Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. For the last 100 years, the common
message that has been preached among the vast majority of those
who call themselves Christians is that a man becomes a true
believer in Jesus Christ simply because he makes a decision to
be. If the necessity of the new birth is even mentioned, it is
described as an event which takes place as a result of man using
his own free will to decide to be a follower of Christ. Some
describe this event as occurring through an outward confession
of faith by the mouth, while others purport that it occurs
through some activity of men, such as baptism in water, or
aligning oneself with some religious organization, purporting itself
to be the true church. But in just about all cases,
most preaching declares that God causes men to be born again
after they believe. The scripture is quite clear
that the opposite is actually true. Those who are possessors
of true faith believe as a result of being born again by the Spirit
of God, rather than vice versa. It is impossible for a man to
have true faith apart from the supernatural work of God to awaken
him from the deadness of his natural sinful state. Even as
the Lord said to Nicodemus, Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye
must be born again. And then, as Paul writes to the
Ephesians, even when we were dead in sins, he hath quickened
us together with Christ. For by grace are you saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of
works, lest any man should boast. The Lord Jesus laid his acts
to the root of man's notion that he will be able to enter the
gates of heaven on the basis of a religious profession. He
plainly said, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of
my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name
have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful
works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you.
Depart from me, ye that work iniquity. He illustrated the
same thing when he gave the parable in which many were compelled
to go to the wedding feast. But when one was found among
the guests who did not have on a wedding garment, he was cast
out. In Matthew chapter 25, the Lord
set forth a parable about ten virgins. He said that five were
wise and five were foolish. Both the wise and the foolish
had lamps that were burning. This is typical of an outward
profession of faith and akin to saying, Lord, Lord. In this
part of the country, it is quite common to find many, if not most,
people who have made some sort of public confession of faith
in Christ. Most are satisfied with this
burning lamp. Yet when the bridegroom came,
only those who had oil in their vessels, as well as their lamps,
were able to go in to the feast. By inference, these foolish virgins
represent those who call themselves Christians, but who in reality
are so in name only without the fruit of the Spirit or the evidence
of the new birth. The wise virgins, on the other
hand, illustrate those who are the true sons of God, who are
given the gift of salvation manifested by the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit in each one. Those who are wise are made so
by the sovereign grace of God, totally apart from any merit
or ability on their part. A man might increase his level
of knowledge by study and personal endeavor, but wisdom is a gift
bestowed by God. A man may possess some religious
light, but unless he is indwelt by the Holy Ghost, he cannot
enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold,
all things are become new. The lighting of a lamp and the
continual burning of it are not the same. Only the Lord can give
His people light and keep it burning until the bright moon
appears. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, Email us at ForThePoor at WinStream.net. That's ForThePoor at W-I-N-D-S-T-R-E-A-N
dot net.