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
Mar132022

Sunday Hymn: Jesus, and Shall It Ever Be

 

  

 

 

 

Jesus, and shall it ever be,
A mortal man ashamed of thee?
Ashamed of thee whom angels praise,
Whose glories shine through endless days!

Ashamed of Jesus! sooner far
Let evening blush to own a star:
He sheds the beams of light Divine
O’er this benighted soul of mine.

Ashamed of Jesus! just as soon
Let midnight be ashamed of noon;
‘Tis midnight with my soul till he,
Bright Morning Star, bid darkness flee.

Ashamed of Jesus, that dear Friend
On whom my hopes of heav’n depend!
No; when I blush, be this my shame,
That I no more revere his Name.

Ashamed of Jesus! yes, I may
When I’ve no guilt to wash away,
No tear to wipe, no good to crave,
No fears to quell, no soul to save.

Till then—nor is my boasting vain—
Till then I boast a Saviour slain;
And O may this my glory be,
That Christ is not ashamed of me.

—Joseph Grigg

 

Another hymn for this Sunday:

Thursday
Mar102022

Theological Term of the Week: Apostasy

apostasy
The renunciation of a profession of the Christian faith.

  • From scripture: 

    Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons… (1 Timothy 4:1 ESV).

    They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us (1 John 2:19 ESV).

  • From Why Some Leave Christ by Charles Spurgeon:
  • In all our churches, among the many who enlist, there are some who desert. They continue awhile, and then they go back to the world. The radical reason why they retract is an obvious incongruity. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us” (1 Jo 2:19). The unconverted adherents to our fellowship are no loss to the Church when they depart. They are not a real loss, any more than the scattering of the chaff from the threshing-floor is a detriment5 to the wheat. Christ keeps the winnowing fan always going. His own preaching constantly sifted His hearers. Some were blown away because they were chaff. They did not really believe. By the ministry of the Gospel, by the order of Providence, by all the arrangements of divine government, the precious are separated from the vile, the dross is purged away from the silver [so] that the good seed and the pure metal may remain and be preserved. The process is always painful. It causes great searching of heart amongst those who abide faithful and occasions deep anxiety to gentle spirits of tender, sympathetic mold…I put it to myself. I put it to those who are the officers of the church. I put it to every member without exception: Will ye also go away?  

Learn more:

  1. Got Questions: What is apostasy and how can I recognize it?
  2. Eric Raymond: The Path to Apostasy
  3. Michael Kruger: Women’s Bible Study (Hebrews), Episode 25 and Episode 26
  4. Sinclair Ferguson: Apostasy and How It Happens

 

Related terms:

 

Filed under 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
Mar062022

Sunday Hymn: I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus

 

  

 

 

 

I am trusting thee, Lord Jesus
Trusting only thee:
Trusting thee for full salvation,
Great and free.

I am trusting thee for pardon;
At thy feet I bow,
For thy grace and tender mercy,
Trusting now.

I am trusting thee for cleansing
In the crimson flood;
Trusting thee to make me holy
By thy blood.

I am trusting thee to guide me;
Thou alone shalt lead,
Ev’ry day and hour supplying
All my need.

I am trusting thee, Lord Jesus;
Never let me fall;
I am trusting thee for ever,
And for all.

—Frances R. Havergal

 

Another hymn for this Sunday: