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The Tension between the Already and the Not yet!

Mike Jeshurun

I have little, little of him, but I want more.-Samuel Rutherford

A statement such as the above perplexes the mind. How do we explain this? Does the Lord Jesus come to us in parts? Does not Scripture teach that, “And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace”. [John 1:16]. And again, “For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power” [Col 2:9,10]. And finally, how do we square the above statement of Godly Rutherford with the Lord’s declaration – “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst” [Jn 6:35]?

In order to understand the above statement, we need to understand that all of New Testament Theology is qualified by the tension between the already and the not yet.

Take for instance the unspeakable gift of Grace. We have already received grace; even grace for grace and an abundance of grace; yet we are admonished to hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ [1Pet 1:13]; and that God in the ages to come will show us the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. [Eph 2:7].

We are already saved by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ [Eph 2:8,9]. Yet the Scripture speaks of a future Salvation. [see Rom 5:9,10.] ‘Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us’! [2Cor 1:10]

The Kingdom of God is already here, even ‘within us,’ yet we pray “Thy Kingdom come”.

Even so, though we have received Christ and He dwells in our hearts by faith in all His fullness [Jn 1:16], we have only as it were tasted the Lord [1Pet 2:3]. To “taste” is to have a

personal experience of, in contrast from mere knowledge. But tasting does not include eating, much less digesting and turning into nourishment what is so tasted.

The regenerated soul has found its satisfaction in God as He is revealed in Christ. And this is indeed Eternal life, i.e. to know Him the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent [Jn 17:3].

Of old God said, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. [Jer 9:23,24]

Yet we know Him only in part and to the extent He hath chosen to reveal Himself.

There is in the heart of the regenerate an INSATIABLE hunger for MORE of the ‘Bread of Heaven’ and an UNQUENCHABLE thirst for MORE of the ‘Water of life’. The Patriach prayed, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory”! [Ex 33:18]. The Psalmist, “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary”. [Psa 631,2]  The Apostle too yearned for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord: for whom he said, “I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” [Phil 3:8].

God is incomprehensible! But the incomprehensibility of the Divine nature is not a reason why we should desist from reverent inquiry and prayerful strivings to apprehend what He has so graciously revealed of Himself in His Word. Because we are unable to acquire perfect knowledge, it would be folly to say we will therefore make no efforts to attain to any degree of it. [A.W. Pink]

It has been well said that –

“Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued, investigation of the great subject of the Deity. The most excellent study for expanding the soul is the science of Christ and Him crucified and the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity.” (C. H. Spurgeon).

Even in Heaven, we shall never know God as He fully knows us. The Saints in Heaven are glorified not ‘divine’. In their glorified state, Christians will still be finite creatures, and therefore, never able to fully comprehend the infinite God. [A.W. Pink]

As one of old hath so wisely said –

“The saints in heaven will see God with the eye of the mind, for He will be always invisible to the bodily eye; and will see Him more clearly than they could see Him by reason and faith, and more extensively than all His works and dispensations had hitherto revealed Him; but their minds will not be so enlarged as to be capable of contemplating at once, or in detail, the whole excellence of His nature. To comprehend infinite perfection, they must become infinite themselves. Even in Heaven, their knowledge will be partial, but at the same time their happiness will be complete, because their knowledge will be perfect in this sense, that it will be adequate to the capacity of the subject, although it will not exhaust the fullness of the object. We believe that it will be progressive, and that as their views expand, their blessedness will increase; but it will NEVER reach a limit beyond which there is nothing to be discovered; and when ages after ages have passed away, HE WILL STILL BE THE INCOMPREHENSIBLE GOD. (John Dick, 1840).

J.C. Philpot said – the Christian is a “Mysterious creature! He cannot live without sinning, yet cannot live in sin; cannot live without prayer, and yet for days together cannot pray; continually finds religion a burden, yet would not part with it for the world; lusts after sin as a delicious morsel, yet hates it with a perfect hatred; esteems Christ the Chiefest among ten thousand, and yet is at times tried with doubts whether He is a Saviour at all”.

Likewise the Christian is fully satisfied with Christ but laments that he has so little of Him. Hence the cry –

“I have little, little of him, but I want more”.-Samuel Rutherford

Mike Jeshurun

Introduction

Both Christians and unbelievers always ask, “Are you telling me that if someone just accepted Jesus as his Lord and savior and still lives in sin, that he is still eternally secure and on his way to heaven”?

No that is not what this doctrine teaches!

Then what does it mean?

To understand what it means, we need to understand how one becomes a Christian in the first place. This is vital for our understanding of all the other things pertaining to salvation.

Basically there are three types of Christians. Preacher-made, self-made, and God-made ones. In the former are included not only those who were “sprinkled” in infancy and thereby made members of a “church”, but those who have reached the age of accountability and are induced by some high-pressure “evangelist” to “make a profession .”

The “self-made” class is made up of those who have been warned against what has just been described above, and fearful of being deluded by such religious hucksters they determined to “settle the matter” directly with God in the privacy of their own room or some secluded spot. They had been given to understand that God loves everybody, that Christ died for the whole human race, and that nothing is required of them but faith in the gospel. By ‘saving faith’ they suppose that a mere intellectual assent to, or acceptance of, such statements as are found in John 3:16 and Romans 10:13 is all that is intended. It matters not that John 2:23, 24 declares that “many believed in his name but Jesus did not commit himself unto them,” that “many believed on him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him lest they be put out of the synagogue, for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God,” which shows how much their “believing” was worth. Imagining that the natural man is capable of “receiving Christ as personal Saviour” they make the attempt, doubt not their success, go on their way rejoicing, and none can shake their assurance that they are now real Christians!

God-made Christians on the other hand are a miracle of grace, the products of Divine workmanship [Ephesians 2:10]. They are a Divine creation, brought into existence by supernatural operations. The new birth is “not of blood (by natural descent), nor of the will of the flesh (his own ‘free-will’), nor of the will of man (the preacher’s persuasion), but OF GOD” (John 1:13),

Even these ‘God made’ Christians may initially be deluded into thinking that they became Christians because they ‘accepted Christ into their heart, by their own free-will etc’. But even as they begin to read the Word of God and are taught by the Holy Spirit they will begin to see that just as they had nothing to do with their natural birth, even so they contributed nothing to their spiritual birth! “Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures”! [James 1:18]. And they realize the truth of Jesus’ Words – “Ye have chosen not Me, but I have chosen you”! [John 15:16]

These ‘God made Christians’ the Bible calls ‘elect’ or ‘sheep’. [Matt 18:11]And the Lord Jesus came to seek and to save these lost sheep. Now notice carefully, it does not say that Jesus will try to save these sheep. But that He will save them! “and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins”! [Matt 1:21]

Another thing to bear in mind is that their repentance and the faith with which they believe are both gifts of God and a fruit of regeneration. A man does not believe the Gospel and get saved, but believes the gospel because he is saved. Now the Apostle says, that “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance”! [Romans 11:29] This just means that God did not give these gifts in the first place because of any merit which He saw in them and neither will He take back these gifts on account of any demerit.

But to return to the question – “What if they sin”?

The Scriptures declare that when God saves His elect, He creates within them a ‘new nature’. This is what the Apostle calls the ‘new man’. [Eph 4:22-24] This ‘new man’ has but one goal in life –To stop sinning and do righteousness. Paul said – “I delight in the law of God after the inward man”. [Rom 7:22]. He has been born of God, and therefore cannot practice sin! Please notice, that I did not say that he cannot sin, but that he cannot practice or habitually live a sinful life. And the reason he cannot practice sin is because God’s seed is in him. John said – “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God”. [1John 3:9]

There is a big difference between falling into sin and practicing sin. The worldly people and the nominal Christians can and do practice sin without any conviction. But not so the true child of God!

Now when God creates the ‘new nature’ in his elect sheep, He does not remove or eradicate the old nature, but leaves the old nature in them until the resurrection. And in-spite of the introduction of the new nature, the old wicked nature in the Christian has not changed one bit. It is as wicked as it was before the Christian was regenerated. And it strives with all its power to make the Christian sin and rebel against God. So the Christian often groans – “O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?!” [Romans 7:24]

Whoever may get away with sin on this side of eternity, the Christian cannot! Since they are His children, God uses the rod, chastises them, brings them to their senses and grants them the power to forsake sin! [see Psalm 89:30-35]

A saved Christian is a member of God’s household, and God sets His own house in order before He goes after the heathen!

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God”? [1Peter 4:17] And again – “if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world”. [1Cor 11:31,32]

So to paraphrase all that is said above – “A true Christian will not and cannot continue in sin! But even if he should be taken in a sin (as some backsliders are) as David was, then God will go after them, chastise them and bring them to repentance! His promise is – “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely”! [Hosea 14:4]

So, is the true Christian eternally secure? He sure is! A true believer can fall into error, even very serious doctrinal error. A true believer can fall into sin, even very serious sin. But a true believer will not totally abandon Christ and die in his sins or become a total apostate to the point where he “stops believing” the gospel or even teaches contrary to the gospel. On the ship of faith, believers can fall down on the deck and they can fall down very hard on the deck but they will not fall overboard!

How come? Because, the Lord who saved them, is not only the Author of their faith, but He is also the finisher of their faith! [Heb 12:2] And they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time”! [1Pet 1:5]

“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us (past) from so great a death, and doth deliver (present): in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us (future)”! [2Cor 1:9,10] Hallelujah!

One of the most comforting doctrines or truths revealed in the Word of God to the believer is his ‘Eternal Security’ in Christ. There is nothing more comforting to a soul troubled with sin, but to know that the Christ in whom he hath placed his trust, shall save him to the end, notwithstanding his own corrupt flesh, the temptations of the world and the devil who goes about as a roaring lion seeking to devour him!

As the Lord Himself assured – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand”. [John 10:27-29]

The nature of the change which occurs in regeneration, guarantees the eternal security of God’s elect.

Before one can understand or grasp the truth of the ‘eternal security’ of the believer, he must first grasp the nature of salvation!

Regeneration is a radical and supernatural change of the inner nature, through which the soul is made spiritually alive, and the new life which is implanted is immortal. And since it is a change in the inner nature, it is in a sphere in which man does not have control. No creature is at liberty to change the fundamental principles of its nature, for that is the prerogative of God as creator. Hence nothing short of another supernatural act of God could reverse this change and cause the new life to be lost. The born-again Christian can no more lose his sonship to the heavenly Father than an earthly son can lose his sonship to an earthly father. The idea that a Christian may fall away and perish arises from a wrong conception of the principle of spiritual life, which is imparted to the soul in regeneration.

If Christ had gone to the cross just to give us life, conceivably we could commit a sin and lose that life; but because He has given us eternal life, by the very nature of that which is eternal, it must be forever and ever. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” [Jn. 3:36]. Not will have or may have (if he behaves), but hath right now! [see also 1 Jn 5:13].

The ‘new birth’ is a spiritual resurrection, a passing from death unto life [Jn 5:24]. Writing to the saints in Ephesus the apostle Paul said, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; [Eph. 2:4-6; see also Col. 2:12]. This is the resurrection that Jesus spoke of to Martha before He raised Lazarus from the dead. He said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die [Jn. 11:25,26].

According to these verses, those whom God hath made alive, have experienced the resurrection of their souls. The Bible calls this the ‘First Resurrection’ [Rev. 20:5]. Upon those who have experienced the First Resurrection the ‘Second Death’ has no power [Rev. 20:6]. The second death being eternal damnation in Hell [Rev. 20:14].

The saints relationship to the law guarantees his eternal security.

Prior to their salvation the elect of God were under the ‘curse of the law’ [Gal. 3:13]. The curse of the law is its penal sanction. This is essentially the wrath or curse of God, the displeasure which rests upon every infraction of the law’s demand. “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them” [Gal 3:10]. Without deliverance from this curse there could be no salvation. It is from this curse that Christ has purchased his people and the price of the purchase was that He himself became a curse. He became so identified with the curse resting upon His people that the whole of it in all its unrelieved intensity became His. That curse He bore and that curse He exhausted. That was the price paid for this redemption and the liberty secured for the beneficiaries is that there is no more curse.

Christ has redeemed us from the necessity of keeping the law as the condition of our justification and acceptance with God. Without such redemption there could be no justification and no salvation. It is the obedience of Christ Himself that has secured this release. For it is by His obedience that many will be constituted righteous [Rom 5:19]. In other words, it is the active and passive obedience of Christ that is the price of this redemption, active and passive obedience because He was made under law, fulfilled all the requirements of righteousness and met all the sanctions of justice.

Paul teaches that believers are not under law, but under grace, and that since they are not under the law they cannot be condemned for having violated the law. “Ye are not under law but under grace,” Rom. 6:14. “Not under law” here means that we are no longer under condemnation because of our failure to keep the law. Further sin cannot possibly cause their downfall, for they are under a system of grace and are not treated according to their deserts. “If it is by grace, it is no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace,” Rom 11:6. “The law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression,” Rom 4:15.

“Apart from the law sin is dead” (that is, where the law is abolished sin can no longer subject the person to punishment), Rom. 7:8. “Ye were made dead to the law through the body of Christ,” Rom. 7:4. The one who attempts to earn even the smallest part of his salvation by works becomes “a debtor to do the whole law” (that is, to render perfect obedience in his own strength and thus earn his salvation), Gal. 5:3. We are here dealing with two radically different systems of salvation, two systems which, in fact, are diametrically opposed to each other.

The infinite, mysterious, eternal love of God for His people is a guarantee that they can never be lost.

This love is not subject to fluctuations but is as unchangeable as His being. It is also gratuitous, and keeps faster hold of us than we of it. It is not founded on the attractiveness of its objects. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins,” I John 4:10. “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life,” Rom. 5:8-10. Here the very point stressed is that our standing with God is not based on our deserts. It was “while we were enemies” that we were brought into spiritual life through sovereign grace; and if He has done the greater, will He not do the lesser?

The writer of the book of Hebrews also teaches that it is impossible for one of God’s chosen to be lost when he says that Christ is both “the Author and Perfecter of our faith.” We are there taught that the whole course of our salvation is divinely planned and divinely guided. Neither the grace of God nor its continuance is given according to our merits. Hence if any Christian fell away, it would be because God had withdrawn His grace and changed His method of procedure—or, in other words, because He had put the person back under a system of law.

Robert L. Dabney has expressed this truth very ably in the following paragraph: “The sovereign and unmerited love is the cause of the believer’s effectual calling. Jer. 31:3; Rom 8:30. Now, as the cause is unchangeable, the effect is unchangeable. That effect is, the constant communication of grace to the believer in whom God hath begun a good work. God was not induced to bestow His renewing grace in the first instance, by anything which He saw, meritorious or attractive, in the repenting sinner; and therefore the subsequent absence of everything good in him would be no new motive to God for withdrawing His grace. When He first bestowed that grace, He knew that the sinner on whom He bestowed it was totally depraved, and wholly and only hateful in himself to the divine holiness; and therefore no new instance of ingratitude or unfaithfulness, of which the sinner may become guilty after his conversion, can be any provocation to God, to change His mind, and wholly withdraw His sustaining grace. God knew all this ingratitude before. He will chastise it, by temporarily withdrawing His Holy Spirit, or His providential mercies; but if He had not intended from the first to bear with it, and to forgive it in Christ, He would not have called the sinner by His grace at first. In a word, the causes for which God determined to bestow His electing love on the sinner are wholly in God, and not at all in the believer; and hence, nothing in the believer’s heart or conduct can finally change that purpose of love. Is. 54:10; Rom. 11:29. Compare carefully Rom. 5: 8-10; 8:32, with the whole scope of Rom. 8:28-end. This illustrious passage is but an argument for our proposition; ‘What shall separate us from the love of Christ?’”

The promises of Christ assures us of our eternal security in Him.

Jesus declared, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” John 10:28. Here we find that our security and God’s omnipotence are equal; for the former is founded on the latter. God is mightier than the whole world, and neither men nor Devil can rob Him of one of His precious jewels. It would be as easy to pluck a star out of the heavens as to pluck a saint out of the Father’s hand. Their salvation stands in His invincible might and they are placed beyond the peril of destruction. We have Christ’s promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church; yet if the Devil could snatch one here and another there and large numbers in some congregations, the gates of hell would to a great extent prevail against it. In principle, if one could be lost, all might be lost, and thus Christ’s assurance would be reduced to idle words.

When we are told that “There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, who shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect,” Matt. 24:24, the unprejudiced believing mind readily understands that it is impossible to lead astray the elect.

The mystical union which exists between Christ and believers, is a guarantee that they shall continue steadfast.

“Because I live, ye shall live also,” [John 14:19]. The Lord says these words to His elect, His chosen, His sheep and not to “every man who ever lived”. The effect of this union is that believers participate in His life. Christ is in us, Romans 8:10. It is not we that live, but Christ that liveth in us, [Gal 2:20]. Christ and the believers have a common life such as that which exists in the vine and the branches. The Holy Spirit so dwells in the redeemed that every Christian is supplied with an inexhaustible reservoir of strength.

The intercession of Christ assures us of our eternal security.

Christ makes intercession for His people [Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25], and we are told that the Father hears Him always [John 11:42]. Hence the Arminian, holding that Christians may fall away, must deny either the passages which declare that Christ does make intercession for His people, or he must deny those which declare that His prayers are always heard. Let us consider here how well protected we are: Christ is at the right hand of God pleading for us, and in addition to that, the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. [Rom. 8:26].

In the wonderful promise of Jer. 32:40, God has promised to preserve believers from their own backslidings: “And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. And in Ezek. 11:19,20, He promises to take from them the “stony heart,” and to give them a “heart of flesh,” so that they shall walk in His statutes and keep His ordinances, and so that they shall be His people and He their God. Peter tells us that Christians cannot fall away, for they “are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time,” [I Pet. 1:5]. Paul says, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” [II Cor. 9:8]. He declares that the Lord’s servant shall be made to stand; for “God is able to make him stand,” [Rom. 14:4].

Another strong argument is to be noticed concerning the Lamb’s book of life.

The disciples were told to rejoice, not so much over the fact that the demons were subject to them, but that their names were written in the Lamb’s book of life. This book is a catalogue of the elect, determined by the unalterable counsel of God, and can neither be increased nor diminished. The names of the righteous are found there; but the names of those who perish have never been written there from the foundation of the world. God does not make the mistake of writing in the Book of Life a name which he will later have to blot out.  Hence none of the Lord’s own ever perish. Jesus told His disciples to find their chief joy in the fact that their names were written in heaven, Luke 10:20; yet there would have been small grounds for joy in this respect if their names written in heaven one day could have been blotted out the next. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Our citizenship is in heaven,” Phil. 3:20; and to Timothy he wrote, “The Lord knoweth them that are His.” [2Tim. 2:19].

Here, then, are very simple and plain statements that the Christian shall continue in grace, the reason being that the Lord takes it upon Himself to preserve him in that state. In these promises the elect are secured on both sides. Not only will God not depart from them, but He will so put His fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from Him. Surely no Spirit-taught Christian can doubt that this doctrine is taught in the Bible.

It seems that man, poor, wretched and impotent as he is, would welcome a doctrine which secures for him the possessions of eternal happiness despite all attacks from without and all evil tendencies from within. But it is not so. He refuses it, and argues against it. And the causes are not far to seek. In the first place he has more confidence in himself than he has any right to have. Secondly, the scheme is so contrary to what he is used to in the natural world that he persuades himself that it cannot be true. Thirdly, he perceives that if this doctrine be admitted, the other doctrines of free grace will logically follow. Hence he twists and explains away the Scripture passages which teach it, and clings to some which appear on the surface to favor his preconceived views. In fact, a system of salvation by grace is so utterly at variance with his every-day experience, in which he sees every person treated according to works and merits, that he has great difficulty in bringing himself to believe that it can be true. He wishes to earn his own salvation, though certainly he expects very high wages for very sorry work.

Now for a final word. The meaning of this doctrine must be clearly understood. It does not mean that every churchgoer or even every church member is certain to persevere to the end in his or her faith, or that everyone who has made a public profession of faith is eternally secure, or that all who seem to us to be true believers will never fall away from the faith.

What the doctrine of the perseverance or ‘Eternal Security’ of true believers does mean is this: those who have true faith can neither totally nor finally lose that faith. The Bible makes it clear that God will never permit those to whom He has given true faith to fall away from that faith. True believers persevere not because of their strength but because of God’s unchangeable mercy. Believers persevere only because God in His unchangeable love enables them to persevere.

Dear Brother John,

I am so grieved to hear about son’s affliction. Of a truth it is that “Many are the afflictions of the righteous!” and that “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Me thinks that through all of this the Lord is trying to get son’s attention.

Physical affliction in the life of a Christian should be a time of ‘inquiry’. While it is true that all affliction is not the consequence of personal disobedience or sinful conduct, nevertheless the child of God is called upon to seek the ‘why’ of it.

There is a cause for every effect, and a reason for all God’s dealings. For “Affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground.” The Lord does not act capriciously, nor does He afflict willingly (Lamentations 3:33). Every time affliction strikes us, it is a call to self-examination, for pondering the path of our feet, for heeding that repeated word in Haggai “Consider your ways.” It is our bounden duty to search ourselves and seek to discover the reason for the affliction. It is the time to enter the secret place and inquire of the Lord “show me wherefore Thou contendest with me” (Job 10:2).

Alas, only too often this self-examination and inquiring into the cause of our affliction is quite neglected, relief there from being the uppermost thought in the sufferer’s mind. There is a most solemn warning upon this point in 2 Chronicles 16:12, 13, “And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great; yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but the physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers.”

Brother, please, let me pause here to say that I personally do not think that your son is afflicted because he has sinned or failed the Lord in some way. In fact I think the Lord is allowing all this to draw him and you closer to Himself. Oh the wonderful Lord Jesus and His faithfulness! Said the man after God’s own heart “I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.” And “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy Statutes”.

The Master once asked His disciples “What, could ye not watch with me one hour?” And thankfully many a saint is faithful to spend that ‘one hour’ with Jesus every day. But it appears to me that sometimes our Lord is not satisfied with that ‘one or two hours’. He wants more of us. He says “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.”  Remember? He is the Jealous One, and “love is strong as death; and jealousy is cruel as the grave.” He says “in their affliction they will seek me early” [Hos 5:15]. Yes, it is true that most of the time we can’t help our ‘busyness’. But Love takes no explanation! And when the Lord wants more of us He’ll get us one way or the other. And what better way than to be laid down with affliction, when the only direction we can look is up!

Another reason the Lord sends affliction in our lives is to develop our graces. There are some of our graces which would never be discovered if it were not for our trials. Do we not know for a fact that our faith never looks so grand in summer as it does in winter? Love is too often like a glow-worm, showing but little light except it be in the midst of surrounding darkness. Hope itself is like a star which is not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, but only to be discovered in the night of adversity. “Afflictions are often the black foils in which God doth set the jewels of His children’s graces, to make them shine the better.” (Spurgeon) It was but a little while ago that on our knees we were praying, “Lord, I fear I have no faith: let me know that I have faith.” Was not this really, though perhaps unconsciously, praying for trials? For how can we know that we have faith until our faith is exercised?

Depend upon it Brother John, God often sends us trials that our graces may be discovered, and that we may be certified of their existence. Besides, it is not merely discovery, real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials. God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. As one said “He trains His soldiers, not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and using them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many a long mile with heavy knapsacks of sorrow on their backs.” Well, Brother, may not this account for the troubles through which we are passing? Is not the Lord bringing out our graces, and making them grow? Could this be the reason why He is contending with your son or you?

“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” All sickness is not occasioned by sin or the “if” in this verse would be meaningless. Most of the time afflictions are sent upon the saints for their refining and pruning rather than for correction, that they may yield some of the choicest of all the spiritual fruits. And unlike what the Pentecostals teach, the Lord is not always ready to heal if we trust Him. Rather is it His will that some should glorify Him “in the fires” (Isaiah 24:15).

God sent an angel to deliver Peter from prison, but suffered Stephen to be stoned to death. Some plants thrive best in burning heat, whereas ferns flourish in the shade. Certain graces, like zeal and intrepidity, are exercised on the battlefield, whereas meekness and patience are developed under suffering. God does not intend that many should do such a work as George Muller did and therefore He does not give them the faith for it, and those who try to imitate him fail. The privilege and duty of each Christian is defined in “Commit thy way unto the Lord: trust also in Him, and He shall bring to pass” (Isaiah 37:5). Bring what to pass? His way, the best way, though it may be the very opposite of what we wish. Commit thy case unto Him, trustfully, and leave Him to decide what will be most for His glory. If sickness persists, beg God to sanctify it to you.

Yes, some sicknesses and afflictions are the result of specific sins. And one of these sins of which many a Christian is unaware of is the misuse of the body. Misuse of the body, in relation to diet and morals, or in not taking proper care of it, is sin. God gave Israel moral and dietary laws, which if disobeyed would be constituted sin. If the body of the Christian belongs to God, is bought with a price, and is the temple of the Holy Ghost, he should see to its proper care. Overeating, overworking and lack of proper rest are sins against the body. Many Christians and Preachers are guilty here. And He said unto them, “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while.” [Mark 6:31]

Dear Brother John, there is much more I could write regarding sickness, but I have limited myself to only say what the Lord hath laid on my heart to say. You and your son are God’s children. And the Lord Jesus says to you “Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” So do not lose heart dear Brother. The Lord is faithful and will not suffer you to be tempted more than you are able to bear. Always remind yourself and be encouraged with that word- “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Hallelujah!

Many well meaning preachers attribute all sicknesses to the Devil. I really don’t want to argue. But as one who is established in the absolute Sovereignty of Jehovah, I would say “even if the devil did bring it, God sent it!” For “All things come of Thee!” (1Chron 29:14).

Shall stop now. I am praying for you and your son. May the Lord continue to bless you both and make you a blessing. Love you! You are a precious Brother.

Thy brother for whom Christ died!

Mike!

Mike Jeshurun

Dearly beloved, I am burdened to write to you what the Scriptures teach concerning Infant Baptism otherwise called Paedobaptism. Truth is: CHILDREN of any true Protestant or Calvinist are not automatically justified by some mysterious ‘covenant relationship’! Election does not run in the family in that sense! The new birth is “not of blood,” that is to say, it is not a matter of heredity, for regeneration does not run in the veins; “nor of the will of the flesh,” the will of the natural man though he be born to truly saved Christians is opposed to God, and he has NO WILL GODWARD until he has been born again; “nor of the will of man,” that is to say, the new birth is not brought about by the well-meant efforts of parents in either catechizing or ‘Sunday-schooling’ them!

Sadly, Article 17 (Canons of Dort) says that the children of the elect are also elect. I’m not sure where they got this from because there’s nothing IN THE BIBLE that says this. Besides, even a casual look at this issue will show NOT ALL children of Christian parents become Christians. Many a Christian would tell you even weeping how a dear child of his died with an oath on his lips, notwithstanding all their prayers and Christian upbringing.

If children of Christian parents are elect, then Ishmael (son of Abraham) should have been part of the elect and so should all of his descendants (the Arab nations). Again, if the children of the elect are elect, Esau should also have been one of the elect. Yet, one of the strong points of Calvinist Theology is the phrase, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” (Romans 9:13). ‘That which is born of the flesh is flesh’ applies to Calvinist’s too!

The ‘Regeneration without the Word’ theory propagated by W. G. T. Shedd (Dogmatic Theology) and Louis Berkhof (in his Systematic Theology) was apparently designed to accommodate the supposed regeneration of the infant children of believers to whom the supposed blessings of the “covenant” are allegedly vouchsafed. This theory reasoned that if infants are regenerated, then it must take place apart from the Gospel as an instrumentality, which infants are not capable of hearing. We ought to bear in mind that GOD HAS NO ‘GRANDCHILDREN’ only children! THE SECOND GENERATION ‘KNEW NOT THE LORD’ [Judges 2:10].

John the Baptist being born again in his mother’s womb and King David being made to hope when he was just a tiny baby are but exceptions, not the rule. We should not follow the example of those who quote the ‘thief on the Cross’ as a justification for death-bed conversions or a refusal to comply to the obedience of water–baptism.

The requirement for salvation has always been the same- i.e. hear, understand, repent and believe the Gospel. Only those children who are capable of doing this are qualified candidates for ‘water-baptism’. Agreed some children by divine grace are enabled to perceive and comprehend these things much earlier than others, but to contend that INFANTS can do this is foreign both to Scripture and common sense. Sure God can regenerate an infant. But this is a very rare exception, I might say as rare as the ‘death-bed’ conversion.

Dearly beloved, I know that many are established in the truth that only the elect children of the elect will be saved! And this is Scriptural. But I know of many out there who are very sound concerning every other doctrine of God and man, but are woefully wrong in matters pertaining to the salvation of the children of believers. What the Apostle said concerning the seed of Abraham can rightly be said of our own children too –

“They which are the CHILDREN OF THE FLESH, these ARE NOT THE CHILDREN OF GOD: but THE CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE are counted for the seed”. [Rom 9:8]. We know not who amongst our children are elect, so we teach them as though everything depended on our teaching and pray for them as though everything depended on our praying. We honestly wish that God would save them all! But our God has not changed! He is still the God who hath mercy on whom He will, and whom He will He hardeneth!

It is indeed sad that those who have rightly rejected the errors of ‘Common Grace’ and a ‘well-meant offer’ in order to remain consistent in their theology are not consistent when it comes the truth of the salvation of their own children!

If one truly believed that only the ‘elect children’ will be regenerated then why don’t they WAIT till their children can say with the Ethiopian Eunuch ‘I believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God’ and THEN baptize them according to Scripture?

Canons, Confessions and Catechisms are but the product of men’s minds. It can never be said of them that ‘holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost’! Especially when no scriptural warrant can be found for what is taught in them.

Abraham was SPECIFICALLY COMMANDED to circumcise all male infants. But there is no Scriptural warrant to baptize infants of believers in the New Testament. No matter what excuses or hermeneutical gymnastics people may use to justify it, the truth cannot be denied – INFANT BAPTISM IS OF PAGAN ORIGIN!

Where did this infant baptism come from?

Once has to go back to Genesis 10 and 11 where we read of Noah’s Great grandson, NIMROD, and his wife SEMIRAMUS, who started the great pagan BABYLON MYSTERY RELIGION at the Tower of Babel.  This great pagan religion was later known as ‘BAAL WORSHIP’ in the Old Testament, simply another name for Nimrod.   The great book, TWO BABYLONS by Alexander Hislop gives us a little background on this Babylon Mystery Religion of ‘BAAL WORSHIP’ started by Nimrod and Semiramus.

BABYLON MYSTERY RELIGION

In this mysterious Babylonian Religious System, Nimrod and Semiramis, along with their priests, were the only ones who understood ‘The great mysteries of God’ and since it was the only true religion… all others were false… therefore, only the Babylonian Priests could forgive and absolve sins…and administer salvation. Salvation could be achieved thru various Sacraments performed during the person’s life time. These SACRAMENTS were so-called ‘Channels of grace’ whereby salvation could be achieved. These Sacraments, necessary to salvation began at birth with Infant Baptism, other sacraments throughout life, ending with a final anointing with oil at death to prepare one for the hereafter. Now Since the Babylonian Priest was the only one who could administer these ‘sacraments’, the person was ‘bound’ to the Babylonian system helplessly for life! The first essential sacrament Semiramis taught was Baptism by water. The fact that such “Baptism” was practiced 2000 years before it was even mentioned and practiced in Christianity is an established fact, and it can be traced right back to Babylon and Semiramis herself!

The ancient historian Bryant (vol.3 p2l,84) traces this pagan baptism back to the practice of commemorating Noah and his 3 sons deliverance through the waters of the flood, emerging from the ark and entering a New life. To commemorate this event, the Priests of Nimrod would ‘baptize’ new-born infants the fathers chose to keep, and they would become ‘born-again’ and become members of the Babylonian Mystery Religion. (Hislop,Two Babylons, p134) The fact that the Devil practiced the ritual of Baptism over 2000 years before it was even used in Christianity has truly amazed historians!

Armitage’s History (p73) explains the pagan civil law and social customs of that day. These pagans had no standard of morality as you and I have. Their marriage rites were not on the basis ours are. One man might be the husband of a hundred women, and he might be the father of several hundred children. The mother had no right at all to determine whether the child she bore was to live or not, that was le ft up to the FATHER. Just as the farmer would go down to the pigpen and pick out the pigs he wanted to keep and do away with the runts, so was the father the one who decided if the child was to be kept and allowed to live. The mother could not even name the child if it was kept, the pagan priest did that. If the child was decided to be kept, the daddy would take it down to the pagan priest and the ceremony would be arranged. The Priest first must ‘exorcise’ evil spirits from the infant by anointing the baby’s head with OIL.

With the oil the priest puts the occult mark of Tammuz on the child’s head by marking a “T” with the oil. (later to become the ‘Sign of the Cross) The Priest then put SALT and SPITTLE on the baby’s tongue to preserve it from future influence of evil spirits. “HOLY WATER” is now sprinkled or poured over the baby’s head, and the baby is said to be cleansed from any original sin and is now “born-again” and a member of the Babylonian Religion. This process was known as INFANT CHRISTENING and was practiced hundreds of years before Christ, (Hislop,pl38) and is found NOWHERE in the Bible! There is not a single example of a baby being ‘baptized’ or ‘christened’ in the Bible! Knowing what you do now, WOULD YOU WANT YOUR BABY CHRISTENED?

This was called ‘Baal Worship’ in the Old Testament, and God called it an abomination!

Scriptural baptism as opposed to the Pagan Ritual.

Scriptural baptism is preceded by faith and repentance. Infant baptism is preceded by neither. To practice baptism before there is faith and repentance is to pervert the gospel. Anyone who preaches a different gospel is accursed (Galatians 1:6-9). When one practices Infant baptism he is going beyond the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9).

It is a truth that Infant baptism is responsible for sending more people to Hell than any other false doctrine. It is a dreadful thing to baptize a baby and let him grow up believing that by that baptism he has been saved and is on his way to Heaven. I cannot tell you how many I have personally preached the Gospel to who were baptized as Infants who saw no need for Christ and His forgiveness. Though not in so many words, their excuse for rejecting the Gospel is the same as the circumcised Jew- “We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free”? [Jn 8:33]. The attitude is definitely there. “We are the ‘children of the Covenant’, and have already been baptized. We are already Christians”!

Both secular and Christian historians have written about the pagan origins of this ungodly tradition. Even Spurgeon, with all his compromises saw the need to speak out against this delusion of the devil. So we see though the PRCA avows to dissent from the teachings of Rome, at least in this aspect of Infant baptism they walk HAND IN HAND with them.

The sincere seeker of truth should read Church history to see how many Christians were butchered (martyred) for opposing this pagan ritual! Come now, for a Christian to LAY DOWN HIS LIFE rather than comply with a Pagan practice, it must indeed be NO SMALL ERROR!

So let us stop justifying this Pagan practice, even if the early ‘Reformers’ incorporated it from the Roman Whore from whence they came out; and most of all let us quit quoting Scripture out of context to justify this obvious error!

Mike Jeshurun

The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689 say this concerning Justification –

“God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification; nevertheless, they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit doth in time due actually apply Christ unto them.
( Galatians 3:8; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Timothy 2:6; Romans 4:25; Colossians 1:21,22; Titus 3:4-7 )

This is the accurate exegesis concerning Justification and one which is in full accord with Scripture.

The question at hand is when were the Elect justified?  In eternity or at the Cross or when they first believed? This is a point on which some eminent Calvinists have erred, or at least, have expressed themselves faultily. Some of the older theologians, when expounding this doctrine, contended for the eternal justification of the elect, affirming that God pronounced them righteous before the foundation of the world, and that their justification was then actual and complete, remaining so throughout their history in time, even during the days of their unregeneracy and unbelief; and that the only difference their faith made was in making manifest God’s eternal justification in their consciences. This is a serious mistake, resulting (again) from failure to distinguish between things which differ.

Many who hold this error in their heads have the truth in their hearts, a fact which thankfully “will not suffer them to reduce their own opinions into practice.”
Nevertheless it is a dangerous teaching that needs to be exposed. The errors connected with it are:

1.The elect were justified in eternity (or at the time of Christ’s death).
2. In justification the elect are persuaded of Christ’s love for them.
3. We ought no more to question our faith than to question Christ.
4. Believers should not confess sin or pray for its forgiveness, because all their sins being pardoned from eternity, they are no longer sins.
5. God sees no sin in believers, whatever sins they may commit.
6. To say that God is angry with the elect is a reflection on His justice.

These, according to the Puritan John Flavel, are principal errors, and are “of a very dangerous nature.”
Despite the whole “scope and current of Scripture” and the “experience and practice of the saints” being against them, they nevertheless gain great sway over people.

1. That the elect are not justified from eternity is clear, because although their justification is purposed in eternity, it is not purchased and applied until time. We are justified by Christ’s blood and by faith. (Rom. 5.9,1) The elect sinner is not freed from condemnation nor justified till he is united to Christ, which union is by faith, and takes place during the elect’s life-time. It is both irrational and unscriptural to imagine that men can be justified before they exist. God’s purpose or intention to justify them is not the same as His actually justifying them. Besides, John 3.18 expressly declares that only “he that believeth in Him (Christ) is not condemned.” Furthermore, in the great chain of salvation mentioned in Romans 8.30, the elect are first predestined and called before they are justified. Lastly, it is highly derogatory to Christ to teach eternal justification, for men had to be lost before He could save them. Justification is the fruit of His meritorious death and satisfaction given to justice. Justification is not, therefore, from eternity.

2. That justifying faith is not assurance that Christ loves us is evident, because many who believe on Christ for salvation lack such assurance. This is clear both from Isaiah 50.10, which describes a child of light walking in darkness, and from the cases of Job, David, Heman and Asaph. It is receiving Christ, not being persuaded that He loves us, which entitles us to become children of God. (John 1.12) Besides, many are convinced that Christ loves them who are still unconverted. (Luke 18.9; Rev 3.17) Furthermore, this error confuses two kinds of faith that must always be kept distinct: dogmatic faith and saving faith. It is one thing to believe the proposition that God laid the iniquities of us all on Christ. It is another to rest on Christ as our Sin-bearer. The assent of the understanding is not the consent of the heart. As James says: “Thou believest there is one God, thou dost well; the devils also believe, and tremble.” (2.19) Lastly, only saving faith, or cleaving to Christ, can support us when we do not know that “He died intentionally for me.”

3. That believers should never doubt or question their faith is also untrue, because examining our faith is an expressly “commanded Scripture duty.” “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (2 Cor 13.5), “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure” (2 Pet 1.10) and “Look to yourselves, that we lose not the things which we have wrought” (2 John 8) are only a few such commands. This “snare of the devil laid for the souls of men” is all the more dangerous because it leaves no way out for them to recover from their error. “It cuts off all means of conviction or better information, and nails them fast to the carnal state in which they are.” What is more, it makes the strong persuasion that we are saved as infallible as the foundation truths of Christianity. It is not enough to believe either that Christ died for sinners, or that He bore away our iniquities. Our hearts are deceitful enough to cheat us on this vital point. We must actually believe on Christ and test our faith for genuineness by the clear marks of Scripture.

4. That believers are not bound to confess their sin, nor pray for its forgiveness, because it was pardoned in eternity, and pardoned sin is no longer sin, is manifestly false, because it implies that there is no sin in believers; whereas Scripture says: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1.8) It also says: “There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.” (Eccl. 7.20) and “In many things we offend all.” (James 3.2) While it is true that the blood of Christ has removed the guilt of believers’ sin, its “stain and pollution” remains in them till glory, “even in their justified state.” Indeed, there is “considerable evil” in their sins. They “greatly wrong and offend their God” (Psa 51.4) and hinder their communion with Him. (Rom. 7.21) Furthermore, God has expressly declared it to be His will that His people confess their sins before Him (1 John 1.9) and mourn for them (Isa 22.12; Matt 5.4). Paul, Ezra, Daniel and other saints, though justified, all do this. (1 Tim 1.13; Ezra 9; Dan 9)

To the objection that these sins were committed before they were justified, Flavel replies that it makes no difference when they were committed if they were all pardoned from eternity. Besides, Paul’s complaints in Romans 7 were “after he was a sanctified and justified person.” In short, “the greatest favourites of heaven have freely confessed and heartily prayed for the remission of sin.”

5. That God sees no sin in believers, whatever sins they commit, is false, even when claimed under the colour of Scripture. For in Numbers 23.21- “He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, nor seen perverseness in Israel”, the original reads: “He hath not beheld wrong against Jacob, nor hath He seen grievance against Israel.” That is, says Gataker, God did not approve of the wrongs done by others to His people. The whole context, and especially Balaam’s advice to Balak, to draw them into sin so that God would forsake them, confirms this. As for Jeremiah 50.20 – “The iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found” – it means that even their sins shall not lead God to punish them forever.

Besides, God sees everything about us all, both good and evil. (Prov 15.3) Furthermore, He is highly displeased with His people’s sins; witness David’s adultery and murder (2 Sam 11.27) and presumptuous attendance at the Lord’s Supper in Corinth. (1 Cor 11.32).

6. To claim that God’s anger with the elect reflects on His justice, because He has already justified them in eternity, is false, because God hates sin in them just as much as in others. Christ’s sacrifice did not abolish God’s hatred of sin in believers. It merely took away His hatred to their persons. “His hatred to their sins and love to their persons are not inconsistent.” Those who would abolish God’s anger towards His people fail to distinguish between His judicial, vindicatory wrath and His paternal displeasure. Scripture everywhere speaks of Him laying the rod of chastisement on His wayward children. (Heb 12.8; Job 5.6; 2 Sam 12.9-14; Exod 4.13-14) Indeed, His children themselves acknowledge their sin as the cause of their chastisements. (Lam 3.39-40; Psa 38.3,5; Mic 7.9; Job 22.5-6) Such “fatherly correction of His saints” is fully consistent with God satisfying His justice with the blood of Christ for all their sins. (Psa 89.30-33) Christ never shed His blood to “abolish God’s displeasure against sin, in whomsoever it be found.” Indeed, it would be unjust of God not to chastise His people when they sin.

But to return to the question on hand – Were God’s elect justified in eternity? We may say as an immanent act of God’s mind, in which all things (which are to us past, present, and future) were cognized by Him, the elect might be said to be justified from all eternity. And, as an immutable act of God’s will, which cannot be frustrated, the same may be predicated again. But as an actual, formal, historical sentence, pronounced by God upon us, not so. We must distinguish between God’s looking upon the elect in the purpose of his grace, and the objects of justification lying under the sentence of the law: in the former, He loved His people with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3); in the latter, we were “by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Eph. 2:3). Until they believe, every descendant of Adam is “condemned already” (John 3:18), and to be under God’ condemnation is the very opposite of being justified.

In his ponderous treatise on justification, the Puritan Thomas Goodwin made clear some vital distinctions, which if carefully observed will preserve us from error on this point.

“1. In the everlasting covenant. We may say of all spiritual blessings in Christ, what is said of Christ Himself, that their ‘goings forth are from everlasting.’ Justified then we were when first elected, though not in our own persons, yet in our Head (Eph. 1:3). 2. There is a farther act of justifying us, which passed from God towards us in Christ, upon His payment and performance at His resurrection (Rom. 4:25, 1 Tim. 3:16). 3. But these two acts of justification are wholly out of us, immanent acts in God, and though they concern us and are towards us, yet not acts of God upon us, they being performed towards us not as actually existing in ourselves, but only as existing in our Head, who covenanted for us and represented us: so as though by those acts we are estated into a right and title to justification, yet the benefit and possession of that estate we have not without a farther act being passed upon us.”

Before regeneration we are justified by existing in our Head only, as a ‘feoffee’ (one who is given a grant), held in trust for us, as children under age. In addition to which, we “are to be in our own persons, though still through Christ, possessed of it, and to have all the deeds and evidences of it committed to the custody and apprehension of our faith. We are in our own persons made true owners and enjoyers of it, which is immediately done at that instant when we first believe; which act (of God) is the completion and accomplishment of the former two, and is that grand and famous justification by faith which the Scripture so much inculcates—note the ‘now’ in Romans 5:9, 11; … God doth judge and pronounce His elect ungodly and unjustified till they believe” (Ibid.)

God’s elect enter this world in precisely the same condition and circumstances as do the non-elect. They are “by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Eph. 2:3), that is, they are under the condemnation of their original sin in Adam (Rom. 5:12, 18, 19) and they are under the curse of God’s Law because of their own constant transgressions of it (Gal. 3:10). The sword of divine justice is suspended over their heads, and the Scriptures denounce them as rebels against the Most High. As yet, there is nothing whatever to distinguish them from those who are “fitted to destruction.” Their state is woeful to the last degree, their situation perilous beyond words; and when the Holy Spirit awakens them from the sleep of death, the first message which falls upon their ears is, “Flee from the wrath to come.” But how and whither, they, as yet, know not. Then it is they are ready for the message of the Gospel.

If the elect were justified in eternity, then it would be a misnomer to term them as ‘ungodly’! But who is it whom God justifies? The holy, the faithful, the fruitful? no, the very reverse: “Him that justifieth the ungodly.” [Rom 4:5] What a strong, bold, and startling word is this! It becomes yet more emphatic when we observe what precedes: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly.” They are denominated, and considered as ungodly when the sentence of justification is pronounced upon them. The mere sinner is the subject on which grace is magnified, toward which grace reigns in justification!

In the sight of God’s law every one whom God justifies is “ungodly” until Christ’s righteousness is made over to him. The awful sentence “ungodly” rests as truly upon the purest virgin as much as it does upon the foulest prostitute until God imputes Christ’s obedience to her.

The elect are justified not in eternity, or at the Cross but when in faith they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ!

[The above is gleaned from the writings of the Puritan John Flavel and A.W. Pink]

 Mike Jeshurun

 “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent”! [Acts 17:30]

The question is how God can be just in commanding or demanding that all men everywhere repent.

To those who have not been taught the doctrines of God’s absolute sovereignty the doctrines of predestination, the above may not even appear as a valid question and they may wonder what the fuss is all about. They would retort- ‘What do mean, how can God command all men everywhere to repent? Is He not God? And as God does He not have the right to demand repentance from all His creatures? What kind of a dumb question is this”?

But for those who have been taught the doctrines of Predestination and especially the Total depravity of man, this is indeed a valid question. How can God require something from the creature which the creature is unable to perform? In this case- Repent!

The Scriptures make it plain that no man can repent God-ward unless God grants him that repentance!

“When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life”. [Acts 11:18]

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth”. [2Tim 2:24,25]

God grants this repentance only to His chosen vessels of mercy. But the vessels of wrath on whom He hath chosen to display His justice and wrath, He does not grant this repentance. Weigh carefully the case of Eli’s sons who practiced wickedness. In spite of their father pleading with them to repent, they repented not. And the Scripture tells us why – “Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them”. [1Sam 2:25]

The unsaved man can no more ‘repent’ than the man with the withered hand could stretch forth his hand when the Lord commanded him to do so, or when the decaying Lazarus who was dead four days and bound hand and foot could ‘come forth’ when the Lord commanded him to. [Matt12:10-13; John 11:39-44 ] As Augustine said –‘–“God must grant what He requires” or man will not be able to deliver it”.

To return, “how can God command or demand that all men everywhere to repent, when fallen depraved man is incapable of doing so”? In other words, how can it conform with the mercy of God for Him to require the debt of obedience when we are unable to pay it? How can it consist with the justice of God to punish with eternal suffering for the neglect of what lies altogether beyond the sinner’s power? If fallen man be bound fast with the cords of sin, with what propriety can God demand of him repentance?

Before we proceed further let us make it plain that it is not for the benefit of the carping critic or the objecting infidel that we take up such questions as these, but with the desire to help our fellow Christians. Though such problems do not to the least degree shake their confidence in the character of the Lord or the integrity of His Word, some believers are at a loss to see how His ways can be equal. On the one hand Scripture declares, “The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Therefore it is incapable of doing anything else but sin: “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:7-8). Yet on the other we are informed that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Rom. 1:18) and that “every transgression and disobedience” shall receive “a just recompense of reward” (Heb. 2:2). Nor is any deliverance from God’s wrath obtainable through the gospel except on such conditions as no natural man can comply with; nevertheless, noncompliance with those conditions brings additional condemnation.

To those who give serious thought to this subject it almost seems to make out the Most High to be what the slothful servant said: “Reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed” (Matt. 25:24). That this is far from being the case every regenerate heart is fully assured, yet the removal of this God-dishonoring suspicion is earnestly desired by those who are perplexed by it. These points have engaged our mind for many years, and it is our desire to pass on to other members of the household of faith what has been a help to us. How fallen man can be morally impotent yet morally responsible is the matter we shall try to elucidate.

In seeking the solution to our problem we shall first aim to cast upon it the light furnished by the relationship which exists between the Creator and the creature, between God and fallen man. When facing the difficulties raised by the truth of the moral impotence of fallen man, it is of vast importance that we clearly recognize and tenaciously hold the fact that God has not forfeited His right over the creature even though the creature has lost his power to meet God’s requirements. At this point, especially, much of the difficulty is removed. Further light is thrown upon the nature of human responsibility when we obtain a right view of man’s moral agency. By far the greater part of the difficulty vanishes when we correctly define and state the nature of man’s impotence: what it is not, and what it does consist of. Finally, it will be found that man’s own conscience and consciousness bear witness to the fact of his accountability.

Consider once again the objection – If fallen man is unable to keep God’s law, he cannot be obligated to keep it. Impotence obviously cancels responsibility. A child three or four years of age ought not to be whipped because it does not read and write. A legless man should not be sent to prison because he does not walk. Surely a just and holy God does not require sinful creatures to render perfect obedience to a divine and spiritual law.

How is this objection to be met? First, by pointing out that it is not based upon Holy Writ but is merely human reasoning. Scripture affirms again and again that fallen man is spiritually impotent, “without strength,” and that he “cannot please God”; from that nothing must move us. Scripture nowhere states that spiritual helplessness releases man from God’s claims upon him; therefore no human reasoning to the contrary, however plausible or pleasing, is entitled to any consideration from those who tremble at God’s Word. Scripture reveals that God does hold fallen man responsible to keep His law, for He gave it to Israel at Sinai and pronounced His curse upon all transgressors of it.

What has been pointed out should be sufficient for any simple soul who fears the Lord. But lest it be thought that this is all which can be said by way of refutation, lest it be supposed that this objection is so forceful that it cannot be met in a more direct rebuttal, we add the following: To declare that man cannot be obligated to keep the law if he is unable to do so demands an inquiry into both the nature and the cause of his inability. Once that investigation is entered into, the sophistry of the objection will quickly appear. Wherein lies man’s inability to ‘repent’ or keep God’s law? Is it the absence of the requisite faculties or his unwillingness to use aright the faculties with which he is endowed? Were fallen man devoid of reason, conscience, will, there would be some force in this objection; but since he is possessed of all those faculties which constitute a moral being, it is quite inane and invalid. There is no analogy whatever between the sinner’s inability to travel the highway of holiness and the inability of a legless man to walk.

The worthlessness of this objection is made evident not only when we examine the nature of man’s spiritual impotence; it equally appears void when we diagnose its cause. Why is fallen man unable to repent or keep God’s law? Is it because he is worked upon by some almighty being who prevents him from rendering obedience? Were fallen man truly desirous of serving and pleasing God, were it a case of his ardently longing to do so but being thwarted because another more powerful than himself hindered him, there would be some force to this objection. But God, far from placing any obstacle in our way, sets before us every conceivable inducement to comply with His precepts. If it be argued that the devil is more powerful than man and that he is continually seeking to turn him from the path of rectitude, the answer is that Satan can do nothing without our own consent. All he can do is to tempt to wrongdoing; it is man’s own will which either yields or refuses. [see James 1:13-15]

In reply to what has last been pointed out, someone may say, “But fallen man has no sufficient power of his own with which to successfully resist Satan’s evil solicitations.” Suppose that be so, then what? Does that oblige us to take sides with the enemies of the truth and affirm that therefore man is to be excused for his sinful deeds, that he is not obligated to repent and render perfect obedience to the law merely because he does not have the power to cope with his adversary? Not at all. Once more we must inquire as to the cause. Why is it that man cannot put the devil to flight? Is it because he was originally vested with less moral strength than his foe possesses? No indeed, for he was made in the image and likeness of God. Man’s present inability has been brought about by an act of his own and not by any stinginess or oversight of his Creator. “Thou hast destroyed thyself” (Hosea 13:9) is the divine verdict. Though man is unable to recover what he lost, he has none but himself to blame for his willful and wicked destruction of his original strength.

It is at this very point man twists and wriggles most, seeking to get from under the onus which righteously rests on him. When Adam offended against the divine law he sought to throw the blame upon his wife, and she in turn upon the devil; ever since then the great majority have attempted to cast it on God Himself, on the pretext that He is the One who gave them being and sent them into the world in their present handicapped condition.

It must be kept steadily in mind that original ability destroyed by self-determination does not and cannot destroy the original obligation any more than weakened moral strength by self-indulgence and the formation of evil habits destroys or diminishes obligation. To say otherwise would be to declare that the result of sin excuses sin itself, which is a manifest absurdity. Man’s wrongdoing certainly does not annul God’s rights. God is no Egyptian taskmaster requiring men to make bricks without straw. He endowed man with everything requisite for the discharge of his duty, and though man has squandered his substance in riotous living, that does not free him from God’s just claims upon him.

But now the question returns, How can God hold the sinner responsible for failing to do what he is unable to do? This necessitates a careful definition of terms. Just what is meant by “unable” and “cannot”?

Now let it be clearly understood that, when we speak of the sinner’s inability, we do not mean that if men desired to repent they lack the necessary power to carry out their desire. No; the fact is that the sinner’s inability or absence of power is itself due to lack of willingness to repent, and this lack of willingness is the fruit of a depraved heart.

It is of first importance that we distinguish between natural inability and moral and spiritual inability.

For example, we read, “But Abijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age” (1 Kings 14:4); and again, “The men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them” (Jonah 1:13). In both of these passages the words “could not” refer to natural inability. But when we read, “And when his brethren saw that their father loved him (Joseph) more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him” (Gen. 37:4), it is clearly moral inability that is in view. They did not lack the natural ability to “speak peaceably unto him”, for they were not dumb. Why then was it that they “could not speak peaceably unto him”? The answer is given in the same verse: it was because “they hated him.”

Again; in 2 Peter 2:14 we read of a certain class of wicked men “having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin.“ Here again it is moral inability that is in view. Why is it that these men “cannot cease from sin”? The answer is, Because their eyes were full of adultery. So of Romans 8:8.—”They that are in the flesh cannot please God”: here it is spiritual inability. Why is it that the natural man “cannot please God”? Because he is “alienated from the life of God” (Eph. 4:18). No man can choose that from which his heart is averse—“O generation of vipers how can ye, being evil, speak good things?” (Matt. 12:34). “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him” (John 6:44). Here again it is moral and spiritual inability which is before us. Why is it the sinner cannot repent and come to Christ unless he is “drawn”? The answer is, Because his wicked heart loves sin and hates Christ.

We trust we have made it clear that the Scriptures distinguish sharply between natural inability and moral and spiritual inability. Surely all can see the difference between the blindness of Bartimeus, who was ardently desirous of receiving his sight, and the Pharisees, whose eyes were closed, “lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted” (Matt. 13:15). But should it be said, The natural man could come to Christ if he wished to do so, we answer, Ah! but in that IF lies the hinge of the whole matter. The inability of the sinner consists of the want of moral power to wish and will so as to actually perform.

The fact of man’s responsibility is almost universally acknowledged. It is inherent in man’s moral nature. It is not only taught in Scripture but witnessed to by the natural conscience. The basis or ground of human responsibility is human ability. What is implied by this general term “ability” must now be defined. Perhaps a concrete example will be more easily grasped by the average reader than an abstract argument.

Suppose a man owed me $100 and could find plenty of money for his own pleasures but none for me, yet pleaded that he was unable to pay me. What would I say? I would say that the only ability that was lacking was an honest heart. But would it not be an unfair construction of my words if a friend of my dishonest debtor should say I had stated that an honest heart was that which constituted the ability to pay the debt? No; I would reply: the ability of my debtor lies in the power of his hand to write me a check, and this he has, but what is lacking is an honest principle. It is his power to write me a check which makes him responsible to do so, and the fact that he lacks an honest heart does not destroy his accountability.

Now, in like manner, the sinner while altogether lacking in moral and spiritual ability does, nevertheless, possess natural ability, and this it is which renders him accountable unto God. Men have the same natural faculties to love God with as they have to hate Him with, the same hearts to believe with which they disbelieve, and it is their failure to love and believe which constitutes their guilt. An idiot or an infant is not personally responsible to God, because lacking in natural ability. But the normal man who is endowed with rationality, who is gifted with a conscience that is capable of distinguishing between right and wrong, who is able to weigh eternal issues is a responsible being, and it is because he does possess these very faculties that he will yet have to “give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12).

We say again that the above distinction between the natural ability and the moral and spiritual inability of the sinner is of prime importance. By nature he possesses natural ability but lacks moral and spiritual ability. The fact that he does not possess the latter, does not destroy his responsibility, because his responsibility rests upon the fact that he does possess the former. Let me illustrate again. Here are two men guilty of theft: the first is an idiot, the second perfectly sane but the offspring of criminal parents. No just judge would sentence the former; but every right-minded judge would the latter. Even though the second of these thieves possessed a vitiated moral nature inherited from criminal parents, that would not excuse him, providing he was a normal rational being. Here then is the ground of human accountability—the possession of rationality plus the gift of conscience. It is because the sinner is endowed with these natural faculties that he is a responsible creature; because he does not use his natural powers for God’s glory, constitutes his guilt.

How can it remain consistent with His mercy that God should require the debt of obedience from him that is not able to pay? As we said before, it should be pointed out that God has not lost His right, even though man has lost his power. The creature’s impotence does not cancel his obligation. A drunken servant is a servant still, and it is contrary to all sound reasoning to argue that his master loses his rights through his servant’s default. Moreover, it is of first importance that we should ever bear in mind that God contracted with us in Adam, who was our federal head and representative, and in him, God gave us a power which we lost through our first parent’s fall; but though our power be gone, nevertheless, God may justly demand that men repent and render to Him His due of obedience and service.

The unregenerate man though spiritually dead in his trespasses and sins, is not dead in the same sense as the corpse in the grave! The physical condition of those in the cemetery is vastly different from the moral state of the unregenerate still upon the earth. The former cannot sin, cannot reject Christ; the latter can and do. The former cannot read their Bibles or call upon God for mercy; the latter should! It is because the natural man possesses the same faculties of soul as does the regenerate that he is an accountable creature, responsible to use them for God instead of against Him.

The drunkard is certainly less able to obey the law of temperance than the sober man is, yet that law has precisely the same claims upon the former as it has upon the latter. In commercial life the loss of ability to pay does not release from obligation; the loss of property does not free man from his indebtedness. A man is as much a debtor to his creditors after his bankruptcy as he was previously. It is a legal maxim that bankruptcy does not invalidate contracts. Someone may point out that an insolvent debtor cannot be sued in the courts. Nevertheless, even if human law declares it equitable to free an insolvent debtor, the law of God does not! And that verdict is righteous, for the sinner’s inability to give God His due is voluntary—he does not wish to pay because he hates Him. Thus both the nature and the cause of man’s inability demonstrate that he is “without excuse.”

But how can man be condemned for his evil heart when Adam corrupted human nature? Fallen man is voluntarily an enemy to the infinitely glorious God and nothing can extenuate such vile hostility. The very fact that in the day of judgment “every mouth will be stopped” (Rom. 3:19) demonstrates there can be no force in this objection. It is the free and self-determined acting out of his nature for which the sinner will be held accountable. The fact that we are born traitors to God cannot cancel our obligation to give Him allegiance. None can escape the righteous requirements of the law by deliberate opposition to it. That man’s nature is the direct consequence of Adam’s transgression does not to the slightest degree mitigate his own sins. Is it not a solemn fact that each of us has approved Adam’s transgression by following his example and joining with him in rebellion against God? That we go on to break the divine law demonstrates that we are justly condemned with Adam. If we resent our being corrupted through Adam, why not repudiate him and refuse to sin, stand out in opposition to him and be holy?

To call on the unregenerate to savingly receive Christ as his Lord and Saviour is far from mocking him. Did the Son of God mock the rich young ruler when He told him to sell all that he had and follow Him and then he should have treasure in heaven? Certainly not! Had the ruler no power to sell his possessions? Was it not rather lack of inclination, and for such lack was he not justly blamable? Such a demand served to expose the state of his heart. He loved money more than Christ, earthly things above heavenly. The exhortations, warnings and promises set down in the Word are to be pressed on the ungodly so as to make them more inexcusable, so that they may not say in the day to come that, had they been invited to receive such good things, they would have embraced them; that, had they been admonished for their sins, they would have forsaken them. Their own conscience will convict them, and they will know a prophet of God spoke to them.

The Gospel is more than just an ‘offer’ or even a proclamation! It is a divine command!

The Gospel preached requires obedience as truly as it does reliance, for it bids the rebel sinner throw down the weapons of his warfare against God, to repent of his wickedness, and to surrender to the Lordship and yoke of Christ. In 2 Peter 2:21, the Gospel is designated “the Holy Commandment,” and in 2 Thessalonians 1:8, we are told that Christ will yet take vengeance upon them “that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” which goes on to give the solemn answer to that searching question “What shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17), namely, they “shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.” The Gospel does far more than issue an invitation to “receive Christ as a personal Savior” or offer pardon to all who do so; it first makes known the holy requirements of God for us to forsake our evil ways and submit ourselves to the just claims of Christ.

So is God just in commanding ‘all men’ everywhere to repent? [Acts 17:30]

He is!

As we said before Inability to pay a debt does not excuse a debtor who has recklessly squandered his estate; nor does drunkenness excuse the mad or violent actions of a drunkard, but rather aggravates his crime.

God has not lost His right to command, even though man through his wickedness has lost his power to obey.

Because the flesh “lusteth against the Spirit” (Galatians 5:17), that is far from an extenuation for not being in subjection to Him. Because “every one that doeth evil hateth the light,” that is far from justifying them because they “loved darkness” (John 3:19, 20); yea, as the Savior there so plainly and solemnly states, it only serves to heighten their criminality—” This is the condemnation”! Then “How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?” (Job 15:16) that cannot practice holiness because he will not!

It is because men do not make a right use of their faculties that they are justly condemned. The soul in an unsanctified person is not dead, but is a living and acting principle; and therefore it is able to understand, desire, will, reason, and improve its opportunities, or redeem the time. Though the natural man is unable to work grace in his own heart, yet he is able to attend and wait upon the means of grace. An unsanctified person may as well go to hear a sermon as attend a theater: he has the same eyes for reading the Scriptures as the newspaper or a novel: he may as well associate himself with those who fear an oath, as with those who delight to blaspheme that Name at which all should tremble.

In the Day of Judgment unsanctified persons will be damned not for cannots, but for will nots!

[Much of the above is gleaned and paraphrased from the writings of A.W. Pink]

Mike Jeshurun

On a Forum some time ago a Sister in Christ asked me as to what constitutes true worship. She wrote – “I know that many only worship with Psalms, but the scriptures say “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs – making worship in your heart to the Lord.” My husband and I usually worship the Lord with some of Gadsby’s Hymns, though I am unable to sing. It would be interesting to see what others believe is True Worship.

Pasted below is the answer the Lord led me to write -

Dear Sister,

The question which you have raised is indeed an important one for the Christian. If you had asked me this question in your living room over a cup of tea, my answer would have been plain and simple and straight to the point. This is because you are already for the most part established on what God’s will is for the Christian with regards to music. I praise God for that.

But since you have raised this question on a ‘Forum’ the answer cannot be given in a word, for there are many who visit a forum who have no idea what Christian music is and whether God is concerned as to the kind of music we listen to and sing in His honour.

So please bear with me if I go a little bit into detail and mention things in this post that may not even be relevant to you. But trust me, it will be relevant to many and be a blessing to many more.

First we must begin by correcting a few false notions which exist in the mind of many Christians regarding music. One of them is that “All the music is neutral only the words matter.” In fact the entire ‘Contemporary Christian Music’ (CCM) is built on this one massively deceptive pillar!

The other lie that is prevalent among many so called Christians today is that–”the Bible gives no instructions on the type of music for a Christian to listen to. It’s all a matter of preference and culture.“

As we shall see, this is not true. Let their be no doubt. . .
Music is not neutral. Has never been neutral. Nor ever will be neutral!

Do you remember that when king Saul was troubled by an evil spirit, they did not go around looking for a doctor or a soothsayer but a musician! And the scripture records – “And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him”. [1sam 16:23] Saul’s men knew the power of music. They knew music had inherent powers! They knew music wasn’t neutral!

Ask any composer who is asked to compose music for a play or a movie. The music is not the same for a happy scene as it is for a sad one. Because music has an effect on both the mind, (emotions) and the body.

One more fact to bear in mind while discussing Christian music is that the purpose of Christian music was NEVER meant to evangelize the lost! Many contemporary ‘Christian’ musicians and compromised ‘Churches’ which allow Christian Rock and Christian Rap music in their assemblies justify it by saying that they are doing it to ‘reach the lost’ who come to their services.

God’s only method of reaching the lost is the preaching of the Word of God. Not aping the world and using their music! ‘For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe”! [1Cor 1:21]

How to discern music?

Many sincere Christians when it comes to music usually ask –“What about such and such a group or such and such a singer, can we listen to him or use their songs to worship the Lord”?

The best way to answer that question is to give them guidelines as to what godly music is in the first place and let them make the judgment. As the scripture admonishes – “test all things, and hold fast to that which is good”! [1Thes 5;21] Does the Bible give us any indication to the type of music we should sing? Did the Lord God who made heaven and earth, who created music and sound, who put so much emphasis on music in His Word forget to tell us what is Christian music?

Not hardly. Thank God — He has given us instructions for our music.

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making MELODY in your heart to the Lord”.  [Ephesians 5:18-19]

Let us start with a word of reproof to those who use Rock or Rap music to ‘worship’ the Lord.

We need to understand that Music is composed of three main components; melody, harmony and rhythm. If these ingredients are not present, then it’s not music, but noise. Though there is a lot of harmony and some rhythm in Rock and Rap music, there is hardly any melody. Because of that, rock is unlike any other music. In other music, the melody is the main component, but in rock – the rhythm or the beat literally takes over the music.

“Perhaps the most important defining quality of rock and roll is the BEAT, . . . Rock and roll is different from other music primarily because of the BEAT.” (Charles Brown, The Art of Rock and Roll, p. 42)

And it is that BEAT that the FLESH loves!

When secular rock-star, Michael Jackson was asked why he did the filthly-sexual, hand gestures on stage, he replied:

“It’s the music that COMPELS me to do it. You don’t think about it, it just happens. I’M A SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM.” (The Evening Star, February 11, 1993, p. A10)

So ask yourself, can one use Rock or Rap music to worship the Lord?

Here is a quote from Rock star David Bowie (sodomite) – “Rock has always been THE DEVILS MUSIC . . . . I believe rock and roll is dangerous . . . . I feel we are only heralding something EVEN DARKER THAN OURSELVES.” (Rolling Stone, Feb. 12, 1976)

Some country Gospel songs were written and sung in the right spirit. But sadly not all.  Much discernment is needed in determining whether a particular country gospel is Christian.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS IN WORSHIP

There are those who would forbid all musical instruments in worship. But I would have to disagree. Because the Scripture does not forbid it!

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.etc Psalms 150:3-5

With all the many references to musical instruments, there is one instrument that is NEVER mentioned! The DRUM! Why is that? The drum was a very common instrument in Egypt and the lands around Israel. And yet the DRUM is NEVER mentioned in a King James Bible.

Did the Lord just forget to include the DRUM or is there another reason?

Is it because — drums are associated with voodoo, shamanism, paganism and magic rituals?

“[Drums] represents the beat of the heart and is played to summon up magic powers.” (Miranda Bruce-Mitford, The Illustrated Book of Signs & Symbols, DK Publishing, 1996 p.80)

“The shaman was the original ‘long hair’, the first rock star draped in leather, dancing POSSESSED to a rhythm banged out on A DRUM.” (Danny Sugerman, Appetite for Destruction, p. 208)

In Siberia, in northern Asia, drums are used in shamanic rituals to heal people. It is believed that the shaman can communicate with the spirit world THROUGH DRUMMING. (Louise Tythacott, Musical Instruments, Thomas Learning, 1995, p. 37)

“Pagan dances and rituals are always accompanied by the incessant BEAT of DRUMS. Rhythm plays a major role in these demonic activities.” (Hart, Lowell Satan’s Music Exposed, Salem Kirban Inc., 1980 p.71)

The DRUM has always been associated with the paganism and the devil. In fact, a little more than a hundred years ago, drums were forbidden (exy th for the military) in America!

“The arrival of African slaves has had one of the strongest influences on North American music. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, millions of African people were taken as slaves to the U.S. to work on plantations in the South. They brought many of their own traditions with them but were forbidden to play their DRUMS.” (Louise Tythacott, Musical Instruments, Thomas Learning, 1995, p.19)

Do you know why New Orleans is the voodoo capital of the U.S, and also the birthplace of jazz? Because drumming was forbidden in the U.S. – except in New Orleans!

When the first blacks from Africa were converted to Christianity they knew the power and evil influence of DRUMS. And the converted blacks strictly forbid the use of drums! They referred to the drums as “the Devil’s drum”. (Martha Bayles, Hole in Our Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music, p. 138)

One simple guideline for Christian music is NO DRUMS!

CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD FEED THE SPIRIT — NOT THE FLESH!

CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD EMPHAZIE THE MELODY — NOT THE BEAT!

So much then for a general statement on music, and now to particularize:

 CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD PRAISE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST — NOT MAN

Now, you would think this point is unnecessary for CHRISTian music. After all, CHRISTian means “a follower, believer of Jesus Christ”. And if it is truly Christian music, it should testify, praise and sing about the Lord Jesus Christ.

The PURPOSE of Christian music is to PRAISE the Lord.

I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to THY NAME, O thou most High. Psalm 9:2

Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we SING and praise THY POWER. Psalm 21:13

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my SONG will I praise HIM. Psalm 28:7

Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. Psalm 33:2-3

When someone truly gets saved, God puts a NEW song in their mouth. And that song is “PRAISE unto our God” — the result of salvation is — praise unto our GOD! And it’s not something we work up, or “fake”, or just do — but it’s something God “puts”! Christian music is “praise unto our GOD“.

He hath PUT a NEW SONG in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Praise 40:1-3

Sadly, much of what goes by the name CHRISTian Music today is NOT CHRISTian. It does NOT testify, praise or sing about the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, a great deal of it does not even mention the Lord Jesus Christ. Much of today’s Christian Music goes out it’s way to avoid the name of Jesus Christ – or any Christian content whatsoever.

CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS FOR THE LORD — NOT THE WORLD.

A Christian’s music is sung to the Lord. It is not for the world.

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart TO THE LORD; Ephesians 5:19

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts TO THE LORD. Colossians 3:16

Sing praises TO THE LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings. Psalm 9:11

Isaiah 12:2 sums it up wonderfully, “. . .for the LORD JEHOVAH is . . . MY SONG . . .”:

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and MY SONG; he also is become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

The ONLY way Christian Music can appeal to the world is make it UN-Christian — which is exactly what CCM does. Most CCM artists “remove” or “redefine” the Lord Jesus Christ. They replace the Lord Jesus Christ with the pronouns; “he”, “him”, “you”, “I”, et. al. They also “redefine” the Lord Jesus Christ as a “politically-correct” “tolerant”, “lovey-dovey”, non-judgemental, “partying”, “hip-hop”, “rapping-rocker” that appeals to the world. Songs such as, dc Talk’s “Jesus Freak”, Messiah Prophet Band’s, “Master of the Metal”, et al. clearly describe “another Jesus” than the Jesus Christ of the Bible. In 2 Cor. 11:4, the apostle Paul warns of “another Jesus”.

Just as the lost world is not interested in a “Bible-believing” church that preaches the word of God, the world is not interested in music that openly praises the Lord. The lost world is NOT going to praise the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible is CLEAR — “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God”!

After Babylon captured the children of Israel, Babylon requested Israel to sing, but Israel refused to sing “the Lord’s song in a strange land”. Notice, it is “the Lord’s song” — NOT the world’s song or even Israel’s song.

How shall we sing the LORD’S SONG in a strange land? Psalms 137:1-4

CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS A NEW SONG — NOT AN OLD SONG

Just before I got saved, I loved rock ‘n’ roll. Nothing – but nothing, was more important to me than rock music!. I played rock guitar – day and night! I did not have a dream or goal besides rock music. And when I got saved in November 1986, at 19 years old, I had NO intention to stop listening and playing rock music. But something changed. . .

I didn’t know it then — but “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW” and that included my music!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW. 2 Corinthians 5:17

I didn’t change intentionally — but within a few months, the ONLY music I wanted to listen to and play was real Christian Music. Music that praised my Lord and Savior! My desire and love for rock music was replaced by a NEW SONG — even PRAISE unto our God!

Fanny Crosby is the greatest hymn writer that ever lived, writing over 9,000 songs! Before Fanny got saved, at 45 years old, she wrote many secular songs. But after she got saved — things were different. . . Here’s what Fanny said about mixing Christian and worldly music:

“Sometimes I need to reject the music proposed for my songs because the musicians misunderstand that the Fanny Crosby who once wrote for the people in the saloons has merely changed the lyrics. Oh my no. The church must never sing it’s songs to the melodies of the world.” (Danny Castle, video “What’s Wrong with Christian Rock”)

And do you know why Fanny Crosby said that — because Fanny got saved! And God “hath put a NEW SONG in my mouth, even PRAISE unto our God” inside the NEW Fanny Crosby! Fanny Crosby wrote over 9,000 songs to the Lord! Fanny used over 200 different pen names because she wanted to make sure God got the glory and not her.

CHRISTIAN MUSIC’S MESSAGE SHOULD BE CLEAR — NOT VAGUE OR DECEPTIVE

The Bible says in 1 Cor 14:15:

I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the UNDERSTANDING also. 1 Cor. 14:15

The message in Christian music should be clear, not vague, or unclear. Christian music should praise the Lord and — the listener should clearly understand the message.

The apostle Paul didn’t try to “trick” anybody, he wanted to make sure he was understood:

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great PLAINNESS of speech: 2 Cor. 3:12

And my speech and my preaching was NOT with ENTICING words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 1 Cor. 2:4

Paul warns against “enticing words”, such as CCM does:

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with ENTICING words. Colossians 2:4

Martin Luther, the German Reformer, also avoided any worldly influence and wanted the message clear:

“But I would like to avoid any new words or the language used at court. In order to be understood by the people, only the simplest and the most common words should be used for singing; at the same time, however, they should be pure and apt; and further, the sense should be CLEAR and as close as possible to the psalm.” (Martin Luther, “To George Spalatin,” Letters II, p. 69)

Look how clear these songs praise the Lord. And literally thousands of examples could be given:

“Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine” by Fanny Crosby
“My Jesus I Love Thee” by Adoniram Gordon

“Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus” by Anna Russell
“Victory in Jesus” by E.M. Bartlett
“Jesus Is All the World to Me” by Will Thompson
“Jesus Is the Sweetest Name I Know” by Lela Long

 CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD EMPHASIS THE MESSAGE — NOT THE MUSIC, NOR THE MUSICIAN

Christian music should give ALL the attention and praise to the Lord — and NONE to the music, or the musician, or the singer. The Lord should get ALL the praise, ALL the glory, and ALL the honor. Spiritually speaking, the Christian musician should be heard but not seen — the Christian musician should be hidden in Christ.

Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. Psalm 66:2

Christian musicians today are so caught up with their “music” and just the “right-sound” that the message takes a backseat. A lot of Christian music (especially with the “canned” accompaniment tapes) is a “performance” rather than a message. When that happens, the “performance” completely destroys the message by pointing all the attention to self or the music. Consequently, the musician “robs” the Lord of any praise and from a Christian perspective, it’s fruitless.

Sadly, many musicians (and not just limited to CCM) are like the chief rulers that the Lord Jesus addressed in John 12:

For they loved the PRAISE OF MEN more than the praise of God. John 12:43

Much of Christian music today is more entertainment than ministry. A lot of Christian musicians (and not limited to CCM or Christian Rock) are far more interested in impressing their audience and “flaunting” their musical talent than ministering to the Lord. You can not sing to “please men” and sing unto the Lord. It’s one or the other.

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should NOT be the servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

Christian music is not entertainment. Christian music is spiritual “food”. Real Christian music admonishes [reprove mildly], while praising the Lord.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and ADMONISHING one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your HEARTS to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

Christian music is from the heart, not just the voice. Beautiful voices are a “dime a dozen”. But beautiful hearts are “more priceless than gold”. I can’t remember the times I’ve watched a Christian musician, flaunt, pomp, articulate, get every note and vibrato perfect — and yet God was nowhere around. And yet, I’ve seen several times, when the singer may not hit the right notes — and yet God was all over them — and it showed!

A church we once attended had a man, named “J.C.” Brown. “J.C.”, by the world’s standards “wasn’t all there” — but “J.C.” and the Lord “was all there”. When “J.C.” would sing, he didn’t know all the words, he wasn’t musically “in tune” — but he was spiritually “in tune” with the Lord. And when “J.C.” sang, hearts were moved, tears would flow and you knew God was there. Why? “J.C.” was “in tune” with the Lord.

Christian music is not entertainment, not a talent show, not a performance or a concert — but a SERIOUS ministry to the Lord.

Augustine once stated:

“When I am moved by the voice of him that sings more than the words sung, I confess to have sinned”. (Oliver Strunk, Source Reading in Music History, Vol. I, p. 74)

 CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH — NOT CONCERT HALLS, NIGHT CLUBS.

God’s place of worship and fellowship is the local church.

Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the CONGREGATION of saints. Psalm 149:1

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the CONGREGATION will I praise thee. Psalm 22:22

Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the CHURCH will I sing praise unto thee. Hebrew 2:12

While I realize there are exceptions, the primary place for Christian music, (excluding tapes, CD’s and other recordings) is the church. CCM’ers justify their performing in worldly concert halls, auditoriums, et. al. as “trying to reach the lost“. Of course, at the same time they charge $15 – $20, rarely mention Jesus Christ and never, never, never — mention hell, judgement, sin or enough “salvation doctrine” to get anyone saved!.

CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD FEED THE SPIRIT — NOT THE FLESH

The Christian life is a spiritual life.

A Christian is born-again of the Spirit.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:6-7

A Christian is to walk in the Spirit:

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

God is a Spirit — and you “MUST worship him in spirit”.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him MUST worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

And a Christian’s music should be spiritual — not carnal.

I will sing with the SPIRIT, and I will sing with the understanding also. 1 Cor 14:15

ROCK MUSIC AND CCM IS FLESHLY MUSIC!

 LASTLYAND MOST IMPORTANTLY CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD BE RICH IN THE WORD AND DOCTRINE.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the lord. Colossians 3:16

This is one reason why many older saints stick to the Psalms in their singing. Because when you are singing the Psalms you cannot be singing anything else other than the Word.

But even the other hymns and spiritual songs which we sing should be judged by how rich in the word and scriptural they are and how doctrinally right they are. Not all the hymns in the Hymn book (whether Baptist or Presbyterian) were written by holy men of God as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Some of them are obviously erroneous and while others are not easily discernable to the simple. So it behooves the Christian to examine every hymn and spiritual song in the light of God’s word before he lifts his voice to sing them.

 Let me close with a good rule of the thumb for determining if the Christian music we use is biblical:

(1) Can I hum the tune after hearing it?

(2) Can I understand the words?

(3) Do the words conform to sound biblical doctrine and truth?

(4) Do the words, and the tune, honor the Lord rather than pander to the flesh and the physical?

(5) Does the song emphasize grace, salvation, eternity, etc.? (6) Does it simply sound like a “love song” that has a romantic tinge to it, rather than proper spiritual love?

(7) Is the song loud and blaring in order to bring on an emotional response?

(8) Is it a mantra with empty repetition (Praise God, praise God, praise God, praise God)?

(9) Can both old and young understand the song and be equally touched by it?

I trust the above was of some help in discerning what constitutes TRUE WORSHIP.

Love

Mike!

[Much of the above is taken from Jeff Godwin’s ‘Bible Guidelines for Christian Music’]

Mike Jeshurun

Even genuine Christians have a few things to unlearn as they grow in their Christian experience. Many Christians in their initial years are deluded into thinking that they are born-again because they said a little prayer and accepted Jesus as their savior. But by and by the Spirit teaches them from the word that they did not choose the Lord Jesus, but He chose them and saved them.

Similarly many get regenerated in a tongue speaking Church or are led into one and learn the art of speaking in tongues mostly because of the peer pressure present there, only to realize later that this whole tongue speaking thing is neither scriptural nor the legitimate gift mentioned in the Bible.

I was one of them. I mastered the art of speaking in tongues and for a time parroted the same lines of gibberish ignorantly for some time.  But the Lord is faithful who has promised that the “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day”. [Prov 4:18] In other words the Spirit of the Lord will not permit his children to remain in error for long.

Not only this. But almost all the churches which I attended who spoke in these tongues also claimed that even the other gifts of the Spirit – like prophecy and healing were still operating. And this is what opened my eyes to the fact that this whole Pentecostal thing was a deception of the enemy.

In my seven years as a Pentecostal minister I have neither seen a genuine healing performed either by me or any other dude who claimed to have ‘the gift’. The only healings that were accounted for were some internal ailment which was not visible to any. It was all –“Oh I couldn’t hear properly until now, but now since the pastor prayed over me I can hear clearly” Hallelujah! Or “I have this excruciating pain on my left side, but even as the pastor was praying over me it is gone” Hallelujah.

I never saw the dumb speak, or a crooked leg made straight, let alone the dead raised!

I also noticed that many of the sick were told to come back regularly for many ‘healing sessions’, in order to be healed. But both the Lord and the Apostles when they healed, healed them with a word then and there!

“heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead” was the commission! [Matt 10:8]. So it is obvious that the Tongue movement is a fake! A counterfeit! A delusion of the devil!

 Speaking in tongues is not “for today.” In the early days of Christianity, speaking in tongues was truly a gift from the Holy Spirit but it was meant only for those first century Christians.

Speaking in tongues refers to the supernatural ability for a speaker to speak in his own language, but yet, to have those words that he speaks come out in languages that the speaker’s audience can understand.

In other words, if the apostle Peter was speaking to a group of people from China, he could speak in the Hebrew or Greek language that he knew, but yet the audience would hear those exact same words in the Chinese language.

• Acts 2:7-8 “Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
• Acts 2:11 “We hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

So speaking in tongues was for those very early times when the speaker could not understand his audience and his audience could not understand the speaker. So in the very early days of Christianity, when the early Christians traveled to foreign lands and the people there could not understand the words that they spoke, the Holy Spirit gave those early Christians the ability to be understood by all those that heard them. Without this ability for their words to come out in a foreign language, there would have been little chance of spreading the Word of God. So the main purpose of speaking in tongues in those early days was for sharing and spreading the Word of God with foreigners.

Linguists and grammarians who have extensively studied the Pentecostal tongues have found it lacking the rules of grammar, syntax and diction. It is just nonsense and gibberish!

Oh but doesn’t Paul say that – “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” [1Cor 13:1].

Paul’s appeal to “angels” is a form of “hyperbole” (an exaggeration for emphasis’ sake) that is designed to accentuate his argument. Consider a similar use of this figurative expression in the apostle’s letter to the Galatians. He wrote: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema” [Gal. 1:8]. The apostle is not suggesting that an angel actually is likely to proclaim a different gospel; the point is one of emphasis. Even if an angel were to preach a different gospel, there would be no validity in it, and he would fall victim to divine wrath.

So similarly, in 1 Corinthians 13:1, Paul is not indicating that some Christians speak an “angelic” (ecstatic) language. Rather, he is merely saying that even if one could ascend to a new height, and communicate on the level of angels, if he did not exercise love by speaking in an understandable fashion, he still would be nothing but a distracting noise. The apostle’s argument does not hint of a mysterious, unintelligible utterance; in fact, it reflects just the opposite.

Come now, where is the need for me to praise God in the tongue of angels? Am I trying to impress God with my mastery of other tongues, even angelic? Or is it just some stupidity that is ministering to my pride amongst other Pentecostals?

But here is the most dangerous thing about this ‘Tongues’ thing – almost all in the ‘tongues movement’ are taught that speaking in tongues is a clear evidence that one is a Christian. And the devil has used this to his great advantage. So you have Roman Catholics, Russian Orthodox, Cultists of the most frightening heresies, Demases and Jezebels from the Assemblies of God all uniting together in ‘Worship’. “Oh he speaks in tongues too, then he must be my brother”.

If you run into someone who is a ‘tongue speaking’ ‘Christian’ who claims to be born again then tell him the truth about it! If you don’t know how to preach against it or deal with it, give him a book that exposes it. There are many. But don’t just grin and bear it.

If he is a true child of God the Spirit will show him the error of it and bring him out of the Pentecostal heresy. For heresy it is, and one that must be repented of!

Mike Jeshurun

This is a question that I have asked myself and have been asked by others. How do I know that I am one of the elect? The truth is, no one can know that they are amongst the elect until they are born again. The ‘elect’ are not born with any visible marks on their body, or in their character. Neither can one assume that because a man is very poor or severely afflicted that he could be one of God’s chosen, and that in spite of the fact that Scripture tells us that for the most part God hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith to be heirs of the kingdom [James 2:5] . Again Scripture affirms that not many wise, mighty, or noble men are called but God has chosen the foolish, the weak, the base and the things which are despised. [1Cor 1:26-28] But this is not to say that all who are such are His elect.

Both history and everyday life show us that there are many foolish, poor and others who have literally reached the ‘end of their ropes’ in every way but have no desire to call upon God or any interest in the true gospel.

Writing to the Thessalonians, the Apostle wrote – “Knowing brethren, beloved, your election of God.” [1Thes 1:4]

How did the apostle know their election of God? Let it be most particularly observed that this assurance of his was obtained not by any immediate revelation from Heaven, not by a supernatural vision or angelic message, nor by the Lord Himself, directly informing him to that effect. No; rather was it by what he had witnessed in and from them. It was by the visible fruits of their election that he perceived them to be “brethren beloved.” In other words, he traced back those effects of grace which had been wrought in them at their conversion, to the source thereof in God’s eternal purpose of mercy.

Those tiny rivulets of grace in their hearts the apostle traced back to the ocean of God’s everlasting love from which they proceeded. Therein, he indicted to us the course which we must follow, the method we are to pursue in order to ascertain our predestination to glory. [A.W. Pink]

What was the change that occurred in me when God saved me?

There are three. And I shall briefly state them and later expound on them.

1. There was a time I hated the Lord and His commandments. But now I love Him with all my heart, mind and soul and am willing to die for Him!

2. There was a time I hated true Christians and couldn’t stand them. Now I long for their company and feel like a ‘fish out of water’ in the company of unbelievers!
3. There was a time when the little Bible that I knew was a DEAD BOOK! But NOW when I read it God speaks to me through it personally and comforts, edifies and challenges me!

1. I got involved in the occult at a very young age and by the time I went to college, I was a practicing Satanist. As an occultist I quite naturally hated the name of the Lord Jesus and did not want anything to do with Him. But when the Lord in His mercy saved me by His free mercy and love, something happened. There arose an unexplainable love for the Lord and a perfect hatred for the devil.

Now you might say, “I have never been an occultist and I have never hated the Lord. In fact I have always loved God”. But is this God whom you have all along loved the God of the Bible? Is He the Sovereign discriminating God whom the Bible speaks of?!

A Sovereign who is answerable to none but Himself. A God who doeth according to HIS WILL in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou? [Dan 4:35]A Sovereign who hath mercy on whom He will and hardens whom He will! [Rom 9:18] A Sovereign who knows the end from the beginning, and calleth those things that are not as though they were and makes His people willing in the day of His power! A Sovereign who hath created ALL THINGS for Himself, yea even the wicked for the day of evil, and causes the wrath of man to praise Him!

Few who claim to be Christians know THIS God! The God THEY believe in is a frustrated idol who keeps hoping and wishing and wringing his hands helplessly as man and devil rule by their ‘free will’.

But not so my God! Of my God it is written -”Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not EVIL AND GOOD”! [Lam 3:37,38]

My God “is in one mind, and who can turn HIM? And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth. For He performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with Him. Therefore am I troubled at His presence: when I consider, I am afraid of Him”! [Job 23:13-15]

This God cannot be known by ‘walking an aisle’, ‘saying a little prayer’, signing a ‘decision card’ or getting baptized when you are old enough, but only by REVELATION!

“I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast HID THESE THINGS from the wise and prudent, and hast REVEALED THEM unto babes”. [Matt 11:25]

Again – “Unto YOU (His elect) it is GIVEN to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: [why?] That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them”. [Mark 4:11,12]

Now THIS is the God I came to know shortly after my salvation. THIS is the God of the Scriptures! To the unbelieving heart and even the nominal religious Christian THIS God described above is nothing short of a monster!

A.W.Pink once wrote to a brother he was ministering to – “Preach Election, and you will know who the sheep and the goats are!” I would say a hearty “Amen!” to that, for I am convinced that the doctrine of divine predestination is not some high doctrine only to be understood by ‘older divines’ and ‘Fathers’ in the lord, but a truth that can be grasped even by a babe in the Lord.

I have personally labored much to present the truth of divine Predestination in many a pulpit in our land as the Lord gave me the opportunity. But I was to them as one who spoke in a strange tongue. And the reason for this is that very few in Christendom today are regenerated Christians who know the Lord or rather are ‘known of Him’. A great majority (99%) of those who warm the pews are ‘natural men’ who worship a God of their own making. Only a babe in Christ will desire the ‘sincere milk of the Word’. And believe me, what is preached in the existing ‘pulpits’ of our day is not even ‘milk’ let alone ‘meat’. It’s just plain hogwash!

The Christ of nominal Christendom is not the Sovereign, All-powerful, discriminating God of the Bible!

In one of his letters to Erasmus, Luther said, “Your thoughts of God are too human.” Probably that renowned scholar resented such a rebuke, the more so, since it proceeded from a miner’s son. Nevertheless, it was thoroughly deserved. I, too, pose the same charge against the vast majority of the preachers of our day, and against those who, instead of searching the Scriptures for themselves, lazily accept the teachings of their Seminaries. The most dishonoring conceptions of the rule and reign of the Almighty are now held almost everywhere. To countless thousands, even professing Christians, the God of Scripture is quite unknown.

Of old, God complained to an apostate Israel,

“Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself” (Psalm 50:21).

Such must now be His indictment against apostate Christendom. Men imagine the Most High is moved by sentiment, rather than by principle. They suppose His omnipotency is such an idle fiction that Satan can thwart His designs on every side. They think that if He has formed any plan or purpose at all, then it must be like theirs, constantly subject to change. They openly declare that whatever power He possesses must be restricted, lest He invade the citadel of man’s free will and reduce him to a machine. They lower the all-efficacious atonement, which redeems everyone for whom it was made, to a mere remedy, which sin-sick souls may use if they feel so disposed. They lessen the strength of the invincible work of the Holy Spirit to an offer of the Gospel which sinners may accept or reject as they please.

All that to say, whether it is our salvation, our knowledge of God and His ways or our works for Him, in every thing all the glory is due to Him and Him alone. This is one reason why I am convinced that I am one of His elect. For His Spirit has in His grace and mercy revealed to me WHO HE IS!

And the doctrine which he has taught me gives God all the glory and puts man where he belongs ….in the dust!

This is how I know that I am one of His elect! And this is how I recognize others who are elected with me. They have come to believe the God of the Scriptures as he is revealed in the Scriptures!

2. Another mark that I am one of God’s elect is that I love the brethren. Scripture says – “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death”. [1John 3:14]

The word ‘brethren’ here must be defined. Does this mean all who call themselves Christians are my brothers and sisters in the Lord? No! the Bible speaks of some who are ‘false brethren’ [2Cor 11:26; Gal 2:4]

They are not all ‘brethren’ who claim to believe in Jesus. The Apostle said – “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment”. [1Cor 1:10] Another apostle warned – “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds”. [2John 1:10,11]

It does not help to say that one’s creed is just ‘Jesus Christ’. For there are many Christ’s! We have the Romish Christ, the Mormon Christ and every other cult which defends its authority by Scripture claims to believe in ‘Jesus Christ’.

So it behooves us to define the Christ we believe in by Creed and doctrine!

 There are those who complain, “Oh but doctrine divides”! Oh yes it divides! It divides between the sheep and the goats and those who are elect and those who are not!

Is the Jesus I believe in the third person of the Godhead?! Is He very God of very God and one substance with the Father!? Is He the absolute sovereign who hath mercy on whom He will and hardens whom He will!? Is he the frustrated saviour who desires the salvation of all men hoping that they will choose him of their own ‘free will’ or is He the Omnipotent Lord who makes His people willing in the Day of His power!?

The right answer to just the above questions will eliminate and expose the myriads of false Christ’s that pervade the land!

The Master told His disciples whom he had chosen –“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you”. [John 15:19]

Do you know how I am convinced that I am one of God’s elect? Because the world hates me! What world? Which “world” is specifically in view here? Let the previous verse answer: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”

What “world” hated Christ and hounded Him to death? The religious world, those who pretended to be most zealous for God’s glory. So it is now. Let the elect child of God turn his back upon a Christ—dishonoring Christendom, and his fiercest foes and most relentless and unscrupulous enemies will be those who claim to be Christians themselves!

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you… for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad” (Matthew 5:11,12).

Ah, my brother, it is a healthy sign, a sure mark that you are one of God’s elect, when the religious world hates you. But if, on the other hand, you still have a “good standing” in the “churches” or “assemblies” there is grave reason to fear that you are not one of His chosen! [Paraphrased from A.W. Pink]

3. Another clear sign that I am one of God’s elect is that the Bible which was once a dead book is now a living one. I was so thrilled when God saved me to know that He was now speaking to me through His Word! This was the first time I truly heard His voice. It wasn’t an audible voice (NEVER HAS BEEN). But I KNOW His voice! All the Elect know it. It couldn’t have been clearer if the Lord stood next to me and said it audibly!

The Master said – “Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice”. [John 18:37]

It’s the still small voice of His glorious word full of majesty and power. It blows your mind (pardon the phrase). When you hear something like this no one can convince you that He didn’t speak to you! “Blessed is the people that know the JOYFUL SOUND: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Thy countenance.” [Psa 89:15]. There is such a thing as the ‘voice of His Word’ [see Psa 103:20].

I know I am one of His elect because I do not read His Word as a religious duty or to gather information to debate, but because it is my necessary food! [see Job 23:12]. Only an elect child of God understands the meaning of the word – “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”. [Mat 4:4] I could say with the Psalmist – “O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day” [Psa 119:97]

An elect man or woman is one who is blessed. “Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts”! [Psa 65:4]

Concerning this blessed person it is written –

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper”. [Psa 1:1-3]

The elect did not deserve it [Titus 3:5]. Neither did they ask for it [Rom 10:20]. But God gave it to them freely, and all the glory to God alone!

Mike Jeshurun

“For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow”. [Ecc 1:18]

When we read a scripture like this we wonder how such a thing can be. Are not knowledge and wisdom something to be sought after. Does not the wise man in the Proverbs say, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding”. [Prov 4:7] And does not the Apostle admonish us to add knowledge to the other virtues which are given to us of God?, [2Pet 1:5] But what profit would there be if my increasing knowledge or wisdom would increase my sorrow and grief?

Or how can an increase of knowledge increase sorrow in the life of a believer?

Let me try and define this with the little light that I have received since my salvation. Scripture says -’But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day’ [Prov 4:18].

A Christian is not born as one. The Master said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” And the ‘born-again’ Christian just like a fleshly human baby comes into the Kingdom ignorant of many things. So the spiritual admonition to him is “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” [1Pet 2:2]

When a person is newly saved, he feels that now that he has the Spirit, knows the Word and has Christian brothers to help him, he can live the Christian life to the full. Which means walking in the light, loving the brethren as Christ did and defeating sin at every turn. And there be many untaught minds who tell him that now he can be ‘sinless and perfect’ and have a ‘victory over sin’. But alas the child of God is soon taught the awful truth that though he is a new man in Christ, yet the old sinful nature still remains in him and wars against him at every turn.

“Strange mysterious creature! He cannot live without sinning, yet cannot live in sin; cannot live without prayer, and yet for days together cannot pray; continually finds religion a burden, yet would not part with it for the world; lusts after sin as a delicious morsel, yet hates it with a perfect hatred; esteems Christ the Chiefest among ten thousand, and yet is at times tried with doubts whether He is a Saviour at all”. [J.C. Philpot]

Thus the knowledge of his depravity and helplessness increaseth his sorrow! [Romans 7:24]

When the Christian is newly born again he thinks that all who call themselves ‘Christians’ are Christians. But the Spirit shows him by and by that this is not so.

“He has a divine standard set up in his soul by which he measures others as well as himself, for “he that is spiritual judgeth all things” 1Co 2:15; and as he measures them with one hand, he is forced to stamp “Tekel” with the other. He looks into the granaries, and finds chaff stored instead of wheat; he holds up the notes to the light, and cannot discover the water-mark; he walks up to the fold, and sees goats penned instead of sheep; and visits the household to search for the family likeness, but finds it filled with the “sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore” Isa 57:3.

All he wants is reality. All that he is in search of is something which bears the divine impress, and carries with it a heavenly and supernatural character. But instead of finding widows “indeed and desolate” 1Ti 5:5, he is pestered with widows of Tekoa 2Sa 14:2; and instead of bankrupt debtors and insolvent prisoners, he encounters scarce any but wealthy merchants, with a flourishing trade and a stock in hand. His soul can, however, only unite with the poor and needy, the stripped and the emptied, the shipwrecked sailor and the shelterless wayfarer, who, from sheer necessity, from being driven out of house and home, have fled for refuge to the hope set before them in a salvation without money and without price” [J.C. Philpot]

Thus the knowledge of the state of Christendom causes him to go unto Christ without the camp (Heb 13:13) of nominal Christendom and for the most part sit alone as Jeremiah of old (Jer 15:17) with much sorrow.

Again the newly born again Christian for the most part initially believes that now that he is saved, his whole family too will soon be saved by and by. But alas, the Spirit is faithful to teach him the truth of God’s sovereignty in this matter. He soon learns that Christ came not to bring peace but division. [Luk 12:51-53] And this division is brought about first and foremost in his own family. He learns that the Master came to set a man against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law”! [Mat 10:35]

He also learns that when Christ said that, “a MAN’s foes shall be they of his own household” [Mat 10:36], he realises that the ‘man’ spoken of is none other than himself! As he interacts with other true Christians he learns the truth that this ‘man’ in Mat 10:36 is the one whom Christ has chosen to save by His sovereign grace as opposed to the others whom He hath chosen not to save according to His sovereign will and because it seemed good in His sight. [Luke 10:21] And many near and dear ones whom he desires would be saved as himself, he sees remain in unbelief and some go on to a Christless grave!
Thus this knowledge of God’s sovereignty in salvation and his helplessness to save those whom he desires to see saved causes him much sorrow! [see Romans 9:1,2,3]

But though this knowledge causes him much grief and sorrow, would he be willing to part with it. Oh no! He knows that what the Spirit has taught him through the scriptures is THE TRUTH and though it may cause him much grief he is not willing to part with it. For he knows that it is better to suffer for the sake of the truth than to LIVE A LIE!