Round the Sphere Again: Salvation

Imputed Guilt
Tom Hicks lists three serious theological tensions that result from denying imputed guilt.

1. If it is unjust for human beings to be condemned for Adam’s sin, why isn’t it unjust for them to be justified on the basis of Christ’s obedience? Or, to put it another way, “if God only judges people guilty for ‘their own sin,’ … then why doesn’t it follow that God only judges people righteous for ‘their own obedience?’” 
2. “If God only condemns and penalizes people for their own sins, then how can Adam’s posterity justly be cursed with a sinful nature?”
3. If “Romans 5 is read in a way that denies Adam’s imputed sin and guilt, it also leads to the denial of imputed righteousness, which in turn, leads to denying justification by faith alone and to including human works in the legal foundation of justification.”  

(Founders Ministries Blog)

Meritorious Faith?
Why isn’t faith meritorious? Why is what is “of faith” not “of works”? Because faith is the gift of God (Reformation Theology).

Assurance of Salvation
A few recommended resources for those who struggle with assurance (Timothy Raymond at Credo Magazine Blog).

A Catechism for Girls and Boys

Questions about the Last Things

139. Q. Will Christ come again?
         A. Yes. At the last day he will come to judge the world.

(Click through to read scriptural proofs.)

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Sunday Hymn: O for a Heart to Praise My God

O for a heart to praise my God,
A heart from sin set free,
A heart that always feels Thy blood
So freely shed for me.

A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
My great Redeemer’s throne,
Where only Christ is heard to speak,
Where Jesus reigns alone.

A humble, lowly, contrite, heart,
Believing, true and clean,
Which neither life nor death can part
From Christ who dwells within.

A heart in every thought renewed
And full of love divine,
Perfect and right and pure and good,
A copy, Lord, of Thine.

Thy tender heart is still the same,
And melts at human woe:
Jesus, for thee distressed I am,
I want Thy love to know.

My heart, Thou know’st, can never rest
Till Thou create my peace;
Till of mine Eden repossest,
From self, and sin, I cease.

Fruit of Thy gracious lips, on me
Bestow that peace unknown,
The hidden manna, and the tree
Of life, and the white stone.

Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart;
Come quickly from above;
Write Thy new name upon my heart,
Thy new, best name of Love.

—Charles Wesley

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

• Surely We Can Change at Gospel Grace
• Holy Father, in Thy Mercy at The Happy Wonderer
• A Mighty Fortress Is Our God at Challies.com
• The Fourth Beatitude at Tried With Fire 
• Lord’s Day 27, 2013 at The Thirsty Theologian
• You Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: No.
• Sunday Hymnist: Palmer Hartsough at Theology for Girls

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.