Repentance and Procrastination

"God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination."

Augustine of Hippo

A Shepherd's Christmas

To hear the shepherds tell their story must have been wonderful.

Dark Nights of the Soul

Sanctification is process that will not be completed on this side of heaven, which means that right now we still have issues of sin that the Lord is dealing with. This video looks at some of the things a true Child of God can face when God deals with us in our sinfulness. Even though these times can be the darkest of nights for the believer, they are also some of the most precious as the Lord works in us great progress in our sanctification. Which will make us much more useful for His glory.

God Bless,

Doug

When Loss Is Gain

I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Phil. 3:8

Our hearts are easily lured away by the fleeting shadows of this world, and these shadows have a way of slowly enticing our hearts in ways that are so subtle that we are often unaware of how tightly they have begun to grip us. Unaware that is, until we find ourselves reeling emotionally from being pulled in two opposite directions. If we follow the ways of Christ, our hearts break in longing for that which we will have to deny, and if we give ourselves to whatever it is that has our hearts inordinately bound, we know that we will find ourselves disappointed in the long run, even though it seems like it is the very thing we need to give us the peace that seems to be eluding us.

We know in these moments that it truly is impossible to serve two masters, for we will end up despising one of them. If we were left to ourselves, we would run headlong into sin, but praise God, our savior has ways of showing us our folly. The things that have held us captive and entranced are often exposed, by some providential means, to be things to which we must bid farewell.

How does the Lord do this? Often it is through trials, for when we are tried, we are reminded that this world is not our home, and no matter what it was that we were pursuing, we begin to realize that next to the excellency of knowing Christ, all other things will let us down. For if we are pursuing youth and beauty, he can remind us of our own frailty through illness and make us to be cognizant of our own end. If we are pursuing wealth and affluence, even if he allows us to attain it, he can cause us to experience great emptiness in the midst of it all through a time of spiritual depression. If you have made an idol out of some relationship, he has ways to show you how easily it is to be let down by those we trust or how easy it is to let someone down ourselves.

After the Lord has broken our hearts by showing us the futility of making anything of this world our ultimate treasure, he then reveals to us in even greater ways the unfailing treasure of knowing Him. For anything we may pursue in this life apart from Christ, only leads us to greater condemnation. Our sin separated us from a Holy God, and no amount of youth and beauty, wealth and affluence, or any earthy relationships could have removed the penalty that we deserved. But Christ, the Lord of Glory, stepped out of heaven into human flesh to save those who will have faith in him. He was a man who had no form or comeliness (Isaiah 53:2), and any youth and beauty he did possess was marred beyond recognition as they crucified Him. Being born in a stable he was not a man of affluence. He had no place to call his home (Luke 9:58), and even the robe he did own was stripped from his back and gambled away by the roman soldiers. Finally, he was denied by those closest to him; he was betrayed by Judas, disowned by Peter, and the rest of the disciples scattered as he was being tried and sacrificed for our salvation.

If Christ denied himself all these things when it was necessary, how much more should we who follow him. What good would it be if we had all these things, but did not have Christ? For there was one aspect of suffering Christ bore in order that we would not have to. While Jesus was suffering on the Cross, he was bearing something much more terrible than the loss of beauty, wealth, and friends. He was bearing the very wrath of God the Father. When Jesus told the people, “do not fear those who can destroy the body, but fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell,” he knew that he would be bearing that destruction in our place, and the blow would be given by his Father in Heaven. As he cried, “my God, my God why have you forsaken me,” he was doing more than simply drawing a comparison to the suffering servant of psalm 22. He was fulfilling its prophecy, and it pleased the Lord to bruise him (Isaiah 53:10).

Now why would Christ, who could have refused the suffering, choose to bear it, and why did the Father, who loved the son, choose to pour his wrath on his only son? It was so that we could be reconciled to God, through the forgiveness of sins. The punishment for our sins has been met in Christ, for He loves us with an everlasting love. In Christ, though we may lose some of what this world calls pleasure, relationships, and maybe even our lives, we will gain all the blessings of God, including eternal life and a friend who sticks closer than a brother. As we experience these losses, we must remember that those losses will be gain as we find our Savior. There is no treasure that can compare to the greatness of knowing Christ.

Doug Eaton

The Necessity of Christ's Death

Couldn't Jesus have just forgiven us without punishing Jesus? Can we as humans do something that God Cannot when we forgive someone without payment?

-Doug Eaton-

God is Angry Every Day!

Is it true that God is angry every day?

The Cross and the Healing of our Hurts

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matt. 5:4

Many people use this verse to speak about life’s tragedies, and when we mourn over these things we will be comforted. But the greatest thing we have to mourn over is our sin, and if Christ can comfort us in this tragedy, then every other tragedy will pale in comparison and be absorbed into that comfort also. The foundation of all our hope and comfort is found in the death and resurrection of our Lord, for on the cross the price for our sin was paid, and in the resurrection the victory is found. There is no tragedy in this life that will bring us to our knees in mourning that is as significant of a problem as our sin, and when our greatest problem is cured, the comfort spreads to the lesser ones like a soothing balm. In vain we search for many medicines to cure our many wounds, when there is only one medicine that is effective and it will comfort them all. It is the balm of Gilead: the Blood of Christ.

-Doug Eaton-

The Haunting Effects of Sin

David thought it was over. His sin had been exposed and he had sought the Lord’s forgiveness and it had been granted. A right spirit had been renewed and a clean heart had been created. Then came the news that his child was seriously ill. As David was thrown to the floor in anguish, thoughts of his sin filled his mind. Months had passed but now his sin had come out from hiding to remind him of his treachery against the God of the universe.

Years later another son of his rebels against him, and once again David is reminded of the sword that has been driven into his family because of what he had done. Another fierce reminder that he, at one point, actually thought he knew better than Lord of all creation. In his sinful nature he desired something that the Lord had forbidden, but David ignored the law because he thought it would be better if things where done his way. Oh’ but how that sin has haunted him. How many times he thought he was done with it, he had repented, he had been forgiven, but regardless of all that, it seemed to pursue him. Though it had no hold on his life, and there was no possibility that his sin could exact its wages from him, due to the redemptive plan and work of God, it was not going to let him forget.

It seemed to sit in silence for long periods of time just to make David comfortable. Then as he would be going about his day, there would be those moments when something, whether it something he saw or something he heard, gave his sin an opportunity to spring up on him and cloak his day with darkness by taunting him of his failures and reminding him of his foolishness.

You see, one or two moments of sin do not simply last for a season. Many times they have a way of coming back in little reminders which sink your spirits every now and again, and the fact that it comes on when you least expect it is what makes it all the more difficult. After it happens a few times it can also cause you to begin to look over your shoulder in preparation for it to happen again, until you feel it trying to stifle you in your work for the Lord. It can even cause a hesitancy to step out into new areas of ministry because of what it might do when you venture out into new territory.

As it did with David, sin has a way of robbing us of peace and joy. It can weaken, embarrass, and grieve us years after the indiscretion. On top of all that, if the enemies of God find out, they begin to rejoice, mocking the God we love because of what we have done.

If you are toying with sin, or considering spurning God’s loving standards to feed your flesh, you might want to think twice. Because what you do could linger for years to come. Now if this warning comes a bit too late and you already know from experience that all of this is true, you must remember that the haunting cannot ultimately hurt you. Remember that our sovereign God, who has taken your sin and bore it’s wages on the cross has promised to never lose His child, and has promised that all things will work together for the good of those that who love Him; even the haunting effects of sin. Though they can be troubling and painful, He is using all things to accomplish His purposes in your life. His plans are to prosper and not to harm you, He will finish the work he has started in you, and with a little wrestling, He can change your name from Jacob, the heel-catcher and deceiver, to Israel; the prince of God.

Ultimately, David never forgot his sin, but that did not stop God from calling him “a man after His own heart.” As king of Israel, the Lord has used his example to show the world his love and forgiveness, and that the Lord can use anyone in a mighty way, even those with serious failures in their past. Sin can haunt the repentant believer all it wants, but ultimately it cannot separate them from God’s love. Even though the enemy naively believes that he is going to stifle them by it, the sovereign God is using it to conform them to the image of His Son. And let us never forget that it was the haunting effects of sin that the Lord used in David life, which caused him to draw up under the wing of his Lord, and through it birthed several of his Psalms which were inspired by the Holy Spirit and considered the very Words of God.

In an interesting way the Lord uses the haunting effects of sin to bring his child to the point were we will no longer be able to be haunted by them. By using them to conform us to His image, not only will we avoid sin in the future, but when the accuser rears his head, we will understand that all His work is in vain and the more he tries to afflict us, the more we will grow (Ex. 1:12), And before long, Satan will be looking over his shoulder, because greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.

Doug

E.R. Discovers the Flaw of Postmodern Spirituality

This is a powerful video clip which shows the fatal flaw of relativistic, eastern, postmodern spirituality.

Only the Truth can set you free!

We Are The Lepers

Then the priest shall look, and if the leprous disease has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean of the disease; it has all turned white, and he is clean. Lev 13:13

This verse may seem strange to many of today’s readers, but if leprosy had only covered part of the body and not all of the flesh was white that man would be pronounced unclean. On the other hand if the disease covered his entire body the man would be pronounced clean. This is because the flesh that was not yet white was still contagious, but if his flesh was completely white, the disease was no longer transmittable.

As interesting as this is, this text teaches us something much deeper for leprosy in scripture is often a representation of sin. We are the lepers. We are diseased with sin and completely full of guilt, but in our natural state how we strive to deny that truth. We go to great lengths to deny our unworthiness before God, thinking that we can somehow justify ourselves. Even if we admit that we are partially sinful, how often we still think that God owes us something. But in that condition as we stand before the true high priest Jesus Christ, we are pronounced unclean. It is not until we stand before him in complete poverty of spirit, knowing we have nothing to offer Him, and that we are completely sinful saying, “you have every right to pour your wrath upon me, but I plead the merits of your sacrifice,” does Christ say to us, you are clean.

Though we have nothing to offer
We must go to the High Priest
To present our empty coffer
With self-righteousness deceased

With hearts as black as dross
Filled with the obscene
All paid for on the cross
He’ll there pronounce us clean

Doug Eaton

On Witnessing to a Muslim

When it comes to witnessing to a Muslim there are few helpful hints to follow in order keep the conversation focused on giving them the Gospel, without needlessly offending them on less important issues. But before we dig into some specifics of witnessing to a Muslim there are a few general things we need to do when witnessing or doing apologetics with anyone. First you must be spending time in the word of God and in prayer. The strength of your faith is dependent upon God, and there is a direct relationship between it and your time in the word. I’ve heard of too many people who begin to engage in apologetics and with very little resistance they begin to doubt and get confused. In almost every case that person was not diligently studying the scripture and as a result their faith was weak. You must also make sure that the reason you wish to engage them is because you ultimately desire to see them saved. If you are only engaging them because you want to prove yourself right, you may do more harm than good. Now there are times when we have to engage a person in dialogue and debate knowing that they will most likely not come to know the Lord because of an extreme hardness of heart, but we must engage them for the sake of the people they are influencing. But even then, when the debates can become a bit heated, it is important to show the person, and the people watching, that you are doing this because you care, not merely because you think you are right and want everyone to know it.

When dealing directly with Muslims it is also important to have some understanding of what they believe and, as already stated, have a strong understanding of what you believe. It is also important to remember that many Muslims, at least in the United States, are much like many Christians in the fact that they may do their religious things but they might not have a strong understanding of what they believe.

With all of that out of the way, here are some basic points to remember when witnessing to a Muslim.

1. To start with, stay away from arguing about the Koran’s or Mohammad’s validity. It is true that eventually we will have to address these issues, and there is plenty to address, but this is not the place to start. If we start here, the average Muslim will tune you out and reject everything you have to say. Of course if you run into a highly educated Muslim you will end up at this point much more quickly, but avoid the issue for as long as possible. Remember the point of witnessing is to make sure the person you are speaking to hears the Gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation. And salvation is our ultimate goal.

Also, when handling your Bible, be sure to use one in which you have not written, be sure to not let it drop below your waist, and if you stack it with other books, make sure that it is kept on top. To fail to do these things will be sign of disrespect for the word of God in their eyes, and there is no need to offend them on this issue. The Gospel is offensive enough to the natural man. So if there will be offence let it be because of the Gospel.

2. In order to give them the Gospel bring them to the Scriptures. Do not forget that they believe that Jesus was a prophet and that he was given the Gospel as a Holy book, along with Moses and David. So be ready to use those portions of Scripture to show them the Sacrifice Jesus made for sin.

If they know the Koran, they may try to tell you that the Bible we have today is corrupt by pointing to passages in the Koran. Let them show you the passages, and as you read them be sure to point out that none of those verses say that the Bible is corrupt, they only say some people’s interpretations of it are. Now some may come along and say that it has been corrupted since the time the Koran has been written, but be sure to point out that we thousands of hand written manuscripts from before the time of Muhammad. We know we have what was around during the time of Muhammad.

Once you get through some of these things try to bring them to passages of Scripture that show the Gospel, such as God telling Abraham to sacrifice his son. Now it is true that they believe that the son was Ishmael and not Isaac, but this is not the point you want to make at this time. What you want to show them is that God is demanding a sacrifice for sin. They do not believe Allah requires a sacrifice for sin but that he can forgive arbitrarily. So begin to press upon them the idea that God required a sacrifice, and then ask them why, and begin to show them that God stopped Abraham because he was going to provide a sacrifice for himself. And since they believe that Moses was given the Law, be sure to use all the types and shadows in the Levitical law to point to Christ. You can use the scapegoat, the bull offering, the cities of refuge, and many other things to begin to show them Christ.

Ultimately, we know that taking them to Scripture is the most important since faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. It truly is the seed that we must sow. And many Muslims, with their strong emphasis on law, have come to faith in Christ because they know they have violated the moral law, and the truth of Christ’s sacrifice can give them rest from the burden with which they continually live.

3. Begin to show them that God is intimately involved in their lives and even in closer relationship with those He calls His children. The relationship between Allah and a Muslim is one of Master and slave, but they were made to have a relationship with God that is as close as father to child and husband to bride. Whether they admit it or not, you have a point of common ground with them since they were made in the image of the Christian God for the purpose of being in relationship with Him. Ultimately, they have no relationship with Allah, since he cannot be known to them, only his laws can be known. Besides that, he doesn’t exist. So, even though they may be suppressing it, you must appeal to the God shaped vacuum with which they live.

The parables are a good place to turn in order to show them this close relationship. Show them the prodigal son, and that God longs for his return. In their understanding, Allah hates the prodigal. You can also tell them the parable of the lost coin or the lost sheep to help bring this home.

4. If there has been some reception up to this point, you can begin to show them untrustworthiness of serving a God who can change his moral laws at will, and makes no promise to those who are in submission that he will keep them. They believe Allah can take a man or woman who has lived in submission to him all their lives and right before death he can deceive them and send them to hell. Show them that God has promised to be faithful and just to complete the work He has begun in someone who is his child, and that He will never leave them or forsake them.

You can also point out that Allah has abrogated many of the other Holy books, how do they know for sure that he hasn’t abrogated the Koran yet? Simply because he said he wouldn’t has not stopped him from abrogating previous Holy books.

5. Finally remember that they do not know God at all, because they do not know Jesus. Jesus said, "if you do not know me you do not know the father," so be sure not to be blinded by any claim that you really believe in the same God, and that they simply don’t believe Jesus was anything more than a good prophet.

Obviously every encounter you have will be different, so this is not to be read as some kind of formula. But hopefully these points will be helpful next time you share your faith with a Muslim.

God Bless,

Doug

The Kisses of God

But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. Luke 15:20

What a beautiful picture we have here. The prodigal has returned home, but only after forsaking his father and laying waste to his inheritance. The prodigal, living comfortably in his father’s house wells up with pride and forsakes his father’s government. He requests his inheritance and leaves. Filling his life with riotous living, he takes harlots as his companions, and fills his desires for vanity and squanders his father’s precious gifts.

Oh’ but the child of God is never outside their Father’s providence, and famine hits the foreign land of the prodigal. The prodigal’s hopes are soon dashes upon the rocks of vanity and sin, as he finds himself in bondage. He is joined to a citizen of that country where he is required to feed pigs. In this state, the lords of this country do not offer him anything but to eat and sleep in the pig stalls. Sin brings temporary satisfaction but piles on long lasting burdens, impossible to remove. He is in a state of perpetual dissatisfaction, and insanity. But the grace of God is far reaching, and the prodigal comes to himself and says, “It would be better to be a slave in my father’s house then to live here”. What a shame it is, that many never come to themselves and never feel the burden of sin on their back, and what a shame many that do feel it, never venture to go home. They die in their despair, seeking some way to have the burden removed. They sink ever slowly into the “slough of despond”. What a shame, many have even taken their own lives in this despair.

But, In his unworthy state, covered in the stains and wounds of the foreign land that he had desire to live, the prodigal walks slowly home, crestfallen, seeking only servitude in the house of his father. But unworthy of even that, for not honoring your father and mother is a crime worthy of death under the law.

But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion. Our Father’s eyes are ever on us, even when we can’t see Him. When our heads are down dejected from our sin, He looks and has compassion. How His heart aches when His children hurt, even from their self-inflicted wounds. He then ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. Before the son could say a word, the father had placed his lips upon his son. He did not wait until the filth was washed. Nor was he concerned with any of the scoffing that the community might bring.

Oh’ the kisses of the Father say so much. The kiss shows much love for the son. There has been no loss of love in the heart of the father. No uncertainty in the value of his child has occurred due to his son’s crimes. The kiss demonstrates full forgiveness, as it speaks of absolution. The debt the son incurred has been forgotten, and the burden of sin and guilt is gone. In the kisses of God we see full restoration. The son is as much a son as he had ever been; the thoughts of servitude are to be done away with. No more food fit for swine, nor clothes fit for prisoners. For there shall be a feast fit for royalty, a new robe is to be placed upon him, and a ring to signify to the world, that he is part of his father’s family. The son has full restoration, and all this before he can speak his confession, which he has undoubtedly been rehearsing.

There is a beauty in true humility for it does not flow from our natural self, but is the direct result of the working of the Spirit of God. Nevertheless, the son proceeds to confess before his father. True repentance is shown in this way, that even those accepted by the father long to confess. It is almost as if the son is making sure the father realizes what he has done. He wants to make sure his sin is fully realized, before accepting the welcome. Oh, but the father knows, and this kiss was no mistake.

Those who come to the father by faith, in repentance will receive all the kisses of God. We are given the kiss of a new heart and new spirit as our hearts of stone are turned to hearts of flesh by the very grace of God. And we are kissed with strong assurance. Though the prodigal may have intense fears of walking away again, we see that the father is not apprehensive that son may disgrace his mercy and forgiveness. For the Father knows that, of those who are His, He will not loose one of them.

There is also the kiss of intimate communion. The kisses that God gives are not like the kisses of Judas. These kisses, He only gives to those that are in an intimate relationship with Him. Our Father, looks at us and sees everything we are, all of our depravity, yet He places His lips upon us and kisses us with intimate communion. The kiss He gives is more intimate than any kiss a husband could give his wife, or a wife could give her husband.

Children of God and those who long to be, run to your father while there is still time. Satan tells you that you are unworthy of the kisses of God, and the truth is you have never been worthy nor will you ever be. But that is the very reason you must go. Only the kisses of your father can offer you anything. The world will offer you its kisses but they are the kisses of Judas. Betraying kisses that will lead to your demise. Reject the kisses of this world and run to your Father.

There are kisses for every one of your despairs. Every wound and disease that eats at your soul can be addressed by the kisses of God. It would be worthwhile to quote Charles Spurgeon at length here, for much of this was drawn from his influence.

“Perhaps one whom I am addressing says, “even though I confess my sin, and seek God’s mercy, I shall still be in sore trouble for through my sin, I have brought myself down to poverty.” “There is a kiss for you,” says the Lord: “Thy bread shall be given thee, and water shall be sure.” “But I have even brought disease upon myself by sin,” says another. “There is a kiss for you, for I am Jehovah-Rophi, the Lord that healeth thee, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases.” “But I am dreadfully down at the heel,” says another. The Lord gives you also a kiss, and says, “I will lift you up, and provide for all your needs. No good thing will I withhold for them that walk uprightly.” All the promises in this Book belong to every repentant sinner, who returns to God believing in Jesus Christ, his son.”

Child of God, let the world scoff and the consequences of your sin run their course. You have the kisses of God. For every trial, even the self-inflicted ones, can now do you no harm. All things work together for the good of those who love Him, even the effects of our sin we now life with. And everything in this world will pass away, and we will one day enter the kingdom of our Lord. Where every tear will be dried and sadness will be no more. The world may continue to wound, and people may even look at you with disdainful eyes, remember it is not their approval you need, you have the kisses of God.

It would beneficial to address those sit and ponder their sin. Feeling proud that they are not like the great sinners being spoken of here. For they feel that they have not done such a great evil that they should drop their heads in shame. May God be merciful and show you your misery. For like the Pharisee, you fulfill your ritual of prayer in the public places, but remember the Pharisee walked away unforgiven. It was the tax collector that beat his own breast as if to say, “it is I who should be accursed”. The image of beating his breast symbolizes that he did not see his sin as intellectual mistakes, but flowing from his very soul. For that is what sin is, our very nature mocking the Holiness of God. He cried to God, “have mercy on me a sinner”, and how lovingly the Father kisses Him with forgiveness and acceptance.

There are still others who started out strong but have begun to be choked out by the cares of this world. Pleasures, promotions, and the search for prestige has taken you captive, and begun to steal your time away from the things of God. May God grant you repentance for many start strong down the narrow path only to taken away by such lusts never to return. They become like the man despairing in the cage in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, who took the hand of his lusts and could not repent because he loved them so. They overtook him and blinded him of his need for salvation, and he proved never to be a child of God.

Come to His feet in repentance, for it is our only hope. The wrath of God will be poured out on sinners. Lest we accept the sacrifice of Christ Jesus, who did what we could not and lived a sinless life, yet was crucified in our place. For scripture states “He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. The repenting sinner is the only one who can receive a crown of righteousness, and it is not our righteousness but Christ’s.

How can we neglect so great a salvation? Make your election sure. May all those who are children of God, and those who long to be, come to Him today and be ravished by His kisses.

-Doug Eaton-

Burdens and Rest

“Oh That I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Psalms 55:6

David found himself again at the foot of the Lord crying out in restlessness for deliverance. Rest is what he was seeking, and as he longs for this rest he cries out for a means of escape. This world gives us plenty of opportunity to cry out in the same manner. Whether it be our toil that daily besets us, family problems, illnesses, or the frequent visits of our own failures, rest is elusive. The Lord said take my yoke upon you and I will give you rest. It’s amazing how a burden can bring rest. We see this in Genesis when Jacob is blessing his sons and he says...

Issachar is a strong donkey

Lying down between two burdens;

He saw that rest was good,

And that the land was pleasant;

He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden

And became a band of servants.

Issachar and the tribe that came from him were of the working class. They see that rest is good and they bowed their shoulder to bear a burden. We too should follow their lead, realizing that rest is good and that it is found in becoming servants.

Christ took upon Himself all of our wrath, shame and sin. He bore on the cross the true burden of our sin, we simply bear the light burden of living in a sinful world as His children. The wrath that was inflicted on Christ caused God to turn away from Him. There is no greater place of despair, and no rest could be found in that moment. We as people of God bear such a light burden in comparison. In this world we may suffer shame, disease, and struggle with our own sinfulness. Which may cause us to despair but this is a light burden to bear because our condemnation comes to us from within ourselves or other people, but never from God.

As you seek rest today do it by bowing your shoulder to the yolk of Christ, and become His servant. As you toil, labor, and deal with the issues of this sinful world, rest in the knowledge that He has bourn the real burden. Rest also in the knowledge that when you have on the yolk of Christ, redemption is certain. Redemption from this world, and redemption from your own sinful nature, and we will one day see Him face to face and enter our true place of rest.

-Doug Eaton-

Wonder at Your Adoption - Spurgeon

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” 1 John 3:1,2

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us.” Consider who we were, and what we feel ourselves to be even now when corruption is powerful in us, and you will wonder at our adoption. Yet we are called “the sons of God.” What a high relationship is that of a son, and what privileges it brings! What care and tenderness the son expects from his father, and what love the father feels towards the son! But all that, and more than that, we now have through Christ. As for the temporary drawback of suffering with the elder brother, this we accept as an honour: “Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” We are content to be unknown with him in his humiliation, for we are to be exalted with him. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” That is easy to read, but it is not so easy to feel. How is it with your heart this morning? Are you in the lowest depths of sorrow? Does corruption rise within your spirit, and grace seem like a poor spark trampled under foot? Does your faith almost fail you? Fear not, it is neither your graces nor feelings on which you are to live: you must live simply by faith on Christ. With all these things against us, now—in the very depths of our sorrow, wherever we may be—now, as much in the valley as on the mountain, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” “Ah, but,” you say, “see how I am arrayed! my graces are not bright; my righteousness does not shine with apparent glory.” But read the next: “It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him.” The Holy Spirit shall purify our minds, and divine power shall refine our bodies, then shall we see him as he is.

-Charles Spurgeon-

Backslidings Healed!

Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Jer 3:22

I will comfort you under the grief you are in for your backslidings, deliver you out of the troubles you have brought yourselves into by your backslidings, and cure you of your refractoriness and tendency to backslide." God will heal our backslidings by his pardoning mercy, his quieting peace, and his renewing grace.

-Matthew Henry-

Willful Sin

Hebrews 10:26-27 says, “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries (KJV).” This verse has caused many people undue anxiety. J. Vernon McGee says, that this verse should cause the hair on the back of our necks to stand up, but not in the same way it does for many who read it out of context. If we were to look at this verse by itself we would assume that if we sin after we are saved we are without hope and should simply await judgment, but does the author of Hebrews mean any sin or does he have a specific sin in mind.

The first thing we need to do with this scripture is to check the context in which we find it. First, according to Henry Virkler we need to find out some basic information about the book in which we find the statement. We should start by asking, “to whom is this book written?” When studying scripture, the best place to start looking for answers to questions like these is scripture itself, because it is infallible unlike external sources. Without much effort we will find that it is written to the Jews who have converted to Christianity or at least have made some commitment to it. This is quickly apparent because according to Albert Barnes, in his Notes on the Bible, the author of Hebrews speaks about Jewish customs without any explanation. It is apparent that the audience was Jewish and knew what these customs were and what they represented.

Another question we should ask is, “why is this book being written?” As we study the book we find that it has a general purpose, first it describes what Christ has done for them as the only true sacrifice for sin and then warns them against falling away. The concern about falling away was not due to persecution but to many who were tempted to go back to the old sacrifices which were only symbols of the true sacrifice which is Christ (Heb. 10:14).

After we have the overall argument of the book the next question we should ask is, “how do these verses of scripture fit into the overall argument of the book?” As we read the book we see that chapter 10 seems to bring the first and major section of the book to a close. Chapter 10 starts by showing that Christ is and was the only sacrifice by which any person will ever be saved. The author in verses 19-25 lays out the “new and living way”, which indicates that the old method of sacrifices are no longer of any value and to continue in them is sin.

It is in this context that we find our text. When the author says, “if we willingly sin” he is clearly speaking of willfully rejecting the sacrifice of Christ and going back to the old symbols which can never cleanse anyone from sin. If a believer does this then there is no sacrifice for their sins and they can only await judgment. In a broader sense the sin that the author is speaking of is apostasy. Now whether or not a true believer could actually do this is another question. But as J. Vernon McGee said, it should cause the hair on our neck to stand up, because this is a strong warning to keep us from ever letting anyone lead us away from trusting in the only true sacrifice that can cleans us from our sins; Jesus Christ.

If the book of Hebrews’ internal evidence is not enough to comfort a trembling soul who thinks they are forever lost because they have willfully sinned, then we must always remember that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” In them we will find no contradictions. If we ever have trouble with a difficult verse that is not immediately clear to us then we need to go check the scriptures that are clear, for Scripture is it best interpreter. In doing this we will find a verse like 1 John 2:1, which is crystal clear and says, “and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” In a quick study of the context we see that John is speaking to believers. We also have the story of David being a man after God’s own heart even after committing adultery with Bathsheba and having Uriah killed. There is also the encouragement found in the account of Peter’s three denials and the forgiveness he receives from Christ, or of Paul in Romans 7 struggling with the flesh and committing sins that he hates. All of these are ample evidence that the two verses in Hebrews 10 are not saying that if you commit a sin you are lost and no longer have hope. It is saying that if you reject the sacrifice of Christ you have no hope.

-Doug Eaton-

My Advocate

I sinned. And straightway, post-haste, Satan flew
Before the presence of the most high God,
And made a railing accusation there.
He said, "This soul, this thing of clay and sod,
Has sinned. 'Tis true that he has named Thy name,
But I demand his death, for Thou hast said,

'The soul that sinneth, it shall die.'
Shall not Thy sentence be fulfilled?
Is justice dead?
Send now this wretched sinner to his doom.
What other thing can righteous ruler do?
"And thus he did accuse me day and night,
And every word he spoke, O God, was true!

Then quickly One rose up from God's right hand,
Before Whose glory angels veiled their eyes. He spoke,
"Each jot and tittle of the law
Must be fulfilled; the guilty sinner dies!
But wait -- suppose his guilt were all transferred
To Me, and that I paid his penalty!
Behold My hands, My side, My feet! One day
I was made sin for him, and died that he
Might be presented, faultless, at Thy throne!"
And Satan flew away. Full well he knew
That he could not prevail against such love,
For every word my dear Lord spoke was true!

-Martha Snell Nicholson-