About the Author

Thomas Ray Floyd was born in 1953 in Simpson County, Mississippi, the son of Roy Thomas Floyd and Lina Sue Shows Floyd. Thomas Ray's mother was a member of a Primitive Baptist church, and he cut his teeth on the doctrines of distinguishing grace.

When he was a small boy, his father was converted to Christ and became a member of a Missionary Baptist Church. Thomas Ray joined the church of his father when he was 13 years old, and thought of himself as a Christian. The doctrines of grace that he had heard as a child continued to be precious to him and when he became an adult, he joined a Primitive Baptist Church. When he was 27, Thomas Ray made his first effort to preach the gospel in public and was ordained to the full functions of the ministry in 1985. In 1986 he was convinced under the preaching of Rolfe Barnard (by tapes from Mt. Olive Tape Library), the written sermons of Spurgeon, and the ministry of Elder Zack Guess that he had been a false professor and cried out in agony of soul to the Lord Jesus Christ to have mercy and truly save him. And He did! Floyd then began to preach the gospel as he had been taught of the Lord.

Floyd has pastored churches in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee and until recently was pastor of a church plant known as "Particular Baptist Fellowship." He and his wife Brenda presently attend Zion Baptist Church at Polkville, Mississippi, pastored by Elder Glen Hopkins. The pulpit ministry of Zion Baptist Church can be heard at Sermonaudio.com.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Belief in God

(Article for Publication week of 2-8-2012 AD)

“The fool hath said in his heart, ‘There is no God‘ ” (Psalm 14:1). Atheism is a form of insanity. The fact is, everyone knows there is a God. The works of creation plainly declare there is a God Who has made all things. You know that the universe did not come into existence by itself, and you know that evolution is a lie. Everyone knows there is a God because of the conscience that God had given you. Your sense of right and wrong, and your readiness to stand in judgment of other people shows that you know there is a God. We do not have to “prove” the existence of God because all men already know it. I do not waste any of my time trying to “prove” there is a God. It is my business to call upon you to bow to the God of the Bible.

The person who claims he is an atheist, (or agnostic) is a person who wishes there was not a God. He wishes he did not have to answer to God, nor stand before Him in the Day of Judgment. He lies to himself, pretending to himself and others that he does not believe in God and futilely hoping, perhaps there is no God, no judgment, and no hell.

The good Hebraists tell us the literal rendering of our text is “No God.” (“There is” is supplied by the translators.) The fool who says “no God”, is saying “I will not have God rule over me.” This is, as I say, insanity. You cannot get away from God. He is there.

It is the duty of all men everywhere to believe in God. You are duty bound to believe in the Perfect Being Who created you and all things for His Own glory. You are duty bound to believe in the One before Whom you must stand at the final day. It is your duty to believe in God as He has revealed Himself, not only by the works of creation, and the conscience within, but also as He has revealed Himself in His Word. It is your duty to believe in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You have no right to believe in a “god” of your own imagination. You must believe in the only true God, and not some pretended deity. Your duty as God’s creature is to believe in your Creator.

Now, I am sure that the vast majority of my readers profess to believe in God. Avowed atheism is still rare here in the Bible Belt (for which I am thankful). So, some of you may be thinking all is well with your soul, for you have done your duty in believing there is a God. Not so fast neighbors- “the devils believe and tremble” (James 2:19). The devils have enough sense to believe in what is undeniable. But this does not believe the devils are saved, nor that they may be saved. The devils have a better faith than most professed “Christians” today, for the devils fear God, and most professed “Christians” live as though they have no fear of God. The faith of devils will not save, for it is not accompanied by repentance, nor true love for God. It has not Christ as its Object, but is simply a belief on what is undeniable. Neither does the faith of devils have good works as its proper fruit.

Dear reader, is your faith any better than that of the devils? It is your duty to believe God, without any wavering or doubts. It is your duty to believe in God with perfection. What do you have to say for yourself?



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