Sidebar: Reading a chapter a week of a book of such weighty proportions is a great idea. It really lets the chapter soak in and dwell for that week. I've been book hungry, and it's good to have a book that is a constant, steady flow of truth.
In the chapter I read this week, Owens talks about waiting on the verdict of God for peace.
"When God stirs your heart about the guilt of your sin, concerning either its root or indwelling, or its breaking out, be careful you do not speak peace to yourself before God speaks it. Listen closely to what He says to your soul."
It is the great prerogative of God in His sovereignty to give grace to whom He pleases (Rom. 9:18). And just as God creates peace for whom He pleases, so it is the prerogative of Christ to apply it to the conscience. He bears testimony to our condition in truth.
With those to observations in mind, Owens gives 5 rules by which men may know if they speak peace to themselves only.
1) When we do not view our sin with the greatest hatred imaginable.
2) When we reason from the gracious promises of God in a purely rational and natural way.
3) When we make the healing of our wounds an insignificant work.
4) When we are concerned about one sin, while at the same time there is another evil of no less importance lying upon our spirit, about which we have had no dealings with God.
5) When we are not humbled by this "peace".
He then addresses the question "How will we know it is indeed God's peace?" Unfortunately unbelief frequently prevents receipt of this. But there is a secret instinct in faith, whereby it knows the voice of Christ when He truly speaks (John 10:27).
So if the Word of the Lord does good to your soul, He is the one who speaks it. If it humbles you and cleanses you, It is He who speaks it. "Without a right consideration of this, sin will have a great advantage, and tend to the hardening of the heart!"
2 comments:
this just blew my mind.
I think I just found my next big read. :)
Post a Comment