Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Two Things That are Beyond Human Comprehension
Jul 7th, 2020
Weekly CommentaryArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary;Exhortation

God hates sin. The extent of God’s hatred for sin is beyond our capacity to understand or comprehend. We can gain some insight into the extent of God’s hatred for sin as we contemplate the eternal fires of hell. The unrepentant sinner will be tormented in the flames forever.

The scriptures are full of the revelation that God hates sin. Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

In the book of Numbers they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. Moses asked the Lord what to do with him and the answer came back stone him to death. The man was just gathering a few sticks for a fire, but he had disobeyed God, disobedience is sin. The Lord is letting Israel know that He hates sin with an infinite hatred.

We have graphic and dramatic demonstrations of God’s anger against sin recorded in scripture. We read that Achan sinned by disobeying God and hiding a wedge of gold and some silver along with a garment in his tent. The scripture says, “The anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.” It wasn’t until Achan and all of his family were dead and buried under a heap of stones that we read, “So the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger.”

The scripture says, “...God is angry with the wicked every day.”

We read in Romans 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” In John 3:36 we read, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Paul describes God as a "...Flaming fire taking vengeance on those that know not God, and obey not the gospel our Lord Jesus Christ."

We have two great demonstrations of the wrath of God against sin revealed in the fire and brimstone that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. The second was the great flood that destroyed all the inhabitants of the earth with exception of Noah and his family.

God hates sin! He hates sin in my life and He hates sin in your life. We rejoice that as believers we have a great High Priest who, "....ever liveth to make intercession for us."

It is only by the mercy and grace of God that the unbeliever is not consumed for his sin. It is the underserved mercy of God that allows time and opportunity to consider His offer of salvation. The problem is that the very mercy of God upon us tends to dull our senses to the severity of God toward our sin. Paul said, "Behold the goodness and severity of God."

Our world has largely espoused a God of their own imagination; their God does not hate sin. Their God is a God who will tolerate their sin. They believe a lie, the lie that God is only a loving God who will not condemn them for sin. They reject a God that infinitely hates sin; they reject a God who will punish the sinner in hell forever. That is the worst deception that can ever happen to a man or woman. Men must choose between the God revealed in scripture and the God of their own imagination. The choice will not change the reality of who God is, nor will it change the attributes of God.

We are to tell the world about their sin by our holy lives, by our actions and attitudes. We are to be salt and light in a dark world. The testimony of life and lip must go together. The Lord said to His people, “Ye shall be holy; for I am holy:” To be holy means to be entirely separated from sin.

God loves man. The extent of God’s love is also beyond the possibility of human comprehension. We gain some insight into the depths of God’s love as we contemplate Christ dying on the cross, bearing the wrath of God for our sins. We see the breadth of God’s love as we realize that He died for the sins of the whole world.

Much of the scripture is devoted to revealing the magnitude of God’s love. We are left with realization that the love of God is far beyond our comprehension. Those who know Christ are left to rejoice and revel in that unfathomable love.

We as believers are called to reflect to all around us the love of God. We are to reflect it in our lives, in our attitudes and by our actions. It’s a love that we cannot produce ourselves; it is produced in us as we allow the Holy Spirit to control our holy lives. The Holy Spirit cannot produce the love of Christ in an unholy life. We are reminded of that in Joshua 7:13, “O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.” Victory was conditioned upon holiness. Holiness seems to be a word lost from our vocabulary today, just as the love of Christ seems to lost from our lives.

The unbeliever will be arrested by the love of God as it flows through us. We are also to verbalize to the world the love of God for them. That verbalization will be without meaning or power unless it comes out of heart that is burning with the love of Christ for the lost. He or she will respond to it or react against it, but we will have been used of God to speak to them.

The essential mark of genuine salvation is evidenced in the love of the Christian for his fellow believer. "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1 Peter 1:22). "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35).

To express one of these attributes of God to the exclusion of the other is to lie about the very nature of God. It creates a distortion of the character of God and surely must grieve the Holy Spirit.

On the cross we see these two attributes of God perfectly displayed. We see the infinite love of God for mankind and we see the infinite anger of God against sin. We see all the sins of the world placed upon Christ as He bore them in love for a lost world, and we see the anger of God against sin poured out upon His own beloved Son.

God’s servants sometimes tend to emphasize one of these attributes to the exclusion of the other. As we preach and witness about the horrors of hell we must weep in our hearts with compassion for the lost. The love of Christ must flow through us, and when it does the lost will be very aware of it. Does your heart go out in love for those you seek to win to Christ? The love of Christ must flow out to the world through us; it is Christ loving the world of men through us. Christ loved the world of men on the cross, now He wants to love the world of men through the believer.

Paul expressed that in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him...and the fellowship of his sufferings...”  Christ suffered on the cross, in love for lost sinners for whom He died. I believe that Christ is still grieved over men and women who are rejecting His provision for their sin. He is still not willing that any should perish. Paul is entering into those sufferings of Christ for lost men and women. We see the love of Christ in the life of Paul as he pours out his life to see the lost saved. We see in Romans 10:1 the love of Christ in the heart of Paul for the lost, as he cries out, “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” We see anguish in Paul’s heart over his lost brethren.

To preach only the wrath of God against sin will distort the gospel and rob it of its power to draw. The gospel also involves the love of God. The fear of God and the love of God are both involved in the message of the gospel. The fear of God convicts while the love of God draws men to Christ.

To preach only the love of God will also distort the gospel, there will be no conviction of sin and it will result in easy-believe-ism which does not save.

The Evening and the Morning Were the First Day - Genesis 1:5
Jul 7th, 2020
Morning MeditationF. B. Meyer
Categories: Commentary;Inspirational;Book Study

How different is God's method from man's! The creature works from day to night, his best is first; but darkness overshadows his fairest hopes and best-concerted schemes. The Creator's days begin with the preceding eve. He reckons the evenings and nights into the days, because out of them the day is born; they usher in the light, and recreate body and brain for the busy hours that follow.

Art thou disappointed in Christian work? - Human schemes begin with blare of trumpet and roll of drum, but are soon plunged in darkness. The heavenly seed is sown in autumn shadows; the foundation-stone of redemption was laid amid the gloom of Calvary; the work that lasts generally begins amid disappointment, difficulty, and heart-break, but inevitably passes into the day.

Art thou passing through the bitterness of soul-trouble? - For weeks there has been no ray of comfort, no sign of deliverance. Yet every dark hour is hastening toward the dawn. Thou shalt see thy Beloved walking toward thee in the morning light.

Art thou in despair for the worm? - The times are dark, and threaten to get darker. But if the first creation began in the dark, can it be wondered at that the second must begin there to? But as the one emerged in daylight, so shall the other. The morning cometh; see the star of day standing sentry! Time, is bearing us to a day that shall never go down to night, but shall mount ever toward its meridian.

Revelation 7:1-3 - Exploring Revelation
Jul 7th, 2020
Exploring RevelationArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary;Prophecy;Book Study

Revelation 7 is the mercy chapter of the book where we see the redeemed of the tribulation period.

The tribulation period in chapter six where we see the first six seals judgments poured out upon the earth. We would expect that seventh seal judgment would now poured out but it is not poured out until the eighth chapter. Chapter seven is a pause in the story-line of the book, a parenthesis, an interlude in the chronology of the tribulation period.

The question that comes to us is, what are the reasons for this pause?

REASON # 1 - THE SUSPENSION OF JUDGMENT TO GIVE OPPORTUNITY TO REPENT

Chapter 6 concludes with the statement in verse 17, "For the great day of His wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?", the answer is "no one". So terrible is the wrath of God that all men everywhere are desperate to escape it. "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:" Rev. 6:15-16. The whole earth trembles at the awesome wrath of God.

As we come to this pause in chapter 7, we are reminded of the prayer of Habakuk in Hab. 3:2, "O lord....in wrath remember mercy". Chapter 7 is the mercy chapter of Revelation. That in the midst of God's fierce anger against sin we might be reminded of God's mercy. The winds of God's judgment have been blowing! But now there is a lull in the storm. God stops the storm to show mercy to those who will accept it.

In wrath God remembered mercy on the Passover night in Egypt.

In wrath God remembered mercy in Noah's day.

At Calvary, in the midst of God's wrath against man's sin, He remembered mercy.

Chapter 7 is the mercy chapter of the book of Revelation. In verse 1, we read, "and after these things", after what things? After the awful judgments God had poured out on an unbelieving world. John continues, "I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth", What are the angels doing? They are holding back, "the four winds", they are holding back the winds of God's judgments, they are halting the process of judgment until God has accomplished some definite purposes.

Now in verse 2, John sees another great wonder, a still mighter angel appears on the eastern horrizon and shouts a message to the other four angels. Notice the commision of the four angels, "The four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea".

Then notice in verse 3, the message to the four angels, "Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads". The tribulation days are days of hurting but God graciously suspends the hurting to give to men and nations an opportunity to reasses what has happened, an opportunity to repent of sin and rebellion that brought on the judgments.

We know that no repentance is forthcoming. In chapter 9, verse 21 it says "Neither repented they", there comes a time when if men refuse to repent, their hearts become hardened and repentence is no longer possible. Scripture says several times, "today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts". My unsaved friend, today is the day of salvation, do not harden your heart and refuse Christ. God may harden your heart if you do, and your eternal destiny will be sealed.

The reason hell is forever is because repentance becomes impossible, scripture says "where the tree falleth, there shall it be".

Next week we will look at the second reason God pauses in His judgments.

Apostasy
Jul 7th, 2020
Main StoriesArt Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter;Apostasy;Contemporary Issues

During the early years of Billy Graham’s ministry he preached that Jesus Christ was the only way of salvation. Later in his ministry Billy Graham turned away from the truth of the gospel, denying that knowing Christ was the only way of salvation.

The following are some quotes from Billy Graham which demonstrate that he has apostatised.

Graham says that he does not believe that Christians need to take every verse of the Bible literally. “I am not a literalist in the sense that every single jot and tittle is from the Lord. This is a little different than my thinking through the years.” He has moved to taking parts of the Bible figuratively.

Graham acknowledges a change in his beliefs.

“I used to believe that pagans in far countries were lost if they did not have the gospel of Christ preached to them.....I no longer believe that.”

After departing from his early beliefs Graham called the Pope, “The greatest religious leader of the modern world, and one of the greatest moral and spiritual leaders of the century.”

This in spite of the fact that the Pope preaches another gospel that requires good works and membership in the Catholic Church for salvation. The Pope that Graham eulogizes has been responsible for consigning millions of people to hell through his false gospel.

Billy Graham stated, “The body of Christ comes from all faiths and Christian groups around the world or outside the Christian groups. I think that everybody that loves Christ or knows Christ, whether they are conscious of it or not, they are members of the body of Christ.

Graham went on to say, “God’s purpose for this world is to call out a people for His name, and that is what God is doing today.”

“He is calling out a people for His name whether they come from the Muslim world or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world or the non believing world. They are members of the body of Christ because they are being called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don’t have, and they turn to the only light they have, and I think they are saved and they are going to be with us in heaven.” He added, “There is wideness in God’s mercy.”

The scriptures contradict Graham’s words. Matthew 7:13-15, “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. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

We read, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 17:3, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

Paul said, 1Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

An apostate is one who turns away from the truth he once believed and proclaimed. Billy Graham is an apostate.

The fact is that many godly pastors and leaders, in the early 1950’s, pleaded with Billy Graham not to compromise with liberals. When Graham refused to hear their plea they denounced Graham for his compromise. The majority rejected this rebuke and supported Graham in his ecumenical evangelism.

Billy Graham was the poster boy for new evangelicalism. He led in the compromise of ecumenical evangelism, compromising the truth, by associating with liberals. He broke down the walls of separation between the people of God and liberals; he also broke down the walls of separation between the people of God and the people of the world.

From that time foreword the compromise of new evangelicalism has continued until today the greater part of the evangelical church is sinking into apostasy.

Here is the reason that I have written this article. I fully realize that many people will now write me off for criticising Billy Graham, but the issue is the matter of the survival of the remnant of the Church of Jesus Christ.

God’s people are thrilled to hear the gospel preached. As Billy Graham preached the gospel, God’s people gave him a free pass to bring in error with it. As Graham preached the gospel, God’s people closed their eyes to the compromise that flooded into the church with it.

From 1952 on there was not a crusade that did not include Catholic Priests. Catholic converts were sent back to their Catholic Churches. There was not a crusade that did not include apostate protestant liberal pastors and their churches, the converts from these churches were often returned to them. The walls of separation came down.

“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” A little compromise compromised much of the Evangelical Church. The whole New Evangelical concept of compromise was advanced. From this beginning the loss of separation from the world grew exponentially. Pragmatism, which is the essence of compromise, brought us the false idea that anything that would bring people into the church was good and beneficial.

The church growth movement flourished, the world was brought into the church and separation was lost. Both separated living and separation from apostasy and apostate churches was lost. The body of Christ and apostasy joined forces in some good causes, which further broke down the walls of separation.

My burden is for the remnant of evangelical, fundamental churches that have not compromised. That remnant is also in danger from the massive compromise and apostasy that now surrounds it. Their need now goes beyond separation from liberalism, the need is now to separate from new evangelicalism. God’s remedy for apostasy is separation from apostasy, it is God’s way of stopping the spread of apostasy.

New evangelicalism has brought the world into the church. They have incorporated the world’s music, the world’s ways, the world’s lifestyles, the world’s philosophies and the world’s concept of entertainment. All this has been brought into the church while the plan of Christ for His church has gone out the window.

Here is where the deception comes in. Some of these pastors still preach and teach much Bible truth. There can be no deception unless there is the presentation of truth. The nature of deception is to hide error behind much truth.

Harry Ironside said, “Error is like leaven of which we read; A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Truth mixed with error is equivalent to all error, except that it is more innocent looking and, therefore, more dangerous. God hates such a mixture! Any error, or any truth-and-error mixture calls for definite exposure and repudiation. To condone such is to be unfaithful to God and His Word and treacherous to imperilled souls for whom Christ died.”

Another voice from the past stated, ““If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest expression every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”

There are pastors today who are teaching much bible truth, and because they are teaching truth they are being given a free pass to bring in error. That error is compromise and it is the destruction of the church.

Because a man teaches some truth he must not be allowed to bring the world and its ways and its music and methods into the church. Where has discernment gone? The music of the world can generate much human emotion and with human emotion false worship floods into the church. There are those who cannot discern between emotion and the movement of the Spirit on the heart. There are those who cannot discern between the holy and the profane.

Christian — we are in a battle; let us not forget this. There are many fronts in this battle, we must be alert and not allow pastors to bring in error because they are teaching and preaching truth.