Soli Deo Gloria

“The professing Christian with lukewarm faith seeks the outward things of religion and asks the church to serve them. The true Christian, however, takes joy not most in what the church does for them, but in what God is doing in and through the church.”

This great quote is from the book Jonathan Edwards on True Christianity. My friend and co-host of our radio show recently bought this book and shared it with me. We’re both bookworms when it comes to Edwards and other Puritan writers. As I read through the pages of this book over and over again Edwards nails it on the head, often uncomfortably, with regards to the problem of nominal Christianity in the church today. Edwards dealt with it in his time and we most definitely see the plague of lukewarm faith within American evangelicalism today.

It saddens me to see so many who profess Christ living like the world and embracing sin with absolutely no regard for Scripture’s call for believers to pursue sanctification. (Hebrews 12:14) However, I personally understand why this is. As a false convert for over 20 years of my life I too was a nominal Christian – one with lukewarm faith who professed to know Christ. I attended church and was even baptized. However, there was absolutely no real love for Christ, His Word, His people and no real hatred for sin and the sanctification that cannot be separated from justification. The reason was that I was not truly saved. I played the part and was convinced I was “in the club” but I was absolutely no different from the world. I thank my God and Savior for transforming my heart of stone to a heart of flesh and opening my eyes to the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 4:6) Salvation is of the Lord!

The problem with the majority of churches today is an absolute lack of Gospel proclamation coupled with little or no Biblical exposition from the pulpit. Evangelism and the gospel message are nothing more than after-thoughts and most churches today think they are doing good when they can build an entire congregational message around one Scripture verse often taken horribly out of context to create a man-centered humanistic feel-good message as to not offend.

I commend the men of God who hold fast to the Word of God and herald the full gospel of Jesus Christ to their flock week after week. May we continually lift the shepherds of the flocks in prayer who truly care to please Christ by heralding His name above all and elevate His word as the authority of the Christian life. The church on earth until Christ returns will always have those with nominal faith but may the gospel proclamation and Biblical exposition snatch many from the flames.

Let me close with another powerful quote from the book:

“A personal may out of knowledge of biblical doctrine live a happy and hopeful life, trusting in Gods providence, living gratefully in some sense for Christ’s sacrifice. However, unless this knowledge is personally applied in repentance of sin and wholehearted faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, it does not save us from sin and judgement. (see James 2:18-26)”

There is no salvation in nominal Christianity and a lukewarm faith. Christ’s words to the church of Laodicea should cause us to stir: “So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:16) Take this time to examine yourself (2 Corinthians 13:5) in light of what Scripture truly teaches regarding real salvation and the sanctified life that is a result of regeneration.

Soli Deo Gloria

Preaching, The Church

“The nature of Christ’s salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day “evangelist.” He announces a Saviour from hell rather than a Saviour from sin. And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness.”

A. W. Pink (1886-1952)

Evangelism, Preaching

“I am quite aware that when a man expresses such opinions as those I have just brought forward there are many ready to say, “He is no Churchman.” I hear such accusations unmoved. The day of judgment will show who were the true friends of the Church of England and who were not. I have learned in the last thirty-two years that if a clergyman leads a quiet life, lets alone the unconverted part of the world, and preaches so as to offend none and edify none, he will be called by many “a good Churchman.”

And I have also learned that if a man studies the Articles and Homilies, labors continually for the conversion of souls, adheres closely to the great principles of the Reformation, bears a faithful testimony against popery, and preaches as Jewell and Latimer used to preach, he will probably be thought a firebrand and “troubler of Israel,” and called no Churchman at all! But I can see plainly that they are not the best Churchmen who talk most loudly about Churchmanship.”

- J.C. Ryle from The Fallibility of Ministers

Daily Walk, Preaching, The Church

“Men evangelized cannot go to hell but over the bowels of God’s great mercies. They must wade to it through the blood of Christ.”

- John Duncan

Evangelism, Preaching

This is so amazingly true.  Thank God for men like Paul Washer who preach it like it is.

Related post:  The Serious Error of Decisional Evangelism

Preaching, The Church, The Gospel

“For myself, as I am ashamed of my dull and careless heart, and of my slow and unprofitable course of life, so, the Lord knows, I am ashamed of every sermon I preach; when I think what I have been speaking of, and who sent me, and that men’s salvation or damnation is so much concerned in it, I am ready to tremble lest God should judge me as a slighter of His truths and the souls of men, and lest in the best sermon I should be guilty of their blood.

Me thinks we should not speak a word to men in matters of such consequence without tears, or the greatest earnestness that possibly we can; were not we too much guilty of the sin which we reprove, it would be so.”

- Richard Baxter (1615-1691)

Preaching, The Church, The Gospel

Bible Studies, Evangelism, Preaching, The Gospel

As a Bible teacher, I am absolutely convinced from Scripture that the only way to teach God’s Word is to do so through a verse by verse exposition. The majority of curriculums available for the average church class is nothing more than a glorified devotional taking two or three verses (usually out of context) to drive some life application down the throats of the class members. These curriculums are normally devoid of doctrine. Is it no surprise that our churches are filled with people who know so little about Scripture? That is no way to teach God’s Word. We must allow God’s Word to speak for itself by providing a faithful verse by verse exposition of the text with grammatical, historical and authorial intent in mind. I get so discouraged when I hear Bible teachers and preachers focus more on application than a solid exhortation that follows Biblical exposition and sound doctrine.

I was so excited to hear Dr. John MacArthur speak on this very issue. MacArthur regularly comes under question by the typical “life application and relevant obsessed” pastors of the day as to why he does not focus on application more. John’s answer is spot on. I pray God will raise up more men like Dr. MacArthur who boldly proclaim God’s truth one verse at a time without compromise. Take a listen to this six minute segment where John explains his reasonings for a focus on doctrine and exhortation while leaving application to the Holy Spirit…

Bible Studies, Preaching, The Church

“He is despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3). For the special benefit of young preachers, we propose to sermonize this text, though in as simple and homely a manner as possible, trusting that it may please the Lord to speak through it to some unsaved readers, for we dare not assume that all who take this magazine have really been born again.

Our text forms part of one of the Messianic predictions, in which God made know long beforehand the treatment which his Son would receive when He became incarnate.

The prophecy of Isaiah was in the hands of the Jews seven hundred years before the Lord Jesus was born at Bethlehem—yet so exactly did it describe what befell Him, that it might well have been written by one of the Apostles. Therein is supplied one of the incontrovertible proofs of the Divine inspiration of the Scriptures, for only One who knew the end from the beginning, could have thus written history beforehand.

It might well have been supposed that the advent to earth of such a One as the Lord of Glory, would meet with a warm welcome and reverent reception, the more so in view of His appearing in human form, going about doing good. Since He came not to judge—but to save; since His mission was one of grace and mercy, since He ministered to the needy and healed the sick—will not men gladly receive Him? Many would naturally think so—but in so thinking they overlook the fact that the Lord Jesus is “the Holy One,” and none but those who have the principle of holiness in their hearts, can appreciate ineffable Purity. Such an assumption as the one we have just mentioned, ignores the solemn fact of human depravity—the heart of fallen man is “desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9). How can the Holy One appear attractive to those who are full of sin!? Nothing so clearly evidences the condition of the human heart, and so solemnly demonstrates its corruption, as its attitude toward the precious Savior.

There is much recorded against man in the Old Testament Scriptures, as for example in Psalm 14:1-4; yet dark as is the picture there drawn of fallen human nature, it fades into insignificance before what the New Testament sets before us. “The carnal mind is enmity against God” (Romans 8:7), and never was this so frightfully patent, as when Jesus was manifested in flesh. “If I had not come,” declared Christ, “and spoken unto them, they had not had sin—but now they have no cloak for their sin” (John 15:22). The appearing of Christ has fully exposed man, bringing to light as nothing else ever has—the desperate wickedness of his heart!

Now let us ask and supply answer to three questions—Who was (and still is) “despised and rejected by men?” Why is He so grievously slighted? In what way is He scorned? Who was so unwelcome here?

Read more…

Bible Studies, Preaching, Scripture, The Gospel, Theology

Dr. John MacArthur’s sermons – that would be all of them – are now available on the Grace to You web site completely free of charge in mp3 format.

Thank you Dr. MacArthur for providing this on the internet free of charge!

Click here to check them out. 

Bible Studies, Preaching

Every Christian, especially evangelical pastors, should listen carefully to this sermon. Brother Washer speaks the truth in this passionate call for the American church to wake up.  What a wonderful sermon to take the time to watch on this Reformation Day.

I’ve heard people complain that this sermon is too long. Tally up the time we spend in front of a movie screen or television set and then compare that to the time we give to God in hearing the preaching of His living Word.

Apostasy & Heresy, Evangelism, Preaching, The Church, The Gospel

Paul Washer, speaking at the Deeper Conference last weekend, proclaims the truth of the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  In this message, he speaks on the condition of the evangelical church today and how far we have fallen in how we handle the gospel and the idolatry of decisional evangelism.  This is an excellent message in typical Washer fire and is one that every single pastor in America should hear carefully.  This goes along well with an article I posted a few weeks ago on the “Serious Error of Decisional Evangelism“.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

You can also watch the video of brother Paul at the Deeper conference here.

Evangelism, Preaching, The Church, The Gospel