One can easily say "I am Christian" or "I believe in God" and not be born again. Jesus says in John 3:3 that "unless a man is born again he will not see the kingdom of God." Is the evidence of a regenerated life found in those who care for others or simply do good deeds? Clearly not. The Bible says that even those whos hearts are far from God have the ability to do good to others.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
The hell of Hell
(Arthur Pink)
"Then they will go away to eternal punishment--but the righteous to eternal life!" Matthew 25:46
After millions of years, the suffering of the lost is no nearer an end, than it was at the outset. "This is the hell of Hell, that, as the torments thereof are without measure--so they are without end!" (Thomas Manton)
The respective eternal portions of the saved and the lost are contrasted at every point:
The utter hopelessness of the lost: "Punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord!" (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
The perpetuity of the saints' bliss: "I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever!" (Psalm 23:6).
The wicked enjoy "the pleasures of sin for a season" (Hebrews 11:25);
the godly shall participate in those "pleasures at God's right hand forever" (Psalm 16:11).
Agents of Satan seize the souls of the wicked at death;
the saints souls are carried to Heaven by the angels.
The lost shall be raised "to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2);
the godly are raised in "honor and glory" (1 Peter 1:7).
To the wicked it shall be said, "Depart from Me, you who are cursed" (Matthew 25:41);
to the saved, "Come, you who are blessed of My Father" (Matthew 25:34).
The wicked "shall be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10);
the godly shall "be forever with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 22:5).
Thursday, August 9, 2012
I flee anew to the pavilion of Your love!
(John MacDuff, "Evening Incense" 1856)
Blessed Lord, bend Your pitying eye of love and mercy upon me today. Draw near to me, as I venture once more on praying and on pleading ground.
Alas! O God, how little have I improved the time that is past! I am a wonder to myself, that with all my deep ingratitude and utter vileness--I am yet permitted to approach Your footstool! I have sinned against light and love--warning and mercy--grace and privilege. The retrospect of life--is a retrospect of guilt. I mourn over my manifold shortcomings--the alienation of my heart from You--the fitfulness of my spiritual frames--the ebbings and flowings in the tide of my love. When tried by the lofty and unerring standard of Your Word--how are my best actions and duties marred with defilement! How much self-seeking and self-glorying--and how little animated by the predominating motive of love to You, and singleness of eye to Your service!
Blessed Jesus! I flee anew to the pavilion of Your love! I have no other hope, no other refuge--but in Your finished work--Your matchless atonement--Your spotless righteousness! There is in You, an all-sufficiency for every need. Finite necessities cannot exhaust Infinite fullness. Let me hear Your voice saying, "Your sins, which are many--are all forgiven!"
Transform me more and more into Your own image. May I know more and more, the happiness of true holiness--that I am really blessed in seeking to walk so as to please You. May the power of grace wax stronger and stronger--and the power of sin wax weaker and weaker. May trials and crosses become light and easy to me--when borne in a spirit of meek, unrepining submission to Your Divine will. May this quiet every doubt and misgiving: "Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things!"
gracegems.org
Blessed Lord, bend Your pitying eye of love and mercy upon me today. Draw near to me, as I venture once more on praying and on pleading ground.
Alas! O God, how little have I improved the time that is past! I am a wonder to myself, that with all my deep ingratitude and utter vileness--I am yet permitted to approach Your footstool! I have sinned against light and love--warning and mercy--grace and privilege. The retrospect of life--is a retrospect of guilt. I mourn over my manifold shortcomings--the alienation of my heart from You--the fitfulness of my spiritual frames--the ebbings and flowings in the tide of my love. When tried by the lofty and unerring standard of Your Word--how are my best actions and duties marred with defilement! How much self-seeking and self-glorying--and how little animated by the predominating motive of love to You, and singleness of eye to Your service!
Blessed Jesus! I flee anew to the pavilion of Your love! I have no other hope, no other refuge--but in Your finished work--Your matchless atonement--Your spotless righteousness! There is in You, an all-sufficiency for every need. Finite necessities cannot exhaust Infinite fullness. Let me hear Your voice saying, "Your sins, which are many--are all forgiven!"
Transform me more and more into Your own image. May I know more and more, the happiness of true holiness--that I am really blessed in seeking to walk so as to please You. May the power of grace wax stronger and stronger--and the power of sin wax weaker and weaker. May trials and crosses become light and easy to me--when borne in a spirit of meek, unrepining submission to Your Divine will. May this quiet every doubt and misgiving: "Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things!"
gracegems.org
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