Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. There is some public opinion
that Islam is somehow a danger to the gospel and Christianity.
This follows the same train of thought that arises from time
to time that immorality, liberal politics, abortion, or gay marriage
threaten to destroy the same. The gospel can in no wise be
overturned by any of these things. All of these problems are but
an illustration of the natural depravity of men and pose no
spiritual threat to the children of God. It is likely that physical
persecution of the followers of Christ could increase with
a rise in the prominence of Islam. If this occurs, it can but strengthen
the true followers of Christ and serve to purge the false
professors from their midst, even as was demonstrated in the
early days of the Church. The Lord will thoroughly purge
his floor. Those who are the enemies of the cross of Christ
are much more subtle in nature than the obvious errors of those
who embrace Islam or any number of other false religions in the
earth. The greatest dangers that face the children of God are
those errors which most closely resemble the truth of the gospel.
and embrace portions of the truth while actually denying the foundation
of it. Paul mentions them when he says,
this know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded,
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. having a form
of godliness, but denying the power thereof, from such turn
away. For of this sort are they which
creep into houses and leave captive silly women, laden with sins,
led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come
to the knowledge of the truth. The greatest enemy of the sons
of God is right in our own bosom. This sinful flesh which we possess
is a constant warrior against the truth of God in the inward
parts. It seldom relents in its continual warfare against the
Spirit. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other,
so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. The heart is deceitful
above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it? Those
errors which most closely resemble the true gospel while denying
the very foundation of truth are widely preached in our day
and pose a much greater threat to the truth of the gospel than
all of the other false religions in the world. These errors include
teaching that men can be saved by an act of their own free will,
The modern era of evangelism is mostly built around this error.
No man can come to me except the Father which has sent me
draw him. And he will not come to me that ye might have life.
There is none that seeketh after God. The second one is teaching
that Christ died for all men and yet actually saved none.
Many professing to be believers in our day embrace this error.
They say that Christ has done all that he could do to save
men, and now it is all up to them to make a decision and thus
make the work of Christ effectual for them. Thou shalt call his
name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Neither
by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered
in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption
for us. The third error is teaching that
men are justified by an act of faith rather than by the object
of faith. This is quite a subtle error,
yet deadly, since it not only denies the source of true faith,
but misses the whole point of the basis of justification. But
of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom
and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. that according
as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord, who
was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our
justification. And fourthly is teaching God's
people that they can merit or forfeit the blessings of God
by their own actions. This is nothing but legalism.
The promises of God are yea and amen, and his blessings are bestowed
upon his people according to his sovereign purpose. His people
are not blessed because they serve Him and walk in obedience
to His commands, but rather His blessing is manifested in causing
their obedience, and their blessing is to be enabled to worship Him
in spirit and truth. For it is God which worketh in
you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. For we are
His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which
God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Teaching
anything other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the greatest
error that men would set forth. But God forbid that I should
glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the
world is crucified unto me and I unto the world. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.