"The vast majority of the churches are in a sorry state. Those that are out-and-out worldly are at their wits' end to invent new devices for drawing a crowd. Others which still preserve an outward form of godliness provide nothing substantial for the soul; there is little ministering of Christ to the heart and little preaching of 'sound doctrine', without which souls cannot be built up and established in the faith. The great majority of the 'pastors' summon to their aid some professional 'evangelist', who, for two to four weeks, puts on a high-pressure campaign and secures sufficient new 'converts' to take the place of those who have 'lapsed' since he was last with them. What a farce it all is!" —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
Excerpt taken from "The Life of Arthur W. Pink" by Iain Murry published 1981 The Banner Of Truth Trust.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The Leaven of Popery
"The bitterest enemies against the doctrine of election are the Papists. This is exactly what might be expected, for the truth of election can never be made to square with the dogma of human merits—the one is diametrically opposed to the other. Every man who loves himself and seeks salvation by his own works, will loathe sovereign grace, and seek to load it with contempt. On the other hand, those who have been effectually humbled by the Holy Spirit and brought to realize that they are utterly dependent upon the discriminating mercy of God will have no hankerings after, nor patience with a system which sets the crown of honour upon the creature. History bears ample testimony that Rome detests the very name of Calvinism. “From all sects there may be some hope of obtaining converts to Rome except Calvinism,” said the late “Cardinal” Manning. And he was right, as our own degenerate age bears full witness, for while no regenerated Calvinist will ever be fatally deceived by the wiles of the Mother of Harlots, yet thousands of “Protestant” (?) Arminians are annually rushing to her arms.
It is an irrefutable fact that as Calvinism has met with less and less favour in the leading Protestant bodies, as the sovereignty of God and His electing love have been more and more crowded out of their pulpits, that Rome has made increasing progress, until today she must have both in England and in the U.S.A. a greater number of followers than any single evangelical denomination. But saddest of all is that the vast majority of those now occupying so-called Protestant pulpits are preaching the very things which further Rome’s interests. Their insistence upon the freedom of fallen man’s will to do good must fill the papist leaders with delight—in the Council of Trent she condemned all who affirmed the contrary. To what extent the leaven of Popery has spread may be seen in that “Evangelical Protestants” (?) who oppose the doctrine of election are now employing the self same objections..." —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
Excerpt taken from a article titled "The Doctrine of Election" published October, 1939 in "Studies in the Scriptures" by A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
It is an irrefutable fact that as Calvinism has met with less and less favour in the leading Protestant bodies, as the sovereignty of God and His electing love have been more and more crowded out of their pulpits, that Rome has made increasing progress, until today she must have both in England and in the U.S.A. a greater number of followers than any single evangelical denomination. But saddest of all is that the vast majority of those now occupying so-called Protestant pulpits are preaching the very things which further Rome’s interests. Their insistence upon the freedom of fallen man’s will to do good must fill the papist leaders with delight—in the Council of Trent she condemned all who affirmed the contrary. To what extent the leaven of Popery has spread may be seen in that “Evangelical Protestants” (?) who oppose the doctrine of election are now employing the self same objections..." —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
Excerpt taken from a article titled "The Doctrine of Election" published October, 1939 in "Studies in the Scriptures" by A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
Friday, September 25, 2009
Lost Hymns
The Voice of Free Grace Cries
The voice of free grace cries, “Escape to the mountain;
For Adam’s lost race Christ hath opened a fountain:
For sin and uncleanness, and every transgression,
His blood flows most freely, in streams of salvation,
His blood flows most freely, in streams of salvation.”
Refrain
Hallelujah to the Lamb, who has purchased our pardon!
We will praise Him again when we pass over Jordan,
We will praise Him again when we pass over Jordan.
Now glory to God in the highest is given;
Now glory to God is re-echoed in Heaven;
Around the whole earth let us tell the glad story,
And sing of His love, His salvation and glory,
And sing of His love, His salvation and glory.
Refrain
O Jesus, ride on—Thy kingdom is glorious;
O’er sin, death and hell, Thou wilt make us victorious:
Thy Name shall be praised in the great congregation,
And saints shall ascribe unto Thee their salvation,
And saints shall ascribe unto Thee their salvation.
Refrain
When on Zion we stand, having gained the blest shore,
With our harps in our hands, we will praise evermore;
We’ll range the blest fields on the banks of the river,
And sing of redemption forever and ever,
And sing of redemption forever and ever.
Refrain
Words: Richard Burdsall (1735-1824)
The voice of free grace cries, “Escape to the mountain;
For Adam’s lost race Christ hath opened a fountain:
For sin and uncleanness, and every transgression,
His blood flows most freely, in streams of salvation,
His blood flows most freely, in streams of salvation.”
Refrain
Hallelujah to the Lamb, who has purchased our pardon!
We will praise Him again when we pass over Jordan,
We will praise Him again when we pass over Jordan.
Now glory to God in the highest is given;
Now glory to God is re-echoed in Heaven;
Around the whole earth let us tell the glad story,
And sing of His love, His salvation and glory,
And sing of His love, His salvation and glory.
Refrain
O Jesus, ride on—Thy kingdom is glorious;
O’er sin, death and hell, Thou wilt make us victorious:
Thy Name shall be praised in the great congregation,
And saints shall ascribe unto Thee their salvation,
And saints shall ascribe unto Thee their salvation.
Refrain
When on Zion we stand, having gained the blest shore,
With our harps in our hands, we will praise evermore;
We’ll range the blest fields on the banks of the river,
And sing of redemption forever and ever,
And sing of redemption forever and ever.
Refrain
Words: Richard Burdsall (1735-1824)
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Gospel Thunder
I would like to introduce you to Brother Randall Easter who is the pastor at First Baptist Church of Briar, TX and I am honored to have met him and his lovely wife Bev and even more grateful for being able to sit under him as he thundered the Gospel. Brother Randall just finished preaching our Fall Outreach Revival 2009 here at Shelbyville Mills Baptist Church and my heart is just about to burst with joy, so I must share these messages for MP3 download via smbconline.com. I also want to thank the fine folks at First Baptist Church of Briar, TX for letting us love on Brother Randall as he ministered to us this week!
The Suffering Servant
Encouragement For The Church
Our Identity In Christ
Jonah
You Must Be Born From Above
The Suffering Servant
Encouragement For The Church
Our Identity In Christ
Jonah
You Must Be Born From Above
Saturday, September 12, 2009
That's Not Salvation
"Some people, when they use the word "salvation," understand nothing more by it than deliverance from hell and admittance into heaven. Now, that is not salvation: those two things are the effects of salvation. We are redeemed from hell because we are saved, and we enter heaven because we have been saved beforehand. Our everlasting state is the effect of salvation in this life... What a great word that word "salvation" is! It includes the cleansing of our conscience from all past guilt, the delivery of our soul from all those propensities to evil which now so strongly predominate in us; it takes in, in fact, the undoing of all that Adam did. Salvation is the total restoration of man from his fallen estate; and yet it is something more than that, for God's salvation fixes our standing more secure than it was before we fell. It finds us broken in pieces by the sin of our first parent, defiled, stained, accursed: it first heals our wounds, it removes our diseases, it takes away our curse, it puts our feet upon the rock Christ Jesus, and having thus done, at last it lifts our heads far above all principalities. and powers, to be crowned for ever with Jesus Christ, the King of heaven." —C. H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)
Excerpts taken from a sermon title "The Way of Salvation" delivered August 15, 1858, by C. H. Spurgeon
Excerpts taken from a sermon title "The Way of Salvation" delivered August 15, 1858, by C. H. Spurgeon
Friday, September 11, 2009
The Greatest Menace
"The greatest menace to the Christian Church today comes not from the enemies outside, but from the enemies within; it comes from the presence within the Church of a type of faith and practice that is anti-Christian to the core." —J. Gresham Machen (1881-1937)
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Quote of the Day
"Once a man makes the conversion of sinners his prime design and all-consuming end, he is exceedingly apt to adopt a wrong course. Instead of striving to preach the Truth in all its purity, he will tone it down so as to make it more palatable to the unregenerate." —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Scripture
"To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the LORD is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it. Therefore I am full of the wrath of the LORD; I am weary of holding it in." Jeremiah 6:10-11a ESV
Friday, August 21, 2009
Quote of the Day
"Just so long as the sinner believes—because of his erroneous notion of the freedom of his will—that he has the power to repent and believe at any moment, he will defer faith and repentance; he will not so much as beg God to work these graces in him." —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
Taken from "Gleanings from the Scriptures" by A. W. Pink (1886–1952), Copyright 1969, Moody Press; p219.
Taken from "Gleanings from the Scriptures" by A. W. Pink (1886–1952), Copyright 1969, Moody Press; p219.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Throw Rocks!
"Avoiding conflict is not always the right thing. Sometimes it is downright sinful. Particularly in times like these, when almost no error is deemed too serious to be excluded from the evangelical conversation, and while the Lord’s flock is being infiltrated by wolves dressed like prophets, declaring visions of peace when there is no peace (cf. Ezekiel 13:16). Even the kindest, gentlest shepherd sometimes needs to throw rocks at the wolves who come in sheep’s clothing." —John MacArthur
(HT) Apprising Ministries
Excerpt taken from "The Jesus You Can’t Ignore: What You Must Learn from the Bold Confrontations of Christ", 17-19
(HT) Apprising Ministries
Excerpt taken from "The Jesus You Can’t Ignore: What You Must Learn from the Bold Confrontations of Christ", 17-19
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Bad Theology Quotes
I actually heard this one this past Saturday.
"Boy, if they would just had an alter call they would of been surprised how many people would have got saved."
"Boy, if they would just had an alter call they would of been surprised how many people would have got saved."
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Worth Nothing!
"If we add to our Churches by becoming worldly, by taking in persons who have never been born again; if we add to our Churches by accommodating the life of the Christian to the life of the worldling, our increase is worth nothing at all; it is a loss rather than a gain! If we add to our Churches by excitement, by making appeals to the passions rather than by explaining the truth of God to the understanding. If we add to our Churches otherwise than by the power of the Spirit of God making men new creatures in Christ Jesus, the increase is of no worth whatever!" —C. H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)
Excerpt taken from a sermon titled "Harvest Joy" preached July 6th, 1890 by C. H. Spurgeon
Excerpt taken from a sermon titled "Harvest Joy" preached July 6th, 1890 by C. H. Spurgeon
One Grand Misconception
"Worldy people seem to be well aware that it is only in this life that they will be able to get vent to their worldliness. They quite count upon death putting an end to it all; and this is one of the main reasons for their dread of death, and their dislike even of the thoughts of it.
The character as well as the life of these men is undecided and feeble. They are not decided in their worldliness, and they are not decided in their religion. If they were compelled to choose between their two masters, the probability is that they would prefer the world; for their heart is not in their religion, and religion is not in their heart. Religion is irksome to them; it is a yoke, not a pleasant service. Their consciences would not allow them to throw it off; but it occupies a very small part of their thoughts and affections. They are, in fact, worldly men varnished over with religion; that is all. They are made up of two parts, a dead and a living; the living part is the world, the dead is religion.
These are the ambiguous disciples of our age, who belong to Christ but in name. These are the stony-ground or thorny-ground hearers; men who have a place at our communion tables, who figure at religious committees, who make speeches on religious platforms, yet are, after all, “wells without water,” “trees without root,” stars without either heat or light.
The religion of such is but a half-and-half religion; without depth, or decision, or vigour, or self-sacrifice. It is but a picture or a statue, not a living man.
The conversion of such has been but a half-and-half conversion; it has not gone down to the lowest depths of the man’s nature. I do not say it is a pretence or a hypocrisy; but still, I say it is an unreality. It has been a movement, a shaking, a change, but it has not been a being “begotten of God,” a being “born from above.”
Such a man’s whole religious life is one grand misconception; and every step he takes in it is a blunder, and a stumble, and a snare. Let such a man know that, in his present half-worldly, half-religious condition, he has no real religion at all. It is a fiction, a delusion. It will stand no test of law or gospel, of conscience or of discipline, of time or of eternity. It will go to pieces with the first touch. It is all hollow, and must be begun again, from the very first stone of the foundation.
O worldly formalist, thou wouldst make sure thy hope, and obtain a discipleship that will stand all tests, begin this day at the beginning. Count all the past but loss. Fling away thy vain hopes and self-righteous confidences. Give up thy fond idea of securing both earth and heaven. Go straight to Calvary; there be thou crucified to the world, and the world to thee, by the cross of Christ. Go at once to Him who died and rose again, and drink into his love. One draught, nay, one drop of that love will for ever quench your love of sin, and be the death of that worldliness which threatens to be your eternal ruin." —Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)
(HT) Horatius Bonar
Edited from the sermon, Christ and the World, Family Sermons, 1863.
The character as well as the life of these men is undecided and feeble. They are not decided in their worldliness, and they are not decided in their religion. If they were compelled to choose between their two masters, the probability is that they would prefer the world; for their heart is not in their religion, and religion is not in their heart. Religion is irksome to them; it is a yoke, not a pleasant service. Their consciences would not allow them to throw it off; but it occupies a very small part of their thoughts and affections. They are, in fact, worldly men varnished over with religion; that is all. They are made up of two parts, a dead and a living; the living part is the world, the dead is religion.
These are the ambiguous disciples of our age, who belong to Christ but in name. These are the stony-ground or thorny-ground hearers; men who have a place at our communion tables, who figure at religious committees, who make speeches on religious platforms, yet are, after all, “wells without water,” “trees without root,” stars without either heat or light.
The religion of such is but a half-and-half religion; without depth, or decision, or vigour, or self-sacrifice. It is but a picture or a statue, not a living man.
The conversion of such has been but a half-and-half conversion; it has not gone down to the lowest depths of the man’s nature. I do not say it is a pretence or a hypocrisy; but still, I say it is an unreality. It has been a movement, a shaking, a change, but it has not been a being “begotten of God,” a being “born from above.”
Such a man’s whole religious life is one grand misconception; and every step he takes in it is a blunder, and a stumble, and a snare. Let such a man know that, in his present half-worldly, half-religious condition, he has no real religion at all. It is a fiction, a delusion. It will stand no test of law or gospel, of conscience or of discipline, of time or of eternity. It will go to pieces with the first touch. It is all hollow, and must be begun again, from the very first stone of the foundation.
O worldly formalist, thou wouldst make sure thy hope, and obtain a discipleship that will stand all tests, begin this day at the beginning. Count all the past but loss. Fling away thy vain hopes and self-righteous confidences. Give up thy fond idea of securing both earth and heaven. Go straight to Calvary; there be thou crucified to the world, and the world to thee, by the cross of Christ. Go at once to Him who died and rose again, and drink into his love. One draught, nay, one drop of that love will for ever quench your love of sin, and be the death of that worldliness which threatens to be your eternal ruin." —Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)
(HT) Horatius Bonar
Edited from the sermon, Christ and the World, Family Sermons, 1863.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Quote of the Day
"In damnation God acts in response to human choice. In salvation man acts in response to divine choice." —John MacArthur
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)