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, May 27, 2012

All Have Sinned


(Article for publication week of 5-30-2012 AD)

       “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The desperate need of our day is to get men lost. Note well, I did not say to get men saved, but rather to get men lost. The only kind of sinners that God saves are thoroughly lost sinners. Until you are convinced of your lost estate, you will never come to the Saviour of sinners for the salvation you so desperately need.

       Now, this is the way God always works. He gets a sinner lost so He can save him. This the dear Saviour Himself said, “I am come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). God kills before He makes alive; He wounds before He heals; He troubles the soul before He gives His peace to the soul.

       And so our text is sent to us to convince us of our lost condition. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Now some of you are very despicable sinners. Many of you are fornicators and adulterers. Many of you are drunkards and dope heads. Many of you are liars and thieves. Others of you are very refined sinners. You are perhaps quite moral in your outward behaviour (so you say), and perhaps are well thought of. Some of you are so good (so you think), you would never need the saving righteousness of Christ. But I say unto you that unless you are worshipping Christ and bowing the knee to Him, you are condemned as a wretched blasphemer. Some of you are members of churches, or religious organizations, but you are as proud as a peacock and have a heart full of covetousness. Some of you are Sunday School teachers and preachers, but you have never been really converted yourself. You have everybody fooled, and perhaps have yourself fooled, but you are not fooling God.

     But whether a despicable sinner, or a more refined sinner, you stand condemned before God. You despicable sinners look at the refined sinners and think they are “self righteous”, and they are, but what good will that do you when you are in Hell. You refined sinners look at the despicable sinners, and look down your nose at them, (which they surely deserve), but you will be no better off on the Day of Judgment unless you are saved God’s way. It will no doubt add to many people’s eternal misery to have to spend eternity with folks they despise.

    Dear reader, do you realise that YOU have sinned and come short of the glory of God. I am labouring for the eternal good of your soul, and you can never be saved until you come to the end of your wretched self.

     Our text tells us in a nutshell what sin is- coming short of the glory of God. If you are not doing everything for the glory of God you are condemned as a hell deserving sinner, whether a most despicable one, or a more refined (as you like to think) one. The “all “ of my text this week includes YOU. 

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