Concerning those who are not industrious in the things of God

Some temptations come to the industrious, but all temptations attack the idle.

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

One more on-What is the Gospel?

Multitudes today are confused over the very essence of the gospel. They have no idea that the gospel centers upon Christ and his work done on the behalf of the elect. They believe that the gospel is entirely about man and therefore ignore Christ in their messages concerning the gospel.

The gospel, however, is not about man per se, but is about one man, who is not only man, but God. The gospel focuses on what God done through the person and work of his Son. This is the objective part of the gospel. The subjective part of the gospel focuses on the benefits we derive from Christ work.

So once again I give you another link on: What is the Gospel?

 

What is the Gospel?

The gospel is not behavior modification, becoming a better person or learning to become more moral. It is not taking the life of Jesus as a model way to live or transforming/redeeming the secular realm. It is not living highly communal lives with others and sharing generously in communities who practice the way of Jesus in local culture.

These may all be good things, but they are not to be confused with the gospel. Did you notice the one characteristic of all of the above activities has nothing to do with what Christ has done for us, but all about what we do for him. The true gospel, rather, is news about what Christ the Saviour, has already done for us (in his life, death and resurrection) rather than instruction and advice about what you are to do for God. Christ’s accomplishment, not ours, is the essence of the gospel. Above all the gospel of Christ brings good news, rather than instruction about our behavior. The gospel of not about what we do, but our acts inevitably follow in thanksgiving because of what Christ has done for us.

Read the full article here.

Concerning those who are not settled in the Faith

It is the duty of Christians to be settled in the doctrine of faith. It is the apostle’s prayer, I Pet 5:50, ’The God of all grace establish, strengthen, settle you.’ That is, that they might not be meteors in the air, but fixed stars. The apostle Jude speaks of ‘wandering stars, in verse 13. They are called wandering stars, because, as Aristotle says, ‘They do leap up and down, and wander into several parts of the heaven; and being but dry exhalations, not made of that pure celestial matter as the fixed stars are, they often fall to the earth.’ Now, such as are not settled in religion, will, at one time or other, prove wandering stars; they will lose their former steadfastness, and wander from one opinion to another.

Thomas Watson “Body of Divinity-Chapter 1- A Preliminary Discourse to Catechising

 

Weekend Pause

I want to tell everyone, who follows this blog, that I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. Much time and effort goes into this blog. While using internet connections that are not so reliable at times and spending countless hours digging through emails, quotes, and web sites, I work; in order to be a blessing to all who read.

God bless you,

Hershel Lee Harvell Jr.

Concerning a Good Marriage

There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Concerning God’s Absolute Sovereignty

There has been a, wonderful alteration in my mind, with respect to the doctrine of God’s sovereignty, from that day to this; so that I scarce ever have found so much as the rising of an objection against it, in the most absolute sense, in God showing mercy to whom he will show mercy, and hardening whom he will. God’s absolute sovereignty and justice, with respect to salvation and damnation, is what my mind seems to rest assured of, as much as of any thing that I see with my eyes; at least it is so at times. But I have often, since that first conviction, had quite another kind of sense of God’s sovereignty than I had then. I have often since had not only a conviction, but a delightful conviction. The doctrine has very often appeared exceedingly pleasant, bright, and sweet. Absolute sovereignty is what I love to ascribe to God.

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

A Testimony from one delivered from Charismatic Doctrines

I came across a letter on the internet of a woman who was delivered from the false doctrines of the Charismatic movement. I wanted to pass this letter along in order to help some soul who is still bound by this movement. I hope and pray that you are blessed by this letter.

 

Hello SisterTracy,

I want to thank you for your wonderful site. When I first came across it, about a year and a half ago, I was a Charismatic who adhered to the NIV (although I rarely read the Bible!). When I first read some of your articles (particularly against Charismatics and the NIV “translation”), I was so furious! I started to study some things, in an effort to prove you wrong, but all I ended up doing was proving that you were right. A few months ago, I tossed out all of my new age Bibles and bought an AKJV. It’s truly amazing, before when I had the supposedly “easy to read” Bibles handy, I couldn’t get motivated to read them. I just couldn’t bring myself to read them. Now, with my AKJV, I read it with no problem at all. I love the Word of God, love studying it, love reading it. A few weeks ago, I also left the Charismatic church I had been attending on and off for nearly eight years of my life. After visiting your site, I started noticing things that you mentioned, like the tongues and the “holy laughter” and being “slain the spirit” and all. As I read my KJV more and more, I started repenting for ever participating in these things. You see, at one point in time I spoke in tongues, and participated in “holy laughter,” and was even supposedly “slain in the spirit.” I have ceased from all of this and repented before my Lord Jesus of ever being involved. I now attend a Baptist church, I plan on becoming a member soon and being rebaptized (I was baptized in the Charismatic church, but I want to disassociate myself from all things and events in that church). I can’t explain things that went on in that church, but now that I look back I can say that they weren’t of God.

Read full article here.

Concerning our Insignificance

Hence that dread and amazement with which as Scripture uniformly relates holy men were struck and overwhelmed whenever they beheld the presence of God men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God.

John Calvin (1509-1564)

Calvinism is the Gospel

I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified unless we preach what is nowadays called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the Gospel and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the Gospel…unless we preach the sovereignty of God in his dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah. Nor do I think we can preach the Gospel unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of his elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross; nor can I comprehend the Gospel which allows saints to fall away after they are called.

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

If God be for Us

When I look into the perfect law of liberty and see how dirty I am, I am reminded of the scripture in Romans that speaks of God being for us, of God not sparing his own Son for us, and of God not laying anything to our charge. Let us read these scriptures:

 

Rom8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Rom8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Rom8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

 

Here we find the semi-Pelagian’s views discredited. He would just assume that these scriptures were not in the Bible. He gnashes his teeth against God’s electing forever a certain people for his own. The semi-Pelagian’s belief that one can lose ones salvation because it all depends upon the sinners doing or not doing, striving or not striving is plainly refuted in these scriptures. Thank God these scriptures refute the semi-Pelagian. Thank God these scriptures offer us consolation and hope.

We tremble when we think of how holy we ought to be and then look at ourselves through God’s word and see clearly how filthy our lives are. We mourn and wonder at times how a Christian such as us could have such vain thoughts? How can we even call ourselves a Christian? Who are we to be counted and numbered among the elect? When our minds get clouded with these thoughts we are to remember what Paul wrote in this blessed book of Romans. We ought to let it echo through our minds and hearts that God is for us. God is not against us. God stepped out of glory, in the person of his Son, laying his royal garments to the side, in order to save us.

What a mighty blessed God we have. One that cares so much that he would spare no expense for us. Look at verse 32. God spared not his own Son. He gave his Son on our behalf. O what glorious raptures of joy ought to fill our souls when we think on these things. We ought to be overwhelmed. We ought not to shake these things off as if they were common events of everyday life. How many times have you ever heard of some event so spectacular that it ought to make one leap for joy? There are not many events in this world of despair, troubles, trials, tribulations, heartaches, sicknesses, and even death that make us leap for joy. Yet there has been one event. There is one event in history that has surpassed all others. This event is when God himself spared not his own Son to save a sinner like us. What a Saviour. What a blessed God who doesn’t lie anything to the charge of his elect, but justifies them through the death, burial, and resurrection of his Son.

What can be said more concerning these things than this: Be gone doubt, be gone despair, be gone distress, and be gone clouded mind. It might be true that I am not what I hope to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I should be, but thank God through the death of his Son Jesus Christ, I am not what I used to be.

Praise God.

 

Hershel Lee Harvell Jr.