tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771763639575527392024-03-16T03:21:10.491-04:00The Narrow WayThe Narrow Way is a weekly column that appears in two local papers in Simpson County, Mississippi. Elder Thomas Ray Floyd is the author of all the articles.Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.comBlogger365125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-69044287661904827942016-03-06T07:32:00.002-05:002016-03-06T07:38:24.861-05:00Consolidation of Blogs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Dear Readers,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">For the past several years we have been maintaining two separate, but identical blogs for the Narrow Way articles. As of today, we are eliminating that redundancy and will only be posting the articles on our mirror site, which can be found at </span><a href="http://www.mt714.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">mt714.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Brother Floyd continues to author all the articles and may be contacted directly from that site.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Thanks and God bless,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Dale</span></div>
Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-63349354694597817062016-02-28T08:48:00.000-05:002016-02-28T08:49:39.355-05:00Remember the Sabbath Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">(Article for
publication week of 3-3- AD 2016)</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Remember
the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy
work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt
not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy
maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is in thy gates: For in six
days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and
rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and
hallowed it" </b>(Exodus 20:8-11).</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The first thing
that we learn from the Fourth Commandment is that </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">our time is not our own. </span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">God created us for His glory, not for our
own glory. Every man belongs to God by creation. Since we are His property He
has the authority to command us in every aspect of our lives. The Christian is
doubly the property of God because we have been purchased with the blood of
Christ, and redeemed from the ruin of Adam's Fall (I Corinthians 6:20). This is
a lesson we will do well to learn soon, and the sooner the better. It is a terrible
sin to imagine that you can do whatever you want without regard to what God has
commanded. Every day, and every moment
of our lives are lived under the gaze of Jehovah God who created us, and now
sustains us. "In Him we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts
17:28).</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Our catechism
asks us the question, "what is the chief end of man?" Our prescribed
answer is "the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him
forever." The Fourth Commandment teaches us to consider our purpose in
life, and the proper motive for everything that we do. If you do not desire to
glorify God, then I am quite certain that you do not now enjoy God. And if you
do not now enjoy God, I am sure you will not enjoy Him in eternity. The Fourth
Commandment requires us to seriously reflect on the very purpose of our
existence. Unconverted people in reality have no real purpose in life. Dear
reader if your only purpose in life is to seek temporal pleasure, then you are
of all men most miserable. Right now is the beginning of forever, and it
behooves us to begin right now glorifying God and enjoying Him with our time.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Note well, the
Fourth Commandment not only commands us to rest one day in seven, but it also
positively commands us to work six days a week. The command to work six days a
week is of equal importance with the command to rest the seventh day. Our work
should prepare us for our worship, and our worship should prepare us for our
work. God created Man to work (Genesis 2:15), and the Fourth Commandment
reminds us of our original creation and the purpose of our existence. We are to
give glory to God in our earthly callings by labouring with a sense of duty to
our Great God. So , you see we may
break the Fourth Commandment as much by idleness, as by unlawful labour on the
Sabbath.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The inspired Psalmist, Moses, prays in Psalm 91:12,
"so teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto
wisdom." If you will learn to rightly number your days, then honour the
Lord with your time, by remembering the sabbath day to keep it holy, and by
being faithful in your vocation. You are not your own, and your time is not
your own. Submit yourself to God and His precepts in all that you do, every
moment of every day. This is the underlying principle of the Fourth
Commandment.</span></i><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-9147022806662416142016-02-21T08:57:00.004-05:002016-02-21T08:59:10.797-05:00The Fourth Commandment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication week of 2-25- AD 2016)</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Remember
the sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy
work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt
not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy
maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in
six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and
rested the seventh day: wherefore, the Lord blessed the sabbath day and
hallowed it" </b>(Exodus 20:8-11).</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This week we
begin a new series for the Narrow Way on the Fourth Commandment. I feel
compelled to write on this subject, first, because there is much
misunderstanding among professed Christians regarding the fourth commandment.
This very day a precious brother approached me as to whether the Christian
Church is observing the right day as the sabbath. Secondly, I am compelled to
write on this subject because it is one of the most neglected duties in our
generation, and in our own part of the world, and one of the sins in which the
modern church is most culpable. I lay much of the blame on the ministry for not
teaching these things as they should. It is my prayer that the Lord will use
our upcoming articles to provoke the Lord's people to be more diligent in their
remembrance of the fourth commandment, and that the local ministry will be
stirred to study this subject and teach it to their people.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The root of the
problem regarding the sin of sabbath breaking is the antinomian spirit of the
age. Antinomian means "against the law." Again, I lay most of the
blame on the professed church, and especially on the ministry. The church in
your day and mine has generally set aside the law of God, in contradiction to
our Lord's words in Matthew 5:17 when He said, "think not I am come to
destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to
fulfill." The Apostle Paul taught the same thing in Romans 3:31 when he
wrote, "do we then make void the law, through faith? God forbid: yea, we
establish the law." But many church members and preachers will protest,
"but Romans 6:14 says we are "not under the law, but under
grace." They leave out the first half of the verse which says, "sin
shall not have dominion over you." You cannot define sin without the law
(I John 3:4).The context of Romans 6:14 will prove that what Paul means by
saying we are not under the law is that we are not under the condemnation of
the law, nor are we under the law for justification. But this text does not
teach, nor does any other scripture teach, that the we are released from the
law as a rule of life. The modern day church has changed the words of the old
hymn to "Free from the law, oh blessed condition, now I can sin with God's
permission"! Dear reader, though that may be the secret thought in your
heart, and your attitude toward the law of God, it is completely against the
word of God. As a warning to all you antinomians I direct you to our Lord's
solemn words in Matthew 7:23 that on the Day of Judgment He will say to many,
"depart from me, ye that work iniquity." The word
"iniquity" is translated from the Greek "anomian," which
means "no law" or "lawlessness." Our Lord gave a sober
warning to all who break the least of the commandments and teach others so (Matthew
7:19).</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Lord willing, in the coming weeks we shall show the
perpetuity of the law (including and especially the fourth commandment), the
change of the Sabbath to the first day of the week since our Lord's
resurrection, the proper observance of
the Sabbath, the scriptural principles of work and rest, and perhaps some other
aspects of the fourth commandment. May the Lord bless all my readers.</span></i><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-78112862286002821202016-02-14T07:53:00.004-05:002016-02-14T07:54:11.295-05:00Without Price - Part 4<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication week of 2-18- AD 2016)</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Ho, every
one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye,
buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without
price"</b> (Isaiah 55:1). </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">For the past three weeks we have been declaring the
freeness of salvation. Salvation is without price, first because it is of such
infinite value that should God require anything from the sinner, no one could
ever be saved. Secondly salvation is free because all men are spiritually
bankrupt. Should God require one penny (spiritually speaking) from a sinner,
again, none could be saved. Salvation is of infinite value, and we have nothing
to pay, so God gives it as a free gift to the glory of His grace. Then thirdly,
salvation is free because Christ has paid the price in full. Ultimately, this
is the main reason that salvation is free, because the infinite price was paid
by the Eternal Son of God on Calvary's cross. Salvation is free to the sinner,
but it was at great cost to God.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Now, fourthly,
and finally, we shall (with the help of the Holy Spirit) show you that
salvation is "without price" in the glorious way that it actually
becomes ours, that is by faith alone. I refer you to Ephesians 2:8-9 where we
read "for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Salvation
is received entirely by faith alone, apart from any human effort or merit.
"It is of faith, that it might be by grace" we read in Romans 4:16.
Saved by faith is practically synonymous with saved by grace. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Now, I will have
you to note well that faith is not your contribution to the work of salvation.
Indeed we have already shown that you are ten thousand talents in debt without
a farthing to pay, and Christ has already paid the price in full. Sadly, faith
is generally presented as a sinner's contribution to his own salvation.
Misguided (and we fear unconverted) preachers have told their hearers that God
has done all He can do, and now it is up to the sinner to make the decisive
move by an act of his own "free will." Thus, the sinner is
erroneously told that his faith is the deciding factor in his salvation. This
is patently wrong, and we fear that many will perish in their sins unless they
come to a Biblical understanding of saving faith.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Faith cannot be a sinner's contribution to salvation
because there is no merit in faith. The blood of Christ is the only payment
that God will ever receive as payment for your sins and my sins. The greatest
faith of the dearest saints cannot atone for sin. "What can wash away my
sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus" we sometimes sing. Sinner, your
faith cannot take away your sins! Your repentance cannot atone for sin. Your
good works and efforts to reform cannot take away your sins. If your sins were
not purged by the precious blood of Christ, you must be forever damned! There
is no merit in faith, nor is there any strength in faith. Saving faith is an
empty hand whereby a poor, bankrupt, quickened sinner simply receives the
infinite gift of salvation. You cannot come to Christ any other way than as a
bankrupt sinner. God will allow no boasting in His presence. As Isaac Watts
wrote, "no more my God, I boast no more, of all the duties I have done. I
quit the hopes I held before, to trust the merits of Thy Son." Or as
another expressed it, "just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood
was shed for me; and that Thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb of God I
come"! Or as dear Joseph Hart said, "Come Ye sinners, poor and needy,
weak and wounded, sick and sore. Jesus ready stands to save you, full of pity,
joined with power! Let not conscience make you linger, nor of fitness fondly
dream. All the fitness He requireth is to feel your need of Him"! Poor
sinner, do you feel your need of Christ? Then come to Him this instant,
trusting not in anything you have done or felt, but trusting in Him and His
righteousness alone for your salvation. He has sweetly promised that He will
cast none out who come to Him!</span></i><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-3458931829985372872016-02-07T09:17:00.001-05:002016-02-07T09:18:27.421-05:00Without Price - Part 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication week of 2-11- AD 2016)</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Ho,
everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come
ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without
price" </b>(Isaiah 55:1). </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Old Testament gospel herald proclaims that
salvation is free. We see from the text that the Old Testament saints had the
gospel of free grace just as we do, although it is clearer now that Christ has
come and now that the New Testament has been written. Free Salvation was
proclaimed to God's elect among the Jews under the Old testament just as it is
to us today. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We observed in
the two previous articles that salvation is free first, because it is such a
valuable gift that none of us could ever pay the price, and secondly, because
we are all bankrupt, ten thousand talents in debt and not a farthing to pay,
What a glorious gospel we have to preach! Salvation is of infinite value, and
none of us have a penny to pay, so God freely gives it "without money, and
without price."</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But we proceed
this week to show, thirdly,that salvation is free to sinners because the Lord
Jesus Christ has paid the price in full. I direct your attention to Acts 20:28
where we read that God hath purchased the Church with His blood. Redemption is
spoken of here in terms of the marketplace. Certain Fullerites and Arminians
have scornfully referred to this as a "commercial" view of the
atonement, but that is the language of Acts 20:28. Go read it yourself. (You
preachers pay special attention to your duty as given there.) The death of
Christ paid for all the sins of all His elect forever. There was a debt that we
owed to God because of our sins. You will remember that the Model Prayer speaks
of sin in terms of indebtedness (see again Matthew 6:12 then compare Luke
7:42). When we had nothing to pay, Christ came and poured out His blood as the
price of our redemption. We have been
redeemed, not with corruptible things as silver and gold, but with the precious
blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:18-19).</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Now, I say unto
you that God the Father was satisfied with the price that His Son paid for our
redemption. Yea, not I, but the Holy Writ says it. Let us read in Isaiah 53:11,
"He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied."
God the Father is satisfied because His Son finished the work of redemption
that was appointed to Him from all eternity (see John 17:4). All of our efforts
and works and attempts at righteous living are nothing but filthy rags before
our Holy God. Isaiah 64:6 says all our righteousnesses are but "filthy
rags." What do you think the president of Trustmark or Peoples Bank would
say if you went and tried to pay off your mortgage with a big pile of dirty
rags? Why, he would either laugh you out of the bank, or else call the folks
over at Whitfield (that is where the State insane asylum is for all my out of
state readers). Why do you think God is any more impressed with your so-called
righteousness?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Well, poor awakened sinner, the good news is that you
don't have to pay anything for salvation because the Eternal Son of God acting,
as our Substitute and Surety assumed all our obligations and has paid the price
in full. Yes that old hymn is gospel truth--"Jesus paid it all, all to Him
I owe." Poor sinner, there is nothing for you to do to help pay for your
sin debt because Christ has paid it all. I pray the Holy Spirit will help you
to believe that and you may rejoice in a finished salvation. Christ has paid
the price of priceless salvation, so it is "without money and without
price" to all who repent of their sins and come to Him by faith.</span></i> </span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-7733169136660892192016-01-31T07:42:00.002-05:002016-01-31T07:42:32.036-05:00Without Price - Part 2<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> (Article for publication week of 2-4- AD 2016)</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>"Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price"</b> (Isaiah 55:1). </i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Last week we showed that the gospel invitation is extended to all who are thirsty, spiritually. Those who are dead in their sins have no spiritual thirst and are not interested in this invitation. Then we began to consider that salvation is absolutely free. It is without price, first of all because salvation is a priceless gift. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Secondly, salvation is free because all mankind is spiritually bankrupt. All of us are ten thousand talents in debt and have not a farthing to pay. Our Lord illustrated your case and mine this way in the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18:23-35. We have run ourselves hopelessly into debt to God's justice by our sins. We were born as spiritual debtors because our father Adam, who is the federal head of the whole human race sinned against God and we all sinned in him Romans 5:12, 19). We were born with the nature of our fallen head and were sinners the moment we were conceived (see Psalm 51:5). Being fallen and natural sinners, we began to practice sin as soon as we were born for the scripture says that we came forth from the womb speaking lies (Psalm 58:3). Sin is analogous to indebtedness as we see in Matthew 6:12. Every day you are adding to your spiritual indebtedness by your continual sins. Furthermore your imagined righteousness is only "splendid sin" (in the words of another), according to Isaiah 64:6. Your (supposed) good works are abominable to God unless they follow after justification and are such as God has actually commanded and are performed from a principle of love by the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. Dear Reader, do you realise that you are hopelessly ruined and bankrupt before God? Do you realise that you are indeed "ten thousand talents" in debt, and "not a farthing" to pay. In today's money, we could say ten trillion dollars in debt and not a penny to pay. If God required us to pay for salvation, not one human being could ever be saved for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But praise the Lord! God does not require any payment from a poor sinner for salvation. He freely gives salvation "without money and without price." Salvation is a free gift from first to last (Ephesians 2:8-9). He justifies His people "freely by His grace" (Romans 2:24). For some reason, man in his wretched pride would rather that salvation be (at least in some measure) by his own works or efforts. Proud man thinks he can do something, or be something, or believe something, or decide something, or pay something, or offer something, or say something to move the Sovereign of the universe to accept him and receive him on the basis of his own performance. But my friend, I want you to know God will have none of that. You will either be saved freely by His grace without money and without price, or you will perish in your sins and be damned forever.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Now here is what every sensible sinner ought to do. Go to God in the name of His Son and declare your spiritual insolvency. Admit your bankrupt condition. Renounce all your sins and all your righteousness too. Throw yourself on God's mercy that is found in His Blessed Son. Come and receive salvation without price. Come to Christ with nothing in your hand. Come and plead the righteousness of Him Who bled and died to pay for the sins of His people and now lives forever to intercede for all who come to Him by faith. He has promised that he will never cast away those who come to Him. may the Holy Spirit open your eyes to see your spiritual bankruptcy and grant you faith to believe in the Saviour.</span></i><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-79293490720626452142016-01-24T08:01:00.003-05:002016-01-24T08:04:16.376-05:00Without Price<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication week of 1-28- AD 2016)</span></i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"Ho, every
one that thirsteth, come to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy
and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk
without money, and without price" </span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">(Isaiah 55:1). </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Book of Isaiah,
especially the last twenty seven chapters is the gospel in the Old Testament.
Here is the voice of the gospel herald hearkening to us with a glad
announcement. He begins with "ho" to awaken our attention and to
announce that he has a message worthy of our consideration and acceptation.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">First, notice to
whom the gospel invitation is extended. It is to those who are
"thirsty." Now, we know that this refers not to natural thirst, but
rather to spiritual thirst. This is an evidence of spiritual life. Those who
are spiritually dead are not spiritually thirsty any more than a naturally dead
corpse is interested in the cold water from the spring. Even so the gospel
invitation is addressed to all those who have been quickened by the Holy Spirit
and awakened to their lost condition and as such thirst for the living waters that
only Christ can supply. So the Lord promised, "blessed are they which do
hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Matthew
5:6). So, we also read in Revelation 22:17, "and the Spirit and the Bride
say, 'Come.' And let him that is athirst, come. And whosoever will, let him
take the water of life freely." Does my column this week come to one in
such a case? Dear Reader, are you thirsty for that salvation that only Christ
can give and that will satisfy a soul desperate for spiritual water? Well, hear
my text--- salvation is absolutely free, "without money and without
price."</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Salvation has to
be free, firstly, because it is </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">priceless.</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
The value is of such infinite worth that were it not free no one could ever
obtain it. How would you place a value on your soul being saved from the
everlasting fires of hell? How would you place a value on being saved from the
power of sin over your benighted faculties? What value could ever be placed on
being rescued from the pollution and filth of sin? What price tag could ever be
placed on knowing Christ? How would you assess the value of the peace of mind
that only Christ can give? What value could be placed on having an eternal
inheritance reserved in heaven for you? What is it worth, say ye, to be right
with God? What price tag would you place on being sanctified and perfected
forever in Christ? These are just a few of the spiritual blessings that are
treasured up in Christ for His people, and they are, I assert priceless and
above estimation for their value. I suppose our infinitely Great and Omniscient
God could tell us their true worth, but it would be greater than our human
minds could fathom. So, since salvation is of such infinite value as to be
priceless, God just freely gives it "without money and without
price"!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Now, I want you to think with me a minute about what
an insult it must be to God when bankrupt sinners try to pay something for
their salvation. God freely gives a priceless gift, but then some ignorant
wretch supposes he will pay for it with his own good works or merits or
personal righteousness. That is an insult to the High King of heaven! Dear
reader, are you trying to earn salvation by doing good deeds, or giving alms to
the poor, or dipping soup at the soup kitchen, or tithing to the church, or
repeating prayers, or some other so-called good work? Some of these things may
be all right if you are doing them out of love for God. But listen, good works
have to come after salvation, not before. And none of these things, nor any
real or imagined good work will ever pay for, or help pay for the salvation of
your poor soul. So thirsty soul, come to the living fountain and buy without
money and without price for the priceless gift of salvation is absolutely free.</span></i><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-3552742648665085412016-01-18T08:21:00.002-05:002016-01-18T08:22:37.762-05:00White as Snow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication week of 1-21- AD 2016)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>" 'Come now, and let us reason together,' saith the LORD: 'though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool' " </b>(Isaiah 1:18). </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Baptist pastor and commentator, John Gill, who was one of the most able Hebraists in the history of the Church tells us that our text is actually parenthetical. In the midst of renouncing the sins of national Israel, the inspired prophet reminds the elect remnant among them of the sovereign grace of God. There never was but a few of the Israelites who were truly saved, but God always preserves the remnant according to the election of grace, and encourages them by his gospel.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">First, our text describes </span></i><b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">the heinousness of sin.</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> "Your sins be as scarlet" and are "red like crimson." Dear reader, this describes you and me. We have all sinned and come short of God's glory. We have all "missed the mark" (the literal meaning of sin). We have all transgressed the law of God (the Biblical definition of sin). We have done that which we should have not have done, and we have failed to do all we should have done. We have not loved God with all our being, nor have we loved our neighbour as ourselves. We are all as an unclean thing. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. We are members of the rebellious race of Adam and God is set to punish such rebels as we. Furthermore, there are no "venial" sins. The "smallest" of sins deserve eternal punishment in hell. In reality there are no "small" sins. (However, there are some sins that do more harm to our fellows than others, but that is not our point today.)</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Secondly, our text tells us that our sins </span></i><b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">are not hidden from God.</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Our sins are bright red (figuratively speaking). God's All Seeing Eye sees every sin you have committed and every evil thought you have ever had. Though you may have your sins well concealed from others they are open and naked before Him with Whom we have to do.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Thirdly, the text declares </span></i><b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">our enmity to God.</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> As different as the pure snow from red blood, are we so far estranged from God. He made us in His Image, and by our sins we have distorted that image. The Fall, our nature, and our practice all have estranged us far from God and put us at enmity with the Thrice Holy God that created us. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Dear Reader, do you feel this awful plague in your soul? Well, here is good news! Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow! The blood of Christ washes away all the sins of those who believe in Him. Though a believer is still a sinner in and of himself, judicially he is, as our text declares, as "white as snow." God sees not the sins of His people, but the righteousness of their Saviour! When God says we shall be as white as snow, He is telling us that He sees no spot in us (Song of Solomon 4:7). There is no sin so great that the blood of Christ cannot wash it away. God's elect are as white as snow through Christ's imputed righteousness and shall stand forever before Him arrayed in their robes of white.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow"!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So, we see our text tells us of the completeness and thoroughness of God's saving grace by the redeeming blood of Christ. Dear Reader, if you have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, you are this very moment white as snow in the eyes of your great God.</span></i></div>
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Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-19625997440250890812016-01-10T15:18:00.002-05:002016-01-10T15:19:26.811-05:00Remembering the Just<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>(Article for publication week of 1-14- AD 2016)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b>"The memory of the just is blessed" </b>(Proverbs 10:7). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>Next Monday, January 18, we in the Sovereign State of Mississippi will honour the memory of one of the most faithful Christians that God has ever saved, General Robert Edward Lee, Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. General Lee was actually born on January 19 (1807), but the legislature several years ago made the Monday nearest his birthday a State holiday so state employees could always have a three day weekend.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>General Lee was descended from a long line of honourable men. His father, Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee was an officer in the Revolutionary War and served under George Washington. He also served his home state as governor for several terms. One of his relatives, Francis Lightfoot Lee was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. General Lee married Mary Custis, the great-grand daughter of George Washington. When General Lee said, "all the South has ever wanted is the Old Constitution as bequeathed to us by our forefathers," he was speaking of his own family who had been instrumental in the Founding of the American Republic. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>Robert Edward Lee proved himself to be of great character from boyhood. It fell his lot to care for his widowed and invalid mother when only eleven years old. He grew up quick and had no time for play and frivolity. His mother and he were faithful members of the Episcopal Church. Of course in that day the Episcopal Church, especially in Virginia and the South still believed the Bible. The Episcopal Church that Robert E. Lee attended as a boy was the same one that George Washington attended, and was not "high church," but was distinctly Protestant and Puritan in its doctrine and practice. Robert E. Lee finished second in his class at West Point, and never received a single demerit.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>General Lee first distinguished himself as a soldier in the Mexican War. General Winfield Scott said that he was the most able soldier in the United States Army, and said he was his own right arm in the Mexican War. General Lee's character and ability caused Abraham Lincoln to offer him the command of the whole Union Army when he made the decision to invade the South. Although Lee knew the odds were great against a Southern Victory, he refused Lincoln's offer. Had he accepted he would have had all this world has to offer- fame, wealth and power. He would no doubt have become president himself. Had he accepted Lincoln's offer the North would have had the most able General alive at that time and the North would have probably defeated the South in a few months. Although his heart was broken by the disunion of the country and the Northern Invasion of the South, he was not a reluctant Confederate. He said, "a union that can only be held together by bayonets has no attraction for me." He accepted defeat humbly and graciously and made many conciliatory statements and gestures after the Surrender. But when the Red Republicans treated the South as conquered provinces during reconstruction, General Lee said to Governor Stockdale of Texas, "Had I foreseen these results of subjugation, I would have preferred to die with my brave men with my sword in my hand." Contrary to some revisionist historians Robert E. Lee was thoroughly committed to the South and our Cause. He finally had to surrender after four years of distinguished service because he was completely surrounded with no food and no ammunition. The principles of just warfare he had learned at West Point dictated that he must surrender when there was no hope of victory and continuing would only mean unnecessary loss of life.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>Volumes have been written about this distinguished Hero and his military skill and great character, but it is his Christian Character that I mostly want my children and grandchildren to know of. His labours for the salvation of his men were instrumental in the Great Revival that God sent down on the Confederate Armies in which upwards of 150,000 Southern Soldiers professed faith in Christ. General Lee promoted religion in his army first by his own example. Though a man of sterling character, and (compared to other men, not God's holy standard) practically without fault, his profession was, "I am only a poor sinner, trusting in Christ Alone for salvation." He also promoted piety in his army by issuing orders that only necessary duties be performed on the Sabbath. He was faithful in attendance of worship and preaching and promoted preaching in his Army. The last act of his life was to attend the vestry meeting of his church at which he personally pledged the funds that were lacking for the pastor's salary.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>One of the most telling stories of General Lee's Christian Character was when after the War a large insurance company from up north offered him the presidency of their company at a salary of $50,000 a year (that would be equivalent to at least a million dollars a year in today's money). He replied that he could do them no good since he knew nothing of the insurance business. They told him he did not have to do anything, they just wanted his name associated with their company! He replied, "my name is all I have left, and it is not for sale." He chose rather to become president of Washington College and devote the rest of his life to educating the young men of the South. Next to my own father, General Lee is my hero and a man I would like to try to emulate as he followed the Saviour.</i></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-24769666988508262882016-01-03T09:54:00.003-05:002016-01-03T09:55:03.248-05:00A Sinner's New Year's Resolution<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>(Article for publication
week of 1-7- AD 2016)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon
Him while He is near: 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; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" </b>(Isaiah 55:6-7). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>If
you have not made a resolution for the New Year, let me suggest my text as a
good one. Our text this week is filled with the sovereign grace of God and
bright hope for your future. Here we have a glorious promise that God will
pardon and save all who are willing to repent of their sins and flee to the
Saviour of Sinners.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>Let us consider the text in reverse order and consider first
God's call to the wicked to repent. God takes no delight in the death of the
wicked. He will certainly punish all those who refuse to repent, but He would
rather you repent and be saved. He is
delighted when a poor sinner repents. The angels in heaven rejoice when the
wicked forsake their wicked ways and return to God. The saints on earth rejoice
when a fellow sinner repents and is brought home to the Father's House.
Repentance is the result of the efficacious work of the Holy Spirit, so God
delights in Himself as He beholds His grace effectually wrought in a sinner.
God commands all men to repent (Acts 17:30) and He grants repentance to His
elect (Acts 11:18). Our text calls upon you to repent of your sins and come to
God through His Son. Though your sins are as scarlet they shall be white as
snow when washed in the blood of the Lamb. There is no sin so small that it
does not deserve eternal damnation, but there is no sin so great that it will
not be forgiven to those who will truly repent. So why don't you this day
resolve to forsake your wicked ways and return to your Creator?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>Secondly, I urge you to resolve to seek the Lord while He
may be found. Seek Him while He is near. God is not far away from you this
moment. He is omnipresent (that means there is no where He is not), so He is
very near everybody as Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Also, He is nearer
to those who hear His word. You are reading a message from one of His little
messenger boys right now, so He is near you by means of the gospel. But I want
you to know He is nearest those to whom He sends His Spirit with all His
quickening powers. Dear Reader is that Blessed Spirit dealing with you today?
Is your heart broken by sin? Do you look back on the past year with many
regrets and deep conviction of sin? Have you tried to impress God by keeping
His Law and only met with failure after failure? Have you tried to improve your
ways and only gotten worse? Have you tried leaving off this sin, or that sin
and only found yourself falling headlong into other and worse sins? Do you
really long to be free from sin? Do you desire to be free from sin and not
simply escape Hell? More importantly, have you considered the Lovely Saviour
and longed to rest in His Bosom? Well, I think the Holy Spirit must be dealing
with you and that God is very, very near you. Seek Him while He is near and may
be found.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>My parting word this week is found in Matthew 7:7. If you
will turn and read it you will see that the Dear Saviour has promised that all
who truly seek shall surely find. Resolve today to seek the Lord until you find
Him. You will find He is faithful and just to forgive and pardon your many sins
and save your poor soul. I wish you would call me at 601-927-5070 and tell me
when the Lord saves you!</i></span></div>
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Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-5340960314051924252015-12-27T18:21:00.001-05:002015-12-27T18:21:06.391-05:00Anno Domini 2016 <i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication week of 12-31- AD 2015)</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">(Philippians 2:9-11).</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This week we will turn the calendar to mark the beginning of a new year. As we start the year of 2016 it will be good to remember why we number the year as we do. This will be the two thousand and sixteenth year of the reign of King Jesus. The civilised world, also known as "Christendom" reckons the history of the world from the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. "Christendom" recognises that the Lord Jesus Christ is the true King of the universe. The time before His birth is called "B.C.", i.e, "Before Christ." "A.D." is the abbreviation for "Anno Domini," Latin for "year of our Lord." To be more accurate this is most likely the two thousandth and twenty first year of the Reign of our Lord according to Bishop Ussher's reckoning. Our calendar is probably off by five years. Bishop Ussher's "Annals of the World," first published in 1658 and recently reprinted has been proven to be amazingly accurate. In 1978 astrogeophysicist, Dr. John Eddy, although a proponent of unbiblical and anti- God evolution made this amazing statement, "However, given some new and unexpected results to the contrary [to the myth of an old universe; columnist's note], and some time for frantic recalculation and theoretical readjustment, I suspect that we could all live with Bishop Ussher's value for the age of the earth and sun [6,020 years, columnist's note]. I don't think we have much in the way of observational evidence in astronomy to conflict with that."! So don't throw away your old copies of the Bible with Bishop Ussher's dates and don't be so quick to accept the lies of unbelieving "scientists" and revisionist "historians" and liberal "theologians."</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Not surprisingly, the government controlled education system and its propaganda wing a.k.a the "news media" are doing their best to try to get us to quit using "A.D." and "B.C." to record the history of the world and reckon time. They want us to start using "C.E." (common era) and "B.C.E" (before common era). They hate Christ and everything that reminds them that He is on the Throne and that they will have to face Him in Judgment when they die. Ironically they cannot get away from the historical fact of the advent of Christ into the world because when you say "common era" you still have to acknowledge that the "common era" is dated from the birth of Christ!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So as we enter into this new year let us remember Who our true King is. The Eternal Son of God undertook a great humiliation and became a Man. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the virgin Mary's womb. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the law of God. His obedience is accounted to the record of His people. He died on a cross to put away His people's sins. He went further in His humiliation and was laid in the cold dark grave. But the third day He came forth eternally triumphant over all His foes, and His people's foes. After forty days He ascended back to His rightful throne and the Eternal Father put His crown back on His lovely head. God the Father hath highly exalted Him. People, behold your King! You are now commanded to confess Him and bow to Him as your Lord. Our text says that every tongue "should" confess" and every knee "should" bow. But Romans 14:11 says the Day is coming when every tongue "shall" confess the Lordship of Christ and every knee "shall" bow to Him. You will either bow now in salvation, or you will bow later in damnation! You had better get right with your King.</span></i><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-68176353689164880532015-12-20T17:04:00.004-05:002015-12-20T17:09:28.154-05:00Christ on a Throne, Not in a Manger<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>(Article for publication
week of 12-24- AD 2015)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>"The LORD said unto my Lord, 'sit thou at my right hand
until I make thine enemies thy footstool' " </b>(Psalm 110:1).<i> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>We are in that
season when "Christendom"
observes the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no Biblical or
historical evidence that our Lord was born on the 25th of December, nor is
there any Biblical warrant (much less a command) to have a "holy day"
to observe the birth of Christ. The Romish organisation headed by the
anti-Christ established the 25th of December as a special "mass" to
observe the birth of Christ. They picked the 25th of December because the
heathens (including our benighted European ancestors) observed this day as the
birth of the sun god. Because of its pagan roots, and the fact that it is
called a "mass" (the pope teaches that Christ is "offered"
in the mass and that the incantations of the "priests" change the
bread and wine into the literal body and blood of Christ), many Christians
(including your poor columnist) do not believe we should celebrate this as a
"holy day" in the church. Our sincere prayer is that people would
celebrate the only true holy day that God has commanded, that is the weekly
Sabbath which has been the first day of the week since our Lord's resurrection
John 20:19; Acts 20:7). It is most telling of the spiritual condition of our
county that people will make more of the "Christ-mass" than the Day
that Christ arose from the dead, commanded in the Law (Exodus 20:8-11), and
established by God in the creation ordinance (Genesis 2:2-3).</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Having said all that, we hasten to add that in the
over-ruling Providence of God, many minds will be upon Christ this week. Some
will attend Divine Service who have not attended in awhile. Many pastors will
preach on the Incarnation this week, and that is always a good thing. Many will
attend programs where hymns of praise to Christ will be sung. Handel's Messiah
will be performed in many places, and many will attend who never hear the
gospel any other time of the year. Many stores (at least in the Bible Belt)
still have "Christmas carols" for background music during this
season. Many will send and receive "Christmas cards" that will have
scriptures on them and other references to the Incarnation and Birth of Christ.
The Holy Spirit in His Divine Sovereignty may use such as this to open some
elect sinner's heart to believe in Christ to the saving of his or her soul.
Others will be left further without excuse and treasure unto themselves greater
damnation.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>So, my dear kindred, neighbours and friends, I challenge you
with my text. I declare unto you that Christ is no longer a babe in a manger,
He is a King on His throne! Our Lord quoted our text to the Jews in Matthew
22:44 answering His Own question to one of them, "what think ye of
Christ?" That is the question for each of you who have considered the
birth of Christ this week- "what think ye of Christ?" Our Lord quoted
Psalm 110:1 to declare that He is the Eternal Son of God! "The LORD said
unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool"!
This verse is the covenantal language of the Eternal Father with the Eternal
Son. The first "LORD" in the text is in all capitals because it is
"Jehovah" , or "Yahweh." The second "Lord" is
only with the "L" capitalised, because it is the Hebrew
"Adonai." Both Jehovah and Adonai properly mean God. So our text is
God the Father speaking to God the Son. And listen what the Father says. He
says "sit thou at my right hand until all your enemies are crushed under
your holy feet." Christ is not in a manger, He is on a throne at the right
hand of the Father. He has finished the work of redemption. He undertook a
great humiliation and became a Man (the God-Man) to suffer and die as a
substitute for His people. Now He is ruling and reigning from His rightful
throne. He is your rightful Monarch to Whom you must submit. It is an awful
thing to be an enemy of the One Who was a Babe in Bethlehem but Who is now on
the throne of the universe. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>None can deny (rationally) that there was a Man named Jesus
of Nazereth who lived in Palestine about 2,000 years ago. All the historical
data prove the Biblical record (although Bible believers don't need it) that
Christ was born and lived and died and that God the Father raised Him from the
dead the third day. The civilised world dates its calendar from His Birth. The
question for you my friend is whether you will bow to Him now and worship Him,
or will you be crushed under the feet of His terrible judgment? I urge you to
lay down your arms of rebellion and bow to your rightful Monarch, the Lord
Jesus Christ, or you will be his eternal footstool.</i></span></div>
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Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-47737141759093473352015-12-13T07:59:00.001-05:002015-12-13T08:00:05.889-05:00Have You Entered the Gate of Conversion?<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>(Article for publication week of 12-17- AD 2015)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able" </b>(Luke 13:24). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Reader is invited to compare our text with Matthew 7:13-14. For the past couple of weeks we have been focusing on the main theme of these weekly articles-- the narrow way that leads to heaven, which is only entered by the strait gate. Our Lord in parabolic language illustrates for us true conversion (the strait gate), and true perseverance (the narrow way). In order to get to heaven and immortal glory you must walk in the narrow way for it is the only way to heaven. And there is but one way to get into the narrow way and that is by the strait gate of conversion. Most of you are complete strangers to the truth of my text, for you have never been converted.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Note well that our Lord says that conversion is a difficult thing. The archaic word used in our text, "strait," literally means "difficult." Contrary to popular opinion it is not an easy thing for a sinner to get saved. In your day and mine we have been told that if we will just repeat a prayer after the preacher or "soul winner" we will be saved. We hear reports of young people walking the aisle chewing gum and laughing as they "respond" to the appeal of an evangelist in a "youth revival." Such modern day false evangelism is filling the professed church with lost people. Multitudes are headed for hell so fast they are kicking dust in the devil's face because they have been told that it is easy to be saved. Friend if you had an easy time getting saved, you are not saved, you are only deceived. Salvation, conversion, is simple but it is not easy. I wish you would listen to the words of Christ. He said (not this little country preacher) that it is a difficult gate you must get through if you will be saved. Salvation is simply repenting of your sins and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and a little child can do that if he is regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Conversion, though simple, is so difficult that no one would ever be saved apart from the sovereign grace of God. By nature you love yourself and your sins and it is foreign to your nature to repent. In fact you will never repent unless the Lord Himself grant you repentance (Acts 11:18). Faith in Christ is simple, yet no one will ever believe in Christ to the saving of his soul until the Lord gives him faith (Ephesians 2:8) for saving faith is a gift of God. You cannot come to Christ by your "free" will. Christ has plainly declared in John 6:44, "no man cometh unto me except the Father who sent Me draw him." It is not only difficult to be saved, it is impossible to be saved without the drawing work of God.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Our Lord says something else here about true conversion that is completely foreign to this generation of Mississippians. He commands us to "strive" to enter in the gate of salvation. The word "strive" in our English translation is from the Greek work "agonizomai" from which we get our English word "agony." Our Lord is telling us that if we will be saved we must agonize. Dear reader do you know anything of which I speak? Have you ever been in agony of soul, striving to be saved? Or did you just say a little prayer and walk the aisle and join the church? When it pleases God to call an elect sinner from the darkness of this world into the marvelous light of His Son, He brings that poor sinner into distress of soul. I tell you that real conversion is a painful experience. To be under Holy Spirit conviction is an agonizing experience. To see yourself as spiritually bankrupt without a farthing to pay is a distressing thing. To have you eyes opened to the truth that God is thrice holy and I am so unholy and unclean that I despair of ever being saved is a most disturbing experience. To try to pray and feel like I cannot pray because my heart is so cold and hard and wicked, why this is agony of soul! To want to repent, and not be able to repent, this is soul agony. Dear reader do you know anything of which I write? Have you ever agonized in your soul because of your lost and ruined state? Have you ever lost sleep at night fearing that you were too sinful for a holy and just God to save you? </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Now this is a little of what our Lord speaks when he says that true conversion is difficult and painful. But I close with a word of comfort and cheer for the chief of sinners. Christ came to save sinners! If you are in agony of soul because you have felt your lost and ruined state then Christ says to you, "come unto me"! Though you your sins are as scarlet, ye shall be as white as snow by the blood of the Lamb. In the words of John Newton, "I know two things, I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great Saviour. If grace has taught your heart to fear, grace shall also relieve your fears. May the Lord grant you peace in believing in the Lord Jesus Christ this very day is my prayer for each of my readers.</i></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-28051397752197774482015-12-06T07:43:00.003-05:002015-12-06T07:45:44.225-05:00Have You Entered the Narrow Way?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication week of December 10, AD 2015)</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>"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 that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find
it" </b>(Matthew 7:13-14).<i> </i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Dear reader, are you in the narrow way that leads
to life, or are you in the broad way that leads to destruction? And if you
claim to be in the narrow way, I ask you, "how did you get in?" Did
you enter in by the strait (difficult) gate of conversion? I ask you not if you
have accepted Jesus, but I ask you, " are you in the narrow way, and did
you get in by the strait gate?"</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Now, our text
makes it plain that not everyone is saved. Regardless of men's vain imaginings,
there are but few (comparatively speaking) that are saved. There are few that
have been converted and that are in the way of holiness and perseverance that
leads to heaven and immortal glory, but there are many that are in the broad
way that leads to hell. Now let's bring it home. </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There are few here in Simpson County that are saved.</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> The vast
majority of you are unsaved. Now, those of you who are living immoral lives, we
know are unsaved (I Corinthians 6: 9&10). And those of you who are in
unbelief, we know you are unsaved (Mark 16:16). Those of you who will not
publicly profess the Lord Jesus Christ, we know that you also are unsaved
(Matthew 10: 32&33). But there are multitudes of you who have a profession
who do not possess Christ and you are also unsaved. Some of you are going to live
and die in religion, and still end up in hell. You will find yourself among
those of whom our Lord speaks in Matthew 7:21-23. I fear that many of you
preachers are in this group. You see the way that leads to hell is broad enough
to include the openly profane, the spiritually indifferent, and the lost church
member. And the devil doesn't care how he brings you down to hell with him as
long as he keeps you away from Christ. Sin is keeping some of you from Christ,
and self righteousness is keeping others from Christ, but either way if you are
not in Christ, you will be lost forever. Dear reader, I ask you to quit living
in a make believe world and wake up to the reality that you are either in the
narrow way of salvation, or you are in the broad way of eternal damnation.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Now there are
many of you who imagine yourself to be in the narrow way, so now I want to
probe the recesses of your soul and ask you plainly, "did you enter in by
the strait gate?" Be sure my friend if you have not entered in the strait
gate you are not in the narrow way. So what is this "strait" gate.
Why, it is the gate of conversion. There must be an entering in to salvation by
the one door that only the Triune God can open. That door is Christ Himself as
the Great Shepherd sweetly says in John 10:9. True conversion is repenting of
your sins and receiving Christ as your Lord and Saviour. It is a turning from
your idols to serve the true and living God (I Thessalonians 1:9). It is a
surrender of yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ. In order to be converted you
have to throw down your shotgun that you have pointed at God. Every unconverted
sinner, spiritually has his shotgun pointed
at God and refuses to be ruled by Him choosing rather to be a law unto
himself and have his own way. Every unconverted sinner is singing the theme of
song of hell in his mind, "I did it my way"! That is the reason I
know most of you are in reality unsaved because you do not care what God has
said in His word, you are determined to do what you want to do instead of what
God commands you to do.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I can hear some
of you protesting, "I thought salvation was simple"! You are right.
Salvation is simply repenting of your sins and believing in Christ and that is
so simple a little child can be saved. Salvation is so simple an illiterate
person can be saved. Salvation is so simple a retarded person can be saved. But
listen friends and neighbours and kindred, simplicity and ease are not the
same. Repentance and faith are simple but they are against your fallen nature.
You are dead in trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1) and you cannot come to
Christ unless God draws you (John 6:44), and you will not come to Christ and be
saved because you are natural born rebel (John 5:40). So Christ says the gate
that opens to salvation is entered with difficulty, and such difficulty that
you will never enter in until the Holy Spirit regenerates you and draws you in.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Dear reader, have you entered in by the strait gate?
Some of you have "settled down", but that is not conversion. Some of
you have become quite respectable. Some of you have been religious all your
life, but you have never entered in at the strait gate. Some of you have
embraced Calvinism, but you have not entered in at the strait gate and so when
you get to hell you will be as sound as a silver dollar. II Corinthians 13:5
commands us to examine ourselves whether we be in the faith. I beseech you and
urge you today to examine yourself if you are really in the narrow way, and if
you entered the narrow way by the difficult gate of conversion.</span></i><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-86817909348920811442015-11-29T17:26:00.004-05:002015-11-29T17:28:49.986-05:00Are You in the Narrow Way?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> (Article for publication week of 12-3- AD 2015)</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>"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" </b>(Matthew 7:13-14).<i> </i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b></b><b><br /></b></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This week we call you back to the main theme
of these weekly articles- pointing sinners to the gate of salvation by which we
enter into the road that leads to heaven and eternal life. We do not confine
ourselves to evangelistic themes in this column. We write much on the way saved
people are supposed to live, and we often address matters of concern in church,
family and commonwealth. But our main purpose is to call sinners to repentance
and show you the way of salvation that is in Christ Alone. We share the
sentiment of the periodical "The Free Grace Broadcaster", edited by
our dear friend and brother in Christ, Elder Jeff Pollard, which is to
"humble the pride of man, and exalt the glory of Christ." Matthew
7:13-14 is the foundation of our weekly columns, for in this text we have
illustrated for us the doctrines of true perseverance and holiness (the only
way to heaven), and true conversion, illustrated by the strait (i.e. difficult)
gate.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We are thankful
for this opportunity to publish the gospel to our friends, relatives and
neighbours through our local paper. Quite frequently some of our readers will
tell us they read the Narrow Way and appreciate the articles, and my question
is always, "well, are you in the narrow way?" Some affirm they are,
but if you push for details, they are quite speechless. Others say they
"hope" they are. My prayer for each of you is that you may press
through the difficult gate into the narrow way and be saved. I have invited
some of you to my home so I can tell you how to be saved. And of course you are
all welcome to come hear me preach so I can tell you more of these things. But
the fact is most of you are not in the narrow way that leads to heaven, you are
in the broad way that leads to hell.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Now this is the truth of my text- the vast majority of
people, including most Simpson Countians are on the high road to hell. Some of
you are close to the gate, but you never have entered in. Some of you have
settled down in the City of Morality, and you are quite at ease. God lets you
sleep well at night; you have plenty of money in the bank; you have a nice
family; you have a respectable name; some of you even attend church, or even
belong to the church; but yet you remain unconverted. Some of you made a
"decision" when you were in junior high, and you were a
"good" boy for a little while, but you soon went back to the world.
When you were in high school and college you were a drunk and a fornicator and
a general hell raiser, all the while your name was on the "church
roll." But then you got a good job, settled down , got married and had
children. You got back in church and even got active. When somebody asks you if
you are saved you respond quite confidently in the affirmative, but deep down
inside where nobody goes but you and God, you feel terribly uneasy. If you are
pressed for details about when you were saved, you will reply, "well, I
got saved when I was twelve years old back at the old 'home church', but I
strayed away and didn't live for the Lord for a long time, but then I did like
the prodigal son and came back to the Lord and</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">now I am serving Him. I can see the faces of scores of you out there
that are in this boat. YOU ARE NOT SAVED! You never got through the gate of
conversion. You know nothing of Holy Ghost conviction, nor of genuine
repentance, nor of saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is just
a name to you of Someone that you do not know, and my friend, if you do not
know Christ by experience, you are not saved, for eternal life is to know Christ,
not just to know about Him (John 17:3). I can hear some of you protesting,
"Brother Floyd, you are just trying to scare me and make me doubt my
salvation." Well, that is a fact for most of you have no salvation to
doubt. And I do hope the Holy Spirit will teach you to fear Him Who is able to
destroy you both soul and body in hell! Friends and neighbours, are you in the
narrow way?</span></i><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
</div>
Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-66702342176188848752015-11-22T13:00:00.002-05:002015-11-22T13:01:14.542-05:00In Everything Give Thanks<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication week of 11-26-2015 AD)</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" </b>(I Thessalonians 5:18).<i> </i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Dear reader, do you ever think much about what is the Lord's will for you?</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Well, you may know God's will for you without any mystical revelation or dream, for the Holy Scriptures tell us what is the will of God for each of us. Our text tells us it is God's will for you and I to be giving Him thanks in everything. Truly, everyone of us have much for which to be thankful.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">First of all, I will point out that thanksgiving presupposes God. Thanksgiving presupposes there is a God to Whom we should be thankful. We do not have to prove the existence of God for every man knows there is a God. The image of God is stamped upon us, and we are inwardly aware that He is there through the conscience He has put in us. His signature is upon all His creation, and everywhere we look He is there. Each of us knows innately that we were created by God and we owe Him our worship and thanksgiving.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Secondly, let us observe that thanksgiving is a happy duty. If you want to be happy, I would urge you to make it your daily and continual business to be always thanking God. Giving thanks will dispel gloom and despair. It has been my observation and personal experience that those who have true joy and peace are those who recognise that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17). I guarantee you it will lift your spirits tremendously to simply count your blessings and thank our Great God for every one of them. When we start counting our blessings we always find they are more numerous than we can count, and as we</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"praise God from Whom all blessings flow", we think of more and more for which to thank Him.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Thirdly, note well that we are to be thanking God in everything. If you are a believer, the first thing for which</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">you will generally be thanking God is your salvation. You will be thanking God for loving you with an everlasting love. You will be thanking Christ for His glorious atoning death that put away your sins. You will be thanking God the Father for raising HIs Eternal Son from the grave and seating Him at His Own right hand where He intercedes for us. You will be thanking the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity for regenerating, converting and sanctifying you. But then you will be thanking God for all your natural blessings as well. The believer is well aware that every piece of food and every drop of water is from His Great God.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But some true and tried saint may ask, "how can I give thanks in everything? I know I am blessed above measure, as you have reminded me, but you don't know about all my troubles and sorrows. How can I give thanks in my sufferings?" Well, first of all I will remind you of God's supreme promise in Romans 8:28 to work all things for your eternal good. Secondly, I will present for your consideration that you can thank God it is no worse than it is. And thirdly, I will remind you that it will be better. No matter how bad it gets in this life, that is as bad as it will ever be for a believer. But no matter how good it gets for an unsaved man, that is as good as it will ever be. Therefore, in everything, give thanks.</span></i><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-29522350353895849302015-11-15T08:19:00.003-05:002015-11-15T08:20:02.103-05:00Still Not Saved<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication week of 11-19-2015)</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>"The
harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved" </b>(Jeremiah
8:20). </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What an awful condition- not saved! My text exposes at least two
categories of my readers. First there are many of you who are not saved, but
you think you are. You have had your wounds slightly healed. You made a little
profession, or walked an aisle or did something religious, but you have had no
saving change worked in you by the Holy Spirit, nor do you have any
experimental knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Though you are quite
comfortable and at peace, you have a false peace and are after all, unsaved.
Then there are a few of you who know you are not saved. You have sat under the
gospel; you have read the Narrow Way; you have talked of the things of the Lord
with your believing friends and relatives; yet you are unsaved. What an awful
thing to be unsaved! You are under the power of darkness and outside the
kingdom of Christ. If you die today you will be cast down to hell!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Now my dear
unsaved reader, I pose a question for you. Why are you not saved? Why do you
remain on the road to eternal perdition? Well, it is not because you have not
been warned. If this is the first time you have ever read the Narrow Way, you
have already read enough to be warned of the wrath to come. Some of you have
been reading the Narrow Way a long time and you have been warned over and over.
There are a few of you who have sat under a faithful ministry (for there are
still a few faithful ministers here and there even in this benighted day)and
you have been warned of your dangerous situation many times. Most of you cannot
say you are unsaved because you have not heard of Christ and His saving power.
Nor are you unsaved because of any unwillingness in Christ to save you. The
dear Saviour has sweetly proclaimed, "him that cometh to me I will in</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">no wise cast out," and "come unto
me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
Christ is willing to save all who will repent and come to Him by faith. Nor are
you unsaved because your case is too hard for the Saviour. He is mighty to save
and has saved, and still saves the vilest of the vile. Nor are you unsaved
because God's people have not prayed for you. There is some unsaved child out
there whose parents wet their pillow with tears for you every night. There are
many of you out there that I pray for regularly. The fact is my dear unsaved
reader, you are not saved, </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">BECAUSE YOU
DO NOT WANT TO BE SAVED!</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> You are not saved because you love your sins more
than Christ. You are not saved because you are unwilling to renounce your
righteousness and receive the imputed righteousness of Christ by faith. You are
unsaved because you do not want to be holy. You are unsaved because you love
the world and the things of the world and you are unwilling to part with the
world. When God casts you down into the everlasting fires of hell where the
fire is not quenched and the worm dies not, it will be your own fault! All the
blame will lie at your unsaved feet because you have refused Christ and His
tender mercies.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Now I have another question for you- will you ever be
saved? All I can tell you is that it looks mighty bad for some of you. You had
rather hold on to false profession than admit you have been deceiving yourself
and the Church all these years. The scriptures do not give us much reason to
hope for those who like Felix are waiting for a more convenient day. The
scriptures do not give us much reason to hope for those who like Agrippa are
"almost persuaded." If you have wasted all the favours already shown
to you, why do you suppose that more gospel labour will profit you? Some of you
were raised in a Christian home and you have left home unsaved and by your
actions have publicly declared against your parents and the Saviour they love.
Why do you think you will ever be saved? Well, only the Lord knoweth infallibly
if you will ever be saved, but I urge you now to fall on your knees and repent
of your sins and cry out to the Saviour and beg Him to save you. He might do
it.</span></i><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-31839684138617106192015-11-08T00:22:00.005-05:002015-11-08T00:23:39.983-05:00Christians and the Confederate Flag - Part 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication week of 11-12- AD 2015)</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Honour thy
father and thy mother:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>that thy days
may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee" </b>(Exodus
20:12). </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Last week we showed that Christians ought to support and fly the
Mississippi Flag and the Confederate Flag which is emblazoned upon its ensign,
because our Flag represents resistance to tyranny. Tyranny is a wicked sin. It
is a violation of the fifth commandment. "The fifth commandment requires
the preserving the honour, and performing the duties belonging to everyone in
their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals"
(Spurgeon's Catechism, Q. and A. #53). The Westminster Larger Catechism
elaborates showing us that the fifth commandment includes the honour of lawful
authority of parents, church officers and magistrates. The same commandment
requires that those in the position of a superior are to use their authority
lawfully as commanded by God. When civil rulers become tyrants, and usurp the
law, they are to be resisted. See these scriptures: Daniel 3:18; Daniel 6:10; 2
Kings 11:1-21; Acts 5:29. Good Samuel Rutherford worked these things out
theologically in a book entitled "Lex Rex"; i.e. "The Law is
King." Such works as this had a great impact upon the founding of America.
The original thirteen States acted upon the principle that resistance to
tyranny is obedience to God when they seceded from Great Britain. Our Southern
Fathers acted upon these same principles when they seceded from the tyrannical
government in Washington, D.C. and formed the Confederate States of America.
That federal government is a thousand times more tyrannical and intrusive than
it was in 1860, proving that the South was indeed right. So this is the first
reason we should support our old Flag, because it represent opposition to
tyranny. By flying our Flag we are telling the wicked government in Washington,
D.C. that we oppose your tyrannical edicts like "legalising" baby
murder and sodomy.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But the second
reason we should support our flag is for the honour of our ancestors. Our
Southern Forefathers were honourable people. Note well, that this is a very
general statement about the people of the Confederates States of America. I am
not suggesting that all our forefathers were Christians-- far from it. What I
am saying is that the South was led by Christians. Politically the South was
led by Jefferson Davis, a devout Christian. Militarily, the South was led by
men like Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, two of the most devout Christians
that have ever been saved by grace. The South was a bastion of orthodox
Christianity, as opposed to the North that was increasingly being influenced by
liberalism, "higher criticism," and Unitarianism. During the War the
churches and ministers of the South were active in preaching the gospel and promoting
piety among the troops. The Lord blessed their labours by sending down a true
revival in which upwards of 50,000 Confederate soldiers professed to have found
peace and joy in believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Great Revival has been
well documented in books like "Christ in the Camp" by Pastor J.W.
Jones, one of the Baptist preachers who laboured among the Confederate
Soldiers. If you will take time to read books like the late Honourable Bob
Evans's "The Sixteenth Mississippi Regiment", you will see how the
people of the South were a people greatly influenced by the truth of scripture.
The South still is known as the "Bible Belt" because of the influence
of our forefathers. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Men like my
great-great grandfather, Elisha Edwards deserve to be honoured. He is representative
to a great degree of the average Confederate soldier. Grandpa Edwards was not a
plantation owner, and as far as we know owned no slaves. He was a small farmer
like the vast majority of the Confederate soldiers. He joined the Lowery Rifles
when he was sixteen years old. He took a mini ball in the stomach at Shiloh,
but the Lord spared his life and he went on to fight for the South until the
very end. Most of you have ancestors like my great-great-grandfather. They
deserve to be honoured because they fought to defend their homeland from a
foreign invader. I say to take down our old flag is nothing less than a
violation of the fifth commandment that requires us to honour our Fathers and
our Mothers. Let us not be guilty of dishonouring our forefathers who left us a
great legacy.</span></i></div>
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Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-15909312991148021762015-11-01T05:13:00.001-05:002015-11-01T05:13:59.142-05:00Christians and the Confederate Flag - Part 2<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication week of 11-5- AD 2015)</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"...Lift up a standard for the people" </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">(Isaiah 62:10b). </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">A few weeks ago I heard a report on the radio that a group of preachers and preacherettes had assembled in front of the Governor's mansion to pray. And for what were they praying? Was it for the salvation of the lost? Was it for the latter day glory of the Church? Was it for a great spiritual awakening? Was it for genuine revival? No! They had more urgent matters about which to pray. They met to pray that the Mississippi Flag would come down! As I continued listening to the report I realised why these preachers and preachettes considered the lowering of the Mississippi Flag a more urgent matter of prayer than the conversion of sinners. This motley crew was comprised of Unitarians who deny the Deity of Christ, Episcopalians who have endorsed sodomy, Romanists who know not the gospel, and various other</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">liberals who only have a "social gospel" which is not the gospel. As I stated in last week's article, one of the reasons that I have felt compelled to write in defence of the Confederate Flag and our State Flag is that many of these liberal preachers and preacherettes have opposed the Flag for professed "religious" reasons. (I am not suggesting that everyone who has opposed our flag is a theological liberal, but I am making a point that many of the ringleaders of the new effort are.) Those who wrap their opposition to our Flag in religious garb should be willing to tell us what their religion is and what scriptures support their position. Your unworthy writer is prepared to give you who are Christians scriptural reasons to support the Mississippi Flag and the Confederate Battle Flag emblazoned in its ensign.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">First, Christians should support our Flag for what it represents. The Flag of Mississippi and the Confederate Battle Flag represent opposition to tyranny, a Biblical and Christian Principle. One day we will undertake a series of articles on this subject, but for now the reader is urged to read these passages: Daniel 3:13-18; 6:10-23; II Kings</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">11: 4-16; Acts 5:29. Believers in the Old Testament and in the New and all down through the history of the Church have understood that resistance to tyranny is obedience unto God. The early Christians refused to call Caeser</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"lord" and were fed to the lions. Martin Luther and the Reformers believed they ought to obey God rather than man and began the Reformation. The Founders of America stood on this Biblical foundation. The original thirteen colonies seceded from England because they held to this Biblical principle. And our Southern Fathers seceded from the federal union into which they had voluntarily entered on the very same Biblical Principles held by the Founders of America.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">When the Red Republicans (that is what they were called in that day and all you good republicans need to know that your party was founded by people who had Marxist beliefs and wanted a strong central government; Donald Kennedy and Al Benson have written a well documented book , "Red Republicans and Lincoln's Marxists" in which they show the influence of the German Socialists, who were run out of Germany in 1848, on the founding of the Republican Party; the Republican Party has not gotten far from its original Socialist agenda as is evidenced by the reverence that Republicans still give to Lincoln, and by their singing the Unitarian hymn, "the Battle Hymn of the Republic"), seized control of the national government in 1860, our Southern Forefathers who had borne a great train of abuses saw the handwriting on the wall and thirteen of the Southern and Border States tried to peacefully withdraw from the union. The Red Republicans, led by the wily politician and corporate attorney, Abraham Lincoln, then invaded our homeland. After four years of valiant defence of the homeland our Fathers finally admitted defeat (temporarily). Might does not make right, and the Northern Victory over the South only proves that the Providence of our Sovereign God is a great Mystery. The defeat of the South no more "proves" that the North was right any more than the feeding of the Christians to the lions proves that the Roman Empire was right. The tragic result of the Northern Defeat of the South is that we no longer have a Constitutional Republic, but a tyrannical empire. Although our Fathers finally succumbed to superior manpower and money it does not mean that their Cause was not right. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The South, and the whole country has been under a despotic government since 1865. The Federal Government of the United States since the fall of the South and the old Constitution has been increasingly tyrannical under both major parties. The recent ungodly and illegal edict of the Supreme Court in nullifying State Laws defining marriage is a case in point. Now I hope all of you who profess to be Christians will hear me. When we fly our State Flag we are declaring to the Supreme Court and to every other tyrant that we resist your illegal edicts. The reason the Supreme Court is able to issue such ungodly edicts and get away with it is because the Northern Tyrants destroyed the Old Constitution that strictly limited the power of the federal government.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Mississippi should keep her Flag flying as a righteous symbol of opposition to tyrannical acts of this government like the recent ruling on sodomite "marriage" and the infamous Roe vs. Wade which "legalised" baby killing by nullifying State laws. We may not be able at this point to resist the tyrannical federal government as our Fathers did, but we can at least let them know we oppose them and call them the wicked tyrants they are by flying our Old Flag.</span></i><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-11200978962397693752015-10-25T09:25:00.001-04:002015-10-25T09:26:24.837-04:00Christians and the Confederate Flag<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication 10-29- AD 2015)</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Go
through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast
up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people"
</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">(Isaiah 62:10</span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">). </span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">First let us set in context our verse. The context is opening
the gates and preparing the highway for the Latter Day Glory of the Church.
God's ministers are to hold not their peace, and preach and pray until the Lord
shall make His Church a praise in all the earth. They are to remove every stone
which hinders the entry of saved sinners into the kingdom. They are to hold up
the standard that all may see Christ and His glorious kingdom. The standard
that we are to lift up is the word of God. It is the only infallible standard
on earth. Having shown you briefly something of the sense of our text, I now
wish to hold up the standard of God's word as it pertains to the Confederate
Flag, a standard also that needs to be lifted up.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I will confess
to you that I am somewhat reticent to write upon this subject. My reticence is
not for lack of zeal for my subject. My only reluctance in taking this as my
subject is that I would prefer to be writing on the Person and Work of Christ,
the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, the electing love of the Father and
related themes. The Narrow Way is a gospel column, not a political column, and
we hope to always keep that before our readers. However, we have not shied away
from writing on political subjects as they relate to the gospel and we have
felt compelled to shed forth Biblical light upon subjects related to the
commonwealth. The fact is that everything is to be considered in the light of
the Word of God. There is no part of life that is isolated from the scriptures.
We are to bring every thought captive to the word of God (II Corinthians 10:5).
Some liberal preachers and preacherettes</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">have lambasted the Confederate Flag, and the Mississippi Flag, and one
scalawag politician in this state has renounced our flag, very piously saying
he is opposed to our flag because of his "religious" convictions. We
have to question what this man's religious convictions are. We also solemnly
remind him and all of you that you can be as religious as all get out and be as
lost as a goose. The fact is that Christ will send multitudes of
"religious" people to hell (Matthew 7:21-23). Now, I am not suggesting
that everyone who is opposed to our Flag is lost, nor am I suggesting that
everyone who loves it is saved- not hardly. What I am declaring is that a
"religious conviction" that is based on anything other than
"thus saith the scriptures" is not worth a hoot in hell. If people
claim they are opposed to our Flag for religious reasons, they need to be ready
to tell us what their religion is and whether or not they hold to the
scriptures as the infallible word of God. And I am declaring that there is not
anything in scripture that is opposed to Our Flag, either by direct command,
general principle, or necessary consequence.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Now first of all, let us consider that the Flag itself
is a thing indifferent, that is, there is no right or wrong about it per se.
Secondly, let me renounce as plainly as I can the practice of flying flags in
the meeting house of the Church. The Church is comprised of elect sinners from
every nation. The True Church of Christ is not limited to any nation. Let no
one suppose because they are "patriotic" that they are a Christian.
There are multitudes of "flag waving" republicans and democrats that
are going to bust hell wide open because they do not know the Lord Jesus
Christ. There are multitudes who have pledged "allegiance" to the
flag of the United States who have never pledged allegiance to the Lord Jesus
Christ. (I told you this is a gospel column, and no matter what our subject is
we are always demanding that you lay down your arms of rebellion and surrender
to the Lordship of God's Eternal Son.) Well, I am sure some of you are
wondering, if the Flag is a thing indifferent in and of itself, why take time
to write on it or come to its defence? Well , we are running out of space, so
the main message will have to wait until next week. But let me say in closing
that since the liberals in church and state have renounced the Confederate Flag
and the Mississippi Flag, and with much declared "piety", it is
incumbent that conservative Bible believers cast out the stones and lift up the
standard so that the real issues may be understood. So finally, let me say that
our State Flag should continue to fly first of all because of honour to our
Fathers and our Mothers. Secondly, our Flag should continue to fly because it
represents opposition to tyranny, a Biblical precept. More next week, Deo
Volente.</span></i><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
</div>
Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-68292449578513790922015-10-18T08:00:00.002-04:002015-10-18T08:00:51.093-04:00The Death of the Righteous<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication week of 10-22- AD 2015)</span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Who can
count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me
die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!" </b>(Numbers
23:10). </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Our message this week is a solemn one indeed, for our text contains
truth spoken by</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">an unsaved man. The
words of our text were spoken by the false prophet, Balaam. Balaam was a man
who knew much about God, but did not know God. He was a man who understood much
truth, yet never received the truth to the saving of his soul. He was a man who
preached much truth, as in our text, yet he remained a graceless character. The
case of Balaam is a frightening one indeed, and there are many of you that I
fear are in the same case. When you first read about Balaam in Numbers chapters
23-25, much of what he says sounds like a true believer. But when we go to the
New Testament, all the evidence is that he was lost. I encourage you to go and
read these scriptures: Numbers 31:8-16; 2 Peter 2:11-16; Jude 11; and
Revelation 2:14. We see by these scriptures that Balaam was not saved. What a
tragedy! Balaam understood that the death of the righteous is greatly to be
desired, and yet he died unrighteous and has been in hell now for over 3,000
years (as far as we can tell) and won't ever get out (except long enough to
stand before the judgment throne of God, and then back down to the lake of fire
for eternity). Now dear readers, be warned that knowing about God will not save
your soul; you must know God by experience (John 17:3). Knowing the truth will
not save you; you must receive the truth, and love it, and walk in it (2
Thessalonians 2:10), if you will be saved. Preaching the truth will not save
you, unless you get to know Him Who is truth.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Let us now
consider the death of the righteous, and pray that you will die that death, and
not die as Balaam, in an unrighteous state. First, we remind you of how
delightful the death of the righteous is. The death of the righteous is not the
end, but the beginning of a glorious eternity. When the righteous die, they go
immediately to be with Christ where He is, in Heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8). When
the righteous die, it is with the promise of the resurrection of their bodies
(Philippians 3:20-21). No wonder Balaam exclaimed, "let me die the death
of the righteous"!</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But here is where
Balaam missed it: if you will die the death of the righteous, you must be righteous. There is nothing
but righteousness in the new heavens and the new earth (2 Peter 3:13), and
unrighteous people cannot enter in (Revelation 22:11). Now dear reader do you
understand that your righteousness is filthy rags in the sight of God? If you
will enter into heaven at last, you must have a perfect righteousness. The only
way that you may have that righteousness is by imputation. Those who are saved
by Christ have His righteousness imputed to them (2 Corinthians 5:21). Dear
reader have you received this robe of righteousness by faith alone? If not,
then you are not righteous, and you will not die the death of the righteous.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Secondly, if you will die the death of the righteous, you must live the life of the righteous.
The scriptures declare over and over,</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">from Genesis to Revelation that God sanctifies all those whom He
justifies, and they will live a holy life. If you imagine that you can live a
careless, worldly life and go to heaven when you die, you are greatly deceived
my friend. It is only those who walk in the Narrow Way that will have eternal
life (Matthew 7:13-14). If you are in the Broad Way, you will be destroyed by
the Judge of all the earth. I ask you my friend, are you in the Narrow Way that
leads to life? If you are not justified by the imputed righteousness of Christ,
and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, you will spend eternity where the fire is
not quenched and the worm dieth not! I pray the Lord may have mercy upon some
of you that you may die the death of the righteous, and not as Balaam who came
close to the Kingdom of God, but never got in!</span></i><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
</div>
Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-283480882490729742015-10-11T07:50:00.004-04:002015-10-11T07:51:20.607-04:00No Heaven Without Holiness<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication week of 10-15- AD 2015)</span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Follow
peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the
Lord:" </b>(Hebrews 12:14). </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">For over two months now we have been writing on
the Death of a Christian, the Intermediate State, The Resurrection of the Body,
and the Heaven that awaits the believer who dies in the Lord. We have primarily
been addressing Christians, and labouring for their comfort. But now I have a
word for you, my unconverted readers. I have a solemn warning for you that
unless you are saved by grace, you will not enter into heaven. I have been
comforting the saints that when they die, they will die in the Lord and be
blessed. But I give now a solemn warning that not everyone who dies goes to
heaven. It is written in the word (Revelation 14:13), "blessed are the
dead which die in the Lord." But it is equally true that "cursed are
the dead which die out of Christ." There is a happy Intermediate State for
those who die in the Lord, for to be absent from the body, is to be present
with the Lord (II Corinthians 5:8). But there will be an Intermediate State for
you who are unsaved as well. You will lift up your eyes in Hell when your soul
is absent from the body (Luke 16:23)! There will be a resurrection for you my
unsaved Reader. It will be the resurrection of the unjust (Acts 24:15). You
will be raised to God's everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2) and be given a body
capable of suffering everlasting and conscious punishment in the lake which
burns forever with fire and brimstone forever and ever. My text this week
plainly declares that you will not see God in heaven and immortal glory unless
you are in pursuit of holiness. No holiness-- no heaven! Now you better heed
this awful warning; nothing, nor no one that is defiled shall enter into
heaven. Unless God makes you a holy person, it will be said of you as it was of
Judas Iscariot- "it had been better for that man had he never been
born!"</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I pray the Lord
may use this article to shake some of you to your senses and set you to seeking
Christ. How many times I have stood in the funeral home when someone has died
with no evidence they were saved. Invariably someone will say, "he (or
she) is better off!" What I want to say is, "or you sure of
that?" But, I am hated enough as it is and I dread to lose any of the few
friends I still may have I suppose, so I just keep silent. Neighbour if your
loved one died without holiness, they are not better off! They are infinitely
worse off! I can do nothing regarding those already in hell, but I can warn you
my dear reader; unless you are following holiness you will miss heaven and be
cast into hell where the fire is not quenched and the worm dieth not! </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My text is a
warning to you who are universalist in your mindset. Not everyone who dies goes
to heaven. How many ways can I say it? How many times can I repeat it? Only
those who enter into the Narrow Way that leads to life by the gate of
conversion shall live in heaven (Matthew 7:13-14). Only those who are saved by
grace and given a new nature shall enter into heaven. Our Blessed Lord has
warned, "not everyone 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" (Matthew 7:21)".</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps there is one of my readers who is alarmed by
this week's message and you are now crying out, "what is holiness? How may
I be holy? What is it to follow holiness?" Let us a hear a voice from the
past regarding this eternally important issue. "To 'follow' holiness is to
live like persons who are devoted to God- to His glory, to His claims upon us,
to His Cause in the world. It is to make it evident that we belong to Him. It
is to mortify the flesh, with its affections and lusts. It is to cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit (II Corinthians
7:1). It is a life task from which there is no discharge while we remain in the
body." ( A.W. Pink). Dear Reader, do these words of this faithful preacher
from the past describe you? If not, you will not enter into God's heaven. You
will be cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and wailing and
gnashing of teeth forever! There is somebody reading this week that needs to
come see me so I can tell you how to be saved and start following holiness. May
the Lord open your heart today and draw you to the Saviour.</span></i><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-87164375074714255732015-10-04T19:06:00.003-04:002015-10-04T19:07:32.514-04:00The Lord's Prayer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>(Article for publication week of 10-8- AD 2015)</i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Father, I
will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they
may behold my glory, which Thou hast given me: for Thou lovedst Me before the
foundation of the world" </b>(John 17:24). </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>Our text is found in the Real
Lord's Prayer. The prayer the Lord taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-13 should
actually be called "the Disciple's Prayer", or "The Model
Prayer." What we call "The Lord's Prayer" is not a prescribed
prayer, per se, but rather an outline of prayer to help us in our prayer life.
It is a prayer for us to pray, not a prayer that our Lord Himself needed to
pray, or ever did pray. We know this because of one expression- "forgive
us our debts" ( or sins, i.e. Luke 11:4). Our Lord Jesus Christ never had
to ask for forgiveness of sin, for He was without sin, and could not sin
(Hebrews 7:26). The 17th chapter of John is truly "The Lord's
Prayer," for here we have the Eternal Son praying to the Eternal Father.
Our text is proof of what we call the Doctrine of the Trinity, for here we see the
Second Person of the Trinity praying to the First Person of the Trinity. Our
Great God is One in Three, and Three in One (I John 5:7) and we see that
plainly in this text. John 17 is a death blow to both Arianism and Modalism.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>The seventeenth
chapter of John is our Lord's High Priestly prayer for His people. Our Great
High Priest continues to intercede for all those for whom He died (Romans 8:34;
Hebrews 7:25). After he died for our sins, He was laid in the grave, but He
arose the third Day, and after He had shown Himself alive after many infallible
proofs, He ascended back to the right hand of His Father where he continues to
plead our cause in the high court of heaven. The Levitical priesthood has been
abrogated and there will never be any more need for it. The Lord Jesus Christ
is the only Person in the universe who is a priest. Any man (or woman) who
claims to be a priest is an imposter and should be rejected. There is only one
Mediator between God and man, the God-Man, the Lord Jesus Christ (I Timothy
2:5). It will thrill your soul (if you are born again) to go and read the 17th
chapter of John, and see what wonderful things our Great High Priest prayed for
His people.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>Now, our text
here in John 17:24 tells us one of the glorious things that Christ prayed for
His people-- that we may be with Him! Oh! I can hardly contain myself as I
write these words! We shall be with Christ when this life is over! That my
friends is what heaven and the glory world is all about. As one of the Puritans
put it, hell would be heaven if Christ were there! We shall be with Christ to
behold His glory. We see that glory now by faith, but the day is coming when
faith shall be changed to sight and all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ
shall see Him in all His glory. That glory is the same glory as that of the
Father, for Christ is indeed one with His Father (John 17:5; 1:14), and is of
the same essence as the Father. To see Christ will be to see God, for Christ is
both God and Man (John 14:9). (See also II Corinthians 4:6). All the fullness
of the Godhead dwells bodily in the Lord Jesus Christ(Colossians 2:9). So when
we are glorified we shall see God as our Lord promised in Matthew 5:8. Dear
Reader, do you long to see the Lord Jesus Christ? If you are a child of God I
know you do. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i>Rest assured that God the Father always hears the
prayers of His Eternal Son (John 11;42). You can be sure that this is one
prayer that will be answered. Not one that God the Father gave to His Son in
eternal election shall fail to be with Christ. Christ will not lose any for
whom He died. All those whose names were written in the Lamb's Book of Life
before the foundation of the world shall surely be with Christ, eternally
beholding His glory.</i></span><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
</div>
Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-65974272628746381782015-09-27T06:22:00.004-04:002015-09-27T06:24:37.932-04:00The Father's House<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication week of 10-1- Ad 2015)</span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"In my
Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I
go to prepare a place for you"</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> (John 14:2). </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The scriptures do not give us
many explicit details about what heaven is exactly like. However, it tell us
enough for a believer to often long to be there! Whether there are literally
mansions in heaven or not should not be our main concern. The point is that
heaven is a city whose Builder and Maker is God, with true foundations, eternal
in the heavens. If things like mansions, streets of gold and gates of pearl are
metaphorical, then the reality is much greater, for the reality is always
greater than the metaphor.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The first thing
our text tells us is that Christ Himself has made all the preparations
necessary for His people to live in heaven with Him. In our text our Lord was
telling His disciples that He would go to prepare a place for them (and us). By
this statement we may understand that Christ would go to the cross to suffer as
our Sin-bearer to save us from our sins. We could never enter into heaven as
the sinners that we are by nature. Our Great God is too holy to allow sin in
His holy presence. Our sins must be taken away. This Christ did by His death,
burial and resurrection (Romans 4:25; I Corinthians 15:3-4). Christ prepared
heaven for us by shedding His blood to redeem us from all iniquity. He arose
from the grave victorious over sin, hell and the grave and now sits at the
right hand of His Father interceding for those for whom He died (Romans 8:34).
In other words, Christ prepares a place for us by all that he does for us as
our Prophet, Priest and King. Mark this down child of God, there is nothing you
do to help Christ prepare heaven for you. Christ Himself has accomplished the
whole work by Himself.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Secondly, the
text tells us that there will be many finally saved and live in heaven. There
are many mansions in heaven because there are many saved by Christ to finally
dwell there. In Revelation 19:1 John saw "much people in heaven."
Romans 8:29 tells us that God has predestinated His elect to be conformed to
the image of Christ that He might be "the firstborn among many
brethren." Our Lord proclaimed in Matthew 8:11 when He observed saving
faith is a gentile that "many will come from the east and the west, and
shall sit down in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
Hebrews 9:28 says that "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of
many." When Christ gave His disciples the cup of wine at the first
communion service in Matthew 26:28 he said that cup of wine represented His
blood "which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Christ died
for a number that no man can number out of all the nations of the earth. This
is a glorious truth that we may contemplate with joy- that there will be many
finally saved and live in the Father's house. Every one for whom Christ died
shall be in heaven without the loss of one. Everyone that the Father gave to
His Son in the covenant of grace shall be in heaven. Everyone that is called
effectually by the Holy Spirit shall live in heaven. Everyone who trusts in
Christ Alone for salvation shall be in heaven.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But finally, let us take note of the fact that heaven
is called the "Father's house." This tells us that heaven is the real
home of the children of God. As the poet has written, "heaven is my
Fatherland, heaven is my home." God's people are pilgrims and strangers in
this low ground of sin and sorrow. This world is not our home. What a glorious
day it will be when we arrive in our true and lasting home, the Father's house.</span></i><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
</div>
Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3577176363957552739.post-89749508955246530872015-09-20T00:10:00.002-04:002015-09-20T00:11:40.650-04:00The Blessing of Dying in Christ<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">(Article for publication week of 9-24- AD 2015)</span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b>"And I
heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die
in the Lord from henceforth: Yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from
their labours; and their works do follow them" </b>(Revelation 14:13).
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Although death is an enemy of man (I Corinthians 15:26), the death of a
Christian is said in our text to be a blessed thing. Believers may view the
monster Death and smile, for he has lost his sting (I Corinthians 15:55-57).</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">First of all,
the children of God are blessed for they die in the Lord. They are in saving
union with the Lord Jesus Christ because God the Father chose them in His Son
by eternal and sovereign election before the foundation of the world (Ephesians
1:4).They are in Christ vitally and experimentally by regeneration (II
Corinthians 5:17). We have assurance that we are in Christ by faith, and
nothing can separate us from His eternal love (Romans 8:38-39). Death itself
cannot separate a child of God from His Surety and Head.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Secondly, it is
a blessing to die in Christ because Christ has already abolished death
judicially ( II Timothy 1:10). Christ has redeemed us from the dreaded curse
(Galatians 3:13). Death has no lasting claim upon those who are redeemed by the
Saviour of sinners. Our Lord's death satisfied Divine Justice forever so that
by imputation our sorry record was made right in God's court. Not only that but
the active obedience of Christ is imputed to us so that God considers us has
having kept the law ourselves. It is a blessing to die in Christ because we are
at peace with God through the justifying Righteousness of His Eternal and
Co-equal Son. Christ has abolished death judicially and when the appointed time
comes He will put the enemy out of business for good (I Corinthians 15:26
previously cited).</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Thirdly, the
believer is blessed when he dies in the Lord because Christ will be with him
when he crosses the river of death. He has promised "I will never leave
thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). He has promised us "when thou
passest through the waters I will be with thee; and through the waters they
shall not overflow thee" (Isaiah 43:2). Let us not fear to go anywhere as
long as Christ is with us. His grace is sufficient for all things, including
the moment of death.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Fourthly, it is
a blessing to die in the Lord because at the moment of death a believer is
immediately in the presence of Christ in paradise. To be absent from the body
is to be present with the Lord (II Corinthians 5:8). This is the great desire
of the Lord's people, to be with Him Who loved us and gave Himself for us. We
see Him now by faith, but when we lay this body down our happy spirits shall fly
away to be with Him. The moment we close our eyes in death on earth, we will
open them to behold the God- Man! Our bodies shall sleep in the dust, but our
souls shall neither die nor sleep but go directly to heaven where the spirits
of just men made perfect are already (Hebrews 12:23).</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Fifthly, those who die in the Lord are blessed because
their bodies shall be raised again (Philippians 3:20-21; I Corinthians 15:52;
John 6:39; I Thessalonians 4:13-18). When the Lord is pleased to come again at
the end of the world He shall raise up all the bodies of those for whom He
died. (He will also raise up the unsaved, but that is for another article
sometime.) The resurrection will be a glorious display of the omniscience of
God. Think about it; God knows the whereabouts of the remains of all the
millions who have been saved by grace and died in Him. Our great God knows all
things. What a glorious God! The resurrection will also be a glorious display
of His omnipotence. The same Power that created the universe will raise up the
remains of our dead bodies. Blessed indeed are those who die in the Lord!</span></i><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281247470470493431noreply@blogger.com0