Who am I

In 1507, Luther was ordained to the priesthood. When he celebrated his first Mass, as he held the bread and cup for the first time, he was so awestruck at the thought of transubstantiation that he almost fainted. “I was utterly stupefied and terror-stricken,” he confessed. “I thought to myself, ‘Who am I that I should lift up mine eyes or raise my hands to the divine majesty? For I am dust and ashes and full of sin, and I am speaking to the living, eternal and true God’” (Luther, cited in Bruce Shelley, Church History in Plain Language [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995], 238)

quoted from:  http://www.ligonier.org/blog/fortress-truth-martin-luther/

 

 

Stick to John 10

Did you hear about the shepherd who went out looking for his sheep? He did his tee-totally best to find them, but it turns out they followed the voice of a stranger and escaped his best efforts to rescue them. So here we are today telling people what the shepherd attempted, instead of what the shepherd accomplished. Not me. I'll stick to John 10. All of it.

Heathen Philosophers

"They go and set up free-will with the heathen philosophers and say that a man's free will is the cause why God chooseth and not another, contrary to all the scriptures."

- William Tyndale (c. 1494-1536)

Jesus accomplished

We don't go around telling people what Jesus attempted, we proclaim what Jesus accomplished. 

 Some OT passover Lamb was able to "secure the safety" of the infant he was slain for, and yet men today suggest that the real Divine Passover Lamb is not able to "secure the safety" of the children of Abraham. How can an animal do better than the God that made it.

 

Shine the Attention on Jesus

What would you think of someone who was a member of your congregation who said, "Our confessional says we believe in Jesus, and just as the confession says, I believe in Jesus;  but the past 7 years you keep on insisting that the Jesus we believe in is actually fully God, and I have never believed that and still don't believe that "detail", can't we just sit back and agree that we believe in Jesus, and let it go at that?"  Can this "Detail" about His Person be "generalized" and "accepted?"  Yet "true" Arminians do the same thing in regards to Sin, Depravity, Election, Atonement, Sovereignty, Regeneration;  Can we not just agree in the "general point" we are saved by grace through faith, and avoid your "details" of what that means,  Are we going to make a primary role of Christ "atoning for sins" to be something left to vague generalities that leaves enough wiggle room for us both, when we dare not leave wiggle room for those who deny his deity, and yet accept the liability for those who malign His work and accomplishment.

If Jesus saved everyone He died for, then give Him credit for it, if He didn't save everyone He died for then embarrass Him for it;  Why keep the accomplishment of Christ a mystery.  When you do that, you rob Him of the Glory that is due Him.  How can one grow in his boast of Christ, when he refuses to study the very cause of his boasting.  What good is getting this soul addicted to generalities to evangelize, when he cannot even boast of specifically what Christ accomplished, because He refuses to look into what Christ accomplished.   Be honest and say, "Trust in the same Jesus I do, he made salvation available for Goliath, but overall Jesus didn't make any other difference for that sinner;  either Jesus fell short, and my boasting wanes, or Jesus didn't intended to "truly save him" and thus Jesus may not have intended to "truly save you", but He did intend to make your salvation a "possiblity"

If Jesus saved everyone He died for, then give Him credit for it, if He didn't save everyone He died for then embarrass Him for it; Or else, be clear and own up to the fact you don't think Jesus died to "save"; Whatever you do, don't bury the accomplishment of Jesus as some fuzzy vague generality that we, in effect, cannot be proclaim clearly.

 

The savior is waiting to enter your heart?  Well, keep him.  My Savior didn't wait, He worked, and is working through the Holy Spirit, He will give a new heart, He didn't wait, He wrought;  He didn't die for Esau, and He is not waiting on Esau.  I proclaim to you, Trust the Jesus that accomplishes, not the Jesus that attempts and fails.  We don't go around telling people what Jesus attempted, we proclaim what Jesus accomplished.

So they will cling to Him.

(f) God permits the world to hate his own, so they will forsake the filth of the world, and cling to him. (Geneva Bible Footnote on: Gen 46:34 That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, [and] also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd [is] an (f) abomination unto the Egyptians. )

More Diagnostics

Many are called, but few are chosen; Narrow is the way that leads to life eternal; but no sweat, my will is reliable enough to place me among those few on the narrow way. (how foolish and how vain; Your faith and hope are placed in your own will);  Are you saying your will is reliable enough to place you among those few on the narrow way?

AVOIDING GOD

As one insightful friend told me once (Scott T.) "Many men go to church in order to avoid God." (as it is some manner of hiding in a bush, or finding fig leaves).

rough draft

Arminians ask "Why witness if God has already determined who will be saved?"; But in reality such a question is that of an Open Theist! Because if God foreknows (using the foresee fallacy) who will say "yes" then our witnessing cannot "increase" those who will be saved; So why does the Arminian witness if it does not increase who says "yes"; To avoid open-theism, the Arminian must answer, "Because God knew before the foundation of the world who will choose Him, and God uses the means of witnessing to accomplish His end." Whereas the Calvinist answers, "Because God knew before the foundation of the world whom He has chosen, and God uses the means of witnessing to accomplish His end." The number of converts will be the same in either system, because God's knowledge is the same in either system. (unless of course one is really an Open Theist, and God's knowledge is mutable or wrong; as a side note, Arminians might not be aware that they make God's knowledge to be "deductive", where God is learning who will become elect by examination of results, which means at one point He was not omniscient.) Arminians might argue, "evangelism cannot increase the elect, and failure of evangelism cannot decrease the elect;" Such observations are skewed, for it could be equally stated to Arminians "in your system evangelism cannot increase the elect, and failure of evangelism cannot decrease the elect.", otherwise God's knowledge is wrong and mutable. (Hence the pathway to Open Theism, which one writer aptly called atheism in disguise) ------ Obedience to God is never a fool's errand. Obedience through the grace and glory of Christ is pleasing to God. God's pleasure is not based on human results. When God calls you to love your enemy, you obey, God does not determine your success based on the reaction of your enemy. God calls us to proclaim Christ, success is obedience to proclaim Christ; God does not determine your success on the basis of-- if men decide to meet the conditions of God for regeneration while you proclaim Him. (btw, Did you meet the conditions of God for regeneration, were you able to do that?)

outline list

IT IS GOD WHO: - draws people to Himself (John 6:44,65). - creates a clean heart (Psalm 51:10). - appoints people to believe (Acts 13:48). - works faith in the believer (John 6:28-29). - chooses who is to be holy and blameless (Eph. 1:4). - chooses us for salvation (2 Thess. 2:13-14). - grants the act of believing (Phil. 1:29). - grants repentance (2 Tim. 2:24-26). - calls according to His purpose (2 Tim. 1:9). - causes us to be born again (1 Pet. 1:3). - predestines us to salvation (Rom. 8:29-30). - predestines us to adoption (Eph. 1:5). - predestines us according to His purpose (Eph. 1:11). - makes us born again not by our will but by His will (John 1:12-13). IT IS MAN WHO: - is deceitful and desperately sick (Jer. 17:9). - is full of evil (Mark 7:21-23). - loves darkness rather than light (John 3:19). - is unrighteous, does not understand, does not seek for God (Rom. 3:10-12). - is helpless and ungodly (Rom. 5:6). - is dead in his trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). - is by nature a child of wrath (Eph. 2:3). - cannot understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14). - is a slave of sin (Rom. 6:16-20).

I am His

I am His by purchase and I am His by conquest; I am His by donation and I am His by election; I am His by covenant and I am His by marriage; I am wholly His; I am peculiarly His; I am universally His; I am eternally His. Once I was a slave but now I am a son; once I was dead but now I am alive; once I was darkness but now I am light in the Lord; once I was a child of wrath, an heir of hell, but now I am an heir of heaven; once I was Satan's bond-servant but now I am God's freeman; once I was under the spirit of bondage but now I am under the Spirit of adoption that seals up to me the remission of my sins, the justification of my person, and the salvation of my soul. ~ Thomas Brooks

Why Evangelize

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0tAfrPlNq8&feature=player_embedded

Atonement Questions for the Arminian

#1.  Jesus' death on the cross, was His best divine attempt to save the world?   #2.  The Father sending His perfect Son to die on the cross, was His best divine attempt to save the world?  #3.  Did the Father and Son attempt to save the world at the cross?  #4.  Did Jesus atone for all the sins of every sinner and the Father send that sinner to Hell with all his sin's atoned for?  #5.  What sin of the reprobate did the death of Jesus not atone?;

First Cause

Question for churchmen: Are you the first cause of your faith, or is God the first cause of your faith? If you answer I am the first cause, then you deny Scripture. The faith described in the Old and New Testaments are GIFTS, and fruit of the Spirit, IMPUTED by God, Himself. If you answer that God is the first cause, but that He only DRAWS men, and then will leave them to their own free choice, or free will, to choose salvation, you, again deny Scripture. What does the Word say? "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I WILL raise him up at the last day." God does not ABORT what He begins. He is the AUTHOR and COMPLETER of our faith. ~ MarkMarissa Namirr

One Group

A covenant promise, a Deliverer of the enslaved, a Deliverance of the enslaved, a passover Lamb, a High Priest, a tabernacle for God to dwell among them, a Land to possess....all given to one set of infants, those of Abraham's seed; which was not given or "offered" to any other people. Are you of Abraham's seed: Christ, the true Isaac, born of God by the Holy Spirit and His Word endowed with living faith which too is a gift of God, and that not of yourself?  (thus evidence of election and limited atonement).

Fail: Jesus intended to raise Lazarus, thankfully for Him, Lazarus was willing to be raised; I guess Jesus intentionally avoided calling men from the dead whom He knew would say no to His offer, otherwise Jesus would have been embarrassed that His divine intention failed.

I believe that every particle of dust that dances in the sunbeam does not move an atom more or less than God wishes—that every particle of spray that dashes against the steamboat has its orbit as well as the sun in the heavens—that the chaff from the hand of the winnower is steered as the stars in their courses. The creeping of an aphis over the rosebud is as much fixed as the march of the devastating pestilence—the fall of sere leaves from a poplar is as fully ordained as the tumbling of an avalanche. He that believes in a God must believe this truth. There is no standing-point between this and atheism. There is no half way between a mighty God that worketh all things by the sovereign counsel of his will and no God at all. A God that cannot do as he pleases—a God whose will is frustrated, is not a God, and cannot be a God. I could not believe in such a God as that. ~ C. H. Spurgeon

Efficacious

IF limited atonement is NOT true then those in hell will have a good argument before God in saying, "but Christ died for ME!" (True or False?) via.Brian K.  ;;

In such a hypothetical, yes the damned would have a powerful argument; and what would the Father say in order to reject the efficacy of His Son's Divine Sacrifice. 

Two Prisoners

‎"Paul was Nero's prisoner, but Nero was much more God's." ~ WILLIAM GURNALL

OVERTHROWS EMPIRES

'While I drink my little glass of Wittenberg beer the gospel runs its course and overthrows empires.' -Martin Luther

LEARN THIS

"Learn then this basic truth, that the Creator is absolute Sovereign, executing His own will, performing His own pleasure, and considering nought but His own glory. "The Lord hath made all things for Himself" (Prov. 16:4). And had He not a perfect right to? Since God is God, who dare challenge His prerogative?" (The Pinkster)

THE MARKET IS SACRED

Holiness consisteth not in a cowl or in a garment of gray. When God purifies the heart by faith, the market is sacred as well as the sanctuary; neither remaineth there any work or place which is profane - Martin Luther

Crown of Thorns

“They gave our Master a crown of thorns. Why do we hope for a
crown of roses?” -Martin Luther

THESE TWO ARE ONE

"God’s purpose for my life was that I have a passion for God’s glory and that I have a passion for my joy in that glory, and that these two are one passion." -Jonathan Edwards;

NO POWER IN FAITH

‎"Never make a Christ out of your faith, nor think of as if it were the independent source of your salvation. Our life is found in 'looking unto Jesus,' not in looking to our own faith. By faith all things become possible to us; yet the power is not in the faith, but in the God upon whom faith relies."-Charles Spurgeon

Dying to Self

When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, that is dying to self-

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient loving silence,- That is dying to self.-

When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, and interruption by the will of God, that is dying to self;

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown,- That is dying to self-

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God, whild your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances, that is dying to self-

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart, that is dying to self-

someone on FB named Kristen.

ALL IN ASIA

2 Tim 1:15  You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me,

SHARE

2 Tim 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

2 Tim 2:3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

2 Tim 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

2 Tim 4:5  ...endure suffering

2 Tim 1:15  You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me,

VERY HINGE

“[It is] essentially wholesome and necessary, for a Christian to know, whether or not the will does any thing in those things which pertain unto Salvation. Nay, let me tell you, this is the very hinge upon which our discussion turns. It is the very heart of the subject” - Martin Luther

YOU CAN'T

I can't open your heart, but you can't shut my mouth. Jesus is King, Praise Him.

DESPISE THE BODY

Reading a powerful sermon, here is good excerpt: That is why Paul says, “...that their bodies might be dishonored among them.” You see, people that indulge in these types of activities dishonor their body. It literally means to treat the body with contempt, to despise it. (!!!) I never caught this implication before, insightful.

The lie is, people think, "oh but we love pleasing the body", well that is a lie, in reality your actions show that you love despising the body.

WHO IS ARBITRARY NOW

Is Almighty God bound to the arbitrary human standard of fairness or does God have the right to issue Mercy as He deems appropriate?--B. Bradley

DRAW NEAR TO GOD

The other day I was thinking about Hebrews 4:16 by vague recollection not by direct reading of it or study.  I knew what it said roughly, and here is what it says exactly...."Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I was thinking with sorrow, "Yea, but my old nature is so vile, corrupt, and unclean, it seems extremely audacious for me to approach the throne in prayer, knowing how miserable my mind, heart, and actions are each day; and though I am a new creation, how even more appauling that I nonetheless fall so short of maturity in Christ...." and so I continued to mope.

Tonight, a thought hit me, and it was this, "Ok, yea, but which is more audacious to approach the throne of grace knowing your spiritual poverty...OR...viewing the life, work, perfection, purity, obedience, death, blood, resurrection of Jesus as unsufficient to bring you to the throne of grace?"  I then realized that my thoughts the first night were more foolish in overlooking the accomplishment of Jesus as the grounds for my access to the throne.  I could not think of the exact verse, but I was thinking about something in Romans 3, and now I know it was this:  Romans 3:26   It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

God is JUST towards Jesus, that it is proper and right to accept and honor His blood redemption of sinners.  Hence, it is also JUST for me to approach the throne on the basis of Jesus' work.  Not that I am in a position to judge Jesus, but that I surely must not....."trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing," 

Then as these thoughts blessed me, I decided to look at the original context of Hebrews 4, and this great introduction was made by the writer...the same point I needed to know concerning approaching the throne of grace.

Hebrews 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. [15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

1.  We have a high priest.
2.  We have a great high priest.
3.  The writer goes at length in this letter to explain the superiority of Jesus as our High Priest.
4.  This short kernel sums it up:  He was in all points tempted like as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN.

And this introduces verse 16, which I was rembering out of context.

Hebrews 4:16   Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

We come boldly, but NEVER on the basis of our past, present, future--- performance, purity, ability.  The word "therefore" points us back to the Great High Priest who is WITHOUT SIN, and that is the basis for us approaching the throne.  We come boldy, and ALWAYS on the basis of our High Priest who is without sin.  He is the Priest, He is the Lamb, He is the Door, He is the Mediator of a Better Covenant.established on Better Promises;

Hebrews 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

Did I catch that?-- a better hope is introduced, THROUGH WHICH we draw near to God.
Praise God for Grace,  Jesus is Grace.

EAGER PRAYER

How do we view prayer/praying?  How eager are we to pray?    Do we view it as:

-something we "have to do", just like paying taxes?  But we murmur that we hope we "grace" will lower the tax, and increase our "free time" for ourself.

-something we need to do, like changing the car's oil every 4 months?  That we want it done and over with on one day, knowing it disrupts our normal day and week? 

-something we need to do, like a house chore?  Let's get the laundry done, vacuum, and pray, and quicker we get it done, the shorter our murmuring will be.

-something we "ought" to do, but begrudgingly like spending a day with in-laws? But you give a plastic smile, and a cheerful remark, still wondering when you can leave this irksome obligation.

-something that is just unavoidable, like seeing commericals interrupt our TV show, or sports show, or movie?  But hopefully we can move on back to our normal programming of earthly attention.

-something that God requires, so we better do it?  But in the deepest level of our veiled conscience we are thinking....'It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts?:  (Malachi 3:14)

-something that we will do if it has a drive through window?  There are days I am hungry but due to driving a long distance will not go sit for a steak, and since they do not have a drive through window, I'll go find a place which can get me a meal and get me moving on to my personal destination.
Is prayer, praying, prayer time....seen, pursued, with a sincere joyful eagerness as one who loves God? 

If Jesus rang your doorbell, would you talk to him for 5 minutes like he was proslyetizing with the local cult, but then be glad to shut the conversation down and send him on His way?

I've conciously turned my phone ringer off to ensure that I get a good nap with no interruptions, do I think about making preparations for a good prayer time?

May God grant us a new heart to have a eager desire to pray and fellowship with Him.  As Peter jumped from the boat and swam with joy to see the resurrected Christ, may we jump away from our temporal mindedness and pray with joy to rejoice in the greatness and goodness of God.

FAMILY WORSHIP

The commander of Columbia shuttle that disintegrated in mid-air was so devoted to family worship that he recorded eighteen videos for his family, one for each day that he was supposed to be gone. How valuable do you think those videos are to his family now? What a legacy he has left. - Joel Beeke

Richard and Subina Wurmbrand

FOCUS ON GOD

Focus on the God of the labor, not the fruit of the labor.

The Issue is not where we meet at, but Whom we meet with;  Focus on the glory of God, not the glory of the facilities.


When we say narrow is the way, our conception is still too broad of away; the way is narrow, even narrower than we presume.

TO KNOW GOD

To know God is to love God

To know God is to enjoy God

To know God is to trust God

To know God is to obey God

To know God is to pray to God..

To know God is to sing to God.

To know God is to rejoice.

To know God is to hope.

To know God is to persevere.

To know God is to endure.

To know God is to proclaim God

15 Minute Devotional on these phrases via Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/user/118min?feature=mhum#p/u/6/MiVUPf8ZSvY

CHRIST EVIDENT

Boast not of Christ's work "for you", unless you can show the Spirit's work "in you." Think not that Christ and the Spirit can ever be divided. I doubt not that many believers know these things, but I think it good for us to be put in remembrance of them. Let us prove that we know them by our lives. ~Ryle

CANNOT FAIL

What is God's remedy for dejection at apparent failure in our labours? This—the assurance that God's purpose cannot fail, that God's plans cannot miscarry, that God's will must be done. Our labours are not intended to bring about that which God has not decreed.  —Arthur W. Pink

WHATEVER GOD ORDAINS IS RIGHT

Nice Song, Nice Video.  Great Lyrics, Great Raw Guitar..

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1745360386611#!/video/video.php?v=1676219978144..

INWARD CONFLICT

This inward conflict


(Philpot, "The Knowledge of Good and Evil" 1845)

"I know that nothing good lives in me—that is, in

my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what

is good—but I cannot carry it out." Romans 7:18

Now it is this which makes the Lord's people such a

burdened people—that makes them so oppressed in

their souls as to cry out against themselves daily,

and sometimes hourly—that they are what they are

—that they would be spiritual, yet are carnal—that

they would be holy, yet are unholy—that they would

have sweet communion with Jesus, yet have such

sensual alliance with the things of time and sense—

that they would be Christians in word, thought, and

deed; yet, in spite of all, they feel their carnal mind,

their wretched depravity intertwining, interlacing,

gushing forth—contaminating with its polluted stream

everything without and within—so as to make them

sigh, groan, and cry being burdened, "What a wretched

man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"

Romans 7:24

He would not be entangled in these snares for ten thousand

worlds—he hates the evils of his heart, and mourns over the

corruptions of his nature. They make the tear fall from his

eye, and the sob to heave from his bosom—they make him

a wretched man—and fill him day after day with sorrow,

bitterness, and anguish.

None but a saved soul, under divine teaching, can see

this evil—and mourn and sigh under the depravity, the

corruption, the unbelief, the carnality, the wickedness,

and the deceitfulness of his evil heart.

This inward conflict, this sore grief, this internal burden,

that all the family of God are afflicted with—is an evidence

that the life and grace of God are in their bosoms.

"Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord!

So you see how it is—in my mind I really want to obey

God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a

slave to sin." Rom. 7:25

A KING REJECTED

A KING REJECTED, FORESHADOWING A KING REJECTED.

‎2 Samuel 2:11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.


Matthew Henry:

Here is, I. A rivalship between two kings - David, whom God made king, and Ishbosheth, whom Abner made king. One would have thought, when Saul was slain, and all his sons that had sense and spirit enough to take the field with him, David would come to the throne without any opposition, since all Israel knew, not only how he had signalized himself, but how manifestly God had designated him to it; but such a spirit of contradiction is there, in the devices of men, to the counsels of God, that such a weak and silly thing as Ishbosheth, who was not thought fit to go with his father to the battle, shall yet be thought fit to succeed him in the government, rather than David shall come peaceably to it. Herein David's kingdom was typical of the Messiah's, against which the heathens rage and the rulers take counsel, Psa_2:1, Psa_2:2.

AND his concise commentary:

The nation in general refused David. By this the Lord trained up his servant for future honour and usefulness; and the tendency of true godliness was shown in his behaviour while passing through various difficulties. David was herein a type of Christ, whom Israel would not submit to, though anointed of the Father to be a Prince and a Saviour to them

HOW MANY WAYS CAN I SAY THIS

I've read both passages before, but this is the first time I've seem them as two bookends. It is like Paul is stuttering, and repeating himself as many as he can to help us snap out of it and wake up.

AS IF...."HOW MANY WAYS CAN I SAY THIS GUYS???"

‎1 Cor. 1:17-18 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. [18] For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.


1 Cor. 2:1-5 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. [2] For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. [3] And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, [4] and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, [5] that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.


Despite 1:18 being True, and in fact PRECISELY because it is true, does Paul insist on 1:17...which is repeated in chapter 2.

ARE YOU BUILDING SOMETHING

Are you building something that will condemn the world?


Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righ teousness that comes by faith.

Is your life building something that will condemn the world, who is condemned already. John 3. If Noah built something that condemned the world, which was already condemned being a son of Adam, how much more did the works and work of Jesus build something that will condemn the world.

Matthew 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Matthew 11:22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. Matthew 11:24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

Luke 10:12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Luke 10:14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.

Are you building something that will condemn the world, which is condemned already? The message and life of the disciples did. Are you His disciple too?

Mark 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

I have a lot to learn from Hebrews 11 that Jesus might ask of me..... Mark 8:21, How is it that ye do not understand?

OBJECTIVE IN LEARNING

The objective in all learning, even to learn the alphabet as a 2 year old...is to aid in knowing Jesus, loving Jesus, trusting Jesus, serving Jesus, obeying Jesus, resting in Jesus, valuing Jesus, honoring Jesus, proclaiming Jesus, exalting Jesus, glorifying Jesus. If this is not the objective in your learning, then you have learned all, even your alphabet, in vain; and therefore, in the final analysis have learned nothing at all.

EFFECTS OF HIS GRACE

God ... as he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead, actually worketh faith and repentance to us, gives them unto us, bestows them on us; so that they are mere effects of his grace in us. And his working in us infallibly produceth the effect intended, because it is actual faith that he works, and not only a power to believe."

- John Owen

THE MATERIAL CAUSE

The efficient cause of our eternal salvation the Scripture uniformly proclaims to be the mercy and free love of the Heavenly Father toward us; the material cause to be Christ...and what can be the formal or instrumental cause but faith?
 
(John Calvin:  Inst. 3.14.17)

REST FOR THE WEARY

Rest in Prospect:  by James Smith, 1861

Time is thickly sown with the seeds of trouble, and the soil appears most prolific. Every day, almost, brings something new to try us, and our trials are not often single, they come in troops. When we are most prosperous — we are often nearest some great trial.

Poor Job found it so. His troubles came unexpectedly, nevertheless he received them as from God, and blessed the Lord's name. But he was flesh as well as spirit, and when in addition to poverty and reproach, he was filled with pain — his heart failed him, and he cursed his day of his birth. He gave up all hope of comfort in this life, and looked forward to the grave, not only with hope — but with a longing desire. How pathetic, how touching are his words, as he looked to the tomb, or the place of graves. "There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary are at rest." Job 3:17.

The Lord's People Are Often a Weary People. They weary — for they have but little strength, either physical, mental, or spiritual — they have a rough up-hill road to travel — and they have a heavy burden to carry.

They are weary of SIN, which is a constant plague and cause of discomfort.

They are weary of SELF, from which they cannot by any means be freed in the present world.

They are weary of the WORLD, to which they are crucified.

They are weary of SATAN, who is incessantly trying to disgrace, distress, and perplex them.

They are weary of the vain PROFESSORS of religion; whose inconsistencies grieve and wound them.

They are weary of OLD MAN, the body of death, the law in the members, which they have constantly to carry about with them, and which often presses them down to the earth.

Weary! O how weary is the believer often — in body and in mind — of almost everything within, and everything without! How is he ready to wish for the wings of a dove, that he may flee away and be at rest; or for his Lord's messenger of death to come, and set him eternally free. Weary one, look up — there is a hope laid up for you in Heaven; and look forward — there is a good, a glorious time coming!

There is a place and time — when the Lord's wearied ones will be at rest. The poor body — wearied and worn out with pain and labor, will find rest in the silent tomb. The soul — wearied with conflicts and disappointments, will find rest in the presence of Christ, with the spirits of God's elect. The body and soul at the resurrection, will find rest in eternal blessedness. The whole church, comprising all God's wearied ones, will find perfect rest in ultimate glory, when the Son shall deliver up the kingdom to the Father, and God shall be all in all.

Rest! Sweet word. Rest! Delightful prospect!

We shall rest from the voice of an accusing conscience, which often causes pain.

We shall rest from all our doubts and fears, which often becloud the mind.

We shall rest from all the temptations, used by Satan to lead us astray — or arising from our inbred lusts, turning us aside from the right way — or employed by the world to allure or alarm, in order to divert us from the right path.

We shall rest from persecution, arising from the malice and hatred of men.

We shall rest from all our toils and labors.

We shall rest from the evil designs of professors of religion.

We shall rest from all our pains and sufferings.

We shall rest in full and holy satisfaction, possessing all we can wish for in the presence of Jesus, the highest object of our desire.

We shall rest in the most delightful employment, for the honor and glory of God.

We shall rest in the sweetest composure of spirit, forever freed from all fear of a change.

We shall rest in the full enjoyment of perfect and perpetual fellowship with God.

We shall rest in the most complete state of perfection, to which such beings can be raised.

Reader, are you one of God's weary ones? Are you weary of earth, of yourself, and especially of sin? Are you looking forward to the rest of the grave, for the poor body; and to the rest of Heavenly paradise, for the emancipated soul? Are you in the midst of your exhausting troubles and trials, taking encouragement from the prospect of the rest that remains for the people of God? If so, cheer up, "There is rest, there is rest!" And you will soon reach it, and that rest shall be glorious.

Weary sinner, there is rest for you in Jesus — but no where else. Unless you find rest in Jesus now, you will find no rest at the end of life — but yours will be a restless spirit to all eternity. There is no peace, no rest, says my God, to the wicked!

TO KNOW CHRIST IS TO LOVE CHRIST

Can you hear Christ week after week and day after day and the life that is found in Him from God Almighty set forth, and you're still here and you're utterly unfeeling.  You say "Well...there is life."  You may be a stagnant pool, its not living water,  there's nothing that flows, and every so often from the rotting leaves at the bottom of that pool some bubble of marsh gas comes up and burps on the surface.  That's not life, if you're dead we can only plead with the Spirit of God to open your eyes to give you a desire that God would give you life.  Is there anyone here this evening who has at least begun to consider themselves to be dead, begun to reckon accurately with themselves, to go to the root of the matter and to discern....(your deadness, dullness, emptiness)--Pastor Jeremy Walker, Trinity Baptist Church, Montville, New Jeresy, January 21, 2007. "A Plea for Life.  Psalm 119:25"  at minute 41:20.

TENDATIO

Martin Luther noted 3 primary rules from Psalm 119 for knowing God and understanding his Word:


a) Oratio = prayer
b) Meditatio = meditation
c) Tendatio = trial, affliction, or temptation.

He reasoned that one of the greatest hermeneutical keys in life is pain. See Psalm 119:67 -- “Before I was afflicted, I went astray,” and again from v. 71 -- “It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I might learn your decrees.”

Luther concluded: “These afflictions teach you not only to know and understand but to experience how right and how true and how sweet and how lovely are the mighty comforting Words of God. It is wisdom supreme. As soon as God’s Word comes to be known through you, the Devil will afflict you with great affliction and make a doctor out of you! And will teach you by his temptations to seek and to love God’s Word...”

JOHN 17 BY THE SAINTS

Maybe our prayers should resemble John 17, though Jesus has been glorified on the cross, even so.

The prayer of John 17 from the perspective of the saints:
John 17:1

The Saints lift up our eyes to heaven, and pray, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, [2] since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. [3] And this is eternal life, that we know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. [4] He has glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave Him to do. [5] And now, Father, glorify Him in your own presence with the glory that He had with you before the world existed."

[6] "He has manifested your name to the people whom you gave to Christ out of the world. Yours we were, and you gave us to Christ, and we have kept your word. [7] Now we know that everything that you have given Him is from You. [8] For He has given us the words that You gave Him, and we have received them and have come to know in truth that He has came from you; and we have believed that you sent Him.

[9] We are praying for the saints. We are not praying for the world but for those whom you have given Him, for we are yours. [10] All Christ's are Thine, and Thine are Christ's, and Jesus is glorified in us.

[11] And Jesus is no longer in the world, but we are in the world, and He has gone to you. Holy Father, keep us in your name, which you have given to Christ, that we may be one, even as you and the Son are one. [12] While Jesus was with us, He kept us in your name, which you have given Him. He has guarded us, and not one of us have been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

[13] But now Jesus is with you, and these things Jesus spoke in the world, that we may have His joy fulfilled in us. [14] He has given us your word, and the world has hated us because we are not of the world, just as Jesus is not of the world. [15] we do not ask that you take us out of the world, but that you keep us from the evil one. [16] We are not of the world, just as Jesus is not of the world.

[17] Sanctify us in the truth; your word is truth. [18] As you sent Jesus into the world, so has He sent us into the world. [19] And for our sakes He consecrated himself, that we also may be sanctified in truth.

[20] "We do not ask for the saints only, but also for those who will believe in Christ through our word, [21] that we may all be one, just as you, Father, are in Christ, and Christ in you, that we also may be in the Father and the Son, so that the world may believe that you have sent Christ. [22] The glory that you have given Christ, He has given to us, that we may be one even as You and the Son are one,

[23] Christ in us, and You in Christ, that we may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent Jesus and loved us even as you loved Jesus. [24] Father, we desire that we also, whom you have given to Christ, may be with Christ where He is, to see His glory that You have given Him because you loved Him before the foundation of the world. [25] O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, Jesus knows you, and we know that you have sent Him. [26] He has made known to us your name, and He will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved Christ may be in us, and He in us."

The Saints lift up this prayer for the glory of the Father and the Son, and for the good of His People.

ONLY COMFORT IN LIFE AND DEATH

Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?


Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a) am not my own, (b) but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; (c) who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, (d) and delivered me from all the power of the devil; (e) and so preserves me (f) that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g) yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h) and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i) and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. (j)

THE TREE OF LIFE

The Cross; The Tree of Death for sin...The Tree of Life for sons.

SOBER WORDS

So forever will I tell


In three hours, Christ suffered more than any sinner ever will in hell (4x)

It’s where we see Your holiness- at the cross

We see that You’re controlling this- at the cross

We see how You feel about sin- at the cross

Your unfathomable love for men- at the cross

It’s where we see Your sovereignty- at the cross

We see our idolatry- at the cross

We know that there’s a judgment day- from the cross

May we never take our eyes away- from the cross



We’re now in the realm of the sublime and profound
With God at the helm it’s about to go down
The Father’s wrath precise will blast and slice
The priceless Master Christ as a sacrifice
Willingly, He’s under the curse
To be treated as if the Son was the worst scum of the earth
The scene is the craziest
Jesus being treated as if He is the shadiest atheist
How is it the Messiah is in the fiery pit
As if He was a wicked liar with twisted desires?
The One who’s sinless and just
Punished as if He was promiscuous and mischievous with vicious lust
The source of all godly pleasure
Tormented as if He was a foul investor or child molestor
How could He be bruised like He was a goodie two-shoes
who doesn’t think that she needs the good news?
He’s perfect in love and wisdom
But He’s suffering as if He constructed the corrupt justice system
We should mourn at the backdrop
Jesus torn like He’s on the corner with crack rock with porn on His laptop
What is this, kid? His gifts are infinite
But He’s hit with licks for religious hypocrites
He’s the Light, but being treated like
He’s the seedy type who likes to beat His wife
He’s treated like a rapist, treated like a slanderer
Treated like a racist or maybe a philanderer
Jesus being penalized like He had sin inside
Filled with inner pride while committing genocide
I could write for a billion years and still can’t name
All of the sins placed on the Lamb slain

But know this: the main thing the cross demonstrated
The glory and the holiness of God vindicated;


So forever will I tell
In three hours, Christ suffered more than any sinner ever will in hell (4x)
It’s where we see Your holiness- at the cross
We see that You’re controlling this- at the cross
We see how You feel about sin- at the cross
Your unfathomable love for men- at the cross
It’s where we see Your sovereignty- at the cross
We see our idolatry- at the cross
We know that there’s a judgment day- from the cross
May we never take our eyes away- from the cross

SECURING THE ACTUAL SALVATION

"The sin of Adam did not make the condemnation of all men merely possible; it was the ground of their actual condemnation. So the righteousness of Christ did not make the salvation of men merely possible, it secured the actual salvation of thos for whom he wrought."

Charles Hodge

THE WORD WIELDS

I will preach, speak, write, but I will force no one; for faith must be voluntary. Take me as an example. I stood up against the Pope, indulgences, and all papists, but without violence or uproar. I only urged, preached, and declared God's Word, nothing else.

And yet while I was asleep, or drinking Wittenberg beer with my Philip Melanchthon and Amsdorf, the Word inflicted greater injury on popery than prince or emperor ever did. I did nothing, the Word did every thing. Had I appealed to force, all Germany might have been deluged with blood; yea, I might have kindled a conflict at Worms, so that the Emperor would not have been safe.

But what would have been the result? Ruin and desolation of body and soul. I therefore kept quiet, and gave the Word free course through the world. Do you know what the Devil thinks when he sees men use violence to propagate the gospel? He sits with folded arms behind the fire of hell, and says with malignant looks and frightful grin: 'Ah, how wise these madmen are to play my game!

Let them go on; I shall reap the benefit. I delight in it.' But when he sees the Word running and contending alone on the battle-field, then he shudders and shakes for fear. The Word is almighty, and takes captive the hearts."

- Martin Luther

BURN OUR HOUSES

JOHN ROGERS PREACHING:

he personates God to the people, telling them, 'Well, I have trusted you so long with my Bible; you have slighted it; it lies in such and such houses all covered with dust and cobwebs. You care not to look into it. Do you use my Bible so? W...ell, you shall have my Bible no longer'.


And he takes up the Bible from his cushion, and seemed as if he were going away with it, and carrying it from them;

but immediately turns again and personates the people to God, falls down on his knees, cries and pleads most earnestly,

'Lord, whatsoever thou cost to us, take not thy Bible from us; kill our children, burn our houses, destroy our goods; only spare us thy Bible, only take not away thy Bible'.

(Context: It is plain that scenes like this were far from rare in East Anglia in the first half of the seventeenth century. Samuel Fairclough's own father, Lawrence Fairclough, had seen spiritual prosperity in his ministry at Haverhill, Suffolk, before his death in 1603. The successor to his work in Haverhill was one of the most 'awakening' of all Puritan preachers and one whose ministry was attended with a power which was still being spoken of in the mid-eighteenth century. This was John Rogers, nephew of Richard Rogers of Wethersfield, by whose financial support he studied at Emmanuel from 1588 until 1592. In 1605 he was called from Haverhill to be 'lecturer' in the beautiful vale of Dedham, later to be known throughout the world by the paintings of John Constable but famous in the seventeenth century for the great spiritual harvest which took place under Rogers' ministry. 'Let us go to Dedham to get a little fire' became a common saying among his contemporaries. One who went was Thomas Goodwin, while a student at Cambridge, and many years later when he was Dr. Goodwin and President of Magdalen College, Oxford, he reported his memory of it to John Howe. Howe recorded it as follows: 'He told me that being himself, in the time of his youth, a student at Cambridge, and having heard much of Mr. Rogers of Dedham, in Essex, purposely he took a journey from Cambridge to Dedham to hear him preach on his lecture day. And in that sermon he falls into an expostulation with the people about their neglect of the Bible [I am afraid it is more neglected in our days]; )

The Puritans and Revival Christianity by Iain Murray

REAL DAMAGE

What type of ruckus would be raised if you politely asked a local congregation to explain their stance on Conditional Election or Non-applied Atonement?  How can such serious topics be brushed aside as harmful discussions, when in fact their use as assumed doctrine is the real damage being inflicted each week.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES

An American citizen at the age of 35 has the chance of becoming President of the USA; On some level it is 50-50, either you will or you won't; but the odds are much less considering all alternatives.


Did Jesus die merely to have the "chance" of saving sinners? Is it 50-50? or much lower odds knowing how many false gods are out there? Did Jesus even campaign in 1010 in North-South America?

In that Arminian view, He is hardly any different than me running for president of the USA, we both have chances (to lead/save) but neither of us are ensuring our office (as leader/Savior).

THE DENIAL OF GOD'S BEING

"There is absolutely no difference between the denial of God's sovereignty and the denial of God's being. Arminianism is neither more nor less than religious atheism."


-Don Fortner

Without a Bible

2010 Statistics:

Almost 2,100 ...the number of languages without any of the Bible, but with a possible need of a Bible translation to begin.  340,000,000+ ...the number of people who speak the 2,100 languages where translation projects have not yet begun

Consider what the Statistics were in 1517 across the globe, or in 1010, in Africa, North America, South America, Australia, Asia.

IT IS A LOSS

The only multiplication of the Church of God that is to be desired is that which God sends…If we add to our churches by becoming worldly…if we add to our churches by accommodating the life of the Christian to the life of the worldling, our increase is worth nothing at all; it is a loss rather than a gain.

If we add to our churches by excitement, by making appeals to the passions, rather than by explaining truth to the understanding; if we add to our churches otherwise than by the power of the Spirit of God making men new creatures in Christ Jesus, the increase is of no worth whatever. (from: Harvest Joy, Sermon No. 2265) (RT: Spurgeon.US)

MERE EMPTINESS

"All our libraries and studies are mere emptiness compared with our closets."

 C.H. Spurgeon

A THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS. INTRO

2 Corinthians. 4:7-18    But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. [8] We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; [9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; [10] always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. [11] For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. [12] So death is at work in us, but life in you.

[13] Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak, [14] knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. [15] For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

[16] So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. [17] For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, [18] as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Corinthiains. 6:3-10   We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, [4] but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, [5] beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; [6] by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, [7] by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; [8] through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; [9] as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; [10] as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

2 Corinthians. 11:23-33   Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. [24] Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; [26] on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; [27] in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. [28] And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. [29] Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

[30] If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. [31] The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. [32] At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, [33] but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

BLINDESS NOW AND THEN

I thought about this last night, in November of 1517 what was happening in Germany? But what was happening in North America, South America, India, Australia, South Africa....countless millions without a Bible or Gospel Witness...no mediums of tv, radio, internet, BarnesnNobles, just people live and dying clueless of who both Jesus Christ is and current American idols like Oprah or Donald Trump or Bill Gates.

IS IT MEAN TO BE INSISTENT

Galatians 5:12   I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

http://www.opc.org/nh.html?article_id=217
Galatians 5:12 was posted in reflection on a letter John Newton wrote which addresses on how Calvinists should be meek in witnessing. My point is: Being bold against a TOPIC should not be lumped as being rude to a person. We can say Mormonism is heretical without being rude to a Mormon. We can say Freemasonry is a lie without being rude to Freemasons. It is a fact that praying to Mary is wrong, just as drunkenness, lying, drugs, sloth, greed is wrong.



Newton is upfront that haughtiness in Calvinism is wrong, I can't tell Newton, "Now Newton, be meek now." when he is merely being truthful in telling us that haughtiness is wrong. I am sure he is insistent in his point, there is no compromise when he comes to exposing haughtiness. Man's ability is just as wrong as haughtiness. Conditional Election is just as wrong as pride in Calvinism; Unapplied Atonement is just as needful for correction as brash theology; etc. So sometimes people blur a unwavering theology as a sign of being rude, or a public insistency against a doctrine as being mean...yet Newton's own letter has an unwavering positon in what he asserts, and it is now a public insistency for what is asserted; and so likewise I have no problem with being unwavering against Arminianism and being publicly insistent on the errors of the system...Newton has done the same thing, just on a different subject matter.


If that letter is misapplied to Calvinist then Calvinist can return the notion to Newton, which is to silence Newton too. If that letter is properly seen as firm and public in it's purpose, then likewise it supports Calvinist being firm and public in their purpose to adominsh the system of Arminianism. Rick Warren will insist to me that his ministry is fine, and likewise I will insist that his ministry is not fine, both are insistent, both are polite...so I find it unfair to portray plain speech and forthrightness as "fleshly". John called men objectively a brood of vipers, and we can do the same, without being counseled to be a docile, passive wet-noodle.

So I think it is improper to push for more moderation, when the issue is not about delivery, but content, and content must never be in moderation; The blue lights are blue lights, the speeder may get mad and call them mean blue lights, but they are on, and his frustration is not really with the blue light itself as been "delivered" for that is nominal, but he is angry at the "insistent meaning" of that delivery. The cop will not turn off the lights, and finds no reason to tell the lights to "tone it down" when the lights are merely "constant in meaning" never "brash"; Whatever Newton's letter means, it cannot mean that we turn off the blue lights, just to make the speeder happy, but that is how many people seem to apply that letter. Gal 5:12 is an unwavering view, don't accuse Paul of failing to be meek in his adamancy, and many are unwavering in TULIP, and should not be falsely accused of failing to be meek in that adamancy. (yes, there are rude calvinist, but there is still a danger of confusing all insistent theology is thereby innately rude-- which is not true.


So that was the context of me posting this verse.

FEWER PEOPLE

‎"If the gospel were more faithfully preached, there would be fewer people professing to believe it."
-- A.W. Pink

WHY PRESENT

Are we saying that God did not show the resurrected body of Jesus to all sinners (beyond doubting Thomas) because God knew that evidence would not convince them; If God knows this presentation will not convince the unbeliever, then why give any other presentations at all, which God likewise knows will never convince them?

KNOWING CHRIST

Note to Self:  Focus on Knowng Christ (Philip 3), not making a difference; (1 Cor 2:1-5);  #1.  You will never make a difference until you know Christ.  (John 15:5)  #2.  You might find out that they more you are made like Christ, the more the world will scorn you as they did Christ (John 15:18-John 16::4);  they crucified Him according to the design of God (Acts 2:23).  God just might show you many things you are to suffer for His name's sake.(Acts 9:16);

FROM ROME

I must repeat, what already seems to have given him so much offence, that Arminianism "came from Rome, and leads thither again."

If we sum up the evidence that has been given, we shall find its amount to be, that Arminianism came from the Church of Rome, and leads back again to the pit whence it was digged.



Augustus Toplady

ONLY AXES

"The wickedest of enemies of God are only axes and saws and hammers in his hands, and are ignorantly his instruments for doing his work in the world." - J. C. Ryle

WRONG DEFINITION

Ministry Visibility is not synonymous with: Christian Impact, nor God's approval, nor Christ Exalted, nor Scripture Honored.

WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE

Exodus 32:25-29 And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies), [26] then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, "Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. [27] And he said to them, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, 'Put your SWORD on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.' " [28] And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. [29] And Moses said, "Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day."


Matthew 10:34  "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a SWORD. [35] For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. [36] And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.

[37] Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. [38] And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. [39] Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.


Luke 14:25-33   Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, [26] "If anyone comes to me and does not HATE HIS OWN FATHER AND MORTHER AND WIFE AND CHILDREN AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YES AND EVEN HIS OWN LIFE, he cannot be my disciple. [27] Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple..... [33] So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

(Luke has the same material as Matthew)  Luke 12:49-53   "I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! [50] I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! [51] Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. [52] For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. [53] They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

In Luke and Matthew, Jesus describes who cannot be His disciple, or to state it positively who can be his disciple.  The very same question was addressed by Moses,  "Who is on the Lord's side?"  Jesus answers that question.  He is a greater High Priest than any Levite.  Jesus will come with His own sword and strike down the Nations.  He is Joshua.  Yehoshua.  Jesus.

Rev. 19:11-21

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. [13] He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. [14] And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. [15] From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

[17] Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, [18] to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." [19] And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. [20] And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. [21] And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

AMONG CHRISTIAN MECHANICS

This devotional is really revolutionary for me, something that has paralyzed me deeply for years.  But this helpful observation came to mind today.  "Who is the John Owen, Martin Luther, John Gill, Thomas Boston among Christian Auto Mechanics?"  The answer?  We don't know.  The point.  We don't have to know. 

A self-employed Christian Mechanic may repair over 300 cars a year.  That is 300 lives and homes helped.  In theory it may be 300 pastors, missionaries, elders, deacons, widows, and blessings for explicit gospel needs or otherwise implicit gospel needs.   The Christian mechanic does not look back and think, "but the other mechanics are getting more books written and sold, more initivations to preach, hold conference, and serve as professor; they have 10 locations and 3000 attendees compared to my small 300;  everyone knows their brand name, but not mine, woe is me, what is the point."

This can parallel into every occupation that Christians partake.  The lowly nurse with 300 patients a year, the mother with 5 kids, the brick mason, the janitor, the truck driver, the chicken farmer, the widget maker.  A nurse may bless her patients, but is still anonymous among the pool of a million Christian nurses.  A mother may raise a pastor, elder, deacon, author, missionary, but is still anonymous among other Christian mothers. 

The brick mason may build church plant facilities, hospitals, and seminaries, but is also anonymous among other Christian brickmasons.  How would baptists survive without Chickens to eat, and yet the chicken farmer does not compare himself with other famous Chicken farmers.  The truck driver ships books, pews, and supplies for congregations to worship and minister, but is still unknown in his labors.

Do I admire William Carey?  Sure, but there are countless servants also sacrificing and laboring in secret who will never be known this side of Glory.  Do I admire James White?  Sure, but let us name all the unknown pastors and professors and authors and friends that shaped in during his formative years.  Monergism.com is a great website, yet they did not author 90% of what they provide.

In conclusion,

#1   It is wrong to divide the "sacred" from the "secular",
#2  Because all labors are to be sacred and offered unto Christ.
#3  All Christian labors are made unto Christ, not in comparison to the publicity of other Christian labors.
#4  All Christian labors find their value and significance by the grace of Christ directing them to the glory of Christ in that labor, not by the attention of men giving attention to the servants.

Think about these things.

THE LORD SEES THEM

” I can hardly recollect a single plan of mine, of which I have not since seen reason to be satisfied, that had it taken place in season and circumstance just as I proposed, it would, humanly speaking, have proved my ruin; or at least it would have deprived me of the greater good the Lord had designed for me.

We judge of things by their present appearances, but the Lord sees them in their consequences, if we could do so likewise we should be perfectly of His mind; but as we cannot, it is an unspeakable mercy that He will manage for us, whether we are pleased with His management or not; and it is spoken of as one of his heaviest judgments, when He gives any person or people up to the way of their own hearts, and to walk after their own counsels.”


John Newton (1725-1807)

STASH OF QUOTES FOUND

GREAT STASH OF QUOTES FOUND ON OSHEA DAVIS' WALL.  http://www.osheadavis.com/

"As it is fit that God should love and esteem His own excellence, it is also fit that He should value and esteem the love of His excellency. And if it becomes a being highly to value Himself, it is fit that He should love to have Himself valued and esteemed"(Edwards, Works, 99).



"Another part of God's fulness which He communicates, is His happiness. This happiness consists in enjoying and rejoicing in Himself; and so does also the creature's happiness. It is a participation of what is in God; and God and His glory are the objective ground of it. The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God; by which also God is magnified and exalted"(Edwards, Works, 101).


"Be more afraid of sin than of suffering. A man may be afflicted, and yet have the love of God; but if he sin, immediately God is angry"--Thomas Watson(Sermons of the Great Ejection, 142).


"God's rod is a pencil to draw Christ's image more distinctly upon us"(Watson, Gleanings , 141).

GOD'S FREEDOM FOR INEQUALITY

Did God look down the corridors of time and see a choice of Abram or Moses or David or John or Saul and determine to make them the father, prophet, king, forerunner...among the 6 million plus peers in their respective generations? What a tremendous blessing not granted to their peers. Apparently God quote fore-knew that the rest were all going to reject his equal offer, attempt, and effort. (tongue-in-cheek)

HE STOOD BETWEEN

Atonement of the Holy Place: a reality from the blood, not from the tent's acceptance and trust in an offer/priest
Leviticus 16:16-19 Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them... in the midst of their uncleannesses. [17] No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel. [18] Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. [19] And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.


‎2 Cor. 6:16 For we are the temple of the living God;


Ephes. 2:21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

‎1 Cor. 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? [17] If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.


1 Cor. 6:19 Or do you not know... that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Numbers 16:41-50 But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, "You have killed the people of the Lord." [42] And when the congregation had assembled against Moses and a...gainst Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting. And behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared. [43] And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, [44] and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, [45] "Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." And they fell on their faces. [46] And Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the Lord; the plague has begun." [47] So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. [48] And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped. [49] Now those who died in the plague were 14,700, besides those who died in the affair of Korah. [50] And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, when the plague was stopped.


The people were GRUMBLING against Moses and were AGAINST MOSES and AGAINST Aaron (priests), not trusting him as God's designated mediator and prophet. The Lord was ready to consume the people in a moment. The wrath of the Lord has gone out, and the plague begun.

Aaron made atonement for the people. ..... AND HE STOOD BETWEEN THE DEAD AND THE LIVING AND THE PLAGUE WAS STOPPED.

Over 14,700 were dead. I find it impossible to suggest the plague stopped on all the inhabitants because every solitary inhabitant paused to forsake their grumbling and begin trusting in Moses and the atonement made>>> as the basis of the plague stopping.

BUYING SHEEP

 Some would say the Father does not make salvation a reality for sinners on the basis the Jesus' decision (and action), but the Father makes salvation a reality for sinners on the basis of their decision. What was lacking and insufficient in the decision (and action) of the spotless Lamb to deem it unworthy of making salvation a reality in and of itself.

These persons should not say, "The Father sent Jesus to make the salvation of all sinners a reality" nor that " Jesus came to make the salvation of all sinners a reality." When I present a coupon to a cashier, the cashier accepts it and applies it because of the validity of that which is presented. When Jesus presents His life, death, and blood to the Father, the Father accepts it and applies it because of the validity of that which is presented. Jesus purchased sheep. Shepherds do not look to the sheep to wait for them to accept the payment of their Redeemer.

IT WOULD MANIFEST

‎"Remember this--there is not a worse nature in hell

than that which is in you, and it would manifest itself

accordingly--if the Lord did not restrain it!"
 
~~Thomas Brooks;

PONDERING WHAT GOD WILLED

‎1. God willed to make Man. Adam was not free or able to will himself into existence.




2. God willed to make Man mutable. Adam was not free or able to will himself immutable. This was not a trait left up to Adam to determine. If Adam ...could determine himself to be immutable, then he could have eaten of the forbidden tree and then remained alive, contrary to God's warning that Adam would surely die.



3. God willed to make a tree of forbidden food. Man was not free or able to prevent the existence of such a tree.



4. God willed to make a snake with legs that Satan could possess and approach and talk to Eve. Adam was not free or able to prevent Satan's access to the snake, garden or Eve.



5. God willed: to create Adam, when to make Adam, where to make Adam, how to make Adam (two legs not eight), to limit Adam (from flying, creating worlds by speech, absolving sin). Adam was not free or able to determine: if he was going to be made, when he was going to be made, where he was going to be made, how he was going to be made, his capabilities and limitations; Adam did not determine why he was being made. God determined why Adam was being made as well.



6. God willed to make Adam before Eve; Eve could will herself to be made prior to Adam, or vice versa.



7. If Adam had a free will then he could have told God which trees were acceptable and which trees where forbidden, and what consequences (if any) would result from eating of the forbidden tree. But Adam does not set rules and consequences before the eternal God. If Adam had a free-will he could have uncursed the ground which God cursed and un-cursed the snake; or, commanded the angels not to gaurd the tree of life. (Obviously his command would have been ignored by them);



8. Adam had a will, and even while upright, it was limited, not free and not sovereign. The elect angels today have wills, but they are not free nor sovereign, they are limited. If Adam wants a free will then he must first free his will from the Sovereign will of God, until then Adam's will is not free to override God's sovereign will.



9. Did God will to cover Adam's nakedness, or merely make a covering to be possiblity? Did God will to save every son of Adam, or merely make the salvation of every son of Adam to be a possibility? If God made Adam's covering to be only a possibility, then it would be up to Adam to meet a condition for that covering to be a reality.



10. If God made Peter's salvation to be only a possibility, then it would be up to Peter to meet a condition for that salvation to be a reality. If Peter's salvation is contingent on Peter meeting a condition (moreover command) of God before Peter is actually saved, then Peter's salvation is no more of grace, but of a work of Peter. Thus Peter would have reason to glory in himself for meeting the condition of God. Salvation is a work of Grace, because it is a work of God in Jesus Christ presented to the Father as a substitue for the person in need. Christians glory not in themselves, but in Christ who secured and accomplished and guaranteed salvation for all whom he died.



11. Those who reject TULIP cannot proclaim that the death of Jesus ALONE guarantees and assures the salvation of any sinner; However, Christians in contrast profess (without double speak) the wonderful truth surmised by the phrase: Sola Christus, Christ alone.



12. The accomplishment and full satisfaction of Jesus before the Father is the basis of the Holy Spirit regenerating all for whom Christ died. The Holy Spirit will not fail to regenerate all that Christ died for. The accomplishment and full satisfaction of sinners placing faith in Jesus before the Father is NOT THE BASIS (condition met, obedience given) of the Holy Spirit regenerating some for whom Christ died. The Holy Spirit in His work honors the decision and death of Jesus, not the decison of the sinful creature. For the Holy Spirit, Jesus makes all the difference. Thus the sinner cannot say "I made the difference, my faith made the difference." Many will never say this, but yet they believe it, and thereby contradict all Scripture and even God Himself.

EFFICACIOUS

‎"I may be called Antinomian or Calvinist for preaching a limited atonement; but 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."

~CH Spurgeon

VERY CONFUSING

It doesn't make any sense to say, "Jesus knew from all eternity past, before Adam was created, that Goliath would reject faith in Christ, but yet Jesus went ahead and died for Goliath in an divine but failing attempt to save him".

In sarcasm, but in analogy, I sent a check for $5,000 along with 10 books, 10 videos, and 100 mp3s to Pharaoh's tomb, in an attempt to get him to let the jewish slaves free, and spare himself the coming plagues.

JESUS REDEEMS INDEED

Did Jesus intercede for a sinner in life, prayer, blood, and death on a criminal's cross before His Father, and His Father deem His intercession to be insufficient or unacceptable?  Did Jesus sprinkle His blood in the heavenly Holy of Holies, and His blood not avail redemption and atonement?

Did Jesus, who is fully God, Thrice Holy, uncreated, eternal, infinite in power and wisdom....intercede for a sinner in life, prayer, blood, and death on a criminal's cross before His Father, and His Father deem His intercession to be insufficient or unacceptable?  Did Jesus sprinkle His blood in the heavenly Holy of Holies, and His blood not avail redemption and atonement?

FAR MORE OCCUPIED

"We are far more occupied with our work [in ministry] than we are with our prayer." - Andrew Murray; thanks Craig Ireland. Bracketed note is mine, not Murray's or Craig's.
- - - -

Al Hartman added:

If we would realize that our work, all of it, is ministry, and that ministry, all of it, is performed unto God and not for self, family, home, church, or community, then we would realize our insufficiency to work adequately and would be driven to prayer for His help in it.


As it is, we need to be driven to prayer just for the wisdom to recognize all that we have failed to realize...
- - - -
 
Pondering:  "all is performed unto God"
Consider Luther trembling in his first communion service...the Holiness of God.

JOHN OWEN, DDDC, BOOK 1, SECTION 3.

III. Rebuttal against general ransom theory.


A. general ransom-- to pay, redeem for all, every single one of Adam.

If this be the end, if this be the fruit, product thereof.

1. Either God and Christ failed, did not accomplish their intention (the death of Christ being not a fitly proportioned means to the attaining end.-- is blasphemous injurious to the wisdom, power, and perfection of God, likewise derogatory to the worth, value of the death of Christ.

2. or else, that all mean, all the posterity of Adam, must be saved, purged, sanctified, glorified. Which will not maintain the testimony of Scripture and the woeful experience of millions will not allow. (for such a conclusion) {universalism}

These then:

1. Do deny that God or His Son had any such absolute aim or end in the death and blood shedding of Jesus Christ. ---or/and---

2. Do Deny that any such thing was immediately procured and purchased by it. -- that God intended nothing, and Christ effected nothing.

That no benefit arises to any immediately but that which is comes to all and every soul (though never so cursedly unbelieving here and eternally damned hereafter) until some act not procured for them by Christ (for if it were, why have they it all not alike) but to wit- Faith-- does distinguish them from others.

Faith is an effect of the satisfaction and death of Christ, not the basis thereof.

Faith is an product of grace, not a cause of grace.

FLAWED PREMISE

‎(If) "Responsibility denotes capability". Then be perfect.
 
-- Will Torres  [to explose the error of Arminian Philosophy)

LOVE LESS ERROR

Arminians will say "hated" means "love less".  Then they will say,  'God does not hate the sinner, he loves the sinner, but hates the sin."    Which then we must tell them, "Oh so, you are saying He does not hate sin, he merely loves the sin less."  What a horror. (you cannot have it both ways.)

CAN THIS POSSIBLY NOT TAKE PLACE

He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all---how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring a charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died---more than that, who was raised to life---is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Romans 8:32-34).


The Father gave the Son in our place. Who is the "our" of this passage? The text says that it is "those whom God has chosen," that is, the elect of God. Again, the intercessory work of Christ at the right hand of the Father is presented in perfect harmony with the death of Christ---those for whom Christ died are those for whom He intercedes. And, as this passage shows, if Christ intercedes for someone, who can possibly bring a charge against that person and hope to see them condemned? So we see what we have seen before: Christ dies in someone's place, He intercedes for them, and they are infallibly saved. Christ's work is complete and perfect. He is the powerful Savior, and He never fails to accomplish His purpose.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

Are all the friends of Christ? Do all own His name? Do all bow before Him and accept Him as Lord? Do all do His commandments (John 15:14)? Then not all are His friends.

While we wait for the blessed hope---the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (Titus 2:13-14).

Both the substitutionary element of the cross (gave himself for us) and the purpose thereof (to redeem us...to purify) are forcefully presented to Titus. If it was the purpose of Christ to redeem and purify those for whom He died, can this possibly not take place?

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

Christ will save His people from their sins. I ask what Edwin Palmer asked me before: Well, did He? Did He save His people, or did He not?

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

This is the common confession of every true believer in Christ. We died with Him, our Substitute, the one who loved us and gave Himself in our behalf.

We have seen, then, that the Word teaches that Christ died for many, for His sheep, for the Church, for the elect of God, for His friends, for a people zealous for good works, for His people, for each and every Christian.

--- James White
 
http://vintage.aomin.org/Was%20Anyone%20Saved.html

WHY CHRIST CAME

The Intention of the Atonement


Why did Christ come to die? Did He come simply to make salvation possible, or did He come to actually obtain eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12)? Let's consider some passages from Scripture in answer to this question.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost (Luke 19:10).

Here the Lord Jesus Himself speaks of the reason for His coming. He came to seek and to save the lost. Few have a problem with His seeking; many have a problem with the idea that He actually accomplished all of His mission. Jesus, however, made it clear that He came to actually save the lost. He did this by His death.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners---of whom I am the worst (1 Timothy 1:15).

Paul asserts that the purpose of Christ's coming into the world was to actually save sinners. Nothing in Paul's words leads us to the conclusion that is so popular today---that Christ's death simply makes salvation a possibility rather than a reality. Christ came to save. So, did He? And how did He? Was it not by His death? Most certainly. The atoning death of Christ provides forgiveness of sins for all those for whom it is made. That is why Christ came.

--James White


http://vintage.aomin.org/Was%20Anyone%20Saved.html

THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD

"The love and hate of God towards men is immutable and eternal, existing, not merely before there was any merit or work of ‘free-will,’ but before the world was made; [so] all things take place in us of necessity, according as He has from eternity loved or not loved ... faith and unbelief come to us by no work of our own, but through the love and hatred of God."


~ Martin Luther (1483-1546): (The Bondage of the Will)

FAR BEYOND

‎"to mortify the lusts of the flesh, to be crucified unto the world, to overcome the Devil, to die daily unto sin and live unto righteousness, to be meek and lowly in heart, trustful and obedient, pious and patient, loving and gentle is a task far, far beyond the poor resources of fallen human nature." - A.W. Pink

THINK

DID CHRIST DIE FOR EVERYONE?  You may think that question is absurd. Most people would agree with you. Everybody knows that "God loves all men, Christ died for all men, and the Holy Spirit is striving to save all men?" But could it be that those things are not so? If you will examine the Word of God you will discover that none of those things are so.

God does not love all people (Rom. 9:13). If he did, no one would go to hell! Christ does not pray for all men (John 17:9, 20). If he did, none would perish! Christ did not die for all men (Isa. 53:8). If he did, none would be required to suffer for their sins! The Holy Spirit is not trying to save all sinners (Acts 16:6). If he were, all would be saved!

THINK! Don't blindly accept the traditions and doctrines of men. Your soul is at stake! The glory of God is at stake! If Christ died for the sins of all men, then none shall be lost; all the sins of all men must be forgiven; or Christ is a failure! If the Son of God died for some of the sins of all men, then all men must perish forever, because none can make atonement for sin. BUT IF, as the Scriptures everywhere assert, Christ died for all the sins of some men (God's elect), then all for whom he died must be saved. His blood was not shed in vain. Justice, being satisfied, demands that all for whom atonement has been made must be saved.

"Payment God cannot twice demand,  First at my bleeding Surety's hand, And then again at mine!"

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor
GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH OF DANVILLE
2734 Old Stanford Road
Danville, Kentucky 40422

FREEWILL RELIGION

"Freewillism is that doctrine that says, “God loves you, Christ died for you, and the Holy Spirit is calling you; but it will all be vain unless you choose to be saved.” Freewillism makes the determining factor in salvation to be the will of man. It makes the work of the Triune God and the grace of God to be impotent without the consent of man’s “freewill.” Freewill religion is in direct opposition to the gospel of the free grace of God. The Bible declares that salvation is not accomplished, determined by, or dependent upon the will of man, but by the will of God (John 1:12-13; Rom. 9:16). The word “freewill”, when used with reference to salvation is a blasphemous obscenity!"

- Don Fortner taken from, "Damnable Heresies."