Reformed SHEology

God's sovereignty is undoubtedly intertwined with His holiness. What better time to focus on these subjects than at the 2009 Ligonier National Conference held last week in Orlando, FL. This year, the topic of the conference was "The Holiness of God." I attended most of the sessions, and I thought everything that was said was appropriately framed by R.C. Sproul's opening and closing messages. Here are some of the highlights from those two messages - notice how the line between God's holiness and His sovereignty are nearly indistinguishable:

Opening Message on The Holiness of God (Session 6)
God is Holy. The word "holy" has two meanings. In one sense, "holiness" refers to God's "otherness." He is different than anything created. In another sense, it refers to God's purity, as in, "Be holy as I am Holy." This can only be accomplished in the second sense. We cannot in this life or the next achieve holiness in the first sense of the word.

We are finite. There are limits/boundaries by which we are contained. God is boundless. "God is not bound by the borders of creaturely-ness . . . No matter how far we go, we can't reach the end of God, because there is no end."

God is immutable. Creatures change, God does not. He is not subject to change. God has the power of being in and of Himself, but nothing else can exist apart from Him. God didn't die on the cross -- Jesus did. If God had died at any point in time, creation would instantly vanish.

Conclusion: The God who is holy is the God who is sovereign.

Closing Message on the Holiness of God (Session 17)
Scripture Reference: 1 Chronicles 13
"The sin of Uzza was the sin of arrogance." - Jonathan Edwards
We tend to think that God was "unreasonable" in striking Uzza dead for touching the ark of the covenant. All Uzza was trying to do was save the ark from falling into the mud. Are we to believe that it would have been better to allow the ark to fall into the mud, when the mud is so dirty? Uzza assumed that contact with the mud was a greater desecration than contact with human hands. There is no sin in the dirt. There is sin in the human hand. This is why Uzza was killed. (C.R. Numbers 4, Leviticus 10).

We have become unimpressed with grace because we expect it. And when we expect it, we lose that sense of fear, awe, and reverence for God. (R.C. Sproul told a story about his days as a professor. When his students turned in an assignment late for the first time, they feared him and were thankful for his grace in the form of an extension. But they soon assumed grace was the norm and more students began turning in their term papers late. Eventually, the students demanded grace and believed they were entitled to it. They not only did not have their papers to turn in, but they no longer feared anything would happen to them if they didn't.) We cannot forget as people under God's grace that He is still holy.

Additional Quotes on the Holiness of God During the Conference
Robert Godfrey: "This is the essence of American religion: I like sinning. God likes forgiving. The world is well put together." (Isaiah chs. 6 & 53)

Thabiti Anyabwile: "Sin is contempt toward God. Don't say it was a mistake, or I messed up."

Alistair Begg: "On what authority do you do this? The money changers never objected to what He [Jesus] said, they just wanted to know by what authority was He saying it." (John 16:5-15)

Robert Godfrey (On predestination): "How is it that some believe and some don't? It's all according to God's sovereign purpose."

Ligon Duncan: Question: "What would make an Calvinistic evangelist even get up in the morning, knowing that nothing he does will affect the outcome of his work?"
Thabiti Anyabwile: Answer: "Guaranteed success!"

R.C. Sproul (on God's sovereignty in predestination): "Let me give you pastoral counsel if you don't like this concept: TOUGH!"

If you missed it or want to watch it again, the entire conference is available to watch (including the first five sessions of the pre-conference) by clicking here.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1

Ever since I was a child God spoke to me through creation. There has never been a day where I have not been awed by it. I suppose though that could be said for the majority of people whether or not they believe in God. Many fight tooth and nail for a house with a view. Why is that? Because they see beauty in creation. Yet God is revealing Himself to them through creation:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
Romans 1:18-20

As a Christian this makes perfect sense! That feeling I get when in awe of stunning scenery or a crisp, clear night sky, the bright white moon crowning it I now know it to be not with what I see alone but with the fact God is revealing Himself through it. Amazing! I see a glimpse of His glory, His majesty, His greatness!

But sadly through the years, since the theory of evolution many professing Christians try to force this theory (evolution) into their faith thus denying God's sovereignty in creation and administration. To accept evolution is to deny the creation account in Genesis and thus deny the whole of Gods Word.

Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.....Then God said...and it was so.
Genesis 1:3,9

Here we see God's sovereignty. He said and it was so. Therefore who are we to take the creation account, label it as myth, take a theory and make it fact because it is labelled "science". This requires MORE faith! All through the Bible we see God said and it was so (the plagues in Egypt, commanding weather, the fiery furnace even). Therefore, again, to deny the creative account in Genesis is to deny God's sovereignty elsewhere through the Bible. Deny His sovereignty you deny He is God. Or as Pink put it:

To say that God is sovereign is to say that God is God A.W.Pink.

God rules over all His creation.

The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.
Psalm 103:19

We see this everyday. If God were to withdraw His governing hand from creation I dare say everything would be destroyed in moments. Everything would be in chaos! Take the weather, when we complain about it we are really murmuring against God. 'Deny that God is governing matter,deny that He is "upholding all things by the word of His power" (Heb 1:3), and all sense of security is Gone!-A.W.Pink. How true!

In meditation of the sovereignty, majesty and greatness of God I finish with a verse taken from Psalm 104. If you can I recommend turning to the whole Psalm.

O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all.
Psalm 104

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee;
in whose heart are the ways of them.
Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well;
the rain also filleth the pools.
Psalm 84:5,6
We are in this world "strangers and pilgrims". A stranger is away from home, but a pilgrim is on the way home. It is on this journey to our heavenly home we will come across the Valley of Baca or as it is also known, Valley of Weeping. The exact location of this valley is unknown. But what is known about it is that it appears to be a dry place. The sun burning above made the valley arid and dry. This Psalm was penned by David in exile as he watched the Israelites make their way to worship at Jerusalem. Three times a year they would make this pilgrimage.

I went through my own valley not so long ago which brought the words of Psalm 84 vividly alive to me. It was a place I was brought where I could turn to no one else but the Lord. It is a very lonely place yet also very precious. Many treasures are found in this valley if one only lifts his/her eyes to heaven and in doing so is brought to lift one's head and look around. It is a place of deep intimacy between you and the Lord and you draw ever closer to Him. It is then you thank God for your times of trouble, for this valley of weeping. How precious is your communion with the Lord at this time. Only you MUST draw near to Him and bring all before Him:

casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.1 Peter 5:7

You must turn to Him in this hour of trouble and cast your cares upon Him and:

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.James 4:8

In so doing we are digging a well in this dry and arid valley just as others before us. Here is a wonderful quote by J.C.Philpot who gave a fantastic sermon on the valley of Baca;

“Make it a well;” that is, there are from time to time sweet refreshments in this valley of tears; there are bubblings up of divine consolation; there are fountains of living waters, streams of heavenly pleasures. And when the sun-burnt, weary pilgrims, all parched and dry, are journeying through this valley, and their tongues cleave to the roof of their mouths with thirst, the Lord from time to time opens up in this valley a well; as we read, Isaiah 41:17-18,When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fails for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and dry land springs of water.”

“Some manifestation of His gracious presence, some promise coming with power to the soul, some testimony of saving interest in the love and blood of Jesus, some smile from His countenance, some word from His lips, some encouraging testimony that the feet are upon the rock, is given. This is a well at which his thirst is slaked; his parched tongue no longer cleaves to his palate; he drinks of the water that bubbles up from the thirsty soil to refresh the weary pilgrim.”

C.H. Spurgeon also wrote about this valley. It is a result of his going through the valley of weeping. No one who has not traveled the valley of weeping can tell of this place no more than can anyone tell of a far country in which they have never been to! But for those who have travelled through this place, perhaps many times, have left wells dug, way-marks if you will for the next pilgrim to find.

The Psalm also speaks of pools which the rain fills. How amazing that the wells were not the only resource! But notice how it is the rain that fills them. We can dig the pool but it must be filled from heaven. These pools can be "the means of grace, the ordinances of the Lord's house, and those various helps that the Lord Himself has appointed; but which are themselves as desolate and dry as the pool or tank, and need the rain of heaven to fill them".

How often I have been refreshed by these pools. Prayer was an opportunity to get back into the presence of God and enjoy sweet communion with Him while the storm raged. Reading His Word and claiming His promises found in them revived me. Listening to the word being preached encouraged me. But how often have I come to a pool and found it dry! Again Philpot actually remarks on this very well:

“I find them so [dry], you find them so, who know the difference between the letter and the Spirit, between “bodily exercise which profits little,” and the power of vital godliness that is profitable unto all things. The Lord will teach his people this; and He will teach it his ministers also. They may construct a pool-in their parlours at home they may build a very pretty tank; it may be divided and sub-divided; a cell here, and a compartment there. And they may come with their pools to chapel. But unless the rain fills it from above, all their ingenuity will be thrown away.”

This valley is a painful experience and one we must never think is only travelled through once. But when we do find ourselves in this valley again be comforted and encouraged. There is much to refresh the soul here if we would only dig and seek it. Communion with Christ is all the more intimate in this place and therefore a place to be cherished. We can also leave our own way-marks for others and be comforted to know that others have been here by their way-marks left.

All my springs are in thee. Psalm 87:7