THE DIFFERENCE IN OLD GOSPEL AND NEW GOSPEL PREACHING

BY ROLFE BARNARD (1904-!969)

Now my friends, I come to say that the Old Gospel of God's Grace is opposed to this "new gospel" of part grace and part man. The Old Gospel, which is the true Gospel of God, safeguarded some values which this new gospel loses. Will you hear me carefully now? The new gospel that we have today by an uncertain universal redemption and universal divine saving purpose compels itself to cheapen grace and to cheapen the cross of Christ—by denying that the Father and the Son are sovereign in salvation. This new gospel assures us that after God in Christ has done all that They can or will do, it depends finally on each man's own choice whether God's purpose to save him is realized or not. 

Now my friends, this popular position has two unhappy results — this preaching that God has done His part and now He helplessly stands by while you decide whether or not his purpose shall be realized:

In the first place, this position compels us to misunderstand the significance of the gracious invitations of Christ in the Gospel. When we hear the invitations of these preachers who pervert the Gospel—they are not the expressions of the tender patience of a mighty Sovereign; they are the pathetic pleas of human desire. And so the enthroned Lord of glory under present-day preaching is suddenly changed into a weak, futile figure, knocking at the human heart which He is powerless to open. My friends, this is a shameful dishonor to the Sovereign Christ of the New Testament.

In the second place, this "new gospel" as it is preached forces us to deny our dependence upon God; when it comes to vital decisions, it takes us out of God's hands. It tells us that after all, we are the master of our fate and the captain of our souls. And it so undermines the very foundation of our relationship with our Maker. No wonder the converts of today are so often both irreverent and irreligious!

The Old Gospel speaks very differently in expounding man's need of Christ; the Old Gospel stresses something almost ignored today. That something is that sinners cannot obey the Gospel any more than they can obey the Law, apart from renewal of heart. On the other hand, declaring Christ's power to save, the Old Gospel proclaims Him as the Author and chief agent of conversion. It preaches Him as coming by His Spirit as the Gospel goes forth to renew men's hearts and draw them to Himself. Thus, the Old Gospel, while stressing that faith is man's duty, stresses also that faith is not in man's power. God must give what He commands. Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

Hebrews 12:2a says:  "Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith."'

Thus the Old Gospel announces not merely that men must come to Christ for salvation, but the Old Gospel also announces that men cannot come unless God draws them. John 6:44 says, "No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him."

John 14:6 says, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me."

John 3:27 says, "John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from Heaven."

Thus, my friends, the Old Gospel does what desperately needs to be done; it labors to overthrow self-confidence, it labors to convince sinners that salvation is altogether out of their hands, and to shut sinners up to a self-despairing dependence on the glorious grace of a Sovereign Saviour, not only for their righteousness, but for their faith, too. Thus the Old Gospel doesn't talk about deciding for Christ, as we hear today. For this business of deciding for Christ suggests voting a person into office. It suggests an act in which the candidate plays no part, beyond offering himself for election. Everything is settled by the voter's independent choice. I wish people would believe me when I tell you that we do not vote God's Son into office as our Saviour! Nor does our Saviour remain passive while preachers campaign on His behalf.

My friends, coming to Christ, resting on Christ and turning from sin in full surrender to Christ is far different from deciding for Christ as your Saviour. Those who pervert the Gospel beg people to accept Jesus as their Saviour, and they will be saved. That is a lie out of Hell, because it is not in the Bible. If a person does not surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord to rule and reign over the life —he is not saved! We also hear these words spoken by preachers who pervert the Gospel:  "Now sinner, God has done His part—the Devil wants you, and Christ wants you, and you have the deciding vote." But, my friends, that is not so! Christ didn't just offer Himself for office. He is working now—He is on a throne ruling and reigning as Prophet, Priest, and King. He does not stand by while we try to get people to decide for Him as the Gospel is proclaimed. He comes in the Spirit actively to draw men to Himself, and thus we preachers say that He is a Saviour for sinners. The Father and the Spirit draw sinners to Christ.

Salvation is of the Lord. Thank God it is all in Christ. And to the question, "What must I do to be saved?" And this is the question of questions. The Old Gospel replies, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." And then somebody says, "What does that mean?" The Old Gospel replies, "It means knowing one's self to be a sinner and knowing the Christ who died for sinners. It means to abandon all self-righteousness and self-confidence, and to cast yourself wholly upon Christ for pardon and peace. It means exchanging one's natural enmity and rebellion against God for a spirit of grateful submission to the will of Christ, through the renewing of one's heart by the Holy Ghost. It means God taking a sinner and making him a new creature in Christ."

The next question, how am I to go about believing on Christ and repenting? "Brother Barnard, you say I have no natural ability to do these things?" I didn't say that—God says that! "If I have no ability to do these things, how am I to go about believing on Christ and repenting? If you say I must—and I can't—how can it come to pass?" To that perplexing question, and yet true one, the Old Gospel answers, "Listen, sinner friend, look to Christ. Quit looking to yourself; quit listening to your old bent and feeble will; look to Christ, seek the Lord, beg for mercy." 1 Samuel 2:8 says, "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory."
Isaiah 45:22 says, "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."

Isaiah 55:6 says. "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near."

Jeremiah 29:13 says, "And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart."

Cry to Christ, just as you are, cast yourself on His mercy, ask Him to give you a new heart, working in you true repentance and faith. Ask Christ to take away your evil heart of unbelief and to write His law in your heart. Draw near to Him, watching, praying, reading, and hearing His Word. And continue to seek the Lord until He speaks peace to you.

God Almighty has to perform a miracle in you and reveal Christ in you, for you to have eternal life.
John 17:3 says, "And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent."

Luke 10:22 says, "All things are delivered to Me of My Father: and no man knoweth Who the Son is, but the Father; and Who the Father is, but the Son, and He to whom the Son shall reveal Him."

The Holy Ghost has to baptize you into the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13a says, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body."

Our Lord Jesus Christ is not passively waiting, but is actively working to bring His chosen people to faith. The preaching of the "new gospel" is called bringing men to Christ, as if only men moved while Christ stands still. The true Gospel is the coming of Christ to men. As the Gospel is preached, and Christ is set before men's eyes, the mighty Saviour, Whom the Gospel proclaims is busy (Praise God!) doing His work through the Word. Not standing by, but visiting sinners with salvation, awakening them to faith and drawing them in mercy to Himself. Thank God, we don't have to use all these methods of the flesh to get somebody to decide to accept Christ! We just have to proclaim Christ in the power of the Holy Ghost! We don't have to look at those poor sinners and know that it all depends on them. But we know that as we preach Christ, He is standing by, He is working, He is dealing with men. He is opening blind eyes and, bless God, He is drawing sinners to Himself. Oh, how glorious it is to proclaim the Christ Who came into the world to save sinners! Praise His Holy Name!

Luke 5:32 says, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Galatians 1:6-9 says, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another, but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."  Amen.

DIVINE INVASION--W.F. BELL

(Here is another excellent Scripture Meditation from my friend W.F. Bell.)

In the 1960s the "Baby Boom" generation was "invaded" by the sexual revolution, Beatle mania and the drug culture.  In the sovereign mercy of God, at that same time, the Spirit of grace awakened me to my need of the Lord Jesus Christ, so I began to diligently study God's holy Word while still in High School.  A whole new world dawned upon me, as "Heaven came down, and glory filled my soul."  My life had been divinely "invaded" by the King of heaven, Prince Immanuel.  Grace sought me and caught me in my teenage wildness, and taught me to look to Christ alone.  Very early I learned Joshua 1:8-9, verses which were powerfully impressed upon me: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."  Time and time again through the years I have gone back to these verses for assurance of the Lord's mercy and goodness.  His promises never failed Joshua, and they have not failed me.

After over forty years of walking with God, through many ups and downs in life, it is not encouraging when one takes a candid look at the spiritual diagnosis of the modern church (I assure you the "church" has changed since I was young).  We clearly see some sad conditions.  One, our modern churches are not concerned for God's glory, but seem to be content running religious businesses.  Two, most of the preaching we hear today, alas, is not Christ-exalting, but very man-centered.  Thirdly, many religious people seem to be spiritually ignorant, being "at ease in Zion," and seem to have been fully absorbed into our anti-Christ culture.  Are not these things so?  God is still sovereign, however, and therein lies our hope.  "Be not dismayed."

Recently, while reading a detailed account of D-Day, June 6, 1944 (the Allied invasion of Normandy), I was struck deeply by the words of General Eisenhower concerning the invasion, calling it "the fury of an aroused democracy."  How true!  If ever "fury" was released by men upon others, it certainly was in this united effort to conquer the Nazis.  So, relating this to the modern church, if we are ever to experience 

spiritual deliverance and change from the above diagnosis, there must be "a divine invasion" from heaven among us.  We deserve the "fury" of God's wrath!  But what we seek is an "invasion" of mercy and power, which alone will truly set us free from worldly ways and man-centered worship, and bring great glory to our Lord Jesus Christ.  May God humble us all, no matter the cost to us.  Our hope lies not in puny man or his devices, but in King Jesus alone invading our shores.  His "mighty arm" and "right hand" only brings Himself the victory (Psalm 89:13).  So, let us pray, "GIVE us help from trouble; for VAIN is the help of man" (Psalm 108:12).  In other words, let us all pray, "Lord, invade us!  In wrath remember Thy mercy!"

THINK! IS THIS REALLY 1984?- BY CHARLES WOODRUFF

1984! Such a ring to the very words! Orwell's famous novel of futuristic totalitarianism, written in 1948, set forth some frightening predictions. Some of them, at least, have come true. All of them will never come true. George Orwell was not a prophet of God, but a British Socialist, howbeit he was somewhat moderate when measured against today's average socialist. Orwell hated Communism, yet saw its program as the future 36 years ahead. He chose 1984 by simply turning around the year 1948 in which he was writing.
 
Many of us wondered what would happen in 1984. Maybe we were a little nervous. We asked “Will it be nuclear war in '84?” “Will our government take over everything in our lives?” “Will the Lord Jesus return this year?” He didn’t return then, and I do not know, nor do you, just when He will return, but we know that He will, but we must be careful regarding predictions, for "no man knows the day and hour" (Matt. 24:36). 1984 came and went; at least the real time 1984 came and went. But, whatever your eschatology, you have to be blind not to see that right now in 2011 our world is a powder keg ready to explode in many sore spots. We might say there are many fuses. Iran, North Korea, Libya, Syria, etc…any one, or all, at any moment ready
to ignite chaos. In our own land, literally thousands of churches and pastors are experiencing unprecedented government encroachment. The economy is in a tailspin.
 
In China, a country reported to have over 60 million Christians, persecution is being stepped up at the present time, as it once was in the former Soviet Union, and its satellites. So, 1984ish things are happening. How far have we come toward Orwell's 1984? Do we Christians really care? Are we hiding our heads in the sand hoping the issues of our day will go away? Are we claiming to be too super-spiritual to be interested in things happening in this life? Do we even speak against government encroachments on our freedoms? A warped conception of “health care”, hurting more than can ever be helped, was attempted to be slammed through the liberal congress. The government also attempted to take over the auto makers. For now, that too has failed. We get a lot of “double speak” from our liberal politicians. All of this is what has happened in the socialist countries of the world, and is very 1984ish.
 
My friends, Christ must have preeminence in all we do. I do not advocate any other solution! There must be a spiritual revival for our nation's survival — even for world survival. Our heritage is the Word of God and includes religious liberty. It is worth preserving. God must help us to preserve it. Can we not, at least, "Cry aloud and spare not"? If we remain silent while our world is overrun by evil forces, what will we tell our children and grandchildren about why we did not stand? These are vital questions that cannot be answered with a simplistic "The Lord will rapture us away before things get too bad"! Things are already bad! Sodomy is being financed by American taxpayers! Gay “marriage” has been legalized in some states. The families of the nation are under attack! Divorce and living in fornication are out of control, and almost totally accepted. Over 60 million unborn babies have been destroyed!
 
We cannot hide behind God's Sovereignty either! He is absolutely sovereign, but He uses human instrumentality to accomplish many of His purposes. He used John Knox in Scotland, the Wesleys and Whitefield in England, and the USA, Martin Luther in Germany, etc. Can He use you? Are you willing to be used of God no matter what He wants to do with you? “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

MY TIMES ARE IN THY HAND

CHARLES SPURGEON

I. A clear conviction that our times are in the hand of God WILL CREATE WITHIN US A SENSE OF THE NEARNESS OF GOD. If the hand of God is laid upon all our surroundings, God himself is near us. Our Puritanic fathers walked with God the more readily because they believed in God as arranging everything in their daily business and domestic life; and they saw him in the history of the nation, and in all the events which transpired. The tendency of this age is to get further and further from God. Men will scarcely tolerate a Creator now, but everything must be evolved. To get God one stage further back is the ambition of modern philosophy; whereas, if we were wise, we should labor to clear out all obstacles, and leave a clear channel for drawing near to God, and for God to draw near to us. When we see that in his hand are all our ways, we feel that God is real and near.

"My times are in thy hand." Then there is nothing left to chance. Events happen not to man by a fortune which has no order or purpose in it. "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." Chance is a heathenish idea which the teaching of the Word has cast down, even as the ark threw down Dagon, and brake him in pieces. Blessed is that man who has done with chance, who never speaks of luck; but believes that, from the least even to the greatest, all things are ordained of the Lord. We dare not leave out the least event. The creeping of an aphis upon a rosebud is as surely arranged by the decree of Providence, as the march of a pestilence through a nation. Believe ye this; for if the least be omitted from the supreme government, so may the next be, and the next, till nothing is left in the divine hand. There is no place for chance, since God filleth all things.

"My times are in thy hand" is an assurance which also puts an end to the grim idea of an iron fate compelling all things. Have you the notion that fate grinds on like an enormous wheel, ruthlessly crushing everything that lies in its way, not pausing for pity, nor turning aside for mercy? Remember that, if you liken Providence to a wheel, it must be a wheel which is full of eyes. Its every revolution is in wisdom and goodness. God's eye leaves nothing in providence blind; but fills all things with sight. God works all things according to his purpose; but then He himself works them. There is all the difference between the lone machinery of fixed fate, and the presence of a gracious, loving Spirit ruling all things. Things do happen as he plans them; but he himself is there to make them happen, and to moderate, and guide, and secure results. Our great joy is not, "My times are in the wheel of destiny"; but, "My times are in thy hand." With a living, loving God to superintend all things, we feel ourselves at home, resting near our Father's heart.

"My times are in thy hand." Does not this reveal the condescension of the Lord? He has all heaven to worship him, and all worlds to govern; and yet "my times"—the times of such an inconsiderable and unworthy person as I am—are in his hand. Now, what is man that it should be so? Wonder of wonders, that God should not only think of me, but should make my concerns his concerns, and take my matters into his hand! He has the stars in his hand, and yet he puts us there. He deigns to take in hand the passing interests of obscure men and lowly women.

Beloved, God is near his people with all his attributes; his wisdom, his power, his faithfulness, his immutability; and these are under oath to work for the good of those who put their trust in him. "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Yes, God considers our times, and thinks them over; with his heart and soul planning to do us good. That august mind, out of which all things spring, bows itself to us; and those eternal wings, which cover the universe, also brood over us and our household, and our daily wants and woes. Our God sits not still as a listless spectator of our griefs, suffering us to be drifted like waifs upon the waters of circumstance; but is busily occupying himself at all times for the defense and perfecting of his children. He leads us that he may bring us home to the place where his flock shall rest for ever.

What a bliss this is! Our times, in all their needs and aspects, are in God's hand, and therefore God is always caring for us. How near it brings God to us, and us to God! Child of God, go not thou tomorrow into the field, lamenting that God is not there! He will bless thy going out. Come not home to thy chamber, crying, "Oh, that I knew where I might find him!" He will bless thy coming in. Go not to thy bed, dreaming that thou art left an orphan; neither wake up in the morning with a sense of loneliness upon thee: thou art not alone, for the Father is with thee.

Wilt thou not feel how good it is that God should come so close to thee, and handle thy bread and thy water, and bless thy bed and thy board? Art thou not happy to be allowed to come so close to God, as to say, "My times are in thy hand"? There is a great deal in this first point as to the nearness of the Lord; and if you will turn it over, you will see more and more that a conviction that our times are in God's hand tends to create a happy and holy sense of the nearness of God to us. (Part one of a sermon on Psalm 31:15, from the Metropolitan Tabernacle on May 17, 1891). Full Sermon available http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/2205.htm

OMG!!----BY DAVID JEREMIAH

(Some good thoughts from David Jeremiah, via my friend Charles Rosson in Arkansas. In introducing this article Charles Rosson said "In our culture of growing atheism when few things are considered holy and sacred, this is a very timely and much needy statement" )

It's almost impossible to turn on the television without hearing someone exclaim, "Oh my G--!" In the popular culture, it's even been reduced to an acronym: OMG. Even many professing Christians use His holy Name in vain.

There are times when such an expression is an appropriate prayer in a crisis (the phrase "O my God" appears twenty-one times in the Bible), but for the most part it simply represents a degrading of His holy Name. Our pagan society wants to reduce our Lord to a profanity and diminish His name to a vulgarity.

Jesus said, "Hallowed be Thy Name." The Bible says, "Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon His God" (Isaiah 50:10).

The name of our Lord is to be hallowed, feared, reverenced, trusted, and loved.

"Praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the LORD's name is to be praised" (Psalm 113:1-3).

“How we use the name of God reveals more clearly than any creed we ever
confess our deepest attitudes towards the sovereign God.” (R. C. Sproul)

-David Jeremiah, Turning Point Ministry

THE INCOMPARABLE CHRIST

He came from the bosom of the Father to the bosom of a woman. He put on humanity that we might put on divinity. He became Son of man that we might become sons of God. He came from Heaven where the rivers never freeze, winds never blow, frosts never chill the air, flowers never fade and no one is ever sick-no undertakers and no graveyards-for no one ever dies, no one is ever buried.

He was born contrary to the laws of nature, lived in poverty, reared in obscurity-only once crossed the boundary of the land, in childhood. He had no wealth or influence and had neither training nor education. His relatives were inconspicuous and not influential. In infancy, He startled a king; in boyhood, He puzzled the doctors; in manhood, He ruled the course of nature. He walked upon the billows and hushed the sea to sleep. He healed the multitudes without medicine and made no charge for His services. He never wrote a book, yet not all the libraries of the country could hold all the books that have been written about Him. He never wrote a song, yet He has furnished the theme of more songs than all writers combined. He never founded a college, yet all the schools together cannot boast of as many students as He has. He never practiced medicine, and yet He healed more broken hearts than the doctors healed broken bodies.

He never marshaled an army, drafted a soldier or fired a gun, yet no leader ever made more volunteers who have, under his orders, made rebels stack arms or surrender without a shot being fired. He is the Star of astronomy, the Rock of geology, the Lion and the Lamb of zoology, the Harmonizer of all discords and the Healer of all diseases. Great men have come and gone, yet He lives on. Herod could not kill Him, Satan could not seduce Him, death could not destroy Him, and the grave could not hold Him.

He laid aside His purple robe for a peasant's gown. He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor. How, poor? Ask Mary! Ask the Wise Men! He slept in another's manger. He cruised the lake in another's boat. He rode on another man's ass. He was buried in another man’s tomb. All failed, but He, never! The ever Perfect One, He is the Chief among ten thousand. He is altogether lovely and He is my Saviour! (Writer unknown)

JESUS WEPT

SCRIPTURE MEDITATIONS FROM W.F. BELL

(Since we have been looking at prayer, and revival, this fits so very well. Thanks, brother.)

Luke 19:41 and John 11:35 and Hebrews 5:7 = These are the three specific times Scripture records the "tears" of the Son of God. Nothing endears Christ more to believers than His great compassion, love, and tears for sinners! "Jesus wept" over Jerusalem, He "wept" at the tomb of Lazarus, and He "wept" greatly, "with strong crying and tears," in Gethsemane. May we never be "too good" to weep! And note that in Luke 22:41 we are plainly told Christ "kneeled down, and prayed," and we do not understand at all why many people "go to church" and never get on their knees! Or never kneel anywhere! Beloved, it is praying time, it is kneeling time, it is weeping time! The modern church has lost its testimony before the world, and lost its power with God, but we don't seem to care! But now may these lines from Benjamin Beddome encourage us:

So fair a face bedewed with tears; What beauty even in grief appears!

He wept, He bled, He died for you; What more, ye saints, could Jesus do?

Enthroned above, with equal glow His warm affections downward flow;

In our distress He bears a part, And feels a sympathetic smart.

Still His compassions are the same; He knows the frailty of our frame;

Our heaviest burdens He sustains; shares in our sorrows and our pains.

Gadsby's Hymns