Lawless Liberty

The Threat of Lawless Liberty

March 03, 2012 in Basket of Figs.



"And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts." --Psalm 119:45

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." --2 Corinthians 3:17

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." --John 8:36

"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man

is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." --2 Peter 2:19


There is no question that liberty and freedom are among the greatest blessings of God and is one of

the passions of the human heart. The heart longs to be free to express its religious sentiments, to

make choices that it thinks will bring him happiness, and to be "at large" [the meaning of "liberty" in

Ps. 119:45], to go and come he chooses.


This writer thinks that in the next few decades the idea of "liberty" will gain a new intensity in the

world. The idea of liberty is under attack by Islamic fundamentalism, for this is one of the major

complaints that Islamists have with the West. In fact, they call the United States the "Great Satan"

because the liberty in United States is a temptation to good Muslims to relax in his/her keeping of

Sharia law, which they insist on imposing on the whole world. There is no question that Sharia law

would have a dramatic effect in the view of the United States for what we believe are fundamental

rights: for women, for speech, for the press, for the practice of religion, for sexual practices, for

immigration, for the right to be armed, for ownership of property, and in hundreds of ways not

foreseen.


The United States may be our own worst enemy with regard for these things, for along with the

erosion of the doctrine of the Bible has come a shift in our view of what "liberty" itself is. The

Biblical view of liberty emphatically does not mean that each man is free to do whatever he wants,

whenever he wants, to whomever he wants.


Liberty has become an abstraction in the United States, for it is abstracted from the Christian idea of

God, the Creator. Our fathers said that men was "endowed by their creator with certain inalienable

rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness — That to secure these rights,

Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,

— That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the

People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such

principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their

Safety and Happiness."


Our father's emphatically did not mean that any individual had the right to "alter or to abolish it, and

to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in

such form, as to him shall seem most likely to effect his Safety and Happiness." The individualist

expression of rebellion and revolution was strongly opposed by the Framers, for they feared radical

democracy as much as they feared monarchy and tribal elitism.


The Framers recognized that men are sinners ["If men were angels, no government would be

necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would

be necessary," James Madison wrote in Federalist 51.] Of course, Madison thoroughly educated in

the Reformed Faith, and knew the difference between the holy angels and those that followed Satan

in his rebellion. He was NOT referring to the latter.


Because of this, the Framers made it very difficult to radically change and alter the government of the

United States, to protect the gift of liberty, given by the Creator, from the phony liberty promised by

the godless and rebellion, the spirit of lawlessness and rebellion that sweep over peoples from time to

time whipped up by demagogues seeking their own power and wealth, promising liberty while they

themselves are in bondage to sins and lawlessness.


In granting men the wonderful gift of liberty, God most emphatically did not free men from Himself,

from His rule, or from His righteousness. Jesus said that he that commits sin is the servant of sin,

because no man would stupidly sin if he were not in some respect deceived and bound by it. But

Jesus promised, "If the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed." John 8


Benjamin Franklin, when asked if the people refused to be ruled by God, is supposed to have replied,

"Then, by God, they will be ruled!"

Better than the Prophets?

What will you say to your Master on why you didn't do your "ministry" according to Scripture? That
you knew better than the prophets? That those who tried were unpopular and failed often? That you
couldn't make a living at it? That people laughed at those who tried to be biblical? that none of your
friends were doing it?


47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?

48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?

I do not boast it in, but do affirm, that I promised the Lord many years ago that I would never preach
anything for the purpose of being a success or popular. I would seek to preach the truth plainly as I
understood it and let the chips fall where they may. I do not regret that vow and I have kept it as
faithfully as I knew how. I have also fled from those who wanted something else.

I also tried to do my homework. If everyone disagreed with me, I considered that I was probably
wrong. That took me to the masters, Calvin, Turretin, Bavinck [in later years], Witsius, Owen, the
Puritans, and a host of modern writers including Packer, Berkhof, Strong, Van Til, Murray, Hodge,
Tozer, Spurgeon, etc. Most modern books I didn't finish, for they tend to say the same things in a
shallow way, over and over.

Philosophy I found boring in general and not worth the labor, although I did read all of Plato and
dipped into many others. I was stimulated by Emerson as a young man, but rejected him for his
blasphemy. I learned much from literature and history. Tolstoi was great for a young man and I
discovered the darker Russians later in life. Shakspeare remains a fountain of inspiration as is Milton
and many others.


But the Bible towers so far above everything else that is differs in kind, not just in degree of
excellence. In it breathes the very Spirit of God and all in contained in each part in a unity that cannot
be natural or contrived. Even Shakespeare did not command such unity of thought.

Two non Biblical or theological books that greatly influenced me as a young man were Foxe's Book
of Martyrs [read in the summer following my 8th grade), and Whitaker Chambers' Witness, read
following my graduation from college. The depth of depravity revealed in these books and the hatred
of mankind for truth and goodness, showed me in no uncertain terms the need for a Savior suffering
for sinners and rising from the dead to discipline the race in godliness and truth.

Truth According to Godliness

The great principles of the Christian faith, the Trinity, Inspiration of Scripture, Deity/humanity of
Christ, Justification by faith in the blood of Christ, etc., are not known by reason, although the
propositions are understandable. They are known on the authority of God who has revealed them
through the holy prophets and committed to the inspired Scriptures.

People say they do not understand "divine sovereignty and predestination." There is really nothing
difficult to understand about the proposition that God ordains all things from eternity and brings all
things to pass including who shall be saved and lost. If you didn't understand the proposition, then
you couldn't disagree with it. It really comes down to two questions: Does the Bible teach it? and do I
believe it? The first is called "the faith" that was once delivered to the saints by the Holy Ghost
through the prophets and the truth that is according to godliness, the faith of God' s elect [Titus 1:1] ;
the other is the faith of the believer, also of the Holy Ghost, to believe all that God has written in the
Holy Scriptures. Matt. 28:20 and:

Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have
spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And
beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things
concerning himself.

All the Scriptures speak of Christ and the truth that is according to godliness, the faith of God's elect.
 It is very foolish not to believe them.

Love in Action

It takes love to tell people this, any way you can: Those who wallow unrepentant and unwashed in
their sins will go to hell and cannot inherit the kingdom of God. It is through faith in his blood that
we are cleansed from sin and begin those good works which God hath before ordained that we should
walk in them. Paul did not continue to be a persecutor of the church, but repented, was washed and
made clean, and had his life set in a new direction, the opposite of before. Amen and Amen.

9 ¶ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom
of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
I Cor 6.

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
 Romans 3.

False and True Religion

After a lifetime of study and observation, I have been persuaded that there are only two kinds of
religion.

1. That in which Adam and Eve were created, the revealed true religion that seeks God's glory and
calls man to the faith and obedience that God has revealed. From the first this faith promised a
redeemer, a faithful prophet, priest, and king. This culminated in the Person and Work of Jesus of
Nazareth  and cannot be separated from the work that He did--chiefly in His sufferings on the Cross--
and the precepts He taught the Prophets and Apostles, preserved in the Holy Scriptures, confessed
with various degrees of purity in all the creeds of the Christian churches. There is no salvation
outside this true and holy religion.

2. That into which Adam and Eve fell by listening to the Serpent. This denies the glory of God, seeks
the glory of man, and seduces man to follow his own thinking and his own way. Though sometime
speaking well of someone they call "Jesus" yet in works they deny Him and fashion a Jesus and
apostleship far removed from the Scriptures and the commandments of God. They refused to be
bound by the bands of the true religion ["religion" loosely is derived from "bands which hold back or
restrain" as ligaments that hold the body together. Religion organizes the soul, either for good or for
evil, or for nothing, turning men into savages]. 2Ti 4:3   "...they will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;, and heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears."

Now THAT'S Power!

Prayer on Matthew 28:18-20 Written 3-1-2015

O Precious Father, there were only eleven of them. There had been twelve, but one of them had
proved to be a traitor and in his remorse had hanged himself. One of them had denied You, our
Precious Lord Jesus, and the rest of them had fled away in Your day of trial.

But You had never promised that supernatural strength would arise in them, O Lord. You knew how
weak they were and how frail. A puff of wind could blow them away, but they had Your promises.
Your strength is made perfect in weakness, O Lord, and so it proved.

“All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.” This is what You said, when You came to them in
Galilee, Lord Jesus. You had offered up Your body and soul as a sacrifice for sins and had risen from
the dead that we might know that God had accepted Your sacrifice. Now You must go to Your
Father, as You had said, so that the Holy Spirit might be poured out upon Your people. How great
that power would prove to be.

For You, Lord Jesus, had received from the Father the fullness of the Spirit and had received gifts for
men that God might dwell among us. This Spirit that we receive is not a spirit of fear, but of power
and love and of a sound mind. “All power” You said, “in heaven and in earth.” How feeble is our
faith and our reach, O Lord. How great the commission and how great the undertaking of those
eleven men.

“Go a teach all nations.” How large the scope and the vision! “All nations,” are to be discipled,
brought under the yoke of Christ. Not by swords of steel or men’s destructive instincts, but by the
power of the Gospel. It is the power of the Gospel, the preaching of the Cross of Christ which is the
power of God unto salvation.

Come unto me, is the way the Savior put it, and I will give you rest. The message has the same appeal
to day as it did then. But we must preach it, live it, love it, and oppose every hint of antichrist and
rebellion.

“Make Disciples, baptize, teach.” That’s the order. They come in as little children, are baptized in
terms of the adoption, and are then taught in the way of righteousness. Works every time, when we
do it right. The power of the Triune God guarantees it. 1 Peter 1:

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto
obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy
hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for
you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Now THAT’S power.

From the Depths; Prayer on Psalm 130

Precious Father, sometimes it seems that you bring us to the pit of despair as we partake of the
sufferings of Christ. We are ashamed to lift up our heads to compare our lot with the Lord Jesus but
You have said that in some sense we are called to bear our cross as He bore His, and to make up the
measure of the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death, as Paul put it.
What sufferings have been the lot of some of your choicest saints!

But we learn much from this Psalm in the midst of sufferings. It is not in vain to cry out to you, even
to double our efforts and call out over and over for you do hear the petitions of your people. You
would hear the voices of your saints. Even the Lord Jesus cried with a loud voice, “My God, my God,
why hast Thou forsaken me,” and even though He bore the sins of the whole world, yet you heard
Him on that day. When He called, You heard [Psalm 22:21, 24].

It the pit of afflictions and trials our sins rise before us, O Lord. We know that you have promised to
hear the prayers of your saints, but we know our sins that rise before our face, and we fear that you
will not hear us because of our iniquities. But grace intervenes and teaches us that there would be
none to stand before you, if you marked our iniquities. You DO mark and store up the sins of the
ungodly and they are written in your book, but it is not so with your covenant people.

We could have no godly fear of You, O Lord, if you did not forgive our sins, but only the horror and
terror of eternal night and an horrible pit of despair. There is no place for us to stand except in Your
mercy, O Precious Father. Shall we stand firm on our righteousness? In our wisdom? In our love for
one another? Even in our love for You, O Lord? How far we come short of Your Glory, O precious
Christ, and yet you do not cast us away, but discipline us as children, that afterwards we might be
partakers of Your holiness.

So, from the depths, we wait for You, O Lord. Our souls wait for you, for your promises have given
us hope. “Come unto Me,” you said, “and I will give you rest.” “Ps 50:15 “And call upon me in the
day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” And many such things. Often in
prosperity, we grow content and do not seek you, but you love us enough to send adversity, so that
we might turn to you as our only refuge and help.

O precious Father, we exalt Your Name for You are gracious and kind to all, and do not forget Your
promises to us. You have created the heavens and the earth out of nothing and sustain them with
Your powerful Word, for Your Word cannot change, they endure for as long as Your Word has
appointed for them

So are the times of Your appointment for us, precious Father, that from Your love and grace are
designed for our good and purification.

We have days of light and nights of darkness. We rejoice in the light and joy in faith and love and
righteousness and hope. How good are the days of our faith!  But You have also appointed nights for
us, and sometimes our faith is shaken and we are kept only by Your power and goodness. We cry out
to You in the darkness and sometimes we wonder if we are heard, but Your Holy Spirit works faith
and hope in us, hope that shines even in the darkness and brings us encouragement.

And so, in hope we wait for Thee, O precious Father. Sometimes the nights are long indeed, but we
wait for Thee because You have given us hope. We wait as the watchman waits through the long
night for the dawning of the day. It is Your Word that gives us hope, for the Scriptures tell us that
You are merciful and kind and gracious to Your children, and will not forsake us. There is full
redemption in You, O Father, because of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Our problem is our sins and iniquities, O Lord, and we confess that these are the causes of our
darkness. And this is our hope and trust, that You will bring to us by that same Scripture the calm
assurance that our sins are fully forgiven and put away by the blood of Christ, our redeemer. We can
put them away by Your grace and begin to make progress in our Christian walk and life. We have
faith now in the often darkness of this present life, but the light of hope shines before us because of
Your mercy, and we know that our redemption draws nigh, because of Your promises.

The morning is appointed for us, Dear Father. In the morning of Your grace there is plenty of
redemption and mercy. We are content to wait.

We pray these things in the name of our Savior, the Lord Jesus. Amen.

1 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. 3 If thou, LORD,
shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? 
4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. 
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that
watch for the morning.
7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous
redemption.
8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.   (Ps 130)

Receiving the Spirit?

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes
Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

"This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of
faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? ... 5 He
therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works
of the law, or by the hearing of faith?"

The Holy Spirit is the gift of Christ through faith in the Gospel. The power of God is the preaching of
Christ crucified, not human effort and duty. Human effort and duty must be preached, but as works of
thanksgiving, not works to obtain the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is given in fullness to Jesus Christ as the result of His perfect obedience and
atonement for sins. The Lord Jesus, from his eternal throne of David at the right hand of God,
dispenses the Holy Spirit and His gifts to whomever He pleases.

Ps 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for
men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the
promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. ... 38 Then Peter said
unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Prayer for Every Day, from Isaiah 55:4-13

 Isaiah 55:4-13 Prayer February 15, 2015

O precious Father, we acknowledge this morning that our Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, Your
only begotten Son, is our only leader and witness and commander. We would run and fly to Him, O
God, for He is the only One appointed for our salvation. He is our King and our God.

He has drawn near to us in the Gospel, and we may seek for him and find Him when our hearts are
tender and we are humbled before You. Teach us to forsake our way, for it is a stupid and foolish
way; teach us to turn from our own foolish thoughts and to seek You, O Lord, for You have promised
us mercy and pardon in abundance. Though our sins and many and manifold, yet Your pardon is
abundant and Your mercy is higher than the heavens.

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, the things that You have prepared for those who love You, O Lord,
but You have revealed them by Your Spirit

Only the promises of Your Word can refresh our souls, dear Lord. It is like the rain and the dew and
the gentle snow from heaven. It falls upon our dry and broken hearts, dear Lord, and causes love and
peace and joy to spring up. The tender shoots of righteousness spring out of the hard heart, faith
instead of unbelief, thankfulness instead of bitterness, mercy instead of hardness and malice, joy
instead of sorrow. These are the fruits of the Spirit, and come from You dear Lord, in whom there is
no bitterness, but true gentleness and mercy.

So Your Word accomplishes all Your will, Dear Lord. We shall go out with joy, and be led forth with
peace: the mountains and the hills shall break borth before You into singing, and all the trees of the
field shall clap their hands. There shall be fruitful trees instead of the thorn and brier. You, O Lord,
shall receive all the glory and the fame, for Your work is eternal and we shall never perish nor be
brought to shame.
-----------------

4 Behold, I have given him [for] a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5
Behold, thou shalt call a nation [that] thou knowest not, and nations [that] knew not thee shall run
unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. 

6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the
LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

8 For my thoughts [are] not Your thoughts, neither [are] Your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 

9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than Your ways, and my
thoughts than Your thoughts. 

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth
the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the
eater: 

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall
accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.

12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break
forth before You into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap [their] hands. 

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle
tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign [that] shall not be cut off.” (Isa
55:4-13 AV)

The Son of God. Really.

He came to the most religiously literate people, whose prophets for thousands of years had predicted 

His coming. He fulfilled those prophecies in the most minute detail. He said he was the Son of God. 

Those who knew Him best said He was the Son of God. Millions since then have confessed Him to 

be the Son of God. He rose from the dead, as He said he would. He sent the Holy Spirit as He said He 

would. The Gospel was and is preached to the whole world as the prophets and He said it would.

His enemies tried to kill Him because He said He was the Son of God, for they knew that meant He 

was equal to God. He affirmed His equality in knowledge, works, life, judgment and honor. [John 5]

If Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God and sits on David's throne in Heaven as He and the apostles 

said, then the world is in a heap of trouble. YOU are in a heap of trouble if you do not believe and 

obey Him. He is very patient and has great rewards for His people, but there are horrid judgments 

awaiting His enemies. Will you argue with HIM?

You can follow your own thoughts and dream impossible dreams, but if you are wrong about this, 

nothing else matters. He said, "Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that 

believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." Will you take a chance 

that He was lying?

Prayer for This Morning, 1/24/2015 from Psalm 30

Precious Heavenly Father, You have not permitted the devil to defeat and destroy me
or any that are in Christ Jesus. You have given me everlasting life and an eternal
inheritance in Jesus Christ that none of the darkness of Satan’s kingdom of sin and
misery can take from me. You have saved my soul. And I would call on all saints to
give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness, for our God is not like anything that
He made. He is holy and perfect and totally wise in all his works of power and glory
and love.

O Lord, You are certainly angry with the sins of His people, but it is the anger of a
father and not a judge. It is anger that may endure for a night, but joy will come in the
morning as He shows His loving and fatherly face again. We see life in His grace and
weeping cannot endure forever.

Sometimes we think that we will always know and see Your favor in this life. We may
confidently boast, “I shall never be moved. I am a mountain that You have made
strong and secure,” and we live in a carnal security with our hearts far from You, O
Lord Because of Your eternal love for us, You hide Your Fatherly face from us and we
sink into despair.

In our trouble we cry to You, O Lord. We think a great deal of ourselves even in our
prayers to You, sometimes, and we think that Your work on the earth will be greatly
troubled if we are not there to look after it. “What profit is in our death,” we cry to You
and we forget that in life or in death we belong to our faithful Savior.

But imperfect though our prayers are, You are faithful to hear when we cry to You for
mercy. As a faithful Father You know how to give good gifts to Your children and
You answer when we cry, “Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be my
helper.”

The weeping that endured for the night is turned into the gladness of morning, for in
my distress I have learned a most important lesson, and that lesson has turning my
mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth, and strengthen me with
gladness, for the joy of the Lord is my strength.

I have learned, O Lord, that my glory is my tongue and I will sing praise to You, O
Lord, and not be silent, but will give thanks to You forever and ever. Death will not
quiet this voice, nor diminish my joy, for to be absent from the body is to be present
with the Lord.

Amen and Amen, precious Lord my Savior, Jesus of Nazareth, exalted King of Kings.

“1 I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to
rejoice over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 3 O
LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I
should not go down to the pit. 4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give
thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in
his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

“6 ¶ And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. 7 LORD, by thy favour thou
hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. 8
I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication. 9 What profit is
there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it
declare thy truth? 10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my
helper. 11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my
sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to
thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” (Ps
30:1-12 AV)

Hodge's analysis of the Biblical doctrine of Regeneration, being born again.

The following was written by one of my students at New Geneva Seminary, as a summary of his 

reading in Hodge.  This is well written.   If Wesley had read Calvin on 1John 3:9, he might not have 

preached that awful sermon on perfectionism that has wreaked so much havoc on the church.   

[lightly edited]

Hodge Systematic Theology Vol. III Part III

Regeneration

I. Usage of the Word

The word “regeneration” has many designators in Scripture. “It is called a new birth, a resurrection, a 

new life, a new creature, a renewing of the mind, a dying to sin and living to righteousness, a 

translation from darkness to light, etc.” The term as used by many of the theologians during the 

reformation period, both orthodox and not, had a wide range of use that was more general in its 

definition than precise.

II. Nature of Regeneration

Current use of the word “regeneration” has an almost unanimous meaning of “instantaneous change 

from spiritual death to spiritual life.” The false definitions of “regeneration” that Hodge treats of are 

as follows; (1) Regeneration is not a change in the Substance of the Soul, (2)Regeneration does not 

consist in an Act of the Soul, (3) Regeneration is not the same as conversion or sanctification, (4) 

Regeneration is not brought about by Finney’s definition of freewill (i.e. man is a total free agent able 

to choose God), (5) Regeneration is not the natural desire for happiness terminated by man’s choice 

of God.

Hodge continues to explain that many of the definitions of “regeneration” that place a primary cause 

of the action on man are merely philosophical theories and have no basis in proper theology. God, as 

creator, must be the primary cause of all things to which there are many secondary causes.

Regeneration is concerned with the Scriptural definition of the heart which consists in man’s entire 

faculties. Many errors are propagated with the idea that a change of heart merely relatesto feelings. 

Additionally, regeneration is not merely illumination, but a change of the will.

III. The Evangelical Doctrine

In understanding the evangelical meaning of “regeneration” one must first grasp the meaning of total 

depravity and the state of man, who being completely unable to choose God because of sin is 

effectively moved from having a heart of stone to having a heart of flesh whereby man is then 

converted. This is done of grace and not by the merit of man. The points of definition that Hodge uses 

are as follows:

1. Regeneration is an Act of God - God is not merely the giver but also the author of faith2. 

Regeneration is an Act of God’s Power - Because of God’s omnipotence, nothing can resist an 

efficacious call to regeneration. Regeneration is also said to be immediate because of God’s power 

and not mediate. The example given was of Lazarus being raised from the dead by Christ. 3. 

Regeneration in the subjective sense is not an act.  4. Regeneration is not a change in substance of the 

soul - “it is not good acts which make the man good; the goodness of the man determines the 

character of his acts.”5. Regeneration is a new life - Those who are spiritually dead are not dead in all 

senses of the word (socially, morally) but are dead in their views toward God, Christ, sin, etc… To 

those who have been given new life they are made alive in their views toward all the truths that are 

necessary to salvation whereby they testify to the truth.6. Regeneration is a new birth - As with a 

child, birth is not the act of the child but it is what itis… spiritually we are born anew and it is not a 

cause of our own but of the one whom gives life.7. Regeneration is a new heart - The heart in 

Scripture is the part of us that thinks, feels, wills and acts. When a new heart is given, God is giving a 

hole new character and nature; one that is not mired in sin and opposed to him but one that loves God 

and begins to act accordingly.

Other notes:

* The soul is recognized as a unit in Scripture and should not be separated in the analyzation 

[analysis?] of regeneration.

Prayer and Meditation on Psalm 34:9-14

“9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11 ¶ Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 What man is he that
desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” (Ps 34:9-15 AV)

Precious Father, we confess that we cannot learn Your fear from the precept of men. That which is born
of the flesh is flesh and we must be taught by Your Spirit if we are to learn spiritual things.

Yet, how rich is the heritage of those who have learned Your fear. Even the wild beasts hunger and
thirst and many of them die for want of meat and drink, yet those who fear You will lack nothing
necessary for this life during the time that You have appointed for us on this earth.

Every good and perfect things comes down from You, O Father, for there is none good but You. You
have told us what Your fear is, that we “desire life, and love many days to enjoy the good that You give
us. To keep our tongues from evil and our lips from hypocrisy is the fear of God, for the Gospel tells us
that love is to be without hypocrisy, abhorring evil and cleaving to that which is good. We are
commanded to seek peace and chase after it.

For You, O precious Father, are not blind and deaf. You see the needs of Your children even before we
know them, and You hear our prayers even before we pray.

Therefore, O Lord Jesus, we will come to You, as You have commanded, as You have called us with
great power and glory. We will listen to Your voice and pursue the fear of the Lord, and You will teach
us Your ways, for you are faithful and true.

With great power You have called, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heaven laden and I will
give you rest.” We fear You, because You have taught us, for Your grace teaches us to live soberly,
righteously, and godly in the present world. We are not drunken as those who riot in the night but we
have put on the soberness of Your fear, being taught of You.

Prayer and Meditation on Psalm 119:41-48

41. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
42. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
43. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
44. So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
45. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
46. I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
47. And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
48. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.” (Ps 119:41-48)

Your mercies are the foundation of salvation, as your word has spoken. It is not by
works of righteousness which we have done, but according to Your mercy You saved
saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. This mercy
was shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that being justified by
his grace, we should be made heirs according ot the hope of eternal life. Salvation has
always been according to Your mercy, O Precious Father in Heaven.

This is the answer I will give to all those who accuse Your people of being proud and
boasting in Your favor, for your favor is according to Your own pleasure and not
according to the good works that you see in us. We trust in Your precious promises,
not in our righteousness. The ungodly cannot see this, for they have not been humbled
by your mercy, but go about seeking to establish their own righteousness.

By Your grace, Precious Father, we will always have this word in our mouth and will
confess it before men. Our hope is in your word, in your promises, in your judgments
which will vinidicate our witness though it be despised and Your people threatened to
keep them silent. We will not keep silent, for we hope in your judgment which will
silence the mouths of the ungodly.

Because by Your grace You teach Your people to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we will keep your law continually for ever and ever, not just in ceremonies, but from
our whole hearts.

Because this obedience is taught of you and is from the heart, we walk at liberty,
seeking your precepts, because Your law is the truth.

We will not keep silence before kings and magistrates, rulers, and emperors, for why
should we be ashamed of Your testimonies. He that believes on Your shall not be
ashamed for every one of your righteous judgments will be seen in the earth. All knees
shall bow before our Lord Jesus and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord to the
glory of God. Thus you have sworn.

We do not grudge to give ourselves up totally to you, to do all things by faith to the
glory of God, as our Lord commanded. We delight to take up our cross and follow
You, for we do not serve with the mind of slaves, but as sons who have an eternal
inheritance in Christ Jesus. Therefore, we offer up our bodies to You with all that we
have, whether eating or drinking, or whatsoever we do, we will do all to the glory of
God, for this is Your commandment in which we delight. This we confess and vow to
You, O Father.

This vow we make to you in offering up our hands, for we love You. You have
purchased us with the blood of our Savior, and we are not our own, we are bought with
a price, even the precious blood of Christ. We will gladly take up our cross and follow
you, and so put to our seal that God is true and righteous all together. This is the hope
of eternal life and forgiveness of sins through the blood of the Mediator, Jesus of
Nazareth, whom You have appointed. Amen and Amen.

Prayer and Meditation on Psalm 119:33-40 Number Two

33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.” (Ps 119:33-40 AV)

If You teach me, O Lord, I will not forget. Only You can make me receive the engrafted word which

is able to save my soul. I will keep Your law if You give me understanding; otherwise I am foolish, 

with a divided heart, double minded and unable to receive anything from You.

I will delight in Your commandments when You make me go in the path of life: in thy presence is 

fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. But You must cause me to go, 

because my nature is prone to hate God and Your commandments.

My heart is filled with its own desires, for all men seek their own, and not the things of Christ. You 

must incline my heart unto Your testimonies if I am to escape the corruption of the world through 

lust. Only You can purify my heart so that I can see God. I pray that You would turn my eyes away 

from the emptiness and folly of the world; give me life to go in Your way.

May Your word be sealed and ratified to me, O Lord, for only Your Holy Spirit can authenticate and 

overcome my unbelief and folly. When I heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation: I trusted in 

You, in the gospel of salvation: and was sealed and devoted to Your fear, for the Holy Spirit of 

promise is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the 

praise of Your glory. These I attest to, also, and set to my seal that You are faithful. This is Your 

work, O Lord, and not mine.

The thing I fear, O Lord, is reproach; either to be reproached of You, for Your judgments are right 

and good; or to bring reproach upon Your Name and Your glory. Therefore I long after Your 

precepts; make me to live in Your righteousness, O precious Father. This is also Your work.

Pelosium strikes again!

This I beheld, or dreamed it in a dream, or maybe a friend sent it to me:

Subject: Densest Element known in science

Pelosium strikes again!

BREAKING NEWS!!

A major research institution has just announced the discovery of the densest element
yet known to science. The new element has been named Pelosium. The chemical
symbol of Pelosium is Pu. Pelosium has one neutron, 12 assistant neutrons, 75 deputy
neutrons, and 224 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 311. These
particles are held together by dark particles called morons, which are surrounded by
vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.

Pelosium’s mass actually increases over time, as morons randomly interact with
various elements in the atmosphere and become assistant deputy neutrons within the
Pelosium molecule, leading to the formation of isodopes. This characteristic of moron-
promotion leads some scientist to believe that Pelosium is formed whenever morons
reach a certain quantity in concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as
Critical Morass.

When catalyzed with money, Pelosium activates MSNBCobnoxium and
CNNadnausium, both elements that radiate orders of magnitude more energy, albeit as
incoherent noise, since they have half as many peons but twice as many morons as
Pelosium.

Since it has no electrons, Pelosium is inert. However, it can be detected chemically as
it impedes every reaction it comes in contact with. According to the discoverers, a
minute amount of Pelosium causes one reaction to take over four days to complete
when it would have normally occurred in less than a second. In the presense of anti-
morons, Pelosium can be extremely corrosive. Botox seems to distort and smooth it's
surface, without impeding it's ongoing decay.

Pelosium has a normal half-life of approximately two years, at which time it does not
decay, but instead undergoes a transmutation, appearing in a new location but
displaying the same properties. In this process, assistant neutrons, vice neutrons and
assistant vice neutrons exchange places. Some studies have shown that the atomic
mass actually increases after each transmutation.

Research at other laboratories indicates that Pelosium occurs naturally in the
atmosphere. It tends to concentrate at certain points such as government agencies, large
corporations, universities, and anywhere there is news coverage occurring. It can
usually be found in the newest, best appointed, and best maintained buildings.

Scientists point out that Pelosium is known to be toxic at any level of concentration
and can easily destroy any productive reaction where it is allowed to accumulate.
Attempts are being made to determine how Pelosium can be controlled to prevent
irreversible damage, but results to date are not promising.

-- Note [by cwp]: a very small amount of knowledge of science will be required to
understand the humor of this article. A very small amount of science can be found in
the average high school student.

Seriously, Where Did You Read THAT?

One of the main objections raised against the clear biblical doctrine of predestination
goes something like this, “but the Bible says that God is not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Before you read any farther, you
should read 2Peter 3:1-10. You will not find that quotation in that passage or anywhere
else in the Bible.

I. This is the first thing: there is no place in the Bible that it says that “God is not
willing that any should perish.” The complete passage that this is lifted from says the
exact opposite of what the anti-predestination crowd would say:

2Peter 3: 9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that
all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the
night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements
shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be
burned up.” It says that God will burn up the earth and all its works, and that day will
come as a thief in the night.

The “promise” is the promise of the second coming of the Lord. See 2Pet 3:1 Scoffers
mock at the promise, but the Lord gives the reason why He has not come yet: “He is
longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to
repentance.”

He has not come because all of us have not been saved yet. It is not because he is not
willing that any whatsoever perish. If that were true He would have come hundreds of
years ago, for far more have been born and died in unbelief than have turned to Christ.

If Christ is unwilling that people perish, He should come immediately for thousands of
unbelievers are being born every day. In fact, He would not have created the world at
all, for He surely knew of the millions and millions that would descend into hell even
before the Lord Jesus came.

Two things delay the coming of the Lord. First, all His enemies have not yet been put
under His feet [See Acts 2:35; Heb. 10:12,13; Phil, 2:9-11; etc.], which is the purpose
of His ascent into Heaven.  Second, the Lord’s coming is delayed because the full total
of the elect of God has not yet been made up. When that happens, Christ will come as a
thief in the night, and will be very willing to bring vengeance upon His enemies.
Because it is impossible to know the exact number of the elect of God, Jesus could
come at any moment, when the fullness of His church is complete.

II In the second place, This objection is foolish on the face of it, for God is certainly
willing that the ungodly perish. Please note the following:

Ps 11:6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible
tempest: [this shall be] the portion of their cup.

Rev. 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out
without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and
brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And
the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day
nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of
his name.

2Thess 1: 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on
them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who
shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from
the glory of his power;

Re 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the
lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

III. Third, the objection is silly on another level. If God is unwilling that any sinners
perish, then why do they perish? What compels Him to judge the wicked? Who has
Him in a hammerlock that compels Him, against His will, to bring the awful wrath that
the Bible described upon the ungodly.

The objection is refuted by the plain statement of the Apostle Paul, writing to Jews
asks “what if God, willing to show his wrath” endured the wickedness of the world for
this purpose.  [Romans 9:22]  No Jew needed to be reminded that God is willing to
show His wrath; the question is rhetorical, for every Jew who believed Moses had
plenty of evidence that God is willing to do so. It isn’t because of squeamishness that
God delays the judgment of the world.

IV. This objection reveals a faintheartedness and timid state of mind. I suspect that
there are those who are afraid people will not believe if they are told the truth about
God, that He will in flaming fire take vengeance on them that know not God, and that
obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To convince people to believe [under the illusion that faith comes by mental
manipulation] they present a false view of God, ashamed of the God they claim to
serve, and so become false prophets. Instead of proclaimers of the word they become
little more than salesmen, minimizing the defects of their product in order to make the
sale.

Instead, we are called to rest in the knowledge that God is willing to bring the fires of
his wrath upon the ungodly: 

7  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed
from heaven with his mighty angels,
8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord,
and from the glory of his power;
10  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that
believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.   2Thess. 1

Meditation on Psalm 150 and Instruments.

It is a certain truth, Our Precious Heavenly Father, that nothing that has been created
can contain You. Not even the heavens in all their magnificence and glory are big
enough for You. Much less can any earthly temple contain You; and yet in a great
mystery You have chosen to make Yourself known to Your people and have promised
to dwell with them. Moses built a tent for You as You commanded; Solomon build a
temple, also as You commanded, but we know, as Solomon Himself said, that You do
not dwell in temples made with hands.

So, our Father in Heaven, how shall we keep Your commandment to “praise You in
Your sanctuary?” How shall we climb up to heaven to take the place of the Holy
Angels who sing Your praises at all times? Will heaven not be defiled with the
instruments of men’s hands, the brass, the wind, the percussion, and the strings?

Where is Your sanctuary? Where is Your Temple on earth. Moses’ tabernacle and
Solomon’s temple are gone forever, but You have said that the church is Your temple,
a temple made with living stone in which spiritual sacrifices are to be offered to You.
But You have given us physical bodies and we can only sing our praises in Your
temple in a spiritual way if we offer up our bodies to You.

So spiritual service means the full use of our bodies to praise You; everything that has
breath is to praise You, O heavenly Father, and all of our hearts, souls, mind, strength
are to be given up to You in spiritual worship in our bodies in the gathering of Your
people, which is the present location of Your tabernacle among men. Jesus Christ came
to make His tabernacle among us in His flesh, but He rose from the dead and ascended
into heaven in order to send forth His Holy Spirit to unite Jew and Gentile through the
doctrine of the apostles and prophets in order to grow a temple unto the Lord, a
habitation of God through His Spirit. Eph. 2:18-22.

May our poor bodies be true instruments for Your praises and glory, dear Lord. Not
just our mouths and lungs, but our whole minds with the instruments that Your gifts
have devised for us, to amplify our praises and make a joyful sound of the Gospel to
the whole world. 

May we not copy the world in its sordid and debased use of these instruments, but may
we use them in Your solemn assembly to render the kind of praise that glorifies You,
not the tinkling and jingling and rattling that speaks of frivolity and foolishness. We
have a profound and manifold theology that speaks the splendor and majesty of God,
and may the music of our bodies and souls reflect that magnificence.

May Your praises be heard on earth even as they are in heaven.
-----------
“1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his
power. 2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent
greatness. 3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and
harp. 4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments
and organs. 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding
cymbals. 6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the
LORD.” (Ps 150:1-6 AV)

Prayer and Meditation on Psalm 119:33-40 Number One

O precious Father, only You can teach me what Your commandments are all about. Until You do this

precious work in my heart, my obedience will at the best be only formal and external, for without 

Your teaching no one can serve You to the end, perseverance is a fruit of Your Spirit.

This teaching must be from Your grace alone, the gift of Your Spirit. So foolish am I, O 

Lord, that I deserve only darkness as judgment for my darkness and any light I receive must be by 

Your grace. Only Your gift of understanding can penetrate the heart and cause me to serve You with 

my whole heart.

You must be the cause of my going in the path of Your commandment. I only tread the path that You 

have trodden before me, O Precious Savior. You have suffered for me, leaving me an example of 

patience and endurance. When You are the cause of my obedience, then I will run gladly in the way.

You, alone, O Savior, can bend my heart to stretch out with desire and longing for Your 

commandments. This is not natural for me, O Lord, for we all seek our own ways and desire the 

things of the world and not the things of God. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride 

of life belong to us, O Lord, and we learn not to love these only if You teach us to love the things that 

are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God.

Hence, O precious Father, until You quicken me to live in Your way, I will love the world and my 

eyes and all my senses will be captive to sinful lusts, the vain things of the world. All is vanity that 

turns me away from You, O Lord, for an idol is nothing and brings to shame all those that follow it.

I pray O Lord that my heart would be established by Your grace, as You have promised, for Your 

kingdom is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. It is Your 

word that causes me to fear You, O Father, and causes me to be Your very own possession, devoted 

to Your fear, as the Apostle wrote: “Christ gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all 

iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar and special people, zealous of good works.” O that I 

might be made holy, devoted to Your fear.

Protect me, O Heavenly Father, from bringing reproach upon Your Name. Only You can put a guard 

upon my lips and prevent me from bring scandal to Your Name. The devil watches on every side to 

lay snares for my feet, and You alone can protect me from them. It is good for me to thus judge 

myself, for if we would judge ourselves we would not be judged.

I long, O Lord, after Your precepts. I see much darkness yet in me, much that has not been 

quickened. Teach me to put off the old and put on the new, that I might be renewed in the spirit of my 

mind, as You have promised. I have not so learned Christ; for I have heard of him and have been 

taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus. I long to put off concerning the former way of the old man, 

which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and I long to be renewed in the spirit of my mind as 

You have commanded and promised, Dear Father.

“33 ¶ HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. 34 Give me 

understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. 35 ¶ Make me to 

go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. 36 Incline my heart unto thy 

testimonies, and not to covetousness. 37 ¶ Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken 

thou me in thy way. 38 ¶ Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. 39 ¶ dTurn 

away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good. 40 ¶ Behold, I have longed after thy 

precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. 41 ¶ VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, 

even thy salvation, according to thy word.” (Ps 119:33-41 AV)

Dr. Powell's remarks at the Donor Banquet, at New Geneva Seminary, November 7, 2014.

http://basketoffigs.org/donor2014.mp3



Click on the above link to hear Dr. Powell's remarks at the 2014 Donor Banquet at New Geneva Seminary, November 7, 2014