Desiring God: Free Books Online

Here are some of my favorites:

• A God-Entranced Vision of All Things
• A Hunger for God
• Counted Righteous in Christ
• Desiring God
• Don't Waste Your Life
• God Is the Gospel
• God's Passion for His Glory
• The Passion of Jesus Christ
  
• Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
• Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ
• When I Don't Desire God

Read them online or print them out on your own paper - free!

Desiring God Book Sale !!!

From Abraham Piper at the Desiring God blog:

Every book in our store will be $5 on June 27-28, Wednesday and Thursday next week.

No limits, so spread the word.

(This sale is online only.)

So this is me spreading the word. I'm already making a wish list.

The Dangerous Book for Boys

This book looks awesome, and subtly hilarious. Check out the interview at the bottom, too. I want to get this for me, before we have our boys.

Update: Al Mohloer blogs on the book.

Kris Lundgaard on the Fight of Faith

Kris Lundgaard has written (or rewritten) one book on John Owen's practical theology of fighting sin in the Christian life, The Enemy Within, and another on the life-changing power of seeing Christ, Through the Looking Glass. He recently spoke on these topics at Omaha Bible Church in Omaha, NE. I checked out his first session, and it was ultra-Biblical and helpful.

In opening, he says, linking the introductory story of a video game to our own lives, "I realized that skipping the story was actually a mortal error, because the story gives the objective, it gives the mission, it gives the context, it gives the goal that you're going after in the game . . . Without that story, without a sense of what you're going toward, you fight the same battles over and over again."

Later, he quotes Isaiah 40, telling us that God begins with the end in mind, and so should we. This is wonderful for me to hear, as I am in the midst of writing a long, difficult paper, not to mention living with indwelling sin. Amen to looking toward the prize in Christ Jesus.

A Life-Changing Book on the Gospel of Mark

Is right here. Reading Peter Bolt's book on Christ's atonement in Mark's Gospel has already fundamentally changed the way I think about the cross, the Savior, and the book of Mark, and I'm only halfway through it.

One of Bolt's main points (he spends a whole chapter on it) is that Mark 13, the so-called "Apocalyptic Discourse" of Jesus, needs a fresh look in light of Mark's narrative. He basically makes a strong extended argument that the whole speech is meant to set up the impending passion narrative. That is, Jesus is speaking of His own crucifixion, resurrection, and exaltation in this speech and not in any way the destruction of the temple nor His second coming. He does this by noting the close parallels between His speech and the rest of Mark's narrative, the context in which it is given, and the audience to whom it is addressed within the story.

Specifically, Bolt points out that Christ's speech

• is about "the coming of the Son of Man,"
• is addressed to his disciples on the Mount of Olives before it is addressed to the reader,
• and has specific details (time, wars, earthquakes) that are fulfilled in His crucifixion, resurrection, and exaltation.

Of special note is the observation that Mark heightens the expectancy of the Son of Man's coming by his use of the same time periods that Jesus gives in Mark 13:35in his narrative descriptions of the events of His last night in the following chapters:

• "evening" ----> Lord's Supper
  
• "midnight" ---> Gethsemane
  
• "cock crow" --> trial before high priest
  
• "dawn" ------> trial before Pilate
  

Bolt also points out that we out to read Mark 13:19 with a Christ-centered view. As he says, surely the suffering of the sinless Son of God under God's own wrath at the hands of the Gentiles is the worst suffering that has ever and will ever come upon anyone in this world. All of these bear explaining, but I want you to read this speech on your own in light of what Mark says, not what Peter Bolt or Britt Treece says, so get after it the next time you read Mark (or Matthew or Luke for that matter).

However, I have found Bolt's argument very convincing here. Whatever way you go with this, though, the entire book is worth reading. Praise God for His Word and for people who call us back to reading it for what it really says !!!

Calvin on Ephesians 4

"11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
Ephesians 4:11-16

I was reading John Calvin's commentary on Ephesians and found his words on these verses to be particularly helpful. In this section's overview he says,

He [Paul] returns to explain the distribution of gifts, and illustrates at greater length what he had slightly hinted, that out of this variety arises unity in the church, as the various tones in music produce sweet melody. The meaning may be thus summed up. 'The external ministry of the word is also commended, on account of the advantages which it yields. Certain men appointed to that office, are employed in preaching the gospel. This is the arrangement by which the Lord is pleased to govern his church, to maintain its existence, and ultimately to secure its highest perfection.'

On verse 11 he comments,

The government of the church, by the preaching of the word, is first of all declared to be no human contrivance, but a most sacred ordinance of Christ. The apostles did not appoint themselves, but were chosen by Christ; and, at the present day, true pastors do not rashly thrust themselves forward by their own judgment, but are raised up by the Lord. In short, the government of the church, by the ministry of the word, is not a contrivance of men, but an appointment made by the Son of God. As his own unalterable law, it demands our assent. They who reject or despise this ministry offer insult and rebellion to Christ its Author. It is himself who gave them; for, if he does not raise them up, there will be none.

He goes on to explain in verse 12,

What is more excellent than to produce the true and complete perfection of the church? And yet this work, so admirable and divine, is here declared by the apostle to be accomplished by the external ministry of the word. That those who neglect this instrument should hope to become perfect in Christ is utter madness. Yet such are the fanatics, on the one hand, who pretend to be favored with secret revelations of the Spirit, — and proud men, on the other, who imagine that to them the private reading of the Scriptures is enough, and that they have no need of the ordinary ministry of the church.

If the edification of the church proceeds from Christ alone, he has surely a right to prescribe in what manner it shall be edified. But Paul expressly states, that, according to the command of Christ, no real union or perfection is attained, but by the outward preaching.

Finally, on verse 14 he comments on the state of being "tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine,"

Such must be the changeable and unsteady character of all who do not rest on the foundation of God’s eternal truth. It is their just punishment for looking, not to God, but to men. Paul declares, on the other hand, that faith, which rests on the word of God, stands unshaken against all the attacks of Satan.

This section of Calvin is not only the definition of good exposition, but, more importantly, explains that this text reminds us of God's good governance of His Church by His Word. "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it," says the author of Hebrews. Let us listen up to the all-growing, all-maturing, all-pointing-to-Christ Word of God.

More of Owen on the Love of God

I promised to post more of Owen's Communion with God. Here is his continued explanation of how God's love to His children and their love to Him differ:

2dly. They differ in this:— The love of the Father unto us is an antecedent love; our love unto him is a consequent love.
(1st.) The love of the Father unto us is an antecedent love, and that in two respects:—
[1st.] It is antecedent in respect of our love, 1 John iv. 10, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us.” His love goes before ours. The father loves the child, when the child knows not the father, much less loves him. Yea, we are by nature θεοστυγεῖς, Rom. i. 30, — haters of God. He is in his own nature φιλάνθρωπος, — a lover of men; and surely all mutual love between him and us must begin on his hand.
[2dly.] In respect of all other causes of love whatever. It goes not only before our love, but also any thing in us that is lovely. Rom. v. 8, “God commendeth his love towards us, in that whilst we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Not only his love, but the eminent fruit thereof, is made out towards us as sinners. Sin holds out all of unloveliness and undesirableness that can be in a creature. The very mention of that removes all causes, all moving occasions of love whatever. Yet, as such, have we the commendation of the Father’s love unto us, by a most signal testimony. Not only when we have done no good, but when we are in our blood, doth he love us; — not because we are better than others, but because himself is infinitely good. His kindness appears when we are foolish and disobedient. Hence he is said to “love the world;” that is, those who have nothing but what is in and of the world, whose whole [portion] lies in evil.
(2dly.) Our love is consequential in both these regards:—
[1st.] In respect of the love of God. Never did creature turn his affections towards God, if the heart of God were not first set upon him.
[2dly.] In respect of sufficient causes of love. God must be revealed unto us as lovely and desirable, as a fit and suitable object unto the soul to set up its rest upon, before we can bear any love unto him. The saints (in this sense) do not love God for nothing, but for that excellency, loveliness, and desirableness that is in him. As the psalmist says, in one particular, Ps. cxvi. 1, “I love the Lord, because!” so may we in general; we love the Lord, because! Or, as David in another case, “What have I now done? is there not a cause?” If any man inquire about our love to God, we may say, “What have we now done? is there not a cause?”

We all could stand to meditate on God's love the way Owen does here.

John Owen on the Love of God

Last night I was reading Communion with God, by the Puritan great John Owen, and I came across these amazing and humbling paragraphs. After showing the likeness between God's love to believers and theirs to Him, Owen turns to explaining how these two loves differ:

There are sundry (various) things wherein they differ:—
1st. The love of God is a love of bounty; our love unto him is a love of duty.
(1st.) The love of the Father is a love of bounty, — a descending love; such a love as carries him out to do good things to us, great things for us. His love lies at the bottom of all dispensations towards us; and we scarce anywhere find any mention of it, but it is held out as the cause and fountain of some free gift flowing from it. He loves us, and sends his Son to die for us; — he loves us, and blesseth us with all spiritual blessings. Loving is choosing, Rom. ix. 11, 12. He loves us and chastiseth us. [It is] a love like that of the heavens to the earth, when, being full of rain, they pour forth showers to make it fruitful; as the sea communicates its waters to the rivers by the way of bounty, out of its own fulness, — they return unto it only what they receive from it. It is the love of a spring, of a fountain, — always communicating; — a love from whence proceeds every thing that is lovely in its object. It infuseth into, and creates goodness in, the persons beloved. And this answers the description of love given by the philosopher. “To love,” saith he, “ἔστι βούλεσθαι τινὶ ἃ οἴεται ἀγαθά καὶ κατὰ δύαμιν πρακτικὸν εἶαι τούων," - He that loves works out good to them he loveth, as he is able. God’s power and will are commensurate; — what he willeth he worketh.

(2dly.) Our love unto God is a love of duty, the love of a child. His love descends upon us in bounty and fruitfulness; our love ascends unto him in duty and thankfulness. He adds to us by his love; we nothing to him by ours. Our goodness extends not unto him. Though our love be fixed on him immediately, yet no fruit of our love reacheth him immediately; though he requires our love, he is not benefited by it, Job xxxv. 5–8, Rom. xi. 35, Job xxii. 2, 3. It is indeed made up of these four things:— 1. Rest; 2. Delight; 3. Reverence; 4. Obedience. By these do we hold communion with the Father in his love. Hence God calls that love which is due to him as a father, “honour,” Mal. i. 6, “If I be a father, where is mine honour?” It is a deserved act of duty.

I pray that these words from God's Word encourage you today as they do me. What a blessing it is to be loved by God! Nothing else is even in the same universe of comparison! His is the sun, all else is but a match!

(I plan on posting more of Communion with God, and you can read it or download it in its entirety here.)

Jonathan Edwards on Matthew 5:8 (Part 2)

Matthew 5:8
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

Edwards wrote much on this topic, especially in a sermon in his works, volume 2. Another great point from that sermon:

This joy is without mixture, not only as it brings not bitterness with it, but also as it will not suffer any. The sight of God excludes every thing that is of a nature different from delight. This light is such, as who He excludes darkness.

It is not in the power of any earthly enjoyment to drive and shut out all trouble from the heart. If a man has some things in which he takes comfort and pleasure, there are others that yield him uneasiness and sorrow; if he has some things in the world that are sweet, there are others that are bitter, against which it is not in the power of his pleasures to help him. We never can find any thing here below that shall make us so happy, but that we shall have grief and pleasure mixed together. This world, let us make the best of it, will be spotted with black and white, varied with clouds and sunshine, and to them who yield their hearts to it, it will yield pain as well as pleasure. But this pleasure of seeing God can suffer no mixture; for this pleasure of seeing God is so great and strong that it takes the full possession of the heart, it fills it perfectlyfull, so that there shall be no room for any sorrow, no room in any corner for any thing of an adversenature from joy. There is no darkness that can bear such powerful light. It is impossible that they who see God face to face, who behold his glory and love so immediately as they do in heaven, should have any such thing as grief or pain in their hearts. When once the saints are come into God’s presence, tears shall be wiped from their eyes, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. The pleasure will be so great, as fully and perfectly to employ every faculty; the sight of God’s glory and love will be so wonderful, so engaging to the mind, and it shall keep all the powers of it in such strong attention, that the soul will be wholly possessed and taken up.

Again. There will be in what they shall see, a sufficient antidote against every thing that would afford uneasiness, or that can have any tendency thereto. If there were sin in the heart before, that used by its exercise to disturb its peace and quiet, and was a seed and spring of trouble, the immediate and full sight of God’s glory will at once drive it all away. Sin cannot remain in the heart which thus beholds God, for sin is a principle of enmity against God; but there can no enmity remain in one, who after this manner sees God’s glory. It must and will wholly drive away any such principle, and change it into love. The imperfect sight that the saints have of God’s glory here, transforms them in part into the same image; but this perfect sight will transform them perfectly. If there be the hatred of enemies, the vision of the love and power of God will be a sufficient antidote against it; so that it can give no uneasiness. If the saint is removed by death from all his earthly friends, and earthly enjoyments, that will give no uneasiness to him, when he sees what a fulness there is in God. He will see that there is all in him, so that he who possesses him can lose nothing: whatever is taken from him he sustains no loss. And whatever else there may be, that would otherwise afford grief and uneasiness to the soul, it cannot affect him who is in the presence of God and sees his face.

What a beautiful truth! For those who trust in the cross of Jesus for forgiveness of sins, our happiness in God will forever be inexhaustible, incomprehensible, indescribable, insurmountable, incomparable! Nothing in this life or the next will ever be able to take us from the hands of Jesus or shake our joy in Him! And all of this life's pleasures mixed with pain are meant to remind us of this pure and final joy! Rejoice, O Christian, rejoice! Jesus is your forever-portion! And He is ultimately thrilling!

(Originally posted at old site 7/7/2006.)

Jonathan Edwards on Matthew 5:8 (Part 1)

Matthew 5:8 says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

Jonathan Edwards wrote many pages on this idea, and God used some of them to encourage us last night. Here are some of the best paragraphs:

The happiness of seeing God is a blessing without any mixture. That pleasure has the best claim to be called man’s true happiness, which comes unmixed, and without alloy. But so doth the joy of seeing God; it neither brings any bitterness, nor will it suffer any.

This pleasure brings no bitterness with it. That is not the case with other delights, in which natural men are wont to place their happiness; they are bitter sweets, yielding a kind of momentary pleasure in gratifying an appetite, but wormwood and gall are mingled in the cup. He who plucks these roses, finds that they grow on thorns; he who tastes of this honey is sure to find in it a sting. If men place their happiness in them, reason and conscience will certainly give them inward disturbance in their enjoyment. There will be the sting of continual disappointments, for carnal delights are of such a nature that they keep the soul, that places its happiness in them, always big with expectation and in eager pursuit; while they are evermore like shadows, and never yield what is hoped for. They who give themselves up to them, unavoidably bring upon themselves many heavy inconveniences. If they promote their pleasure in any way, they destroy their comforts in many other ways; and this sting ever accompanies them, that they are but short-lived, they will soon vanish, and be no more.

And as to the pleasure found in the enjoyment of earthly friends, there is a bitterness goes also with that. An intense love to any earthly object, though it may afford high enjoyment, yet greatly multiplies our cares and anxieties through the defects and blemishes, the instability and changeableness, of the object, the calamities to which it is exposed, and the short duration of all such friendships, and of the pleasures thence arising.

Oh, that God would remind us that all earthly pleasures are fleeting, that He is the only One who is perfectly pure and true! Praise be to Jesus for buying us this delight with His blood, and giving us the grace through faith to cling to Him! There have been some earthly stings in our life lately, and we were encouraged to stop, meditate on God's infinite-ness, be humbled by our finite-ness and fragility, and rejoice in God's pure glory and gladness. So stop and take some time to read a good dead theologian.G od often uses them to give us the grace of the knowledge of Him.

(Originally posted on old site 7/7/2006.)

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ is a book by John Piper that my wife and I really enjoy. In it, Piper strives to biblically show us the greatness and glory of Jesus Christ. We were especially encouraged last night by chapter three, "Indestructible Joy: The Gladness of Jesus Christ." You can read it here or purchase it here.

(Originally posted at old site 7/5/2006.)