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Sola Gratia

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Pieter Stok

What better text to highlight “Grace Alone” than Ephesians 2:1-10.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

If I am ever tempted to think that somehow or somewhere I have earned even a portion of my salvation, this text reminds me of what I was and what Christ alone has made me. That is Grace!

Categories: Bible, christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Five Solas, Sola, Uncategorized | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Sola Fide

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Pieter Stok

Here are some texts that remind us of the importance of “Faith Alone”.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.  For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 1:16-17. The Passage that transformed Luther’s thinking.

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Acts 16:31 Paul and Silas to the Philippian gaoler

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

John 5:24  Jesus to his persecutors.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

Philippians 3:7-9 Paul again.

Categories: Bible, christian, Christianity, Five Solas, Sola, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Imagining More

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Pieter Stok

It is difficult to imagine something of which you have no experience.

I was reflecting on my parents the other day. My father’s schooling ended at primary school and my mother’s in early high school. By the time it was my turn to go to school my family had immigrated to Australia. Both my parents, but especially my father, stressed the importance of doing well at school. Bringing home a report card was, for me at least, never a pleasant experience. In my father’s opinion I could always have done better.

My father at school in the 1920s

My father at school in the 1920s

However there was a breakthrough when I was in form three (year 9). My average had gone down from the term before and I was very apprehensive but dad wasn’t angry. I asked him why. And he replied that he had seen me work solidly all term and if that was the best I could do then he was happy with that.

It was in the next year that formal external assessment began. In years 10 through 12 we had to sit external exams at the end of each year. My parents couldn’t help me. They were not only migrants but this was beyond their experience. Yet still I was encouraged to do my best. I got through to Form 6 (Year 12) and then applied for and was accepted into university. This was lightyears away from anything my parents had ever experienced. No one in the immediate family had ever gone this far. In all this they continued to encourage me.

Looking back, this encouragement was extremely important because it was all new to me too. But I am so grateful that even though this type of education was beyond my parents’ imagination it didn’t stifle them as they pushed me beyond their own experience. It is a lesson I think we can all learn from, that is, to have the courage to hope and strive for objectives we can hardly imagine. This can be true in our daily life and spiritual life, in our homes and work.

What do you dream for your children, grandchildren or students? What can you barely imagine but still hope for?

Categories: Family, Reflections, Uncategorized | Tags: , | 2 Comments

Exhaustion – a petty tirade

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Pieter Stok

Leaden legs
Slumped shoulders
Meandering mind
Airless lungs
Feeble fingers
Aching ankles
Creaking knees
Twinging back
Weary eyes

The body yearns
For the horizontal,
The firm but cozy mattress
Clean sheets
And inviting doona (duvet)

The mind seeks
Blankness –
The off switch
Solitude

It is time for
Rest

O.k. before I get any comments about feeling sorry for myself – I acknowledge that. I just wanted to get this off my chest. And yes, there is an element of Ecclesiastes 12 about the poem. I am hoping in my case it is only temporary! 🙂

Categories: poetry, Reflections, Uncategorized | Tags: , | 4 Comments

You Know

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Pieter Stok

Reflections on Matthew 10 and Psalm 139

And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Matt 10:30

you know meYou know my name,
my atoms and cells.
You created them.
You know the hairs on my head:
The number,
the colour.

My eyes,
My wrinkles
and every quirk,
You know.

You know my very DNA,
my core.

You know my movements
and thoughts,
my rebellion and
obedience.

But more than that,
You know my heart,
no matter what I hide.
My lies, my truth.

You know me
and you still love me!

Categories: christian, Christianity, Faith, Poem, poetry, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Morning Star of the C18th Welsh Revival

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Pieter Stok

It is amazing the way that God works. Forces are arrayed against His plans only to be outwitted time and again.

This occurred (once again) in the years leading up to the Methodist Revival in Wales in the C18th. An Anglican minister, Griffith Jones, sometimes referred to as the “morning Light of the Welsh Revival” was often in trouble with his superiors for his unorthodox approaches. Dallimore references him in his biography of Whitefield. For example, Jones preached outdoors when the crowds became too large. This was not the “done thing.” In all, he was too enthusiastic for his times. So the authorities restricted his ability to preach. Now, this could seem like a defeat. However, Jones, undeterred, commenced a series of circulating schools (schools that would remain in an area for a while and then move on). Many thousands of people learned to read and were presented with the gospel through his work. It also provided a wonderful foundation for the revival to come – a wonderful picture of God’s sovereignty.

Griffith Jones is an example of one who sees obstacles as opportunities. Once again, there is a lesson in that for me.

Categories: christian, Christianity, Church, George Whitefield, Reflections, Uncategorized | Tags: , , | 8 Comments

Between Heaven and Hell

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Pieter Stok

kreeftCurrently I am re-reading Peter Kreeft’s classic, “Between Heaven and Hell: A dialog somewhere beyond death with John F. Kennedy, C.S. Lewis and Aldous Huxley.” Kreeft, a Professor of Philosophy at Boston College, originally wrote the book in 1982 and updated it in 2008.

The genius of this witty book is that it takes the fact that the three protagonists in this book all died on the same day, November 22,  in 1963. The author then imagines a debate or learned conversation between them as  they exist somewhere beyond death. Kreeft is helped by the fact that he is a Catholic. In other words, a type of purgatory is a possibility, however this is a minor issue in the book. The key element is how the three participants look at heaven, faith and life from their respective world views: Lewis an orthodox Christian, Kennedy a liberal Catholic and Huxley a pantheistic Gnostic.

Issues such as the nature of Jesus, authority, the place of reason in faith, miracles, wisdom and faith itself, are just some of the topics explored. Best of all is that it is a primer in apologetics: defending and explaining faith and the gospel. Peter Kreeft uses his knowledge of Lewis’ work to show how Christians can confidently defend their faith against the critiques thrown at them. This is not unlike the techniques used by people such as Professor John Lennox today.

“Between heaven and Hell” is not a long book and could be a valuable resource for many people – particularly Christians who sometimes find themselves lost for words when their world-view is attacked. I am enjoying this book again because it reminds me that the evangelical Christian faith is not loopy, as the world at large tries to portray it, but a well founded faith and like every world-view starts with presuppositions or “faith”.  Having taken the step of faith, the Christian position has a beautiful harmony and unity. I for one, often forget that.

Categories: Book Review, christian, Christianity, Faith, Reflections, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , | 2 Comments

Ingrained Like Smoke

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Pieter Stok

DSC_0698I spent the morning scrubbing smoky soot off wooden furniture. The problem is that the smoke smell burrows itself into the wood. The smell is difficult to eradicate. Hard rubbing with “smoke sponges” and then turps and finally applying wood restorers is required. There are two elements: the appearance and the smell. Sometimes it looks o.k. but still smells and on other occasions it is reversed.

As I was rubbing away my mind wandered to the work that God needs to do with us. Believers know that they are justified by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross but it is the daily sanctification, scrubbing with the smoke sponge and the turps by the Holy Spirit, that is the on going work that is required. To be justified means we look like the product in the catalogue and is the way God sees us through Christ, but sanctification acknowledges that the bright shiny newness of the catalogue, in our earthly life, has never really existed.

This renewing process is described beautifully in Philippians 2:12&13, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.” And, it is an ongoing work, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6.

The moral: when there is unpleasant cleaning to do, use it as a reminder of the work required on us – especially the, hard to get, inside.

 

 

Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Reflections, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , | 4 Comments

Truth and Lies

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Pieter Stok

And the words of the Lord are flawless,
    like silver purified in a crucible,
    like gold refined seven times. Psalm 12:6

We often tend to think of our age as particularly evil but when we read Psalm 12 we realise that David struggled against great evil too. He often felt helpless against its onslaught.

In Psalm 12 he reveals a battle that is fought through the words of people in contrast to the words of God – the flattering, lying and boastful lips of people versus the pure, truthful words of God.

It is a relevant psalm for our time when advertising dominates our lives. The huge amounts spent on political campaigns to sway a small percentage of voters comes to mind. “Spin doctors” try to flatter and manipulate us. Then we have the culture of celebrity where their position and fame is used to make us believe …. whatever. I am reminded of a  certain TV host of Africa American descent, amongst many, many others.

We have two choices: we either join the throng of deceivers and deceived or we run to God for His protection. His protection came in the form of one who said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” and “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

David recognised his own helplessness because by nature he too was like the deceivers, but in God’s promises his life would have a completely alternative and truth led orientation through the promises of God. In God’s arms he could begin to see life differently.

Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Psalms, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Colours

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Pieter Stok

My wife and I have taken a couple of moments away from the recent madness and have camped ourselves on a beach near Wilson’s Prom. I just went to the beach and took time to take in the subtle colours of dusk. I am not an “arty” person, like some in my family, but every now and then I take a moment to appreciate creation.

Throughout the day the sun was strong, the sky blue and the waters aqua, but as the sun set the colours softened into far more subtle shades – pinks, purples and greys. Lines, like the horizon which had been district earlier, we’re now harder to read. The gulls and ducks melted into shadows.

(Two hours later) the stars have come out in we are have shades of darkness and shadows.

Conclusion: it is good to stop and smell the roses, or in my case, appreciate the colours. It is good to be reminded of how great creation is – even, or is it, especially, in the simple things.

PS I left the camera connector for my iPad at home so I’ll have to upload the photos some other time. 😦

Categories: Faith, Reflections, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

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