Sunday's Hymn: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
To his feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like me, his praise should sing?
Praise him, praise him,
Praise him, praise him,
Praise the everlasting King.

Praise him for his grace and favor
To our fathers in distress;
Praise him still the same for ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless;
Praise him, praise him,
Praise him, praise him,
Glorious in his faithfulness.

Father-like, he tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame he knows;
In his hands he gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes;
Praise him, praise him,
Praise him, praise him,
Widely as his mercy goes.

Angels, help us to adore him;
Ye behold him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before him,
Dwellers all in time and space.
Praise him, praise him,
Praise him, praise him,
Praise with us the God of grace.

—Henry F. Lyte

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• His Robes for Mine at By Grace Alone
• There Is a Balm in Gilead at Graces Daily
• Great Giver of All Good at The Happy Wonderer
• Come, Thou Holy Spirit, Come from Trevin Wax
• Lifting Up Our Hearts - 28 at The Upward Call
• The secret of the Christian’s power at Blogging Theologically
• Partakers of Piety at Tried With Fire
• Lord’s Day 23, 2014 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Your weekly dose of Spurgeon: Chance is not in our creed at Pyromaniacs

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.

Faith Itself Is a Blood-Bought Benefit

From the very last chapter of From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective, “My Glory I Will Not Give to Another,” by John Piper:

[O]ne of the promises made in the new covenant is that the condition of faith itself will be given by God. This means that the new covenant people are created and preserved by God. “I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me” (Jer. 32:40). God puts the fear of God in us in the first place. And God keeps us from turning away. He creates his new people and keeps his new people. And he does this by the blood of the covenant, which Jesus said was his own blood (Luke 22:20).

The upshot of this understanding of the new covenant is that there is a definite atonement for the new covenant people. In the death of Christ, God secures a definite group of unworthy sinners as his own people by purchasing the conditions they must meet to be part of his people. The blood of the covenant—Christ’s blood—purchases and guarantees the new heart of faith and repentance. God did not do this for everyone. He did it for a “definite” or a “particular” group, owing to nothing in themselves. And since he did it through Jesus Christ,1 the Great Shepherd, who laid down his life for the sheep, we say, “to him be glory forever and ever.” This achievement is a significant part of the glory of the cross of Christ.

If saving faith is a blood-bought benefit of the new covenant (Piper argues from scripture that it is.), then the atonement must be definite. There’s really no way around it.

Previously posted quotes from this book:

• Someone for Some People
• Death Is the Penalty
• Election Is the Spring
• Election Circumscribes the Atonement
• The Circle of Salvation
• Still Bearing Wounds
• Three Features of Typology
• Providing Confidence for Mission

1See Hebrews 13:20-21 where it says God is “working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ… .”

Status Report: June

Sitting…in my favorite spot on the couch in the livingroom.

Drinking…my before bed cup of mint tea.

Feeling…tired after a full day spent with the grandchildren. We went to the pond, the park, played in the backyard, and ate our lunch outdoors. All three sat in the wagon on the way to the park, what one woman we passed called “a wagon full of cute.” Yep, that’s exactly what they are. 

Also feeling…disappointed I slept through the earthquake this morning. 

Enjoying…my blossoming May Day tree, although since the tree lost several big branches in a windstorm last year, it is not as glorious as it once was. Still, this is one of my favorite times of the year.

Waiting…for the seeds to sprout in the garden. I’ve scaled back on the gardening front this year and only planted about 1/4 of what I usually plant. A couple varieties of lettuce, spinach, carrots, kale and broccoli—and that’s it.

Hoping…to use the time saved on the gardening front to accomplish a few home painting projects. I’m also hoping for extra time to just relax and enjoy the summer.

Learning…about kefir. My son got some kefir grains from a friend and has been culturing (Is that the right word?) milk at my house. I’m not sure how I feel about the finished product. Perhaps it’s an acquired taste.

Still reading…this book, and I’ve been reading it for five months now, I think. At least I’m on the last chapter now. I hope to review it when I’m through, but I’m not even sure how to review such a long and complicated book.

Looking…at the sky. Two weeks and a few day until the longest day of the year, so the sun’s still above the mountains streaming in the westward windows, and the sky is bright blue with tall cumulus clouds. The late night sun is another reason this is a favorite time of the year. If only our summer weren’t so short … .

Reminding…myself of tonight’s frost warning. As soon as I post this I’ll go bring the potted tomato plants indoors for the night.

Wishing…you and yours a blessed June.