"The fear of God is missing in today's pews because it is missing in today's pulpits."
Ray Comfort
07.27.07
Posted in Pulpit Series at 6:12 am by TruthofmyKing
In New York City, you can visit church after church, from stately cathedrals to small congregations, and you’ll seldom hear a word preached about repentance. The same is true of many evangelical churches across America and worldwide. You can visit congregation after congregation for months on end, and never hear any mention of repentance. Of course, there are churches today that do not compromise on this important biblical doctrine. But a vast number of churches have decided that repentance is too offensive a message. In fact, entire denominations have de-emphasized it. In such churches, you can hear all about God’s love, his blessings, his precepts for coping with life, but not a word about godly sorrow for sin. You can hear messages on loving others and being a good, kind person. All of that is indeed scriptural. But you won’t hear a repentance message like the one Peter preached at Pentecost. His sermon led thousands to freedom in Christ.Many pastors today would be appalled at what Peter preached that day. Acts 2 gives us the context for the apostle’s powerful message: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).As this verse demonstrates, there must be a knowledge of sin before there can be true repentance. That is the purpose of the law, to awaken a sense of sin. And the hearts of those people in Jerusalem were stirred when they heard God’s Word and recognized their sin.Peter answered their desperate cries by instructing them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (2:38, my italics). What does it mean to repent?
True repentance results in sorrow, remorse and regret over sin.
To repent is to experience such contrition as to change one’s way of life. Simply put, repentance is turning from one’s sin and going in the opposite direction.
Repentance is not meritorious. Only the sacrifice of Christ’s blood can forgive. But repentance is the only way to know true healing and rejoicing. There is no other way to enter the peace and rest of Christ except through the doors of repentance. Paul wrote to the Corinthians about the fruit that results from repentance:
“Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death…For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear” (2 Corinthians 7:10-11).
Let me give you the background of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. He had exposed the sin of incest in their congregation, but nobody dealt with it. And because this awful sin was overlooked, there was no remorse among the people.
So Paul wrote the church an even stronger message. Now, as the people sat listening to his letter read aloud in the congregation, they were pricked at heart. And they repented, full of godly sorrow at not having faced the exceeding sin in their midst. That repentance brought great rejoicing.
Now Paul encouraged them, saying, “See what godly sorrow did for you? It wrought a carefulness in you. It brought an indignation against your own sin.” Repentance is the only way healing and strength can come to those who are caught up in sin.
Repentance and trust in Christ’s redeeming blood result in total remission of sin, and that means pardon, forgiveness and freedom from sin’s power. According to Paul, there can be no conversion, no freedom, no born-again miracle without repentance: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
Thus, Paul preached to the Athenians: “God…now commandeth all men every where to repent” (17:30). And Jesus tells us he came for that very purpose, “to call…sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17). Perhaps clearest of all, Luke states, “It behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47)…
The feel-good gospel is all mixed up about the love of God.
Multitudes today are flocking to meetings where a feel-good pastor tells them, “All you need to do is believe, and you’ll be born again.” This doctrine is built on a passage in Acts 16, where an unsaved jailer asked the apostles what he should do to be saved. Paul’s response was, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31).
Ministers who emphasize this doctrine forget that when the jailer approached the apostles, he was so convicted that he “came trembling, and fell down” (16:29). This man was so distraught he had even considered suicide. He had a sense of his own sin, and his awe of God led him to repentance.
The truth is, human compassion alone cannot convert anyone’s soul. It reaches only the flesh, unable to touch the deep places of the soul.
And it’s a truth that is at the very core of the gospel. It says that biblical reproof against sin - a message warning the sinner to run to the Cross or perish - is the greatest love message that can be offered to man.
Ministers who once avoided the repentance message are being convicted to preach it again.
The pastor of a mega-church recently fell under conviction over his light, easy messages. For weeks he struggled, thinking, “I’m not a true shepherd. I’m not giving the people what they need to grow and mature in Christ.”
So he changed his preaching to include repentance. At the time, his congregation numbered in the thousands. Then, once he started preaching repentance, he ended up with less than two hundred people. But he is fulfilled and blessed because he’s now seeing his people grow in Christ.
I have to wonder: Is this why so many pastors never preach repentance? Are they afraid of losing people? Do they fear being unable to make mortgage payments? Are they mindful of needing people to give more toward the church’s growing expenses? I’m convinced these things combine to persuade good men to preach a soft message.
At times I’ve wondered what it would be like for people in feel-good churches to hear a repentance message by their preacher. I picture multitudes filing in to hear his latest sermon. Yet, backstage this man is in the grip of the Holy Spirit, who speaks to him with powerful conviction:
“The day of the Lord is at hand. The handwriting is on the wall, and God will soon judge the nations. All things are being shaken, and men’s hearts will fail them for fear.
“Do not go out on that stage tonight and comfort the people in their sins. Many are soul sick and blind, like sheep gone astray. They are in turmoil, with painful family problems, addictions, bondages the enemy torments them with.
“If you won’t warn them, their blood will be on your hands. The prophet Ezekiel has warned that if you don’t blow the trumpet to warn the wicked, they will die in their iniquity and the Lord will require their blood at your hand.
“Go now, and warn the people to repent and forsake their evil ways. Never again choke my conviction, for it leads to life. Then comfort and encourage them.”
If that preacher were to obey, he would immediately witness two things: a mass exodus to the doors, and a fraction of the people left sitting stunned in their seats. After a few minutes, the preacher would begin to see tears and hear soft weeping. Finally, a voice would rise from among those who have stayed, asking, “What do we do now?”
”The time has come to confess, to weep, to make things right with the Lord.”
You can read this article in its entirety by David Wilkerson at www.worldchallenge.org.
Permalink
07.26.07
Posted in Pulpit Series at 9:06 pm by TruthofmyKing
The purpose of this letter is to remind you that the battle you are facing is not yours, but God’s. If you are a child of God, you can be certain that Satan will “rage against you.”In 2 Chronicles 20, a great multitude came against God’s people. King Jehoshaphat and his people set their hearts to seek the Lord and they fasted. The king cried to the Lord a prayer that most of us have prayed at one time in our spiritual journey: “We have no might against these that come against us, neither do we know what to do; but our eyes are upon you” (20:12). “The Spirit of God came in the midst of the congregation…saying, Be not afraid nor dismayed…for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (20:14-15).Isaiah warned satanic forces, “Who have you reproached and blasphemed? And against whom have you exalted your voice?…even against the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 37:23).
God told his people, and he tells us, “The battle is not against you. It is Satan’s rage against me - against the Lord who abides in you.” God said to Satan, “I know where you abide, and where you come and go, and your rage against me” (37:28).
Where is your battle? In your marriage? Your business or job? Your finances? Your health? Does your battle get more intense day after day? If you have a heart for Jesus and a desire to cleave to him, you will face the rage of hell. But it is still not your battle.
You can end your battle quickly if you choose - by simply quitting and giving in to your fears and doubts. Satan will not bother those who give up their confidence in the Lord.
Yes, the battle is the Lord’s, but we have a part - and that is to trust and believe in the face of hopelessness and what seems to be impossibilities. “Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?” (Isaiah 40:27).
Faith demands that I turn all my problems - all my critical situations, all my fears, all my anxieties - into the hand of the Lord. When I know I have done all I can do, and I know my battle is beyond my power, I must turn it all over into his hands.
Our Lord knows the raging of Satan, and I must truly believe he will act. He will bring us through floods and fires, and put to chase all spiritual enemies. Here is God’s Word concerning what he will do: “Because of your rage against me…and it has come into my ears, therefore I will put a hook in your nose, and my bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way you came” (Isaiah 37:29).
If you will hold fast to your faith - trust him, rest in his promises, reject all lies of Satan coming at your mind - then expect him to come by his Spirit into your situation and bring an expected end to your particular battle. God will move heaven and earth to deliver you and make a way. The way out is to trust - trust - trust! “He makes wars to cease” (Psalm 46:9).”
This letter was written by David Wilkerson, the leader of “World Challenge”. If you would like to subscibe to his newletters please visit his website at www.worldchallenge.org.
Many times he has a great word in his “pulpit series”. Another one of his articles that I loved I have posted under this title: Whatever Happened to Repentance Preaching.
For the Truth of my King
Permalink
07.22.07
Posted in Justice at 12:27 am by TruthofmyKing
Prov 29:26
26 Many seek the ruler’s favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD.
NASB
Recently, I have witnessed an “injustice” between two persons who profess Christ. One took the other to secular court in a long drawn out battle, causing a great deal of strife, for no other reason then to gain a financial profit of money.
Yes, it was for nothing more than what the Scripture refers to as “filthy lucre” or “unrighteous mammon”.
My heart truly does become broken over such matters as these. On the surface it seems as though God’s children do not listen to Him, as this person who has professed Christ has denied God’s guidance by taking another who professes Christ to secular court. But this appearance of not listening to God is truly on the surface, any student of the Scripture will tell you that the children of God are obedient to His word and His will.
1 John 2:4
4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
NASB
So you, who profess Christ, why do you transgress God? Why did you take another to court before the unbelievers? Have you not read what your Father wants from you in such a matter as this?
Well allow me to direct you to God’s (your professed Father’s) Word:
1 Cor 6:1-8
1 Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, matters of this life? 4 If then you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, 6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud, and that your brethren.
NASB
How long are we going to call those who profess Christ, “Christians”, who blatantly disobey God time and time again, without any repentance or Godly remorse, or any righting of the wrongs committed against one another?
Why do some have such a disregard for God’s Word, an unwillingness to obey Him?
“Now, mark this: by this shall you know whether you are a child of God, or not; by the respect that you have to your Father’s Word. If you have small respect for that Word, the evidences of a bastard are upon you.”
~Charles Spurgeon
The worse part of this is that it appears that the one who instigated the lawsuit against the other is not in repentance for having directly disobeyed God’s will, but actually is rejoicing in “victory” as the worldly judge rendered worldly justice (did you expect Godly Justice in such an ungodly place?).
Where is the victory in such a thing? Is it in gaining unrighteous mammon, or your disobedience to God, perhaps your victory is in the strife that was caused among a multitude of people; both young and old, maybe you are rejoicing in the discontentment you had with your God given food and raiment; as you had plenty of both?
As a child of God, I do not expect justice in this life time.
Isa 59:14-15
14 And justice is turned back, And righteousness stands far away; For truth has stumbled in the street, And uprightness cannot enter. 15 Yes, truth is lacking; And he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey. Now the Lord saw, And it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice.
NASB
Why would I expect a crown of roses when my Lord was given a crown of thorns?
Eccl 3:15-17
16 Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. 17 I said to myself, “God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man,” for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.
NASB
The beautiful thing about the righteousness of God is that He is just and He sees all things. There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. Do not let your heart be troubled, the intention of the heart of every man and woman involved in such a matter as this is laid open and bare before the eyes of the Lord.
Luke 12:2-3
2 “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 3 “Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
NASB
The Scripture is clear, there is only one Judge, and He sees all things, secret and public, your thoughts and words, actions and lack of actions. ALL THINGS REGARDING THIS MATTER WILL BE BROUGHT BEFORE A MUCH HIGHER COURT!
This will either terrify you or bring you to the point of rejoicing if you are pure of heart!
In this matter, if your prayer and intent of heart all along has truly been for “fairness” and “righteousness” then the day when the Lord comes in His glory this intent of yours will be revealed and you will be vindicated. But if you have acted deceitfully, lusted or loved money, hated in your heart, wanting ill things to happen to one another, or caused strife for an impure reason, then the day of judgment will likewise reveal that.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, what a man sows, he will also reap, every man will be held accountable for his works, whether they are good or whether they are bad, and it will be known whether or not one has truly repented with Godly remorse or not, and you should be informed that you are not going to be the judge of yourself.
For if we were the judge of our own souls, we would call good; bad, and bad; good. We would justify our disobedience to God. In fact, this kind of false justification of ourselves occurs daily, but it is useless as our judgment of ourselves means nothing if it does not concur with God’s assessment of us. We may even “fool” many people on this earth that our cause was “just and holy” but you will not fool an Almighty God who has seen and heard every last thought, word, and action that you have ever had. He has the ultimate discernment of righteousness and He knows when you are contrary to His word and therefore His will.
God will judge according to righteousness; His righteousness, and it will not be contrary to His written word, so IN ALL THINGS obey God in His word so it will be well with your soul.
So is there injustice in this world?
For the time being, it would appear so, but do not judge according to appearance. For God is ruler of heaven and earth and He has set a day for Jesus to return with all His angels and true justice, not the justice of the world, but justice according to God will be rendered, and it will be the final word. True believers weep and mourn for the day when they will be vindicated along side of their Lord.
Truly my prayer is that all parties are reconciled to God and to one another and none are found to be under the wrath of God at the time of Judgment. God wills that none perish and I joyfully concur with His will. I must also point out that God has been merciful to me, the chief sinner in the world, and if He can be merciful to me, then He can certainly be merciful to all. My hope for everyone is that the Holy, Just, wrath of God will abide on no man or woman; but I DO HOPE for true repentance, Godly remorse, a turning away of from the things that God hates, and turning to the things that God loves; for these are the very evidences of salvation.
But I do not want you to be deceived nor take me lightly; an unrepentant heart for your smallest of transgressions has the wrath of God stored up in heaven for the day of judgment.
Rom 2:5-6
5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will render to every man according to his deeds:
NASB
I know that my speech has been hard in this article, but I am growing tired of having a multitude of people professing my Lord as their Savior, all the while they are completely disrespectful to the Will of God for their life. I know there are many false converts in the Church, and Jesus taught me that I “will know them by their fruits.” Disobedience to God, causing strife for impure reasons, and loving money, are not good fruit! However, there is still hope for one who is entangled in such sin, REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL AND YOU WILL BE SAVED!
For the Truth of my King
Permalink
07.15.07
Posted in The Gospel at 11:21 pm by TruthofmyKing
I have long studied the things of Christ and I am not ashamed. Questions have arisen in my soul, that in retrospect, were planted by the Holy Spirit to drive me to my knees.
The cross of Christ has always been one of those teachings that has always begged me to “come and learn” and it always leaves me humble in spirit.
Luke 22:41-44
41 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42 saying, “Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done.” 43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.
NASB
What would bring Jesus to a state of “AGONY” and in such distress that His sweat became like drops of blood?
Physical Suffering? I really don’t believe so. I have read true stories about Christian martyrs being burned alive at the stake, others boiled alive in oil, and some even skinned while alive, and the account by first hand witnesses say they sang songs and praised God all the way to their place of death.
So what does that have to do with the Cross of Christ?
Is not the Lord of Glory, the Master, greater than His servants? Remember, Christ was in “agony” sweating drops of sweat like blood. If you think the pain suffered on the cross was merely physical suffering, you may think too little of the Lord of your salvation.
Some have said that the Romans crucified Christ, others say it was the Jews, and truly we could even add every sinner that ever lived and I believe all answers are correct to a certain degree and in a certain context.
However, there was yet One more who was involved in the crucifixion of Christ!
You see, I cannot believe that the Son of God was trembling in the garden because of a Roman whip or out of fear of the nails when men after him sang songs and praised God on the way to their deaths.
We should recall that Jesus had a legion of angels at His command lest he dashed His foot upon a stone and not to mention HE WAS THE SON OF GOD. He had the spirit of God without measure.
So, why was Jesus in agony in the Garden? What was in the Cup?
It was the wrath of God for your sin and He drank the whole content and when he turned it over again, not a drop fell out.
Isa 53:10
10 But the LORD was pleasedTo crush Him, putting Him to grief; …
And Again:
Isa 53:6
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
And in this place:
Rom 3:24-25
24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.
I could continue on with passages, but the above should be sufficient.
It is clear, It pleased God the Father, Yahweh, to crush His son. His own Father displayed Him publicly on a cross, naked, as a propitiation.
I suppose there is no death, no matter how aweful or how painful, that could compare to being crushed by God Almighty. Take a thousand terrible deaths and experience them a thousand times and you still could not begin to understand being crushed by Yahweh.
This suffering is the true pain of the Cross of Christ!
Now we know God is good, so why the pleasure in destroying His Son?
He was not looking at His Son, who has perfect and blameless, for at this time Jesus had, on His own initiative, become accursed.
Gal 3:13
For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” -
God looked down and saw me, a sinner, instead of Him, because Jesus was bearing my iniquities. His pleasure was not in destroying His Son but in executing Justice for my sin and yours.
It should have been me who cried “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani” - My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
But as I sit here, trusting in the finished work of Christ, I do not have sweat falling from my face as though it was blood. (Although if it was not for the free gift of Grace from God I would be.) The fear I felt before I was regenerated has faded away. Why?
Because He was pierced through for my transgressions,
He was crushed for my iniquities;
The chastening for my well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging I am healed. (ISAIAH 53:5)
For the Truth of my King
Permalink
07.14.07
Posted in True Church at 11:31 pm by TruthofmyKing
Have you ever read this passage in the Bible:
1 John 2:4-6
4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
NASB
I love the simplicity of God’s Word!
The true follower of Christ will keep God’s commandments, and if you don’t, the Holy Spirit calls you a liar. Simple as that.
I hear the “legalist” argument starting. Have you noticed how the word “legalist” has become a curse word for loose speaking individuals who really don’t know the meaning of the word or what it means in the context of Christianity.
Let me define legalism in the context of our faith. A legalist declares that one can be justified in the eyes of God by following a set of rules and/or laws. Such as keeping the law of God somehow Justifies you.
So let me ward off the attack. If you offend God in any way, small or large, you have offended the most Holy, Powerful, Wise, Fearful Being known to all creation and there is no way to justify yourself. This means the penalty for ANY sin is death. Yes, Death! You see, you have not sinned against some prince or mayor or president but against the Holy Creator of Heaven and Earth and every thing not in conformity to His perfection is sin. All unrighteousness is sin.
So how can Christians claim they are saved or justified? Well, some Christians miss the fact that Justice was served for their sin. We only have to look to the Cross of Christ to see that the Judgement of God fell on Christ for our sin. You see God loved Jesus immensley and He had no reason to punish Him except for the cause of you. And Yes, one man can pay the penalty for every man that has ever lived and that is ever going to live because Jesus is worth more than everyone put together.
So Justification is only through the acceptance of Christ’s death and resurrection and there is no amount of righteousness that you can perform to cover even one sin.
Even in the American court system, good law abiding deeds will not excuse a criminal from the execution of justice for a crime committed. Imagine a murder happened 20 years ago and the offender within the span of those 20 years became a senator, paid all his taxes, and never got a speeding ticket. Do you think when he stands before the judge, years later, that the judge will excuse his aweful murder because of his law abiding activity or will the judge and jury of his peers exact justice for his brutal murder? Obviously Justice will be served here on earth, and if it is served on earth, then how much more will justice be served in heaven?
So again, justification is only through the acceptance of Christ’s death and resurrection and there is no amount of righteousness that you can perform to cover even one sin.
So now that the “legalist” argument has been silenced we can move on with a biblical teaching. The Scripture declares that if you say that you know Jesus, or in other words, you say “I am a Christian”, and you do not keep the commandments of God then you are a liar. Keeping the commandments of God is one of the evidence’s of who you are, inwardly.
Now, Mr. or Mrs. Legalism Accuser, do you keep the commandments of God? What do you say about 1 John 2:4-6?
Ah, perhaps we found the root of your disagreement. The Bible may condemn you as a liar. You might actually teach, or have believed the teaching, that it is OK for you to live as though God never gave you a law to obey rather then admitting that the Scripture teaches that True Christians keep the commandments of God.
Not only do we find this subject to be very clearly written in the text of 1 John but also throughout the entire book of the Holy Bible. For example, in book of Ezekiel, God prophesies about the “Born Again” experience:
Ezek 36:24-28
24 “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into your own land. 25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 “And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. 28 “And you will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.
NASB
Even the beloved Peter, the Rock, the one Christ said He would build His Church upon, spoke about this matter:
1 Peter 1:14-16
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
NASB
Perhaps Jesus Himself will convince you:
John 14:15
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
NASB
Jesus again:
John 14:21
21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him.”
NASB
The Lord of Glory:
John 15:10
10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.
NASB
The Son of Man:
Matt 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
NASB
In other words, Jesus says:
DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO DO NOT KEEP GOD’S LAWS. (LAWLESS)
How about Paul:
Rom 6:16-18
16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
NASB
John Again:
1 John 5:2-3
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
NASB
And finally it is understood by the saints that faith and obeying God go hand and hand:
Rev 14:12
12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
NASB
Those of you who scream “legalist” and at the same time proclaim “I have come to know Him”, I have a question for you.
Are the commandments burdensome to you?
If so, it is evidence of your nature. You are most likely unconverted and have every reason to fear the Justice of God. I beg you to pray to God, who has the ability to take out your old disobedient nature and replace it with an obedient nature; He can take out your heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh. The commandments will no longer be burdensome to you and you will joyfully concur with the Law of God, just as Paul, the preacher of faith.
Rom 7:22
22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,
NASB
For a fish, being out of the water is burdensome, and I can see why a fish does not like that experience for it is completely contrary to his nature. I can also see why some “professors of faith” have used the “legalist argument” and twisted the word of God when it comes to obedience; it is because obedience is contrary to their inner nature.
God declares in Scripture;”I WILL PUT A NEW SPIRIT WITHIN YOU AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES.” and “YOU WILL BE CAREFUL TO OBSERVE MY ORDINANCES.” Do we believe God or man?
Acts 5:29
29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, “We must obey God rather than men.”
NASB
Legalist Accuser, Examine yourself!
Are you in Christ or are you just accusing the brethren?
For the Truth of my King
Permalink
Posted in True Church at 12:34 am by TruthofmyKing
“If you wait for a perfect church, you must wait until you get to Heaven; and even if you could find a perfect assembly on earth, I am sure they would not admit you to their fellowship, for you are not perfect yourself. Find out those people who are nearest to the Scriptures, who hold the truth in doctrine and in ordinance, and are most like the apostolic church, and then cast in your lot with them, and you will be blessed in the deed.”~Charles Spurgoen
If you say there is a perfect spiritual church you will find no better friend than I standing next to you, but if you are looking for that perfect church here on earth in the form of men, I am afraid your seeking is in vain.
First, I must address an issue, some say there is the same amount of child abuse, pornography, fornication, and adultery inside the Church as there is outside the Church. These people come with statistics and so called facts, but I declare to them that the True Church is alive and well. The true church hungers and thirsts for righteousness, and obeys the commandments of God, and not for justification reasons, but out of respect for their Father’s house, who is Holy, and God declares because “He is Holy, so you shall be Holy”, and so it is with them.
What these people also don’t understand is that everyone who proclaims to be a Christian is not one just because of their profession of Christ. No, the bible is clear, it is your actions that are the evidences of your faith.
Some of you now are asking, “aren’t you a sinner?” “You don’t claim that Christians are perfect, do you?” Well, I am glad you asked.
I am a sinner. If I say I have no sin then I am a liar and the truth is not in me, but I say that I am a sinner that is declared to be right, NOT on my own virtue or merit, but I am righteous and perfect by the virtue and merit of another, that is my Lord, Jesus Christ.
If I was perfect on my own, I would not have need of a Saviour!
In fact, the Scripture is clear, There is none perfect, no, not one. Even Paul, who calls us to be perfect in his letters, admitted that he did not obtain perfection.
Phil 3:12
12 Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
NASB
Even the beloved Simon Peter was rebuked in the Scripture for showing partiality to the Jews over others. This is an imperfection of a member of the True Church to say the least.
So if Paul and Peter were not perfect and they made up the early Church, why do you search for perfection in the present day Church?
One of the hardest things for men to understand is how Jesus justifies sinners. Even though Paul and Peter were not perfect while they walked on this earth, I can assure you that they are declared perfect and righteous even as I write.
To be “perfect” is to be Jesus, Himself, and no one has obtained this form of perfection. To be “perfect in Christ” is to be an imperfect wretch, broken and contrite over sin but found in repentance, and through the Grace of God, who searches the deep parts of the heart, he is gloriously redeemed and justified by a mighty Savior.
So there is only one way to perceive if a church is “perfect”, that is to look spiritually and see if it is “perfect in Christ.”
In the same manner, you will never find “perfection” in men, the only thing you can possibly see in a man is his “perfection in Christ”.
For the Truth of my King
Permalink
07.06.07
Posted in Witnessing at 11:46 pm by TruthofmyKing
An all “to familiar” question when sharing your faith is captured in the title of this article.
“Why do some Churches and Christians insist on preaching Hell?”
“If God is love, why would He send anyone to Hell?”
“Didn’t Jesus die for my sins, so why should I worry about it?”
Faithful Christians preach about Hell because Jesus did!
It is true that denominations and Christians alike will disagree on the interpretation of passages about hell but I will state a fact: The loving Savior, Jesus Christ, taught more about hell than any other person combined in the entire Bible.
To prove this, find a topical bible (these bibles categorize passages into various topics) and then turn to the topic of “Hell”, read each passage, and see for yourself who was responsible for bringing us the majority of our teaching on this subject.
To NOT teach others about hell would be to NOT teach the Doctrine of Christ.
To be honest, this god that people make up in their minds, the one that does not punish evil, is a god that is unjust and unholy and truly is unloving. I will explain this later, but for now, if these accusers would just stop and think they could see that their god is nothing like the God of the Bible.
In fact, most of the Bible has to be denied or ignored to make such a statement that “God won’t send anyone to hell.”
For example consider this passage:
Heb 10:26-3126 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
NASB
Let us reason together, if you truly love something, then in that love, you must hate other things. For example, I have beautiful children, fearfully and wonderfully made by God, and I love them immensely and that is why I hate when someone hurts them physically or emotionally. My love for them provokes my anger in such a time.
If you truly love the light then you will hate the darkness, for darkness is lights rival. If you love righteousness, you will hate unrighteousness.
Let me personalize this. Think about the people that you love, what if they were blatantly lied to, taken advantage of, beaten or raped, or worse, murdered. If any one of these crimes were committed against your loved ones you would cry out for justice.
Ah Justice! This is what is missing from this argument. Take their loved ones and exceedingly sin against them, (Blaspheme against them, dishonor them, commit adultery, unspeakable acts, etc) and now, yes, now we hear their cry for justice. Isn’t there going to be a punishment for these crimes, they say?
So the same is true with God and even greater are the Truths.
I must note that our love cannot even begin to compare to His love and the justice that mankind can conceive is not even close to the justice we will come to know if we do not repent and turn from our ways.
Luke 13:3
3 “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
NASB
So why then did Jesus die for us? There is not enough time in my short life to thoroughly answer that question but for this articles purpose I will give two reasons: It was for Love and for Justice.
LOVE:
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
NASB
And Justice:
Prov 17:15
15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
NASB
You see according to the teachings of God, it is an “abomination” for Him or anyone else to justify the wicked. According to His own word, He cannot possibly justify our sins by saying “I will forget about all your transgressions and render no punishment at all.”
In other words, because of our wickedness, our sin, we owe a debt, and Justice has to be served if God is ”Just” (and He is). Someone has to be punished; to simply justify wickedness would be an “abomination” according to the book of Proverbs.
When Jesus died on the cross, crushed and abandoned by His own Father, Justice for your sin was served. Remember, Jesus had no sin.
2 Cor 5:21
21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
NASB
His punishment was for your sin. You cannot accuse God of being unjust. All one has to do is look to the cross, look at what He did to His own Son if you question His justice.
Rom 3:24-26
Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
NASB
So now that it is clear, we come back to the love of Jesus. Jesus did not have to justify you but He chose to lay down His own life because He loves you.
John 10:17-18
17 “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
NASB
So what does God want from us: He desires compassion, He looks to the one whose heart is broken and contrite. He asks you to repent and believe!
Isa 66:2
2 “For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the Lord. “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.
NASB
Mark 1:14-15
14 And after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
NASB
For the Truth of my King
Permalink
07.05.07
Posted in Salvation at 12:25 am by TruthofmyKing
I must admit that I often become broken over my own sin. In times like these, it seems as though all the things that I once was taught by my Lord, I must relearn. Perhaps this is what it means to renew your mind.
The sin I have accumulated in my short life would be enough to condemn a whole nation of men. I can see it so clearly, what a wretch I am! What have I done?
I cry out for forgiveness and vow repentance! And the Lord always brings me to the same scene. I see Him crucified on the cross, beaten, blood flowing, panting, abandoned, crushed by His own Father’s anger that was meant for me. Yes, it was meant for me!
It suddenly becomes clear again, my sins are just as severe as I once thought them to be. I am afraid, they are more severe than I will ever know.
I fear the world has redefined the word “forgiveness”. You see, not one sin I have committed has been forgotten in the way the world sees it. Never have my transgressions just been swept under the rug with no consequence. No, Not Even One! Every single sin, every single act of unrighteousness, has landed a terrible blow to Jesus. Oh God, what a wretch I am!
In my contrition and brokenness, even today, even now, Jesus again teaches me that He was given the authority to lay down His own life, from His Father, and He chose to do this for me. It was His choice to take the severe punishment for my transgressions. He took the punishment that was owed to me and only through that severe and “just” sentence bestowed upon my Lord for my unrighteousness am I forgiven.
John 10:17-18
17 “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
NASB
Oh, what a debt I owe to my Lord. What is it that You desire from me? He says:
“I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice”
Definition: Compassion - a deep awareness of and sympathy for another’s suffering
Matt 9:13
13 “But go and learn what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
NASB
He was crushed for my iniquity, He paid my debt. What a glorious day! What a King I have! Oh God give me the strength to serve him with all that I am!
Isa 53:5
But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
NASB
For the Truth of my King
Permalink
07.04.07
Posted in Church Reformers at 12:17 pm by TruthofmyKing
Many have noticed quotes from George Whitefield on my home page for Wesley’s Blog. It has come to my attention that, unfortunately, many do not know who he was or what he did. So I thought I could take this oppurtunity to give a biography of Mr. Whitefield. Most of what I am sharing will be from a book titled “Whitefield Gold” which is a collection of his popular quotes and excerpts of his written sermons.
George Whitefield (pronounced Whitfield), son of an innkeeper, was not an imposing figure. Slight of build, cross-eyed, and the youngest of seven children, he received more than his fair share of knocks and torments. But God gives each of us at least one talent, and to George Whitefield, that talent was a voice-a voice like a trumpet, a voice like a lion, a voice that could be heard a mile away, a voice that could shake walls, rattle windows, and create tears to run down the soot-covered cheeks of the coldest, hardest coalminers of the day. Whitefield did not discover this talent unil he was nineteen, but once discovered, he never hid it away or neglected the great gift God gave him.
Although forced to leave school, George continued reading and learning on his own. He would don his old blue apron and wash dishes, clean rooms, and draw beer by day, and read his Bible and classics by night. By the time he was 16, he could read Latin and some Greek. His mother always wanted her youngest to attend college, but knew it was impossible because there was no money. One day a customer came into the tavern and described to George and his mother how he had attended Oxford university as a “servitor.” Servitors were poor students who worked for rich students. George eagerly accepted the challenge, and in 1732 at the age of 17, he entered Pembroke college at Oxford.
The life of a servitor was much like that of an indentured servant. Servitors served three or four higher students and did whatever they wanted done: washing clothes, shining shoes, completing homework, or running errands. George had to wear a special gown, and regular students could not speak to him. He was not permitted to associate with other students or join clubs or take part in activities. Most servitors could not endure the constant humiliation and left college. George persevered by becoming extremely devout in his Bible study and prayers, and by visiting prisoners and poorhouses. He had heard of a large group of religious students called “the Holy Club” but had never met them and was not allowed to approach them. However one of the founders of the club, Charles Wesley, had heard of George’s devotion, and broke tradition by inviting him to join the group.
Members of the Holy Club were mockingly called “Methodists” because of their highly disciplined and structured lifestyle. But the lifestyle practiced by John and Charles Wesley and the other members of the club appealed to George, and he quickly became their most devoted and hardest working member. George discovered a book by Rev. Henry Scougal, “The Life of God in the Soul of Man”, that showed him that all of his good deeds, service and fasting were for naught unless he had Christ formed “within” him and was born again.
This book shook George’s faith to the core. He wanted to be born again, but did not know how. He fasted more, gave his money away dressed in rags, and spent all night in prayer. He spoke to no one and withdrew from the Holy Club. His studies faltered until he was threatened with expulsion. It appears that he had an emotional breakdown and suffered from severe depression. Other students thought he was mad and threw dirt at him. For Lent that year he ate only a little bread and tea. He became so sick and emaciated that a physician was called, and George was confined to bed for seven weeks. During this convalescence, George finally surrendered to God and cried out for help. “I thirst”, he moaned from his bed. He said it was like a floodgate opening, and he felt profound joy and release. He was reborn!
Whitefield preached his very first sermon in the church in Gloucester were he had been baptized and reared as a child. He preached with such eloquence and authority that someone complained to the Bishop that he had driven fifteen people mad. The Bishop calmly replied that he hoped the madness would not be forgotten before the next Sunday.
But just as Whitefield’s ministry was increasing exponentially every week, he received a request from John Wesley to travel to the colony of Georgia in America to become a missionary. He accepted the challenge and sailed to Savannah. Sailing across the Atlantic was a perilous trip that took two months in good weather and up to three or four months in usual weather. Even though Whitefield was never in good health, he made a total of seven trips to America, crossing the Atlantic thirteen times, and spending a total of over two years at sea. This never slowed down his preaching as he presented sermons every day aboard ship, along with prayer and Bible study. In Georgia, he founded schools and an orphanage named Bethesda [meaning House of Mercy] that still exists today. He returned to England after only four months to find that his ministry was still growing, but his pulpit-space was disappearing.
He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England in Oxford, but when he went to London, only four churches would let him in the door. He preached wherever he was allowed and spoke to societies and prisoners, nobility and shopkeepers. But as his crowds and popularity grew, the Church became more antagonistic.
Whitefield then did the unthinkable for an ordained minister. He preached outdoors! Not only was open air preaching unacceptable, undignified, and dirty, it was illegal. Preaching was to be done only in “consecrated buildings.” The only exception was for public hangings, were Whitefield often preached, frequently delaying the execution while the crowds stood, riveted to his every word of repentance and forgiveness.
Despite these prohibitions, in 1739, Whitefield set out for Kingswood, a poor coal-mining area near Bristol. It was a freezing, February day, but he walked through the dirt streets and found 200 people willing to listen to him. He told them about the love of Jesus and how Jesus had died for them. The next day, 2,000 people showed up, and by Sunday more than 10,000 people appeared from all over the area. Whitefield started a young people’s meeting in his sister’s house with 50 people, and within 6 weeks he had over 5,000 filling the village green. Whitefield preached in the open all over England that spring and summer, and spoke to over two million people. The churches were closed, but the people were open to the Word of God.
Whitefield left this great revival in the hands of John and Charles Wesley to return to America in August 1739. Regional revivals were already appearing in America under the leadership of William Tennant and his sons in Pennsylvania and Johathon Edwards in New England. Whitefield ignited these revivals into a continent-wide “Great Awakening”. He spoke in every city, town , and village green, morning, noon, and night. He preached to over 35,000 in Philadelphia, 20,000 in New York, and 20,000 in Boston. The name George Whitefield was the most recognized name on the North American continent, not only because of the news of his preaching, but because he had met face-to-face with more people in America than any other single person of that era. Even George Washington was just a young boy contemplating cherry trees when Whitefield stormed through Virginia. When he tried to travel south to Georgia, over 1,000 people followed him, and he had to stop at every village to preach. It took him over two months on horseback and canoe to reach Savannah.
A local farmer by the name of Nathan Cole, recollects in a letter, of his hearing Whitefield speak. Here is an excerpt of that long letter, this was during his travel to the location where Whitefield was going to preach:
We went down in the stream but heard no man speak a word all the way for 3 miles but every one pressing forward in great haste and when we got to Middletown old meeting house there was a great multitude, it was said to be 3 or 4,000 of people assembled together; we dismounted and shook off our dust; and the ministers were then coming to the meeting house. I turned and looked towards the Great River and saw the ferry boats running swift backward and forward bringing over loads of people and the oars rowed nimble and quick, every thing, men and horses and bots seemed to be struggling for life. The land and banks over the river looked black with people and horses all along the twelve miles I saw no man at work in his field, but all seemed to be gon.
Whitefield preached till the day that he died:
Whitefield preached a schedule that would have destroyed even a healthy man, and Whitefield was far from healthy. He preached usually thirteen sermons a week, each lasting one to two hours or more. It is estimated that he preached 18,000 sermons in his lifetime. Even when he tried to rest, the crowds forced him to continue.
Although thousands found faith and hope through Whitefield’s work, he also had tormentors and enemies. He was jeered and ridiculed, pelted with stones and dead cats, and even attacked and beaten by a man with a gold-headed cane. Nothing deterred or even delayed his preaching. He was fearless in his work and frequently proclaimed, “We are immortal till our work is done.”
Although suffering continually from asthma, Whitefield refused to give up his daily sermons. In 1769 he made his final trip to America, arriving in Savannah to work on converting his orphanage to a college. He traveled up the Atlantic coast with crowds at every stop. By the time he reached Boston, he was too ill to speak and spent three days in bed. On September 29, he was carried to Exeter, New Hampshire, where he prayed, “Lord Jesus, I am weary in your work, but not of your work. If I have not yet finished my course, let me go and speak for you once more in the fields, seal your truth, and come home to die.” Barely able to stand, Whitefield preached for two hours on “Faith and Works”, and then went to his friend’s house in Newburyport for supper and bed. But when he tried to walk up the stairs to bed, dozens of people appeared at the parsonage and begged for just a short message. Whitefield stood on the steps and spoke until the candle he was holding in his hand burned down to his palm. He told a companion that his asthma was returning and, “I am dying.” At 6:00 the next morning he died. He was 55 years old.
Here is what John Wesley had to say about Whitefield:
Have we read or heard of any person who called so many thousands, so many myriads of sinners to repentance? Above all, have we read or heard of anyone who has been God’s blessed instrument to bring so many sinners from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God as Whitefield.
For the Truth of my King
Permalink
07.02.07
Posted in Salvation at 10:54 pm by TruthofmyKing
In a previous article (Evidence of Salvation - You Will Know Them by Their Fruits), I briefly wrote about the book of 1 John being the “book of assurance.” This subject must be dealt with in a little more depth.
It seems the first reasonable act, if you want to know if you are saved, if you want assurance of salvation, is to ”examine yourself”
2 Cor 13:5
5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test?
NASB
It is important that you do not use any other method of measure to recognize that Jesus Christ is in you than the written word of God. Do not compare yourself to someone else, lest you be found to be justified in your own heart and not in the eyes of Christ.
Prov 14:12
12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
NASB
Jer 17:9
9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?
NASB
Now it is only fitting that 1 John was written by the Holy Spirit so that we may KNOW that we have eternal life.
1 John 5:13
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.
NASB
So let us begin examining ourselves:
1 John 1:6
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
NASB
You will notice throughout this entire book of 1 John he uses a series of questions that begin with “if we say” but then he ends with “and yet” which means the actions of one who does not have assurance will be contrary to what they say.
This is important……
Do you not what your profession of faith means?
NOTHING! If it is not followed by action, or there is no fruit of that profession.
James 2:17
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
NASB
Remember the Lord said that a good tree will bear good fruit (Matt. 7:17) but what becomes of the tree that bears no fruit?
Luke 13:7
7 “And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’
NASB
So the first test found in 1 John 1:6 says that if we say we are walking with Christ or if we say we are a Christian but we walk contrary to righteosness then we are a liar.
It is the same as saying we are good tree and we are producing bad fruit. In addition to John, the Lord Jesus said this cannot be so:
Matt 7:18
18 “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
NASB
Do not escape this first test, if it is failed, do not try to justify yourself by any work, by trying to walk in the light. No one is justified by works.
Remember, these tests are only the evidences of your faith. Evidences of who you are.
If you find yourself to be without faith, return to your knees and cry out to the Lord of Glory to replace your heart of stone with a heart of flesh and if it is a sincere cry, I have the assurance by His written word He will save you.
For those of you who passed, here is the second test:
1 John 1:8-10
8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
NASB
Are you one who believes that you are going to heaven because you are good (Sinner -What Have You Been Saved From)?
Do you not confess your sin to your Savior?
The question here is found in the present tense form so it does not mean “Have you confessed your sin at one time in the past” but are you “confessing” even to this day.
Let me ask you a question, when was the last time you found yourself broken over your sin?
If you pass, A third test:
1 John 2:3-4
3 And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
NASB
Do you live as though your Father never gave you a law to obey? Do you confess that you have been saved from the condemnation of your transgressions and yet continue to live in violation of those same commandments?
A fouth test:
1 John 2:6
6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
NASB
A fifth test:
1 John 2:9
9 The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now.
NASB
By now you should see the clear instruction from the Holy Spirit. What you say can be completely contrary to the way you live your life.
So during this examination I beg you to discard all of your professions of faith and examine yourself strictly on your walk.
A sixth test:
1 John 2:15-16
15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
NASB
A seventh:
1 John 3:7-9
7 Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
NASB
The eighth:
1 John 3:10
10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
NASB
Ninth:
1 John 3:15
15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
NASB
Tenth:
1 John 3:17
17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
NASB
Eleventh:
1 John 3:24
24 And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
NASB
The twelfth:
1 John 4:2-3
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
NASB
Thirteenth:
1 John 4:6
6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
NASB
Fourteenth:
1 John 4:7-9
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9
NASB
Fifteenth:
1 John 4:20
20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
NASB
And at last the Sixteenth:
1 John 5:1-3
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
NASB
I encourage you to read the book of 1 John. I pray that you have passed the tests, that your examination proved you are who you profess you are.
If so, the Holy Spirit through John has one last thing to say:
1 John 3:19-22
19 We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before Him, 20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
NASB
May you have the eyes to see and ears to hear.
For the Truth of my King
Permalink
« Previous entries
RSS
