The Salt Air…

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Adventure, Beach, Florida, Joy, Salt Air, Smell, Tropical Storm Debby, Weather

I took this picture at Sand Key a couple of weeks ago…beautiful, no?

Tropical Storm Debby has finally passed over. After almost a week of rain being swept inland from the Gulf, here in the interior of Florida I can smell the salt air. And I love it! Though the humidity is high and the sun is warm, I love that curious smell of the salt air. It is especially interesting how it blends with the sandy aroma of palmettos and bahia…. It won’t last long, so I am enjoying it while I can!

I love the smell of the beach, anyways–there is always a wildness in it that both fascinates and terrifies me. The vastness of the ocean is overwhelming to me–but the attraction of the sea draws my adventerous spirit…

The Second Adam

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Christ, Covenant of Grace, Covenant theology, God, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number thirty-one:

Q. 31. With whom was the Covenant of Grace made?

A. The Covenant of Grace was made with Christ as the second Adam; and, in Him, with all the elect as His offspring.

Living Beings

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Covenant of Grace, God, Jesus Christ, Mankind, Sin, Story, The Fall, Tree of Life

image via wikimedia commons

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.” ~Psalm 143:5

The great story of redemption–the great story of history–is a life and death adventure crossing all boundaries of nations, people groups, languages, and even the physical “laws” of nature. It is the story of how mankind lost their essence–our first parents lost life–and how mankind has been restored to life. It is a long story filled with injustice, terror, and the beauty of holiness. It is a story that has not yet ended, though we know, in broad terms, how the ending shall come in–in life! And, because life is the object, the ending shall really be a new beginning….

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In the beginning of history, the first man and woman were created by God and given free access to the Tree of Life. Through the sublety of a tempter and the man’s free action of disobedience, they were driven out from before the presence of their Creator–and also from the Tree of Life. Their bodies began to die as they faced the consequences of their sin. And ever since then, all their children have died one by one in consequence of their sins against God.

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But God was not done with his creatures whom he had made as living beings. He had already arranged a plan by which a great number of the children of that first man and woman would live forever. Every one of them would die, but at the end of history, everyone would be resurrected. Then God would separate them out–the ones who had hated him he would condemn to everlasting death, but the ones who had loved him, he would give to them eternal life.

But how could this be? God cannot just ignore the sin of the first man and woman against him–he cannot just ignore the sins of all their children against him! God is just and holy!

God ordained a substitution. Jesus Christ was appointed to come to earth, take on humanity, and bear the punishment of death that is required in order for God’s justice to be satisfied. Christ having done this, life is restored everlastingly to those he choses. They are made into living beings, in all the fullness that that meant when God created the first man and woman.

Mercy!

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Covenant theology, God, Love, Mankind, Mercy, Salvation, Sin, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number thirty:

Q. 30. Does God leave all mankind to perish in the state of sin and misery?

A. God does not leave all people to perish in the state of sin and misery into which they fell by the breach of the first covenant (which is commonly called the Covenant of Works), but from His love and mercy alone He delivers his elect out of the state of sin and misery, bringing them into a state of salvation by the second covenant (which is commonly called the Covenant of Grace).

Another New Thing!

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Beach, Blog, Boat, Photography, Sunset, Unexpected

I am very happy to announce that I have begun another new thing! I have begun a photography blog! Come on over to Sunsets and Grey Moss and see what you think!

I have been considering this for a while, but finally did it last week–I hope you all enjoy viewing it as much as I will enjoy posting on it!

Death Forever

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Glory of God, God, Hell, Punishment, Sin, Westminster Larger Catechism, Wrath of God

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number twenty-nine:

Q. 29. What are the punishments upon sin in the world to come?

A. The punishments upon sin in the world to come are everlasting separation from the pleasant presence of God and the most terrible torture in soul and body, without intermission, in hell fire forever.

A Small Adventure

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Adventure, Hawk, Life, Nature, Oak, Shade, Story, Walking

Are you familiar with that odd little feeling that feels like someone is watching you? I had a small adventure today in which that feeling had a prominent role.

As I was walking in the driveway this afternoon, I came in under the sweeping shade of a large live oak. As usual, I was looking at the ground, trying to avoid fireants and stubbing my toes on chunks of rock left over from when the driveway had once been paved. I wear flip-flops most of the time, so my toes percieve those abrasive pieces of cement and shell as threats!

Anyways, as came into the shade with my eyes cast downwards, I had that odd feeling that someone was watching me, so I quickly looked up–and came eye to eye with a hawk that was sitting on a fence post, staring at me. I have seen him before, but this time he hadn’t flown away–he merely continued his cool observation of me. It is almost an ominous feeling to be studied by a bird of prey.

I stopped in my tracks to watch him back. I don’t know what kind of hawk he was, but his big black eyes blinked when he began looking around as I spoke to him. I talk to animals. Usually they don’t seem to mind–I often seem to get a moment of curiosity from them, or a split second of recognition, before they run away. This hawk stayed longer than most others as I stared back at him.

Then, as I continued speaking gently, I took a step towards the fence. Without warning, he lifted his wings–and he was gone–out of my sight, out from under the spreading oak, out from the shade of the waving moss.

I smiled, I am sure, as I looked at the empty fence post for a moment before I turned to continue my walk.

Punishments

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Conscience, Creation, Curse of God, Death, Mankind, Punishment, Sin, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number twenty-eight:

Q. 28. What are the punishments upon sin in this world?

A. The punishments upon sin in this world are inward–like blindness of mind, reprobate perceptions, strong delusions, hardness of heart, horror of conscience, and vile inclinations; or they are outward–like the curse of God upon the creatures for our sakes and all the other evils that happen to us in our bodies, names, states, relationships, and employments–all in addition to death itself.

Consequences

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Mankind, Misery, Satan, Sin, The Fall, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number twenty-seven:

Q. 27. What was the misery brought on mankind by the Fall?

A. The Fall brought upon mankind both the loss of communion with God and His displeasure and curse. Therefore, we are naturally children of wrath, slaves to Satan, and justly liable to all punishments in this world and in the one to come.

Original Sin

Tags

Original Sin, Parents, Sin, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number twenty-six:

Q. 26. How is Original Sin conveyed from our first parents to their posterity?

A. Original Sin is conveyed from our first parents to their posterity by natural procreation, so that all coming from them in that way are conceived and born in the state of sin.