Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. The followers of Christ are exhorted
to beware of those who speak false words, which turn men from
their own steadfastness. Let no man deceive you with vain
words, for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon
the children of disobedience. And have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Peter
even reiterated the teachings of Paul when he wrote, As also
in all his, that is, Paul's, epistles, speaking in them of
these things, in which are some things hard to be understood,
which they that are unlearned in unstable rest, as they do
also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore,
beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye
also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from
your own steadfastness. The errors of which he speaks
are not always easily recognized because the deadliest of errors
are set forth not by those who have a complete disregard of
the Bible, but by those who rest or twist the scriptures. But
there were false prophets also among the people, even as there
shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring
in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and
bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious
ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken
of. This is why the Lord has given
gifts to his church, till we all come in the unity of the
faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect
man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of
men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
But speaking the truth in love may grow up unto him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ. Paul warned the Ephesian elders
that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among
you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall
men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples
after them. Therefore watch and remember
that by the space of three years I cease not to warn everyone,
night and day, with tears. The age in which we presently
live is one in which the truth is evil spoken of. And there
are many who call evil good and good evil, that put darkness
for light and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet and
sweet for bitter. Woe unto them that are wise in
their own eyes and prudent in their own sight. The prevailing
winds of our age sets forth the sanctification of the saints
as being a cooperative effort, with both man and God taking
a part. We have often heard men say such
things as, The life you have is the gift of God to you, but
what you make of it is your gift to him. And God helps those that
help themselves. It is quite common for men who
profess faith in Christ to speak about improving themselves through
their own effort and dedication, or to consider that while the
blood of Christ is sufficient for their past sins, it is now
up to them to deal with those in the present. This doctrine
is like a siren song, which lulls many into relapsing to their
natural understanding that they become pleasing in the Lord's
sight by their acts of obedience, and thereby merit His favor and
blessings by the same. Paul dealt with this very issue
in his letter to the Galatians. Are ye so foolish, having begun
in the Spirit? Are ye now made perfect by the
flesh? And if ye be Christ, then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs
according to the promise. All of the blessings of God in
redemption, justification, and sanctification are bestowed upon
the true sons of God by and according to his promise, and not by any
obedience seen or foreseen in them. By nature, men have the
law principle written on their hearts, which causes them to
believe that they can earn favor with God by their actions or
forfeit it by the same. By nature, men believe that they
can go to heaven by being good and or enjoy a measure of prosperity
by their own action. It is only when they are taught
the true nature of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus that they are set free from the law of sin and death.
The first work of the Spirit of God in the sons of God is
to convince them of their own sin and utter barrenness to perform
any activity which could either deliver them from destruction
or cause them to gain the favor of God. The sum total of all
of the righteousness of the sons of God is the righteousness of
Christ Jesus the Lord. He has made his people every
way at home and shall present them before his Father in that
very state. He is our performer and perfecter, that no flesh
should glory in his presence. 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 gloryeth,
let him glory in the Lord. What is your place of glory?
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