"Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day t many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons v in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matt. 7:21-24)
"Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Roms. 10:9-10)
"If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord's will but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumption, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Do not suppose that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to the worldlings and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply accepting Christ as their Savior, while they are wedded to their idols, and their hearts are still in love with sin. If I do so I tell them a lie, pervert the Gospel, insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness." -C.H. SPURGEON
"Grace is a provision for men who are so fallen that they cannot lift the ax of justice; so corrupt that they cannot change their own natures; so adverse to God that they cannot turn to Him; so blind that they cannot see Him; so deaf that they cannot hear Him; and so dead that He Himself must open their graves." -G.S. BISHOP
"Pride is self contending with God for preeminence." -CHARLES BRIDGES
"Grace is a provision for men who are so fallen that they cannot lift the ax of justice; so corrupt that they cannot change their own natures; so adverse to God that they cannot turn to Him; so blind that they cannot see Him; so deaf that they cannot hear Him; and so dead that He Himself must open their graves." -G.S. BISHOP
"Pride is self contending with God for preeminence." -CHARLES BRIDGES
7 comments:
Thank you, Steve. This post reminds me that true Christlike compassion does NOT pander or soft pedal the Gospel. We must be careful that we don't offer a false assurance. These Scriptures also serve to drive the elect closer to the Savior - not out of fear, but out of a sense of wonder at God's grace and a desire to more closely follow His will.
"Sanctify them by the Truth; Your Word is Truth." John 17:17
"If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord's will but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumption, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved."
In our day, this is practically unheard of, and if ever actually spoken, met with the most indignant denial of "who are YOU to question my faith!?" I know, I've heard it firsthand, numerous times. You can become the enemy when you speak the truth.
Yet, truth is exactly what the lost need to hear.
I always love the G.S. Bishop quote.....(and I keep expecting to someday see it paraphrased on one of Carla's T-shirt designs:...
"I'm fallen, and I can't get up!")
Amen Steve!
Away with the false gospels of libertinism and legalism and tell men the truth about salvation, that it is a matter of Lordship with men being drawn into the kingdom of God by being drawn to the King who died for us! It is for this reason that we sing, “Amazing love, how can it be, that you my King would die for me?”
Good thoughts Carla.
We need to be challenged about the reality of our faith, we need the gospel in all its fullness - not just a 'your saved off now you go' gospel, but the 'your saved, now work out your salvation with fear and trembling' gospel (2 Peter 1 v 5-11). We need men of God that are prepared to preach the whole truth of God's Word.
"What is the profit, my brothers, if any one says he has faith, but has not works?" James 2 v 14
Isaac
Great words Steve. He is Lord of everything, not just the things we want help in.
Looking forward to worshipping with you tomorrow and Saturday in Detroit!
Amen and amen! Carla said it well in that any admonishment of those profess Christianity but show no fruit of true belief is extremely rare today. Often, any attempt is met with anger and rejection regardless of how gracious and loving the exhortation may be. Sad but true.
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