Posted on 01/27/2008 7:56:14 PM PST by Manfred the Wonder Dawg
January 25, 2008
ESV Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
In recent days I have spent time in Lima and Sullana Peru and Mexico City and I have discovered that people by nature are the same. Man has a heart that is inclined to selfishness and idolatry. Sin abounds in the remotest parts of the land because the heart is desperately wicked. Thousands bow before statues of Mary and pray to her hoping for answers. I have seen these people stare hopelessly at Mary icons, Jesus icons, and a host of dead saints who will do nothing for them. I have talked with people who pray to the pope and say that they love him. I talked with one lady who said that she knew that Jesus was the Savior, but she loved the pope. Thousands bow before Santa Muerte (holy death angel) in hopes that she will do whatever they ask her. I have seen people bring money, burning cigarettes, beer, whiskey, chocolate, plants, and flowers to Santa Muerte in hopes of her answers. I have seen these people bowing on their knees on the concrete in the middle of public places to worship their idol. Millions of people come into the Basilica in Mexico City and pay their money, confess their sins, and stare hopelessly at relics in hope that their sins will be pardoned. In America countless thousands are chained to baseball games, football games, material possessions, and whatever else their heart of idols can produce to worship.
My heart has broken in these last weeks because the God of heaven is not honored as he ought to be honored. People worship the things that are created rather than worshiping the Creator. God has been gracious to all mankind and yet mankind has hardened their hearts against a loving God. God brings the rain on the just and unjust. God brings the beautiful sunrises and sunsets upon the just and unjust. God gives good gifts unto all and above all things he has given his Son that those who would believe in him would be saved. However, man has taken the good things of God and perverted them unto idols and turned their attention away from God. I get a feel for Jesus as he overlooked Jerusalem or Paul as he beseeched for God to save Israel. When you accept the reality of the truth of the glory of God is breaks your heart that people would turn away from the great and awesome God of heaven to serve lesser things. Moses was outraged by the golden calf, the prophets passionately preached against idolatry, Jesus was angered that the temple was changed in an idolatrous business, and Paul preached to the idolaters of Mars Hill by telling them of the unknown God.
I arrived back at home wondering how I should respond to all the idolatry that I have beheld in these last three weeks. I wondered how our church here in the states should respond to all of the idolatry in the world. What are the options? First, I suppose we could sit around and hope that people chose to get their life together and stop being idolaters. However, I do not know how that could ever happen apart from them hearing the truth. Second, I suppose we could spend a lifetime studying cultural issues and customs in hope that we could somehow learn to relate to the people of other countries. However, the bible is quite clear that all men are the same. Men are dead in sin, shaped in iniquity, and by nature are the enemies of God. Thirdly, we could pay other people or other agencies to go and do a work for us while we remain comfortably in the states. However, there is no way to insure that there will be doctrinal accuracy or integrity. If we only pay other people to take the gospel we will miss out on all of the benefits of being obedient to the mission of God. Lastly, we could seek where God would have us to do a lasting work and then invest our lives there for the glory of God. The gospel has the power to raise the dead in any culture and we must be willing to take the gospel wherever God would have us take it. It is for sure that our church cannot go to every country and reach every people group, so we must determine where God would have us work and seek to be obedient wherever that is.
It seems that some doors are opening in the Spanish speaking countries below us and perhaps God is beginning to reveal where we are to work. There are some options for work to be partnered with in Peru and there could be a couple of options in Mexico. The need is greater than I can express upon this paper for a biblical gospel to be proclaimed in Peru and Mexico. Oh, that God would glorify his great name in Peru and Mexico by using a small little church in a town that does not exist to proclaim his great gospel amongst a people who desperately need the truth.
I give thanks to the LORD for allowing me the privilege of going to these countries and broadening my horizons. The things that I have seen will be forever engraved upon my heart. I will long remember the pastors that I spent time with in Peru and I will never forget Adolfo who translated for me in Mexico. I will relish the time that I spent with Paul Washer and the others. When I think of church I will forever remember being on top of that mountain in Sullana at that church which had no electricity and no roof. I am convinced that heaven was looking down on that little church on top of that mountain and very few people on earth even know that it exist. Oh, God I pray that the things of this world will continue to grow dim and that God’s people will be caught up in his glorious presence.
Because of the truth: Pastor: J. Randall Easter II Timothy 2:19 "Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases."(Ps. 115:3) "He predestined us according to the good pleasure of His will."(Eph. 1:5) Those who have been saved have been saved for His glory and they are being made holy for this is the will of God. Are you being made holy? Spurgeon says, "If your religion does not make you holy it will damn you to hell."
(It’s really hard for me to take a site seriously if it uses the word “popish”.)
I give you freedom to use the word Popester.. -Popepipus I..
I wonder who our protestant fathers are? MY father is God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit.
And also give thanks for those things we don’t quite see as blessings. In other words, give thanks for everything, good or bad. I thank God for my illness because it has given me insights into the workings of God in my life. His grace has been sufficient.
Because he didn’t found that church. He had a body of believers who were in a number of churches after Christ was resurrected.
The reference, I believe, was to John Calvin, Luther, Huss and those "kind" of reformers.. In the "orthodox" mind what you believe is rooted and based in teachings.. dogma.. and ceremony.. The concept of a real and powerful Holy Spirit wandering around leading some to eventual salvation is not believed.. For their clergy has completely replaced the Holy Spirit.. as an entity.. The Holy SPirit is not needed.. Thats the mockery of it all..
Orthodoxy has removed the Holy Spirit OUT OF THE SPIRITUAL LOOP..
I know you’re right, but I never followed the protestant fathers much. I figured God’s Word was good enough for me. My dad wouldn’t lie to me, would he? No.
I’m sorry for them, really. Will they ever submit to the truth? I genuinely hope so.
Well, apparently she doesn't! :) She is a satirist, and sometimes her satire is biting. I don't see that as being unchristian in and of itself. Most of the time she has a "defense of truth" argument such as when she suggests that certain American liberals are aiding terrorists with their policies. I'm sure they are insulted, but she happens to be right.
I can guarantee you that never, not even in private thoughts, do I think what Ann Coulter publicly says about people she doesn't agree with.
You know, I DO read all of your high-five posts to Mark, STF, and others. But if that was some other Kosta then Welcome to FR! LOL! :)
FK: As I understand it, Ann does happen to be a Reformer.
Her actions and words make that abundantly clear, imo.
Oh, so I guess that Kosta WAS you. :)
FK: Please show me a pattern of examples [of Ann's rhetoric that you find objectionable]. I haven't seen ONE yet.
What pattern of examples? If your sins are all forgiven and you are "saved," there is nothing to stop you from doing the most abominable things. Nothing. ...
IOW, you know you strongly dislike her, but you have no idea why. Hey, that kind of sounds like the Orthodox approach to faith itself! :)
Rom 6:1-2 : What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means ! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
Well, because they do! No one is dead to sin. We continue to sin. So this is patently false.
Paul is talking about what governs our minds, what our mindset IS. God can demand no less than perfection because He is God, HOWEVER, that does not mean we should get lost in romantic notions of perfection. We were never promised a perfect world and indeed we do not live in one. Of course believers are going to sin from time to time, but that mindset does not RULE us. God does. One of our jobs as Christians is to EVIDENCE that difference so that others can see.
KOSTA: No, I did.
Well, Kosta, I think Mark has already said it was he who first posted that remark to me, and I do recall his and my conversation about just who exactly was the audience for the Sermon on the Mount.
If you agree with Mark now that Christ was Only addressing the apostles and not the eager throngs who were assembled to hear Him as Scripture tells us, then that makes two of you who believe that.
LOL. Only the indwelling Holy Spirit. Does that count?
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." -- 1 Corinthians 2:10-16"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
And how do men know they have the gift of the Holy Spirit within them? By reading the Bible and having their eyes opened and their minds renewed by God to the glorious truth therein...
"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." -- John 6:63
That's OK, I agree with this on its face. I know we disagree on whether there is additional truth that is revealed through men as we move through time, but that's a different matter.
The Holy Spirit allows the Truth to be known, utilizing man’s attempts to write down what God has made known.
I think the Catechism reads stronger than that, but nevertheless, if you'll agree that God's "true truth" is fully revealed in the scriptures, to the extent God desired, then I think we are in agreement. IOW, God fully accomplished His mission to reveal to us in scripture everything He wanted to reveal, without error, and that the Bible is both Holy and God's word.
I see this as a matter of extreme difference with the Orthodox. Or, perhaps only Kosta. :)
We’re doing a Bible study on Matthew and the Sermon on the Mount and the way it reads in the book I’m using, it SOUNDS like he was only talking to his disciples, so I’m not at all sure, but I think it’s one of those things that we just don’t know for sure. Mxxx
I asked you specifically and others in general: if you are 100% secure in your salvation (and therefore faith) why would you benefit by being tested like Job was (and he was ‘blameless’)?
Faith is more than the faith that is the gift for regeneration, it is for all of salvation; regeneration, sanctification and glorification.
The trials we are speaking of are the trials of sanctification, having nothing to do whether one is born again, that state was satisfied when one trusted Christ for salvation.
John states, (1 John 3:1-3), “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
That is the believer’s condition now.
The Psalmist says, (Psa 139:23-24), “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” ( Psa 26:2) “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.”
Other writes explain the purifying trials this way.
Jhn 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Hebr 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
There are trials that mature one’s faith.
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Phl 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
There are trials that strengthen one’s faith.
Phl 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:
2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Question arises from the comments posted here, Just what do you belive is God’s place now in His creation?
Does He lead His people?
Does He correct His people?
Does He punish His people?
Does He protect His people now?
Does He teach His people?
If so, how does He do these things?
The Sermon on the Mount extends from Matthew 5 and 6 and ends at the conclusion of Matthew 7 and the beginning of Matthew 8. Jesus' sermon is bracketed by the following narrative...
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying..." -- Matthew 5:1-2
INSERT SERMON ON THE MOUNT HERE
"And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." -- Matthew 7:28-29"And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan..." -- Matthew 4:25
Who were "astonished?"
"The people" -- the crowds who came to hear Him and learn from Him.
And we further learn in Matthew 8 that...
"When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him." -- Matthew 8:1
So we know that He was followed by the multitudes as He came down the mountain. Why? Because the disciples and the multitude were with Him since they had followed Him up the mountain to hear Him as He preached.
Did Christ go to the mountain top to separate Himself from the multitudes of eager listers or did He go there in order to be better heard by those multitudes who followed Him up and down the mountain?
Certainly the Scriptures in their totality tell us Christ was speaking to the assembled multitudes, and not to a select few.
However, this error does jive with the RCC's opinion that Christ spoke only to the apostles, and thus the apostolic magisterium is the rightful conduit between God and man.
Which it is not.
OK now you're doing it on purpose! :)
LOL! I'm not a photoshop guy, but if I was I would create and suggest that the following caption be attached to a certain well known image as the officially acceptable one on the Religion Forum:
AW JEEZ, NOT THIS DOE SNOT AGAIN! :)
Excellent post, BD. I agree with all of it. No human can stand isolated and not sin. It appears the other side is saying that just as Mary stood alone as a human and chose not to ever sin, so did Jesus. Ridiculous.
“Well, I can only hope your Bible study is using the KJV and that they study the context of His sermon.”
Hey, what’s with the KJV only? What’s the matter with “The Message” or the “NIV” or the “RSV”? You “fundies” are all a like. Next you will be telling poor Marysecretary that they can only chant 19th century dirges and she has to wear a long skirt and long sleeves, covered head and have the men sit on one side and the women on the other.
So, using whatever text appeals to you, what's your take on the Sermon on the Mount? Was Jesus speaking only to the apostles, or to the gathered multitudes, some of whom were wearing long skirts?
AMEN!
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, ABBA, Father." -- Romans 8:15
That is the same exact conclusion Calvin came to regarding the church in Rome.
"Rome's whole doctrine contains nothing else than big words and bombast, because it is inconsistent with the majesty of Scripture, the efficacy of of the Sprit, the gravity of the prophets, and the sincerity of the apostles..." - Calvin, Past.Epp.174"The Holy Spirit may be justly called the key with which the treasures of the kingdom of heaven are unlocked to us; and His illumination constitutes our mental eyes to behold them" - Calvin, Institutes III:i.4
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