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God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

In his Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, Jonathan Edwards suggested that true growth in Christian discipleship is not finally mere excitement, increasing use of religious language, or a growing knowledge of Scripture. It is not even an evident increase in joy or in love or concern for the church. Even increases in zeal and praise to God and confidence of one’s own faith are not infallible evidences of true Christian growth. What, then, is evidence of true Christian growth? According to Edwards, while all these things may be evidences of true Christian growth, the only certain observable sign of such growth is a life of increasing holiness, rooted in Christian self-denial. The church should be marked by a vital concern for this kind of increasing godliness in the lives of its members.
Mark Dever

Some Reasons Baptists Do Not Baptize Infants: 1. In every New Testament command and instance of baptism the requirement of faith precedes baptism. So infants incapable of faith are not to be baptized. 2. There are no explicit instances of infant baptism in all the Bible. In the three “household baptisms” mentioned (household of Lydia, Acts 16:15; household of the Philippian jailer, Acts 16:30–33; household of Stephanus, 1 Corinthians 1:16) no mention is made of infants, and in the case of the Philippian jailer, Luke says explicitly, “They spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house” (Acts 16:32), implying that the household who were baptized could understand the Word. 3. Paul (in Colossians 2:12) explicitly defined baptism as an act done through faith: “…having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God.” In baptism you were raised up with Christ through faith – your own faith, not your parents’ faith. If it is not “through faith” – if it is not an outward expression of inward faith – it is not baptism. 4. The apostle Peter, in his first letter, defined baptism this way, “…not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21). Baptism is “an appeal to God for a good conscience.” It is an outward act and expression of inner confession and prayer to God for cleansing, that the one being baptized does, not his parents. 5. When the New Testament church debated in Acts 15 whether circumcision should still be required of believers as part of becoming a Christian, it is astonishing that not once in that entire debate did anyone say anything about baptism standing in the place of circumcision. If baptism is the simple replacement of circumcision as a sign of the new covenant, and thus valid for children as well as for adults, as circumcision was, surely this would have been the time to develop the argument and so show that circumcision was no longer necessary. But it is not even mentioned.
John Piper

    • Brussells Sprouts Gratin

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    Dairy Brussells, Sprouts 4 Servings

    INGREDIENTS

    1 lb Brussells sprouts
    3/4 c Sharp cheddar cheese; grated
    1/8 c Ripe olives; chopped
    1 tb Onion; finely chopped
    1/2 c Hellmanns mayonnaise
    4 sl Bacon
    1/3 c Soft bread crumbs
    2 tb Grated fresh Parmesan cheese
    Salt and pepper to taste

    INSTRUCTIONS

    Steam sprouts for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain, cool and slice in
half. In the meantime fry bacon until crisp. Cool and break up into small
bits. Mix cheddar cheese, olives, onions, mayonnaise, and bacon bits. Add
salt and pepper as needed. Combine mixture with brussells sprouts and put
into a lightly oiled gratin dish. Combine bread crumbs and Parmesan chesse
and sprinkle over top. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes. Place under broiler
for a few minutes or until top is golden brown.
Recipe by: Tony Fontes
Posted to MC-Recipe Digest by tony <tautog78@yahoo.com> on May 12, 1998

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