Sola Fide

As most of you know, tomorrow is Reformation Day! I am excited for several reasons. We won't be able to throw a party this year, due to work and school. John MacArthur will be preaching in chapel. Also, Dr. Brian Vickers' book on Paul's Theology of Imputation will be at Lifeway. I am real excited about this book. There are all kinds of theologians throwing out this vital truth. This book stems from his dissertation under Tom Schreiner. I expect a vigorous defense of the doctrine of imputation, which was at the heart of the reformer's doctrine of justification. Piper is going to be coming out with a book on Justification as well, specifically responding to N.T. Wright. Should be good! Happy Reformation Day!

Spurgeon's Admonition to Seminarians

I love Charles Spurgeon. He has such a way with words, knows the heart, and is passionate about doctrine. Dustin and I were talking today about how depressing it is to see how much we don't retain from all our reading. It is indeed sad. Anyway, here are some words of wisdom from Spurgeon's Lectures to my Students (a must-read for all pastors):

"The next rule I lay down is, master those books you have. Read them thoroughly. Bathe in them until they saturate you. Read and re-read them, masticate them, and digest them. Let them go into your very self. Peruse a good book several times, and make notes and analyses of it. A student will find that his mental constitution is more affected by one book thoroughly mastered than by twenty books which he has merely skimmed, lapping at them, as the classic proverb puts it "As the dogs drink of Nilus." Little learning and much pride come of hasty reading. Books may be piled on the brain till it cannot work. Some men are disabled from thinking by their putting meditation away for the sake of much reading."

C.J. Mahaney

C.J. Mahaney preached in chapel yesterday, was interviewed about leadership in the local church today, and will preach tomorrow during chapel here at Southern. I just wanted to express my respect and appreciation for all the folks at Sovereign Grace Ministries. There is a distinct Godliness that characterizes most all of the SGM guys that I have had interaction with. If you have not read anything by Mahaney, I encourage you to do so. Now I have to go because Lifeway is holding a book signing with him and Whitney. They are having him sign a copy of Humility. I am sure he is unhappy about that. Only at Lifeway.

Books

There is a new '4 views' book out on the nature of the atonement. Tom Schreiner argues for penal substitution as the heart of the atonement. He presented this chapter in his faculty address last year at Southern. He is a stud. This is a very important issue today. Many are wanting to throw penal substitution out the window. It is not popular today, and I can see why. Most people do not like to hear that there is a God in heaven whose primary attribute is holiness, who is furious at sin and will punish every sin ever committed and only by slaughtering his own Son to satisfy his wrath, in the place of sinners who trust Christ, can we be made acceptable in his sight. That is hard stuff, but it is biblical, and gloriously good news for the broken and contrite who know what they deserve.
I keep hearing of another multiple views book about the nature of the atonement coming out by Zondervan from several emerging leaders, including Mark Driscoll. This book will probably be similar to the former book, but less academic. I am sure Driscoll and Schreiner will be in complete agreement.
Speaking of books, Al Mohler recently posted about people and their libraries. The title was 'By Their Books We Shall Know Them.' Here is a quote:

"To a great extent, our personal libraries betray our true identities and interests. A minister's library, taken as a whole, will likely reveal a portrait of theological conviction and vision."

Justin Taylor recently provided the blogosphere with a link to an interview with John Stott (the pope of evangelicalism) by Christianity Today. I enjoyed the article but was uncomfortable with parts. Here is Mohler's take.

Spurgeon Suite

Yesterday, Alicia and I took a trip to Southern Indiana. It was a lot of fun. We planned on going the the 'Falls of the Ohio State Park' and did, but ended up at the Harvest Homecoming in New Albany, Indiana. It was fun. We remembered that New Albany is the home of the Charles Spurgeon Suite at the Honeymoon Mansion. We weren't able to find it, but being that it is only about 10 minutes from home, I bet we have a second honeymoon eventually. The suite has stained glass, a laced canopy, marble columns, a 27" flat screen, and last but not least, there is a photograph of Spurgeon himself overlooking the bed. Other than the picture, I am not sure why it is called the Spurgeon Suite, but hey that is enough for me. Also, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary recently purchased Spurgeon's library. Midwestern isn't too far from Louisville either so that may be another road trip to make. The library contains 6,750 volumes (mostly Puritan) and was sold for $400,000.

Name Change

I have been meaning to change the name of this blog for a while. I just wasn't feeling the three R's. Plus I want people to have to read the posts to find out that I am a baptist, not just see the title of the blog. I chose Barabbas to represent who I am. I am depraved and guilty, deserving death and hell. Christ was innocent, but took my place. He was my law-fulfilling substitute. I am counted righteous in Him. As Luther would say, I am simultaneously saint, and sinner.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. - 2 Cor 5:21

DG Conference Recap

Last night I got home around 3:30 in the morning from the 2006 Desiring God National Conference. The conference was excellent! There was no disappointment at all. Challies was there live-blogging so I will link to his notes for each speaker. I think the most helpful speaker was Tim Keller. It was more or less a lecture on how to do evangelism in today's postmodern culture. He had some very insightful things to say. He always does. The conference started with David Wells, the author of the book that really formed the conference. His talk was helpful and particularly Christ-centered. Voddie preached on Saturday morning, and it was the best sermon I have heard in a long time. Voddie is a great combination of passion, intellect, sound doctrine, and he is a great expositor. Driscoll was, well, he was Driscoll. His two points were contend, and contextualize. He had some really good things to say, especially for the folks who tend to only contend. I would have loved to have been in the Piper household to hear the evaluation of Driscoll's sermon. Carson finished the day with the love of God, focusing on John's gospel and the high priestly prayer. Dr. Carson is a smart man. Piper on Sunday was classic Piper. I really enjoyed being able to watch Piper and was really impressed by his deeply pastoral heart. I laughed many times during the conference, usually from Driscoll, or from one of the speakers talking about him. Josh Harris retells a few of these occasions, and C.J. Mahaney gives his reflections here. One of my favorite parts of these conferences are the panel discussions. You can read about them here and here. The bookstore was fantastic. I limited myself to 3 books, which was hard to do in that place. All of the audio will probably be up this week at desiringgod.org. I highly recommend all of the sermons. Be sure and get the DVD. It comes out in 8-10 weeks.

Also, check out Timmy Brister's photos from the conference.