I would like to buy about three dollars worth of gospel, please.

Not too much – just enough to make me happy, but not so much that I get addicted.

I don’t want so much gospel that I learn to really hate covetousness and lust.

I certainly don’t want so much that I start to love my enemies, cherish self-denial, and contemplate missionary service in some alien culture.

I want ecstasy, not repentance;

I want transcendence, not transformation.

I would like to be cherished by some nice, forgiving, broad-minded people, but I myself don’t want to love those from different races – especially if they smell.

I would like enough gospel to make my family secure and my children well behaved, but not so much that I find my ambitions redirected or my giving too greatly enlarged.

I would like about three dollars worth of the gospel, please. (pp. 12-13)

D. A. Carson’s Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians

Ray Van Neste comments:

This is piercing application. I am cut to the quick. I know the approach to life he is satirizing not simply by looking out at others but by looking within. I need to hear this word again. And, how we need this word in our churches! All too easily we warp the gospel into a way for securing the ‘good life’ for ourselves… . Brothers, we must preach this searching point. Many will be entirely content for us to “do our sermon”, but when you begin to press the call of the gospel to shape our lives, rebuke our sin, calling for repentance many will rebel. But without this we have failed to discharge our ministries (Col 4:17). Without this we are mere hirelings awaiting rebuke from the Master on the final day. There is no discount version of the Gospel. It is all or nothing. Let us wield the searching sword of the Spirit (Heb 4:12) as those who have first been pierced by it.

(Source: thegospelcoalition.org)

Monergism, Kingdom Through Covenant, and Consistency

beggarsalll:

I wish every person who calls themselves “Reformed” would read Ian Clary’s post at City of God

I would like to call John Hendryx and Monergism to consistency.

They may want to start with (removing) Don Carson’s work. For those who know anything of the debate over NCT, Carson is a key exegetical course for this position. Especially his view of the law understood in Matthew that is expressed in a number of his books. After they remove Carson’s work from their distribution and website, Monergism needs to then turn to John Piper, who also holds to a view akin to NCT. His books and links are everywhere on Monergism’s sites. The list of such theologians tainted with NCT—who must be erroneous according to Monergism’s standards—is long and includes John MacArthur (a dispensationalist); Fred Zaspel; the New Studies in Biblical Studies series edited by Carson that includes Dominion and Dynasty by Stephen Dempster, whose ideas form a large part of the Gentry/Wellum argument; Tom Schreiner, who holds a similar view to Gentry/Wellum, especially his Pauline theology and NT theology and commentaries; (Lutheran) Douglas Moo who, along with Carson, is another key source for NCT; and ironically works by Stephen Wellum and Peter Gentry themselves.

New Covenant Theology (NCT) is not Reformed. (Leaky) Dispensationalism is not Reformed.

Thank you, Ian.

Alot of those leaky and NCT friendly are some of the biggest money makers I bet :-/

Multiple eBook Deals….

For a limited time only, you can purchase Nine Marks of a Healthy Church (Crossway) for $3.49 on the Kindle and$3.99 on the Nook. These deals will likely only last a few days, so we encourage you to act quickly.

There are also great deals available on some other books that we recommend. Check out the great deals on these titles:


An Introduction to the New Testament, by D.A. Carson and Douglas J. Moo (Zondervan)  [Kindle - $3.99]

Commentary on Galatians, by Martin Luther (Eerdmans)  [Kindle - $2.99]

Justified by Faith Alone, by R.C. Sproul (Crossway)  [Nook - $3.39]

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The Gospel According to Jesus

The Gospel According to Jesus (Revised & Expanded)
Author(s): John MacArthur
Publisher: Zondervan
Price: $3.99 (USA) / $4.60 (CDN)
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The first edition of The Gospel According to Jesus won wide acclaim in confronting the “easy-believism” that has characterized some aspects of evangelical Christianity. Over the past 50 years, a handful of books have become true classics, revered world-wide for their crystal-clear presentation of the Gospel and lauded for their contribution to the Christian faith. These extraordinary books are read, re-read, and discussed in churches, Bible study groups, and homes everywhere. John MacArthur’s The Gospel According to Jesus is one of those books. In The Gospel According to Jesus, MacArthur tackles the idea of “easy believism,” challenging Christians to re-evaluate their commitment to Christ by examining their fruits. MacArthur asks, “What does it really mean to be saved?” He urges readers to understand that their conversion was more than a mere point in time, that, by definition, it includes a lifetime of obediently walking with Jesus as Lord. This 20th anniversary edition of MacArthur’s provocative, Scripture-based book contains one new chapter and is further revised to provide Christians in the 21st century a fresh perspective on the intrinsic relationship between faith and works, clearly revealing Why Jesus is both Savior and Lord to all who believe.

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Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know
Author(s): Wayne & Elliot Grudem
Publisher: Zondervan
Price: $3.99 (USA) / $4.60 (CDN)
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Christian Essentials Made Plain and Simple God doesn’t call every Christian to go off to seminary, but there are certain matters of doctrine—that is, the church’s teaching—that every Christian simply must know. Theology is important because what we believe affects how we live. If you’re a relatively new believer in Jesus, or if you’re a more mature Christian looking for a quick brush-up on basics of the faith, Christian Beliefs is for you. This readable guide to twenty basic Christian beliefs is a condensation of Wayne Grudem’s award-winning book on systematic theology, prized by pastors and teachers everywhere. He and his son, Elliot, have boiled down the essentials of Christian theology for the average layperson and made them both clear and applicable to life. You will learn about the Bible, the characteristics of God, what it means that we are created in the image of God, what God has done for us in Christ, the purpose of the church, and much more. Each chapter includes questions for personal review or group discussion.

$3.99 An Introduction to the New Testament [Kindle]

An Introduction to the New Testament: Second Edition
Author(s): D. A. Carson & Douglas J. Moo
Publisher: Zondervan
Price: $3.99 (USA) / $4.60 (CDN)
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An Introduction to the New Testament focuses on ‘special introduction’ that is historical questions dealing with authorship, date, sources, purpose, destination, and so forth. This approach stands in contrast to recent texts that concentrate more on literary form, rhetorical criticism, and historical parallels—topics the authors don’t minimize, but instead think are better given extended treatment in exegesis courses. By refocusing on the essentials, An Introduction to the New Testament ensures that the New Testament books will be accurately understood within historical settings. For each New Testament document, the authors also provide a substantial summary of that book’s content, discuss the book’s theological contribution to the overall canon, and give an account of current studies on that book, including recent literary and social-science approaches to interpretation. This second edition reflects significant revision and expansion from the original, making this highly acclaimed text even more valuable. * A new chapter provides a historical survey examining Bible study method through the ages. * The chapter on Paul has been expanded to include an analysis of debates on the ‘new perspective.’ * The discussion of New Testament epistles has been expanded to form a new chapter. This new edition will help a new generation of students better grasp the message of the New Testament.
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