Wretched: You are not too unclean to be forgiven.

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God Speaks!

How incredible that the God of the universe would condescend to speak with human beings. But even more incredible is that the Judge of the Universe would reason with guilty criminals (see also Isaiah 43:6). Our sins stand out to a holy God like a crimson, blood-soaked rag, but through the mercy of the cross we can become pure as the driven snow (see Psa. 51:7).

Charles Stanley explains how this truth was brought to life in his photography: “I occasionally use colored filters over my lenses when I photograph in black and white. For instance, a light yellow filter darkens the sky, while brightening the clouds. A red filter enhances the white still more. That particular day, I experimented with viewing a red dot on white paper through a red filter. To my amazement, the dot, when seen through the red filter, appeared white. At that moment I realized the overwhelming truth of God’s forgiveness. Our sin, depicted as deep red by Isaiah, becomes white as snow and wool when seen through the red cross of Golgotha. This is the great transformation of forgiveness . . . God in Christ has cleansed you of every stain of sin.”

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.

Something Is Missing In The Church by Leonard Ravenhill

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Many Languages

“As far as the great proliferation of different languages among men is concerned, the biblical account is the only satisfactory explanation. If all men came from one ancestral population, as most evolutionary anthropologists believe today, they originally all spoke the same language. As long as they lived together, or continued to communicate with one another, it would have been impossible for the wide differences in human languages to have evolved. Therefore, if anthropologists insist on an evolutionary explanation for the different languages, then they must likewise postulate extremely long periods of isolation and inbreeding for the different tribes, practically as long as the history of man himself. This in turn means that each of the major language groups must be identical with a major racial group. Therefore, each “race” must have had a long evolutionary history, and it is natural to assume that some races have evolved more than others...

“On the other hand, it does seem obvious that all the different nations, tribes, and languages among men do have a common origin in the not-too-distant past. People of all nations are all freely interfertile and of essentially equal intelligence and potential educability. Even the ‘aborigines’ of Australia are quite capable of acquiring Ph.D. degrees, and some have done so. Even though their languages are widely different from each other, all can be analyzed in terms of the science of linguistics, and all can be learned by men of other languages, thus demonstrating an original common nature and origin. There is really only one kind of man —namely mankind! In actuality there is only one race among men—the human race. The source of the dif- ferent languages cannot be explained in terms of evolution, though the various dialects and similar lan- guages within the basic groups are no doubt attributable to gradual diversification from a common source tongue. But the major groups are so fundamentally different from each other as to defy explanation in any naturalistic framework. Only the Bible provides an adequate explanation.” Henry M. Morris

Genesis 11:9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

Fury Against Sin

God’s fury against sin is held back by His long suffering. It is only His mercy that restrains the lightning of His wrath. Our God is a consuming fire (see Heb. 12:29).

“It is because God’s wrath is real that His mercy is relevant. Unless you have a real wrath, a real anger, the biblical concepts of long-suffering, of mercy, and of grace are robbed of their meaning.” Alistair Begg 

Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
And take away the foreskins of your hearts,
You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
Lest My fury come forth like fire,
And burn so that no one can quench it,
Because of the evil of your doings.”

In that day...

“We do not grudge to the seed of Israel after the flesh the first application of this very precious promise. There will be a day when those who have so long refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah shall discern the marks of his mission, and shall mourn that they have pierced him. When the tribes of Israel shall lament their sin with holy earnestness, there shall be no mourning to exceed it, they shall weep even as in the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo, when the well-beloved Josiah was slain. Discovering that their nation rejected the Son of God, when they crucified Jesus of Nazareth, their deeply religious spirit shall be filled with the utmost bitterness of repentance, and each man and each woman shall cry for pardon to the Lord of mercy.” Charles Spurgeon 

Zechariah 12:11 In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.

Works of Repentance

The people of Nineveh believed God, and the genuineness of their belief in Him produced the evident works of repentance (Jonah 3:10). Measure the faith of those you have witnessed to by asking, “Do you believe what you have just heard?” If they say they don’t, question what part didn’t make sense. If they say they do believe it, ask where they would go if they were to die in their sins. If they say, “Heaven,” ask, “Why?” It is usually because they are still clinging to self-righteousness and you need to go back with the axe of the Law and chop out that root. If they say, “Hell,” ask what they are going to do about it. They will usually say, “Pray, and change my ways,” so repeat what you have told them: “Repent and trust in Jesus.” If they agree, ask, “When are you going to do that?” You want them to see the urgency. Today is the day of salvation.

Jonah 3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.

Freedom

Galatians 5:1

This "freedom" is established in heaven's charter-the Bible. Here is a choice passage, believer: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you."1 Here is another: "The mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you."2

These Scriptures set you free in believing. You are a welcome guest at this table of promises. Scripture is a never-failing treasury filled with boundless stores of grace. It is the bank of heaven; you may draw from it as much as you wish, without any hindrance.

Come in faith; you are welcome to all thecovenant blessings. There is not a promise in the Word that will be withheld. In the deepest tribulations let this freedom comfort you; overwhelmed by waves of distress let it cheer you; when sorrows surround you let it be your solace. This is your Father's love-token; you are free in it at all times.

You are also given free access to the throne of grace. It is the believer's privilege to have access at all times to his heavenly Father. Whatever our desires, our difficulties, our wants, we are at liberty to spread them all before Him. It does not matter how much we may have sinned, we can ask and expect pardon. No matter how poor we are, we may plead His promise that He will provide everything we need. We have permission to approach His throne at all times-in midnight's darkest hour or in noontide's most burning heat.

Exercise your right, believer, and enjoy this privilege. You are set free to all that is treasured up in Christ-wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It does not matter what your need is, for there is abundant supply in Christ, and it is there for you. What a "freedom" is yours! Freedom from condemnation, freedom to the promises, freedom to the throne of grace, and at last freedom to enter heaven!

1Isaiah 43:2
2Isaiah 54:10

Are you in the faith?

Contrary to Scripture, the modern gospel assures people that if they sincerely pray a “sinner’s prayer,” they should never doubt their salvation. Some go so far as to say that any doubts are from the devil. With eternity at stake, however, Paul admonishes believers to test themselves to make sure their faith is sound and secure.

Think of what you would do if you were wearing a parachute and waiting to jump out of a plane. You would have faith in the parachute, but you would also regularly check to make sure that the straps are firm. Once you have put on the Lord Jesus Christ through conversion (repentance and faith), you should regularly examine yourself to see how firm your relationship is with the Lord. Are you reading the Word daily? Do you have regular prayer? Are you fighting sin, or giving in to it? Are you living in holiness? Are you confessing sin? How is your relationship with other Christians? Is there any hidden bitterness against anyone? Are you sharing your faith? What is your greatest passion? Is it the Lord, or are material things more important? Do you love the world and the things in the world? On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your walk with God? It should be a ten. If it is not, strive to make it a ten.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

The Q&A show with Ray Comfort - Way of the Master

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Why the Great Commission Is Great - David Platt - TGC13 Missions Conference

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How to Mentor Young Disciples When They Differ Theologically

One of the great privileges and responsibilities of pastoral ministry is mentoring godly young men for their future in ministry. This is a subset of the overall mission Jesus gave to the church to "make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to obey every I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:19). While all converts to Christ need to be discipled into mature obedience in the faith, there is a special need for pastors to train up the next generation of spiritual leaders.

 

But what happens when the men you are training up to be pastors and elders begin to develop differing theological opinions? How should a pastor approach these disagreements?

Pattern of Sound Words

The apostle Paul describes the process of training up other suitable men like this: "[W]hat you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2). So what had Timothy "heard from" Paul in the presence of many witnesses? 2 Timothy 1:13 speaks of a "pattern of sound words," which Paul commanded Timothy to "hold" or "keep" (guard against all attacks). The word "pattern" comes from the word used for striking coins in the ancient world. The tupos (pattern) would be engraved on the extremely hard metal of the die, and then the die would transfer that pattern to the soft silver or gold of the coin. The image imprinted on the coin would be the same time and time again.

This word implies that the Lord desires no doctrinal innovation from the next generation of disciples, but rather conformity to the apostolic standard of teaching. At the moment of striking the coin, the softer metal must be the one that "smooshes" (yields) to the unchangeable standard. In this way, Paul commanded Timothy to pass on the "sound words" of orthodox doctrine to future generations of leaders. This vital principle of spiritual multiplication (four generations in 2 Timothy 2:2) is God's wise provision for the growth of the church over all of redemptive history.

Transferred Imperfectly

But because of the power of the world, the flesh, and the Devil, the transfer of "sound words" is not always perfect. Though God by his Spirit protected the apostles from error as they wrote the New Testament, disciples from the start have misunderstood aspects of the doctrinal pattern. Our sinful hearts tend to twist certain aspects of the doctrinal pattern, and the image is marred. This is true both in the pastoral mentor and also the disciple he is seeking to train. So what should a pastor do when he and his disciple disagree?

Here are six points to guide us when doctrinal disagreements occur:

First, it is essential for the pastor to teach the concepts I have already mentioned in this brief article. There is a perfect doctrinal standard that demands our conformity. That is the goal of discipleship. Since there are no disagreements among the Trinity or in heaven, any doctrinal disagreement on earth is evidence of the fall and of Romans 7—indwelling sin. We should strive against it and pray against it, seeking the goal of perfect unity. Neither pastor nor disciple should ultimately be satisfied with the fact that they disagree.

Second, both most embrace the standard for all doctrine: the perfect and unchanging Word of God, the Bible. From the moment God wrote his letters in the stone of Moses' tablets, God demonstrated the power of an unchanging and timeless word for his chosen people. Both pastor and disciple must take everything back to the Bible with absolute confidence that "all things that pertain to life and godliness" are found in the words of Scripture (2 Peter 1:3). Jesus said, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God" (Matthew 22:29). Disagreement has arisen because one or both of them has in some way been ignorant of what God has clearly spoken in the Bible. And both parties should come at the issues with renewed vigor in study by the power of the Holy Spirit, rather than acting as though the answers could never be found in the Bible. If the Scripture is sufficient for life and godliness, the answers are in there. Look again.

Third, both should approach the issues with humility. Romans 7 makes plain how powerfully indwelling sin corrupts the mind of every Christian. When there is a significant disagreement, both should humble themselves before God and ask for him to reveal within their own hearts how they may have strayed from right understanding. Psalm 119:169 gives a great and humble prayer for both: "Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word!" The student may actually be right, and the pastor can set a great example of humility by being willing to listen carefully to the arguments and assess them. "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17). God wills the growth of both the pastor and also the disciple through the process. A humble teacher continues to learn for his whole lifetime and churns out a generation of humble teachers in the same pattern. But a prideful mentor will churn out arrogant disciples.

Fourth, the disciple should respect the greater experience of the pastor in life and in the Word. I have been careful to say that the errors may be on both sides and have encouraged the pastor to look humbly to see if he may be wrong. But a disciple who is not teachable is a contradiction in terms. Essential to the role of a disciple is humility before his teacher. As Jesus said, "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:40). If the disciple is fractious and consistently arguing with his mentor, it would be wise for the mentor (after some efforts to address the pride in the student) to sever the relationship. "A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions" (Proverbs 18:2).

Fifth, the mentor should understand that not all Scriptural issues are equally clear or weighty, and it is wrong to divert a great deal of time to arguing over minutiae. Though we believe ardently in the doctrine of the perspicuity (clarity) of Scripture, the Westminster Confession of Faith says, "All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all" (WCF 1.7). There are most certainly some passages that are "hard to understand" (2 Peter 3:16), and they require extra study to arrive at a satisfactory answer. The pastor should lead the disciple in understanding the history of debate over a well-known controversial issue and show where godly brothers and sisters have disagreed and where to find the boundaries of orthodoxy so they can disagree and stay within the realm of historical Christianity. The pastor should also teach the concept of adiaphora—issues not worth dividing fellowship over. As Jesus said, it is wrong to "strain out a gnat and swallow a camel." There are "weightier matters of the law" (Matthew 23:23-24).

Sixth, the pastor should demonstrate the maturity Paul commanded in 2 Timothy 2:22-26:

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,  correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

One evidence of "youthful passion" is the desire to win in "foolish, ignorant controversies." The tendency to quarrel is immature, and the pastor should rise above that temptation. Inherent in this passage is fervent prayer (already encouraged in my first and third answers above). The pastor should bathe the disagreement in prayer, not only for greater understanding in the mind of the disciple but also for turning his heart and freedom away from the attacks of the Devil. It is spiritual warfare, and prevailing prayer to God who alone can bring the individual to his senses is essential to discipleship.

May the Lord grant the richness of blessing on all pastors and their disciples, that he may raise up a generation of godly, humble, wise, fully instructed leaders who will then pass on these same traits to yet another generation for the glory of God.

9/11

At times, the power of hunger, thirst, pestilence and plague may not be enough to soften the hard hearts of wicked men. America was brought very low by the horror of 9/11, but it wasn’t long until she crawled her way back into sin. Adversity sometimes makes people look to God, but often they prefer to find solace in sin. So don’t make the mistake of waiting for misfortune to come to the ungodly, thinking that it will give you opportunity to witness. It may harden them or distract them from your words.

Amos 4:6 “Also I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities. And lack of bread in all your places; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the Lord.7 “I also withheld rain from you, When there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, And where it did not rain the part withered.8 So two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water, But they were not satisfied; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the Lord.9 “I blasted you with blight and mildew. When your gardens increased, Your vineyards, Your fig trees, And your olive trees, The locust devoured them; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the Lord.10 “I sent among you a plague after the manner of Egypt; Your young men I killed with a sword, Along with your captive horses; I made the stench of your camps come up into your nostrils; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the Lord.

Aim for Repentance

Aim for Repentance

Do you know what the first word out of Jesus’ mouth in His ministry was? “Repent”. This word is also the foundation for the first Christian sermon in the book of Acts. After Peter proclaims the gospel, the crowds ask him, “What shall we do?” Peter decidedly does not tell them to close their eyes, repeat after him, or raise their hands. Instead, Peter determinedly looks them right in the eyes and says, “Repent” (Acts 2:37-38) Repentance is a rich biblical term that signifies an elemental transformation in someone’s mind, heart, and life. From that point forward, they think, believe, feel, love, and live differently. God tells His people in the OT, “Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!” (Ezekiel 14:6)

What do you think of when you hear about worshiping idols and false gods? Do you picture an African tribe performing ritualistic dances around a burning sacrifice? Isn’t it odd that we can’t fathom a Christian on the other side of the world believing that a wooden god can save them, but we have no problem believing that religion, money, possessions, food, fame, sex, sports, status, and success can satisfy us. Do we actually think we have fewer idols to let go of in our own repentance?

For every Christian in every culture, repentance is necessary. This doesn’t mean that when people become Christians, they suddenly become perfect and never have any struggles with sin again. But this does mean that when we become followers of Jesus, we make a decided break with an old way of living and take a decisive turn to a new way of life. We literally die to our sin and to ourselves-our self-centeredness, self-consumption, self-righteousness, self-indulgence, self-effort, and self-exaltation.

So when we witness, don’t aim for a decision. Rather aim for repentance, without which there is not conversion.

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True Disciples

"If you are truly a disciple of Jesus, you will be supernaturally compelled to make disciples of Jesus. True followers of Jesus do not need to be convinced, cajoled, persuaded, or manipulated into making disciples of all nations. Everyone who follows Jesus biblically will fish for men globally." -David Platt