Disqus - Latest Comments for ztford

Re: Don't Kill That Quote

ztford — Tue, 19 May 2015 09:14:48 -0000

Hi Tim. You said, "I am a collector of quotes. I am not as organized as I would like to be, and not as committed as I ought to be, but I am still building a pretty good collection."

I was wondering if you could share a little bit about your process of organizing these quotes. As someone who loves quotes as well, I really would love to grow in my organization of quotes from various books that I read. I would value your input into how you go about doing this.

Re: Best Commentaries on Revelation

ztford — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 15:38:36 -0000

I have found Dennis Johnson's "Triumph of the Lamb" to be quite helpful. Approached from an Amillennial perspective

Zack Ford
Longing4truth.com

Re: The Word Works, Even When It Doesn’t

ztford — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 08:26:46 -0000

Thank you for your thoughts, and especially your honesty. As a youth pastor, I, too, feel the exact same temptation you are talking about. Week after week I preach expositionally through a book of the bible. I am convinced and convicted that expositional preaching and the centrality of the word IS faithful preaching, but then come the comments from you and parents... "I think you should have more practical teaching. I think you should talk about more things that the youth (of we) and are interested in and that we can use at school tomorrow... Maybe some lessons on what worship is, and how to evangelize, etc." And after that, then comes some youth leaving more "cooler" youth ministries.

All of this is to say that I feel like exactly what you're expressing almost every single Thursday morning (after youth group). My confidence in the word is tested, I begin to think about how I need to be cooler, hipper, more relevant, etc.

However, thankfully the Lord has providentially but people and resources into my life to correct me when those thoughts begin. And with one such temptation coming strongly last night and this morning, I think the Lord has providentially directed me here to your article, which greatly helped me, and for that I just wanted to express my gratitude to you. Thank you for the article, and your honesty, and I pray that both of our confidence in the word would continue to grow. "

In Christ,
Zack

Re: Best Commentaries on 1 Peter

ztford — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 16:26:05 -0000

I am preaching through 1 Peter right now and have definitely found Schreiner's to be the most helpful commentary I use. I've also found R. Kent Hughes' volume in the Preaching the Word set to be helpful. Finally, Michaels' in the Word series is helpful on understanding some of the Greek constructions.

Re: Help Me Interview Paul Washer

ztford — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 09:06:06 -0000

What books and/or resources would you recommend to a graduating seminary student preparing to enter into his first full-time staff ministry position?

Re: Wordsmithy

ztford — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:50:04 -0000

Great review. I look forward to picking up a copy of this book to help me in my writing endeavors.

Re: 12 Books I Want to Read in 2012 (and Think You Should, Too)

ztford — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:23:26 -0000

One very important volume to look out for in the summer of 2012 is Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants by Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum, both professors at SBTS. This is a book they have been working on together for a while and I am excited to see how it comes out.Also, I plan to work through Calvin's Institutes over the next year.

Re: A New (Big!) Commentary Giveaway

ztford — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:17:06 -0000

Ephesians...or Hebrews

Re: I'm Giving Away (Another) Kindle

ztford — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:48:34 -0000

About 10 or so through Google Reader

Re: just for fun…

ztford — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:21:20 -0000

1. Institutes of the Christian Religion - John Calvin
2. Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan
3. Desiring God - John Piper
4. The Holiness of God - R.C. Sproul
5. Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis

Re: Agree or Disagree

ztford — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:39:12 -0000

I'm completely confused as to what your "own point" was??? Is it that we are to use Scripture in context....then you're right. However, that was not the point. The point was that we are sinfully arrogant if we believe we can refer to the Holy God without consulting His Holy Word. If you're "point" is that we should not do so, that is pure sinful ignorance.

Re: Agree or Disagree

ztford — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:30:09 -0000

yeah, it happens...so are you now arguing that we should not use Scripture in our points and arguments? That's preposterous. Again, that is pure arrogance to believe that you know ANY truth outside of God and His Word.

Re: Agree or Disagree

ztford — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:34:10 -0000

Why does everyone feel like they can voice their opinion about God's plan, yet only 4/24 comments so far have used any Scripture reference?

Are we so arrogant as to think that we can speak of the Holy God, who created heaven and Earth, and not need to use His revealed Word when speaking of Him or His will?

Re: Agree or Disagree

ztford — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:33:29 -0000

On one hand, I would say yes...but this is a very complex issue...consider the following example:

Do we agree it was God's WILL for Jesus to come to Earth and die? (Acts 2:23)

If so, how was this to happen? It was to happen by men killing him right...or sinning? So was not the by-product of God's will of Jesus' death and being delivered up the necessary sinning for that to take place?

That is just one example...

Read Piper's "Spectacular Sins." He treats this subject excellently...better than I could ever imagine accomplishing.

Re: Agree or Disagree

ztford — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:25:41 -0000

So did God develop His plan after man decided to sin? God REACTED to man?

Re: Agree or Disagree

ztford — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:48:18 -0000

So God is a reactionary God of leverage rather than a sovereign God of perfection????

Re: Agree or Disagree

ztford — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:42:28 -0000

Completely agree. Either God is sovereign or not. It's clear cut. There's no in between. There are MANY arguments for sin being part of God's plan, many of which have already been mentioned, so there is no use and restating them.

However, In Ephesians 1:4 how could God have chosen us in Christ before the foundations of the world if sin, and redemption because of sin, were not part of his plan?

Also seen in Revelation 13:8. All who's names weren't written in the book of the life of the Lamb worshiped the beast, implying that some WERE written in the book.

As Brad has already said, if sin is not part of God's plan then God is reactionary, which is COMPLETELY unbiblical! Either you believe in a sovereign God, or a God's whose sovereignty is dependent upon the wills and actions of His creation!

Re: Agree or Disagree

ztford — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:17:45 -0000

Disagree!

Re: Agree or Disagree

ztford — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:08:04 -0000

taught to worship in general?? or taught to worship God??

Re: AGREE or DISAGREE

ztford — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:24:05 -0000

I completely agree with you're last sentence!

I think we are coming around to almost the same point, only from different angles, if that makes any sense. I completely agree that salvation is by faith alone..the only difference that I have is that I think that within that faith is Jesus is a faith in Him as Lord. I by no means think that we can work our way to salvation...that's heresy. I pretty much agree with most of the stuff you just said, but with all of that said we must keep in mind the parables that Jesus taught regarding who indeed is saved. Again, all we must do is look at Matthew 7:13-21. One can say that He believes in Jesus and His death and resurrection and all of that, but if you look at his life and do not see the fruits of that salvation, then I don't know. It's not my place to say one is not saved...that's only God's place. However, Matthew 7:21 scares me, especially thinking of many of the "church-people' in today's society.

Again, I completely agree with your last statement in saying that there is not better time spent in correcting our view of salvation. I have enjoyed the conversation and will think about some things, as I hope that maybe you will. I will close with the end of Philippians 2:12 - "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." I pray that we will both do so.

Re: AGREE or DISAGREE

ztford — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:54:03 -0000

Good points on what repentance is and the repentance that is required for salvation. I halfway agree with you. I still think that there is a level of change in the heart and mind that gives rise to new God-centered, Christ-exalting behavior when we are given a new heart and are given the free gift of grace and faith. However, I do see your point of the repentance required for salvation involving a turn from unbelief, and that alone. The only problem that I have with your points as a whole is that it gives rise to a very liberal, anything goes "Christianity." It's basically saying, "Okay Jesus, I believe that you died, raised from the dead, and paid for my sins on the cross, but I'm not really sorry for any of those sins and at this time I'm not ready to submit to you as the Lord of my life. I believe in what you did for me, but for me right now it's just not powerful and important enough for me to change my ways or anything." I COMPLETELY disagree with that. At the moment of salvation we are given a new heart...we are given the Spirit...we are given new desires and convictions. Will we sin? Yes..of course. But, we are now walking in a new life...in the narrow way. If we establish the fact that repentance as required for salvation involves repenting from unbelief and turning to belief in Jesus, then now let's look at Luke 3:8. He says, "Bear fruits in keeping with repentance." So with our definition of repentance, Luke is telling us that since we have turned from this unbelief to belief in Jesus, then we are to bear fruits within that belief...or what about Romans 1:5, where Paul tells us that we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the OBEDIENCE OF FAITH. With the arguments that you have been presenting, we can just have the faith and then it's just kind of up to us whether or not we want to have the obedience that goes with it. That's not true at all!

As for the idea that we can submit to Jesus as Savior and not as Lord, I implore you to refer to some of John Piper's articles on "lordship salvation." Now before you attack me for referred to a man's thoughts, I do not submit to those thoughts and arguments as truth before I refer to Scripture by any means...BUT I do believe that we can learn innumerable things from the more experienced and older Saints that God has used for His kingdom, which is what I do with John Piper. I think that saying that Jesus is Savior and not Lord is absurd. What of all the instances where Paul refers to Jesus Christ, OUR Lord? What about Romans 8:39 where Paul tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord? If one is to find comfort in the verse, he must put himself to be included in the word our...which would mean that Jesus is his Lord.

Furthermore, Romans 10:9 says, "If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It is a frightening thing, in view of this verse, to tell people that they do not have to confess Jesus as Lord in order to be saved. That is just the opposite of what scripture says.

Finally, I take it that you are saying that people can actually be presented with the claims of Christ as Lord and say, “No, I don’t want to bow to him as Lord, and I do not accept his claim on my life as authoritative Guide and Teacher,” but I am still be saved (if they believe that he died for them!). If that is what you are saying, then there is a great difference between you and I indeed. And not only between you and me, but between you and centuries of Christian orthodoxy.

Re: AGREE or DISAGREE

ztford — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:52:03 -0000

Completely agreed.

Re: AGREE or DISAGREE

ztford — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:50:14 -0000

Luke 3:8a - "Bear fruits in keeping with repentance."

Acts 26:20c - "that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance."

Acts 2:38 - "And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"

Luke 24:47 - "and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem."

Acts 26:18 - "to open their eyes, so that they may TURN from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sin and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."

Here in this last Acts verse we see that this turning from darkness to light is the predecessor to receive forgiveness of sins.

Okay..so I had to just put some Scripture first. First of all, starting at the beginning, the number one dictionary in the Meriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary for "repent" is "to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life." That pretty much sums it all up. You are correct that the only prerequisite to salvation is belief in Jesus. However, as a said before, is not that new belief in Jesus indeed repentance from the sin of unbelief? Although the bible doesn't say "repent of sins," it does say "repent and believe." If it is not referring to sins then what are we to repent of and believe??

As for the whole Jesus as Lord thing, you asked the question about someone believing in Jesus and not being saved b/c he didn't live for God...I do not believe in works salvation, but I do believe that with true faith in those things that you listed about Jesus comes true repentance, which leads to fruit. Just look at Matthew 7:13-21...Jesus compares the 2 different trees and then ends it by saying that not everyone who says to Him Lord, Lord will enter heaven...only him who does the will of the Father! How much clearer can it get. Call it works salvation or not...the principle is still the same...with true repentance and faith in Jesus comes true life change...the old self is gone and the new self put on.

As for the woman at the well story, I'm not quite sure what you're asking...her even wanting the living water instead of her own water is turning away from the old water that she used to seek. What about John 8...the story of Jesus and the prostitute? He says at the end of it all in v. 11 "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."

What are some Scripture references for the statement in your first paragraph that we can believe in Jesus and all that he offers us, without repenting of our sins and turning from our old life in sin to our new life in Christ? And how do you explain Matthew 7:13-21?

Re: AGREE or DISAGREE

ztford — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:24:44 -0000

"Repentance as required for salvation has nothing to do with 'turning from our sins' or submitting to Christ's 'Lordship.' All people at all times have been saved in one way...by believing on Jesus Christ"???? What? What kind of repentance is required if it is not the repentance that has to do with turning from our sins? The very act of believing in Jesus as Savior is repenting of our sins...first and foremost being that of unbelief.

And it just dawned on me by your statement that you believe you can have one submitting to Christ as Savior without Christ as Lord..right? That's another whole issue for another time.

By the way, I'm with the other guys about not wanting to get into a serious debate or argument. However, I do think it is great for healthy discussions, especially with conflicting views, in order to learn from each other and figure out together the great truths of Christianity. Just wanted to throw that out there.

Re: AGREE or DISAGREE

ztford — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:52:05 -0000

Disagree. Repentance is a gift from God (2 Tim. 2:25). I guess it depends on your view of humanity's total depravity. In light of Romans 3:10-11, I do not believe that any man seeks repentance on his own. We are all walking in darkness, following the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:1-3) unless the sovereign grace of God rescues us from the darkness and brings us into the light. Therefore, if a man truly desires saving repentance, the Spirit has already began a work in him and called him effectually to Jesus Christ. If repentance is a gift from God and we cannot, and do not, seek God or repentance of our sins on our own, then it goes hand in hand that if they desire it, then it must be possible.

As far as Esau and Judas go, are we talking about merely regretting a decision we made because of the trouble it brought us, or true, saving repentance where we turn from our sins unto the Lordship and saving grace of Jesus?