paul identifies drunkenness as this. In this passage, it is especially debauchery which is condemned, and drunkenness as a sub-category within this. Therefore we must take heed to the root, to root out all debauchery, not just drunkenness.

God bless you.

- Sam W.

Your blog looks great, love! Good job!

2009-01-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

Your blog looks great, love! Good job!

Dude, I about had a heart attack. Man, I don't kn...

2009-01-21T22:18:00.000-07:00

Dude, I about had a heart attack. Man, I don't know how I didn't see that coming.