The Depravity of Man - Paul Washer

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Importance of the Law

“Lower the Law and you dim the light by which man perceives his guilt; this is a very serious loss to the sinner rather than a gain; for it lessens the likelihood of his conviction and conversion. I say you have deprived the gospel of its ablest auxiliary [its most powerful weapon] when you have set aside the Law. You have taken away from it the schoolmaster that is to bring men to Christ... They will never accept grace till they tremble before a just and holy Law. Therefore the Law serves a most necessary purpose, and it must not be removed from its place.”Charles Spurgeon

“We cannot come to Christ to be justified until we have first been to Moses to be condemned. But once we have gone to Moses and acknowledged our sin, guilt and condemnation, we must not stay there.” John R. W. Stott

Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Appointment with Death

Seeing the futility of the transient nature of life is often the first sign of spiritual awakening. So never hesitate to speak with the ungodly about the reality of death. Remind them of its appointment. Make them face the fact that it could seize on them at any moment, and make sure you use the Law to bring the knowledge of sin and prepare the heart for grace.

“What has been, and is now, one of the strongest feelings in the human heart? Is it not to find some better place, some lovelier spot, than we have now? It is for this that men are seeking everywhere; and yet, they can have it, if they will; but instead of looking down, they must look up to find it. As men grow in knowledge, they vie with each other more and more to make their homes attractive, but the brightest home on earth is but an empty barn, compared with the mansions that are in the skies.” D. L. Moody

Ecclesiastes 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done

And on the labor in which I had toiled;

And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.

There was no profit under the sun.

True and False Conversions (Ray Comfort)

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Considering to Preach Open-Air?

By Stuart Scott

When Jeremiah received God’s word, he was commanded to stand in the gate of the temple and proclaim the Word of the Lord. Like Jeremiah, we have been given the task of proclaiming God’s Word to every creature: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

Open-air preaching is the standard method God has always employed throughout Scripture to reach the common people. As Spurgeon has said, “Open-air preaching is as old as preaching itself.” From Noah, a preacher of righteousness, to the King of kings, Jesus Christ Himself, open-air preaching is God’s normal method of getting the word out.

The word for proclaim in Hebrew is the word qara’, and it means to call, cry, or utter a loud sound, to proclaim aloud or summon. The Greek word used in the NT for the word preach, as in Mark 16:15, is the word kērussō, which means “to officiate as a herald, to publish, proclaim openly.” It is always with the sense of formality, gravity, and an authority that must be listened to and obeyed.

From these descriptions, it is obvious that the preaching spoken of in Scripture is not one-to-one witnessing, but the open proclamation of the gospel. Jesus said, “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops” (Matt.10:27), and Prov. 1:20,21 says, “Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city she speaks her words.” Here are a few additional verses to consider about preaching the gospel: Jonah 3:2; Matt. 4:17; 10:7; 11:1; Mark 1:4,38; 3:14; Luke 4:18,19; 9:60; Acts5:42; 10:42; 16:10; 17:3; Rom. 10:15;15:20; 1 Cor. 1:17; 9:16; Eph. 3:8; Col.1:28; 2 Tim. 4:2; Rev. 14:6.

I have never known greater joy in nearness to Christ than when standing in the public square, proclaiming the things of God with a loud voice in the open air.

“How would the common people have become indoctrinated with the Gospel had it not been for those far-wandering evangelists… and those daring innovators who found a pulpit on every heap of stones, and an audience chamber in every open space near the abodes of men?” Charles Spurgeon

“There is no higher calling than to follow in the footsteps of the Savior and preach in the open air.” Ray Comfort

Jeremiah 7:2 “Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the Lord!’ ”

Will all Jews go to hell if they don't accept Christ?

Some people argue that Jews do not need to be saved because they are already “God’s chosen people.” But the fact that they were chosen as a nation to glorify God does not mean that individuals Jewish people are saved.

Jews, like all of humanity, are commanded to repent and trust the Savior (Acts 2:38), and warned that if they don’t repent, they will perish (Luke 13:3). Jesus, who was Jewish (see John 4:9), is the promised Jewish Messiah (see John 4:25,26). The disciples were Jewish. Christianity was birthed in the land of the Jews. The first three thousand converts to Christianity were Jews (see Acts 2:41), as well as the next two thousand (see Acts 4:4). The apostle Paul was Jewish (see Acts 23:6), commissioned to testify to Jews about their need for “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (see Acts 20:21). The God of Israel (the Jews) made sure the gospel was offered to the Jews first, before the Gentiles (see Rom. 1:16).

God offers eternal life to all humanity, whether Jew or Gentile, “red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in His sight.” Whoever believes in Jesus should not perish but have eternal life (see John3:15). If anyone ends up in hell it will not be because of their ethnicity or their color, but because of their sin. Rapists, murderers, thieves, liars, blasphemers, adulterers, etc., will get exactly what they deserve, and if Jews die in their sins, their Jewish heritage will not save them from the justice of a holy God. Only the blood of Jesus of Nazareth, the God-given Jewish Messiah, can do that.

Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.

Exposed to Great Danger

Genesis 39:12

In contending with certain sins there remains no mode of victory but by flight. The ancient naturalists wrote much of basilisks, whose eyes fascinated their victims and rendered them easy victims; so the mere gaze of wickedness puts us in solemn danger. He who would be safe from acts of evil must hurry away from occasions of it. A covenant must be made with our eyes not even to look upon the cause of temptation, for such sins only need a spark to begin with and a blaze follows in an instant.

Who would carelessly enter the leper's prison and sleep amid its horrible corruption? Only he who desires to be leprous himself. If the sailor knew how to avoid a storm, he would do anything rather than run the risk of weathering it. Cautious navigators have no desire to see how near the quicksand they can sail or how often they may touch a rock without springing a leak; their aim is to keep as nearly as possible in the midst of a safe channel.

Today I may be exposed to great peril; let me have the serpent's wisdom to keep out of it and avoid it. The wings of a dove may be of more use to me today than the jaws of a lion. It is true I may be an apparent loser by declining evil company, but I had better leave my cloak than lose my character; it is not needful that I should be rich, but it is imperative for me to be pure. No ties of friendship, no chains of beauty, no flashings of talent, no shafts of ridicule must turn me from the wise resolve to flee from sin.

I am to resist the devil, and he will flee from me; but the lusts of the flesh I must flee, or they will surely overcome me. O God of holiness, preserve us like Joseph, that we may not be seduced by the subtle, vile suggestions of the temptress. May the horrible trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil never overcome us!

One of Them?

Obadiah 11

Brotherly kindness was due from Edom to Israel in the time of need, but instead of showing kindness, the men of Esau joined with Israel's enemies. Special stress in the sentence before us is laid upon the wordyou, as when Caesar cried to Brutus, "andyou, Brutus." A bad action may be all the worse because of the person who has committed it.

When we sin, who are the chosen favorites of heaven, we sin with an emphasis; ours is a crying offense because we are so peculiarly indulged. If an angel should lay his hand upon us when we are doing evil, he need not use any other rebuke than the question, "What, you? What are you doing here?" Having been gloriously forgiven, delivered, instructed, enriched, blessed, do we dare give ourselves to evil? God forbid!

A few minutes of confession may be beneficial to you, gentle reader, this morning. Have you never been like the wicked? At an evening party certain men laughed at uncleanness, and the joke was not altogether offensive to your ear-even you were as one of them. When hard things were spoken concerning the ways of God, you were bashfully silent; and so, to onlookers, you were as one of them. When worldlings were bartering in the market and driving hard bargains, were you not as one of them? When they were pursuing vanity without restraint, were you not as greedy for gain as they were? Could any difference be discerned between you and them? Is there any difference?

Here we come to close quarters. Be honest with your own soul, and make sure that you are a new creature in Christ Jesus; but when this is sure, walk carefully in case anyone should again be able to say, "You also are one of them."¹ You would not desire to share their eternal doom. Why then be like them here? Do not enter into their secret, in case you enter into their ruin. Side with the afflicted people of God, and not with the world.

¹Luke 22:58

God's divine Attributes

Here is a revelation of God’s divine attributes. He is jealous. He takes vengeance. He becomes furious and wrath-filled. Yet, our all-powerful God is also slow to anger. He holds back His terrible wrath because He is rich in mercy (see Eph. 2:4). He is not willing that any perish (see 2 Pet. 3:9), but warns that He will by no means acquit the wicked. He not only gives us His word that justice will be done, but reason also demands it. It is reasonable that murderers, rapists, thieves, etc., be punished. If His creation—massive mountains, tremendous winds, vast seas and rivers—bows at His presence, how much more will sinful man be subject to His power? No one can stand before His indignation.

“Learn ye, my friends, to look upon God as being as severe in His justice as if He were not loving, and yet as loving as if He were not severe. His love does not diminish His justice, nor does His justice, in the least degree, make warfare upon His love. The two things are sweetly linked together in the atonement of Christ. But, mark, we can never understand the fullness of the atonement till we have first grasped the Scriptural truth of God's immense justice. There was never an ill word spoken, nor an ill thought conceived, nor an evil deed done, for which God will not have punishment from some one or another. He will either have satisfaction from you, or else from Christ. If you have no atonement to bring through Christ, you must for ever lie paying the debt which you never can pay, in eternal misery; for as surely as God is God, He will sooner lose His Godhead than suffer one sin to go unpunished, or one particle of rebellion unrevenged.” Charles Spurgeon

Nahum 1:2 God is jealous, and the Lord avenges;

The Lord avenges and is furious.

The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries,

And He reserves wrath for His enemies;

The Glory of God

Deuteronomy 5:24

God's great design in all His works is the manifestation of His own glory. Any aim less than this would be unworthy of Himself.

But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man's eye is not single in its focus; he always has a side glance toward his own honor, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted. And this is the reason why He often brings His people into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when He comes to work their deliverance. He whose life is one even and smooth path will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying and hence but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks know but little of the God of tempests; but they who are "doing business on the great waters"¹ see "his wondrous works in the deep."² Among the huge waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man.

Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: It is this that has given you your experience of God's greatness and loving-kindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: Your trials have been the crevice of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as He did His servant Moses, that you might behold His glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance that continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction you have been qualified for the outshinings of His glory in His wonderful dealings with you.

¹Psalm 107:23
²Psalm 107:24

Vatican Offers Time Off ‘Purgatory’ for Following Pope on Twitter During World Youth Day

Vatican Offers Time Off ‘Purgatory’ for Following Pope on Twitter During World Youth Day

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Know Your Election

1 Thessalonians 1:4

Many persons want to know their election before they look to Christ, but that is not possible; it is only to be discovered by "looking to Jesus."¹ If you desire to ascertain your own election, after the following manner shall you assure your heart before God.

Do you feel yourself to be a lost, guilty sinner? Go straight to the cross of Christ, and tell Jesus so, and tell Him that you have read in the Bible, "Whoever comes to me I will never cast out."² Tell Him that He has said, "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."³Look to Jesus and believe on Him, and you shall make proof of your election directly, for as surely as you believe, you are elect.

If you will give yourself wholly up to Christ and trust Him, then you are one of God's chosen ones; but if you stop and say, "I want to know first whether I am elect," you do not know what you are asking. Go to Jesus, just as you are, in all your guilt. Leave all curious inquiry about election alone. Go straight to Christ, and hide in His wounds, and you shall know your election. The assurance of the Holy Spirit shall be given to you, so that you shall be able to say, "I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me."⁴

Christ was at the everlasting council-He can tell you whether you were chosen or not; but you cannot find it out in any other way. Go and put your trust in Him, and His answer will be, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."⁵ There will be no doubt about His having chosen you when you have chosen Him.

Sons we are through God's election,
Who in Jesus Christ believe.

¹Hebrews 12:2
²John 6:37
³1 Timothy 1:15
⁴2 Timothy 1:12
⁵Jeremiah 31:3

Lust is at the forefront of sin

If you could sum up in one word what is keeping most of this world from coming to Christ, what would that word be? Perhaps you would say “unbelief,” or “rebellion” or “sin.” True, but I believe “lust” is at the forefront of sin. The Bible says that the corruption we see in the world has its roots in lust (see 1 Pet.1:14). It is the shining light for Hollywood, soap operas, the Internet, magazine covers, TV programs, car advertising, clothing, popular music, and much of contemporary culture. In 2 Pet. 3:3 we are told that men mock God because they love their lust. So, what would make any sane man turn from lust’s powerful pleasure? Two things: One is that we can never separate lust from death. If we embrace lust, we embrace death, because lust brings forth sin and sin produces death (see James 1:15). A realization of that eternal truth should cause common sense to kick in. No sane man wants to embrace death and, on top of that end up in hell.

The second reason a man turns from the pleasures of lust is knowing what it cost the Savior for our forgiveness. If my father sold everything he had to raise money to pay a fine for me to avoid prison, what sort of wretch would I be to go straight back into crime, because I enjoyed it? The prodigal son made a sensible choice: he “came to himself” (Luke 15:17). That is the point to which we are trying to bring the lost. We want them to exercise common sense (now there is an oxymoron). We are saying, “Come to your senses and call on the name of the Lord. He will not only change your unclean desires, but He will also save you from death and hell.” When the power of the gospel changes a sinful, lust-loving heart, no amount of atheistic arguments or evolutionary silliness comes close to making a Christian even slightly doubt the reality of God.

Ezekiel 23:16 As soon as her eyes saw them,

She lusted for them

And sent messengers to them in Chaldea.

5-Minute Message: "The Rope" with Francis Chan

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Hate is murder

“I used to say: ‘What is the use of taking up a Law like this in an audience where, probably, there isn't a man who ever thought of, or ever will commit, murder?’ But as one gets on in years, he sees many a murder that is not outright killing. I need not kill a person to be a murderer. If I get so angry that I wish a man dead, I am a murderer in God’s sight. God looks at the heart and says he that hates his brother is a murderer.” D. L. Moody

1 John 3:15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

Time for Us

Do not worry about your life . . . 
–Matthew 6:25 (NIV)

Some people ask, “Do you think God has time for me? You don’t know how mixed up my life is, how confused it is; the pressures, the tension at home, the business problems, so many things I couldn’t possibly tell you about, including the sins in my life that I somehow cannot seem to give up.” Yes, God has time for you. When Jesus was dying on the cross, He had time for a thief who turned to Him and said, “Lord, remember me.” That’s all the record tells us that the thief said, “Lord, remember me.” But what he was really saying was, “I’m unworthy. I’ve broken all the laws. I deserve hell. Just remember me.” And Jesus turned to him in that moment and said, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Even in Your greatest suffering, Lord Jesus, You had time to assure another of Your love. My heart is comforted to know this caring for my soul is infinite.

Citizens of Heaven

Ephesians 2:19

What is meant by our being citizens in heaven? It means that we are under heaven's government. Christ, the King of Heaven, reigns in our hearts; our daily prayer is, "Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."¹ The proclamations issued from the throne of glory are freely received by us: The decrees of the Great King we cheerfully obey.

Then as citizens of the New Jerusalem, we share heaven's honors. The glory that belongs to beatified saints belongs to us, for we are already sons of God, already princes of the blood imperial; already we wear the spotless robe of Jesus' righteousness; already we have angels for our servants, saints for our companions, Christ for our Brother, God for our Father, and a crown of immortality for our reward. We share the honors of citizenship, for we have come to the general assembly and the Church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.

As citizens, we have common rights to all the property of heaven. Ours are its gates of pearl and walls of chrysolite, ours the azure light of the city that needs no candle nor light of the sun, ours the river of the water of life and the twelve kinds of fruit that grow on the trees planted on its banks; there is nothing in heaven that does not belong to us. "The present or the future"²-all is ours.

Also as citizens of heaven we enjoy its delights. Do they rejoice in heaven over sinners that repent-prodigals who have returned? So do we. Do they chant the glories of triumphant grace? We do the same. Do they cast their crowns at Jesus' feet? Such honors we have we cast there too. Are they charmed with His smile? It is just as sweet to us who live below. Do they look forward, waiting for His second advent? We also look and long for His appearing. If, then, we are citizens of heaven, let our walk and actions be consistent with our high dignity.

¹Matthew 6:10
²1 Corinthians 3:22

God's Hand in Your Life

Psalms 103:2

It is a delightful and profitable occupation to mark the hand of God in the lives of ancient saints and to observe His goodness in delivering them, His mercy in pardoning them, and His faithfulness in keeping His covenant with them. But would it not be even more interesting and profitable for us to observe the hand of God in our own lives? Should we not look upon our own history as being at least as full of God, as full of His goodness and of His truth, as much a proof of His faithfulness and veracity as the lives of any of the saints who have gone before?

We do our Lord an injustice when we suppose that He performed all His mighty acts and showed Himself strong for those in the early time but does not perform wonders or lay bare His arm for the saints who are now upon the earth. Let us review our own lives. Surely in these we may discover some happy incidents, refreshing to ourselves and glorifying to our God. Have you had nodeliverances? Have you passed through no rivers, supported by the divine presence? Have you walked through no fires unharmed? Have you had nomanifestations? Have you had no choicefavors? The God who gave Solomon the desire of his heart, has He never listened to you and answered your requests? That God of lavish bounty of whom David sang, "who satisfies you with good,"¹ has He never filled you up to overflowing? Have you never been made to lie down in green pastures? Have you never been led by the still waters?

Surely the goodness of God has been the same to us as to the saints of old. Let us, then, weave His mercies into a song. Let us take the pure gold of thankfulness and the jewels of praise and make them into another crown for the head of Jesus. Let our souls produce music as sweet and as exhilarating as came from David's harp while we praise the Lord whose mercy endures forever.

¹Psalm 103:5

Released from Selfishness

He must increase, but I must decrease.
–John 3:30

Self-centeredness is the basic cause of much of our distress in life. Hypochondria, a mental disorder which is accompanied by melancholy and depression, is often caused by self-pity and self-centeredness. Most of us suffer from spiritual nearsightedness. Our interests, our loves, and our energies are too often focused upon ourselves. Jesus underscored the fact that His disciples were to live outflowingly rather than selfishly. To the rich young ruler He said, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven” (Matthew 19:21). It wasn’t the giving away of his goods that Jesus demanded, particularly, but that he be released from selfishness, and its devastating effect on his personality and life.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Teach me to so completely open my heart to You that there will be no room for self. Cleanse me, Lord, of all selfish thoughts and deeds.

Called to be Saints

Romans 1:7

We are very apt to regard the apostolic saints as if they were "saints" in a more special manner than the other children of God. All are "saints" whom God has called by His grace and sanctified by His Spirit; but we are apt to look upon the apostles as extraordinary beings, scarcely subject to the same weaknesses and temptations as ourselves.

Yet in doing so we forget this truth, that the nearer a man lives to God, the more intensely has he to mourn over his own evil heart; and the more his Master honors him in His service, the more the evil of the flesh vexes and teases him day by day. The fact is, if we had seen the apostle Paul, we would have thought him remarkably like the rest of the chosen family: And if we had talked with him, we would have said, "We find that his experience and ours are much the same. He is more faithful, more holy, and more deeply taught than we are, but he has the selfsame trials to endure. Actually, in some respects he is more sorely tried than ourselves."

Do not, then, look upon the ancient saints as being exempt either from infirmities or sins; and do not regard them with that mystic reverence that will almost make us idolaters. Their holiness is attainable even by us. We are "called to be saints" by that same voice that constrained them to their high vocation. It is a Christian's duty to force his way into the inner circle of saintship; and if these saints were superior to us in their attainments, as they certainly were, let us follow them; let us emulate their passion and holiness. We have the same light that they had, the same grace is accessible to us, and why should we rest satisfied until we have equaled them in heavenly character? They lived with Jesus, they lived for Jesus, therefore they grewlike Jesus. Let us live by the same Spirit as they did, "looking to Jesus,"¹ and our saintship will soon be apparent.

¹Hebrews 12:2

A Living Nightmare

Genesis 41:4

Pharaoh's dream has too often been my waking experience. My days of laziness have ruinously destroyed all that I had achieved in times of zealous endeavor; my seasons of coldness have frozen all the genial glow of my periods of fervency and enthusiasm; and my fits of worldliness have thrown me back from my advances in the divine life. I had need to beware of lean prayers, lean praises, lean duties, and lean experiences, for these will eat up the fat of my comfort and peace.

If I neglect prayer for never so short a time, I lose all the spirituality to which I had attained; if I draw no fresh supplies from heaven, the old corn in my granary is soon consumed by the famine that rages in my soul. When the caterpillars of indifference, the worms of worldliness, and the snares of self-indulgence lay my heart completely desolate and make my soul languish, all my former fruitfulness and growth in grace avails me nothing whatever.

How anxious should I be to have no lean-fleshed days, no ill-favored hours! If every day I journeyed toward the goal of my desires I would soon reach it, but backsliding leaves me still far from the prize of my high calling and robs me of the advances that I had so strenuously made.

The only way in which all my days can be like the fat cows is to feed them in the right meadow, to spend them with the Lord, in His service, in His company, in His fear, and in His way. Why should not every year be richer than the past, in love and usefulness and joy? I am nearer the celestial hills; I have had more experience of my Lord and should be more like Him.

O Lord, keep far from me the curse of leanness of soul; let me not have to bemoan such leanness, but may I be well-fed and nourished in Your house, that I may praise Your name.

Fear Not

Psalms 33:21

Blessed is the fact that Christians can rejoice even in the deepest distress; although trouble may surround them, they still sing; and like many birds, they sing best in their cages. The waves may roll over them, but their souls soon rise to the surface and see the light of God's countenance; they have a buoyancy about them that keeps their head always above the water and helps them to sing amid the tempest, "God is with me still."

To whom shall the glory be given? Oh, to Jesus-it is all by Jesus. Trouble does not necessarily bring consolation with it to the believer, but the presence of the Son of God with him in the fiery furnace fills his heart with joy. He is sick and suffering, but Jesus visits him and makes his bed for him. He is dying, and the cold, chilly waters of Jordan are gathering about him up to the neck, but Jesus puts His arms around him and cries, "Fear not, beloved; to die is to be blessed; the waters of death have their fountainhead in heaven; they are not bitter-they are sweet as honey, for they flow from the throne of God."

As the departing saint wades through the stream, and the billows gather around him, and heart and flesh fail him, the same voice sounds in his ears: "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God."¹As he nears the borders of the infinite unknown and is almost frightened to enter the realm of shades, Jesus says, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."² Thus strengthened and consoled, the believer is not afraid to die; no, he is even willing to depart, for since he has seen Jesus as the morning star, he longs to gaze upon Him as the sun in his strength. Truly, the presence of Jesus is all the heaven we desire. He is at once

The glory of our brightest days;
The comfort of our nights.

¹Isaiah 41:10
²Luke 12:32