As Long As Preachers Allow Their Sermons To Be Dictated By Public Sentiment Or The Worldly Desires Of Their Hearers!

 As Long As Preachers Allow Their Sermons To Be Dictated By Public Sentiment Or The Worldly Desires Of Their Hearers!

"They are not of the world, even as I am not of it" (John 17:16).

"As Christ is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17).

A Christian is one who is Christlike in character, in desire, and in deportment. No other has any right to bear Christ's name. Yet there are a multitude of people who call themselves Christians, who bear no resemblance to Christ in their lives.

One of the most pitiable things that we can behold, is one who professes to be a citizen of the kingdom of God - and yet lives like a citizen of the kingdom of satan! The worldly professor fills his days with folly - but his cup of joy is always bitter at the last. He gathers up the "fools gold" that glitters in earthly things. He lives after the flesh and after the world. He goes with the crowd. He misses all the blessedness of righteousness, and, worst of all, he misses Heaven at the last! "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God" (James 4:4).

Those who still love the pride and vanity of the world, those who are absorbed in its frivolities, those who covet its gold and its honors, those who love its applause - there are those who are of the world.

Those hypocritical professors who bear Christ's name, but will not obey Him - dishonor Him, and by their example influence others to do the same, how shall they escape the damnation of hell? If there is one thing that God hates above all else, it is a proud and worldly heart! Such a heart can never be a reverential heart. Its religion is but hypocrisy. It is only a sham. It has no reality. It is only a cloak of respectability, while the heart is full of corruption.

The Christian life is, and ever will be, a life of separation from sin and pride and worldliness. If you are not willing to be thus separated, then you should have common honesty enough not to professs to be what you very well know that you are not. If you are going to be a Christian in name, then be one in reality!

Your character, not your profession, will be what will matter in the final judgment. "God will give to each person according to  what he has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality - He will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil - there will be wrath and anger" (Romans 2:6-8).

If all preachers had honesty enough and courage enough to preach the truth - then the tide of worldliness that is overwhelming such a multitude of souls are sweeping them into perdition, would be somewhat stayed. As long as preachers allow their sermons to be dictated by public sentiment or the worldly desires of their hearers - they will cater to fashions, and souls by the million will drift on into hell! Oh, what a reaping such preachers will have at the judgment! The full measure of God's wrath will fall on those preachers who fail to be true to souls and to God, in preaching those truths the Bible clearly teaches against sin and worldliness.

~Charles Navior~

The Characteristics of The Modern Christian Pulpit!

The Characteristics of The Modern Christian Pulpit!

"John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath! Produce fruit in keeping with repentance!" (Luke 3:7-8).

Well would it be for the Church of Christ, if it possessed more plain-speaking ministers like John the Baptist! A morbid dislike to strong language; an excessive fear of giving offence; a constant flinching from directness and plain speaking - are, unhappily, too much the characteristics of the modern Christian pulpit!

Uncharitable language is no doubt always to be deprecated. But there is no charity in flattering unconverted people - by abstaining from any mention of their vices, or in applying smooth names to their damnable sins!

There are two texts which are too much forgotten by Christian preachers. In one it is written, "Woe unto you - when all men shall speak well of you!" (Luke 6:26).

In the other it is written, "Obviously, I'm not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God! If I were still trying to please people - I would not be Christ's servant! (Galatians 1:10).

~J. C. Ryle~

The Religion Which I Want

The Religion Which I Want

I am quite sick of modern religion - it is such a mixture, such a medley, such a compromise. I find much, indeed, of this religion in my own heart,for it suits the flesh well - but I would not have it so, and grieve it should be so.

The religion which I want is that of the Holy Spirit.

I know nothing but what He teaches me.

I feel nothing but what He works in me.

I believe nothing but what He shows me.

I only mourn when He reveals the Saviour.

This religion I am seeking after, though miles and miles from it - but no other will satisfy or content me.

When the blessed Spirit is not at work in me, and with me, I fall back into all the darkness, unbelief, earthliness, idleness, carelessness, infidelity, and helplessness of my Adam nature.

~J. C. Philpot~

One Truth, Brought Home to The Soul By the Holy Spirit

One Truth, Brought Home to The Soul By the Holy Spirit

We do believe the truths of God's Word - but we need to make them bear more upon our experience and practice. Our religion is too much in the head - and too little in the heart. Truth rather floats in the understanding - than sinks down into the soul. Our memory lets it slip - and nothing but frequent meditation on these things, will cause us to profit by them. The truths of God's Word are calculated and intended to benefit the Lord's people - but unless we exercise our minds upon them - we shall be be benefitted by them.

One truth, brought home to the soul by the Holy Spirit, and digested by meditation - does us more good than volumes which just pass through the mind! We ought, therefore, to pray more over what we read - and look to the Holy Spirit, beseeching Him to unfold and apply the truth to us!

~James Smith~

If God Knew the Fall was going to happen - that satan would rebel and Adam and Eve Would Sin - Why did He Create Them?

If God Knew the Fall was Going to Happen - that satan Would rebel and Adam and Eve Would Sin - Why Did He Create Them?

This question includes two aspects: 1) God's knowledge of satan's temptation and human sin, and 2) why God would create humans who would or could sin. First, did God know satan would rebel against Him and then successfully tempt Adam and Eve? The Bible clearly states that God knows all things. For example, 1 John 3:20 teaches, "God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything." Psalm 139:17 declares, "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!"

If God knew satan would successfully tempt Adam and Eve, why did God create humans with the ability to sin? Though the Bible does not explicitly answer this question, many principles can be seen. First, God is the only perfect being. As Romans 3:4 says, "Let God be true though every one were a liar." Therefore, every created thing, including humans, would have the ability to do wrong or to sin.

Second, God can use even sin as part of His perfect, sovereign, divine plan. Though sin displeases God and He is not the author of it, the sin that began in the Garden of Eden served as the basis for which human sin entered the world, revealing the necessity of One who could conquer sin and death. This came through Jesus Christ, as Romans 8:2 teaches, "For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."

Third, God created humans with freedom of choice. The only other alternatives were to create people without choice or to not make people at all. People without choice would creat a robotic type of existence that does not reflect the plan of God for the world. Instead, God created people with the ability to make choices, including right and wrong, as part of His sovereign creation. Again, our human understanding cannot completely comprehend the ways in which God's sovereign plan and our human choice work together, yet Scripture reveals both. God's perfect plan continues to move forward despite human sin and clear commands to believe in His Son Jesus Christ and to live a life that honors Him.

Ultimately, however, God created Adam and Eve with the ability to sin to bring Himself maximum glory. In ways beyond our complete comprehension, God's glory is best displayed in the way He has chosen to create humanity, including allowing for our sinful nature. Part of this display of glory will be seen at the end of time when the curse is ended and sin is removed. This time, described in Revelation 21 - 22 shows that the curse of sin is not permanent for those who believe in Christ, but will be removed when we are in His presence forever.

~Compelling Truth~

How Can I Come To Really Know God?

How Can I Come To Really Know God?

Truly knowing God begins with accepting His salvation. Without the sacrifice of Jesus, we are dead in sin (Colossians 2:13). A dead person cannot raise himself to life in order to come to know anyone. However, once we have accepted the gift of Christ through faith, we can begin to truly know God. The wonder of salvation is that we are not only saved out of an eternity in hell, but to a life in Christ. We are invited into fellowship with God (John 17:20-26), made part of His family (Romans 8:15-17).

After salvation, knowing God starts with hearing what He has to say about Himself. Though we cannot know God fully in this lifetime, we can know Him in part. He has revealed certain things about Himself to us. We find these revelations in God's written Word - the Bible - and the Word incarnate - Jesus. We also glean them through creation, which is His general revelation to all (Romans 1:20.) Believers have been given the Holy Spirit so that we can make sense of God's Word and perceive the things He reveals to us (John 16:13).

Along with reading Scripture, we also engage in things like prayer, fellowship, and worship. God desires to have a personal and intimate relationship with us. We grow that relationship as we would any other - through time,  conversation, sharing our hearts. We study the truth of the Word and also pay attention to our experiences. We ask God for His guidance. Jesus said, "And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened" (Luke 11:9-10). We have been invited to seek God. We can do so boldly (Hebrews 4:16).

We also come to know God by obeying Him. Jesus said, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me... You are my friends if you do what I command you...You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another" (John 15:4, 14, 16-17). When we obey someone, we begin to understand his desires. When we obey God, we also experience the blessings He has for us because His commands are meant for our good. Abiding in God is one way we come to know Him; and when we do, our attitudes and actions will begin to reflect God's character (Matthew 12:33; Galatians 5:22-24; Ephesians 2:10).

Hebrews 11:6 sums up the key to truly knowing God: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." First, we must have faith to believe in God. Then we must understand His character - that He has good things in store for us. Finally, we must seek Him earnestly. We are called to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). Knowing Him is a life response to His love for us. As we engage daily life, we do so with God on our hearts and in our minds (Colossians 3:17).

~Compelling Truth~

Understanding the Book of Revelation - How Can I Do It?

Understanding the Book of Revelation - How Can I Do It?

The book of Revelation is often difficult to understand. How can we better know what it means?

It is important to apply proper Bible study methods (also called hermeneutics) to understand Revelation. This can assist in determining which aspects are literal and which are figurative. In some  cases, Revelation identifies figurative aspects in other parts of the book itself. For example, in the descriptions of the seven churches in chapters 2 - 3, many references are identified. Revelation 1:20 also explains some part, noting, "As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches." 

Whenever possible, the self-identification in Revelation should be used. However, there are many other figures used that are not as clearly explained. For example, the woman attacked by a dragon in Revelation 12 has been identified in many different ways. The best understanding, however, can be found in other parts of Scripture. Similar imagery is used in Genesis 37 in Joseph's dream about his father Jacob (Israel), his mother, and his brothers (the tribes of Israel). Comparing Genesis 37 to Revelation 12 helps us identify the woman in Revelation 12 with the nation of Israel. It appears the best explanation in this case is that Jesus the "male child" was born from within Israel (the woman) and was attacked by the dragon (satan). The child is to rule the nations (Psalm 2:7-9; Revelation 20:4-6) and has been caught up to God and His throne (a reference to Jesus' ascension; (Acts 1:9-11). The woman's flight into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God and where God will nourish her for 1,260 days is thought to be a reference to God's protection of Israel during the great tribulation.

Other imagery is more difficult to determine. For example, the mark of the beast is noted as 666. Revelation 13:18 says, "This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666," Some have attempted to use this number in association with Roman emperors or evil leaders throughout history. The truth is that the identification of this number is uncertain and may not be clearly understood until the foretold future events happen.

Prophecy scholars also note that descriptions should be taken literally unless there is a reason to think otherwise. For example, the descriptions of the millennium note the specific number 1,000 years on six occasions in Revelation 20. While it could potentially be possible this is figurative, it appears much more likely that the text indicates a literal 1,000 year period is the focus. The same is true regarding Revelation's description of the new heaven, new earth, and the new heavenly city, in chapters 21 - 22.

Revelation may be difficult to understand, but it is not impossible. Proper Bible study methods can help us know the main points and many of the events communicated.

~Compelling Truth~