Bible & Tech
This video of Ian and Larissa Murphy ministered grace to my heart. I’d encourage you to watch it. If you’re married, watch it with your spouse.
http://vimeo.com/38033654
John Piper shares some helpful reflections on the Desiring God blog.
Read more about Ian and Larissa’s journey at PrayForIan.com.
Logos Bible Software (my employer) is offering a free digital Christian book every month this year as part of its Free Book of the Month program. This month’s free book is John Bunyan’s Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, and it’s available for only a few more days. I’d encourage you to pick it up.
After you get the book, you can access it on your PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire, or Android phone or tablet with one of the free Logos apps—or online at Biblia.com.
You can also enter to win a free copy of the 3-vol., 61-title Works of John Bunyan.
Here’s how Bunyan concludes his personal account “of the exceeding mercy of God in Christ” to him:
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Download three popular Francis Chan books for free until tomorrow at midnight from Vyrso.com:
After you get all three, check out other Francis Chan books and other free books from Vyrso.
Vyrso is a free app that works on iOS and Android devices. Vyrso books also work with Logos Bible Software, the world’s leading multiplatform (PC, Mac, iOS, Android) Bible study software, and can be read online at Biblia.com. One of Vyrso’s unique features is displaying the text behind Bible references—something you don’t get from competitors like Kindle, Nook, iBooks, and Google Books.
While reading through 1 Clement, I found a nice example of justify (δικαιόω) being used in two different senses (in very close proximity), which nicely parallels its use in the New Testament.
In this first example, Clement is calling his readers to personal holiness and speaks of their being justified by works (ἔργοις δικαιούμενοι). He seems to have in view a demonstration rather than imputation of righteousness.
30 Seeing then that we are the portion of the Holy One, let us do all the things that pertain to holiness, forsaking slander, disgusting and impure embraces, drunkenness and rioting and detestable lusts, abominable adultery, detestable pride. (2) “For God,” he says, “resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (3) Let us therefore join with those to whom grace is given by God. Let us clothe ourselves in concord, being humble and self-controlled, keeping ourselves far from all backbiting and slander, being justified by works and not by words [ἔργοις δικαιούμενοι καὶ μὴ λόγοις]. (4) For he says: “He who speaks much shall hear much in reply. Or does the talkative person think that he is righteous? (5) Blessed is the one born of woman who has a short life. Do not be overly talkative.” (6) Let our praise be with God, and not from ourselves, for God hates those who praise themselves. (7) Let the testimony to our good deeds be given by others, as it was given to our fathers who were righteous. (8) Boldness and arrogance and audacity are for those who are cursed by God; but graciousness and humility and gentleness are with those who are blessed by God.
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As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Crossway is giving away Justin and Lindsey Holcomb’s Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault today and tomorrow. It’s worth picking up.
The statistics are jarring. One in four women and one in six men are or will be victims of sexual assault in their lifetime. But as sobering as the statistics are, they don’t begin to speak to the darkness and grief experienced by these victims. Because sexual assault causes physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual pain, victims need clear help, hope, and healing. In Rid of My Disgrace, a couple experienced in counseling victims of sexual assault explains how the grace of God can heal the broken and restore the disgraced.
Justin and Lindsey Holcomb outline an approach for moving from destruction to redemption. While avoiding platitudes and shallow theology, Rid of My Disgrace combines biblical and theological depth with up-to-date research. This book is primarily written for those who have been assaulted (either as children or adults) but also equips family, friends, pastors, and others to care for victims in ways that are compassionate, practical, and informed. Part of the Re:Lit series.
Whether you’re a hard worker, a workaholic, or neither, I commend to you these two recent posts.
Matt Perman defends working hard by looking at Proverbs (Prov 12:27; 18:9; 19:15; 24:30) and Paul (Acts 20:34–35; 2 Thes 3:7–9). It’s worth a quick read.
On the flip side, Tim Challies interviews David Murray about workaholism as part of the Connected Kingdom podcast. As one who throws himself into his work and constantly struggles to keep everything in its proper place, I found it helpful and challenging. It’s worth your twelve minutes.
If you’ve studied New Testament Greek, you know who Daniel Wallace is (not to be confused with the author, angler, and alligator wrestler, the rheumatologist, or the Star Wars geek). His Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics (also available from Logos Bible Software) is an essential resource for intermediate Greek students. Not only does it provide an excellent overview of the grammar and syntax of the Greek NT, but it also offers some fresh perspectives on difficult passages. I don’t always agree with Wallace’s exegesis, but I find his views helpful and thought provoking.
Wallace has contributed online through the Pen and Parchment blog and the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts blog, but now he has his own blog, which you can find at DanielBWallace.com. I’d encourage you to check it out and subscribe to the RSS feed (or if RSS still mystifies you, sign up for the email or bookmark the site).
I’ve seen Calvinists quote this (along with others like it) to demonstrate that the notion of limited atonement didn’t originate with Calvin or his followers. But I’m having a hard time tracking down the source. Neither Logos Bible Software nor the Internet have been able to get me any earlier than 1979.
Michael Horton quoted it twice in Putting Amazing Back into Grace: Embracing the Heart of the Gospel (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002). Unfortunately, he didn’t cite his source. Even worse, he attributed it to two different people: Ambrose of Milan (c. 337–397) and Anselm of Canterbury (c. 1033–1109).
Ambrose, a church father, said, “If you die in unbelief, Christ did not die for you.” Don’t think that didn’t make people think twice about the offer of Christ! (118)
Anselm lost a lot of friends over this one:
If you die in unbelief, Christ did not die for you. (247)
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