Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. In the parable of the sower,
some of the seed fell upon the stony ground and immediately
sprung up but soon withered, not having any root. This is
typical of those who often have euphoric experiences which ultimately
fade, and then they have no basis upon which to stand, only to
keep searching for another experience, much like a drunkard seeks to
find happiness in his bottle. Some fell upon the thorny ground,
and even though they expressed some agreement, perhaps even
a measure of human remorse over their sin, the cares of this
world overcame their desire to embrace that truth which they
professed to believe. This is typical of those who
receive not a love of the truth that they might be saved. Like
the sow that is washed, they return to their wallowing in
the mire. And for this cause, God shall
send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie, that
they all might be damned who believe not the truth but had
pleasure. in unrighteousness. Many conclude that this is descriptive
of moral decay. Yet that unrighteousness in which
the natural man has the most pleasure is in his free will
religion wherein he thinks to produce and present his own righteousness
unto the Lord. For other foundation can no man
lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. The unadulterated
gospel of the glory of the blessed God is this foundation. Christ
is all. This is that gospel which Paul
says that the Galatians have received from him, and exhorts
them not to depart from it. For there is no alternative gospel
which can be said to be true. He knows that there will be many
who are yet to come, and many who were already among them,
who would pervert the plain message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified,
adding to it all sorts of duties and activities designed to give
them something other than Christ to fix their vision on and to
rely upon. Since many of them were Jews,
he knew that their natural tendency would be to seek to mix in some
law with the gospel. That which is of the law is not
of faith, as he goes on to point out to them, that the purpose
of the law was to be a schoolmaster, to bring them unto Christ, and
not a moral code or list of duties. He goes on to define the gospel
which they had received. Wherever he went, he was determined
to know nothing among them but Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
They gladly heard his message, and now they were in danger of
departing from that foundation which he had built upon. He said
that this gospel was not according to the natural man's reason.
But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached
to me is not after man. The true gospel is not built
upon the natural understanding of men, nor can it be received
by the same. But the natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness
unto him. Neither can he know them, because
they are spiritually discerned. This is what the Lord told Nicodemus.
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. He said that this gospel was
not taught by the power of the flesh, nor the skill of oration.
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it,
but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. While he as an apostle
was directly taught by the lips of Christ, the same power which
opened his understanding did also apply the preached word
to their ears and heart. For we preach not ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus'
sake. For God, who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. He said this gospel was not resting
upon any carnal religion or tradition. In fact, it is that which is
set against all such. For ye have heard of my conversation
in time past in the Jews' religion, and profited in the Jews' religion
above many my equals of my own nation. But when it pleased God,
who separated me from my mother's womb and called me by His grace,
this calling caused Him to declare, but what things were gained to
me, those I counted lost for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I
count all things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things, and do count them but done, that I may win Christ,
and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which
is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ,
the righteousness which is of God by faith, that I might know
him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,
being made conformable unto his death. Have you received this
gospel, which is nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified,
or do you seek to add something to it? For a free CD containing
15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at
windstream.net.