Gleanings from the Pastor's Perspective: "Our God is Sovereign Still"

The Pastor’s Perspective
“Our God is Sovereign Still”
First Published: September 13, 2001

The phrase comes to mind: “a day that will live infamy.” The events of Tuesday morning have left us all befuddled, fearful, angry, longing for justice, but blindly flailing at faceless, nameless adversaries.

What shall we say to such things? Needless to say, our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones. Nothing can quench the pangs of their pain. And we marvel at the bravery of rescue workers. We seethe at the wickedness of such inhuman acts of violence. We contemplate what ought to be the strategic response of our nation and its allies. We speculate as to what will happen next and whether we will see justice done. And we ask hard questions like, how did our nation’s intelligence system fail to see this coming? Yes, I know we think all those things. But I meant something a little different. What do we, as Christians, say to all this? How do we process this biblically?

Well, the first thing is this – what a kind providence that here at First Presbyterian Church, God has had are hearts meditating, Lord’s Day after Lord’s Day, in Romans 8 and 9 over these past few months. No passage in all of the Bible could be more important for us to grasp at such a time as this. The truth of his sovereignty rings clearly in moments of crisis like these, and when it is heard, even “when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,” our “hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.” Thank God that he is Lord. He sits in heaven and laughs his enemies to scorn. He is the God of Hosts and mighty in battle. Don’t every let anyone tell you that Scripture is irrelevant. We know, now better than ever, from experience even, just how timely it is. Praise God for his sovereignty and Word.

Second, we remember the words of Moses “Lord, teach us to number our days.” Thousands of people went to work in New York and Washington on Tuesday who will never go home to their families again. Perhaps they thought of it as a day like any other day. But it wasn’t. Are we ready to meet our Maker? Or do we presume that life will just go on?

Finally, there’s the matter of the human heart. We live in a society and culture where the sense of sin has been lost. The educational elite of our land work hard to assure their students that “people are basically good.” But such a philosophy is as foolish as it looks in light of the unspeakable tragedy of September 11, 2001. People are (apart from grace) deep down, evil. We are, all of us, capable of cosmic treason. We need the Lord. Pray that some will learn that lesson even in this crisis – that God would use the wrath of men as a stratagem of grace.

Your friend,


Ligon Duncan
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Gleanings from the Pastor's Perspective: Marital Devaluation

The Pastor’s Perspective
“Marital Devaluation”
First Published: August 16, 2001

A Couple of weeks ago, I shared with you some sobering statistics from William Bennett’s Index of Leading Cultural Indicators. On the heels of that comes more solemn news. George Barna’s email last week led with this headline “Born Again Adults Less Likely to Co-Habit, Just as Likely to Divorce.” The Barna report synopsis reads: “Two years ago we released a study showing that born again Christians actually had a slightly higher incidence of divorce than did non-Christians. This week's report, which focuses on cohabitation, marriage and divorce, shows that the numbers have evened out. Based on more than 7000 interviews conducted among adults in the past eighteen months, our latest report shows that:

• The percentage of born again adults who have been married and divorced is now statistically equivalent to that among non-born again adults.
• One-third of adults have co-habited – and those who have done so have a higher incidence of divorce.
• Catholics are more likely than Protestants both to co-habit and to experience a divorce.

The complete report of Barna’s current analysis of cohabitation, marriage and divorce is now on his web site at .

I mentioned a few tapes to you last time, but didn’t get to tell you about an excellent set of tapes that I recently surveyed. This set, called “The Open View of God - A Critique,” tackles one of the major “new” heresies impacting evangelical churches. It was presented by Dr. Donald A. Carson (Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity International University) and Dr. Grant R. Osborne (Professor of New Testament, Trinity International University) at the Mid-Winter Evangelical Free Church of America Ministerial, in January 2001 at Christ Community Church in Leawood, Kansas. There are six messages in the series: 1. Preliminary Response: Bible (Don Carson); 2. Preliminary Response: Philosophical and Theological (Don Carson); 3. A Preliminary Response: Church Fathers and other Figures (Don Carson); 4. The Open God Versus the Bread of God (Don Carson); 5. An Arminian Confronts the Openness Debate (Grant Osborne); and 6. Portrait of a Limited God (Don Carson). Certainly our college and seminary students, and interns will be interested in this subject, but so will many others. Even Christianity Today has been promoting this new aberration, so we all need to be forewarned and forearmed. I’ve put this set in the library for circulation. Take advantage of the wonderful resource we have in this tape ministry.

Your friend,

Ligon Duncan
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Gleanings from the Pastor's Perspective: Looking Back on Romans 8

The Pastor’s Perspective
“Looking Back on Romans 8”
First Published: August 9, 2001

I’ve been most encouraged by your comments on our studies of Romans 8. Many of you have been helped by God’s mighty message delivered through the pen of Paul. This Lord’s Day we will come to the final verses of that great chapter (35-39): “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The wonderful Scottish Paraphrase (which we learned last Sunday evening) renders this portion as follows: “Who then can e’er divide us more from Jesus and his love, Or break the sacred chain that binds the earth to heav’n above? Let troubles rise, and terrors frown and days of darkness fall; Through him all dangers we’ll defy, and more than conquer all. Nor death nor life, nor earth nor hell, nor time’s destroying sway, Can e’er efface us from his heart, or make his love decay. Each future period that will bless, as it has bless’d the past; He lov’d us from the first of time, he loves us to the last.” The words are beautiful, memorable and singable. We’ll sing them again on Sunday evening as a reinforcement of the truths we learn in the morning message.

Now, on August 19th, Lord willing, we will begin our series on Romans 9. This great chapter sets forth the Biblical doctrine of election in clear terms. This will be a challenging but interesting study for many of you. The next three chapters of the book deal with the Place of Israel in God’s Redemptive Purposes (9-11) and chapter 9 especially tackles the question – “But what about the Old Covenant Promises to Israel?” In other words, if God made saving promises to Abraham and his descendants, why weren’t more Jews in Paul’s day (and in ours) becoming Christians?

Paul tackles part of that question in Romans 9 by explaining to us the Bible’s teaching on election. Now, many people hate this doctrine and many are confused by it and many think that it’s impractical to even discuss (so many angels on a pin’s head). But Paul emphasizes it constantly and shows why it’s so important for healthy day-to-day Christian living. We’ll look at the following subjects in our study.
1. Paul’s heart for Israel (Is there a problem with God’s promises?) 9:1-5;
2. No, God’s promises have not failed (Because not all Israel is Israel!) 9:6-13;
3. But isn’t it unfair for God to choose some and not others? (No, because salvation isn’t about fairness, it’s about mercy!) 9:14-18;
4. But how can God condemn if we can’t resist his will? (Because he’s God and he has a plan to display his mercy) 9:19-23;
5. The Bible [Old Testament] taught both about the remnant of Israel and the salvation of the Gentiles (Both of which demonstrate God’s electing love) 9:24-29;
6. Why, then, did Israel fail to obtain the promise? (Because Israel, by and large, rejected her own Messiah) 9:30-33.
I trust you will be helped in your faith as we study this important passage.

I’ve had the opportunity to listen to a number of tapes recently that I’d like to commend to you. The Council on Biblical Man/Womanhood sponsored a conference in Dallas, Texas last year and Bob Lepine spoke in one of the sessions on “The Husband as a Prophet, Priest and King.” Now, that may sound like the male chauvinist pig title of the year, but ladies – I guarantee you that you want your husbands to listen to this one! It’s in the Tape Library available for check-out.

I also heard two Center for Church Reform taped interviews, one with Jim Elliff and Don Whitney, conducted by Mark Dever and Matt Schmucker, and one with your truly and Michael Lawrence, also conducted by Mark Dever and Matt Schmucker. Modesty precludes me from extolling the virtues of the latter! You can get them both in the Church Library. More next time.

Your friend,


Ligon Duncan

[editorial note, the sermons may be found here, http://www.fpcjackson.org/resources/sermons/romans/romansvol3to4/]
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Gleanings from the Pastor's Perspective: A Tombstone Inscription

The Pastor’s Perspective
“A Tombstone Inscription”
First Published: July 24, 2001

I am very much looking forward to this coming Lord’s Day worship. Not only is it a “Baptism Sunday” – when we have the privilege of applying the covenant sign to the very youngest members of the covenant community, but also we have finally arrived at Romans 8:31-32 – one of my favorite passages in all of the Scriptures. I have been itching to proclaim it. Pray that God would open hearts to his Word and reveal the magnificence of his love.

While preparing for my new Wednesday evening series on “God and Things,” I came upon this quote in some old notes of mine. It comes from a tombstone in the Holyrood Abbey Church ruins, Edinburgh, Scotland. The inscription reads: “Here lies the body of THOMAS LOWES Esq., Late of Ridley Hall In the County of Northumberland.” It is followed by this poem:

One instance among thousands
Of the uncertainty of human life
And the instability of earthly possessions
And enjoyments.
Born to ample property
He for several years experienced
A distressing reverse of fortune
And no sooner was he restored to
His former affluence
Then it pleased Divine Providence
to withdraw this together with his life.
READER
Be thou taught by this
To seek those riches which never can fail
And those pleasures
Which are at God's right hand
For evermore
The gracious gift of God
And to be enjoyed through faith
In JESUS CHRIST our Saviour.

Makes you think, doesn’t it?

Your friend,


Ligon Duncan
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Gleanings from the Pastor's Perspective: What happened to the Declaration of Independence?

The Pastor’s Perspective
“What happened to the Declaration of Independence?”
First Published: May 3, 2001

I just picked up a copy of Bob Cannada’s new book entitled America's Rule of Law. It is the distillation of literally years of reflection on the foundational problems relating to morality, law and government that we face as a nation. But more than that, it is a program for reform and renewal. I would encourage you to pick one up from the church bookstore and read it.

Why should you read it? Well, consider this. Mr. Cannada’s research has yielded the following: “Up until the latter part of the 19th Century, our nation and our government recognized and honored the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence. This is demonstrated by the fact that during the 1860s it is clear that the principles of the Declaration were referred to and relied upon specifically the language ‘all men are created equal.’ Our government recognized and honored the fact that (1) all men are created, and (2) all men are created equal. There are no classes of people in America and all people are endowed with the same inalienable rights by their Creator .

But, “during the latter part of that century (1870 -1900), several different [incompatible] ‘theories’ entered into American society, including (1) the theory of evolution (there is no Creator), and (2) the concept of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes that the ‘law’ is what the Supreme Court states it to be and that morals, ethics, and principles are not to be considered and have no part in determining the ‘law.’

So, “for the last 100 years, our government has been proceeding down the road of recognizing and honoring those ‘theories’ and other similar theories and ignoring the principles of the Declaration of Independence. Our government has now reached the point where it no longer recognizes or honors any moral truths or principles.” In other words, we are ipso facto committed to relativism in government.

Now, “the point has been reached where our ‘freedoms,’ including our ‘freedom of religion,’ are in serious jeopardy. We cannot expect a government that denies the existence of moral truths and principles to protect or secure our ‘freedoms,’ including our ‘freedom of religion,’ since our freedoms are [in fact] based upon the existence of transcendent moral truths and principles.”

The situation, in other words, is dire. What can we do? Cannada says this: “It is my hope and prayer that this book will alert you and others to the present situation and point the way to return the government to its foundation consisting of the principles of the Declaration of Independence.” Take up and read!

Your friend,


Ligon Duncan
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Gleanings from the Pastor's Perspective: Thanksgiving and Confession

The Pastor’s Perspective
“Thanksgiving and Confession”
First Published: April 26, 2001

It occurs to me that two elements often left out of our prayers are thanksgiving and confession. By highlighting these, it is not our intention to downplay other essential aspects to personal and corporate prayer. But it seems to me that these two are crucially important but often absent in our regular practice of prayer.

Without thanksgiving we will lack assurance (because when we fail to rehearse God’s answers and blessings we become forgetful of them and hence discouraged). Think of how the psalmists crammed their prayers with thanksgiving, not only so that their praise would be rooted in God’s goodness to them, but so that in their very praise of God they were being reminded of and reinforced in just how much he loves and gives and cares.

In Psalm 95:6-7, the psalmist is thankful because the Lord “is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.” In Psalm 100:1-5 thanksgiving is evoked because “the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture” and therefore we should “Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.” Why? “For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 103:8-13 and Psalm 107:1-3 provide further examples of what I mean.

Now, on the other hand, without Confession in our prayers we will not attain a real sense of divine forgiveness and reconciliation (because we know in our hearts that, even as renewed Christians, we sin, and unless that ongoing sin is confessed we will be burdened by unresolved guilt – or else cope with that nagging guilt through denial, delusion, and self-deception).

At this point, I often encounter objections from Christians who say something like: “but all my sins are forgiven in Christ, past, present, and future. So there is no need for me to go on beating myself up for my sins. I’m already justified!”

Well, there are at least four Biblical reasons why Christians must continue to confess sin. First, believers, though united to Christ, still sin: hence to be realistic we must acknowledge it (Romans 6:12; 1 John 1:8).

Second, repentance is not a one-time past action in the Christian life, it is an ongoing project (1 John 1:9; Rev. 2:5). This is a hallmark of Reformation teaching. Martin Luther first thesis of his famous Ninety-Five Theses was that repentance was a lifelong activity of the growing believer.

Third, sin is essentially displeasing to God. He has dealt with the punishment we deserved for our sin, at the Cross, but this does not make sins committed by believers any less displeasing to God (indeed, all the more). The Lord does not take pleasure in evil. And sin is evil. This displeasure of sin will not be eradicated until he eradicates sin in all the saints in the last day (1 John 3:4).

Fourth, the end, the goal of our salvation is not merely rescue from hell, or even justification: it is holiness and the glory of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Until that goal is achieved, there will always be baggage in our lives which will have to be left behind (and which needs to be repented of) before we enter glory.

Your friend,


Ligon Duncan
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Gleanings from the Pastor's Perspective: Founders Ministries

The Pastor’s Perspective
“Founders Ministries”
First Published: April 19, 2001

Let me catch you up on some of my goings and comings of recent days. The first weekend in April (April 6-7), I had the privilege of speaking at the Southern Baptist Founder’s Collegiate Conference held at RTS, here in Jackson. It was the first time they’ve done a collegiate conference.

Now you may be wondering, what in the world is the Founders Conference and what in the world is a presbyterian preacher doing at one! Both are good questions. Let me explain.

First, the conference is sponsored by Founders Ministries, the purpose of which is to promote both doctrine and devotion expressed in the “doctrines of grace” and their experimental [experiential] application to the local church, particularly in the areas of worship and witness. Their motive in doing so is to provide encouragement to Southern Baptists through historical, biblical, theological, practical, and ecumenical studies that will glorify God, honor His gospel, and strengthen His churches.

As you may know, within the churches associated in the Southern Baptist Convention, there has been over the last 15-20 years an undeniable resurgence of interest the Reformed faith or what is commonly called the “doctrines of grace,” – the belief that salvation is sovereignly and graciously given by God to sinners. A conviction arose among many Southern Baptist ministers that the energy generated by this divine renewal should be conserved and guided. In light of that conviction, the first Southern Baptist Founders Conference was held in 1983. It has met annually since then. Interest in the doctrines of grace continues to grow among Southern Baptists.

Second, why would I be involved? Well, for one thing because we share in common with these dear friends in Christ: a high view of the Scriptures, a high view of the church, and a wholehearted commitment to God’s sovereignty in salvation. We should, as presbyterians, wish to give them every encouragement possible as the herald the doctrines of grace to a new generation of Southern Baptists. For another, it is in the best interests of the whole of evangelical Christianity that the Southern Baptist churches (collectively the largest of America’s Protestant “denominations”) be spiritually and theologically vital. Anything that fosters that end is good for all of us. I am glad to play a small role of encouragement.


Your friend,
Ligon Duncan
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Gleanings from the Pastor's Perspective: I cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer

The Pastor’s Perspective
“I cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer”
First Published: April 5, 2001

Back in the January edition of the BAIC News (the ministry newsletter of Beginning Again in Christ [BAIC], a prison and aftercare ministry supported by our church), our friend Dr. Sal Pellicano, Executive Director of BAIC quoted this powerful meditation on the Lord’s Prayer that had been passed along to him by a prisoner that he had recently visited. I wanted you to see it too.

"A Few Thoughts on The Lord’s Prayer"

∙ I cannot pray Our, if my faith has no room for others and their need

∙ I cannot pray Who art in heaven, if all my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.

∙ I cannot pray hallowed be thy name, if I am not striving, with God’ s help, to be holy.

∙ I cannot pray Thy kingdom come, if I am unwilling to accept God’s rule in my life.

∙ I cannot pray on earth as it is in heaven unless I am truly ready to give myself to God’s service here and now.

∙ I cannot pray give us this day our daily bread, without expecting honest effort for it, or I would withhold from my neighbor the bread that I receive.

∙ I cannot pray forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.

∙ I cannot pray lead us not into temptation, if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.

∙ I cannot pray deliver me from evil, if I am not prepared to fight evil, with my life and my prayer.

∙ I cannot pray Thine is the kingdom, if I am unwilling to obey the King.

∙ I cannot pray Thine is the power and the glory, if I am seeking power for myself and my own glory first.

∙ I cannot pray forever and ever, if I am too anxious about each day’s affairs.

∙ I cannot pray Amen, unless I honestly say, “Cost what it may, this is my prayer.”

Needless to say, after seeing this I was knocked to my knees, thankful for what God is doing in men’s lives, even in prison, humbled at the spiritual progress of this brother, especially when I contemplate the advantages given me by the Lord, and desirous that our congregation would catch such a spiritual vision of discipleship.

Your friend,


Ligon Duncan
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Gleanings from the Pastor's Perspective: Lord Have Mercy, Especially Now

The Pastor’s Perspective
“Lord Have Mercy, especially now”
First Published: March 29, 2001

My short visit to Colorado Springs for the PCRT (Philadelphia Conference on Reformation Theology) was most enjoyable, but I missed Anne and the children and you, so I’m glad to be back home! We were hosted by the Village Seven Presbyterian Church, PCA, (where Joseph Wheat is now the minister) and enjoyed a good attendance at the conference.

The conference is held in three cities/regions of the United States each year and is sponsored by the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. The Alliance is a broad coalition of evangelical Christian leaders from a number of different denominations, including Baptist, Independent, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and Reformed. Its purpose is to call the church, amidst our dying culture, to repent of its worldliness, to recover and confess the truth of God's Word as did the Reformers, and to see that truth embodied in doctrine, worship, and life.

The theme this year is “Lord, Have Mercy!” This is the cry of every sinner ever saved. A God of mercy! That is what the gospel proclaims, and God's mercy is central to every aspect of Christian salvation. If one thing is needed in our shallow, man-centered age it is a fresh view of our great God. Knowing his mercy invites us to a closer, deeper relationship with him. It encourages us to study God and to make him the center of our lives. Furthermore, God's mercy is what makes Christianity good news at every stage: in God's sovereign election, in the forgiveness of our sin, in the call to practical godliness, and in the future entrance of God's people into glory. These were our topics during this the twenty-eighth year of the PCRT.

Most of you will know that the founder of the PCRT, Dr. James M. Boice, went home to his eternal reward this past June. Many people wondered whether the work would continue. This is one reason the Pastor’s Advisory Committee felt it a wise thing for me to commit to attending. Dr. Boice founded the conference because of the great need for faithful Reformation teaching on theology and the Bible, and surely that need is no less today.

Your friend,


Ligon Duncan

editorial note: Joseph Wheat is now the pastor of Highlands PCA, outside of Jackson, Miss.
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Gleanings from the Pastor's Perspective: A Human Clone in the next 12 Months?

The Pastor’s Perspective
“A Human Clone in the next 12 Months?”
First Published: March 22, 2001

As Derek Thomas and I were recently meeting to plan out our sermon series for the next several years, it struck me how much ground we have covered over the last five years during our Sunday services and Wednesday Bible studies. It may seem to you as if we crawl through some of these book studies, but upon reflection we have made way at a fairly good clip.

Now, for something completely different. Recently our friend Al Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary wrote the following reflections in his column “Thoughts and Adventures” on the subject of cloning. They are worth pondering and perhaps will motivate some to write their congressmen and senators to express their concerns. “Will We Clone Humans?” is the title of Al’s musings and it goes like this: “We can’t say we weren’t warned. Proponents of human cloning have for some time claimed to be on the threshold of breaking the technological barrier that has thus far prevented the birth of a cloned human being. Now, it looks as if they might be right.

“Wired magazine predicts that a successful human clone will emerge in the next twelve months. The New York Times Magazine has identified a group with the funds, the expertise, and the determination to produce a human clone. An American scientist and his Italian colleague have announced plans to produce the world’s first cloned infant in just one or two years. In reality, this may already have happened, unknown as yet to the larger world.

“Clearly, the ethical and moral barriers are falling—at least as far as many advocates of cloning are concerned. The legal barriers are falling as well. The British House of Lords has approved the cloning of human embryos. American scientists may already be doing the same.

“Cloning crosses a line we dare not cross. Once this technology is out of the box, we face nothing less than a “brave new world” that could bring unspeakable horror. Cloning technologies will bring a nightmare scenario of ethical quandaries, and may effectively redefine what it means to be human. We have no right to take this power into our own hands, and a quick review of the last century’s ethical horrors should be sufficient evidence. We cannot say we were not warned.”

This, along with a whole range of technologically induced ethical questions, calls for a rigorous, thoughtful, gracious but resolute response from the Christian community. And, of course, it ought to drive us to our knees in prayer.

Your friend,


Ligon Duncan
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