Want a tip on how to read your Bible well? View it through this lens.

Leading a small group? Try to lead people to see their Bibles like this.

Looking for a good church? Find a pastor who can say and do this and a people who want to.

It’s all about Jesus.

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Luke 24

(posted by NDMB)

God Ordained the Cross

• “Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” (2:23)
• “what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled” (3:18)
• “there were gathered together…Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, to do whatever you hand…had predestined to take place” (4:27-28)

God Calls, Adds, and Appoints Many to Eternal Life

• “the promise is to…everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself” (2:39)
• “there were added that day about three thousand souls” (2:41)
• “the Lord added to their number day by day those were were being saved” (2:47)
• “as many as were appointed to eternal life believed” (13:48)

God Gives Faith and Repentance; God Cleanses and Opens Hearts

• “the faith that is through Jesus” (3:16)
• “God exalted him…to give repentance to Israel” (5:31)
• “to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life” (11:18)
• “God…having cleaned their hearts by faith” (15:8-9)
• “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul” (16:14)

Source: ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008), 2112.

Most simply, God ordains, elects, & regenerates.

(Posted by NDMB)

The Modern Post on Twitter

Join @TheModernPost on Twitter for the latest updates, answers to questions, and exclusive content.

The multitude of books is a great evil. There is no measure or limit to this fever for writing; every one must be an author; some out of vanity, to acquire celebrity and raise up a name; others for the sake of lucre and gain. The Bible is now buried under so many commentaries, that the text is nothing regarded. I could wish all my books were buried nine ells deep in the ground, by reason of the ill example they will give, every one seeking to imitate me in writing many books, with the hope of procuring fame. But Christ died not to favour our ambition and vain-glory, but that his name might be glorified.

The aggregation of large libraries tends to divert men’s thoughts from the one great book, the Bible, which ought, day and night, to be in every one’s hand. My object, my hope, in translating the Scriptures, was to check the so prevalent production of new works, and so to direct men’s study and thoughts more closely to the divine Word. Never will the writings of mortal man in any respect equal the sentences inspired by God. We must yield the place of honour to the prophets and the apostles, keeping ourselves prostrate at their feet as we listen to their teaching. I would not have those who read my books, in these stormy times, devote one moment to them which they would otherwise have consecrated to the Bible.

—Martin Luther, Table Talk no. 911

(via Jordan Buckley)

The Modern Post on Twitter

You should follow @TheModernPost on Twitter for the latest updates, answers to questions, and exclusive content.

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

Luke 22

Despite Peter

I’ve written about this passage before and what it means to me so I’ll keep my comments brief. I love that despite Peter’s naivety, Jesus was patient with him. I love that despite Peter’s self-confidence, Jesus would love him by humbling him. I love that despite Peter’s zeal, Jesus tells him that it will be His prayer, His intercession that sustains Peter’s faith. Jesus knew Peter’s frailty and fickleness. He knew Peter would betray Him; and yet He still chose him, prayed for him, and ultimately died for him.

And yet, Jesus still left Peter with two commands; He still knew that He could use Peter. He said here, “strengthen your brothers” and at the end of the Gospel of John, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus tells Peter three times, “Feed my sheep”.

And yet, Jesus does the same with us - - He certainly did the same with me.

Clay Feet

A friend of mine said it perfectly to me recently.  He said, “God is careful to make sure that, no matter how useful we have proven to be in His hands, our feet of clay are clearly visible. This is partly so that it may be seen (by we ourselves) that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.”

I’m sure as we start this blog there will be plenty of times where my clay feet are clumsily trodding around and dirtying everything they touch - and for those times I ask for grace. But more than that, I hope that you are in some way strengthened and fed, and that you will see that the glory goes to God for that.

Posted by NB

The Modern Post on Twitter

Follow @TheModernPost on Twitter for the latest updates, answers to questions, and exclusive content.