St. Maximus Confessor

Maximus was the pupil of Dionysius Areopagita, and the teacher of John of Damascus and John Scotus Erigena, in the sense that he elucidated and developed the ideas of Dionysius, and in turn was an inspiration and guide to the latter. John of Damascus has perpetuated his influence in the Greek Church to the present day. Scotus Erigena introduced some of his works to Western Europe. The prominent points of the theology of Maximus are these:874 Sin is not a positive quality, but an inborn defect in the creature. In Christ this defect is supplied, new life is imparted, and the power to obey the will of God is given. The Incarnation is thus the Divine remedy for sin’s awful consequences: the loss of free inclination to good, and the loss of immortality. Grace comes to man in consequence of Christ’s work. It is not the divine nature in itself but in union with the human nature which is the principle of atoning and saving grace. God is the fountain of all being and life, the alpha and omega of creation. By means of the Incarnation he is the Head of the kingdom of grace. Christ is fully Man, and not only fully God. This is the mystery of the Incarnation. Opposed to the Monophysites and Monothelites, Maximus exerts all his ingenuity to prove that the difference of natures in Christ requires two wills, a human and a divine will, not separated or mixed, but in harmony. Christ was born from eternity from the Father, and in time from the Virgin, who was the veritable Mother of God. Christ’s will was a natural, human will, one of the energies of his human nature. The parallel to this union of the divine and human in Christ is the human soul wrought upon by the Holy Spirit. The divine life begins in faith, rules in love, and comes to its highest development in the contemplative life. The Christian fulfils the command to pray without ceasing, by constantly directing his mind to God in true piety and sincere aspiration. All rational essences shall ultimately be re-united with God, and the final glorification of God will be by the complete destruction of all evil.
Schaff, P., & Schaff, D. S. (1997). History of the Christian church. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

The Cloud of Unknowing (x)

The Cloud of Unknowing (x) "But sorrowfully thou sayest now, “How shall I do? and sith this is thus that thou sayest, how shall I give account of each time severally; I that have unto this day, now of four and twenty years age, never took heed of time? If I would now amend it, thou wottest well, by very reason of thy words written before, it may not be after the course of nature, nor of common grace, that I should now heed or else make satisfaction, for any more times than for those that be for to come. Yea, and moreover well I wot by very proof, that of those that be to come I shall on no wise, for abundance of frailty and slowness of spirits, be able to observe one of an hundred. So that I am verily concluded in these reasons. Help me now for the love of JESUS!” 80



Right well hast thou said, for the love of JESUS. For in the love of JESUS; there shall be thine help. Love is such a power, that it maketh all thing common. Love therefore JESUS; and all thing that He hath, it is thine. He by His Godhead is maker and giver of time. He by His manhood is the very keeper of time. And He by His Godhead and His manhood together, is the truest Doomsman, and the asker of account of dispensing of time. Knit thee therefore to Him, by love and by belief, and then by virtue of that knot thou shalt be common perceiver with Him, and with all that by love so be knitted unto Him: that is to say, with
our Lady Saint Mary that full was of all grace in keeping of
time, with all the angels of heaven that never may lose time, and with all the saints in heaven and in
earth, that by the grace of JESUS heed time full justly in virtue of love. Lo! here lieth comfort; construe thou clearly, and pick thee some profit. 81 But of one thing I warn thee amongst all other.
I cannot see who may truly challenge community thus with JESUS and His just
Mother, His high angels and also with His saints; but if he be such an one, that doth that in him is with helping of grace in keeping of time. So that he"

Dust off any old book with a Roman Catholic perspective and one will find the
same old tired line.. Jesus + something or someone else = salvation.  

Some books are better off left in the dust bin.  Read it to be
informed... but don't take it to heart.

Reference msnbc.com article:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9024914/site/newsweek/

2 The Way of Salvation

2 The Way of Salvation: "Fatal Errors of Contemporary Evangelicalism

We've noted some of the fatal flaws of Roman Catholicism. But our examination of the issues cannot stop with Rome; modern evangelicals also subvert the doctrine of salvation by grace.

If Rome is denounced for its doctrine of baptismal regeneration, then contemporary evangelicalism must be criticized for its practice of decisional regeneration. This error may take two prominent forms: (1.) mass meetings where hearers are asked to come forward at the 'invitation' (or altar call) in order to register their decision for Christ (an action often equated with faith or regeneration); and (2.) the one-on-one method of Pelagian evangelism where the 'convert' is told to recite a 'sinner's prayer,' after which he is solemnly assured of his salvation and exhorted not to doubt his favourable standing before God. (No doctrine of papal absolution was ever stated with more certainty). Both of these methods exhibit a complete misunderstanding of the biblical way of salvation."

2 The Way of Salvation

2 The Way of Salvation: "Rome explicitly denies the doctrine of justification by faith alone, pronouncing an anath ema upon those who hold to this principle. The 9th canon of the Council of Trent says: 'If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified, in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will: let him be anathema.'"

Making Shipwreck of the Faith

Making Shipwreck of the Faith: "Making Shipwreck of the Faith

Evangelicals and Roman Catholics Together

by Kevin Reed"

Web Site Reflection

I have wanted to redesign the Church web site for a long time. I have redesigned the web site few times since its inception due to time constraints and the gracious compliments of many. I found the previous design was reflective of our Church vision to adhere to simplicity and the regulative principle. Some of the previous web site changes have been initiated by myself, while others were at the bequest of some members of Immanuel.

This redesign may not be mutual, but I provided some members the opportunity to critique and guide. I found I am following the principled path of some who have been tasked with the physical aspects of our newly renovated Church building spaces. The “some” I refer to have proven themselves more than gifted to enhance and coordinate the visual perception that we are privileged to benefit from lately.

Our Church web site is the first or second point of contact for some individuals and families that walk through the Church doors. Before we have a chance to shake a hand or introduce ourselves, people have already met us via the web. So we want to be sure we are giving people the right message.

We have noticed that most people who walk through the doors are already church-goers who have been attracted to the simplicity and adherence to the “Regulative Principle” of worship at Immanuel. While we are glad to see people show up, we are not eager to be part of the "sheep-stealing" that is the course of some churches. In fact, in my tenure at Immanuel, I lament at the fact that some have to travel long distances for our Stated Meetings due to the lack of Biblically based worship services in their own locale. We are grateful to be spiritually related to such commuters, but we would do well to ask our Lord to reform the visible Church everywhere… especially in these days of rising travel expenses.

All Churches would do well to think and pray about creating an advertising presence that is attractive to unbelievers and to those whom the Spirit is stirring, while at the same time being unattractive to the seemingly endless number of goats who may be seeking an unbiblical agenda. Our Lord said there would be tares among the wheat and these professed people will be a plague within Christianity. I do not refer to a marketing orientation within our church, but the little bits of advertising we do, be it a web site, an advertisement in the local newspaper or even the signs we put out on the road to guide people to our location. We need not ponder how we can leverage these to ensure they attract only the people we want to see walking through those doors. Those who are responsible for any administration of advertising of the Church do a fine and faithful job. The Lord has continued to graciously answer our prayers for those He would have us involved with.

With all this said, what is the message that we what to communicate to the world and believers alike with our advertising mediums?

• Sound preaching of God's Word


• A simple focus on worship


• Earnest prayer together as a family of faith.


• The simple schedule, we believe, promotes concentration on the worship of God and this alone leads to the building up of His people for service, at home, at work or to others.


• We encourage informal meetings during the week-- whether in sharing a meal, discipleship, counseling or evangelism. As we are all called to grow together as God's children, we find these activities a natural result of our involvement in the "body life" of the church.

If the above five statements sound familiar… it is because they were available in one medium form or another since the inception of Immanuel Presbyterian Church. You can find these statements on our web page and Church Brochure. The most important place you can find these statements is in the living stones of Immanuel.

We can enjoy the simplicity and beauty of our new Church worship space. We can reflect that same beauty and simplicity in our web page, brochures, street sign, and other mediums. Most importantly, we can rejoice in our Lord and the grace he has bestowed upon us. He has allowed us to stay the course and to witness His works in the lives of His people through His Spirit.

May the new physical outward attractions be a reflection of the inner beauty the Lord has worked in us.

Challies Dot Com: Pope Benedict XVI on Sola Scriptura

Challies Dot Com: Pope Benedict XVI on Sola Scriptura

Monergism.com: Classic Articles and Resources of the Historic Christian Faith

Monergism.com: Classic Articles and Resources of the Historic Christian Faith: "Monergism.com"

The Apologetics Group - Store

The Apologetics Group - Store: "Amazing Grace: The History & Theology of Calvinism (DVD)"

.great disturbance in the Church on account of pædobaptism

1. But since, in this age, certain frenzied spirits have raised, and even now continue to raise, great disturbance in the Church on account of pædobaptism, I cannot avoid here, by way of appendix, adding something to restrain their fury. Should any one think me more prolix than the subject is worth, let him reflect that, in a matter of the greatest moment, so much is due to the peace and purity of the Church, that we should not fastidiously object to whatever may be conducive to both. I may add, that I will study so to arrange this discussion, that it will tend, in no small degree, still farther to illustrate the subject of baptism.603 The argument by which pædobaptism is assailed is, no doubt, specious—viz. that it is not founded on the institution of God, but was introduced merely by human presumption and depraved curiosity, and afterwards, by a foolish facility, rashly received in practice; whereas a sacrament has not a thread to hang upon, if it rest not on the sure foundation of the word of God. But what if, when the matter is properly attended to, it should be found that a calumny is falsely and unjustly brought against the holy ordinance of the Lord? First, then, let us inquire into its origin. Should it appear to have been devised merely by human rashness, let us abandon it, and regulate the true observance of baptism entirely by the will of the Lord; but should it be proved to be by no means destitute of his sure authority, let us beware of discarding the sacred institutions of God, and thereby insulting their Author.

Calvin, J., & Beveridge, H. (1997). Institutes of the Christian religion. Translation of: Institutio Christianae religionis.; Reprint, with new introd. Originally published: Edinburgh : Calvin Translation Society, 1845-1846. (IV, xvi, 1). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

The “analogy of faith,”

The “analogy of faith,” to which we are to “bring every interpretation of Scripture,” refers to the ultimate rule or standard of interpretation, the final test of all doctrine; namely, the teaching of Scripture as a whole. Analogy suggests comparison; thus we are to compare a proposed interpretation of a specific portion of Scripture with the interpretation which Scripture as a whole; either explicitly or generally, gives to itself. Analogy suggests proportion or measure; thus we are to ascertain the intention and importance of a single text of Scripture in proportion to its place and distribution in the whole body of revealed truth. Analogy also suggests relationship; thus we are to study the particular doctrines of Scriptures in relation to the system of doctrine revealed therein.