BIBLICAL THEOLOGY: SCRIPTURE INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE


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The Prosperity Gospel

9/13/2022

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Preachers for Hire are a Curse to Africa 

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” – 2 Cor. 8:9
Do you pay your Preacher for God’s blessings? Then he is a hireling! Jesus Christ, the Messiah, never had anything good to say about hirelings (John 10:12-13). Why would you trust the judgment of a man you have to pay for prayers and prophecies (Prov. 17:23)? Naturally, with a little bribery he will give you a “good” prophecy (Micah 7:3). This is the way of the Witch Doctor. “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16). Money can’t buy divine favor! That’s the truth. Jesus cursed the rich and blessed the poor (Luke 6:20, 24), while your neighborhood prosperity Preacher blesses the rich and curses the poor. “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.” (James 5:1). 
Do you pay your Preacher to go to Church? The House of God shouldn’t operate like the marketplace. Jesus flipped the tables and chairs of the salesmen and moneychangers (Matt. 21:12-13). Money shouldn’t be on your mind at all when you go to the House of God. Nor should it be in your prayers (Matt. 6:5-34). You cannot serve God and money! It’s impossible. Jesus said, “for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other” (Matt. 6:19-24). 
Do you admire your Preacher because he is rich? Or does your Preacher teach you to admire others who are rich? Jesus solemnly declared to everyone, everywhere, that it is nearly impossible for a rich man to “enter into the Kingdom of God” (Luke 18:24-25)! Why would you want to be rich and famous? That which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God (Lk. 16:15). It is very rare for a “wise” and “noble” man of the world to get truly converted to Christ (1 Cor. 1:26-29, Matt. 18:3). Rich men are to be pitied because most of them are void of true faith in God, and spiritually bankrupt, while God has chosen the poor to be rich in faith (James 2:5-6). 
Do you want to follow Jesus Christ? Then stop following your Preacher. Only follow him inasmuch as he follows Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 4:17). Face the facts of the Bible! Most modern-day Preachers are nothing like Jesus Christ. The Messiah shocked the public with the free grace of His healing touch (Luke 6:19). He never once asked for money! The Son of God was a foot-washer, and He taught His followers to be humble in following His example (John 13:13-17, Php. 2:5). The Apostles followed suit in obedience to the Word (1 Cor. 4:8-13). To avoid reproach they would refuse to charge people for anything at all, even when it came to tithes and offerings (Acts 20:34, 1 Thess. 2:9, 2 Thess. 3:8). Why? They didn’t want the message of the Gospel to be confounded by the presence of money (1 Cor. 9:12, 15-19), like Simon the Sorcerer was deceived to think that the gift of the Holy Spirit could be purchased with shillings (Acts 8:19-24). 
“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” - 1Tim. 6:9-10 
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The Godlessness of the Good Man

9/13/2022

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The Sin of Self-Righteousness 

“There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” – Rom. 3:12
Do you like to surround yourself with good people? Modern society teaches us that goodness comes with age and maturity. Ask your parents and they will tell you that life experiences have a way of causing people to outgrow the phase of brazen mischief and riotous behavior. Professionals tell us that education and intelligence can make good people even better. Nevertheless, God says the exact opposite. 
“There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” – Rom. 3:12

“…there is none good but one, that is, God.” – Mk. 10:18
Are you a good person? Sinners only get worse with time. Anyone claiming to be good is committing yet another act of rebellion, and it’s called the sin of self-righteousness. This is when people claim to be righteous while the LORD clearly says that they are sinful and justly condemned. 
“There is none righteous, no, not one:” – Rom. 3:10 
Now is the time to start questioning what you have been told your whole life. Few people will ever come to a knowledge of the truth because of their downright refusal to take a different path than the world (Ps. 10:4). 
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” – Matt. 7:13-14
The unpopular path is the narrow way (Lk. 16:15). Rarely will the wise and noble men of this world ever take this path because they don’t want God to tell them what to do (1 Cor. 1:26-29). They are too busy caring for the things of this world to get right with God (Lk. 12:16-21). They feel they have more important things to do than to be religious (Luke 14:16-24). They are too wise in their own eyes to believe that their success in this world is “unprofitable”, without merit, and totally “vain” in the sight of God (Rom. 3:12, Isa. 5:21, Eccl. 1:2-3). 
“There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” – Rom. 3:11-12

“For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” – 1 Cor. 1:19 
The best man of this world is totally blind (Eph. 4:17-19; John 3:3, Matt. 13:14-15, 15:14). The good man is godless! Literally, these people are living a life void of the presence of God (Rom. 8:7-8). That’s not to say that they aren’t trying to do “good things”. Many of them try to do what is right with the knowledge that they have of the Bible. Nevertheless, because they are attempting to keep the commandments of God in their own power, in the flesh, all of their righteous deeds are as filthy rags in the sight of God. 
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” – Isa. 64:6
The good man is still godless even if he is imitating the commandments of God in the flesh. This is nothing more than a pretty mask on an ugly face. The LORD doesn’t want mere imitators that proudly appear righteous outwardly while inwardly they are still sinners by nature (Matt. 23:27-28; 2 Pet. 1:4). It is impossible for people to characteristically copy the LORD in the flesh in an attempt to glorify God, and in this the Word of the LORD is fulfilled, “That no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1 Cor. 1:29). 
“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” – Rom. 8:5-8
Even the “good” things that wicked people are doing amount to more sin against God (Isa. 64:6). You can love your wife and kids, work hard, go to Church, and give to the poor, and you will still die and go to hell at the end of the day. Why? Because God didn’t create you to live a life independent from Him with an alien sense of your own righteousness and morality in the flesh (Rom. 10:3). Therefore, anything and everything you have ever done for every second of every minute of every hour of every day has been nothing but sin your entire lifetime. For this reason, Jesus said, “You must be born again” (John 3:3, 5). Only then will you come to live, move, and have your being in God (Rom. 8:1, 13, Gal. 5:16). You must be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Gospel (2 Cor. 5:17-21)! 
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Lordship Salvation - Voices from Church History

9/13/2022

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"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" - Acts 16:30 

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“If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord's will but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumption, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Do you imagine that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to the worldlings and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply accepting Christ as their Saviour, while they are wedded to their idols and their hearts are still in love with sin? If I do so, I tell them a lie, pervert the Gospel, insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.” - Charles Spurgeon
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“If we are not obedient unto Christ we may rest assured that we have not the Spirit of Christ – and are none of His.” – Charles Spurgeon  

“Many are troubled because the Gospel interferes with their sin.” – Charles Spurgeon 

"A man is not saved against his will, but he is made willing by the operation of the Holy Ghost. A mighty grace which he does not wish to resist enters into the man, disarms him, makes a new creature of him, and he is saved." – Charles Spurgeon
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"Jesus didn't die to save us from Hell. That's a fringe benefit! He died to get total occupation of us..." - Leonard Ravenhill 

“If He is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.” – Leonard Ravenhill 
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"If you're going to be a true Christian, I'll tell you one thing amongst others: it'll be a lonely life. It's a narrow way and it becomes narrower and narrower and narrower.” – Leonard Ravenhill 
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“To those who want to receive Christ as Saviour in order to have a passport to Heaven, but desire to remain in their sins and in the world, we must be faithful and declare like Peter, 'Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity' (Acts 8:21-23).” - James Stewart
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"I claim no right to myself, no right to this understanding, this will, these affections that are in me. Neither do I have any right to this body or its members, no right to this tongue, to these hands, feet, ears or eyes. I have given myself clear away and not retained anything of my own." - Jonathan Edwards 

"How can you expect to dwell with God forever, if you so neglect and forsake him here?" - Jonathan Edwards 

"Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will." - Jonathan Edwards 
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"Those who have not bowed to Christ's scepter and enthroned Him in their hearts and lives, and yet imagine that they are trusting in Him as their Saviour, are deceived, and unless God disillusions them they will go down to the everlasting burnings with a lie in their right hand." - A.W. Pink 

"We do not ask, Is Christ your "Savior," but is He, really and truly, your Lord? If He be not your Lord, then most certainly He is not your "Savior." Those who have not received Christ Jesus as their "Lord," and yet suppose Him to be their "Savior," are deluded, and their hope rests on a foundation of sand." - A.W. Pink 
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"Many say they love God but they hate His laws. "Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us" (Psa. ii. 3). God’s precepts are compared to cords, they bind men to their good behaviour; but the wicked think these cords too tight, therefore they say, Let us break them. They pretend to love Christ as a Saviour, but hate Him as a King. Christ tells us of His yoke (Matt. xi. 29). Sinners would have Christ put a crown upon their head, but not a yoke upon their neck. He were a strange king that should rule without laws." - Thomas Watson 
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"...Nowhere [in the Bible] are we ever led to believe that we can use Jesus as a Savior and not own Him as our Lord. He is the Lord and as the Lord He saves us, because He has all of the offices of Savior and Christ and High Priest and Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption! He is all of these things and all of these are embodied in Him as Christ the Lord." ("I Call It Heresy!") - A.W. Tozer 

"The idea that God will pardon a rebel who has not given up his rebellion is contrary both to the Scriptures and to common sense." - A.W. Tozer 
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"Christ has bands and cords for us; those that will be saved by him must be ruled by him..." - Matthew Henry 

​"It will not be asked at the great day, “Who ate flesh, and who ate herbs?” “Who kept holy days, and who did not?” Nor will it be asked, “Who was conformist and who was non-conformist?” But it will be asked, “Who feared God and worked righteousness, and who did not?” Nothing (is) more destructive to true Christianity than placing it in modes, and forms, and circumstantials, which eat out the essentials." - Matthew Henry
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"Somebody said, 'It is so easy to get saved.' Yes, all it will cost you is a full surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. All you've got to do to be saved is to die: that's all it costs to get to Christ." - Rolfe Barnard 
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'I have fought a battle over America, and time after time preachers have said in their pulpits, 'Rolfe Barnard is a liar,' when I preached - but I am not a liar when I say, 'Any salvation that doesn't bring you to a glad, happy submission to the rule of God in your life is not what Jesus bought on the cross.' This little stuff they call salvation now, that allows men and women to claim Jesus as Saviour without their wills being broken to His will, and without gaining glad submission to where men and women rejoice in the rule of Christ Jesus - that is no salvation at all!' - Rolfe Barnard 

"I tried to get God to save me without throwing down my rebellion, but that just won't work. You just can't do it and call yourself a Christian. If you do, you're certain to go to hell. Until your rebellion is crushed and you surrender to do his will, there is no salvation." - Rolfe Barnard 

"My dear unsaved friend, tears do not count if your heart is in rebellion. More than tears are needed. A great ONCE-FOR-ALL "LORD, I SURRENDER" is needed! Repentance is not an emotion or excitement, but repentance includes it. No man has ever been able to repent who did not get terribly excited in the very seat of the affections of his soul about the heinousness of his sin and the desperateness of his relation, or lack of it, to Almighty God! What is repentance? It is one great deliberate act of the soul, the whole man, in obedience to the call of God. It is turning from and turning to. It is putting your hand on your sin and pulling it out. That is what repentance is...Have you repented? Have you been able – as you sought a new heart, as you put yourself in the hands of a Sovereign God, have you been able to abhor yourself, your old nature and your sinful way, and turn utterly, renouncing all hope in self, to put your confidence and your trust and your surrender in the Lord Jesus Christ? I hope you have." - Rolfe Barnard 

"Our first appeal is to rebels who have taken up arms against their Creator, and it is an appeal which is nothing less than the demand for surrender. The Gospel faces the world with terms and does not simply subdue it with a glow. The message is still, 'Jesus is Lord,' The Lord Jesus Christ will not settle for anything short of the total absolute surrender, not of our time or our money, but of ourselves to Him as God's Lord for time and for eternity." - Rolfe Barnard 
Must Jesus bear the cross alone, And all the world go free? 
No, there’s a cross for everyone, And there’s a cross for me.

The consecrated cross I’ll bear Till death shall set me free; 
And then go home my crown to wear, For there’s a crown for me.

How happy are the saints above, Who once went sorrowing here! 
But now they taste unmingled love, And joy without a tear. 

Upon the crystal pavement, down At Jesus' pierced feet,
Joyful, I'll cast my golden crown, and His dear name repeat.

O precious cross! O glorious crown! O resurrection day! 
Ye angels, from the stars come down, And bear my soul away.
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- "Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?"
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"Is Christ Your Lord?" - A.W. Pink

9/10/2022

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We do not ask, Is Christ your "Savior," but is He, really and truly, your Lord? If He be not your Lord, then most certainly He is not your "Savior." Those who have not received Christ Jesus as their "Lord," and yet suppose Him to be their "Savior," are deluded, and their hope rests on a foundation of sand. Multitudes are deceived on this vital point, and therefore, if the reader values his or her soul, we implore you to give a most careful reading to this little tract.

Is
​Christ
Your
Lord? 
When we ask: "Is Christ your Lord?", we do not inquire, Do you believe in the Godhood of Jesus of Nazareth? The demons do that (Matt. 8:28, 29) and yet perish notwithstanding! You may be firmly convinced of the Deity of Christ, and yet be in your sins. You may speak of Him with the utmost reverence, accord Him His Divine titles in your prayers, and yet be unsaved. You may abominate those who traduce His person and deny His Divinity, and yet have no spiritual love for Him at all.

When we ask, "Is Christ your Lord?" we mean, does He in very deed occupy the throne of your heart, does He actually rule over your life? "We have turned every one to his own way" (Isa. 53:6), describes the course which all follow by nature. Before conversion every soul lives to please self. Of old it was written, "every man did that which was right in his own eyes", and why? "In those days there was no king in Israel" (Judges 21:25). Ah! that is the point we desire to make clear to the reader. Until Christ becomes your King (1 Tim. 1:17; Rev. 15:3), until you bow to his scepter, until His will becomes the rule of your life, SELF dominates, and thus Christ is disowned.

When the Holy Spirit begins His work of grace in a soul, He first convicts of sin. He shows me the real and awful nature of sin. He makes me realize that it is a species of insurrection, a defying of God's authority, a setting of my will against His. He shows me that in going my "own way" (Isa. 53:6), in pleasing myself, I have been fighting against God. As my eyes are opened to see what a lifelong rebel I have been, how indifferent to God's honor, how unconcerned about His will, I am filled with anguish and horror, and made to marvel that the thrice Holy One has not long since cast me into Hell. Reader, have you ever gone through this experience? If not, there is very grave reason to fear you are yet spiritually dead!

Conversion, true conversion, saving conversion, is a turning from sin to God in Christ. It is a throwing down the weapons of my warfare against Him, a ceasing to despise or ignore His authority. New Testament conversion is described thus: "Ye turned to God from idols to serve (be in subjection to, obey) the living and true God" (1 Thess. 1:9). An "idol" is any object to which we give what is due alone unto God--the supreme place in our affections, the molding influence of our hearts, the dominating power of our lives. Conversion is a right-about-face, the heart and will repudiating sin, self, and the world. Genuine conversion is always evidenced by "Lord what wilt Thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6). It is an unreserved surrendering of ourselves to His holy will. Have you yielded yourself to Him? (Rom. 6:13)

There are many people who would like to be saved from Hell, but who do not want to be saved from self-will, from having their own way, from a life of (some form of) worldliness. But God will not save them on their terms. To be saved, we must submit to HIS terms. Listen to His terms. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him" (Isa. 55:7). Said Christ, "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33).

Men must be turned "from darkness to light, and the power of Satan unto God" before they can "receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified" (Acts 26:18).

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk ye in Him" (Col. 2:6). That is an exhortation to Christians, and its force is, Continue as you begin. But how had they "begun"? By receiving "Christ Jesus the Lord"; by surrendering to Him, by subjecting themselves to His will, by ceasing to please themselves. His authority was now owned. His commands now became their rule of life, His love constrained them to a glad and unreserved obedience. They "gave their own selves to the Lord" (2 Cor. 8:5). Have you, my reader, done this? Have you? Do the details of your life evidence it? Can those with whom you come into contact see that you are no more living to please self? (2 Cor. 5:15)

O my reader, make no mistake upon this point: a conversion which the Holy Spirit produces is a very radical thing. It is a miracle of grace. It is the enthroning of Christ in the life. And such conversions are rare indeed. Multitudes of people have just sufficient "religion" to make them miserable. They refuse to forsake every known sin--and there is no true peace for any soul until he does. They have never "received Christ Jesus the Lord" (Col. 2:6). Had they done so, "the joy of the LORD" would be their strength (Neh. 8:10). But the language of their hearts and lives (not their "lips") is, "We will not have this Man to reign over us" (Luke 1.9:14). Is that your case?

The great miracle of grace consists in changing a lawless rebel into a loving and loyal subject. It is a "renewing" of the heart, so that the favored subject of it has come to loathe what he loved, and the things he once found irksome are now winsome (2 Cor. 5:17). He delights "in the law of God after the inward man" (Rom. 7:22). He discovers that Christ's "commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3), and that "in keeping of them there is great reward" (Psa. 19:11). Is this your experience? It would be if you received Christ Jesus THE LORD!

But to receive Christ Jesus the Lord is altogether beyond unaided human power. That is the last thing which the unrenewed heart wants to do. There must be a supernatural change of heart before there is even the desire for Christ to occupy its throne. And that change, none but God can work (1 Cor. 12:3). Therefore, "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found" (Isa. 55:6). "Search" for Him "with all your heart" (Jer. 29:13). Reader, you may have been a professing Christian for years past, and you may have been quite sincere in your profession. But if God has condescended to use this tract to show you that you have never really and truly "received Christ Jesus the Lord", if now in your own soul and conscience you realize that SELF has ruled you hitherto, will you not now get down on your knees and confess to God your self-will, your rebellion against Him, and beg Him to so work in you that, without further delay, you may be enabled to yield yourself completely to His will and become His subject, His servant, His loving slave, in deed and in truth?
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Conditions of Peace before a Lionlike King

9/8/2022

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The Lordship of Jesus Christ

Teaching #2: Conditions of Peace before a Lionlike King
“Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.” - Luke 14:31-32
This is good counsel from a gracious God. These are strong reasons to become a true disciple of the Messiah. War is coming! It’s midnight, and in the morning a great battle will be fought. Sinners will one day see it with their own eyes in all of its dreadful glory, but for many it will be too late. They will not survive the war because when God offered peace they didn’t come to terms with the divine agreement. Even so, every detail of divine prophecy will be fulfilled. 
“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” - Rev 6:15-17
Two thousand years ago, at the 1st coming of Christ, the Son of God appeared as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, 36). In love and humility, the Lord Jesus Christ passionately pursued the salvation of sinners through making the ultimate sacrifice (Isa. 53:2, Matt. 11:29). He shed his own blood for our souls!

In the near future, at the 2nd coming of Christ, the Son of God will appear as a Lionlike King to take over the world (Rev. 5:5, Gen. 49:9-10, Num. 24:9). In wrath and vengeance, the Lord Jesus Christ will zealously pursue the annihilation of rebellious sinners with such ferocity, the carcasses of sinners will be scattered about from one end of the earth to the other (Jer. 25:30-33). He will shed the blood of the nations and stain all His garments red through the violence of war (Isa. 63:1-6, Rev. 19:11-21).

Do you see the difference? Where the Son of God was meek before, He will then be majestic; where He was lowly, He will then be lofty; where He was mortal, He will then be immortal; where He was weak, He will then be all powerful; and where He was criminalized and crucified before, He will then be an all-conquering King! 

When great monarchs of ancient history went to war, the conquered nations became subservient through a covenant of peace. Even so, Jesus Christ is extending to you conditions of peace long before the war. What are the conditions of peace? Wave the white flag of surrender! Make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior. Come to a place of absolute surrender before the LORD. The power of the Gospel can accomplish this in your depraved human heart (1 Cor. 12:3).

Don’t get this wrong! Jesus Christ is not asking you to repent. This isn’t an invitation. The Son of God is commanding you repent (Acts 17:30)! The Lordship of Jesus Christ requires absolute surrender and total subjection from sinners, or you will have to face the unrelenting power of divine wrath without mercy (Heb. 10:26-27). Jesus Christ is Lord of all, and if you don’t give him your all, you will be counted among His enemies (Ex. 20:3, James 4:4; Luke 6:46-49). 
“But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them,
bring hither, and slay them before me.” - Luke 19:27 (Php. 2:10-11)
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A Personal Confession that Jesus Christ is the Lord

9/8/2022

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The Lordship of Jesus Christ 

Teaching #1: A Personal Confession that Jesus Christ is the Lord 
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” - Luke 6:46
Without question, Jesus Christ is the Lord! The only question is if Jesus Christ is your Lord. Or are you the lord over your own life? That’s the point of the question in Luke 6:46. Have you come to a place of absolute surrender before the Lord? The Son of God is offended when people pay tribute through empty words. “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Mat 15:8).

Professing Christians these days think that they can please God with mere words by addressing Jesus Christ respectfully through verbalizing the divine titles that He deserves, not knowing that a lifestyle of disobedience to Jesus Christ renders it all vain. The heathen, as falsely converted Christians, have infiltrated the Church and led it astray through “vain repetitions” that are without merit before the throne of God. “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” (Matt. 6:7).

The Lordship of Jesus Christ requires your obedience. Any confession that Jesus is the Lord without obedience means absolutely nothing. Even if your so called “Christian” life is filled with much spiritual activity –prophesying, casting out devils, and many wonderful works – you will still be condemned before God if you are living in sin. 
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matt. 7:21-23 
These “Christians” are so confident that they deserve to go to Heaven, that they are arguing with God as they are denied entrance into glory! Can you believe it? Their confession of Jesus as the Lord proved to be false. Why? Jesus told them, “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt. 7:23). Despite the abundance of spiritual activity in their lives, these “Christians” were so sinful that they stood condemned on Judgment Day. However, it’s only because they were never truly Christian to begin with. Jesus said that He “never” knew them. A devil masquerading in the name of Jesus deceived them (2 Cor. 11:4)! It gave them power to do so many impressive things, while distracting them from the fact that they are still in bondage to sin.

If the spirit that you are communing with isn’t making you holy, then it’s not the Holy Spirit (Heb. 12:14). If the words you are hearing in the spirit aren’t making you free from sin, allowing for a life of obedience to God, then you are not hearing the truth of Jesus Christ the Lord. “If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32). You’ve been taught that if you “call upon the name of the Lord” that you “shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13), but you must call upon Him in truth and with sincerity (Ps. 145:18). You must come to a place of absolute surrender before the LORD. Otherwise, Jesus Christ will despise your prayers (Ps. 66:18, Prov. 15:8, 28:9, Isa. 1:15, James 4:3)! Jesus Christ is the Lord, but he must become your Lord for your prayers to be sincere resulting in salvation. True faith in the Gospel produces obedience (Rom. 6:1-7, 10:9-10). 
“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” – 1 John 3:7-10
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"Putting Off the Day & Hour of Salvation"

9/7/2022

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Dying Testimonies of the Saved & Unsaved - S.B. Shaw

At one time during a prayer-meeting in about the year 1890, my attention was directed towards an unsaved lady who was present, who appeared to be trifling ["playing games"]. The pastor in charge of the meeting made the remark that as a watchman upon the walls of Zion, he felt that there was DANGER for someone there; he could not understand why he was impressed with this thought, and repeated that he felt drawn out to say that there was danger and someone there ought to get saved, then and there.

This irreligious lady appeared unconcerned and oblivious to his remarks, and laughed when the minister shook hands with her at the close of the meeting. Just as she was preparing to leave the church she was taken very ill, so ill that she could not go home, neither could she be taken home by friends. Everything that could be done for her relief was done, but in less than one short hour she passed into eternity. Before she died, she tore her hair, cast aside the trashy gew-gaws [showy jewelry] that adorned her person and of which heretofore she had been very fond, and throwing up her hands she cried aloud for mercy, exclaiming "Oh, Lord, have mercy on me! Oh, Lord, help me!" In this distress of body and soul she passed into the great eternity without leaving any hope to those that stood round her dying bed. This sad experience shows the danger of putting off the day and hour of salvation. 'For in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.'
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A Relationship with God

9/5/2022

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“If ye love me, keep My commandments.” - John 14:15
​Do you love God? If you love God, then you will keep His commandments. That’s a Biblical fact! You cannot say that you love God while disobeying His commandments. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1John 5:3). God is sinless. If you love God, then you hate sin. You wouldn’t take pleasure in it! You would utterly detest it. One can only love God in proportion to how much he hates sin. Forget every other contrary definition of Christianity you have ever learned. For, without real obedience to God, your profession of Christianity means absolutely nothing in light of eternity. “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Titus 1:16). 
Do you have a relationship with God? Most people would confidently say, “Yes!”, only because they feel it to be true in their own heart. Or maybe they had some kind of spiritual experience once upon a time. However, Jeremiah the prophet warned against this, saying, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9). A true relationship with God changes your relationship with sin. The only way to be absolutely sure that you have come to know God through a personal relationship is if you keep the commandments of Jesus Christ. “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:3-4). Jesus Christ, the LORD, isn’t looking for pretty words, long prayers, and roaring praises, as much as He is looking for sincere love from the heart that produces obedience to the Word. 
Do you have a relationship with the Word of God? You cannot have a relationship with God without knowing and keeping His word. This is a personal matter for God. Jesus Christ is “the Word” (John 1:1-3). If you don’t have a glorious relationship with the Bible, which is the written Word of God, then you are practicing Christianity without Christ. According to the Messiah, this is your condemnation: “My Word hath no place in you” (John 8:37). Don’t let this be said of you! “But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22). The freedom that is to be found in Christ comes through the word. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32; John 8:47). 
Do you love the world? Most people grow up and mature in life by learning the ways of the world (Eph. 2:2, 1 John 4:5). They work hard and try to find success so that they can live with pride. So, they end up walking, talking, dressing, and acting just like the world around them (Prov. 14:12). However, this is the broad path that leads to destruction that Jesus was talking about in Matt. 7:13-14. For, the world is at war against God. The human race is fallen (Romans 8:6-8)! The world around you is a threat to your eternal soul (John 15:18-21). If you are befriended by it, then you are taking sides against God as an enemy of Heaven. “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4). Can you believe it? A true relationship with God changes your relationship with the world. All those that are truly born of God overcome the world (1 John 5:10)! 
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 
​- 1Jn 2:15-17
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HYPOCRISY

9/2/2022

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Empty Christian Ritualism

“…Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” – Luke 12:1
Hypocrites are actors. They claim to be personally free from sin, while boldly offering this liberty to others, even though they are secretly in bondage to sin (2 Pet. 2:19). The true condition of the soul within is hidden underneath an outward “form of godliness” as they profess to know God (2 Tim. 3:5; Titus 1:16). Even the modern-day “Christian” religion can become a practice of empty ritualism if God isn’t in it! This happens when the religious rituals and traditions of modern Christianity are unquestionably revered. Literally, the people are afraid to question the merit of the things that they do! Therefore, God is forgotten in the process of things. The people are unknowingly putting merit in their outward practices of religion without looking inwardly to find reality with God through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 2:28-29). 
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth.” - John 4:23-24

“Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the Fountain of Living Waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” – Jer. 2:12-13 [John 7:37-39]
Hypocrites are persuasive. Due to a great show of religious ritualism, and with their many “fair speeches”, it is commonly believed that hypocrites are righteous men and women… but it’s all an act (Rom. 16:18). Outwardly they appear very righteous and pure while inwardly they are full of sin (Matt. 23:25-28). Naturally, in the theater of religious hypocrites, even the actors will forget that they are acting (Jer. 17:9; Matt. 7:21-23, John 16:2). The conscience will be seared as deception settles upon the congregation (Titus 1:16, Prov. 28:6). Christian to Christian, and congregation to congregation, the disease of hypocrisy spreads. Even a whole generation can be given over to the deceptions of empty religious ritualism (Prov. 30:12)! 
“There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” – Prov. 30:12
Through all the activity the people come to forget that they aren’t right with God (Hos. 6:3-7). While doing what is right in their own eyes, they become oblivious to the fact that God isn’t in all their righteous deeds that they are proudly doing with ritualistic consistency (Prov. 14:12, Isa. 64:6)! The disciples of the LORD need to hear this message first of all: Beware of the leaven of hypocrisy!
“In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.” - Luke 12:1-3
In adulterous and backslidden generations, hypocrisy becomes so prevalent it becomes virtually indiscernible by the common people. The people who fall prey to it do not know what is deceiving them (Matt. 23:1-36). The only remedy in a situation like this is exposing the hypocrisy with all boldness (Lk. 12:1-3). What did Jesus do? Jesus had a lot to say about hypocrisy (Matt. 23:1-35; John 7:7). So did all the Apostles and Prophets of the Bible throughout all time. They caused the people to question the merit of their religious rituals and traditions, and even the biblical ceremonies that were directly commanded of them by God, as long as the people weren’t brought into the presence of God in the experience of righteousness in the soul in whatever they were doing. For, even though the people were void of the presence of God, they were ready to continue religiously observing circumcision, sacrifices, washings, clean & unclean laws, assemblies, holy days, and incense offerings. 
Circumcision: Deut. 10:16, 30:6; Jer. 4:4; Acts 7:51; Rom. 2:28-29 
Sacrifices: Isa. 1:11; Prov. 15:8, 21:27; Hos. 6:3-7, 14:2; Ps. 51:16-19
Washings: Isa. 1:16, Titus 3:5, Jer. 4:14
Clean & Unclean Laws: Isa. 1:16, Job 33:9, Job 15:14, Ps. 51:2, 5-7, Ps. 24:3-5, 73:1; Titus 3:5
Assemblies, Holy Days, & Incense: Isa. 1:11-15
Judaism cannot truly exist without the presence of Jehovah. There is no substitute for the presence of God. Christian activity without the real presence of Christ should be avoided like the plague. It is a dangerous disease of hypocrisy that spreads like leaven among the people. However, in order to discern the existence of hypocrisy in Christianity, we must see all the “Christian things” that men are willing to do in the flesh. 
A Desire to be Baptized in a profession of Faith (Lk. 3:7; Acts 8:13, 18-24)
Confessing Jesus as the Lord (Lk. 6:46; Matt. 7:21-23)
Seeking the Lord as professing Believers (John 6:25-27; Prov. 1:28)
Participating in Discipleship as professing Believers (John 8:30-44)
Going to Church (Jer. 7:4; Matt. 24:1-2)
Willingness to hear Scriptural Teaching from the Bible (Matt. 23:2-3)
Hearing Preaching from a Pastor with some sense of enjoyment (Ezek. 33:31-32)
Inquiring after the truth in seeking Counsel from Men of God while professing Obedience to their Leadership (Ezek. 14:1-11; Jer. 42:1-6)
Religiously Reading and Memorizing the Bible (Jer. 8:5-9; James 1:22)
Lifting Up and Spreading Out their Hands to God in Prayer (Isa. 1:15, Lam. 3:41)
Praying Long Prayers (Matt. 6:7, 23:14)
Crying Out to God in prayer (Hos. 7:13-16; Jer. 11:11, 14:12; Micah 3:4; Zech. 7:13)
Saying many lovely things to God in Prayer as if they are walking near to the LORD in sweet communion (Matt. 15:8; Isa. 29:13)
Rending their Garments in a show of strong desire (Joel 2:13; James 4:3)
Fasting, Mourning, and Weeping in a what appears to be a great show of dedication (Zech. 7:3-14, Isa. 58:3) 
It is no wonder that so many people will argue with God on Judgment Day (Matt. 7:21-23, Lk. 13:23-30)! These godless souls go about trying to establish their own righteousness through religious activity instead of submitting themselves to the righteousness of God in Christ (Lk. 18:9-14, Rom. 10:1-3). Jesus Christ is the most essential ingredient to Christianity! Without Him we can do nothing (Jn. 15:5). Even now, the blood of Christ has the power to cleanse the soul and usher it into the presence of the Living God once and for all (Heb. 9:14). Therefore, let every alienated hypocrite repent of these “dead works” and be reconciled to God through the power of the Gospel (Heb. 6:1; Eph. 4:18, Col. 1:21). 
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The Way of Salvation - A.W. Pink

9/1/2022

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"What must I do to be saved? Saved from what? What is it you wish to be saved from? Hell? That proves nothing. Nobody wants to go there. The issue between God and man is SIN. Do you wish to be saved from it?

What is sin? Sin is a species of rebellion against God. It is self-pleasing: it is the utter ignoring of God’s claims: being completely indifferent whether my conduct pleases or displeases Him.

Saved 
From 
​What? 
What is sin? Sin is a species of rebellion against God. It is self-pleasing: it is the utter ignoring of God’s claims: being completely indifferent whether my conduct pleases or displeases Him.

Before God saves a man He convicts him of his sinnership. By this I do not mean that he says with everybody else, “O yes we are all sinners, I know that.” Rather do I mean that the Holy Spirit makes me feel in my heart that I have been a life-long rebel against God, and that my sins are so many, so great, so black, that I fear that I have transgressed beyond the reach of Divine mercy.

Have you ever had that experience? Have you seen yourself to be totally unfit for heaven? For the presence of a Holy God? Do you now perceive that there is no good thing in you, nothing good credited to your account, that all the way through you have loved the things God hates and hated the things God loves?

Has the realization of this broken your heart before God? Has it made you mourn that you have so despised His Sabbaths, neglected His Word, and given Him no real place at all in your thoughts, affections and life? If you have not yet seen and felt this personally, then at present there is no hope for you, for God says, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). And if you die in your present condition you will be lost forever.

But if you have been brought to the place where sin is your greatest plague, where offending God is your greatest grief, and where your deepest desire is now to please and honor Him; then there is hope for you. “The Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). And He will save you providing you are ready and willing to throw down the weapons of your warfare against Him, bow to His Lordship, and surrender yourself to His control.

His blood can wash the foulest clean. His grace can support and uphold the weakest. His power can deliver the tried and tempted. “Behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2). Yield yourself to Christ’s claims. Give Him the throne of your heart. Turn over to Him the regulation of your life. Trust in His atoning death. Love Him with all your soul. Obey Him with all your might and He will conduct you to heaven. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31)." 
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    What is Salvation? 

    Article #1: ​The Greatest Deception that God Warns Men about in the New Testament 
    ​
    Article #2: ​Sorrow is Not the Same Thing as Repentance 

    ​    Article #3: 
    Confession is Not the Same Thing as Repentance 

    Article #4: ​The False Jesus of the Modern Church 
    ​
    Article #5: ​Hypocrisy 

    Article #6: ​Self-Righteousness 
    ​
    Article #7: ​Covetousness 
    ​
    Article #8: ​Adultery 

    Article #9: ​Fornication 
    ​
    Article #10: ​Drunkenness 

    Article #11: ​Murder 

    Article #12: ​Anger 

    Article #13: ​Lying 

    Article #14: ​Homosexuality 

    Article #15: ​The Prosperity Gospel 
    ​
    Article #16: ​The Godlessness of the Good Man 
    ​
    Article #17: ​Conditions of Peace before a Lionlike King 
    ​
    Article #18: ​A Personal Confession that Jesus Christ is the Lord 
    ​
    Article #19: ​Putting Off the Day & Hour of Salvation 
    ​
    Article #20: ​The Salvation Testimony of a Former Witch 

    Article #21: ​A Relationship with God
    ​
    Article #22: "The Way of Salvation" - A.W. Pink 
    ​
    Article #23: ​"Is Christ Your Lord?" - A.W. Pink 
    ​
    Article #24: ​Lordship Salvation - Voices from Church History 

    ​    Article #25: You Must Be Born Again! 

    ​    Article #26: The Last Words of an Atheist! 

    Article #27: The Sudden Death of a Blasphemer! 

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