Monthly Archives: April 2011

Friday Round Up

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(1) BIBLE TRANSLATION: Our generation is so blessed. In contrast to former periods in history where access to the word of God was very rare, there are many good Bible translations available to us in the English language today. How we thank God for this. It is simply a fact of history to say that many have paid the ultimate price (forfeiting their very lives) so that we would have access to the word of God in our native tongue.

I like the English Standard Version both for its diligent effort to be true to the original text (Hebrew in the Old Testament and koine Greek in the New) and for its great readability. Usually one of these things suffers in Bible translation, but this is not the case with the ESV. It is both highly accurate and easy to read, and these features make it a remarkable translation.

EXPLANATORY STUDY NOTES: Of course, it is the text of the Bible that is inspired not the notes we might find in the margins. This is an extremely important distinction that should always be remembered. However, it can be so helpful to have something of the historical background available to us at our fingertips, as well as useful and practical explanatory notes. Yet not every study Bible out there can be recommended. Some show very poor scholarship or else they have an agenda to articulate extreme views.

It is a high and holy calling to lead people in the things of God and great care is needed to help guide God’s people in the way of truth. This is certainly the case when it comes to providing study notes in a Bible. Because of this, for many years, I would never recommend a Bible with study notes. It is better to have no notes at all, than to be steered in the wrong direction. However, in recent years, the publishing of the Reformation Study Bible has excited me greatly and I would like to see it in the hands of every English speaking Christian. In terms of the two things that I believe to be most important features of a Study Bible – accurate translation and helpful and reliable (sure guide) study notes – in my opinion, this is the best. Its also the Bible I use in my preaching.

Here’s a short 8 minute video by Dr. R.C. Sproul, outlining the historical background, scholarship and features of the Reformation Study Bible.

Right now Ligonier Ministries has a 40% off sale on this Bible here!.

(2) There’s also some EXCELLENT material available at the $5 Friday Ligonier sale today starting at 8 a.m. EST. See here.

(3) CONQUERING SIN: Changing topics, I found these two quotes very probing. How easy it is to deceive ourselves concerning sin:
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The Shepherd and the Sheep

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“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” – John 10:14-16, 26-28

“I have other sheep not of this fold…” (v. 16).

There are many people in the world besides those who have already become Jewish converts (“this fold”), who are referred to as His sheep. There are numerous motives for reaching out in evangelism, and for preaching and praying for lost people everywhere. One of them is the confidence that the Shepherd has other sheep, and they will respond to the Gospel. It was precisely this truth that encouraged the apostle Paul when he was downcast in Corinth. “And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man shall attack you to harm you; for I have many people in this city.” (Acts 18:9-10)

In John 11:51-52, Caiaphas, the high priest, had given a prophecy which John now interprets this way:

“He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.”

These scattered children are identical with the “other sheep that are not of this fold.” World evangelization is the ingathering of the children of God – that is the finding and saving of the “other sheep” that are not of this (Jewish) fold.

John 11:52 says Jesus died to gather into one the scattered children of God. John 10:15 says, Jesus laid down his life for the sheep. So the evangelistic mission of the Church can no more fail than the death of Christ can fail.

“They will hear My voice” – Through You! We have the promise that our evangelistic efforts will not be in vain because the Lord Himself will bring His lost sheep home. He promises to do it. In John 17:20, Jesus said, “I do not pray for these [His disciples] only but also for those who believe in Me through their word.” Jesus uses us today to call His sheep. Just as Jesus called His sheep with His own lips, so He still calls them today using our lips, and in the gospel they hear His voice and follow Him.

From John’s Gospel, we can make the following scriptural statements: All that the Father has chosen to be His from eternity, He has given to the Son (John 6:37); and all whom He has given to the Son, the Son knows (10:3); and calls (10:3-5); and all whom He calls, know Him (10:14) and recognize His voice (10:4-5) and they come to Him (6:37) and follow Him (10:4, 27); and the Son lays down His life for His sheep (10:11); and He gives them eternal life (10:28) and keeps them in the Father’s word (17:6), so that not even one of them is lost (6:39), to glorify the Son forever (17:10). This is the indestructible foundation for an infallible salvation that resounds in the end to the glory of both the Father and the Son.

None of Christ’s sheep finally reject His word. Though He allows some of His sheep to resist the word for a long time, never do they reject it finally. Jesus said, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me.” (John 6:37). What a promise! And what a privilege we have in sharing the Gospel with people, as we witness the Good Shepherd rounding up His sheep.