Don’t S.W.I.M. Subjectively
April 24, 2024 at 12:32 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 2 CommentsTags: Biblical Truth, John 14, John 17, objective truth, Robert Golding, subjective truth, swim quotes, swimming quotes, truth
We find ourselves, then, clinging to subjectivity as each person embraces her or her own truth. But, as these various forms of subjectivity begin to harden and we assemble them into creations of our own making, we find ourselves in the rising waves of sanctimony—“this is my truth and you better believe it!” This is what it means to swim in the sanctimonious sea of subjectivity.
Robert Golding
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
S.W.I.M. to Hope in Grace
January 3, 2024 at 3:19 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 CommentTags: 1 Timothy 1, Charles H. Spurgeon, free grace, Romans 11, Spurgeon Quotes, swim quotes, swimming quotes, Titus 3
I am throwing all my good works overboard, and lashing myself to the plank of free grace; for I hope to swim to glory on it.
Charles Spurgeon
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Romans 11:6
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
I Timothy 1:9
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Titus 3:5
Douglas Wilson: S.W.I.M. in the Arts
December 4, 2023 at 4:26 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 2 CommentsTags: beauty in the Bible, beauty of holiness, Biblical beauty, Douglas Wilson, Douglas Wilson quotes, Exodus 28, Psalm 29, swim quotes, swimming quotes
To make the decision to stop swimming upstream is, in that same moment, to make the decision to float downstream. Living things swim against the current, and dead bodies float with it. It follows from this that to abandon the artistic pursuit of the beautiful is, in principle, to float down toward the ugly. There is no neutrality anywhere, and this includes the world of the arts. If you are not trying to make it beautiful, which requires a standard of beauty from outside the world, then at some point in the near future, you are going to start trying to make it ugly.
Douglas Wilson
And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
Exodus 28:2
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
Psalm 29:2
Michael John Beasley: Equipped to S.W.I.M.
March 16, 2023 at 1:58 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 CommentTags: 2 Timothy 4, Christian lifeguards, Michael John Beasley, Romans 1, Romans 16, serious preaching, solemn preaching, swim quotes, swimming quotes
A drowning victim requires a serious rescuer and a sure rope, not an unequipped jokester. The good news which we proclaim is that the Gospel’s length and strength has sufficient power to pull them out of their otherwise certain destruction.
Michael John Beasley, Altar to an Unknown Love
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Romans 16:25
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
II Timothy 4:1
S.W.I.M. with the Fish
December 22, 2022 at 4:17 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 2 CommentsTags: creation, design in creation, diversity in creation, Romans 1, Stephen Charnock, Stephen Charnock quotes, swim quotes, swimming quotes
Add to this union of contrary qualities, and the subserviency of one thing to another the admirable variety and diversity of things in the world. What variety of metals, living creatures, plants! what variety and distinction in the shape of their leaves, flowers, smell, resulting from them! Who can number up the several sorts of beasts on the earth, birds in the air, fish in the sea? How various are their motions! Some creep, some go, some fly, some swim; and in all this variety each creature hath organs or members, fitted for their peculiar motion.
Stephen Charnock, The Existence and Attributes of God
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Romans 1:19-20
Christian Men Must S.W.I.M.
August 22, 2022 at 1:29 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 CommentTags: Biblical manhood, Biblical men, I Peter 2, Jeremiah 15, Job 23, Steve Farrar, Steve Farrar quotes, swim quotes, swimming quotes
A Christian man in this culture is swimming upstream. Without the constant nutrition of the Word, he will soon tire and be dragged off by the force of the current.
Steve Farrar
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Job 23:12
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
S.W.I.M. to Make Disciples
June 30, 2022 at 12:58 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 CommentTags: Disciples, discipleship, John 15, Mark 9, quotes about swimming, swim quotes, swimming quotes
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
John 15:7-9
For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
Mark 9:31
Augustine on Those Who Will S.W.I.M. When Brought Ashore
February 3, 2022 at 4:32 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 5 CommentsTags: Augustine, Augustine quotes, Matthew 13, parable of the wheat and the tares, swim quotes, swimming quotes, wheat and tares
In this wicked world, in these evil days, when the Church measures her future loftiness by her present humility, and is exercised by goading fears, tormenting sorrows, disquieting labors, and dangerous temptations, when she soberly rejoices, rejoicing only in hope, there are many reprobate mingled in with the good, and both are gathered together by the [G]ospel as in a drag net; and in this world, as in a sea, both swim enclosed without distinction in the net, until it is brought ashore, when the wicked must be separated from the good, that in the good, as in His temple, God may be all in all.
Augustine, The City of God
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Matthew 13:24-30
Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:36-42
Thomas Watson: S.W.I.M. to Repent
November 19, 2021 at 11:44 am | Posted in II Peter, Uncategorized | 2 CommentsTags: Biblical repentance, Biblical swimming, repentance, swim quotes, swimming quotes, Thomas Watson, Thomas Watson quotes
In Adam we all suffered shipwreck and repentance is the only plank left us after shipwreck to swim to heaven.
Thomas Watson, The Doctrine of Repentance (1668)
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Romans 5:14
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luke 5:32
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
II Peter 3:9
John Eliot Helped People to S.W.I.M. Plainly
April 25, 2023 at 3:15 pm | Posted in Isaiah | 3 CommentsTags: commentary on Isaiah, commentary on John, Cotton Mather, Isaiah 40, John 21, John Eliot, Sunday School lessons on Isaiah, Sunday School lessons on John, swimming quotes
Cotton Mather in his eulogy for John Eliot
Isaiah 40:11
John 21:15