Round the Sphere Again: Atonement

Penal Substitution Visualized
There’s one more infographic in the on-going Visual Theology series at Challies.com. Featured this time around is penal substitutionary atonement.

Definite Atonement Defended
Dan Phillips has posted an outstanding response to Roger Olson’s recent argument against definite atonement (Pyromaniacs): Part 1, Part 2.

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While we’re on the subject, here are a few of my favorite books on the atonement.

• The Atonement: Its Meaning and Significance by Leon Morris. This book lays down the basics in a way anyone can understand. I’ve put it first because it’s a very good place to start learning about the atonement.
• In My Place Condemned He Stood: Celebrating the Glory of the Atonement by J. I. Packer and others.
• Pierced for Our Transgressions: Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution by Steve Jeffery, Michael Ovey, and Andrew Sachs. I’ve almost finished reading this and I plan to review it soon.
• Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray. This one’s a classic for a reason. 

The Hidden Life of Prayer, Chapters 5 and 6

I only have time for a quick quote from this week’s reading from The Hidden Life of Prayer by David McIntyre. (Chapter 5 was on confession in prayer, and chapter 6 on making petitions to God.)

When, in the course of the day’s engagements, our conscience witnesses against us that we have sinned, we should at once confess our guilt, claim by faith the cleansing of the blood of Christ, and so wash our hands in innocence. And afterwards, as soon as we have a convenient opportunity, we ought to review with deliberation the wrong that we have done. As we consider it with God we shall be impressed by its sinfulness, as we were not at the time of committal. And if the sin is one which we have committed before, one to which perhaps our nature lies open, we must cast ourselves in utter faith upon the strong mercy of God, pleading with Him in the name of Christ that we may never again so grieve Him.

As our hearts grow more tender in the presence of God, the remembrance of former sins which have already been acknowledged and forgiven will from time to time imprint a fresh stain upon our conscience. In such a case nature itself seems to teach us that we ought anew to implore the pardoning grace of God. For we bend, not before judgment seat of the Divine Lawgiver, but before our Father, to whom we have been reconciled through Christ. A more adequate conception of the offense which we have committed ought surely to be followed by a deeper penitence for the wrong done. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit we shall often be led to pray with the Psalmist, “Remember not the sins of my youth” (Psa 25:7), even though these have long since been dealt with and done away. Conviction of sin will naturally prompt to confession. When such promptings are disregarded, the Spirit who has wrought in us that conviction is grieved.

Thankful Thursday

It’s 9pm as I write this. The day has been a busy, as all my recent days have been. You would think that a widow with grown and (supposedly) gone  kids would have quiet days, but that’s not how it’s been for me. Each of my kids was here for a while today and my youngest granddaughter, her mother, and her pet dog were here all afternoon. The baby was fussy; the dogs caused a large potted plant disaster; I’m thankful for it all. I’m thankful that I can help a new mom cope with a difficult baby. I’m thankful that my house gets used. I’m thankful that I don’t have to think much about where my place is and where I’m needed….yet.

I’m thankful for the antibiotics that are treating my oldest granddaughter’s ear infections. I’m thankful that she’s recovering and will soon be her sunny self again.

I’m thankful for almost red tomatoes on the little potted tomato plant on the deck. I’m thankful that the garden is growing.

I’m thankful that God is omnipresent. I’m thankful that He is there beside me and in me and around me with His guiding hand. I’m thankful that nothing happens to me outside the presence of God himself, so nothing happens outside the knowledge and the power of my God who is forever working good things. I’m thankful that every circumstance of my life is a time and place where God is. I’m thankful that knowing God is omnipresent helps me trust him.

I’m thankful that none of my sins are hidden from my omnipresent God, and when I confess my sins, he is always and everywhere with me, ready to hear me.