THE DANGER OF A SINGLE TRACK PHILOSOPHY*
[*Note. This tract has a
number of hyperlinks which the reader should open. All Scripture quotations are
in red and are from the Revised Version, (1881).]
INTRODUCTION
". . . Run, then, my son, to that blessedness of the kingdom
of heaven which is proposed to you by the heavenly Master, as the one single
fruit of all philosophy, and which you cannot obtain except by true poverty of
spirit. For as I have already said,
the true Master, presiding in the school of the whole world, and overthrowing
the seats of the false teachers, has declared him that is poor in spirit to
be blessed, because for him is laid up the highest blessedness, that is, the
kingdom of heaven.
Enter the way of poverty, which leads to the blessedness of the
kingdom of heaven. Enter, I say, the way of poverty, not so much of
the body as of the soul; not so much of possessions as of humility; not so much
of the flesh as of the mind. You
will then be the true philosopher of Christ, when He shall have made the wisdom
of the world foolishness to you. For,
according to the same apostle, if you will be wise, become a fool, that you
may be wise. And do not glory in
your knowledge of the vain talk of logic, or the curious trifling of physics,
or in knowing anything else but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. If, through His gift, you attain to this,
there will be joy over you among the angels of God, who rejoice over every
sinner who repents, and there will be much joy among the saints, for when
one member rejoices, all the members rejoice with it. And to me it will be a joy beyond everything;
for I will receive you as an only son - I will nourish you with the milk of
piety - I will cherish you in the bosom of love - I will bring you up among the
little ones of Christ; among the multitude of recruits I will arm you with
heavenly weapons, and, as far as I can, will animate you to the spiritual
warfare, and will fight by your side against the enemy. We shall have help from above, that as
fellow-soldiers in the heavenly camp we may conquer the enemy, and,
conquering, may be crowned; and, truly philosophizing, may arrive at the true
object of philosophy - eternal blessedness."
(An extract from a letter by Peter The Venerable (Abbot of
"In the Book of Ester the Christian may see the union of two
things apparently irreconcilable - the free agency of men and the overruling
appointment of God. Philosophers have exhausted their ingenuity in endeavouring
to fathom this abyss; but their line has proved too short. In the Book of Esther we see that a man’s
actions are his own; yet they are, in another point of view, the appointment of
God. When will Christians cease from
their own wisdom; when will they in all things submit to the testimony of
God; when will they partially admit that God may know, and therefore call
upon them to believe, what they cannot comprehend? Will the Christian never learn that he is
nothing! Disciple of Jesus, go to the
Book of Esther, and acquaint yourself with the deepest point of
philosophy. There see the solution that
has occupied the wise from the very cradle of philosophy, but which philosophy
has never solved - which it is not capable of solving, on any other principle
than submission to the testimony of God."
- ALEXANDER CARSON, LL.D.
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A section of rail track, from Londonderry to Coleraine, is considered
by many to be one the most spectacular passenger train journeys in all
One day the train on this route became the subject on our National
Television News Programme. A large rock [or stone], detached itself from
the cliffs. It rolled across two roads, mounted the railway banking, and
came to rest on top of the track: the train was instantly derailed when it
collided with the rock and came to a sudden and unexpected stop by lying on its
side straddled across the rail track. By the grace of God no lives were
lost, and all the passengers on board the train were eventually able to arrive
at their destination by road.
After seeing a large colour photograph of the train that day on the front
page of the local press, I thought of the danger of holding on to what I would
describe as : "A Single Track
Philosophy". Allow me to explain what I mean by that
expression. The word ‘philosophy,’ is
defined as: "a rationalized outlook on life, or one’s mental attitude
influencing one’s behaviour." In other words, a Christian’s logic
and spritual knowledge will shape and form his philosophy. The doctrines
we believe have a tremendous influence on our outlook to life, and if one's philosophy
is to get as much enjoyment out of this life,* then one's actions will be
noticeably different from someone who (in obedience to Christ) denies himself
now, in hope of being ‘accounted worthy’
of the next life: that is, life in "the coming
age".
[* “The happy man was born in the city of regeneration, in the parish
of Repentance unto life. He was
educated at the school of obedience, and now lives in the plain of
Perseverance. He works at the trade of Diligence, notwithstanding he has
a large estate in the country of Christian Contentment and many times does jobs
of Self-denial. He wears the garment of Humility, and often walks in the
Happy is he who believes the good news of the millennial kingdom and
obeys the commands of his Lord; due order in his affections, sound peace in his
conscience, sanctifying grace in his soul, true humility in his heart, the
Redeemer's yoke on his neck, a vain world under his feet, the courage to proclaim
the whole will [counsel] of God, and the hope of a crown of glory over his
head. Happy the life and glorious the death of such a servant of
Christ. In order to obtain which: - believe firmly, wait patiently, work
abundantly, live holily, die daily: watch your heart, guide your senses, redeem
your time, love Christ and your neighbour, and long for the coming Glory of
Christ upon this earth.”]
How familiar and well known are our Lord’s words: "I came that they may have life, and may
have it abundantly" (John 10: 10; cf. Mark 8: 34; Matt. 16:
24, 25; Luke 9: 23). But what is here meant by the word "life"?
Does our Lord mean eternal life? or does He mean life in
"the coming age"? That’s the crucial question which every
regenerate believer should ponder in his mind. In other words, is the ‘life’ a 'free gift'
or must we "strive to enter" into it? thereby believing it a
reward. (Eph. 2: 8, 9; Luke 13: 24)
In Luke 24 we read of two "sad"
disciples. Their hopes for a bright future (at the time of Christ’s First
Advent) were dashed to pieces, by the death of their Messiah, the
anointed One who is God's promised World Ruler. Their ‘philosophy’ had an
affect on their feelings and behaviour. Like the passengers on the train
travelling along the one track, they were unable to conclude that there are
two Advents of Messiah, two kingdoms of God, two sets of
Divine promises, two general resurrections and two aspects of the
Gospel: at that time, they could only see one! (Amos 9: 13-15; Micah 4: 3;
5 : 2; Hab. 2: 14; Zech. 8: 4-6; 14: 17; Mal. 4: 6; Isa. 41: 19; 40: 5; 60:
19-25. Etc.)
Anti-Millennialists hold on to a similar philosophy: they believe in a
SUFFERING and CRUCIFIED Messiah, but doggedly refuse to believe in a
RULING Messiah; they cannot come to any logical conclusion that there
are two advents: the first advent to suffer, and the second
to rule upon THIS earth.
This popular ‘single track philosophy' has a tendency to free Christians
from responsibility toward God; and it has an affect upon their mode of
living. Instead of following the teaching of the Word of God (which
reveals that Christians are held accountable for their deeds after
conversion,) it lulls them into a state of complacency by asserting that only
good deeds will be brought into consideration at the Judgment Seat of
Christ. Their logic has been somewhat
described after this fashion:-
"The judgment seat of Christ has for its purpose the rewarding of
saints, the expression of thanks on the behalf of God to all Christians and the
bestowal of praise upon them for good deeds which every Christian, they say,
has done. Their line of thinking is that the Greek word Bema,
translated judgment seat, is always used as a place of reward and not of
judgment. " - A. E. WILSON.
Pastor Wilson then went on to correct this erroneous line of Christian
thinking and wrote:-
"I call your attention now to every time this word bema
occurs in the New Testament and let you judge for yourself as to whether
judgment is involved or not.
In Matt. 27: 19 it is used in connection with Pilate when he is
sitting in judgment on the lord Jesus Christ.
It is from this place that Pilate issues the decree that Jesus is to be
crucified. Does that sound like rewards,
praise and thanks?
In Acts 12: 21 Herod is seated upon hid judgment seat, a place from
which judgment was executed as well as rewards issued. We find him smitten by
God and eaten of worms. Does that sound like rewards, praise and thanks only?
In Acts 18: 12 Gallio, seated upon his judgment seat, executes
justice, but in the case of Paul refuses to pass sentence; however, verse 17
tells us of one being beaten before Gallio’s judgment seat. Does this sound
like rewards, praise, and thanks only?
In Acts 25: 6, 12 Paul is brought before the judgment seat of Festus
and is committed to appear before Caesar for trial and sentencing. Neither is
this rewards, praise and thanks, but rather judgment.
In Rom. 14: 10 Christians are forbidden to stand in judgment on their
brothers because all Christians must stand before the judgment seat of Christ
and give an account of themselves unto the Lord. In 2 Cor. 5: 10, 11a we have a specific
statement: "For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his
body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing
therefore the terror of the lord, we persuade men . . . " Here one is to give an account for his deeds
whether they are good or evil. Paul,
realizing the terror of the Lord as Christians appear at the judgment seat and
answer for their evil deeds, seeks to persuade men that they so labour that
they may be accepted of the Lord.
Col. 3: 24, 25 calls to our attention that those who please the Lord
shall receive rewards, [i.e., "an
inheritance from the Lord as a reward"] and those who have done
wrong shall receive recompense commensurate with the wrong which has been
done. The so-called reasoning [the one
track philosophy] which relieves one of any responsibility at the judgment seat
of Christ is based on a mistranslation and a misinterpretation of 1 Cor. 4:
1-5. Here, in dealing with the
stewardship of Christians, it is required that one be found faithful. In concluding the fifth verse Paul says :
"every man," It should be translated "each man," which refers to the steward of verse 2
who is found faithful. In 1 Cor. 3: 15
we are told expressly and conclusively that a man may be saved and have no good
works to his credit. Such a man will not
receive rewards, will not be praised, will not be thanked but rather will
suffer loss though himself shall be saved.
If every man regardless of his works is to be praised and thanked by the
Lord consider for a moment what it does to these passages of Scripture.
In Matt. 22: 11-14, it would have the King praising and thanking the
disobedient one because he appeared at the marriage without the wedding
garment; but he was not so treated. In
Matt. 24: 45-51, it would have the lord thanking the unfaithful servant for
teaching that the Lord delayed his coming.
It would have the Lord thanking the unfaithful servant for smiting his
fellow servants and for eating and drinking with the drunken. It would have the Lord praising the
unfaithful servant and giving him a place of rulership in the kingdom instead
of setting him aside and putting him with the hypocrites. (A hypocrite, under law, was a constituted
leader of the Jews who, instead of serving the Lord, served other interests. In the Christian era, a hypocrite is one who
lives for the world, the flesh and the devil.) It would have the Lord, in Matt.
25: 12, praising and thanking the foolish virgins for not bringing some extra
oil along with the oil which they had in their lamps. It would have the lord, in Matt. 25: 26,
thanking instead of condemning the wicked servant for not using the talent
committed to him. In Luke 19: 22-26, it
would have the lord thanking and praising His unfaithful servant for hiding the
pound instead of using it.
The unscripturalness and folly of such reasoning are evident to any
who read the above mentioned Scriptures."
It has been said, "Many Christians who have sung ... ‘when by His
grace I shall look on His face, that will be glory for Me,’ are due a terrific
shock when the stand before the judgment seat of Christ and find it is not
glory for them."
When we see Jesus it will be at His Judgment Seat, not at the Mercy
seat, and then 'Each (disciple’s)
work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare
it, because it is revealed by FIRE.'
And every disciple of Christ will be rewarded according to his
works.
D. M. Panton also felt the need to enlighten these uninformed and
deceived believers, and wrote: "Carnal Christians have often be heard to say,
‘I am not bothering about rewards; I will be happy anyway.’ The boy who has
been disobedient is REWARDED according to his works. Perhaps he would not want
to bother about rewards either but is rewarded nevertheless."
Our Lord condemns this popular ‘single track philosophy’ in His
disciples in the following manner:-
"O foolish men, and slow of
heart to believe in ALL that the prophets have spoken!
Behoved it not the CHRIST [or 'MESSIAH', the Hebrew equivalent] to suffer
these things, and to enter into his glory?
And beginning from Moses and FROM ALL THE PROPHETS, he interpreted to
them in ALL the scriptures the things concerning himself"
(Luke 24: 25-27).
If you are a Christian who believes :- (1) there will not be a
Millennial kingdom; (2) that we are now living in the Millennium; (3)
the first resurrection occurred at our conversion; (4) one
resurrection will embrace the righteous and unrighteous together; (5) all
Christians, irrespective of their fidelity, will rule and reign with Christ in
the Millennium: then I believe you are in urgent need of greater powers of
logic; and like the passengers on board the train that day, it will only be a
matter of time until your hopes and dreams of a glorious future are broken in
pieces and left, like the train lying straddled across the one track.
"Thou sawest till that a STONE was
cut out without hands, which smote the image upon its feet that were of iron
and clay, and brake them in pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass,
the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the
chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no
place was found for them: and the STONE that smote the image became a great
mountain, AND FILLED THE WHOLE EARTH."
"And it shall come to pass in the
latter days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house SHALL BE ESTABLISHED at
the head of the mountains,* and shall be exalted
above the hills; AND ALL NATIONS SHALL FLOW INTO IT. And many peoples shall go
and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of
the God of Jacob; and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths:
FOR OUT OF ZION shall go forth the law, and THE WORD OF THE LORD FROM
JERUSALEM. And he shall judge between the nations, and shall prove many
peoples: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears
into pruninghooks: NATION SHALL NOT LIFT UP SWORD AGAINST NATION, NEITHER SHALL
THEY LEARN WAR ANY MORE." (Dan. 2: 34, 35; Matt. 24: 29, 30; Isa.
2: 2-4.)
[*Note. A "mountain" in
Scripture, typifies A KINGDOM!]
"The stone that smote the image became a
great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” ... "Thou [Nebuchadnezzar], O king,
art king of kings, onto whom the God of heaven hath given THE KINGDOM, THE POWER,
THE STRENGTH, AND THE GLORY" (Dan. 2: 35, 37).
-------
1. ETERNAL SALVATION AND THE ROCK.
In Scripture, the apostle Peter describes our Lord Jesus Christ as a
"Rock":-
"Because they [
"He [‘Christ the Nazarene.’
(literal Greek.)] is the stone [same word as translated ‘rock’ above in Greek.] which
was set at nought of you builders which was made the head of the corner. And IN
NONE OTHER IS THERE SALVATION: for neither is there any other name under heaven,
that is given among men, wherein we must be saved" ( Acts 4:
11).
I conclude therefore that Eternal Salvation is found
only in a Person - the Lord Jesus - who is the ONLY Saviour
and anointed world Ruler:-
"For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth on
HIM should not perish, but HAVE ETERNAL LIFE" (John 3:
16).
To open "The Greatness Of Jesus": click
here
Therefore, eternal salvation is a present possession to
ALL who have faith in Jesus as their personal Saviour. They have been saved on the basis
of His finished work; they now stand eternally secure upon His
merits; they are justified by His imputed righteousness; and they have
been redeemed by His precious blood. God is completely
satisfied; the full price of ETERNAL salvation has been paid: and every
regenerate believer should understand these basic doctrines of
Christianity! Eternal life is a "FREE GIFT" of God.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the free
gift of God is eternal life" (Rom. 6: 23, R.V.); and,-
"The gifts and calling of God are without
repentance" (11: 29).
JESUS CHRIST IS THE ROCK IN WHOM ETERNAL SALVATION CAN BE FOUND. ARE YOU JUSTIFIED BY FAITH IN
HIM? DO YOU KNOW HIM AS YOUR PERSONAL
SAVIOUR?
2. UNFULFILLED PROPHECY AND THE ROCK.
How many people travelling on board the train before the accident that
day, knew anything about the impending danger?
None I should imagine unless they possessed the "gift of prophecy" (Acts 11: 28; 21: 10,
11.) This freak accident occurred in very unusual circumstances; and only
once (as far as I am aware) in my lifetime.
"The gift of prophecy," is
available for Christians today, (1 Cor. 13: 2; 14: 1). Should we not be asking
God for it? "Desire earnestly spiritual gifts." *
* To open Miraculous
Gifts From The Holy Spirit: click here
"God gave them knowledge and skill in
learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams
...” "He
[God] giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to
them that know understanding: he revealeth the deep and secret things
...” "I
thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom
and might, and has made known unto me what we desired of thee: for thou
has made known unto me what we desired of thee,"
(Dan. 1: 17; 2: 21, 22, 23).
Christian! We need to take heed to our doctrines. One day our Lord
will hold each one of us personally accountable to Him for what we believe and
teach:
"It is required in stewards, that a man be FOUND
FAITHFUL" (1 Cor. 4: 2; cf. Ezek. 3: 17- 21.)
Some believers may say:-
‘Those warnings in Scripture cannot possibly apply to us!’
‘We have no interest in winning prizes, and we don’t see too many
today who are concerned about them!’ ‘We have entered through the strait
gate by faith; and we believe and teach that all Christians will
enter ‘the
*
To open THE
RIGHTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE HOUSE OF GOD: click here
All who reason in this way, have a ‘single track philosophy'; in it they have no room for responsibility
truths or conditional promises of God. They never take time to ponder the possibility
of danger. Theirs is a spiritual
kingdom, where Christ rules in the heart; they hardly ever think of a
literal one in a coming "Day". (2
Pet. 3: 8). They talk of justification
by faith but seldom (if ever) think about or mention justification by
works: (Jas. 2: 20-24.) Few
words are ever spoken about restoration; almost everything has to do
with regeneration and eternal salvation. When they encounter a backslider (and there
are plenty of them around,) according to their ‘one track philosophy,’ they conclude
he was never saved in the first instance: ‘How could A, B, or C be a regenerate
Christian? for years he never attended a church!’
What a weight of responsibility rests on the shoulders of Ministers,
Pastors, Elders, Bible Teachers, and Christians! What a fearful position for all who
understand responsibility truths, but doggedly refuse to disclose their
God-given knowledge to others: they are burying their talent in the ground! How fearful it will be at the Judgment Seat
of Christ for those servants of God who have gifts of the Holy Spirit, but who
luxuriate in donated moneys. (Acts 8: 22; 1 Cor. 13. & 14; Matt. 7: 22;
Rev. 3: 17, 18; Matt. 25: 26-30).
‘My Pastor never said anything to me about conditional promises or a select
resurrection for those "accounted worthy." He never once talked to me about winning a
"crown." ‘Its not my fault; he’s the one to blame.’
‘I never heard him expound any of those texts!’ His ministry was all "fairly
basic"; and we felt happy and content to sit under it.’ ‘I thought that all Christians would
automatically qualify to rule with Christ on the basis of their faith
alone!’ ‘We were not informed of any
impending danger!’
Will any of those pleas suffice at the Judgment Seat of Christ? Most certainly not! Our Lord expects every Christian to read,
study, believe, and comply to His words: when we encounter a
difficulty, we are expected to seek His help.
The following texts are prominent examples of some which are often
ignored, misinterpreted, and frequently believed by Christians to apply to
someone else - the Jews, the unconverted, or perhaps the erroneous
interpreter:-
"Except your righteousness
shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye
[disciples] shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven"
(Matt. 5: 50).
"Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter the
"Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in
no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt.
18: 3).
"No man having put his hand to the
plough, and looking back, is fit for the
kingdom of God" (Luke 9: 62).
"But if that servant shall say in
his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the
menservants and the maid servants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the
lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in
an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him
his portion with the unfaithful. And that servant, which knew his lord’s
will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be
beaten with many stripes; but he that knew not, and did things worthy of
stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is
given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will
they ask the more" (Luke 12: 45-48).
"They that are accounted worthy to
attain - [The word ‘attain’ is
defined in the dictionary as - ‘To gain by effort.’] - that
age [margin] and the
resurrection [out] from the dead ... " (Luke 20: 35).
"Take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with
surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day - [i.e.,
a day of great tribulation] - come on you suddenly
as a snare: for so it shall come upon all them that dwell on the face of all
the earth. But watch ye at every
season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all
these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man"
(Luke 21: 34-36).
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the
husbandman. Ever branch in
me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away” ... "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch,
and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they
are burned” ... "If ye keep
my commandments,* ye shall abide in my
love" (John 15: 1: 2a ; 6, 10).
[* Here is a conditional promise which is dependant upon
obedience to a divine command. Is it not a defying act by any (Christian
or non-Christian) when a conditional promise of God is changed into an
unconditional one? Multitudes of regenerate people are now doing just that! Will God overlook such behaviour amongst His
redeemed people? Does He excuse wilful sin and disobedience in any of us?
Most certainly He does not!]
"Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart
to lie to the Holy Ghost ... "How is it
that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down and
gave up the ghost*: and great fear came upon all
that heard it. And the young men arose
and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him"
(Acts 5: 3, 5, 6).
[* i.e., The animating spirit which returned to God. (Job 33:
4; Eccl. 12: 7; cf. Jas. 2: 26; Luke 23: 46; 8: 55, etc. He did not go to heaven; he descended into
Hades, the place of all the dead. Matt.
12: 40; 16: 18; Luke 16:23.]
"You yourselves do wrong, and defraud,
and that your brethren. Or know ye not that the unrighteous
shall not inherit the
* To open The
Justice Of God click here.
On and on throughout the scriptures we could go quoting texts addressed
to regenerate believers. Countless false schemes of interpretation have
been and are being devised, in order to blunt the sharp edge of the Word of
God. Warning after warning, throughout
the Gospels from the lips of our Lord and throughout the Epistles by His
apostles, are being addressed to the redeemed people of God: and they
are being ignored by the same people!
Can we afford to neglect or misinterpret any of them? Only at our personal loss and peril!
Others
may say and some actually have said:-
‘All this talk about the intermediate state of the soul in
Hades after death and missing the millennial kingdom'; "all that
stuff is coming out of
Have you not seen our tract?
It’s called ‘The two Roads and The Two Destinies’; there you will
see our doctrines illustrated; in fact, we are so impressed with it we have a
larger one attached to the wall inside our Gospel Hall at Coleraine, behind the
speaker’s platform, so that everyone who attends cannot fail to study it.’
In it you will see ‘The
The lost souls walking on ‘The Broad Way,’ who do not
enter the open door; when they reach the black pillar of death (Heb. 9: 27);
their bodies go the ‘The Grave’ (John 11: 25-27); and their souls go
into ‘Hell’ (Luke 16: 19-31). Some time
later these souls (in Hell) are taken to the ‘Judgement of the Great
White Throne’ (Rev. 20: 11-15), and afterwards to ‘The
On the other hand, ALL who are illustrated as saved, are
walking along ‘The Narrow Way’; their souls, when they die, are shown to
enter heaven at that time (Heb. 11: 27) or at the time of
rapture (Phil. 1: 23).
We believe our Lord will translate every living believer from
this earth before the Great Tribulation’. Yes, and after the Judgment Seat of Christ (1
Cor. 3: 11-15) there will be the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24: 3-31); then the
Millennium (Rev. 20: 6); and afterwards the New Heavens and a New Earth (Rev.
21: 1-4).’ If you look at our
illustration, you will see the tall black pillar of death (Heb. 9: 27). Some of those walking along ‘The
‘We believe resurrection only embraces the body of a
Christian.’ Soul and spirit are one.’ The spirit must then be reunited to the soul and resurrected at the time of death! We have shown on our illustration that all
Christians will enter the Millennium (represented by a crown at the top
(Rev. 20: 6.); and afterwards, we all enter into New Heavens and a New Earth,
(Rev. 21: 1-4).
‘All this talk of rewards, running to win a 'prize' in a race, losing a 'crown',
conditional promises of God, selective resurrection and selective
rapture, divine threats to believers, the bride of Christ taken out of the body
of believers: we don’t have any of that stuff illustrated on our diagram;
we don't believe a word of it, and furthermore, we want you to know that we don’t
like it.’ ‘Jesus has won the crown on our behalf and therefore
every believer will share the Millennial throne with Him’. 'It’s not healthy for believers to hold
those doctrines because, "it makes them proud." ‘We serve our Lord because we love Him; not
in order to get any reward.’ I am
surprised if you have not seen our tract!
It can be found on display inside our Gospel Hall too!’
‘Once there was a long standing member in our assembly who gave a
short address on the subject of rewards, and we soon made him see and
feel our hostile reaction toward anyone who tries to lecture us on that
subject.’*
[* One of their members is now suffering from a stroke, and is
currently in need of full time nursing care. I have been informed that
members of the assembly he attended have very little time to visit him
now.]
‘That word translated ‘Hades’ in the Greek text, in the R.V., and the
N.I.V. translations, instead of the word ‘Hell,’ as it appears in the A. V.
translation: that’s the culprit! You will
not find it in the Authorized Version; that’s the translation we use all
the time in our assemblies: and there are no mistakes in it! We have no time for anyone who uses any other
translation.’
'And mark you, we want you to realize, we are not your ordinary
Christians, for ‘We have been taught from childhood that "everything
the ‘Brethren’ teach is true."'
‘Those other denominational groups may be right in some points of
doctrine, but we believe all our doctrines are the correct: we are
on the right track, it is a single tract which will lead us
all to our destination - into the millennial
kingdom.'
Furthermore, we want you to know that we are very protective of our
members; we don’t want them to be influenced or confused by other Christians
who do not believe as we do; and If someone else claiming to be a Christian,
wants to partake at the Lord’s table with us, we will not allow it: he
will be escorted to a seat reserved for all we refuse participation: our
table is well fenced off and is closed to all who are not in membership with us:
and we do not allow anyone, ‘who has not been baptized by us’ to participate.*
[* For fencing of the Table, see 'The
Lord's Supper' on page 11 of this website - Ed.]
* To open Exclusion Of Believers For Doctrine, Unscriptural
– for a full discussion on this subject of The Lord’s Table : Click HERE.
Its one thing to make statements; but something else to prove
them true from Holy Scripture. Every
Christian should always seek help from the Holy Spirit: He will
lead us into all truth. He
will open the Scriptures to our understanding.
He will teach us the right way; and His way will often be contrary
to what we are accustomed to hearing! Let us now examine His Living
Word and ask Him for help. No untruth
can hide under His searchlight.
Every false doctrine will soon be exposed and quickly shrivel up and
die: but the question is - WILL WE BELIEVE AND ACT UPON EVERY TRUTH HE
WILL BE PLEASED TO TEACH AND REVEAL TO US? Here are His inspired words through the
Apostle:-
"For I would not, brethren, have you
ignorant, how that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all
passed through the sea; and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud
and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all
drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that
followed them : and the rock was Christ.
Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased:
for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now THESE THINGS WERE
OUR EXAMPLES, to the intent WE SHOULD NOT LUST AFTER EVIL THINGS,
as they also lusted. Neither be ye
idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat
and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as
some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt the Lord, as some
of them tempted, and perished by the serpents. Neither murmur ye as some
of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. NOW THESE THINGS HAPPENED UNTO THEM BY WAY OF
EXAMPLE; AND THEY WERE WRITTEN FOR OUR ADMONITION, upon whom the ends of
the ages are come. Wherefore let him
that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10: 1-11).
"There shall be a resurrection both of
the just and*unjust. Herein do I
[Paul] exercise myself to have a
conscience void of offence toward God and men alway" (Acts 24:
16).
[*Note. The word 'and’; it can be used as
a disjunction as well as a conjunction: and here the inspired
apostle uses it as a disjunction;
teaching us that there is more than one resurrection of regenerate believers -
"a resurrection both (1) of the just," that is, all like Paul, seeking to
be justified by their good works; "and (2)
of the unjust," that is, a resurrection at
a later date - at the end of the millennium - of all those who are
disobedient. That this is the correct interpretation of the
passage, is easily seen by its context, and by the teaching of other passages
of Holy Scripture.]
"Women received their dead by a resurrection: And others were
tortured*, not accepting
deliverance ; THAT THEY MIGHT OBTAIN A BETTER RESURRECTION"
( Heb. 11: 35).
[* ‘Beaten to death,’ is how the
literal Greek reads. In other words it is implied that after each blow,
with a club or another suitable object, the believer was offered 'deliverance'
if he/she would renounce their Christian doctrines. But personal faith in
a resurrection of reward was not surrendered under torture to the point of
death.]
The apostle Paul had this same attitude; in fact he appeared to
welcome the testing of his faith in a similar way:-
"And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto
[*i.e., 'the gospel of the grace of
God' and also 'preaching the kingdom':
it would be pointless speaking about winning a 'prize'
to anyone who was not qualified to be in the 'race'!
- Ed.]
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon
them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the SOULS of them
that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and
such as worshiped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark
upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived and reigned
with Christ a thousand years. The
rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part
in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power;
but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a
thousand years" (Rev. 20: 4-6).
"No soldier on service entangleth himself
in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a
soldier. And if also a man contend in
the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully. The
husbandman that laboureth must be the first to partake of the fruits. Consider what I say; FOR THE LORD SHALL
GIVE THEE UNDERSTANDING IN ALL THINGS" (2 Tim. 4-7).
"Let us fear therefore, lest
haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed we
have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of
hearing did not profit them, because they were not united by faith in them
that heard" (Heb. 4: 1, 2).
"If any man hear my voice and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. He that overcometh,
I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also
overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear WHAT THE
SPIRIT SAITH TO THE CHURCHES" (Rev. 3: 20, 21).
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren,
be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord"
(1 Cor. 15: 58).
"Servants, obey in all things them that
are your masters according to the flesh ; not with eye service, as
men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord : whatsoever ye do, WORK
heartily, as unto the Lord, not unto men; KNOWING THAT FROM THE LORD YE SHALL
RECEIVE THE RECOMPENCE OF THE INHERITANCE : ye serve the Lord Christ. FOR HE THAT DOETH WRONG SHALL RECEIVE AGAIN
FOR THE WRONG THAT HE HATH DONE: AND THERE IS NO RESPECT OF PERSONS"
(Col. 3: 22-25).
"... That I may know him [Christ], and
the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,
becoming conformed unto his death; IF BY ANY MEANS I MAY ATTAIN UNTO THE
RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD" ( Phil. 3: 10, 11).
"The sons of this age [margin] marry, and
are given in marriage: but they THAT ARE ACCOUNTED WORTHY TO ATTAIN TO THAT
AGE, AND THE RESURRECTION ["out" (See
Greek)] FROM THE DEAD" (Luke 20: 34,
35).
"If children, then heirs; heirs of God,
AND [but]
JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST; IF SO BE THAT WE SUFFER WITH HIM" (
"Faithful is the saying: For if we died
with him, we shall also live with him: IF WE ENDURE, WE SHALL ALSO REIGN
WITH HIM" (2 Tim. 11, 12).
"We ourselves glory in you in the
churches of God for your patience and faith IN ALL THE PERSECUTIONS AND
AFFLICTIONS WHICH YE ENDURE; WHICH IS A MANIFEST TOKEN OF THE RIGHTEOUS
JUDGEMENT OF GOD; to the end THAT YE MAY BE COUNTED WORTHY OF THE
KINGDOM OF GOD FOR WHICH YE ALSO SUFFER" * (2 Thess. 4, 5).
To open Note
On Purgatory : click here
"And when they had preached the gospel to
that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to
Iconium, and to Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples,
EXHORTING THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, AND THAT THROUGH MANY TRIBULATIONS
WE MUST ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD" (Acts 14: 21, 22).
"Take heed to yourselves, lest hapily your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a
snare: for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the
earth. BUT WATCH YE AT EVERY
SEASON, MAKING SUPPLICATION, THAT YE MAY PREVAIL TO ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS
THAT SHALL COME TO PASS, and to stand before the Son of man"
(Luke 21: 34, 35).
"BECAUSE THOU DIDST KEEP THE WORD
OF MY PATIENCE, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which
is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. I come
quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, THAT NO MAN TAKE THY CROWN. He THAT OVERCOMETH, I will make him a
pillar in the temple of my God" (Rev. 3: 10-12).
"Being a prophet, and knowing that God
had sworn with an oath to him [David] that
of THE FRUIT OF HIS LOINS HE WOULD SET ONE UPON HIS [David’s] THRONE; he forseeing this spake of the resurrection of the
Christ, that neither was he LEFT IN HADES, nor did his flesh
see corruption. This JESUS did God raise
up, whereof we are all witnesses. Being
therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father
the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and
hear. FOR DAVID ASCENDED NOT into the heavens" (Acts 2: 30-34; cf.
Psa. 16: 10).
"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or
whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ASCEND UP into heaven, thou
art there : If I make my bed IN SHEOL [Greek, ‘Hades’],
BEHOLD THOU ARE THERE" (Psa. 139: 7, 8).
"And it came to pass, that the beggar
died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom :
and the rich man also died, and was buried. And IN HADES he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and SEETH
ABRAHAM AFAR OFF, AND LAZARUS IN HIS BOSOM" (Luke 16: 22, 23).
"But he [Jesus] answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous
generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the
sign of Jonah the prophet: for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the
belly of the whale [Gk. ‘sea-monster.’]; SO SHALL THE SON OF MAN BE THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS
IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH" (Matt. 12: 3939, 40).
"If I [Jesus] told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye
believe, If I tell you heavenly things? AND
NO MAN HATH ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, BUT HE THAT DESCENDED OUT OF HEAVEN,
EVEN THE SON OF MAN" (John 3: 12, 13).
"And when Jesus had cried with a loud
voice, he said, Father into thy hands I commend MY SPIRIT : and having said
this, he gave up the ghost [spirit]
" (Luke 23: 46).
"Now on the first day of the week [early
on Sunday morning] cometh Mary Magdalene early, while
it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb ... "Standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she wept,
she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting,
one at the head, and one at the feet, WHERE THE BODY of Jesus had lain. And they said unto her, Woman, why weepest
thou? She saith unto them, Because they
have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. When she had
thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not
that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest
thou? She, supposing him to be the gardiner, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast
borne him thence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth
herself, and saith unto him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus
saith to her, Touch me not ; FOR I AM NOT YET ASCENDED UNTO THE
FATHER" (John 20: 1, 11-17).
"And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw
UNDERNEATH THE ALTAR THE SOULS of them that had been slain for the word
of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they - [i.e., the souls in Hades - under the earth where
they had previously been slain for their faithful testimony.] - cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the
holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell ON
THE EARTH" (Rev. 6: 9, 10).
"Now this, He ASCENDED, what is it but
that HE ALSO DESCENDED INTO THE LOWER PARTS OF THE EARTH? He that DESCENDED is the same also that
ASCENDED far above all the heavens, that HE MIGHT FILL ALL THINGS"
(Eph. 4: 9, 10).
"Be ye therefore imitators of God, as
beloved children ; and WALK in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave
himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odour of a sweet
smell. BUT FORNICATION, AND ALL UNCLEANNESS, OR COVETOUSNESS, LET IT NOT EVEN
BE NAMED AMONG YOU, AS BECOMETH SAINTS ; nor filthiness, nor foolish
talking, or jesting, which are not befitting : but rather giving of thanks. For
this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor
covetous man, which is an idolater, HATH ANY INHERITANCE IN THE
It has rightly been said: "The Bible is the most abused book in
the world. In the hands of both scholars
and laymen it has suffered the indignity of being used to support all manner of
dogmas, beliefs and fancies. Common
sense, which has normally been exercised in the interpretation of other works,
seems to have been completely abandoned with respect to the "Book of
books", and liberties have been taken which in other spheres would have
been condemned outright. It has been
said that anything may be proved from the Bible, a statement not so very far
from the truth if complete liberty of interpretation be allowed." - B.
SHERRING.
"And the STONE that smote the image
became a great mountain, AND FILLED THE WHOLE EARTH ... "And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up
a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed,
nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people: but IT SHALL BREAK
IN PIECES AND CONSUME ALL THESE KINGDOMS, and it shall stand forever ... "The dream is certain, AND THE INTERPRETATION
THEREOF IS SURE" (Dan. 2: 35, 44, 45).
JESUS CHRIST IS THE STONE THAT SHALL BREAK IN PIECES AND CONSUME
ALL THESE KINGDOMS. DO YOU BELIEVE
IN A MILLENNIAL
3. SALVATION IS ALSO SHOWN IN SCRIPTURE AS A FUTURE
HOPE
Many appear unable to distinguish between the eternal salvation as a
PRESENT POSSESSION from salvation as a FUTURE HOPE:-
In Hebrews the word "salvation"
is used to signify a FUTURE blessing for believers:
"So Christ also, having been once offered
to bear the sins of many, SHALL APPEAR A SECOND TIME, apart from sin, to
them that wait for him, UNTO SALVATION" (Heb. 9: 28).
In Hebrews 2: 3 the "great salvation"
is defined in verse 5 as being identified with "the would [Gk. ‘inhabited earth’]
to come." The Holy Spirit has cited Psalm 8 to prove
that the works of God’s hands, which are presently under His curse, will
then rejoice and enjoy His blessing:-
"For the earnest expectation of the CREATION
waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. For the CREATION was subjected to
vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him [God] who subjected it, in HOPE that THE
CREATION ITSELF SHALL ALSO BE DELIVERED from the bondage of
corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children if God. For we know that THE WHOLE CREATION
groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only so, but OURSELVES ALSO, which
have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting
for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For BY HOPE WERE
WE SAVED" (Rom. 8: 19-23).
Creation being delivered from the curse, and rejoicing in the blessing
of God, "the inhabited earth to come"
is shown as the subject of Hebrews 2: 5. That is, at the return of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the creation under His control will then have rest. That rest is called "a sabbath rest" which the people of God are
"to give diligence to enter into"
( Heb. 4: 9, 11). It is also described
as "another day,"(4: 8): and a
warning is addressed to us ["Holy
brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling." (3: 1)] lest we
fail, through disobedience, to enter.
As was the case with the accountable generation (with the exception of
Caleb and Joshua) of
"Take heed, brethren, lest
haply THERE SHALL BE IN ANY ONE OF YOU an evil heart of unbelief"
[i.e., unbelief relative to that future sabbath-rest of God] "in falling away from the living God: but exhort one
another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of YOU
be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin: for we are become partakers of
Christ, IF WE HOLD FAST THE BEGINNING OF OUR CONFIDENCE FIRM UNTO THE
END" (Heb. 3: 12, 14).
Here is a CONDITIONAL promise of God in which the specified conditions
must be fulfilled by us, otherwise His promise to us of being "partakers of Christ," will not be
realized. And since this "sabbath rest" of "creation"
lies between two general resurrections, we believe all who are not "accounted worthy" of the "first resurrection" will not rise "out [Greek, ‘ek’] from the dead", until the thousand years have
ended. That is, their disembodied souls
will remain in Hades, and their bodies will lie under corruption: "He that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the
flesh reap corruption" (Gal. 6: 8).
"And I saw the SOULS of them that
had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such
as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon
their forehead and upon their hand; and THEY lived and reigned with Christ a
thousand years. The rest of the dead lived
not UNTIL THE THOUSAND YEARS SHOULD BE FINISHED. This is the FIRST RESURRECTION. BLESSED AND
HOLY is he that hath part in the FIRST resurrection: over these the second
death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and SHALL
REIGN WITH HIM A THOUSAND YEARS" (Rev. 20: 4b-6).
The rest promised to creation, when "all
the earth shall be filled with the glory of Christ" (Num. 14: 21),
is called "His Rest" in Heb. 4:
1. This is the 'rest' which He swore that
the disobedient people of
"Wherefore, even AS THE HOLY GHOST SAITH,
To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts,
as in the provocation, Like as in the day of temptation in the wilderness,
Wherewith your fathers tempted me by provoking me, And saw my works forty
years. Wherefore I was displeased with
this generation, And said, They do always err in their heart: But they did not
know my ways; As I sware in my wrath, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER INTO MY
REST" (Heb. 3: 7-11; cf. Num. 14: 11,12; Heb. 12: 17).
THE "SABBATH- REST" IS NOT ETERNAL: IT IS
MILLENNIAL.
The Scriptures teach us that "the present
evil age" (Gal. 1: 4), during which the people of God are to live as
strangers and pilgrims, will be succeeded by an "age"
of blessing and glory in which the earth and created things will be under the
blessing of God and the rule of Jesus the Messiah. All who shall be
"accounted worthy" to
participate in the administration of the affairs of that kingdom, will
enjoy the "great salvation" of which
the Lord spoke, which will come to pass at the end of this evil age:-
"They that are accounted worthy TO
ATTAIN to that world [Greek, "age"], and THE RESURRECTION [out] from the dead" (Luke 20: 35a; cf. Heb. 11: 35b;
Phil. 3: 11 etc.).
"For the grace of God hath appeared,
bringing salvation to all men, INSTRUCTING US, to the intent that,
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and
righteously and godly in this present age; looking for the blessed HOPE and
appearing of the GLORY of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ"
(Titus 2: 11-13).
"Every valley shall be exalted,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the rough
places plain: AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHALL BE REVEALED, AND ALL
FLESH SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER: FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HATH SPOKEN IT"
(Isa. 40: 4, 5).
4. CONCLUDING REMARKS
1. No regenerate believer can afford to neglect any of the conditional
promises of God, (Rom. 8: 12, 13, 17b).
2. No child of God should discard, or take lightly the consequences of
wilful sin, which will eventually lead into apostasy. (Heb. 10: 26- 38 ; Jude
5).
3. We must accept the fact that the word "salvation" is used throughout the Holy Scriptures in a past,
present and future sense. (Heb. 2: 1-3).
4. To disbelieve the doctrine of the Millennium, and refuse to "press on" in obedience to the will of God, will
eventually lead believers into HIS oath of exclusion. That is, exclusion from participating in
"HIS REST" - the Millennium; and
failure to attain unto the First Resurrection, (Phil. 3: 14 ; Luke 13:
24 ; Matt. 18: 1-3, etc.).
5. Let us beware of any form of interpretation such as spiritualizing
and allegorizing everything we read, and thereby destroying the plain sense
of God’s words. (
6. The Christians' future is too precious to allow past failures
to ruin it. Repentance will bring
RESTORATION, and the desired will, strength and grace needed to live a life
pleasing to God. (Luke 15: 11-31 ; Rev. 3: 19-21).*
* To open The Personal Indwelling of the Holy Spirit:
Click here.
"In the latter days IT SHALL COME
TO PASS, that the mountain of the Lord’s house SHALL BE ESTABLICHED in
the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and
peoples shall flow into it. And
many nations shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain
of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us
his ways, and we will walk in his paths: FOR OUT OF ZION SHALL GO
FORTH THE LAW, AND THE WORD OF THE LORD FROM JERUSALEM. And he shall judge between
many peoples, and shall reprove strong nations afar off; and they shall
beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: NATION SHALL
NOT LIFT UP SWORD AGAINST NATION, NEITHER SHALL THEY LEARN WAR ANY MORE.
But they shall sit every man
under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid:
FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH SPOKEN IT" (Micah 4: 1-4).
"As therefore ye received Christ Jesus
the Lord, SO WALK IN HIM, rooted and builded up in him, and stablished
in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. TAKE HEED LEST THERE SHALL BE ANY ONE THAT
MAKETH SPOIL OF YOU THROUGH HIS PHILOSOPHY AND VAIN DECEIT, AFTER THE
TRADITION OF MEN, AFTER THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD, AND NOT AFTER CHRIST"
(Col. 2: 6-8).
If you are a Christian with a desire to be popular and go far in
this world, then ‘promise the earth’ to every believer
without any conditions. For all who hold that theology will go far in
popularity in the Church! It is what the vast majority of Christians
want to hear; but they will be nowhere to be found when crowns are
being handed out to overcomers. *
* To open Overcomers
: Click here
"NO man, having put his hand to the
plough, and looking back, IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD" (Luke 9:
62).
"But I [Paul] speak to you that are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an
apostle of Gentiles, I gloryify my ministry: if my any means I may provoke to
jealousy them that are my flesh, and may save some of them. For if the casting away of them is the
reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from
the dead? And if the firstfruit is holy,
so is the lump: and if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off,
and thou, being a wild olive, wast grafted in among them, and didst become
partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree; GLORY NOT OVER
THE BRANCHES: but if thou gloriest, it is not thou that bearest the root, but
the root thee. Thou wilt say then, Branches were broken off, that I might be
grafted in. Well: by their unbelief they
were broken off, and thou standest by faith. BE NOT HIGHMINDED, BUT FEAR: FOR IF GOD SPARED
NOT THE NATURAL BRANCHES, NEITHER WILL HE SPARE THEE. Behold then the goodness
and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God’s
goodness, IF THOU CONTINUE IN HIS GOODNESS: OTHERWISE THOU ALSO SHALL
BE CUT OFF. And they also, if
they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able
TO GRAFT THEM IN AGAIN" (Rom. 11: 13-23).
"The theology of the majority of pulpit teaches that all
things are received in Christ, fails utterly to insist on the need of ‘giving all diligence’ in order to lay hold upon those
graces and virtues which will never become the property of the saint without
spiritual striving."
And so it is written: "The Lord's servant
must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, in
meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may
give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, and that they may recover
themselves out of the snare of the devil having been taken captive by him unto
the will of him" (2 Tim. 2: 24, 25).
"Let no man therefore judge you in
meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day a new moon OR A SABBATH DAY:
which are a shadow of things to come" ( Col. 2: 16,
17).
If has been said: "He who cheats with an oath acknowledges that
he is afraid of his enemy and that he thinks little of God."
Christian, beware of the danger of A SINGLE TRACT PHILOSOPHY. Be
responsible, give prayerful consideration to what has been written in the Holy
Scriptures; act sensibly for God does not take pleasure in fools: all actions,
particularly what we say and what we teach, will have consequences.
END