“Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Psalm 2:11-12
'No gold, nor purple swaddling bands, Nor royal shining things; A manger for his cradle stands, And holds the King of kings. Go, shepherds, where the Infant lies, And see his humble throne; With tears of joy in all your eyes, Go, shepherds, kiss the Son.'Isaac Watts 1674-1748
Jesus Christ came to this earth to save sinners, to deliver sinners. The King of kings and Lord of lords was not born in a palace. He was not placed in a beautiful baby crib. The world didn’t want Him then and it doesn’t want Him now. There is no room for Him… there never has been. People are too full of the world and themselves to have room for Jesus Christ. I recognize this is the time of the year when many turn their thoughts towards peace and goodwill toward men. That’s a good thing. But it is not THE thing.
Jesus was not just a good man. He was not just a wise teacher. He did not come to this earth just to be a babe in a manger. He came to die. He came to give Himself a ransom for all. {I Timothy 2:6} He came to save His people from their sins. He “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” He had a definite purpose in coming to this world. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to savesinners…”
As Charles Wesley wrote many years ago;
“And can it be that I should gain An interest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain— For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”
“Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.”
The following has been for many years been one of my favorite quotes from godly Bishop J. C. Ryle. He continues to be one of my favorites. He showed us how to reflect Christ's light even in what was for the most part a cold, dead denomination. I thank http://jcrylequotes.com for reminding us of this good quote, though I am including the entire paragraph from the book.
“One plague of our age is the widespread dislike to what men are pleased to call dogmatic theology. In the place of it, the idol of the day is a kind of jellyfish Christianity – a Christianity without bone, or muscle, or sinew, – without any distinct teaching about the atonement or the work of the Spirit, or justification, or the way of peace with God – a vague, foggy, misty Christianity, of which the only watchwords seem to be, ‘You must be…liberal and kind. You must condemn no man’s doctrinal views. You must consider everybody is right and nobody is wrong’. And this creedless kind of religion, we are told, is to give us peace of conscience! And not to be satisfied with it in a sorrowful, dying world, is a proof that you are very narrow-minded! Satisfied, indeed! Sucha religion might possibly do for unfallen angels! But to tell sinful, dying men and women, with the blood of our father Adam in our veins, to be satisfied with it, is an insult to common sense and a mockery of our distress. We need something far better than this. We need the blood of Christ."
The Upper Room; chapter six, “One Blood”, page 99; Banner of Truth, London, 1977 reprint
This will not be long, so give me just a moment (most of us don't like "long sermons" anyway). "Mellow" means "ripe, soft, and with good flavor; sweet and juicy." And in the figurative sense, it means, "softened and made wise by age or experience." Remember this definition.
When I was younger, some godly, older men would often say to me, "You are preaching the truth, but the way you say it is too harsh." Thus I learned (hopefully) that you can do a right thing in the wrong way, or putting it in scriptural language, I learned that we should always be careful to "speak the truth in love." I just read a recently printed message on the new birth, and the wise, elderly preacher said this: "And I mean this without intending any offense toward those precious children of God, who believe the contrary system. I have learned, or, at least I am trying to learn, to be more considerate, to be more courteous, than I have in the past toward those precious children of God, who have never come to understand and to appreciate some of the doctrines that are so precious to you and me." He has "mellowed," in other words. Note the kind words, "those precious children of God," and "I am trying to learn to be more considerate, to be more courteous, than I have in the past." Let us all learn here that we must view others as true children of God, even though they differ with us in doctrine or denomination.
What of you, dear friend? I still know some elderly men who need mellowing. We must remember what Elihu said, "Great men are not always wise" (Job 32:9), nor are young men always arrogant and foolish. Grace must temper us, no matter what our age. Especially our tongues and attitudes. There was strife among brethren all through Scripture, but it is not for us to emulate (Genesis 13:8; Luke 22:24). Our only Model is the Humble Servant of Jehovah, our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 22:27; John13:15). Men can often make us brash and harsh, but not so our lovely Lord.
Listen to these quotes:
"The tongue is in a wet place, and easily slips." "The tongue is not steel, but it cuts."
"The tongue bites sharper than the teeth." "I consider looseness with words no less a defect than looseness of the bowels" (John Calvin).
"But the tongue can no man tame" (James 3:8) -- nor our harsh, unloving attitudes. Only the softening, mellowing grace of God can do that.
Time has been given to each of us. It can be our enemy or our friend. No matter what "time zone" we are in, we each have 24 hours in every day, seven days in every week, 52 weeks in a year---But wait! We know not how many years we have. We know not how many months we have, or weeks we have, or days we have, or hours we have, or minutes, or even seconds! God does not promise us tomorrow! He does say in Hebrews 9:27 "It is appointed unto men (all mankind), once to die, but after this the judgment." Whatever you may say, you cannot deny this truth. All of us, old and young, rich or poor, white or black, male or female have to die. We all know this. We do not know when.
You have been given this gift of a certain amount of time called a "lifetime", whether long or short. Use it wisely, for the day is coming for you, and for me, and for the entire planet when "That there should be time no longer:" (See Revelation 10:6).
Christ came on time. "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law" (Galatians 4:4). Christ died when His time had come (see John 7:6; cp. with John 16:32). He rose again, ascended into heaven, and is returning at the end of time. He will receive unto Himself those who know Him, and have trusted Him as Lord and saviour. (John 14:2,3; cp. with 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). You still have time--use it wisely! Turn to Christ!
(The following is the introduction to the reader of Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices, one of the classic Puritan writings by Thomas Brooks (1608-1680). Brooks is one of the most readable Puritans, and one of the most delightful. He is my favorite, except for Thomas Watson. An example of his sweetness and depth at the same time is evident right here in this introduction. An introduction! Yet it has such great thoughts that it certainly compliments the main piece. Oh, I would love to be able to write introductions like his! If this whets your appetite for Brooks, Precious Remedies (which I highly recommend), is available in paperback from Banner of Truth. More from Puritans currently featured on my site cyberwordoftruth.
Dear Friend,
SOLOMON bids us buy the truth, Prov. xxiii. 23. but doth not tell us what it must cost, because we must get it though it be never so dear; we must love it both shining and scorching; every parcel of truth is precious as the filings of gold; we must either live with it, or die for it. As Ruth said to Naomi, ' Whither thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I will lodge, and nothing but death shall part thee and me:' Ruth i. 16, 17. 'If truth be the cause of contention, nothing but death can separate me from it, and even that cannot do it.'—Jerome. So must gracious spirits say, Where truth goes, I will go, and where truth lodges, I will lodge, and nothing but death shall part me and truth. A man may lawfully sell his house, land, and jewels, but truth is a jewel that exceeds all price, and must not be sold, it is our heritage.' Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever,' Ps. cxix. 111. It is a legacy that our fore-fathers have bought with their blood, which should make us willing to lay down any thing, and lay out every thing, that we may with the wise merchant in the gospel, Mat. xiii. 45, 46. purchase this precious pearl, which is of more worth than heaven and earth, and which will make a man live happily, die comfortably, and reign eternally.
And now if thou pleasest, read the following work, and receive this counsel from me.
First, Thou must know that every man cannot be excellent, yet may be useful. An iron key may unlock the door of a golden treasure, yea, iron can do some things that gold cannot do.
Secondly, Remember, it is not hasty reading, but seriously meditating upon holy and heavenly truths, that makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the bee's touching of the flowers that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time upon them, and drawing out the sweet. It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most, that will prove the choicest, sweetest, wisest, and strongest Christian.
Thirdly, Know that it is not the knowing, the talking, nor the reading man, but the doing man," that at last will be found the happiest man: If you know these things, blessed and happy are you if you do them. 'Not every one that saith, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doth the will of my Father that is in heaven.' It was a good saying of Justin Martyr, ' Our religion consists not in speaking of the things, but in doing them.' Judas called Christ, Lord, Lord, and yet betrayed him, and is gone to his place; Ah! how many Judas's have we in these days that kiss Christ, and yet betrayChrist; that in their words profess him, but in their works deny him; that bow their knee to him, and yet in their hearts despise him; that call him Jesus, and yet will not obeyhim for their Lord.
Reader, If it be not impressed upon thy heart to practise what thou readest, to what end dost thou read, to increase thy own condemnation? If thy light and knowledge be not turned into practice, the more knowing thou art, the more miserable thou wilt be in the day of recompence; thy light and knowledge will torment thee more than all the devils in hell. Thy knowledge will be that rod that will eternally lash thee, and that scorpion that will for ever bite thee, and that worm that will everlastingly gnaw thee; therefore read, and labour to know, that thou mayest do, or else thou art undone for ever. When Demosthenes was asked, What was the first part of an orator, what the second, what the third ? he answered, Action; The same may I say, if any should ask me, what is the first, the second, the third part of a Christian? I must answer, Action. That man who reads that he may know, and labours to know that he may do, will have two heavens, a heaven of joy, peace and comfort on earth, and a heaven of glory and happiness after death.
Fourthly and lastly, if in thy reading thou wilt cast a serious eye upon the margin, thou wilt find many sweet and precious notes, that will oftentimes give light to the things thou readest, and pay thee for the pains with much comfort and profit. So desiring that thou mayest find as much sweetness and advantage in reading this Treatise, as I have found, (by the over-shadowing of heaven) in the studying and writing of it, I recommend thee to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build thee up, and to give thee an inheritance among them which are sanctified. And rest, Reader,
Aphorism = a short sentence expressing a general truth; maxim; proverb.
MANY DO NOT REALLY BELIEVE THE BIBLE, ONLY WHAT THEY LIKE IN THE BIBLE.
And usually we only like what we already believe. For example, if church people have been taught a pre-tribulation rapture, they usually have no difficulty accepting that as scriptural. But, if someone comes along teaching differently (with proper exegesis of scripture), suddenly they do not "like" the new teaching. Correct? The same thing can be said for numerous doctrines, including the atonement and the resurrection.
YOU CAN'T TELL ANYTHING TO PEOPLE WHO ALREADY KNOW EVERYTHING.
"A living dog is better than a dead lion" (Ecclesiastes 9:4). But who knows what that means? We make "dead lions" know more than "living dogs," don't we? The same with "dead" people, for we say "They are not really dead." For sure, "The legs of the lame are not equal; so is a parable in the mouth of fools" (Proverbs 26:7). So, if you already know everything, that is, you are correct on all Bible interpretation, why even attend preaching, read books, or listen to radio and television preachers? Why bother with even reading this? Closed-mindedness is a dark sin!
"ALL IS VAIN UNLESS THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLY ONE COMES DOWN."
These lines from an old hymn have truly been forgotten in the modern church. We can meet and socialize, go through forms and ceremonies, feel good about being devoutly religious, and totally forget that true worship is all about bowing in humility and praise before the great God heaven. "O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker" (Psalm 95:6). Is there anyone experiencing this regularly in your church meetings? Does the Holy Spirit still "come down" and melt you to tears, in true confession of sin, and praise of Christ? Philippians 3:3.
TRUE CHRISTIAN JOY IS MORE INJURIOUS TO SATAN'S EMPIRE THAN ANYTHING.
So why should we go mourning all our days? "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart" (Psalm 32:11). Christians who keep themselves in a morbid state displease God, so let us ever be cultivating "joy unspeakable" in our lives, in true praise and honor of our Lord Jesus Christ, "whom having not seen, we love" (I Peter 1:8).
THE BIBLE MEANS WHAT IT SAYS, AND SAYS WHAT IT MEANS.
It also means what it means, because it is inspired. Some say, "The Bible is our only rule of faith and practice," but that expression came from their Confession of Faith! If we uphold and defend everything in our Confession of Faith, that means we venerate it as inspired also. If we say our Confession of Faith is not inspired like Scripture, then we do not need this additional Confession, do we? The Catholics are usually more honest than Protestants, because they say their authority is more than Scripture.
SCRIPTURE INTERPRETS SCRIPTURE, SO LET IT SPEAK FOR ITSELF.
Once a preacher read Joshua 1:2, "Moses my servant is dead." The preacher said, "We know that Moses is in heaven." Since the text does not say this, the preacher did not believe "The Bible means what it says." Most people do not take the time to correct preachers (out of kindness, maybe), but we should if given the opportunity. Otherwise, we allow man's word to go against God's word. (This goes on craftily all the time even among true Christian people.)
WE NEED AND MUST HAVE FAITHFUL BIBLE TRANSLATIONS.
Those who advocate a certain Bible version over another often forget that their preferred version is just a translation! All translations are versions of the originals. Copies of the original, inspired Hebrew and Greek have been faithfully translated, and we must be thankful that God's Word has been preserved for us in English, German, Dutch, French, Spanish, and numerous languages of the world. This proves the originals were inspired, otherwise they would have passed away! Remember, "But my words shall NOT pass away" (Matthew 24:35).
SOME SAY OUR BELOVED BROTHER PAUL JUST MIGHT BE WRONG.
A man was once asked if he believed in divine election as Paul taught it, and the man said, "No, I don't care what Paul said!" That "election" is a Bible doctrine, hardly no one will deny. But that it is divine, unconditional election is what is quite often vehemently denied. But look again at such clear passages as Amos 3:2, Romans 9:11, and 2 Thessalonians 2:13, to name just three among many, the last two from Paul himself, "an apostle."
"BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND" (Hosea 10:12).
Few farmers are left in our day, and maybe some do not even know what "fallow ground" means, but we will assume you do. Now, to make us think even more, listen to quaint Vance Havner on this verse: "God will not rain showers of blessings on fallow ground, for that would mean only more briars and weeds." Anyway, our hard hearts of unbelief in God's holy Word need "weeding" and "working."
How deceived the religious world is, which thinks "the gospel" is something we are to DO! But the Bible declares that "the gospel" is what Christ has already DONE! "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (satisfaction) through faith in His blood" (Romans 3:25). We are not told to "make" propitiation ourselves to God, but the gospel "sets forth" Christ alone as having done this "for us."
The way to heaven is not our works or obedience, our prayers or Bible reading, our giving or self-sacrifices, but the only way is through the "propitiation" of Christ on Calvary's cross. He Himself is our "mercy seat," and His "sacrifice" alone has appeased God's wrath and justice -- and not anything we do or sacrifice or give.
And the only way we can know for sure that we are among the "justified" and the "redeemed" is by being "created in Christ Jesus" by the "workmanship" of God Himself in His grace and mercy (Ephesians 2:10). It is never by our obedient works or actions (including our repentance or faith), though this "creation" in Christ is "unto good works." Not "by" but "unto." Grace alone puts us in Christ, therefore all the boastings of men in their works are "excluded" (Romans 3:27). Grace crowns all the work of God, so God alone gets all the glory in declaring "His righteousness" through the blood of our Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ.
This message by W.F. Bell is exactly what we "Old Path" preachers endeavor to preach. He did very well with it. I want to invite you to use the link to Sermon Audio in the upper right panel and log on to W. F. Bell's message on Propitiation for a further look at this theme. I believe it is the oldest message that we have on the site (1977), but it will bless you. Check it out.
"For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness, and denythe only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 4).
The phrase "crept in unnoticed" is one compound word in the Greek language, pareiseduesan, used only here in the New Testament. This long word is derived from the words "para" (beside), "eis" (in), and "duo" (to sink or plunge), thus meaning "to slip in secretly as by a side door." "Who long ago were marked out" is another long Greek word, progegrammenoi, which simply means "to write of beforehand." This could refer either to the decree of predestination or to written prophecies like that of Enoch's in verses 14-15. Either way, the point made is that these "ungodly men" are not "unknown" to God, though they have "slipped in" without the notice of men.
Note that these "crept in" false teachers deny Christ's Lordship, not only verbally, but by their lewd, ungodly lives (they profess "grace," but are in reality "graceless"). Here we see the explanation for all the foolish teachings and "damnable heresies" (2 Peter 2:1) that plague our world. Not only is our "creed" (what we believe) important, but also our "conduct" (how we live). "Judgment" and "condemnation" await all false prophets, including all those who "follow their destructive ways" (2 Peter 2:2-3). Judgment may be delayed, but it will eventually fall on all apostates, "because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed." What a bad name false "Christians" give to Christianity! Because of this we are constantly exhorted in Scripture to "flee" evil things, and "follow" good things (I Timothy 6:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:22). False prophets are thus known by their "doctrine" and their "deportment." But they are indeed "wolves in sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15), for they do not announce themselves as wolves or as being sent of Satan.
When we see men and women in the church of our day belittling the doctrine of God's sovereignty, while making great strides to entertain people, is this not a sign of apostates? And if there is continual, lewd, ungodly sensualness in the lives of leaders in the modern church, does this not prove the validity of these warnings from Christ and His apostles? A marked "strong delusion" (2 Thessalonians 2:11) has gripped modern society (religious and political), and it behooves all of us to be constantly examining ourselves to make sure we are not among those who have "crept in unnoticed." And may we always solemnly remember Ecclesiastes 8:10-13 -- that all sinning will some day be over, and in the end it will only "be well with those who fear God."
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die , but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
“It was the belief in the accountability of man to his maker that made America a great nation. Among those earlier leaders was Daniel Webster whose blazing eyes and fiery oratory often held the Senate spellbound. In those days the Congress was composed of strong, noble statesmen who carried the weight of the nation in their hearts and minds.”
“Someone asked: ‘Mr. Webster, what do you consider the most serious thought that has ever entered your mind?’ ‘The most solemn thought that has ever entered my mind is my accountability to my maker,’ he replied.”
“Men like that cannot be corrupted and bought. They do not have to worry if someone listens to their telephone calls. What they were in character and in deportment resulted from their belief that they would finally be accountable to God.”
"Lord, help me to live my life today in such a way that, should You call me tonight to stand before You and give account, I would have nothing of which I would need to be ashamed. Amen.” ( from A.W. Tozer, Echoes from Eden, page 130).
Oh how we need men and women today with the godly character and courage of A.W. Tozer and Daniel Webster. Men like Spurgeon and Ryle and M’Cheyne. Women like Amy Carmichael, and Susanna Wesley and Fanny Crosby. Oh God, please send us revival!
“Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation” (Psalm 85:6,7).
“O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2).
Warning! This will not be easy to read, or something you really like. It will not be an "award winning" essay, forwarded with approval to thousands. Such truth is never popular. No, even I do not like to read what Paul told Timothy: "Endure afflictions" (2 Timothy 4:5). Then there is this solemn word: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall sufferpersecution" (2 Timothy 3:12). Who wants to read about "persecutions" and "afflictions" that we must "endure"?
In our ever-changing society, true Christians are having their faith challenged strongly, and all of us now face persecution and suffering. The early church experienced "great persecution" after the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 8:1), and wave after wave of "persecutions" and "afflictions" came upon the apostle Paul as he traveled the Roman Empire. History is filled with sad stories about "the blood of the martyrs." This is not just about China, Russia, or Africa anymore, but applies to American Christians also. Numerous are the stories of lawsuits against God-fearing people for praying in public, passing out Christian literature in public, or simply speaking out against certain sins. It is often absurd, but we need not expect things to get better. And who are we to think that we should not be persecuted for our faith? Why do we think that we are better than the followers of Christ who were persecuted before us? It actually betrays our faith for us to feel that we should escape being "hated" by the world, and escape "tribulation" (John 15:18; 16:33; Acts 14:22). We may not like to be "hated," and we may have been mistaught that we are soon to be "raptured" out of the world. Woe unto us!
The American "church" is made up of soft, lazy, lukewarm "believers." We don't want tough times to take us away from our sports fanaticism, our love affair with Hollywood, or change our easy-going, smooth lifestyles. "Clapping" for our modern religious entertainers must come to an end, being replaced with mourning and weeping over our national sins. We must come to "love the truth," not have our ears tickled with heresy. We must quit wallowing in our self-esteem. We must remember that at one time it was "costly" to be a Christian. Jesus said, "count the cost" (Luke 14:28), and even if we do not like to hear it, we must acknowledge that it is so. Truth hurts, but truth endures.
Is anyone sold out to Christ today? Yes, maybe a few "fanatics" here and there. These are truly "consecrated" and "committed" to Him, regardless of what it costs them. They take seriously the claims of Christ, when He said, "Deny yourself, and take up your cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23). But few want to hear this. A preacher recently asked,"Are you willing to go to prison for your Christian faith?" Most "Christians" would undoubtedly (and without hesitation) say, "No." Most of us are totally ashamed of Christ in the daily arena of life, and we have no desire to "go to prison" for Him, for we do not really believe He is "Lord of all" (Acts 10:36). How shameful it is for us to "profess" Christ in a secluded church building (fairly easy to do), then deny Him in the workplace, at school, or at home!
Remember that "Christian" in Scripture means "of Christ, belongs to Christ." This is so much more than a mere outward profession of Christ, or being manipulated by the "rules" of men and their denominations. What some call "fanaticism," others would call "normal" or "healthy" Christianity. We should all want to be "normal Christians," but if we are, it will bring us persecution, as it always has. So Paul admonishes us, "Walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16).
As we read through the book of Acts, we see much that the modern church would call "fanatical" or "extreme." Like Paul's testimony causing "the riot" at Ephesus (Acts 19), or his heroic courage aboard ship when encountering the storm "Euroclydon" on his voyage to Rome (Acts 27). The lax and lazy "Christianity" of our day wants none of this! We want only to preserve our soft American lifestyle, free from any and all persecution, and this just proves how far removed our so-called faith is from the genuine faithof the New Testament. Those who belong to Christ are clearly said to be "called, and chosen, and faithful" (Revelation 17:14). The question is, Are we?
Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14
To possess this holiness is a necessary and indispensable meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light; but this meetness must be wrought in us by the power of God's grace, for I am sure that in ourselves of it we have none. But see its necessity. What happiness could there be in the courts of bliss unless we had a nature to enjoy it? Unless we were made capable of seeing Christ as he is, and enjoying his presence for evermore, heaven would be no heaven to us. Nothing unclean or unholy can enter there. Sanctification therefore must be wrought in us by the power of God, to make us meet for the heavenly inheritance, and he therefore communicates of his Spirit and grace to give us heavenly affections, holy desires, gracious thoughts, tender feelings; and above all that love whereby he is loved as the altogether lovely. By the sanctifying operations of his Spirit, he separates us from everything evil, plants his fear deep in the heart, that it may be a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death; and works in us a conformity to his suffering image here that we may be conformed to his glorified image hereafter. Thus there is a perfect and an imperfect sanctification--perfect by imputation, imperfect in its present operations. But the one is the pledge of the other; so that as surely as Christ now represents his people in heaven as their holy Head, so will he eventually bring them to be forever with him in those abodes of perfect holiness and perfect happiness which are prepared for them as mansions of eternal light and love.
Part of an address given at the National Bible Rally in the Royal Albert Hall, London, on October 24, 1961
I suppose that the most popular of all the proposals at the present moment is to have a new translation of the Bible.... The argument is that people are not reading the Bible any longer because they do not understand its language—particularly the archaic terms. What does your modern man...know about justification, sanctification, and all these biblical terms? And so we are told the one thing that is necessary is to have a translation that Tom, Dick, and Harry will understand, and I began to feel about six months ago that we had almost reached the stage in which the Authorized Version was being dismissed, to be thrown into the limbo of things forgotten, no longer of any value. Need I apologize for saying a word in favor of the Authorized Version? Well, whatever you may think, I am going to do it without any apology.
Let us, first of all, be clear about the basic proposition laid down by the Protestant Reformers: we must have a Bible which is, as they put it, “understood of the people.” That is common sense; that is obvious. We all agree, too, that we must never be obscurantist. We must never approach the Bible in a mere antiquarian spirit. Nobody wants to be like that or to defend such attitudes. But there is a very grave danger incipient in much of the argument that is being presented today for these new translations. There is a danger, I say, of our surrendering something that is vital and essential.
Look at it like this. Take this argument that the modern man does not understand such terms as “justification,” “sanctification,” and so on. I want to ask a question: When did the ordinary man ever understand those terms?... Consider the colliers to whom John Wesley and George Whitefield used to preach in the eighteenth century. Did they understand them? They had not even been to a day school, an elementary school. They could not read, they could not write. Yet these were the terms which they heard, and the Authorized Version was the version used. The common people have never understood these terms. However, I want to add something to this. We must be very careful in using such an argument against the Authorized Version, for the reason that the very nature and character of the truth which the Bible presents to us is such that it is extremely difficult to put into words at all. We are not describing an animal or a machine; we are concerned here with something which is spiritual, something which does not belong to this world at all, and which, as the apostle Paul in writing to the Corinthians reminds us, “the princes of this world” do not know. Human wisdom is of no value here; it is a spiritual truth; it is something that is altogether different. This is truth about God primarily, and, because of that, it is a mystery. There is a glory attached to it, there is a wonder, and something which is amazing. The apostle Paul, who understood it better than most, looking at its contents, stands back and says, “Great is the mystery of godliness” (1 Tim. 3:16).
Yet we are told, it must be put in such simple terms and language that anybody taking it up and reading it is going to understand all about it. My friends, this is nothing but sheer nonsense! What we must do is to educate the masses of the people up to the Bible, not bring the Bible down to their level. One of the greatest troubles in life today is that everything is being brought down to the same level; everything is cheapened. The common man is made the standard of authority; he decides everything and everything has to brought down to him. You are getting it on television and in newspapers; everywhere, standards are coming down and down. Are we to do that with the Word of God? I say, No! What has happened in the past has been this: an ignorant, illiterate people in this country and in foreign countries, coming into salvation, have been educated up to the Book and have begun to understand it, to glory in it, and to praise God for it. I am here to say that we need to do the same at this present time. What we need is, therefore, not to replace the Authorized Version.
We need rather to reach and train people up to the standard and the language, the dignity and glory of the old Authorized Version. Very well, my friends, let me say a word for the old book, the old Authorized Version. It was translated by fifty-four men, every one of them a great scholar, and published in 1611.
Here is another thing to commend it to you: this Authorized Version came out of a time when the church had not yet divided into Anglican and Nonconformist. I think there is an advantage even in that. They were all still as one, with very few exceptions, when the Authorized Version was produced.
Another important point to remember is this. The Authorized Version was produced some time after that great climactic event which we call the Protestant Reformation. There had been time by then to see some of the terrible horrors of Rome and all she stood for. The early Reformers had too much on their plate, as it were; Luther may have left many gaps; but when this translation was produced, there had been time for men to be able to see Rome for what she really was. These translators were all men who were orthodox in the faith. They believed that the Bible is the infallible Word of God and they submitted to it as the final authority, as against the spurious claims of Rome, as against the appeals to the Church Fathers, and traditions.
Here were fifty-four men, scholars and saintly, who were utterly submitted to the Book. You have never had that in any other version. Here, and here alone, you have a body of men who were absolutely committed to it, who gave themselves to it, who did not want to correct or sit in judgment on it, whose only concern and desire was to translate and interpret it for the masses.
In view of all this, my argument is that the answer does not lie in producing new translations. They are coming out almost every year, but are they truly aiding the situation? No, and for this reason: men no longer read the Bible not because they cannot understand its language, but because they do not believe in it. They do not believe in God; they do not want it. Their problem is not one of language and of terminology; it is the state of the heart. Therefore, what do we do about it? It seems to me there is only one thing to do, the thing that has always been done in the past: we must preach it and our preaching must be wholly based upon its authority.
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1900-1981), one of the greatest preachers in the twentieth-century English-speaking world, ministered at Westminster Chapel, London from 1938 to 1968.
“They that are truly converted are new men, new creatures; new not only within, but without; they are sanctified throughout, in spirit, soul and body; old things are passed away, all things are become new; they have new hearts, and new eyes, new ears, new tongues, new hands, new feet…they walk in newness of life, and continue to do so to the end of life.” Religious Affections, pp. 313-14
"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings" Hebrews 2:10).
A Captain in today's U.S. military is a high ranking officer. In the U.S. Navy the rank of Captain is equivalent to U.S. Army Colonel, which is higher up the ladder than the Air Force, Army or Marines’ Captain. So when we see the King James phrase "captain of their salvation" we realize it is an officer of high rank in the military. But, actually the same Greek word is translated "author" in Hebrews 12:2. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Some versions say "leader", "originator", "founder", "author", etc... Jesus Christ is allthat. He is the author, leader, originator of this life changing event, this thing, this joy, which we call salvation. Our following of this leader is not to simply be going forward in a congregation one time to make a confession of faith, but is a lifetime of endeavoring to follow Him who is the Good Shepherd. The sheep do follow Him. I remember well the hymn we sung so often in my Southern Baptist childhood "Where He Leads me I will Follow".(see link: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/h/e/wherehlm.htm ). To sum it up, a captain is a leader. There is much more we could say, but that is beyond the purpose of this short meditation. As His sheep, we should be prepared to do as the old hymn says, and follow Him today wherever He leads and "Go with Him, with Him, all the way".
It is early morning as I write this, so our texts are very appropriate. The other day I greeted a fellow-associate at work with a bright "Good Morning." He said to me, "It is morning." I said, "And it is a good morning." Looking downcast, he said back, "And what's good about it?" (Such a question brings a great opportunity to witness, does it not?) I said, "Well, we are alive, the sun is still shining, and God's mercies are new every morning." His countenance changed with that, stating "Yes, this is true, and that is always good." Don't you and I need to see this and say this every morning, no matter what our circumstances are? It changes things from "negative" to "positive" immediately!
"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed." And actually, that is the only reason we live, move, have our being, and can think or work. "Because His compassions fail not." Men fail, we fail, there is much sad news to make us negative, and maybe you are even going through a tough time physically right now. But never doubt God's faithful mercies and compassions! "They are new every morning." I am struck with that word "new." How so? A new day brings new burdens and needs. But grace and mercy are on our trail, so they are "new" for the day, for the special trial, for the special need. "Great is Thy faithfulness." Great, supremely great, infinitely great is the faithfulness of our Creator, and to Him we "commit the keeping of our souls in well doing" (I Peter 4:19).
"Therefore will I hope in Him." Jeremiah could say this "out of the low dungeon" (Lamentations 3:55), and so should we. "O Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for Thee; be Thou our arm [strength] every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble" (Isaiah 33:2). "Our strength" is not in ourselves, nor in pills we may take, nor in our own intellect. We do daily need "saving" from many things, including snares, self and sins. As Spurgeon once said, "There is no sin which a Christian cannot overcome if he will only rely upon his God to do it." And Christ Jesus is our Crucified Champion in this, having slain Goliath for us, or Satan himself would surely devour us also. Cheer up, fainting Christian, we have a faithful Saviour, so think anew on this word, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?" (Romans 8:33). Positively "no one" is the answer, but only because of "the Lord's mercies."
We are endeavoring in prayer meetings at our local church to really study, and be involved in, prayer, especially corporate prayer as gathered believers. God tells us much about prayer, especially that He delights in His children seeking Him, and that He hears and answers prayer, according to His purpose. As Arthur Pink said in quoting another, “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of God’s willingness”.
“Nine times out of ten, declension from God begins in the neglect of private prayer"- Charles Spurgeon
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened”(Matthew 7:7-8).
Prayer for forgiveness is part of it, as Christ teaches us in the so-called Lord’s prayer. It is actually the model prayer. In this example He says in part: “Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil” (Luke 11:3-4).
I am personally so glad that He is a forgiving God, for I went through several years of failure and defeat in the things of the Lord. It was backsliding -- just to be completely honest. I am ashamed of it now, but thank God I am forgiven. I won’t give the devil any glory by telling all about it. Suffice it to say, Christ preserved me from the worst sins. I could have hit rock bottom, but I am sure God heard the prayers of my family and others. About seven years ago, the Lord met me where I was. I repented and He restored me. I hope I have grown ever since. By His grace alone I will persevere! It is He that preserves us, and enables us to persevere. It is all of grace! There is no mercy or security outside of Christ! The following reading from Mr. Spurgeon for May 18th is partially my testimony
LOSSES OVERCOME---CHARLES SPURGEON
“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten” (Joel 2:25).
Yes those wasted years over which we sigh shall be restored to us. God can give us such plentiful grace that we shall crowd into the remainder of our days as much of service as will be some recompense for those years of unregeneracy over which we mourn in humble penitence.The locusts of backsliding, worldliness, lukewarmness, are now viewed by us as a terrible plague. Oh that they had never come near us! The Lord in mercy has now taken them away, and we are full of zeal to serve Him.
Blessed be His name, we can raise such harvests of spiritual graces as shall make our former barrenness to disappear. Through rich grace we can turn to account our bitter experience, and use it to warn others. We can become the more rooted in humility, childlike dependence, and penitent spirituality, by reason of our former shortcomings. If we are the more watchful, zealous, and tender, we shall gain by our lamentable losses. The wasted years, by a miracle of love, can be restored. Does it seem too great a boon?
Let us believe for it, and live for it, and we may yet realize it, even as Peter became all the more useful a man after his presumption was cured by his discovered weakness. Lord, aid us by thy grace(Faith's Checkbook).
“Sin may open bright as the morning, but it will end dark as the night.” T.DeWitt Talmadge as quoted by R.G. Lee in “Bread from Bellevue Oven.”
“A man by his sin may waste himself, which is to waste that which on earth is most like God.” A.W. Tozer in “Gems from Tozer.”
“Prayer and sinning will never live together in the same heart. Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer. I cannot forget this. I look at men’s lives. I believe that few pray.” J.C. Ryle in “A Call to Prayer.”
“When a man is savingly changed, he is deeply convinced not only of the danger, but of the defilement of sin; and O, how earnest is he with God to be purified. He loathes himself for his sins. He runs to Christ, and casts himself into the fountain set open for him and for uncleanness. If he fall, what a stir is there to get all clean again! He has no rest until he flees to the Word, and washes, and rubs and rinses in the infinite fountain, labouring to cleanse himself from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit.” Joseph Alleine in “Alarm to the Unconverted.”
NOT BY CHANCE
"All things work together for good to them that love God..." (Romans 8:28)
When a shepherd leads his flock over a narrow ledge, with a cliff on one side and a chasm on the other, the sheep have no choice but to follow him along the only path. In the same way, the Lord sometimes surrounds us with so many obstacles that we can't turn to the right, to the left, or even around. The Israelites, after leaving Egypt, would not have ventured to cross the Red Sea if the Egyptians had not been pursuing them. The Apostle Paul and his co-workers would never have gone to Europe to preach the Gospel if the Holy Spirit had not restricted their entrance to other areas.We would not have all the valuable letters Paul wrote if he had not been imprisoned. In our personal life it is easy to recall many incidents when circumstances forced us to do something that did not appear to be the best. We must not forget, however, that these circumstances don't happen by chance, but according to the will of the all-powerful and very loving God.
Copied from Herald of Truth, 1978 (underground magazine of the Evangelical Christian Baptists of the USSR, before communism was brought down in Russia).
“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:15-17).
The most important question you could ever be asked is simply this: Do you in reality know the living Christ? The question is not, Are you religious? — Are you a church member? — Do you read the Bible? You may be very religious, yet not know Christ in the heart. You may be a loyal church member, a regular reader of God’s Word, a person who “says” their prayers, or one who loves to study religious books and doctrine. But, these soul-searching questions still remain —Have you ever seen yourself a lost, vile sinner before a Holy God? Have you ever been stripped of your self-righteousness and laid low in the dust of humility? Have you ever viewed by faith the glorious person of the Lord Jesus Christ, all because of a direct and personal revelation to you of God the Holy Ghost?
Sinner friend, I plead with you to not be deceived. Do not rest in your religious creeds, your attendance of religious worship, your so-called righteous acts. Rest only in Christ! Look only to him! Be not content with any religion if Christ is not the center and substance of it! Do not be deceived by man-made religion! Seek that which comes by divine revelation, as that which Simon Peter had in the opening Scripture. Simon was blessed to know who Christ was by a personal revelation to him of God the Father! This must also be true of us.
If Christ Jesus is not known to you by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, He is not known as the very wellspring of blessedness to the soul. If you only know Jesus by no more than the world knows, than the learned among men know, you have not the real blessing. If you only know the Lord of glory by what you have found out yourself, in reading or in talking to others, unaided by the Father’s drawing power, you are not blessed with true salvation. If you know no more of Christ than what flesh and blood has revealed to you, you are nothing more than a Pharisee or Sadducee — religious, but lost without God — a separatist or a rationalist, but not a recipient of revelation and regeneration. May the eternal Jehovah reveal to you your true and undone condition before Him!
Among the vast religious throngs of this earth there is to be found the true people of God. These chosen of the Father are also redeemed by the Son, and quickened by the Spirit. The elect of God know by deep acknowledgment of their sin that they are blind and ignorant by nature. The true children of God have been made humble; they confess their total dependence upon the grace and mercy of Christ, and place their entire confidence and faith in His meritorious righteousness and shed blood. In the Lord Jesus Christ alone do “We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
Reader, what do you know of this once-crucified, yet now living Christ? Does His name bring gladness to your heart? Do you love the fragrance of His Person? Is He more than just a religious leader to you? Beware of misty and cloudy views of King Jesus! Beware that you only have a head knowledge of Him! Make sure that Christ is your Surety, your Substitute, your Sacrifice, your Saviour. Beware of any religion which belittles Him, or that does not exalt Him as the only way to God. Do you believe in Jesus by an inward discernment of Him? Do you clearly see Him as the Son of man and the Son of God? Is He definitely your Lord and Saviour, your propitiation (satisfaction) before God? If you know Him thus you have not learned this by the instruction of men. You have had a direct and personal revelation made to you and in you by the Father concerning who Jesus Christ really is (Gal 1:16).
It is only when the Lord Himself deals with you, taking you in His powerful hand, that you are truly taught who Christ is. You may have heard about Jesus, but you only know Him as “the Son of the living God” when illuminated and quickened by God the Spirit. Jesus came forth from God, and the power to know Christ comes forth from God also. If you have Christ, you have the new birth! If you have Christ, you have eternal life! If you have not Christ, you have nothing but dead, lifeless, counterfeit religion! Said our blessed Master: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44). May divine power draw you this day, poor sinner! May you see Christ in all His beauty! May you come to worship and serve only Him!
Christ is to be seen, but in the light which He Himself supplies. May that light shine unto you even now, and to our glorious God be all the glory!
"And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believeth thou this?" (John 11:26).
Yes, LORD, we believe it; we shall never die. Our soul may be separated from our body, and this is death of a kind; but our soul shall never be separated from God, which is the true death -- the death which was threatened to sin -- the death penalty which is the worst that can happen. We believe this most assuredly, for who shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our LORD? We are members of the Body of Christ; will Christ lose parts of His Body? We are married to Jesus; will He be bereaved and widowed? It is not possible. There is a life within us which is not capable of being divided from God: yea, and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, and how then can we die? Jesus, Himself, is our life, and therefore there is no dying for us, for He cannot die again, In Him we died unto sin once, and the capital sentence cannot a second time be executed. Now we live, and live forever. The reward of righteousness is life everlasting, and we have nothingless than the righteousness of God, and therefore can claim the very highest reward. Living and believing, we believe that we shall live and enjoy. Wherefore we press forward with full assurance that our life is secure in our living Head. (From Faith's Checkbook for July 11)
The Declaration of Independence was approved JULY 4, 1776.
John Hancock signed first, saying "the price on my head has just doubled."
Benjamin Franklin said "We must hang together or most assuredly we shall hang separately."
When Samuel Adams signed the Declaration, he said:
"We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come."
John Adams said:
"I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty."
John Adams continued:
"I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain this Declaration and support and defend these states.
Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means.
And that Posterity will triumph in that day's transaction, even though we should rue it, which I trust in God we shall not."
The Book of Abigail and John: Selected Letters of the Adams Family, 1762-1784,HarvardUniversity Press, 1975, 142.
And now some history:
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors,
and tortured before they died.
Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army;
another had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or
hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes,
and their sacred honor.
What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
Eleven were merchants,
nine were farmers and large plantation owners;
men of means, well educated,
but they signed the Declaration of Independence
knowing full well that the penalty would be death
If they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and
trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the
British Navy. He sold his home and properties to
pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British
that he was forced to move his family almost constantly.
He served in the Congress without pay, and his family
was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him,
and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,
Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that
the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson
home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General
George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed,
and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed.
The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying.
Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill
were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests
and caves, returning home to find his wife dead
and hischildren vanished.
So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and
thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.
Remember:
Freedom is never free!
I hope you will send this to as manypeople as you can, please.
It's time we get the word out that patriotism
is not a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than
picnics and baseball games.
Remember:
“Righteousness exalteth a nation:
but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Prov 14:34
Wake-up, Pastors! Wake-Up, Christians!
______________________________________________
The Wake-Up Herald is published by Robert McCurry. The publication is designed to exalt the true God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ, and inform, inspire, and challenge its readers regarding biblical truth and real-life issues. The contents are the sole responsibility of Robert McCurry and do not represent or speak for or on behalf of any other person or group. There is no subscription charge. The publication is a ministry of faith and dependent on the contributions of its readers. Contributions are not tax-deductible. Send all correspondence to: Robert McCurry,605 Moore RdNewnan, GA30263 or herbap@aol.com
Note from Charles Woodruff:
(Using the above contact addresses, Brother McCurry will be glad to hear from you and place you on his mailing list or email list to receive The Wake-Up Herald. He always has some interesting information to share such as in today’s publication).
I remember when Pastor McCurry first published most of this information around 35 years ago. It was a help and blessing then to me and my family, and still is now. I hope that it is a help to you to see what the founders of our country sacrificed to give us that we now see slipping away. Most of them were Christians, and where not so, gave honor and respect man’s right to worship God.
If you are going to tell me that it was God, not man, that gave us this free republic, I will certainly agree. He did, and as He has so often done in history (as in the case ofWilliam Tyndale, Martin Luther, John Calvin, George Whitefield and many others, He has used men and women in His purpose. He is still doing so, and as we see the demise and destruction of this republic before our very eyes, may we remember that God judges sin and rebellion! May it drive us to our knees to pray for a turnaround. May God help us!
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"He must increase, I must decrease" (John 3:30). My name is Charles Woodruff. I am 74 years old, and my desire is to serve God the rest of my days, preaching the old evangelical gospel that Paul and Peter preached, that Calvin preached, that Whitefield preached, that Spurgeon preached, and that Isaac Watts wrote about in his hymns. You are welcome! I hope you like our blogs.Your comments are also welcome. Please feel free to comment.
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