The author’s task was daunting. We live in a culture which rebels against the very ideas about which he writes. The idea of experiencing negative consequences as a result of someone else’s wrong decision making is frustrating for all of us. Yet, our reality is clear according to Scripture. We have inherited sin from Adam. The author discusses “federal headship” and “natural headship” (or seminal headship) and states that he sees both as being options for understanding how sin is passed on to the rest of mankind. It appears that his argumentation in the initial stages of the book appear to lean heavily toward “federal headship.” Regardless, the explanations and biblical evidence given are solid. The decisions of others effect us, negatively and positively. In the grand scheme of things, Adam’s sin has been passed down to us. But, even on a smaller scale, we are interrelated as human beings and the decisions of others truly effect us. We are not islands unto ourselves.

As Brauns moved on to speak of the gospel and union with Christ, I think that he did a fine job of explaining the results of these spiritual realities from Scripture. Those who have repented of their sin and placed their trust in the gospel have been united spiritually with Jesus Christ. It is a vital union which effects all areas of our lives. I appreciated the authors emphasis on our union with Christ severing our union with Adam (our union with sin). It highlights our new nature, being a new creation in Christ. He also emphasizes our union with Christ being superior and more powerful than union with Adam.

On the level of application, the author does very well in transitioning from the theological truth of union with Christ, to how marriage, family, and church family are effected by union with Christ. I have to admit that one statement made by the author was a little troubling to me. He said, “One spouse may be so infected with sin that divorce is necessary, but it must only be done as a last resort” (p.116). I know that there are situations that arise in marriage, which are not directly addressed in Scripture – physical abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, and the list of sinful behavior could go on and on. Yes, the Bible states that the only legitimate reasons for divorce are adultery (Matt. 5:31-32; 19:8-9), and when a believer is abandoned by an unbelieving spouse (1 Corinthians 7:10-16). There are unbelievable acts of wickedness committed each day by spouses against one another, but I think we should be cautious to open the door for divorce wider than Scripture does.

On the whole I do recommend this book and I think it is a helpful read. I think that it is especially beneficial for someone who has not, nor is able to pursue formal theological education. I think it is helpful for someone, who otherwise would not study something as important as Original Sin and union with Christ, To be able to read a clear and concise treatment of such important biblical truths.

I received this book from Booksneeze as a part of their blogger review program in exchange for an unbiased review of this present work.

In this particular article I would like to focus on the area of Christian delight in the triune God. Psalm one speaks of the man who delights in the Lord’s instruction rather than wickedness (1:1-2). The conclusion to be drawn is that the man who thinks and lives in such a way is happy (or blessed). Furthermore, the man’s delight in the Lord’s instruction involves him thinking about it continually. God’s Word brings delight (Psalm 119:16, 24).

David speaks of delighting to do God’s will (Psalm 40:8). The New Testament applies this passage to the Messiah (Hebrews 10:5-9). God’s people find delight in different things than those who do not belong to him. As a believer delights in doing God’s will joy results. Here, happiness is said to result from putting trust in the Lord (Psalm 40:4). One well-known passage in Scripture discusses trusting in the Lord rather than in one’s own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).

It is very telling that as servants of the triune God and discuss things in which they delight, happiness (or blessedness) is discussed in the same breath. Scripture is known to command believers to rejoice (Philippians 4:4). We know that believers are able to choose to be joyful. We can choose to rejoice in the Lord – who he is, what he has done, and what he will do in the future. But, what if happiness is possible in the midst of deep pain and loss? Maybe we simply need to reevaluate our understanding of what truly is happiness. In returning to Psalm one and Psalm 40, take a look at the context of happiness. Happiness results from refusing to follow in the path of wickedness, but rather to delight in the Lord’s instruction (1:1-2). In the midst of great suffering and loss, a believer may choose for guests on the reality of his prior choice to reject wickedness and to delight in God’s Word. Such a man delights in the things of God. Happiness results from what that believer delights in and not from his external circumstances. He delights in God’s Word rather than evil and as a result he is happy. Where does his happiness flow from in the midst of all circumstances? It flows from God. Look at verse six, if you belong to the Lord God your outlook on life is different from an unbeliever or at least should be¹.

Psalm 40 speaks in a similar way. David delights to do God’s will (8). God’s instruction lives within his being. He has read it, memorized it, and delights to obey it. David could personally speak of the happiness a man experiences when he puts his trust in the Lord, rather than turning to sin (4). Again, what we discovered is that the man who turns from sin and delights in the things of God (his instruction and obedience to him) is happy. His happiness flows from God. It is entirely separate from one’s circumstances. Will we always smile and laugh? No. But, that is not the happiness being spoken of here. The happiness spoken of is drawn from a deep well supplied by God, as a result of the choice to turn from sin and to delight in the things of God.

Why don’t we experience this happiness in God more often? There are a couple of scenarios which would explain this reality. Some who profess to know Christ, do not. They are not genuinely born again. No repentance of sin and accompanying faith in the gospel means no new birth. No new birth means no delight in the things of God and its accompanying happiness. When you do not have a new nature your desires will not change. On the other hand, as genuine believers we forget who we are (children of the King) and we forget who he is (our Redeemer, Lord, Heavenly Father, and the desire of our souls). We forget what we have rejected (sin) and we forget what we delight in now (the things of God). When we focus on our present circumstances rather than delighting in the things of God, which bring us genuine happiness, we live as those who have never experienced genuine happiness in God. Genuine happiness flows from God through his Son Jesus Christ. Forgiveness of sin, righteousness credited to our account, reconciliation to God, adoption as sons, and an internal inheritance in heaven come through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone. If you have not turned from your sin and placed your trust in the substitutionary death and resurrection of Jesus Christ you have experienced none of these things. Furthermore, you have never experienced happiness in God. It only flows from God to man through the Lord Jesus Christ. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself – a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

I would encourage you to read the article by Tim Challies on awkwardness.  You will find it here.  Think this issue through according to Scripture, not cultural norms.

I really like the book. I was amazed that Patrick and Beth traveled to Northern Africa in the Imagination Station. Also, I was impressed that the Imagination Station disappeared after they got out of it. I really liked God using a dragon to saved Beth and Sabra from the Saber-tooth cat. I did not like Lucius (one of the characters) blaming the dragon for the death of a shepherd and his sheep. Beth and Sabra learned that it was the saber-tooth cat who had killed the shepherd and his sheep, not the dragon.

In the book there is a Roman soldier named Georgius who is a Christian and also very brave. He fought the dragon to save the lives of his friends, even though he knew it could cost him his life. He trusted in God to protect him and help him against the dragon. Georgius also cut some scales off from the dragon’s cheek. Georgius and Tarek backed the dragon into its cave, and its opening collapsed. Then the friends returned to the city where Lucius saw them. Lucius accused Georgius of being a traitor, and challenged him to a battle. In the midst of the battle, the saber-tooth cat jumped out and tore off Lucius’ armor. So, they killed the cat. The Imagination Station appeared and Georgius gave Patrick and Beth the scales from the dragon and the carcass of the cat to bring home to Odyssey.

I really liked the book. Tyndale Blog Network provided this book to me as a review copy.

I have included links to articles discussing this case and what is involved. I have attempted to choose a Christian site which does not include graphic images. If you choose to research on your own, or follow links to others sites you will likely find graphic images. So, be careful. I have forewarned you.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/04/11/9-things-you-should-know-about-the-gosnell-infanticide-and-murder-trial/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2013/04/18/how-mollie-hemingway-introduced-the-nation-to-kermit-gosnell/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2013/04/11/8-reasons-for-the-media-blackout-on-kermit-gosnell/

The Old Testament speaks of the pagan nations causing their children to “pass through fire” as an offering to their false gods (i.e. demons). They burned their children alive, thinking that they could earn the favor of the false gods, to ensure a good harvest and a trouble free life. We are informed that this very practice of the pagans to burn their children alive was detestable to God, provoked Him to anger, and was one of the many reasons He was just to destroy them (2 Kings 16:3; 17:15-17, 30-31; 21:6, 9; 23:10; Deut. 9:4-5). If this was not enough, God’s own people began to do the same thing (Jer. 19:5). “They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Hinnom in order to burn their sons and daughters in the fire, a thing I did not command; I never entertained the thought” (Jer. 7:31). The Israelite murder of their own children was one of the many reasons God judged them, destroyed their city and temple, and sent them away as prisoners of war to Assyria and Babylon (Jer. 32:25-35).

The Israelites knew from their own law that God viewed human life as precious, even prior to birth (Exod. 21:22-25). We will look more closely at the Exodus 21:22-25 passage in the coming weeks. The societal debate over when human life begins is totally irrelevant. It does not matter when we think that life begins! It matters when God says that life begins! The only place that we learn what God says about the matter is in His Word.

I will leave you with these thoughts to consider and to pray about. What do we do as believers in the mean time? We should pray for God’s will to be done in the case of this man on trial for murder. Pray for him to be convicted of his sin, to repent, and to trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his sins. Pray for the jury and the judge involved in the case, to do what God desires, even in-spite of themselves. Pray for God to end this evil known as abortion. Pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Pray for Jesus Christ to return to make all things right. Pray for each other as believers and those around the world to boldly proclaim the gospel to the lost. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can change the hearts of sinful man.