Definite Atonement

" ...an atonement made for everybody; but then, their atonement is just this. They believe that Judas was atoned for just as much as Peter; they believe that the damned in hell were as much an object of Jesus Christ's satisfaction as the saved in heaven; and though they do not say it in proper words , yet they must mean it, for it is a fair inference, that in the case of multitudes, Christ died in vain for he died for them all, they say; yet so ineffectual was his dying for them, that although he died for them they are damned afterwards. Now, such an atonement I despise- I reject it. I may be called Antinomian or Calvinist for preaching a limited atonement; but I had rather believe a limited atonement that is efficacious for all men for whom it was intended, than an universal atonement that is not efficacious for anybody, except the will of man be joined with it. Why, my brethren, if we were only so far atoned for by the death of Christ that any one of us might afterwards save himself, Christ's atonement were not worth a farthing, for there is no man of us can save himself- no not under the gospel; for if I am to be saved by faith, if that faith is to be my own act, unassisted by the Holy Spirit, I am as unable to save myself by faith as to save myself by good works. And after all, though men call this a limited atonement, it is as effectual as their own fallacious and rotten redemptions can pretend to be. But do you know the limit of it? Christ has bought a "multitude that no man can number." The limit of it is just this: He has died for sinners; whoever in this congregation inwardly and sorrowfully knows himself to be a sinner, Christ died for him; whoever seeks Christ, shall know that Christ died for him; for our sense of need of Christ, and our seeking after Christ, are infallible proofs that Christ died for us. And, mark, here is something substantial. The Arminian says Christ died for him; and then, poor man, he has but small consolation there from, for he says, "Ah! Christ died for me; that does not proves much. It only proves I may be saved if I mind what I am after. I may perhaps forget myself; I may run into sin, and I may perish. Christ has done a good deal for me, but not quite enough, unless I do something." But the man who receives the Bible as it is, he says, "Christ died for me, then my eternal life is sure." (Charles Haddon Spurgeon, New Park Street Pulpit, 1858, pp 70-1))

And some have the nerve to say that Charles Haddon Spurgeon was not a Calvinist. That he did not believe in what has been called limited atonement, (also called definite atonement) or particular redemption. Don't ever buy it. I have a 22 volume set of Spurgeon, and many other books of his. I like to try to read at least some Spurgeon each day. Once upon a time; it was a wish of mine to read all his works. Now, I know, that wish was a bit unrealistic. However, of all the reading I have read of his, so far, It seems to me that one of his favorite doctrines; if not his favorite doctrine was limited or what I like to call it, definite atonement. I too have fallen deeply in love with this Awesome doctrine, that Christ Jesus died for me. He loved me and died for me.
Let us speak and preach the truth. He died for his own.

Getting What I Pray For !

Does saying that I pray for what I want, and I am getting what I want; sound to you a bit arrogant? How about praying, "Lord, I will have my will of Thee at this time." How does that hit you?
Perhaps maybe your thinking that expression sounds "blasphemous" if not at least presumptuous. Wait! Martin Luther said it. However, I left out the next sentence in which he said "I will have my will , for I know that my will is Thy will."

I have been reading books on prayer, and about praying. Why? Because I am a man in great need. Yes, I am needy! I live in a fallen world. I need to be encouraged, empowered, and improved upon; so as to be provoked to pray. Oh, How short I come! How do you fair my readers? Do you pray, and with much fervency? Two things I desire to pursue and to persevere in; to be given over too; prayer and the word. Prayer and the word go hand in hand like a horse and a carriage. My aim is to provoke you and myself to a higher estate of prayer, and for a greater passion in praying. And to pray as to get, what we pray for.

I have read that the average pastor prays about 15 minutes per day. How about the Lay man? This is a discipline of grace that I sure want to improve upon. Not just the amount of time devoted to praying, but also the passion, and fervency in it. And the reflection on how I pray.

Back to Martin Luther's saying " Lord, I will have my will of thee at this time. I will have my will, for I know that my will is thy will." Do we speak such from our own hearts to God? How can we pray like this? Answer, when we are praying as the old saints use to call it, "on praying ground." That is is when we pray according to the reveiled word of God (Sola Scriptura). "When we are sure that what we ask for is for God's glory, then we have power in prayer, we may say, " I will not let thee go, except thou bless me."(Gen. 32:26) -Charles H Spurgeon

A common recurring theme that God is teaching me is to plead earnestly (blood earnestly) and to persevere and not to let go , until God blesses me for that which I pray for; for His name sake, and for His Glory.

I recommend to you to take up and read. "Spurgeon On Prayer & Spiritual warfare".
"Puritans On Prayer",and " A simple Way to Pray" -Martin Luther

Those prayers God likes best come seething hot from the heart.-Thomas Watson

It should put life into our prayers, and make us pray in faith, to reflect that the things we ask, though more than we deserve, yet they are not more than Christ has purchased for us.-Thomas Watson

O Lord, Teach us to pray. Teach us to will and to do, in prayer. Put, prayers in our hearts. Create passion and a red hot fervency in our prayers. May we be able to pray Thy will be done, but may our will be "Thine". Conform our will to Thine. Forgive us, of our lack of prayer, and of our lack of fervency in praying to you; who is The King of Kings and The Lord of Lords. Cause our hearts to remember that Thou withholds no good thing from us; who fear You. Grant us to persevere and to hold onto to Thee until You bless us. All for Thy glory and power forever. Amen

Weltanchauung

Free-will is a pill
I just can't swallow.

Knowing me as I do
It sounds sort of hollow.

I know I am free
to choose what I would.

But I never seem
to choose what I Should.


As Christians especially we Calvinist we need, what is called in German a weltanschauung ("world and life view or system). A Calvinist worldview that sees things as they are, from God's perspective. God centeredness. And Music always seems to be the last thing to have a reformed worldview.

Today I was looking for good sound new music. I purchased Fernado Ortega's Hymns of Worship. It's pretty good. I also purchased Buddy Greene's Hymns & Prayer Songs . I enjoyed it as well, but was a little disappointed of song three 'Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing'. Why? Because, that is on my top ten favorite songs, and it was instrumental. I wanted to hear the words, and it was cut short. Now, nothing against you ladies, but I want to hear a guy a (bonafide male) sing this song. A man wrote it . (Robert Robinson 1758).
I been looking long and hard for any reformed Celtic music (not just instrumental). I found through the web Celtic dancing. Which sounds like fun, but I want some good music. Any one else have any reformed music they would like to suggest. I have some non-reformed rapper friends, I am trying to be the means that God uses to convert them. Can you imagine reformed Christian rappers. Maybe they could rap the 5 points of calvinism. Let me hear from you all. All three of yah.