Thankful Thursday

Already it’s Thursday again. I’m thankful

• for weeks, seasons, and time. 
• for time to spend with the ones I love, and time to do what I need to do; for time to read, and think and rest.
• for the daylight hours that grow my garden, and the weeks and months that grow my grandchildren.
• that God has determined my allotted time and that my times are in his hands.
• that God brought me through the trials of my past and that he will bring me through the trials of my future.
• that God who created time has a plan for it, a plan he is unfolding day after day, year after year, century after century, from creation to eternity.
• that God the Son, who created time, entered it, and died and rose again in history in order to redeem his people and his creation.
• that he will come again at the end of the age. 
• for the promise of a new day tomorrow and an eternity spent always with the Lord.

Linked Together: Holy Spirit

Catechism
From the New City Catechism, the answer to the question, “What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?”

NCC Q36: What do we believe about the Holy Spirit? from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

Cessationism
These two posts posts put together make the best argument—and a convincing one—for the cessation of the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. And yes, the argument is made from scripture (The Thirsty Theologian).

1. By Signs and Wonders
2. By Signs and Wonders: Apostolic Authority

(Note: That miraculous gifts ceased means the Spirit no longer gives the miraculous gifts, the gifts of the Spirit that gave the ability to perform signs and wonders to the apostles. It doesn’t mean that God no longer does any miraculous works.)

Continuing Change
Nathan W. Bingham explains sanctification, contrasting it with regeneration. Sanctification is 

a continuing change worked by God in us, freeing us from sinful habits and forming in us Christlike affections, dispositions, and virtues. It does not mean that sin is instantly eradicated, but it is also more than a counteraction, in which sin is merely restrained or repressed without being progressively destroyed. Sanctification is a real transformation, not just the appearance of one.

(Ligonier Ministries Blog)

Theological Term of the Week

Carmen Christi
The traditional title of the “hymn to Christ” found in Philippians 2:6-11, so named because some believe it was a very early and already existing Christian hymn or poem quoted by Paul in his epistle.

• In scripture:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of aservant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 ESV)

• From ESV Study Notes:

Philippians 2:6-11 have some clear indications of poetic structure, leading some to believe that this is a pre-Pauline hymn adapted by Paul. It is just as likely, however, that Paul composed the hymn for this setting. In view of the myriad theological questions that arise in these verses, it is critical to keep two things in mind: (1) these verses were written not to spur Christians to theological debate but to encourage greater humility and love; and (2) the summary of Christ’s life and ministry found here is not unique: the same themes are evident throughout the NT.

Learn more:

1. Robert S. Rayburn: Carmen Christi
2. R. C. Sproul: The Form of God
3. James White: Beyond the Veil of Eternity
4. Gordon Fee: Philippians 2:5-11: Hymn or Exalted Pauline Prose? (pdf)
5. R. P. Martin: An Early Christian Confession
6. J. Ligon Duncan: Song of Christ (audio)

Related terms:

• ascension of Jesus
• deity of Christ
• humanity of Christ
• incarnation
• passive obedience of Christ

Filed under Person, Work, and Teaching of Christ

Do you have a term you would like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it, giving you credit for the suggestion and linking back to your blog when I do.

Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms in alphabetical order.