Veritas et Lux

Living By Revealed Truth: The Life and Pastoral Theology of Charles Haddon Spurgeon – Tom Nettles (2013) Part 6

Chapter 6: Spurgeon’s Message of Christ’s Atoning Sacrifice

“The Lord Jesus Christ on his cross of redemption was the center, circumference, and summation of the preaching ministry of Charles Haddon Spurgeon,” writes Nettles. This is the theme that readers are drawn to again and again in this excellent biography. A few direct citations from Spurgeon will drive this truth home:

“Redemption is the heart of the gospel and the essence of redemption is the substitutionary atonement of Christ.”

” … The death of Christ was the hinge of the world’s history.”

“Christ’s people shall be made willing in the day of his power, and the great attraction by which they will be drawn to him will be his death on the cross.”

“The cross is the mighty battering ram wherewith to break in pieces the brazen gates of human prejudices and the iron bars of obstinacy.”

Chapter 7: The Challenge of Church Life and the Governance of Worship

The burden of shepherding the flock was often overwhelming for Spurgeon: “Sometimes I become so perplexed that I sink in heart, and dream that it were better for me never to have been born than to have been called to bear all this multitude upon my heart.” The Metropolitan Tabernacle made a crucial error in electing deacons for life – a polity policy that will oftentimes prove to be detrimental to the health of the church.

Chapter 8: The Gospel is Evangelism

Anyone familiar with Spurgeon’s ministry understands the importance of evangelism as a normal part of church life. He shared the gospel personally and also preached the gospel passionately. Nettles adds, “Preaching to convert souls, for Spurgeon, meant laying out the full counsel of God to the sinner.” Spurgeon’s Reformed soteriology demanded a powerful message that warned sinners: “Men must be told that they are dead … and that only the Holy Spirit can quicken them.” He resisted the Arminian approach to evangelism with holy fervor.

Chapter 9: Use of Evangelists

Chapter 9 is an extension of Spurgeon’s approach to evangelism. Nettles highlights Spurgeon’s Calvinistic zeal: “To keep back any part of the gospel is neither right nor ‘the true method for saving men.’ All doctrine is saving truth. ‘If you hold Calvinistic doctrine, as I hope you do, do not stutter about it, nor stammer over it, but speak it out.’ The lack of a full-orbed gospel is behind the evanescence of many so-called revivals.”

Living By Revealed Truth: The Life and Pastoral Theology of Charles Haddon Spurgeon – Tom Nettles (2013) Part 5

Chapter 5 : Theological Method and Content

The author places the spotlight on the most prominent feature of Spurgeon’s ministry, namely, the proclamation of the gospel. While Spurgeon attracted thousands of admirers over the course of his ministry, he was also plagued with critics and naysayers. Nettles notes, “Spurgeon quickly learned that a preacher bent on pleasing all his critics would speedily leave the ranks of the ministry.” But Spurgeon would not be distracted. He faithfully forged a gospel path for his hearers – a path that led to eternal life for everyone who believes.

Spurgeon’s gospel focus was narrow and focused and serves as a necessary reminder for preachers today. “Preach all you know about Christ … To conceal the plain truth of salvation beneath a cloud of words, when God’s honor and eternal human destiny are at stake, is treason to men’s souls and diabolical cruelty.” The cross was the centerpiece of Spurgeon’s ministry. He never compromised his primary calling – the preaching of Christ crucified.

Spurgeon was an accomplished theologian. Nettles weighs in: “The Christian theologian must be clearly Christian and no less clear a theologian.” Spurgeon’s example is a rebuke to many modern preachers who glory in their aversion to theology. The notion of a pastor who preaches messages void of theology would have repulsed the prince of preachers.

Spurgeon was an unashamed admirer of the Puritans and Reformers. Nettles remarks, “Spurgeon advocated a pure Biblicism for theological construction. He loved the historic confessions and the pious and helpful writings of the Reformers and Puritans …” Spurgeon taught the importance of reading dead readers – theologians with a backbone and the courage to proclaim the unchanging Word of God.

Spurgeon unapologetically embraced the doctrines of grace and proudly proclaimed the five points of Calvinism, including the doctrine of particular redemption. He lamented that “most of the mistakes which men make concerning the doctrines of Scripture are based upon fundamental errors with regard to the covenants of law and grace.”

The author clarifies that Spurgeon’s sermons were chock full of theology: “Spurgeon’s sermons were virtually an overflowing stream of systematic theology …” Again, the contrast between Spurgeon’s doctrinally rich sermons and the weak content in many American sermons is alarming.

Spurgeon was not bashful about confronting his Arminian brothers. Nettles notes, “He loved Arminians as sincere persons and loved the emphasis on Christ that they shared in common with him, but he truly abominated the distinctive elements of their doctrine … The Arminian attempt to tame God, in Spurgeon’s view, created an idol unworthy of respect and adoration.” Spurgeon counted his Arminian friends as brothers and sisters, but did not hesitate to remind them of their theological error.

Spurgeon did not equivocate when it came to controversial doctrines. He preached about a fiery hell and the almighty wrath of God. He preached about election and predestination. And he preached about a Christ who paid for the sins of everyone who would ever believe. He opined, “I had rather believe a limited atonement that is efficacious for all men for whom it was intended, than a universal atonement that is not efficacious for anybody, except the will of man be joined with it.”

Biblical authority, theological depth, and doctrinal precision marked the life and ministry of C. H. Spurgeon. Compromise was not a part of his makeup. Fidelity to the truth was at the core of his pastoral identity.

Living By Revealed Truth: The Life and Pastoral Theology of Charles Haddon Spurgeon – Tom Nettles (2013) Part 4

Chapter 3: The Metropolitan Tabernacle

The construction of the Metropolitan Tabernacle was a watershed moment in Spurgeon’s ministry. Nettles remarks, “He believed that the completion of the Tabernacle signaled an advance for the gospel in the whole city.” Spurgeon’s new pulpit became the sounding board for the doctrines of grace which began in London but echoed around the globe as his sermons were being printed by the thousands.

Spurgeon articulated and proclaimed a strong Calvinistic message, never compromising the core planks that were formulated at the Synod of Dort. He preached with a style that was narrative driven but doctrinally rich.

Chapter 4: Preaching the Whole Counsel

The author highlights Spurgeon’s passion to preach Scripture in its entirety. Dr. Nettles beautifully summarizes the essence of Spurgeon’s ministry: “This is the main glory of ministry, to preach Christ – his substitution, that he became a curse for us, dying the just for the unjust in the stead of his people. Christ must be preached in a lively, earnest, spiritual manner in order for him to be set forth plainly as crucified, even as Paul did before the Galatians.”

Spurgeon’s bold style is emphasized: “We must preach Christ courageously … Pray the message in before you preach it out.”

While Spurgeon did not necessarily preach verse by verse, he was an expository preacher. The author notes, “For Spurgeon, true exposition meant, in Puritan fashion, using the whole Bible and all its doctrines in the unfolding of any one portion of Scripture.” And preaching expository message, for Spurgeon meant doctrine must be the backbone of every sermon: “Full submission to the authority of Scripture demanded that one be ready to embrace every doctrine of the Word of God.” For Spurgeon, watering down the message was tantamount to compromise.

At the end of the day, faithfulness in the pulpit meant proclaiming the power of the cross. This is gospel preaching. Spurgeon declared, “I believe that the best, surest, and most permanent way to fill a place of worship is to preach the gospel, and to preach it in a natural, simple interesting, earnest way.” Powerful words for pastors to heed in the 21st century – preachers who all too often capitulate to the demands of culture and marginalize the message to appease carnal listeners.

Living By Revealed Truth: The Life and Pastoral Theology of Charles Haddon Spurgeon – Tom Nettles (2013) Part 3

Chapter 2: Made for Gospel Ministry

Dr. Nettles continues to guide readers on a fascinating account of Spurgeon’s ministry by beginning with his first sermon and first pastorate. Spurgeon himself admitted, “I felt my own inability to preach.” Yet the rookie preacher acknowledged from the beginning that God had his number. Spurgeon affirmed the irresistible sovereign grace that God wielded upon his life, the One who “had plucked me as a brand from the burning, and set me upon a rock, and put a new song in my mouth, and established my goings.”

Spurgeon affirmed the doctrines of grace at the beginning of his ministry and finished strong as a five-point Calvinist. He proclaimed, “I am a Calvinist … It is Calvinism they want in London, and any Arminian preaching will not be endured.” My how times have changed. These days, a tepid Arminianism dominates many pulpits, especially in America. And when the doctrines of grace wane, the church diminishes in power and gospel effectiveness. But most of all, the glory of God is obscured.

One notable feature is the power that was manifested in Spurgeon’s pulpit from the onset of his ministry. He remarked, “The pulpit is no place for weak, stunted, deformed, wretched-looking men.” He maintained his commitment to Calvinism with bold resolve while fleeing from the erroneous doctrine of hyper-Calvinism. Indeed, this man was well-suited for gospel ministry.

Living By Revealed Truth: The Life and Pastoral Theology of Charles Haddon Spurgeon – Tom Nettles (2013) Part 2

Chapter 1: Birth to New Birth

Living By Revealed Truth Begins where any biography ought to begin – at the beginning. Spurgeon was born on June 19, 1834 and was influenced at an early age by dead writers: “The old writers, who are, by far, the most sensible – for you will notice that the books that were written about 200 years ago by the old Puritans have more sense in one line than there is in a page of our new books – and more in a page than there is in a whole volume of our modern divinity!” Spurgeon was influenced by the likes of John Owen, Stephen Charnock, and John Bunyan – men, who would inform his theological mind for the duration of his ministry.

The author unfolds the fascinating story of Spurgeon’s conversion and rise to pulpit ministry. Spurgeon reports, “Ah me, how I seemed offended against the justice of God; I was impure and polluted, and I used to say, ‘If God does not send me to hell, He ought to do it.’ I sat in judgment upon myself, and pronounced the sentence that I felt would be just.” He continues, “Then I was brought down to see my corruption, my wickedness, my filthiness, for God always humbled the sinner whom He means to save.”

Spurgeon’s testimony is remarkable, especially given the postmodern aversion to proclaiming the sinfulness of sin and the efficacy of the substitutionary atonement. For example, Tony Crank, Senior pastor of the One Love Church recently opined, “Some churches have become the kind of place where you point the finger, and you condemn and rebuke and you’re really quick to do it, and so I think that is definitely lending itself to people not wanting anything to do with church and thinking church sucks!” Evidently the approach that Crank opposes is precisely the kind of ministry that was instrumental in Spurgeon’s entry into the kingdom of God.

The Puritan writer, Samuel Bolton, agrees with Spurgeon’s approach and opposes Pastor Crank: “When you see that men have been wounded by the law, then it is time to pour in the balm of Gospel oil. It is the sharp needle of the law that makes way for the scarlet thread of the gospel.”

Spurgeon’s conversion is instructive and his subsequent ministry informs the conscience of anyone who seeks to reach lost people. He remarked, “To preach in this great building the self-same gospel in the same simple tones. Sinners, look to Christ and be saved.” Spurgeon taught a simple lesson that every pastor must heed. Sinners must be confronted with their sin. They must understand how they have violated God’s holy law. And they must be exhorted to look to Christ, to believe in Christ, to embrace his salvific benefits that he purchased on the cross.

Living By Revealed Truth: The Life and Pastoral Theology of Charles Haddon Spurgeon – Tom Nettles (2013) Part 1

Living by Revealed Truth: The Life and Pastoral Theology of Charles Haddon Spurgeon by Tom Nettles is a magnum opus if I ever saw one. The subtitle nicely summarizes the path set before readers as they study the rich biography of the Prince of Preachers and gain insight into the theological landscape that dominated his ministry for almost 40 years.

The introduction leaves no room for ambiguity. Spurgeon was a Bible man, an uncompromising pastor who loved proclaiming the truth of Scripture. One man captures the essence of the British pulpiteer when someone inquired about the secret of Spurgeon’s effectiveness after his death: “Two things; first, he had one single object before him always, ‘to win souls for God by preaching Christ, and Him crucified and risen’; second, his own personal faith in Christ was always feeding on Christ as revealed in Holy Scripture.”

The author manages to fit eighteen marvelous chapters into this book of nearly 700 pages. Over the next several days, I intend to present the high points, noting the strengths of the book and any criticisms that may arise. One thing is sure: Spurgeon was a towering figure in 19th-century England and he continues to wield a mighty influence on preachers in the 21st century. His influence on this preacher has been inestimable. His integrity, passion for truth, love of evangelism, and heart for people are a mighty boon for the soul. I’m looking forward to the journey!

Sanctification as Set Apart and Growing in Christ – Marny Köstenberger

Marny Köstenberger, Sanctification as Set Apart and Growing in Christ (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2023), 142 pp.

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”” Peter’s charge to the people of God in 1 Peter 1 reverberates throughout the pages of Scripture, both the Old Testament as well as the New.

Marny Köstenberger’s book, Sanctification As Set Apart and Growing in Christ helps solidify this important biblical teaching. Her work is the latest installment in Crossway’s series, The Short Studies in Biblical Theology. Students of Scripture are encouraged to trace critical themes in the biblical metanarrative.

Köstenberger begins with creation and links the doctrine of sanctification with the biblical covenants. She argues that “the story of God’s relationship with humanity is bound up with presence: God created humans to live in his presence; they transgressed the Creator’s command and consequently were expelled from his presence. God restored Israel and the people of God utilizing the biblical covenants which are summed up and consummated in the New Covenant, where the law of God is written on the hearts of his people and his presence is manifest through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Various themes are presented with the intention of tying the doctrine of sanctification so followers of Christ may understand and be edified. The themes of union with Christ and suffering are two themes that stand out in particular.

The author is quick to point out the practical nature of sanctification. In the final analysis, she writes, “We’ve become part of God’s mission to bring his name and saving message to the ends of the earth as we witness boldly to the one who lives inside us.” May each reader be strengthened by the indwelling Spirit and may his work of grace continue unhindered in the lives of his people!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

Impossible Christianity – Kevin DeYoung

Kevin DeYoung, Impossible Christianity (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2023), 140 pp.

There appears to be a growing confusion these days about historic Christianity. A few questions help bring this uncertainty to light:

Does following Jesus mean we have to change the world?

Do we have to be experts on every subject?

Are we destined to feel miserable on most days?

Do we need to accept spiritual failure?

Kevin DeYoung addresses these kinds of questions in his recent book, Impossible Christianity.

Dr. DeYoung addresses a critical aspect of the Christian life at the outset: “Ordinary Christians and ordinary churches can be faithful, fruitful, and pleasing to God. In short, Christianity doesn’t have to be impossible.” The central task of the book is to make the case for this assertion.

The author successfully defends his thesis in eight brief chapters. These chapters are simple enough for new Christians to understand, but “pack a punch” for seasoned believers. DeYoung is quick to dismantle the legalistic tendencies we all possess. He likewise affirms the graciousness of the gospel and the joy that should be a part of our Christian lives.

Impossible Christianity is an encouraging book that Christians should enthusiastically devour. It is a helpful antidote to the false notions of spirituality that have crept into the church.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

Apostasy from the Gospel – John Owen

John Owen, Apostasy from the Gospel (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2023), 422 pp.

Crossway Books deserves a great debt of gratitude for republishing The Complete Works of John Owen, including his magisterial treatment of Hebrews. Lee Gatiss and Shawn D. Wright edited the series. The volumes are bound in beautiful hardcovers and include an attractive slipcover.

Apostasy from the Gospel (volume 14) is introduced and edited by Joel R. Beeke. The fitting introduction is basic enough for first-time readers of Owen, but will also satisfy Owen scholars. The volume under consideration includes thirteen chapters that draw hearts and minds to the Savior and also warn them of the sin of apostasy.

Owen begins his treatment with a rather comprehensive definition of apostasy and exposition of Hebrews 6:4-6. The message is clear: “And until the word in the heart be mixed and incorporated with faith, it will not advantage us (Heb. 4:2), and there is nothing hereof where there is a taste of the word only.”

The Puritan divine builds upon this framework and explains how various people are prone to apostasy. He highlights various causes of apostasy and admonishes readers to steer clear from an evil heart of unbelief.

The closing chapter contains several ways to safeguard ourselves from falling into apostasy:

Labor for a real sense of the glory of God.
Keep watch over your hearts to maintain duties and to guard against dangers.
Beware of merely resting in the outward privileges or ordinances of the church.
Beware of the influences of vices prevalent in your nation.
Avoid the errors of professing Christians who alienate others from the gospel.

Apostasy from the Gospel is a vivid reminder to remain close to the Savior and guard our hearts from sin. It is not only a warning to stand strong but contains gospel treasures throughout.

Highly recommended!

Beauty is Your Destiny – Philip Ryken

Beauty Is Your Destiny by Philip Ryken aims to “awaken a longing for beauty and the eternal love of God that can be fully satisfied only in the face of Jesus Christ.” Ryken’s book is a timely offering as our world appears to be crumbling at the seams.

The author establishes the boundary lines of beauty in the opening chapter by reinforcing the biblical truth that God is the most beautiful Being in the universe. “Beauty” as they say, “is in the eye of the beholder.” The statement is true so long as the Beholder is God himself.

Ryken carefully builds his case by focusing on several themes from the Trinity to creation, and creatures made in the imago Dei. Each of these themes is explored in detail and biblical examples are cited.

The author also explores the beauty of purity and by highlighting Christ’s invitation for all people to life a “beautiful life – a chaste life – from this moment forward and every time we fall … When we live into the cleansing, sanctifying, justifying grace that God has for us in Jesus Christ, our lives – including our bodies – help tell the beautiful story of the gospel.”

The book cultivates acute interest and awe by exploring three beautiful realities – Christ, his cross, and his church and urges readers to look forward to the day when Christ will make all things new!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.