Rebecca Stark is the author of The Good Portion: Godthe second title in The Good Portion series.

The Good Portion: God explores what Scripture teaches about God in hopes that readers will see his perfection, worth, magnificence, and beauty as they study his triune nature, infinite attributes, and wondrous works. 

                     

Sunday
Jun192022

Sunday Hymn: Take My Life and Let It Be

 

  

 

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing,
Always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from thee.

Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold
Take my intellect, and use
Ev’ry pow’r as thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is thine own;
It shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for thee.
—Frances Havergal 

 

Another hymn for this Sunday:

Thursday
Jun162022

Theological Term of the Week: Exclusivism

exclusivism

The belief that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour and faith in him is necessary for salvation.

  • From scripture: 

    That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:9-14 ESV)

  • From the Westminster Larger Catechism: 

    Question 60: Can they who have never heard the gospel, and so know not Jesus Christ, nor believe in him, be saved by their living according to the light of nature?

    Answer: They who, having never heard the gospel, know not Jesus Christ, and believe not in him, cannot be saved, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, or the laws of that religion which they profess; neither is there salvation in any other, but in Christ alone, who is the Savior only of his body the church

    The Bible is solicitous that Christians understand that the nations are lost, unsaved, and perishing without God. They are under divine condemnation, not just because they have never heard of Christ, but more primarily because they are transgressors of God’s holy law. Christians should pray that God will melt their own hearts and remove all that would blind their eyes that they may see their world as it really is—a world on a collision course with the flames of divine judgment! And they should pray that God will empower them and send them to that world with the “good news” of his redeeming love in Christ who is the only true Savior of mankind.

Learn more:

  1. Got Questions: Inclusivism vs exclusivism - what does the Bible say?
  2. Kevin DeYoung: Clarifying Inclusivism and Exclusivism
  3. James Anderson: Is There Only One Way of Salvation?
  4. Sam Storms: 10 Things You Should Know About the Exclusivity of Jesus Christ or the Scandal of Particularity
  5. R. C. Sproul: Is It Arrogant to Say Jesus Is the Only Way?
  6. Alistair Begg: Is the Exclusivity of Christ Unjust? (video)

Related terms:

Filed under Isms and Salvation


Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.

Sunday
Jun122022

Sunday Hymn: Give Me Jesus

 

  

 

 

In the morning when I rise, 
in the morning when I rise, 
in the morning when I rise, 
give me Jesus.

Refrain: 
Give me Jesus,
 give me Jesus,
You may have all this world,
 give me Jesus.

Oh, when I am alone,  
Oh, when I am alone,  
Oh, when I am alone,  

give me Jesus.

Oh, when I come to die, 
oh, when I come to die,  
oh, when I come to die,
give me Jesus. 

 

Another hymn for this Sunday: