Semper Blog

Coffee in...pontification out

There is only one truth!

“The Scriptures charge sin, perniciousness, and damnation upon heresy. Paul reckons them among those works of the flesh which shut persons out of the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:20-21). Peter calls them pernicious and damnable, and such as bring swift destruction;...

The Avengers; Infinity War: Thanos vs Thanotos

The Avengers; Infinity War: Thanos vs Thanotos

I recently watched the movie, 'Avengers, Age of Ultron'. I know, don't say it! I am late on the bandwagon. I don't spend a lot of time watching movies or television. I liked the movie, overall. It was descent; Many characters who I was not familiar with. My collegue,...

The One Sin That Will Keep You Out of Heaven

The One Sin That Will Keep You Out of Heaven

Most believers know that there is a sin that is unforgivable, that being the 'Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit'.  The “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” is a term taken from the Gospels, where Jesus calls this a sin for which there is no forgiveness (Luke 12:10, cf....

Terms related to the church

Universal-all believers locally and in glory catholic-same as 'universal' Invisible-the elect over time and in the local church local-congregations that have confessing Chrisitians-some elect, some reprobate-some regenerate, some converted visible-same as 'local'....

Walter Marshall on church meetings

In 1643 Marshall was chosen as one of the Westminster Assembly of divines, and was an extremely active and valuable member. He regularly united with his brethren in the observance of public fasts, and sometimes these meetings went on much further than any meeting we...

Thomas Manton on keeping religion alive

There are two things keep religion alive in the soul—a love to God, and a hearty intent upon the coming of Christ. These are the two necessary graces which the apostle prays for in the text. Here is the love of God, that is the first grace, and the earnest or patient...

Was the WCF Plagiarized?

  From first glance, it seems as if the LBC of 1689 and the Savoy Declaration are plagiarized copied of the WCF of 1647. Answer: From the introduction to the London Baptist Confession: "Courteous Reader: It is now many years since divers of us (with other sober...

Violence in light of sin

Matt 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Taking heaven by force is not compromising in the face of pressure. Consider the saints of Foxe's day! The true believer is enslaved...

A different slant on Hebrews 10:25

n my studying of Hebrews 10:25, I am coming away from this study wondering why the writer of Hebrews uses the Greek term *'ἐπισυναγωγή' when speaking of the church. This term is used only twice in the NT, once here and also in 2 Thes 2:1: 2:1 Now we beseech you,...

Pink on Assurance

"How may I know I'm elect? First, by the Word of God having come in divine power to the soul so that my self-complacency is shattered and my self-righteousness is renounced. Second, by the Holy Spirit convicting me of my woeful, guilty, and lost condition. Third, by...

My amazing dog Bentley

My wife and I were given a beautiful Bichon Frise 15 and a half years ago by my parents. He was a peculiarly kind dog. He loved people. At the time, he was a year or so old-still a puppy. What a joy this dog brought into our lives and marriage. What a great...

‘The word of God was written by men!’

It was said to me recently that God's word was 'written by men'. This statement is on the foot heels of an assumption that men are fallible, which is true. However, when we go to the scriptures, and we check with the faithful from generations passed, we can see how...

Calvin’s Catechism-on the Sabbath

166. Let us come to the fourth commandment. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Sis days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy...

The Law in the garden

When we see in scripture the term, 'the law', it does not refer, in the absolute sense, the law which was actually written in stone and given to Moses; at times, it refers to the law that was in the garden with Adam. In this sense, can we see that when the scriptures...

A fallen disciple

Matthew 27:32 32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. I wonder if Simon the Cyrene was a believer. In light of the recent FB melt-down of a common friend to me (JW), it was mentioned in a post from a...

Of the Civil Magistrate-D. Dickson

Is it the Duty of the Civil Magistrate to take Order, that all Blasphemies, and Heresies be suppressed, all the Ordinances of God duly settled, administered and observed; all Abuses in Worship and Discipline reformed, all Idolaters, Gainsayers, and other obstinate...

The ‘Old’ vs the “New”.

How is the New Covenant different from the Old Covenant?   In the old, it had a multitude of rudiments and requirements, The New is based solely upon the work that Christ accomplished-the rudiments and ceremonies have been fulfilled by the work of Christ and done...

Benevolence toward the dogs:

21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he...

For the watching world

For the watching, unbelieving world: You will find me inconsistent in my faith and practice from time to time. I will let you down. I will at times even anger you. Understand that I am but a frail and feeble creature, struggling though this life. You will, on many...

The Salvation Army on the Sacraments

The Salvation Army on the sacraments: "The Salvation Army has never said it is wrong to use sacraments, nor does it deny that other Christians receive grace from God through using them. Rather, the Army believes that it is possible to live a holy life and receive the...

Calvin on the Supper

John Calvin (1509-1564): I come now to the question out of which such violent and bitter conflicts have arisen,―of what nature is the communion of our Lord’s body and blood in the holy supper? We have not given a definition of it before refuting the figment of a local...

The God of Promise

Consider the promise in Gen 17: 17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. 2 I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you...

Don’t fall in!

2 John 1:7-11 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full...

Be a Berean!

Acts 17:11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.  

Wise words from Rutherford:

“There is much in our Lord's pantry that will satisfy his children, and much wine in his cellar that will quench all their thirst. Hunger for him until he fills you. He is pleased with the importunity of hungry souls. If he delays, do not go away, but fall a-swoon at...

Innovations of your imagination….

"It is not enough that man invents a ceremony, and then gives it a signification, according to his pleasure. But if anything proceeds from faith, it must have the word of God for the assurance; for you are not ignorant that 'faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the...

The Great Ejection

The Great Ejection of 1662 'Black Bartholomew’s Day' The Act required ministers to take a vow in relation to the requirements of the act. 2000 ministers rejected the Act and refused to take the vow and were rejected from their pulpits. The Act of Uniformity 1662 (14...

Excerpt from The Valley of Vision 1

I have no master but Thee, no law but Thy will, no delight but Thyself, no wealth but that Thou givest, no good but that Thou blessest, no peace but that Thou bestowest. I am nothing but that Thou makest me. I have nothing but that I receive from Thee. I can be...

In Regards to voting in the coming elections

Why Christians Should NOT Vote: 1. To vote for a candidate is to support the oath of office which they must take. 2. The oath of office swears to defend and uphold the constitution. 3. The constitution is anti-Christian for the following reasons: a. The constitution...

Free your mind

The playground of the mind is rooted in the battleground of the heart. When you sinned yesterday, it most likely began in your heart and filtered out physically through your mind and actions. Consider Adam and Eve. The sin was already done in their hearts, Adam by not...

Worship is not up for grabs…

Worship is ordered by God only. It is He who determined what true worship is and what is not. Worship is not a wax nose that one is able to form into whatever they see fit. It is regulated. Worship is not based on the creativity of the creature; it is based on who God...

Please, decide and land somewhere!

Long before the Eagle lands to roost, he surveys the area, making sure it is true and safe, then lands. The believer must as well do the same things; we need to survey the area, choose a field to buy, once having obtained the prospect, dig continuously in search of...

A Worthy Cause!

Have you been blessed by the website 'APuritansmind.com'? I know that I have. This website was one of the first Reformed websites that I came across, some 20 years ago. C. Matt McMahon is the proprietor. A few years later, Matt and I became friends. Ironically, we...

Christian Samurai

Although the Buddhist is mistaken, as one who serves the supreme God, I cannot be but convicted in reflecting on this portion of the movie. Do you serve?  

Rebaptism?

One needs to understand who is actually presiding over the baptism; if it is done in the Trinity, it is the Godhead who is baptizing the individual. When one considers the implications of Rome Apostate organization and it's unfaithfulness of it's leaders, contrast...

Seek and you will find

In general, America is a Christian nation; You might say, 'Scott, thats not true. America is filled with God hating people-look at the way they live!' This is true, ultimately. What I mean generally is that America is soaked in Christianity. We are drenched in it and...

Love yourself-you’re made in the image of God!

Whats wrong with loving myself? God’s word tells me that I should love myself. Psa. 139:14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. The antithesis to loving your self would be hating...

He came in the blood of expiation

Hugh Binning, Works, p. 334: He came in the blood of expiation, because we had sinned. He came in the water of sanctification, that we might not sin. His blood speaks peace to the soul, and the water subjoins, “but let them not return to folly.” His blood cries,...

Cry from the mountain tops!

Isaiah 42:11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

Guard your eyes

Watching porn is just the symptom of a bigger issue; breaking of the 1st, 7th and 10th commands. Take away the end result and one does not need a means: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already...

Keep the law, it is good.

Just because Christ kept the law perfectly for the elect, does not mean that the elect are free from the law, absolutely. For example, Christ kept all the moral commands for the elect perfectly. This does not mean we have the freedom to not love the Lord with all...

A glimpse into Heaven…

A glimpse into eternity, either a view of Heaven or Hell would do nothing to convince the unregenerate. They will still, continually without ceasing, suppress the truth down in unrighteousness as that is the only thing they know. 5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of...

‘all generations’

'Throughout all generations' Psalm 72:5 5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun And moon endure, throughout all generations. Psalm 102:24 24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: Thy years are throughout all generations. Psalm 135:13 13 Thy...

Goodwill

Was talking with my wife just now, discussing all the clothes that I have from when I was overweight; I told her I have to go through them and that we can give the stuff to 'free will'. 'Good Will', LOL.

Christology-Mark Jones goes after Ligoniers!

http://www.reformation21.org/blog/20...christolog.php and then here: http://www.alliancenet.org/mos/postc...GMVEt.facebook Apparently, he is leaving A of CE and Ref21: "I have had to make the decision to resign from Reformation21 & The Alliance of Confessing...

A drop in a bucket….

Isaiah 40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. *The photo above is the space shuttle leaving Earth's orbit as viewed from another space station.

Contact me!

My Twitter acct's: https://twitter.com/scottbushey https://twitter.com/SemperReformand Follow me. My other Facebook page-please like and keep in touch: https://www.facebook.com/Semperreformand My webpage:...

Amplify it!

  Jesus amplifies hatred w/ murder: 1 John 3:15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. Hence, if you practice hating people, you may be devoid of any spiritual life and Jesus calls you a...

Thomas Brooks on Perseverance

'...perseverance that accompanies salvation is a perseverance in holy and gracious actions and motions; it is a continuing in pious duties and religious services, Philip. 3:10–14; Isa. 40:31. The life of a Christian consists in motion, not in session. A Christian’s...

Federal Holiness of the Infant

Q.5. What holiness is it that is called federal, or Covenant holiness which is in Infants? Ans. It is not so much personal holiness (though it may so be called, because the person is a Church member, separated from the world to God) as holiness of the seed, Society,...

John Gerstner on Psalm singing

“You name a hymn and I’ll tell you a Psalm which tells that truth incomparably better and in infallible words. A great deal of the corruption of the Christian church is by hymns…. It is very difficult to find a hymnbook which has anything much to say about sin, and...

Prayer is speaking with God, face to face

Prayer is a divine worship wherein we speak to God in faith, humility, sincerity, and fervency of spirit, through the mediation of Christ, begging those good things that we and others want, deprecating that we and others fear, and giving thanks for that we and others...

The civil magistrate may not assume….

WCF XXIII: III - The civil magistrate may not assume to himself the administration of the Word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven: yet he hath authority, and it is his duty, to take order, that unity and peace be preserved in the Church,...

Who do you serve?

Jos 24:15-17 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house,...

A witch gives witness to Easter

Marysia The Pagan Roots of Easter The Pagan Roots of Easter Posted by Marysia Miernowska Spring is here! Birds are laying eggs and joyfully singing in the morning. Wildflowers are popping up and fruit trees are blossoming as bees and butterflies swirl in the breeze....

Wine vs grape juice

The distinction the scriptures make in relation to beverages that are intoxicating, i.e. have an alcohol content, must be considered. 6 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall...

Your sin will find you out

Your sin shall surely find you out:   19 And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that...

Fishers Catechism on national covenanting

National covenanting? Fisher's Catechism Q. 63. How do you prove that national covenanting is a warrantable duty under the New Testament? A. From its being promised in the Old Testament that this shall be a duty performed under the New, Isaiah 19:21 — “The Egyptians...

Faith Grows

Faith grows: Luke 17:5 5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Lk 17:5. Romans 3:28 28 Therefore we conclude...

Seed faith

The information that the HS conveys spiritually to the regenerate believers may not be easily extrapolated initially. Spiritually, the information is there in seed. In time, as the HS leads, the person will in fact, show fruit of those truths and be converted as...

S. Bolton on the Law vs grace

“We cry down the law in respect of justification, but we set it up as a rule of sanctification. The law sends us to the Gospel that we may be justified; and the Gospel sends us to the law again to inquire what is our duty as those who are justified. [Christ] has freed...

Thats just Gnostic!

Knowledge is a result of sanctification. To believe that one's salvation is based on what one knows is Gnosticism. Any information that the unregenerate believe is by default, suppressed in unrighteousness. Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against...

To cut….

Covenant-Berith (in the Hebrew) Berith; ‘To cut’: H1285 בְּרִית bᵉriyṯ 287x n.f. [root of: 451, 1253, 1357]. covenant, treaty, compact, agreement, an association between two parties with various responsibilities, benefits, and penalties; “to cut a covenant” is “make...

The lesser of two evils?

A believer should never submit to the concept of choosing between the lesser of two (or three) evils. Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.