These two organisations e-mailed me last month saying that they would no longer be allowed to send me any more e-mails unless I gave them permission to do so.
I didn't grant them permission, but they still send me their e-mails!
Christian ethics!
Wednesday, 6 June 2018
Sunday, 3 June 2018
2 Peter 3.9
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness; but is long suffering to US-WARD, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3.9 KJV. (my emphasis).
Does this verse teach that God wants every person in the world to "come to repentance" and that He doesn't want any to "perish"? Clearly, any with a little understanding regarding the case of Peter would know that the Lord was indeed "longsuffering" toward him!
To understand what any single verse in Holy Writ teaches it is necessary to read it in its proper context, and not twist it to teach something else. We must, if we are to be blessed with the study of God's word apply ourselves with an honest conscience. Let us then turn to the first verse of the chapter under consideration: "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance." (my emphasis). Who, then are the "beloved" that Peter is writing to? The first verse of Peter's second letter reads; " Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."
To any honest student of God's word, it can be clearly seen that Peter isn't writing to the world, but to the "beloved", (the us-ward of 2 Peter 3.9) who are also the "elect" of his first epistle; "Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father..." 1 Peter 1.1-2a. Of these he says "..give diligence to make your calling and election sure." 2 Peter 1.10. (my emphasis).
It is only those belonging to the US-WARD that God is "not willing that any should perish"! If God didn't want every person in the entire world to perish, none would perish, for His will be done on earth as it is in heaven! let us not forget the Lord's words in Luke 22.31: "Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat." Truly, Peter would have been the Devil's child, had it not been for the pre-destined intervention of God in Christ!
Does this verse teach that God wants every person in the world to "come to repentance" and that He doesn't want any to "perish"? Clearly, any with a little understanding regarding the case of Peter would know that the Lord was indeed "longsuffering" toward him!
To understand what any single verse in Holy Writ teaches it is necessary to read it in its proper context, and not twist it to teach something else. We must, if we are to be blessed with the study of God's word apply ourselves with an honest conscience. Let us then turn to the first verse of the chapter under consideration: "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance." (my emphasis). Who, then are the "beloved" that Peter is writing to? The first verse of Peter's second letter reads; " Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."
To any honest student of God's word, it can be clearly seen that Peter isn't writing to the world, but to the "beloved", (the us-ward of 2 Peter 3.9) who are also the "elect" of his first epistle; "Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father..." 1 Peter 1.1-2a. Of these he says "..give diligence to make your calling and election sure." 2 Peter 1.10. (my emphasis).
It is only those belonging to the US-WARD that God is "not willing that any should perish"! If God didn't want every person in the entire world to perish, none would perish, for His will be done on earth as it is in heaven! let us not forget the Lord's words in Luke 22.31: "Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat." Truly, Peter would have been the Devil's child, had it not been for the pre-destined intervention of God in Christ!
Once Saved Always Saved
Arminian's* are those who teach that man has a free will; they deny the absolute sovereignty of God, and that He has chosen in eternity past an elect people, and that Christ bore their sins only. They deny the total depravity of man, as they insist that man has the capacity in himself to accept Christ as Saviour by a decision of their own making. They flagrantly disregard clear and plain teaching in God's written word as is clearly evidenced by the following Scriptures; John 1.13, 6.44, 8.36, Romans 9.16 etc..
To borrow Arthur W. Pink's words, "Where any teacher or preacher is unsound on these basic truths, no confidence must be placed in him on any other subject. If he is all wrong at the foundations, his superstructure is bound to be faulty.
"No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him." John 6.44 (my emphasis).
If only believers would dwell on those words as they do with John 3.16! No man! this one verse alone should settle the matter, but apparently not! how many today teach that a true believer can fall away and perish is, well, quite beyond me. What kind of Head would He be if any of the members of His mystical body could be torn from Him? What kind of Shepherd would He be, if a single sheep of His flock could be left behind to perish in the wilderness? What kind of Physician would He be, if any patient under His hand were in the end found to be incurable? What kind of High Priest would He be, if any name written on His heart were found wanting when He makes up His jewels? What kind of Husband would He be, if He and any soul once united to Him by faith were ever put asunder?
As William Gurnall (1655) said:
"How well do they consult for Christ's honour that say His sheep may die in a ditch of final apostasy?
"Christ and His members make one Christ. Now, is it possible a piece of Christ can be found at last burning in hell? Can Christ be a crippled Christ? Can this member drop off and that? How can Christ part with His mystical members and not with His glory?" (Taken from J.C. Ryle's Old Paths).
Those names in God's Book of Life can never be lost, for they have been pre-destined to glory.
God's elect will persevere to the end. Was it for nothing Peter said "..give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things ye shall never fall." 2 Peter 1.10?
*This is also the position of people who would call themselves "Biblicists", they think they are neither Calvinists nor Arminian, yet they are Arminian by default, for they know not what they affirm.
To borrow Arthur W. Pink's words, "Where any teacher or preacher is unsound on these basic truths, no confidence must be placed in him on any other subject. If he is all wrong at the foundations, his superstructure is bound to be faulty.
"No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him." John 6.44 (my emphasis).
If only believers would dwell on those words as they do with John 3.16! No man! this one verse alone should settle the matter, but apparently not! how many today teach that a true believer can fall away and perish is, well, quite beyond me. What kind of Head would He be if any of the members of His mystical body could be torn from Him? What kind of Shepherd would He be, if a single sheep of His flock could be left behind to perish in the wilderness? What kind of Physician would He be, if any patient under His hand were in the end found to be incurable? What kind of High Priest would He be, if any name written on His heart were found wanting when He makes up His jewels? What kind of Husband would He be, if He and any soul once united to Him by faith were ever put asunder?
As William Gurnall (1655) said:
"How well do they consult for Christ's honour that say His sheep may die in a ditch of final apostasy?
"Christ and His members make one Christ. Now, is it possible a piece of Christ can be found at last burning in hell? Can Christ be a crippled Christ? Can this member drop off and that? How can Christ part with His mystical members and not with His glory?" (Taken from J.C. Ryle's Old Paths).
Those names in God's Book of Life can never be lost, for they have been pre-destined to glory.
God's elect will persevere to the end. Was it for nothing Peter said "..give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things ye shall never fall." 2 Peter 1.10?
*This is also the position of people who would call themselves "Biblicists", they think they are neither Calvinists nor Arminian, yet they are Arminian by default, for they know not what they affirm.
Saturday, 2 June 2018
Ruin in Eden!
"Some master in Israel who wanted to help the memories of his hearers has said that the three things to be preached above everything else are the three R's- Ruin, Redemption, and Regeneration. He spake wisely and well. How will men seek salvation if they do not feel their ruin? Where is their salvation save in the atoning blood? What is salvation but being created anew unto holiness? It is a noteworthy fact that, in Holy Scripture, there are three third chapters which deal with these things in the fullest manner. The third of Genesis reveals Ruin; the third of Romans teaches Redemption; the third of John sets forth Regeneration."
C.H. Spurgeon p 22; The Teachings of Nature in the Kingdom of Grace.
Mr Spurgeon asked; "How will men seek salvation if they do not feel their ruin?"
C.H. Spurgeon p 22; The Teachings of Nature in the Kingdom of Grace.
Mr Spurgeon asked; "How will men seek salvation if they do not feel their ruin?"
Liberal Christian theology which abounds in our present 'enlightened' age, broadcasts the message that "God loves the sinner, but hates the sin."
On this message A.W. Pink writes:
"One of the most popular beliefs of the day is that God loves everybody, and the very fact that it is so popular ought to be enough to arouse suspicions of those who are subject to the Word of Truth. God's love toward all His creatures is the fundamental and favourite tenet of Universalists, Unitarians, Theosophists, Christian Scientists, Spiritualists, Russellites, etc....
It has been customary to say God loves the sinner, though He hates his sin. But that is a meaningless distinction. What is there in a sinner but sin? To tell the Christ rejecter that God loves him is to cauterize his conscience, as well as to afford him a sense of security in his sins.
Of this message, Pink said "perhaps the late D.L. Moody (Arminian) - captivated by Drummond's 'The Greatest Thing in the World' did more than anyone else last century to popularize this concept."
Some years back, it took me sometime to get my head around the fact that the saying under consideration is not Biblical, yet how many think otherwise? Again, is this not due entirely to a false understanding of John 3.16?
Thursday, 31 May 2018
Perseverance of the saints.
"It will not do to tell us that this doctrine of perseverance, is merely a piece of Calvinism. Nothing is easier than to get up a prejudice against a truth, by giving it a bad name. Men deal with doctrines they do not like, much as Nero did when he persecuted the early Christians. They dress them up in a hideous garment and then hold them up to scorn and run them down. The perseverance of the saints is often treated in this manner. People stave it off by some sneering remark about Calvinism, or by some apocryphal old wives' fable about Oliver Cromwell's deathbed, and think they have settled the question. Surely it would be more becoming to enquire whether perseverance was not taught in the Bible 1400 years before Calvin was born. The question to be decided is not whether the doctrine is Calvinistic, but whether it is Scriptural. The words of Bishop Horsley deserve to be widely known."
"Take especial care," he says, "before you aim your shafts at Calvinism, that you know what is Calvinism and what is not;- that in the mass of doctrine which it is of late become the fashion to abuse under the name Calvinism, you can distinguish with certainty, between that part of it which is nothing better than Calvinism, and that which belongs to our common Christianity and the general faith of the reformed Churches;- lest, when you mean only to fall foul of Calvinism you should unwarily attack something more sacred and of a higher origin."
Pages 10-11 "Never Perish" by Bishop J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)
"Take especial care," he says, "before you aim your shafts at Calvinism, that you know what is Calvinism and what is not;- that in the mass of doctrine which it is of late become the fashion to abuse under the name Calvinism, you can distinguish with certainty, between that part of it which is nothing better than Calvinism, and that which belongs to our common Christianity and the general faith of the reformed Churches;- lest, when you mean only to fall foul of Calvinism you should unwarily attack something more sacred and of a higher origin."
Pages 10-11 "Never Perish" by Bishop J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)
Wednesday, 30 May 2018
The 'dreaded' TULIP in as few words as possible!!
Why do so many Christians find Calvinism (aka doctrines of grace) so offensive? It can't be worldlings, for they would also find Arminianism to be offensive!
T (Total Depravity)
A quick five minute scan through the daily newspapers, TV news and the internet media will confirm the truth of this doctrine!
U (Unconditional Election)
This doctrine allows the Almighty God in Christ to choose whom He will! Not because He saw anything good in the chosen, but just that it pleased Him by His own sovereign grace to do so. (Is this too hard to understand?).
L (Limited Atonement)
This is the one that really angers many believers; that Christ didn't die for every man, woman, and child in the world. A quick perusal through God's Book will confirm this most hated truth; Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Haman, Judas and the unrepentant thief are some examples to prove this fact.
I (Irresistible Grace)
That we cannot resist the Almighty's grace, dare we think otherwise! I can't flatter myself to think that I have the power to do so! Can a true believer resist God? "For Who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?" 1 Corinthians 4.7. The Father and the Son don't manifest themselves to us in this present age, no this is the work of God's gracious Holy Spirit who came down to the earth after the Son's ascension, John 14.16, 26.
P (Perseverance of the Saints)
That God will enable the elect to persevere to the end through His almighty power. Yes, we may, stumble and fall a great many times along the road to eternity, but God through His gracious Holy Spirit will enable His elect to enter those "many mansions" in "the Father's house" John 14.2. Will not God "confirm you to the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Corinthians 1.8?
What is the point of writing an extended treatise on the subject? I could write a thousand pages on it, and it wouldn't convince a dyed in the wool Arminian! Simply put, people will believe what they want to believe. Ever remember, God's Word is a revelation! Revelation, and what we learn from the study of God's Book, are two entirely different things: the former being from God, the latter from our own human reasoning.
In a nutshell, Calvinism gives God all the glory, and Arminianism strips the all glory from Him.
Arminian's contend that Calvinism limits the Atonement, yet they freely aver many are not saved! Granted, they will say "ah! but by their own 'free-will'!" But, how can we come to God by our own 'free will'? As unbelievers, were we not once all dead men walking? 1 Corinthians 2.14 and Romans 8.7 should dispel this false notion, plus the general tenor of Scripture.
As a student of prophecy, fulfilled and unfulfilled, it became very clear to me that any prophetic event cannot possibly happen by chance, otherwise how would a yet unfulfilled event come to pass? How could God orchestrate the fulfillment of His written word, down to the last microdot if He were to be reliant on the will of us "grasshoppers" (Isaiah 40.22) down here? It truly baffles me how intelligent believers cannot see the truth of pre-destination and election.
There are some who would call themselves "Biblicist's"; they aver that they are neither Calvinist's nor Arminian, but the plain truth is that there is no middle position; do we have half, or a quarter 'free-will'? Those Bible students who rail against the doctrines of grace are Arminian by default.
There are some who would call themselves "Biblicist's"; they aver that they are neither Calvinist's nor Arminian, but the plain truth is that there is no middle position; do we have half, or a quarter 'free-will'? Those Bible students who rail against the doctrines of grace are Arminian by default.
Tuesday, 29 May 2018
Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
Shall a trumpet be blown in a city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? Surely the LORD God will do nothing, but he revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets. Amos 3.6-7.
This is the explanation of the preceding similes: God is the Author of all the calamities which come upon you, and which are foretold by His prophets. The evil of sin is from ourselves; the evil of trouble is from God, whoever be the instruments. His secret-viz., His purpose hidden from all, until it is revealed to His prophets (cf. Genesis 18.17). In a wider sense, God's will is revealed to all who love God, which it is not to the world (Ps. 25.14; John 15.15; 17.25, 26). unto His servants-who being servants cannot but obey the Lord in setting forth His purpose (viz., that of judgment against Israel) (Jer. 20.9; Ezek. 9.11). Therefore the fault which the ungodly find with them is groundless (1 Kings 18.17. It aggravates Israel's sin, that God is not about to inflict judgment without having fully warned the people, if haply they might repent.
Page 792, Jameson, Fausset & Brown COMMENTARY ON THE WHOLE BIBLE.
It behoves us as believers to at least try and understand the weight of these verses. Some years back on the mainland when in a small group Bible study, I became aware that some (mainly women) had a propensity for avoiding certain theological study, almost ignoring verses of Scripture that they didn't like! Some tend to make a god in their own image as it were; dwelling on their favorite verses in regard to the Saviour, and the sweet Psalms. It is almost as if they think Jesus is a new improved God, completely detached from the Old Testament, as if He came out of absolutely nowhere; a "Johnny come lately" God! There is "no new thing under the sun"; for this was the heresy of Marcion!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Hebrews 13.8. He is the God of the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.
"And He said unto them, these are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning Me." Luke 24.44 (my emphasis). "Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am." John 8.58.
"I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil, I the LORD do all these things." Isaiah 45.7.
"Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good?" Lamentations 3.38.
Are these verses palatable? It matters not what we think of them, but "hath God said them"?
This is the explanation of the preceding similes: God is the Author of all the calamities which come upon you, and which are foretold by His prophets. The evil of sin is from ourselves; the evil of trouble is from God, whoever be the instruments. His secret-viz., His purpose hidden from all, until it is revealed to His prophets (cf. Genesis 18.17). In a wider sense, God's will is revealed to all who love God, which it is not to the world (Ps. 25.14; John 15.15; 17.25, 26). unto His servants-who being servants cannot but obey the Lord in setting forth His purpose (viz., that of judgment against Israel) (Jer. 20.9; Ezek. 9.11). Therefore the fault which the ungodly find with them is groundless (1 Kings 18.17. It aggravates Israel's sin, that God is not about to inflict judgment without having fully warned the people, if haply they might repent.
Page 792, Jameson, Fausset & Brown COMMENTARY ON THE WHOLE BIBLE.
It behoves us as believers to at least try and understand the weight of these verses. Some years back on the mainland when in a small group Bible study, I became aware that some (mainly women) had a propensity for avoiding certain theological study, almost ignoring verses of Scripture that they didn't like! Some tend to make a god in their own image as it were; dwelling on their favorite verses in regard to the Saviour, and the sweet Psalms. It is almost as if they think Jesus is a new improved God, completely detached from the Old Testament, as if He came out of absolutely nowhere; a "Johnny come lately" God! There is "no new thing under the sun"; for this was the heresy of Marcion!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Hebrews 13.8. He is the God of the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.
"And He said unto them, these are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning Me." Luke 24.44 (my emphasis). "Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am." John 8.58.
"I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil, I the LORD do all these things." Isaiah 45.7.
"Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good?" Lamentations 3.38.
Are these verses palatable? It matters not what we think of them, but "hath God said them"?
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