Posted on 04/19/2022 5:59:45 PM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs 20:6).
“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness,” the classic biblical example of this is found in Luke 18: “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess” (verses 11-12).
“Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah” (Psalms 39:5).
That is the way that most men are, and that is why it is so hard to get most people saved. This is also why it is easier to reach children with the Gospel, before they have had time to harden their heart toward the truth that they are sinners. People can’t be saved until they see themselves as condemned sinners, that is, they have to see themselves lost before they can be found. They have to condemn themselves before God, and then proclaim God’s goodness applied to them. “What if it doesn’t work?” What did Jesus say? “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). “Well, what if God doesn’t give me to Christ?” He will. If you have a desire to come to Christ, God has given you to His Son.
A man that will do that will be saved. He’ll say, “I’m just a hell-bound sinner, and I know that I deserve to go to hell . . .” Man! You have a candidate for heaven right there. He may not feel like one of the elect, but he is about to get chosen.
Thank God it only says “most men” and not “all men.” Eventually a man will realize from the Scriptures and from the conviction of the Holy Spirit that he isn’t any good, and he will proclaim God’s goodness and will admit that he is a sinner and only God can save him from the penalty of his sins. Then he justifies God and condemns himself as a lost sinner.
The majority, in the Bible, are always wrong: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
“. . . but a faithful man who can find?” A faithful man is a man that tells the truth. What does faith reveal? That man is a sinner and God is righteous. A man that believes that, knows that, and will proclaim that is a faithful man. It’s hard to find a man like that. That is why there are many on the broad road to destruction, but few that find the narrow way.
Some sobering words from the lips of Jesus Christ are: “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). He is going to have a hard time finding even a few faithful men at the end of this present dispensation.
If anyone would like to be added to the ping list, please let me know either by post or by p.m.
For more books on all topics of the Bible, visit my web site at:
Bump.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.