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Together for the Gospel

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by Calvibaptist, Apr 26, 2006.

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  1. Calvibaptist

    Calvibaptist New Member

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    I am currently posting from the Together for the Gospel conference in Louisville, KY. It features John MacArthur, John Piper, R.C. Sproul, Mark Dever, C.J. Mahaney, Albert Mohler, and J. Ligon Duncan. They are members of the SBC, Presbyterians, Sovereign Grace Ministries, and a Community Church pastor.

    In light of this event, I wanted to begin a discussion on the content and the importance of the Gospel for both unbelievers and for believers. So, here are some questions I am asking myself as I come into this conference..

    1) What is it necessary for a person to understand in order to be saved?

    2) What is the best way to get the message out to a lost world? What has worked in the past 2000 years? Why has it worked? Will it work today or should we look for different methods?

    3) What importance does the gospel play in the everyday life of a believer? Does a believer still need to hear the gospel or is it just a one-time necessity?

    4) What is the role of the church in the spread of the gospel? What is the role of the individual in the spread of the gospel? What is the role of God in the spread of the gospel? Should we be willing to work with others we disagree with over important issues (like, say baptism) in order to spread the gospel?

    PLEASE DO NOT TURN THIS INTO A C/A DEBATE! I AM NOT INTERESTED IN ANY OF THAT HERE.
     
    #1 Calvibaptist, Apr 26, 2006
  2. NateT

    NateT Member

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    First, I'll be heading on over in about 3 hours, I'm pretty excited about it.

    As to the quote above, last semester, we were going through Galatians, and we noticed how over and over again Paul was calling on the gospel. The prof. noted that we often feel like the Gospel is ONLY the doorway into the church. But in reality, it is something we all need to deal with everyday.

    I've recently been going through Romans 5-10 in my quiet time. As Paul talks about the gospel, there were many times that I said to myself "I already know this, but why is it affecting me so much?" If you get away from the gospel in everyday life, you get a hard heart, and often arrogant.
     
    #2 NateT, Apr 26, 2006
  3. Andy T.

    Andy T. Active Member

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    Regarding no. 3 above - Absolutely yes.
     
    #3 Andy T., Apr 26, 2006
  4. doulous

    doulous New Member

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    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Care to lay odds on that NOT happening? ;)
     
    #4 doulous, Apr 26, 2006
  5. npetreley

    npetreley New Member

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    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Care to lay odds on that NOT happening? ;)     </font>[/QUOTE]Odds? If it's predestined to happen, it will happen.

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    #5 npetreley, Apr 26, 2006
  6. doulous

    doulous New Member

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    My friend "Angus" has a wee problem with your use of the word "understand" but he perceives the intent behind the question.

    Romans 10:9 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;

    Acts 16:30-31 30 and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household."

    John 9:35-38 35 Jesus heard that they had put him out; and finding him, He said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 36 He answered and said, "And who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" 37 Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you." 38 And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped Him.

    I believe scripture says it better than my feeble words.

    Preach the gospel of repentance in truth. The preaching of the gospel, whether it be from a pulpit, soapbox or on a subway platform has always been the method of proclaiming the gospel. Paul wrote, Romans 10:14 14 How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? The preceeding passage is the method and the why of your question...it is also the answer for the now and also the future.

    IMHO the gospel changes us. Not only are we justified by hearing the gospel message (through Christ), but it is also part of our sanctification. Hearing the gospel should cause us to examine ourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5 5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test? It is also a reason for us to rejoice in our salvation. Philippians 1:18 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice. And, Philippians 4:4-5 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

    Let me work on question 4......

    [ April 26, 2006, 05:22 PM: Message edited by: doulous ]
     
    #6 doulous, Apr 26, 2006
  7. TomVols

    TomVols New Member

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    Wow. Wish I were at the conference. It's a who's who among the best conservative scholars & preachers alive today. If only Alistair Begg were there, it would be complete [​IMG]
     
    #7 TomVols, Apr 26, 2006
  8. doulous

    doulous New Member

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    Tom, what CalviBaptist doesn't know is that me and one other elder have control of the church for three days. We're already changing the locks.

    [​IMG]
     
    #8 doulous, Apr 26, 2006
  9. Calvibaptist

    Calvibaptist New Member

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    Come on, doulos. You had kept the fact that you knew me a secret for 54 posts. Why did you have to go blow it now?
     
    #9 Calvibaptist, Apr 26, 2006
  10. Calvibaptist

    Calvibaptist New Member

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    Nate, any chance of meeting up? Let me know.

    Doug
     
    #10 Calvibaptist, Apr 26, 2006
  11. Andy T.

    Andy T. Active Member

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    Actually, it was pretty easy to figure out before. Based on your profiles, I know that you, Bill Brown and Doulos all go to the same church. [​IMG]
     
    #11 Andy T., Apr 26, 2006
  12. Calvibaptist

    Calvibaptist New Member

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    Actually, it was pretty easy to figure out before. Based on your profiles, I know that you, Bill Brown and Doulos all go to the same church. [​IMG] </font>[/QUOTE]But, what you miss, young grasshopper, is that Bill Brown is now posting as doulos so as to keep his full name off the board. oops. Just gave it away didn't I?
     
    #12 Calvibaptist, Apr 26, 2006
  13. Andy T.

    Andy T. Active Member

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    Interesting. I just figured that Calvinists were coming out of the woodwork in Maryland.
     
    #13 Andy T., Apr 26, 2006
  14. Calvibaptist

    Calvibaptist New Member

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    It's a hostile takover! Ha-ha-ha (evil world-domination-type laugh).
     
    #14 Calvibaptist, Apr 26, 2006
  15. Calvibaptist

    Calvibaptist New Member

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    Tonight's session was taught by Mark Dever on 1 Corinthians 4. His subject was "The Pastor's Understanding of His Role." He gave a sub-heading of (surprise, surprise) "Three Marks of a Real Minister." Here are his three major points and some interesting (and challenging) things I took note of...

    I. A Real Minister has a Cross-Centered Message (vs. 1-7)

    - Ministers of the Gospel are God's stewards. It is not our church. It is God's church. We are like mailmen called to deliver God's message. It is not our message to make up. It is His message for us to deliver.

    - Often, problems in the church stem from the fact that we don't have true church discipline, which stems from the fact that the members don't understand church membership, which stems from the fact that they dont know what it means to be a true Christian, which stems from the fact that we don't completely understand the gospel, which stems from the fact that we don't really know the Word, which stems from the fact that we spend more time reading email (or posting on this board) that studying the Bible.

    - You cannot please God if you live to please men.

    II. A Real Minister has a Cross-Centered Life (vs 8-13)

    - Paul suffered for the sake of the Gospel. He was humble and willing to die for the cause of Christ and for the church. We, too, must live sacrificially humble lives for the congregations and the gospel that have been entrusted to us.

    - Matthew Henry said, "Those do not commonly know themselves best that think the best of themselves."

    - Your pre-eminent concern for your own comfort is an enemy to your soul. (WOW - deep stuff)

    III. A Real Minister has Cross-Centered Followers (vs 14-21)

    - We are examples to our congregation of a cross-centered life. What are they learning about the sacrificial love of God from the way we live?

    I encourage you to read this chapter in 1 Corinthians with these thoughts in mind. Consider the congregations in which you minister (whether as a pastor or not). How will this chapter affect the way you minister to God's church?
     
    #15 Calvibaptist, Apr 27, 2006
  16. Timtoolman

    Timtoolman New Member

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    No. 1
    I don't think man has too know anything. God does all the work.
    No. 2
    Preach the word, it is the power unto salvation.
    No. 3
    To know God! (in a nutshell)And it is continuel. Always more to be known.
    No. 4

    This confuses me. God uses man to spread the gospel. But why? Those that are the elect are picked and chosen will be saved. Why doe God need man? I use to believe the preaching of the gospel was needed b ut am not so sure anymore.

    Why did God even create man. Was and is not God complete in the trinity. Is not all the fellowship and communion complete there? Why create man? For His good pleasure? There wasn't enought pleasure in the fellowship of the Father, Son and HS? Am I reading too much Piper?
     
    #16 Timtoolman, Apr 27, 2006
  17. doulous

    doulous New Member

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    Tim, you ask some good and honest questions. The short of it is that God does not need man. God could proclaim the gospel through any means He desires, but He chose to use men. It is not so much as God needs man as it is that God chose man.

    Why did God create man? Was He not complete in the Trinity? Of course He was. God was in complete harmony with Himself prior to the creation of man. God created man in order to glorify Himself. You can say that He created all there is as a means to proclaim His glory and majesty. Did He need to? No. He chose to do it based on the counsel of His own will.

    Preaching the gospel is still needed today. It is the means by which man hears the good news of salvation.

    Stay steadfast my brother.
     
    #17 doulous, Apr 27, 2006
  18. Calvibaptist

    Calvibaptist New Member

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    Tim, God does not need man. Nor does God need the gospel to save man. The essence of the Trinity is the pleasure of God being God. Jonathan Edwards described the Son as the overflow of God's pleasure in being God - i.e. the fullness of His glory. God chose to create man for the display of His glory. There was no need, only desire. Since God always gets what He desires (or He is not God), this great human "experiment" will result in a display of His glory.

    God has chosen the gospel as the means by which He saves man. It is not so much that God needs the gospel as MAN needs the gospel. God, in His mercy, gives the gospel to needy man. Again, God's glory is displayed.

    And the only way I think that you could read too much Piper is if it interfered with you study of Scripture and prayer. If that is the case, throw the books away and stick with the source.
     
    #18 Calvibaptist, Apr 28, 2006
  19. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    Calvi,
    When Calvin isnt mentioned, your posts make a lot of sense.
     
    #19 saturneptune, Apr 28, 2006
  20. Calvibaptist

    Calvibaptist New Member

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    So, if I had said...
    that wouldn't have worked for you?
    ;)
     
    #20 Calvibaptist, Apr 28, 2006
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