On the final day of the conference we had two sessions. First, Andrew Roycroft spoke again on conversion, looking at its (theological) location, its articulation and its proclamation (to ourselves and to others). He quoted at least one modern author and one ancient one.
Michael Lawrence has written that “saving faith clings to Christ and doesn’t let go. And like repentance, it leaves evidence throughout a believer’s life.” John Gill wrote
Conversion, though it may seem, in some respects, to fall in with regeneration and the effectual calling, yet may be distinguished from them both. Regeneration is the sole act of God; conversion consists both of God's act upon men, in turning them, and of acts done by men under the influence of converting grace; they turn, being turned. Regeneration is the motion of God towards and upon the heart of a sinner; conversion is the motion of a sinner towards God, as one expresses it. In regeneration men are wholly passive, as they also are in the first moment of conversion; but by it become active: it is therefore sometimes expressed passively; "ye are returned", or converted, (1 Pet 2:25) and sometimes actively; "a great number believed and turned to the Lord", (Acts 11:21) and "when it", the body of the people of the Jews, "shall turn to the Lord", ... (2 Cor 3:16). The effectual calling is the call of men out of darkness to light; and conversion answers to that call, and is the actual "turning" of men from the one to the other; so that, with propriety, conversion may be considered as distinct from regeneration and the effectual calling.
There was aparallel session for the women with Julia Jones, when this session was on, on the world was not worthy of them.
I should have mentioned the various notices that people have given of different projects and ideas throughout the conference. On this final day, for example, we had mention from Mostyn Roberts of EP's project to translate the Welwyn series of commentaries into Amharic. We also heard from Tim Wilson about the rural project. (See here).
The second session was Bill James's final message on rejoicing in hope, this time turning to Romans 15. Faith is the assurance that all that God has said will come to pass whereas hope is the expectation of these things. It is expecting something on a good basis, which (despite what preachers often say) is only different to worldly hope because of what it is grounded on. Paul's argument in Romans 15, Bill asserted, is that if we are hopeful in the way that we should be then we will be both united and evangelistic. Ministry in hope and mission in hope were the two headings he used.
We had a lovely quote from C S Lewis
... A continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth “thrown in”: aim at earth and you will get neither. It seems a strange rule, but something like it can be seen at work in other matters. Health is a great blessing, but the moment you make health one of your main, direct objects you start becoming a crank and imagining there is something wrong with you. You are only likely to get health provided you want other things more - food, games, work, fun, open air. In the same way, we shall never save civilisation as long as civilisation is our main object. We must learn to want something else even more.
And thos one from Richard Sibbes (I have extended it a little)
If we look to the present state of the church of Christ, it is as Daniel in the midst of lions, as a Illy amongst thorns, as a ship not only tossed but almost covered with waves. It is so low that the enemies think they have buried Christ, with respect to his gospel, in the grave, and there they think to keep him from rising. But as Christ rose in his person, so he will roll away all stones and rise again in his church. How little support has the church and cause of Christ at this day! How strong a conspiracy is against it. The spirit of antichrist is now lifted up and marches furiously. Things seem to hang on a small and invisible thread. But our comfort is that Christ lives and reigns, and stands on Mount Zion in defense of those who stand for him (Rev. 14:1); and when states and kingdoms shall dash one against another Christ will have care of his own children and cause, seeing there is nothing else in the world that he much esteems. At this very time the delivery of his church and the ruin of his enemies are in progress. We see nothing in motion till Christ has done his work, and then we shall see that the Lord reigns.
Christ and his church, when they are at the lowest, are nearest rising. His enemies, at the highest, are nearest their downfall. The Jews are not yet come in under Christ's banner; but God who has persuaded Japheth to come into the tents of Shem (Gen. 9:27) will persuade Shem to come into the tents of Japheth. The 'fullness of the Gentiles' has not yet come in (Rom. 11:25), but Christ, who has the uttermost parts of the earth given to him for his possession (Psa. 2:8) will gather all the sheep his Father has given him into one fold, that there may be one sheepfold and one shepherd (John 10:16).
Great conference.
No comments:
Post a Comment