I thought that title would raise a few eyebrows! The 18th century preacher, Jonathan Edwards, described children who were "outside of Christ" as "young vipers". This description would probably shock us today - imagine Billy Graham or some other well known preacher coming out with such a comment; no doubt he would lose his support and be vilified by the newspapers.
Moreover, as we look at young children, be they our own, or our friends, we tend to speak of them as "little darlings"; and there is nothing wrong with that. There is much in small children that delight us, and rightly so. However, if we are true, Bible-believing Christians we will also recognise that children are still sinners in need of a saviour. They have sinful hearts and are capable of doing bad things even at a young age.
I witnessed an example of this last week. There is a "you-tube" video going round the internet at present featuring a boy of 3 being filmed by his mother denying that he had eaten some "sprinkles" even though the evidence was written all over his face. No doubt, many who watched this considered the boy "an adorable little chap" who didn't really mean any harm. However, this incident proves the teaching of the Bible when it says "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" - Jeremiah 17 v 9. Moreover in Romans 3 v 10-18 we read the most damning indictment of human nature ever penned.
Children do not have to be taught to lie, they just do it. Why do they lie even though they have never been taught to do so? The answer is simple - because they have been born with corrupt hearts. They are doing what comes naturally.
In my last article I wrote of how people get cross when you speak to them of the universal guilt of mankind - viz. we are all sinnners. However, one way to prove to people that they are sinners is to ask them if they have ever told a lie. They are then caught in a trap - if they say "no" then they are lying; if they say "yes" then they have proved that the Bible is true when it says that we are all sinners.
What is the remedy for this universal guilt? Answer, the blood of Jesus Christ "which cleanses us from all sin" 1st John 1 v 7. When my wife and I were married on February 21, 1981 we had this text printed on the invitation cards, the order of service and the serviettes at the reception. People who came to our wedding were left in no doubt about the only way we can be cleansed from our sins and put right with God.
In case you were wondering, I don't know what became of the little boy in the "you tube" video; but if that mother was a Bible believing Christian she would have given him a stern lecture on the exceeding sinfulness of sin, warned him about the dangers of eternal damnation for all unrepentent sinners, and sent him to bed with no supper!
Monday, 11 February 2013
Friday, 1 February 2013
The truth is offensive
I was speaking with a pastor yesterday who told me that a lady who was attending the church he pastors has stopped coming because she doesn't like this talk about "sin". This particular preacher does mention sin in his sermons but he also speaks about the forgiveness of sin through repentance and faith in Christ.
When I heard this I remembered an incident that occured when I was passing out tracts on Broadstairs sea-front. A man asked me what the leaflet was about and I replied: "it's about Jesus, He died for your sins". He walked away only to return seconds later and, in a very indignant tone, said "hang on a minute, I haven't got any sins!".
People get very offended when you tell them the Biblical teaching that we have all fallen short of God's standard (Romans 3 v 23) and need to be saved. If they are law-abiding and "decent" people, as most are, then they will feel indignant when the truth is told.
Why is this? Upon further reflection on the conversation mentioned in the 1st paragraph I thought upon a long talk I had with a lady in Canterbury city centre. She had attended a church some years before but had drifted away - she told me that she wants to hear things that make her feel good about herself. That is the reason why people get so offended when you speak about their need to be forgiven of their sins - it doesn't make them feel good about themselves.
Sadly most so-called "evangelical" preachers today have imbibed this mindset in their ministry. They are afraid to speak the truth in case people leave, so they water it down and tickle people's ears. It seems that success is measured by how many people attend church rather than how faithful the preacher is to the inerrant word of God - the Bible.
What is the result of this sorry state of affairs? Many churches are full of people who have made a "profession of faith" but are not truly saved because there has been no conviction of sin and no repentance. They have simply never been taught that conviction of sin and true repentance is absolutely essential for true conversion. Instead of this they have been "taught" that Jesus loves them just as they are, and repentance is never mentioned (in case it offends people). Consequently, they are deluding themselves that they are right with God and heading for Heaven.
The true Evangelical preachers teach the Word of God as it stands - we have all fallen short of God's standard, we have all sinned and, by nature, we are enemies of God and children of wrath. However, for those who truly repent and have faith in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour there is forgiveness and the assurance of everlasting life.
"....and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His (Jesus') name...." Luke 24 v 47.
When I heard this I remembered an incident that occured when I was passing out tracts on Broadstairs sea-front. A man asked me what the leaflet was about and I replied: "it's about Jesus, He died for your sins". He walked away only to return seconds later and, in a very indignant tone, said "hang on a minute, I haven't got any sins!".
People get very offended when you tell them the Biblical teaching that we have all fallen short of God's standard (Romans 3 v 23) and need to be saved. If they are law-abiding and "decent" people, as most are, then they will feel indignant when the truth is told.
Why is this? Upon further reflection on the conversation mentioned in the 1st paragraph I thought upon a long talk I had with a lady in Canterbury city centre. She had attended a church some years before but had drifted away - she told me that she wants to hear things that make her feel good about herself. That is the reason why people get so offended when you speak about their need to be forgiven of their sins - it doesn't make them feel good about themselves.
Sadly most so-called "evangelical" preachers today have imbibed this mindset in their ministry. They are afraid to speak the truth in case people leave, so they water it down and tickle people's ears. It seems that success is measured by how many people attend church rather than how faithful the preacher is to the inerrant word of God - the Bible.
What is the result of this sorry state of affairs? Many churches are full of people who have made a "profession of faith" but are not truly saved because there has been no conviction of sin and no repentance. They have simply never been taught that conviction of sin and true repentance is absolutely essential for true conversion. Instead of this they have been "taught" that Jesus loves them just as they are, and repentance is never mentioned (in case it offends people). Consequently, they are deluding themselves that they are right with God and heading for Heaven.
The true Evangelical preachers teach the Word of God as it stands - we have all fallen short of God's standard, we have all sinned and, by nature, we are enemies of God and children of wrath. However, for those who truly repent and have faith in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour there is forgiveness and the assurance of everlasting life.
"....and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His (Jesus') name...." Luke 24 v 47.
Saturday, 26 January 2013
The mercy of God
When we consider the mercy of God we tend to speak of His goodness in sending Jesus to die for our sins, or His works of providence and deliverance. However, there is another aspect of His mercy that we will look at now.
When Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ in Matthew 16 he was told that this truth was "revealed" to him by God (verse 17). Moreover, in Acts 16, when Paul and Silas brought the Gospel to Lydia in Philippi, God opened her heart "to heed the things spoken by Paul". In our natural state we would never respond to the Gospel - this is because our eyes are blind and our hearts hardened. Moreover, we are told in 1st Corinthians 2 v 14 that "the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God because they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned".
Consequently, when we came to know Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour it was because God opened our eyes, enlightened our understanding and softened our hearts. Why did He do this? - because he delighted to show us His mercy. In other words what I am saying is that God did not only show mercy by sending Jesus to die for our sins, and bringing the Gospel across our paths but He also showed mercy by working in us by His Holy Spirit to bring us to faith in Christ.
Indeed, this point is upheld by 1st Corinthians 15 v 10 where Paul says "By the grace of God I am what I am". Paul didn't become a Christian because he decided it might be a good idea, he became a Christian because God worked in and upon him on that Damascus road. Moreover, we read in 1st Corinthians 4 v 7 a searching question "Who makes you to differ from another?" The inference being that if God had not worked in our hearts then we would be the same as the unsaved.
Consider too, the clear statement of John 6 v 44 where Jesus stated that no-one would come to Him "unless the Father..... draws him".
Why is it that God opens the eyes of some and not others? That is a great mystery that it is not for us to seek to unravel. Our responsibility, as Christians, is to get on with the work of evangelism and trust God to work in people thus bringing them to faith in Christ.
We can have absolute confidence that, as we share Jesus with others, God will draw people to Him in accordance with John 6 v 37 where we read (the words of Christ) "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out".
When Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ in Matthew 16 he was told that this truth was "revealed" to him by God (verse 17). Moreover, in Acts 16, when Paul and Silas brought the Gospel to Lydia in Philippi, God opened her heart "to heed the things spoken by Paul". In our natural state we would never respond to the Gospel - this is because our eyes are blind and our hearts hardened. Moreover, we are told in 1st Corinthians 2 v 14 that "the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God because they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned".
Consequently, when we came to know Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour it was because God opened our eyes, enlightened our understanding and softened our hearts. Why did He do this? - because he delighted to show us His mercy. In other words what I am saying is that God did not only show mercy by sending Jesus to die for our sins, and bringing the Gospel across our paths but He also showed mercy by working in us by His Holy Spirit to bring us to faith in Christ.
Indeed, this point is upheld by 1st Corinthians 15 v 10 where Paul says "By the grace of God I am what I am". Paul didn't become a Christian because he decided it might be a good idea, he became a Christian because God worked in and upon him on that Damascus road. Moreover, we read in 1st Corinthians 4 v 7 a searching question "Who makes you to differ from another?" The inference being that if God had not worked in our hearts then we would be the same as the unsaved.
Consider too, the clear statement of John 6 v 44 where Jesus stated that no-one would come to Him "unless the Father..... draws him".
Why is it that God opens the eyes of some and not others? That is a great mystery that it is not for us to seek to unravel. Our responsibility, as Christians, is to get on with the work of evangelism and trust God to work in people thus bringing them to faith in Christ.
We can have absolute confidence that, as we share Jesus with others, God will draw people to Him in accordance with John 6 v 37 where we read (the words of Christ) "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out".
Friday, 18 January 2013
A warning to us all
In 1st Timothy 4 v 1 we are told that "....in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils". Moreover, in 1st Corinthians 9 v 27 Paul expressed a concern that "...after having preached to others, I myself should be a castaway". As Christians we are warned in the Bible to be on our guard and to beware lest we should "...have an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God" (Hebrews 3 v 12).
Bearing all this in mind we should not be surprised when we hear of people, who were once sound and godly preachers, falling away. Such incidents should surely fill us with sadness but we should not be surprised.
There are 2 main ways that people fall away - firstly, in matters of conduct. I know a man who was once a faithful evangelist, and witnessed blessing and fruit from his ministry, but he fell away by leaving his wife for another woman. To the best of my knowledge he has still not repented. Another man, who was a faithful minister for many years, left his wife and went off with a man! The second way people apostasise is in the realm of doctrine. In this matter it gives me great sadness to report that Steve Chalke, a Baptist minster from London, has fallen into serious sin - the sin of denying the Bible's teaching on Homosexuality.
I knew Steve in the 1970s when he was first starting out as a preacher. He came to the church I was attending in Sheernes and preached a number of times. His ministry was superb, solidly Bible-based and delivered in a way which warmed the heart. Moreover, he was doing an excellent work with young people in a Baptist church in South Ashford.
However, over the years he has gradually moved away from the Bible. He dismissed creationism as "rubbish" and, in 2004, he denied what theologians call "penal substitution". This doctrine basically states that Jesus was punished by God the Father for our sins. This was bad enough as it was a denial of one of the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith. Indeed, it would not be extreme to say that, in denying penal substitution, Steve had abandoned the Gospel. Now, (in the last few days) he has openly stated that he doesn't believe homosexuality to be against Biblical teaching.
It grieves me to have to say that Steve is now openly apostate, he has put himself under God's judgement; one hopes that he will yet turn away from this disobedience and return to his former ministry when he did so much good for the cause of Christ.
What should our response be to all this? First of all, we should pray that God would yet be merciful to him; but secondly, we should pray that God would be gracious to us and keep us faithful. It is so easy to point the finger at the errors of others when our own hearts are drifting away from God and His truth.
We should all bear in mind the warning of 1st Corinthians 10 v 12 "Wherefore, let him who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall".
Bearing all this in mind we should not be surprised when we hear of people, who were once sound and godly preachers, falling away. Such incidents should surely fill us with sadness but we should not be surprised.
There are 2 main ways that people fall away - firstly, in matters of conduct. I know a man who was once a faithful evangelist, and witnessed blessing and fruit from his ministry, but he fell away by leaving his wife for another woman. To the best of my knowledge he has still not repented. Another man, who was a faithful minister for many years, left his wife and went off with a man! The second way people apostasise is in the realm of doctrine. In this matter it gives me great sadness to report that Steve Chalke, a Baptist minster from London, has fallen into serious sin - the sin of denying the Bible's teaching on Homosexuality.
I knew Steve in the 1970s when he was first starting out as a preacher. He came to the church I was attending in Sheernes and preached a number of times. His ministry was superb, solidly Bible-based and delivered in a way which warmed the heart. Moreover, he was doing an excellent work with young people in a Baptist church in South Ashford.
However, over the years he has gradually moved away from the Bible. He dismissed creationism as "rubbish" and, in 2004, he denied what theologians call "penal substitution". This doctrine basically states that Jesus was punished by God the Father for our sins. This was bad enough as it was a denial of one of the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith. Indeed, it would not be extreme to say that, in denying penal substitution, Steve had abandoned the Gospel. Now, (in the last few days) he has openly stated that he doesn't believe homosexuality to be against Biblical teaching.
It grieves me to have to say that Steve is now openly apostate, he has put himself under God's judgement; one hopes that he will yet turn away from this disobedience and return to his former ministry when he did so much good for the cause of Christ.
What should our response be to all this? First of all, we should pray that God would yet be merciful to him; but secondly, we should pray that God would be gracious to us and keep us faithful. It is so easy to point the finger at the errors of others when our own hearts are drifting away from God and His truth.
We should all bear in mind the warning of 1st Corinthians 10 v 12 "Wherefore, let him who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall".
Monday, 7 January 2013
A miracle of God's grace
In the Bible we read these lovely words "If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" 2 Corinthians 5 v 17.
In my work as an evangelist I have been thrilled to see how this works out in practice; it has been my joy to see people's lives turned around by the power of God's Holy Spirit. I witnessed the baptism of a former drug addict who changed from this dreadful condition to a born-again believer, rejoicing in the grace and goodness of God to him. I also witnesed the baptism of a lady who, at one time, was in the depths of despair and involved in satan worship, but who was also transformed by the power of the Christian Gospel. Both of these people came to know Christ as their personal Saviour through the street witness in Canterbury.
Not only does God change people from these states mentioned above but He has also changed homosexuals and turned their lives round. Such a one was Peter (I won't give his full name in order to protect his identity). While I didn't personally witness his conversion I have read it online and it "rings true".
Peter was deeply involved in the sin of homosexuality; moreover, he was told that he was born that way and could never change. (This was a lie from the devil - even those who have committed dreadful sins can be cleansed by the Blood of Jesus and set free to serve Him).
To cut a long story short, after reading the Gospel on the internet and meeting sincere Christians who cared enough to present Christ to him - he was born again of the Holy Spirit. He is now involved in reaching out to homosexuals in a city in England (I won't say where). What a testimony that man has! He can tell these people that they can change, God can turn their lives around because He did it for him.
When the PC brigade tell "gays" that they cannot change then they are doing them a great dis-service for one very simple reason - homosexuals can be converted from the error of their ways. They can be a great witness for Christ, shining as lights "in the midst of a perverse and wicked generation". I have no doubt that there are opponents of the Gospel who would pour scorn on the above but my answer to them is clear -"some people are ex-gay, get over it!"
In the light of the above let us pray that God would be pleased to open their eyes and do a mighty work in their lives.
If any readers wish to read testimonies of former gays please google "testimonies of former homosexuals" and be thrilled to read of miracles of God's grace.
The Christian Gospel is powerful! As the Apostle Paul said: "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes." Romans 1 v 16.
In my work as an evangelist I have been thrilled to see how this works out in practice; it has been my joy to see people's lives turned around by the power of God's Holy Spirit. I witnessed the baptism of a former drug addict who changed from this dreadful condition to a born-again believer, rejoicing in the grace and goodness of God to him. I also witnesed the baptism of a lady who, at one time, was in the depths of despair and involved in satan worship, but who was also transformed by the power of the Christian Gospel. Both of these people came to know Christ as their personal Saviour through the street witness in Canterbury.
Not only does God change people from these states mentioned above but He has also changed homosexuals and turned their lives round. Such a one was Peter (I won't give his full name in order to protect his identity). While I didn't personally witness his conversion I have read it online and it "rings true".
Peter was deeply involved in the sin of homosexuality; moreover, he was told that he was born that way and could never change. (This was a lie from the devil - even those who have committed dreadful sins can be cleansed by the Blood of Jesus and set free to serve Him).
To cut a long story short, after reading the Gospel on the internet and meeting sincere Christians who cared enough to present Christ to him - he was born again of the Holy Spirit. He is now involved in reaching out to homosexuals in a city in England (I won't say where). What a testimony that man has! He can tell these people that they can change, God can turn their lives around because He did it for him.
When the PC brigade tell "gays" that they cannot change then they are doing them a great dis-service for one very simple reason - homosexuals can be converted from the error of their ways. They can be a great witness for Christ, shining as lights "in the midst of a perverse and wicked generation". I have no doubt that there are opponents of the Gospel who would pour scorn on the above but my answer to them is clear -"some people are ex-gay, get over it!"
In the light of the above let us pray that God would be pleased to open their eyes and do a mighty work in their lives.
If any readers wish to read testimonies of former gays please google "testimonies of former homosexuals" and be thrilled to read of miracles of God's grace.
The Christian Gospel is powerful! As the Apostle Paul said: "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes." Romans 1 v 16.
Friday, 21 December 2012
The tragedy of George Wilson
Around 1830 a man named George Wilson robbed a mail coach in Pennsylvania. He was caught and sentenced to be hanged for his crimes. However, the president gave him a pardon so he wouldn't hang but would serve a prison sentence. Despite this, he was still hanged; why?, you ask, - because he refused to accept the pardon. Upon this refusal the supreme court ruled that a pardon was worthless unless it was accepted. As George Wilson would not accept the pardon the sentence was duly carried out.
You may ask what this has to do with a blog about Christian truth and that is a fair question. The answer is simple - there are parallels here between the case of George Wilson and the way people reject the Gospel.
The Bible (the infallible word of God) teaches that ..."God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" - John 3 v 16. God has offered us a pardon for our sins and the assurance of eternal life in Heaven if we accept that pardon. However, sad to say, most people are like George Wilson. Just as he refused to accept a pardon that would have saved him from the gallows so most people refuse to accept God's pardon.
Why is this? The answer is found in verse 19 of the same chapter "....men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil". People reject the pardon because it would mean repentance on their part, and they don't want to get rid of their sins, they don't want to live in the light of God's word and His teachings.
What should be our response to all this? Answer - to pray for them. We need not only to explain the Gospel and seek to answer their questions honestly but also to pray that God would open their eyes and draw them. John 6 v 44 makes it clear that they will not "come" to Jesus unless they are drawn.
In the meantime the Gospel truth is being spread, and souls are being saved. The Gospel will triumph in the end and eternity will vindicate the servants of God who so diligently make that pardon available to multitudes who are as sheep without a shepherd.
You may ask what this has to do with a blog about Christian truth and that is a fair question. The answer is simple - there are parallels here between the case of George Wilson and the way people reject the Gospel.
The Bible (the infallible word of God) teaches that ..."God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" - John 3 v 16. God has offered us a pardon for our sins and the assurance of eternal life in Heaven if we accept that pardon. However, sad to say, most people are like George Wilson. Just as he refused to accept a pardon that would have saved him from the gallows so most people refuse to accept God's pardon.
Why is this? The answer is found in verse 19 of the same chapter "....men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil". People reject the pardon because it would mean repentance on their part, and they don't want to get rid of their sins, they don't want to live in the light of God's word and His teachings.
What should be our response to all this? Answer - to pray for them. We need not only to explain the Gospel and seek to answer their questions honestly but also to pray that God would open their eyes and draw them. John 6 v 44 makes it clear that they will not "come" to Jesus unless they are drawn.
In the meantime the Gospel truth is being spread, and souls are being saved. The Gospel will triumph in the end and eternity will vindicate the servants of God who so diligently make that pardon available to multitudes who are as sheep without a shepherd.
Thursday, 6 December 2012
What's it all about?
It's that time of the year again when people go mad with their credit cards, get drunk at office parties and make pigs of themselves with food. In other words, the time of the year when covetousness, drunkeness and gluttony are at their peak. Clearly, most people completely miss the real meaning of Christmas.
So what is it really all about? Although Jesus wasn't born on Dec 25th, and although He was born about 6 bc and not 0 bc we are right to remember His birth. However, there are three questions that we should ask ourselves -
1. Who was Jesus?
2. Why was He born?
3. What does it have to do with me?
1. Who was Jesus? The Bible says, Luke 1 v 35, that the angel told Mary that the one to be born would be called "The Son of God". To put it another way - our God contracted to a span, incomprehensibly made man".
2. Why was He born. In Matthew 1 v 21 we have the answer - "....you shall call His name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins". He was born to die.....as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, then rise again to be our saviour.
3. What does it have to do with me? We all need to turn from our sins and accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. the Bible says "To all who received Him, He gave the right to become the children of God". John 1 v 12. Contrary to popular belief we are not all God's children, only those who have "received Christ" are
God's children.
The onus is on every individual to turn from sin and receive Christ in order to be saved - this is why Jesus came.
I trust that, this Christmas, many would so turn and be saved.
So what is it really all about? Although Jesus wasn't born on Dec 25th, and although He was born about 6 bc and not 0 bc we are right to remember His birth. However, there are three questions that we should ask ourselves -
1. Who was Jesus?
2. Why was He born?
3. What does it have to do with me?
1. Who was Jesus? The Bible says, Luke 1 v 35, that the angel told Mary that the one to be born would be called "The Son of God". To put it another way - our God contracted to a span, incomprehensibly made man".
2. Why was He born. In Matthew 1 v 21 we have the answer - "....you shall call His name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins". He was born to die.....as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, then rise again to be our saviour.
3. What does it have to do with me? We all need to turn from our sins and accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. the Bible says "To all who received Him, He gave the right to become the children of God". John 1 v 12. Contrary to popular belief we are not all God's children, only those who have "received Christ" are
God's children.
The onus is on every individual to turn from sin and receive Christ in order to be saved - this is why Jesus came.
I trust that, this Christmas, many would so turn and be saved.
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