This weeks Quantum looks at the reinvention of President Trump, the man who ‘made’ 13 billion in one day, the ‘cancelling’ of Margaret Sanger, the ‘coming out’ of Matthew Paul Turner , the faithful service of Peter Maidenand JI Packer; the persecuted church in India,, and the first Arab mission to Mars –
we have music from Boney M, Abba, David Bowie and Mahalia Jackson….
Catch up on last week here….
Quantum 103 – Challenging the Culture – Covid, Craziness and Charlton
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“Those Russians” are perceived in the USA through the lens of cultural Marxist , often Jewish – controlled, media which view the Russian religious revival as the rise of an unhealthy Christian dark – web.
It would not , therefore , be an exaggeration to assert that the Marxist mainstream media ( to borrow Dr Steve Turley’s alliterative gem) regard Russian Christianity as a bad belief held for bad reasons and leading to bad behaviour.
A feast from JI Packer.
His death caused me to ruminate, as a Christian ruminant on the word of God and doctrine, that Packer set out before us)
It also spreads out across to the cafe online (Trinity) and the dining table.
In the light of Packer’s Reformed and Puritan persuasions and well into the feast, which chews over the teaching, he draws the strings of doctrine together with what might surprise some who are robust in defence and promulgation of the doctrines, with this a taster of the 19th course of a 22 Course meal presented on the platter labelled, “Sons of God”:
“What is a Christian? The question can be answered in many ways, but the RICHEST answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God for his Father.
“But cannot this be said of every man, Christian or not? Emphatically no! The idea that all men are people of God is not found in the Bible anywhere….
“Sonship is a gift of grace. It is not natural, but an adoptive sonship, Galatians 4:4f. Ephesians1:5 1 John 3:1f…
“The FIRST point of adoption is that it is The Highest Privilege that the Gospel offers: HIGHER even than justification… (which is) the primary and fundamental blessing, which is not in question …because it meets our primary spiritual need…
” But this is NOT to say that it is the HIGHEST blessing of the gospel. ADOPTION IS HIGHER because of the RICHER RELATIONSHIP with God that it involves…
” God takes us into His family and fellowship, and establishes us as His children and heirs. Closeness, affection and generosity are at the heart of the relationship. To be right with God the judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is a greater,
“…It is a blessing that abides…absolute stability and security…the child’s position is permanently assured…adoption is itself a proof and guarantee of the preservation of the saints (with a ) health giving habit of dwelling in the abiding security of the sons of God.
” Our SECOND point of adoption is that THE ENTIRE CHRISTIAN LIFE HAS TO BE UNDERSTOOD IN TERMS OF IT”. Sonship must be the controlling thought – the normative category, if you like – at every point…our Lord’s teaching on Christian discipleship is cast in these terms.
Packer expands on this with conduct, imitate, glorify, please , prayer, life of trusting faith in the Father – gospel holiness
” My proposal would be ADOPTION THROUGH PROPITIATION, and I do not expect to meet a richer or more pregnant summary of the gospel than that
Adoption shows
-the greatness of God’s grace
– establishes a filial relationship .. a prospect is an eternity of love
– the glory of Christian hope
– a key to understanding the ministry of the Holy Spirit- the Spirit of adoption into hearts, crying Abba, father :Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6
– the meaning and motives of “gospel holiness” in contrast to “legal holiness”
– it unravels a catholic/protestant dispute /divide over “assurance”
Packer raises a toast to the 19th course with a reflection followed by a series of self examining questions,
“It is a strange fact that the truth of adoption has been little regarded in Christian history.
– Do I, as a Christian, understand myself. Do I know my own real identity?
– My My own real destiny?
( I am a child of God. God is my Father; heaven is my home; every day is one day nearer. My Saviour is my brother; every christian is my brother too.)
This is the secret of the Christian life and a God honouring life.
– Do I understand my adoption/
Do I value it?
Do I daily remind myself of my privilege as a child of God?
Have I sought full assurance of my adoption? Do I daily dwell on the love of God to me?
do I treat God as my Father in heaven. loving, honouring, obeying, seeking and welcoming his fellowship and trying to please him?
Have I learned to hate the things that displeases my Father? Am I sensitive to the evil things to which he is sensitive.? do I make a point of avoiding them lest i grieve Him?
Do I think of Jesus Christ, my Saviour and my Lord. as my Brother too, bearing to me not only divine authority but also divine-human sympathy/
Do I think daily how close he is to me, how completely he understands me and how much as my kinsman-redeemer, He cares for me?
Do I look forward daily to that great family occasion when the sons of god will finally gather in heaven before the throne of God, their Father and of the Lamb their brother and their Lord?
Have I felt the thrill of this hope?
Do I love my Christian brothers in a way I shall not be ashamed of when in heaven?
Am I proud of my Father and of his family, to which by His grace I belong.
Does the family likeness appear in me/ If not, why not?
God humble us; God instruct us; God make us his own true sons.
J.I.PACKER: KNOWING GOD (1975)