Linked Together: Prayer

In the Christian Life
R. C. Sproul:

[P]rayer has a vital place in the life of the Christian. One might pray and not be a Christian, but one cannot be a Christian and not pray. Romans 8:15 tells us that the spiritual adoption that has made us sons of God causes us to cry out in verbal expressions: “Abba! Father!” Prayer is to the Christian what breath is to life, yet no duty of the Christian is so neglected.” —R. C. Sproul

Read the whole piece on the importance of prayer.

In the Bible
A list of all the prayers in the Bible. HT: Joe Carter.

To Jesus or the Father?
In Al Mohler’s Ask Anything: Weekend Edition, he answers the listener question, “Should parents teach their children to pray to Jesus or to the Father?” How would you answer that? You can hear Mohler’s answer six minutes in. 

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 34. Why do you call Christ “our Lord”?

Answer: Because he has redeemed us, both body and soul, from all our sins, not with silver or gold, but with his precious blood, and has freed us from all the power of the devil, and by doing this has made us his own property. (a)

(Click through to see scriptural proofs.)

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This Week in Housekeeping

Here are two recently updated theological terms.

providence

• Updated the formatting.
• Tweaked the definition.
• Updated the link to God’s Glorious Providence.
• Updated the link to Louis Berkhof’s Summary of Christian Doctrine, Chapter 10, Providence.
• Updated the link to John Reisenger’s The Sovereignty of God in Providence (mp3).
• Added a link to R. C. Sproul’s What Is Providence?
• Added a link to Wayne Grudem’s God’s Providence (pdf).
• Added related terms creation ex nihilo, decree(s) of God, and decretive will.
• Added Filed under God’s Nature and His Work.

active obedience of Christ

• Updated formatting.
• Added a link to R. C. Sproul’s Jesus Not Only Died for Us, He Lived for Us.
• Updated the link to The Imputation of the Obedience of Christ Unto the Law Declared and Indicated by John Owen.
• Updated the link to Brian Schwertley’s A Defense of the “Active Obedience” of Jesus Christ in the Justification of Sinners (pdf).
• Added Filed under Christ’s Nature and His Work.