False Christian teachings, trends….
In this post, Pastor Matthew Everhard provided illustrations for the 4 end-time views concerning the rapture, the return of Christ, the millennial kingdom and so on. He clearly illustrated each view and also noted some well-known pastors that subscribe (d) to each.
It Would Be An Awful Thing – Charles Spurgeon [one-minute video short from CS&A] Millions of men are in the outlying regions, far off from God and peace; for these we pray, and to these we give warning. But just now we have to do with a smaller company, who are not far from the kingdom, but have come right up to the wicket gate [a term from Pilgrim’s Progress] which stands at the head of the way of life. One would think that they would hasten to enter, for a free and open invitation is placed over the entrance, the porter waits to welcome them, and there is but this one way to eternal life. He that is most loaded seems the most likely to pass in and begin the heavenward journey; but what ails the other men?
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. Matthew Henry’s explanation of this verse provides information that will enable the believer to enter into the strong tower of God’s name. Henry’s words clarify just what the tower is and how one accesses it that he might abide in safety
Though many Christians talk about being “born again,” few actually understand what this phrase means. What is this mysterious work of the Holy Spirit that changes our hearts and causes us to place our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation? In this message, R.C. Sproul addresses the mysterious nature of regeneration and the effects that the new birth produces in our lives. [Sermon highlights are provided]
Alistair Begg preached this two-part sermon for the New Year, to orient his congregation in accordance with God’s purposes in this world. Sermon series title: Behold Your God He had two points, the message and the mission: those need to be the chief concern of the individual Christian and the church. We are not to listen to some new prophet claiming to have a new, improved message for the church… but commit, recommit to God’s gospel message and its propagation.
The purpose of Dr. MacArthur’s sermon was to address the law that passed in Canada, which states that it is against the law to convert a transgender or homosexual. He used scriptures that clearly state God’s view of transgenderism and homosexuality, there is much on both in the Old and New Testaments. He emphasized that the apostle Paul described the Corinthian Christians as having been great sinners, giving a long list of particular sins, yet the government only wants to protect two of that list of sins via legislation; and that protecting those sins is taking a stand against Christ’s church, because it’s chief purpose in the world is to converts sinners. It is an excellent sermon in that Christians are informed about God’s view of our current culture and encouraged to be godly. Sermon highlights are provided because the sermon is 72 minutes long.
“As Christians, we can take comfort in knowing that our entire lives take place under the sovereign rule of an all-wise God. In this message, Steven Lawson opens the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes to remind us that the Lord has appointed all things for the right time, including the salvation of His elect.” [After the sermon highlight points and the video, for those who would like to see additional scriptures on God’s sovereignty that are very plain, seven are noted; there is also a ‘study recommendations’ section that has two links to a post on the order of salvation and one on Bible covenants]
This post contains a portion of the audiobook of The Pilgrim’s Progress. If you have never read it, then you will be amazed at how well Bunyan identified the threats that a Christian experiences on his pilgrimage through this earthly wilderness. If you have read through the Bible and are engaged in fighting against your sin, then you should get a lot from this audiobook; if you don’t read your Bible, and have no idea of the fight against sin that the apostle Paul often described (see Ephesians 6 for one example), then you might benefit by discovering that something is wrong with your profession. By the end of this excerpt, you should better understand the dangers that Christian’s experience on their journey of faith
According to the standard of the Bible, it does cost something to be a real Christian. There are enemies to be overcome, battles to be fought, sacrifices to be made, Egypt to be forsaken, a wilderness to be passed through, a cross to be carried, and a race to be run. Conversion is not putting a man in an armchair and taking him easily to heaven. It is the beginning of a mighty conflict in which it costs much to win the victory. Therefore arises the unspeakable importance of counting the cost…. It will cost him his self-righteousness. He must cast away all pride and prideful thoughts and any conceit of his own goodness. He must be content to go to heaven as a poor sinner saved only by free grace, owing all to the merit and righteousness of another. He must really feel the words of the prayer book that he has “erred and gone astray like a lost sheep,” that he has “left undone the things he ought to have done, and done the things he ought not to have done, and that there is no health in him.” He must be willing to give up all trust in his own morality, respectability, praying, Bible reading, church-going, and sacraments, and he must trust in nothing but Jesus Christ.
We’ve all met people who are greedy and who never seem to have enough, even when they have plenty. Some of us may be haunted by a desire to have more: more money, more time, more affection, more fame, and so on. It is sometimes difficult to remember that we come into this world with nothing, and we leave with nothing. Maybe “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens and an illustration by Arthur Rackham can remind us of the importance of overcoming our greed.