The Best of Saints Are Only Men

Then Peter began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the Man!" Matthew 26:74

Let us mark Peter's history, and store it up in our minds.

1. It teaches us plainly that the best of saints are only men, and men encompassed with many infirmities. A man may be converted to God, have faith, and hope, and love towards Christ, and yet be overtaken in a fault, and have dreadful falls.

2. It shows us the necessity of humility. So long as we are in the body we are in danger. The flesh is weak, and the devil is active. We must never think, "I cannot fall."

3. It points out to us the duty of charity towards erring saints. We must not set down men as graceless reprobates, because they occasionally stumble and err. We must remember Peter, and "restore them in the spirit of meekness." (Gal. 6:1)

J.C. Ryle, "The Gospel of Matthew" 1856

Parental Influence in the Ways of God

The pious parents, who embody a meek, benevolent, ardent, and consistent godliness in their character, exert a tremendous influence over the minds of their children!

But oh! the dreadful contrast in the case of those parents who are characterized by . . .
ungodly dispositions,
worldly associations,
mirthful and extravagant living,
trifling conversation,
and lack of all seriousness and spirituality.

Oh! what can be expected from such parents--but children who regard their religion with disgust?

Every man is best known at home. Parents are ever doing something to prejudice their children in favor of true religion--or to prejudice them against it; doing something to draw them into the church--or to drive them into the world; lending a helping hand to lead them to heaven--or taking them by the hand and leading them to hell.

-John Angell James, "The Christian Professor" 1837-

What Are Your Troubles

What are your troubles but calls to you in which, with an inner depth of love, Jesus says--"Away, my beloved, from all earthly delights, to find your all in me."

-Spurgeon-

"Once we agree with God that we exist for His pleasure and His glory, we can accept whatever comes into our lives as part of His sovereign will and purpose. We will not resent, resist, or reject the hard things, but embrace them as friends, sovereignly designed by God to make us more like Jesus and to bring glory to Himself."

-N. L. DeMoss-

Voluntary Humility

One thing I have always found interesting about humility is that it is impossible to humble yourself. Man's heart is hard and proud and any shaping he does with his own chisel, causes greater pride, because he sees himself as the remedy for his own sickness. There are many out there who strive with voluntary humility and ascetics to dethrone self and cultivate humility. This seems to be one of the greatest form of pride. When we have cried I've done it, I've cultivated humility, we have claimed the very work of God as our own. Voluntary humility is one of pride's most beautiful masks.

-Doug Eaton-

There never was a saint yet, that grew proud of his fine feathers, but what the Lord plucked them out one by one.

There never yet was an angel that had pride in his heart, but he lost his wings, and fell into Hell, as Satan and those fallen angels did.

And there shall never be a saint who indulges in self-conceit, pride, and self-confidence, but the Lord will spoil his glories, and trample his honors in the mud, and make him cry out--"Lord have mercy on me," the least of all saints, and the"very chief of sinners."

-Charles Spurgeon-

Pursue Christ

There is no loss in being a Christian, and making God the first object; but make anything else your goal, and with all your running, should you run ever so well, you shall fall short of the mark; or if you gain it, you shall fall uncrowned, unhonored to the earth. "My soul, wait only upon God."

-Charles Spurgeon-

For Whom Did Christ Die?

Here's something to discuss.....
Doug


The Father imposed His wrath due unto, and the Son underwent punishment for, either:

Premise 1- All the sins of all men.
Premise 2- All the sins of some men (the elect), or
Premise 3- Some of the sins of all men.In which case it may be said-

-a. That if the third premise is true, all men have some sinsto answer for, and so none are saved.

-b. That if the second premise is true, the Christ, in their stead suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the whole world, and this is the truth.

c. But if the first premise is true, why are not all men free from the punishment due unto their sins? You answer. Because of 'unbelief'. I ask, is this unbelief a sin, or is it not? If it is, then Christ either suffered the punishment due unto it, or He did not. If He did die for the sin of 'unbelief', why must that hinder them more than their other sins for which He died? If He did not die for their sin of 'unbelief', then He did not die for all their sins!

-John Owen-

Apologetics.com: Radio

Apologetics.com: Radio

Here is a recent radio show I did in which we discussed Aquinas. To listen, click on the link that says Thomas Aquinas (part 2) 8/6/05

It took us a while to get going, but what can you expect from midnight to 2:00 am.
Doug

Seeking Sanctification not Self-Help

With many churches putting the Word of God to the side in order to preach a more man-pleasing self-help and motivation. I found this question and answer by Thomas Watson quite profound.

Doug
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Question: How shall we know that we love the reproofs of the Word?

Answer 1: When we desire to sit under a heart-searching ministry. Who cares for medicines that will not work? A godly man does not choose to sit under a ministry that will not work upon his conscience.

Answer 2: When we pray that the Word may meet with our sins. If there is any traitorous lust in our heart, we would have it found out and executed. We do not want sin covered, but cured. We can open our breast to the 'sword' of the Word and say, 'Lord, smite this sin.'

-THOMAS WATSON-

Riches in Christ

Christ is the desire of nations, the joy of angels, the delight the Father. What solace then must that soul be filled with,that has the possession of Him to all eternity!
-John Bunyan

Modern Religion

"Whereas modern religion often glorifies man,the religion of the Bible glorifies our sovereign God, who is most blessed and glorious in all His ways."

-C.H. Spurgeon-

God's Grace is Effectual

"That faith which never evidences itself by good works is a dead faith, and a faith that will never save a soul. If grace does not make us differ from other men, it is not the grace which God gives his elect."

-C.H. Spurgeon-

"His invisible attributes are clearly seen" Rom. 1 

Heart of Flesh - Spurgeon

"And I will give you an heart of flesh."
- Eze_36:26

A heart of flesh is known by its tenderness concerning sin. To have indulged a foul imagination, or to have allowed a wild desire to tarry even for a moment, is quite enough to make a heart of flesh grieve before the Lord. The heart of stone calls a great iniquity nothing, but not so the heart of flesh.

"If to the right or left I stray,
That moment, Lord, reprove;
And let me weep my life away,
For having grieved thy love"

The heart of flesh is tender of God’s will. My Lord Will-be-will is a great blusterer, and it is hard to subject him to God’s will; but when the heart of flesh is given, the will quivers like an aspen leaf in every breath of heaven, and bows like an osier in every breeze of God’s Spirit. The natural will is cold, hard iron, which is not to be hammered into form, but the renewed will, like molten metal, is soon moulded by the hand of grace. In the fleshy heart there is a tenderness of the affections. The hard heart does not love the Redeemer, but the renewed heart burns with affection towards him. The hard heart is selfish and coldly demands, "Why should I weep for sin? Why should I love the Lord?" But the heart of flesh says; "Lord, thou knowest that I love thee; help me to love thee more!" Many are the privileges of this renewed heart; "‘Tis here the Spirit dwells, ‘tis here that Jesus rests." It is fitted to receive every spiritual blessing, and every blessing comes to it. It is prepared to yield every heavenly fruit to the honour and praise of God, and therefore the Lord delights in it. A tender heart is the best defence against sin, and the best preparation for heaven. A renewed heart stands on its watchtower looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Have you this heart of flesh?