This article by Bruce A. Ware makes note of modern “tampering” with the doctrine of the Trinity and stresses the enormous importance of “sticking to our guns” over this issue. Many non-orthodox religious groups such as Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Unitarians deny the Trinity altogether. What is equally disturbing, however, seems to be the trend among some “Christian” circles to alter the doctrine of the Trinity just enough to fit their personal demands of God but not enough to set off the “heresy alarms” among mainstream Christians. To most professing Christians, an egalitarian and/or modalist view of the Trinity does not seem to be a “big deal.” Feminists, third-rate “theologians” and downright passive preachers have allowed—or even caused—these false ideas to become popular. Furthermore, many Christians have refused to take a stand on this issue, as if it were unimportant (this is commonly found in the so-called Restoration Movement, which includes the Church of Christ/Christian Churches). However, the Trinity—that is, the One God’s existence in three distinct Persons—is a doctrine essential to the Christian faith; anything else is quite frankly heresy. So, without any more rambling, here’s Ware’s article:

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Dr. John Gerstner, in Volume 3 of The Rational Biblical Theology of Jonathan Edwards, presents this prayer as a reflection of Edwards’ thinking in regard to seeking after God. He calls it “The Seeker’s Prayer,” as opposed to the highly popular “Sinner’s Prayer.” Perhaps it is an honest diagnosis of the human condition.

Dear God, whom I hate with all my being precisely because you hate and threaten me with hell, I hate this punishment perhaps even more than I hate you. Or, maybe I should say that I love my comfort even more than I hate you. For that reason I am asking a favor of you. I want you to make me love you, whom I hate even when I ask this and even more because I have to ask this. I am being frank with you because I know it is no use to be otherwise. You know even better than I how much I hate you and that I love only myself. It is no use for me to pretend to be sincere. I most certainly do not love you and do not want to love you. I hate the thought of loving you but that is what I’m asking because I love myself. If you can answer this ‘prayer’ I guess the gift of gratitude will come with it and then I will be able to do what I would not think of doing now—thank you for making me love you whom I hate. Amen.

“Remember, therefore, it is not your hold on Christ that saves you — it is Christ; it is not your joy in Christ that saves you — it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument — it is Christ’s blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to your hand with which you are grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to your hope; look not to your faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. We will never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul.”
-C.H. Spurgeon

This quote is particularly moving to me, as it brings great glory to God.

First, Spurgeon points out that it is not our ability to hold on to Christ that brings us salvation, but God’s holding on to us. We have not “attained” Christ as if we had the ability to reach and take hold of Him, but God has mercifully rescued us from harm’s way and continues to keep us close in His arms.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6 NASB).

Next, Spurgeon notes that it is not our joy in Christ that produces salvation. We don’t “earn” favor by rejoicing in God. Instead, it is God who fills us with joy; it is a gift from His hand, given to us along with His precious salvation.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

Thirdly, Spurgeon goes so far to say that it is not even our faith in Christ that saves us, adding, however, that it “be the instrument.” We’re not saved by our faith, in a self-righteous sense, but by God’s grace, operating through faith. Salvation is not of ourselves, but of “Christ’s blood and merits,” working through the faith He has given us. To be specific, faith itself doesn’t save us—God does. This is by grace.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8 NASB).

When meditating on salvation, we dare not look to ourselves, lest we try to steal the glory from God. Instead, we need only look to Calvary, upon the Cross on which the Lamb was slain. Simply put, we are helpless to raise ourselves from eternal death; our beautiful, undeserved salvation is God’s doing.

The recent bridge-collapse tragedy in Minneapolis hit very close to home for John Piper. Hours after it happened, he came up with this powerful response. This comes from the Desiring God website.

At about 6 PM tonight the bridge of Interstate 35W over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed. I am writing this about three hours after the bridge fell. The bridge is located within sight of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Most of us who minister at the church cross this bridge several times a week. At this point I don’t know if any staff was on the bridge. Desiring God offices are about a mile from the bridge.

There are no firm facts at this point about the total number of injuries and fatalities. When we crossed the bridge Tuesday on our way out of town, there was extensive repair work happening on the surface of the bridge with single lane traffic. One speculates about the unusual stresses on the bridge with jackhammers and other surface replacement equipment. This was the fortieth anniversary of the bridge.

Tonight for our family devotions our appointed reading was Luke 13:1-9. It was not my choice. This is surely no coincidence. O that all of the Twin Cities, in shock at this major calamity, would hear what Jesus has to say about it from Luke 13:1-5. People came to Jesus with heart-wrenching news about the slaughter of worshipers by Pilate. Here is what he said.

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Jesus implies that those who brought him this news thought he would say that those who died, deserved to die, and that those who didn’t die did not deserve to die. That is not what he said. He said, everyone deserves to die. And if you and I don’t repent, we too will perish. This is a stunning response. It only makes sense from a view of reality that is radically oriented on God.

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