Augustine Lecture – Nick Needham

Portrait of Augustine

Monday evening (18/04/2011)  saw the last of this years series of Church History Lectures with Dr Nick Needham lecturing on ‘Why Augustine is important for Christians today’. The lecture was an absolute tor de force. To listen or download the lecture visit my site Here or the Bulkington Church site Here. I strongly recommend the lecture (and the others).

At the lecture we were recommended (not by Nick) ‘The Triumph of Grace: Augustine’s writings on Salvation’ by Nick. I started dipping in to it – looks good.

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A Leaky Righteousness

Do you have a ‘leaky’ Righteousness?

We decided to completely overhaul our bathroom as it was getting a bit jaded. There’s a problem, the work is not going to be completed overnight; consequently the shower has to be available each day while work continues. I’m doing the bulk of the work myself. The only thing I can’t do is plastering. We needed this doing because when I pulled the old tiles off the plaster came off with them. Anyway, the plastering is done. I’ve pretty much re-plumbed the pipework, replaced a few floorboards and things are slowly moving forward.

What I have to do is remove the bath to one side while doing other work and then re-position it for use. What is absolutely vital is to reconnect the waste pipe before taking a shower. I’ve rigged up a series of shower curtains to protect the plaster and we’re good to go. We were in a little bit of a hurry the other day and I needed to get in the shower quickly to be ready to go out. It had been a busy day working away in the bathroom and so I stood for a while soaking away when suddenly a shout came from my wife – ‘Mike there’s water pouring through the Kitchen ceiling’. You knew what was coming – you guessed it. I forgot to connect the waste pipe before taking a shower! Man, to say I was gutted is an understatement. How could I have been so stupid? I jumped out and the horror hit me. Downstairs the water was pouring down through the light and down the wall. There was water all under the bathroom floorboards and we frantically began to mop it all up. My wife was brilliant – totally understanding, as she saw how upset I was.

Today I began to reflect on it a bit more. After meticulously preparing everything for several days without a drop of water it was all undone by one momentary lapse. Here’s the lesson. James writes: ‘For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it’ (James 2:10). Forgetting to connect the waste pipe didn’t just spoil the work I was doing but the work I had previously done – we had not long renovated our kitchen. It’s like this with trying to maintain our own righteousness. Just to fail at one point, that’s all it takes to become a law-breaker and your righteousness is worthless, it’s ruined and undone. In other words we all have a leaky righteousness as we have all failed not just at one point but at many points.

As sinners – for that’s what a law-breaker is – what we need is a watertight righteousness, one that will not fail, not leak. This is exactly what the Gospel provides. Here’s how the Apostle Paul puts it in Romans chapter 3;

Rom 3:20  For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Rom 3:21  But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it–
Rom 3:22  the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
Rom 3:23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

What we do not have – God provides. This is why the Gospel is so amazing, so unique. There’s nothing like it, anywhere. This is why The Lord Jesus Christ had to die – but then to gloriously rise as He said He would. If our faith is in Christ we have His righteousness – and that cannot fail.

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It’s a damnable darkness

I’ve been in regular kind of philosophical discussions with a Philosophy & Religious Studies (PRS) teacher. I like him and we get on well. He’s a bright guy with a degree in Philosophy & Logic and is way smarter than I am. Recently he asked about incest and where did Adam & Eves children come from. I sent him a couple of (brief) articles from the CARM website about incest and the children of Adam & Eve that I thought would answer his questions.

After a couple of weeks his reply came back and what I read really surprised me – it shouldn’t have, but it did. I had to re-learn or be reminded of something so easily forgotten by Christians. He asked where the children had come from and it made me wonder if he did, in fact read the articles I sent him. His reply made me realise that even if he had read them and was merely pulling my leg he just would not see it. More than that, he does not want to see it.

Whatever our apologetic methodology, in the end it’s a work of grace that’s needed. I’m convinced it’s right to set out our case, after all God has given us minds that He intends us to use. The work of Salvation does not normally by-pass the intellect though in some cases I’m sure God in His grace does do that. But it challenged me – I might discuss, send articles, link to sermons, point to Christian philosophers and more and yet not really pray for him. Do I bring this man to the throne of Grace. Do I cry out to God – at all – for him that God might open his eyes, that he might see Christ in all His glory and grace and be saved.

The darkness that this man is in – and maybe you are in as well – is a damnable darkness. Unless the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ shines upon unbelievers they – and you – will remain in darkness – and that for all eternity. It’s no accident that Jesus is the light of the world, that unless faith and trust is firmly placed in Christ the only Saviour for sinners then the darkness will remain.

Jesus said “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness (John 12:46).

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Up from the grave he arose!

Son of God Jesus triumphs over death

Mat 28:1  Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.
Mat 28:2  And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
Mat 28:3  And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
Mat 28:4  The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
Mat 28:5  The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
Mat 28:6  “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
Mat 28:7  “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”
Mat 28:8  And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.
Mat 28:9  And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.

Here’s a good Resurrection hymn to set the tone of the day. This hymn reminds us that Jesus rose from the dead in a real body – it wasn’t a phantom. He rose according to His own word as the scripture says.

1. Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Saviour,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Refrain:
Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o’er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

2. Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Saviour,
vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!
(Refrain)

3. Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Saviour;
he tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!
(Refrain)

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Low in the grave He lay

Mat 27:57  When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.
Mat 27:58  He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.
Mat 27:59  And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud
Mat 27:60  and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.
Mat 27:61  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
Mat 27:62  The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate
Mat 27:63  and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’
Mat 27:64  Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.”
Mat 27:65  Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
Mat 27:66  So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior,
vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!

Robert Lowry, 1826-1899

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Free Salvation – at a price!

Salvation is free – but at what a cost!

THERE is a path of pardon
In His blood;
There is a sure salvation
In His blood.
The law’s full consummation,
A Father’s approbation—
Hear Zion’s acclamation!
In His blood—
Atonement and redemption
In His blood!

O come, ye sons of Adam,
And rejoice!
Now trust the God of Abraham
And rejoice!
O hasten, happy sinner,
To life in Christ for ever,
To bonds that nought can sever:
O rejoice!
In full and glad surrender
Come, rejoice!

William Williams, 1801-76
tr. by William Vernon Higham 1926-

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Lutterworth, Wycliffe Church & Naseby

Preparing for the Lecture

Nick Needham was due to lecture on the Monday evening (and had already preached on the Sunday) at Bulkington and so in the morning I picked him up from the Manse and headed off to Lutterworth complete with packed lunch. I’d just planned a brief stop in Lutterworth and then on to

Overlooking the fields of the Battle

Naseby to look at the battle site monuments.

As it happened we met one of the Bell Ringers that had been called out to make a repair to the St Marys Church clock. He was very knowledgable concerning all things Wycliffe and to do with the church. We were treated to an impromptu tour of the church and to my delight and surprise ended up in the bell tower and eventually up on the church roof. I asked our guide if they preached the same message as John Wycliffe but we didn’t get very far with that.

It’s great to renew fellowship with friends and so I trust Nick enjoyed the day as much as I did – we had a few laughs anyway. We headed off back to our place (via a garden centre coffee shop) for tea and then back over to Bulkington for the lecture. All in all a grand day.

Highest man in Lutterworth

Hope you  enjoy the pictures.

Nick takes in the view

Related Articles

• Church History – John Wycliffe (1320-1384) translated the first English language Bible (rodiagnusdei.wordpress.com)
• The First (1385) English Bible Translator – John Wycliffe’s Life – (Video) (rodiagnusdei.wordpress.com)

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J Gresham Machen – God’s Champion

My, how time flies. I should have posted this a lot sooner. Apologies for not doing so,  but here it is. Geoff Thomas came to Bulkington Congregational Church a couple of weeks ago to deliver a lecture on J Gresham Machen – God’s Champion. With many of the folks at the lecture I had very little – next to nothing actually – knowledge of this man of God. It’s always interesting to hear how these men are prepared, prior to the work God has for them. In part Machen was prepared for battle intellectually in Germany and emotionally in the trenches of WWW1 as a medical orderly as his conscience would not allow him to kill possible German friends from his days of study.

The lecture was delivered in only the way Geoff can, it was warm and real. It was also good to see the balcony being used again and to see the folks at Bulkington encouraged.

What struck me in the lecture from the life of Machen was the encouragement to stand firm in the fight in our own day. This to me is a large part of what the lectures are about. J Gresham Machen is a great example and encouragement to stand firm even when it looks as though the cause of truth is falling in the streets. God is with His church. Download, listen, enjoy, be encouraged!

The Lecture is available from the usual two sources: Bulkington Congregational Church & My Website. Bulkington describe the lecture as ‘J. Gresham Machen: His life, times, and stand against liberalism and modernism’. Exactly so.

Related Articles

• Church History Lectures 2011 (xercised.wordpress.com)
• Christianity and Liberalism – John Gresham Machen (lightnthedarkness.com)

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Koran Burning

Here’s some very brief points on the latest Koran Burning episode and the alleged correlation with an attack on the UN in Afghanistan.

1. The (Fundamentalist) Pastor Wayne Sapp that burnt the Koran must be brain-dead or very near to it.

2. The Muslims that attacked and killed (beheaded some) UN staff are fully responsible for their actions – period.

3. I’m concerned that free speech be maintained.

4. I’m concerned about implied threats should anyone criticise Islam or Mohammed.

5. Pastor dumb brain has scored an apologetic own goal – thanks mate!

6. We should critique what the Koran and Islam actually teach. I’m glad there are good Christian apologists doing exactly that.

7. I have a sneaking suspicion that (some) Muslims for political reasons are glad that some Christians do very very dumb things.

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