Podcasts about spurgeon god

Title: “Let No One Deceive You” Part 2 Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 FCF: We often struggle fearing the uncertainty of the end times. Prop: Because God will cause the man of lawlessness to be revealed and to be destroyed, we must not let anyone deceive us. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. In a moment we'll begin reading in verse 3 and read through verse 12 again. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. Last week we spoke at length about the coming of the man of lawlessness both who he is and what he is going to do. We approached this topic from each eschatological framework within Christendom by trying to understand each framework itself and how they view end times prophesy. The oldest beliefs concerning the end times conclude that things will get much worse for Christians prior to the Lord Jesus returning. It seems that the Thessalonians assumed this as well as they saw their persecution level rise steeply. But Paul corrects them by telling them that the Day of the Lord has not come. He then goes on to describing the man of lawlessness and apostasy that must precede Christ's coming. This event and the man is so blasphemous that no human has ever been so bold as to claim to be over all other gods, sit in God's temple, and claim to be Yahweh Himself. But this man of lawlessness will. That is why it cannot be the Day of the Lord yet. Today, Paul will continue his discussion of the man of lawlessness and the sequence of end times events leading up to the return of Christ. Let's get back to his discussion. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Sovereign King of Kings, we come to You today as Your humble people whom you have called out of darkness with a divinely given faith. We hold fast to Christ's work with a rope that was made by Your hands. Such a rope will endure all the lies of the evil one. But this does not mean we can be complacent or passive. We must actively cling to the rope of faith in Christ. Our anchor holds through the fiercest storms. And our faith, if it is saving, will hold to Him. So, Lord, help us to cling to what you have revealed. That we might trust fully in your sovereign hand to uphold us and to bring about these terrible things in their due time. That we might trust Your promise that a New Kingdom comes and that we might hold fast to Christ until it does. We pray this in His name… Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] “If the Lord will not suffer it, neither men nor devils can do it.” C.H. Spurgeon “God is working out His eternal purpose, not only in spite of human and satanic opposition but by means of them.” A.W. Pink [Slide 3] “Satan can do nothing without the command of God to whose dominion he is subject.” John Calvin The devil's way of extinguishing goodness is God's way of advancing it.” George Barlow [Slide 4] “The hands of the wicked cannot stir one moment before God allows them to begin and cannot stir one moment after God commands them to stop.” “The wickedest enemies of God are only axes and saws and hammers in His hands and are ignorantly His instruments for doing His work in the world.” J.C. Ryle [Slide 5] “The whole history of the world is discovered to be but a contest between the wisdom of God and the cunning of Satan and fallen men. The outcome of the contest is not in doubt.” “God's plan will continue on God's schedule.” A.W. Tozer “To know that nothing happens in God's world apart from God's will may frighten the godless, but it stabilizes the saints.” J. I. Packer Let these words sharpen your mind to understand the text this morning. I.) God will determine when the man of lawlessness is revealed, we must not let anyone deceive us. (6-8a) a. [Slide 6] 6 - And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. i. After Paul calls to their attention that he has taught all this to them before, he once again uses the phrase “you know.” ii. We saw this phrase come up repeatedly in 1 Thessalonians. But this is the first time Paul banks on their previous knowledge to make his point in this letter. iii. What do they know? iv. They know what restrains the man of lawlessness now. v. Well, Paul, it is all well and good that they know what restrains this man – but WE DON'T! vi. This gives us one of the most perplexing questions regarding end times prophesy that we have. vii. Who or what is restraining the Man of Lawlessness? viii. Who or what is keeping the Man of Lawlessness from committing his blasphemies and leading this global apostasy? ix. [Slide 7] The uncertainty is centered on four concepts. 1. First, that Paul refers to this restrainer as an impersonal force here in verse 6 and then later as a personal being in verse 7. Yet it does not appear that he is referring to two things. So how can something be both impersonal (neuter gendered participle) and then personal (masculine gendered participle)? 2. Second, the restrainer could be seen either positively or negatively. Is it a good thing or bad thing that the man of lawlessness is held back? Even as a Christian that is hard to answer. Especially since the Lord's return happens after he comes. 3. Third, what does it mean that the restrainer is taken out of the way? Is this by force? Is it violent? 4. Finally, that Paul does not name the restrainer raises the question, why? Why would Paul not name it? a. That question is actually easy to answer. Because the Thessalonians already knew who or what he was talking about. b. But the follow up question is much harder. c. Since this letter is breathed out by God, why is God being unclear? Why didn't God move Paul to write the name of the restrainer, or at least spell it out more clearly? i. Is it held in mystery intentionally to prevent someone or something from stopping, avoiding, or hindering the work of the restrainer? ii. Would Paul or the Thessalonians be harmed or in danger if the restrainer was named? iii. Is God keeping Paul from inadvertent praise or worship of the restrainer? iv. Has God included enough hints within the text to deduce the restrainer's identity already? x. [Slide 8] Because of these aspects of uncertainty, there have been several options put forward which arrange themselves into 4 general categories. 1. Humans a. The Roman Empire and the Emperor – As agents preventing the rise of lawlessness. i. This answers why Paul would not have named it but it raises other issues. ii. Is Paul placing the coming of the Man of lawlessness necessarily AFTER the fall of Rome? Did Paul expect Rome to fall soon? If he did, this is the only place in all his writings that he assumes so. b. Human government – i. In that things haven't quite been aligned for such a man to step onto the scene, and humans generally standing for moral goodness by punishing the wicked and helping the innocent is what is preventing this from occurring. ii. This is a more general version of the first one, which sheds the problem of Rome falling but inherits the same problems in that it is much less likely that all human government topples? c. The Jewish State – The fall of apostate Judaism. Although one wonders how and why this is preventing the man of lawlessness from coming. This would be a postmil position in reference to seeing the events described here having nothing to do with the end times and everything to do with AD 70. 2. [Slide 9] Christians a. The preaching of the gospel and Paul the apostle– God's Kingdom is still advancing. i. It is difficult to understand how Paul might see himself or the work of the gospel as being the thing preventing the coming of the man of lawlessness. ii. This is linked to both the Amil and Postmil position although Postmil still sees this as not talking about end times at all. b. The church – Being salt and light. i. The Mid-Tribulational Premillennial camp believes this. ii. Once the rapture happens half way through the tribulation, this makes way for the Man of Lawlessness to utter his blasphemies and there is none to rebuke him. iii. But why would Paul not mention it? Why keep this mystery from the church? And even though the church is salt and light – it is hard to see or imagine how we are preventing such a powerful man from coming just by existing. c. Generally speaking, I tend to see every human answer, believer or unbeliever, as severely underestimating the power of his man and his apostasy. So what about some non-human categories. 3. [Slide 10] Angels a. The Angel from heaven with the key to the Abyss and a great chain - The binding of Satan – i. During the Millennial reign an unnamed angel who comes down and does not fall down from heaven, has the key to the abyss and binds Satan for 1000 years. ii. Later Satan is released for a time and leads an army to battle against Christ's people. iii. Amillennialism would say that the restrainer then is this angel and that Satan is currently bound which is why the man of lawlessness has not come yet. iv. This answers the secrecy with the need to hide truth from the forces of darkness. However, taking this view forces us to take Revelation 19 and 20's description of these events not as a chronological record of events but as the order in which John saw the visions. b. Demonic infighting i. Another view espouses that the forces of darkness are not united and as long as this is so, the man of lawlessness will not come. ii. Paul keeps this hidden to keep them from being united. iii. However, the New Testament in no way suggests or hints at the forces of darkness being disunited. iv. If anything, it seems that Satan has rallied them and leads them. The New Testament says it is the Devil and his angels. This seems to speak of unity not disunity. c. Angelic Warfare i. When the man of lawlessness is mentioned in Daniel, in close proximity we have this report that Michael the archangel is battling against other fallen angelic creatures and holding them at bay. ii. One interpretation then is that this is talking about angelic entities fighting demonic entities and holding things the way they are until they are removed. iii. Secrecy then is to prevent Paul or the Thessalonians from worshipping these entities or praying to them instead of to God. iv. One wonders how simply suggesting angelic warfare would tempt them to worship angels though? Certainly, other parts of scripture mention this. And Paul has touted the growth and endurance of their faith. d. Michael the Arch Angel – i. This is a more specific interpretation of the last one. ii. And bears the same evidence. iii. Again we might wonder what the real danger would be that they would worship these entities by simply stating that they restrain the man of lawlessness from coming. iv. Other passages in the New Testament name Michael and Gabriel. 4. [Slide 11] God Himself a. The providence of God – i. Which summarizes everything we've just said so far. ii. In the end, God's providence is His working in normal and creaturely agency as well as intervening in supernatural ways to bring about His will. iii. Of course we might wonder why Paul doesn't simply say it. iv. Perhaps the Lord led him to include enough clues in the text itself for us to determine that this is so. b. The Holy Spirit - i. By this it is meant that the Holy Spirit does powerfully and intentionally intercede to prevent this man from stepping onto the scene. ii. The word Spirit in Greek is neuter gendered and when the adjective “holy” is used to describe the third person of the Godhead, it too is neuter in gender. iii. But when the Scriptures substitute a pronoun for the Holy Spirit, they do not use “it” but “He.” Thus, this could explain why Paul uses a neuter and then a masculine participle to describe the restrainer. iv. But why not call out the work of the Spirit here? v. Although quite uncertain, Paul has not spoken much about the Spirit of God in either 1 or 2 Thessalonians. 1. Not speaking of this text, commentators have remarked on the absence of the third person of the Godhead suggesting that perhaps there was some connection between the Spirit's Work and the accusation of the Jews in Thessalonica that Paul was an insurrectionist. 2. So perhaps Paul keeps his references to the Spirit to a minimum and certainly never in a context suggesting that He is actively opposing some human power from rising, in order to spare the Thessalonians more grief from local Jews should this teaching fall into the wrong hands. xi. Some of you may recognize that I do not normally include so much detail when we discuss uncertain things in the scripture. xii. [Slide 12] Here is my protocol when dealing with interpretational discrepancies in a sermon. 1. If I am reasonably convinced of a specific interpretation, I won't usually even bring up other options. I will present it as the only interpretation. I usually do this when I thought the passage said something and most if not all the commentators I consulted say the same or similar things. 2. If I am somewhat convinced of a specific interpretation, I will usually give other options but present my interpretation as the best without a deep analysis of the others. 3. If I am convinced but without any assurance, I'll give all the options and state pros and cons to both before arriving on my conclusion. 4. If I remain uncertain… I am going to give you every option and their problems and probably not pick a conclusion. xiii. Can you guess which one we are on today?

And behold, two men were talking with [Jesus], Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” (Luke 9:32-35) As we wrap up this section on Jesus transfiguring, there are 3 points we can really glean from it: A Heavy Sleep Jesus' appearance had already changed, but the disciples didn't see Him standing in glory until they woke up from their heavy sleep. Although this was actually true, physically, of the disciples, the same things rings true in our spiritual states. If we are walking through life in a kind of spiritual sleepy haze, we aren't going to see Jesus who is with us, and in us through the Holy Spirit. This was part of the admonishment to the believers in Ephesus, when Paul wrote his letter saying, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:11-17) These end days we live in are evil, and we need to stay awake with our oil lamps full, being careful to walk in the light of Jesus. If the unfruitful works of darkness don't stir up a desire for justice, and the grace and mercy of God don't stir up a desire to worship and reach out, then how likely is one to walk humbly with God, which is good and what the Lord requires? Don't let the sleepy haze of this world's darkness keep you from seeing our glorified Lord Jesus and hearing the voice of God. Nothing Compares Even though Moses and Elijah also appeared in glory, the description was that the disciples woke and saw Jesus' glory and two men with him. Moses and Elijah had been dead for a long while and apparently Peter recognized them because he later suggests making tents for them all. Yet, in the recollection of this event, the remembrance wasn't first that of Moses and Elijah; it was of seeing Jesus' glory. This quote by Charles Spurgeon words it so well: “The apostles saw the greatest of the prophets, and the great law-giver, after whom there was never the like till Christ himself came, yet the inspired record concerning the event is, ‘They saw his glow, and the two men that stood with him.'” (Spurgeon) God and His glory drive a desire to be in the presence of, and yet a simultaneous fear and reverence in light of. We may see great things in this lifetime, of which include great people of God and great works of God, yet nothing in all of creation will ever compare to seeing God in His glory. The Overshadowing Cloud Just like when God's glory filled the temple, a cloud came and overshadowed them. Yet in the case of the Old Testament priests, who couldn't even enter the temple because of the glory of the Lord, the disciples were able to enter the cloud. They were afraid, yes, but Jesus was right there with them and they were able to enter through the cloud and heard God's voice as He made a declaration and command. This isn't the first instance of God's glory being likened to a cloud or smoke in the bible. We see that when the temple was dedicated by Solomon, and when the tabernacle was in the wilderness, and when Isaiah had a vision of the temple, that this was also the case. As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire descended from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. The priests could not enter into the Temple because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's Temple (2 Chronicles 7:1-2) The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tent. Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tent. Whenever the cloud was lifted up from the tent, the Israelis would set out on their journey, but if the cloud was not lifted up, they would not set out until it was lifted up, since the cloud of the Lord was over the tent by day, and the fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel in all their journeys. (Exodus 40:34-38) In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1-4) These disciples got to experience something that Moses longed to see. In Exodus 33, Moses asked to see God's glory, but God told him he couldn't see His face and live. He put Moses in the cleft of the rock and secure him with His hand while He passed by and then Moses could see His backside. With Jesus, they saw it and lived. Apart from Jesus, we could never see the Father, but in Him, as the Father and He are One, we can experience the glory of the Lord. And just as Moses and Elijah appeared in glory, we too shall be changed and appear in glory with Him one day. The Heart of the Matter Although we currently see Him only dimly, since we cannot see God face to face now, the time is coming soon and very soon, so we don't want to be caught up in the things of this world or asleep when our master arrives. And even through we see dimly, it doesn't stop us from seeking and seeing Him through the lens of His word, in which is found pure joy amidst this evil world. Ultimately, my friend, we need to stay alert as followers of Jesus sojourning in this dark world, knowing that we look forward to His return one day when we too will be changed and behold His glory face to face, of which nothing can ever compare.

Proof of the resurrection to come was easy to Spurgeon- God said it and he believed it. That settled it...

Hello friends, and a happy May to you!  Today's Bible readings include Numbers 8, quite a bit shorter than chapter 7, and also Psalms 44, Song of Songs 6 and Hebrews 6. Today is part two of our continuing discussion on the Perseverance of the Saints, and our big question is, does Hebrews 6 indicate that a saved person can become unsaved? Here's the pertinent section: 4 For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, 6 and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt. 7 For the ground that drinks the rain that often falls on it and that produces vegetation useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and at the end will be burned. Hebrews 6:4-8 That's a pretty sobering passage, and its not the only one in Hebrews - there are several. In fact, it is one of many 'warning' passages in the Bible, where people are warned to not fall away from God. Consider these others:  Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.  - 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. - Colossians 1:21-23 12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. - Hebrews 3:12 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; - 2nd Timothy 2:11-12 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. - James 5:19-20 These are some sobering passages, to be sure. Hebrews 6 as a whole is also sobering, so let's go read it, and come back and discuss our big Bible question. Again - we see and hear a strong warning in Hebrews 6. May nothing I say today take away from that warning in the least. Our main question is this: Does Hebrews 6 demonstrate that a saved person might lose their salvation? I believe the answer to that question is a firm "no," BUT, I do believe that Hebrews 6 demonstrates that one who appears in every way to be a believer might indeed lose that appearance. I know that is as clear as mud, but I believe we can explain things as we go forward. Can somebody who is saved by Jesus, somehow or someway become unsaved? I believe the answer to that question is a firm and clear 'no!' as demonstrated by these Scriptures: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. - John 10:27-29 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. - john 5:24 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. - John 6:37 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 1:6 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, - Ephesians 2:8 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, - Ephesians 1:13 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” - John 6:40 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:28-31 Hebrews 7:5 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. How do we reconcile all of these passages with the first passages we read - the warning passages? I believe the answer is given to us as something like a clue in Hebrews 6:7-8 " 7 For the ground that drinks the rain that often falls on it and that produces vegetation useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and at the end will be burned." This passage should remind you of the parable of the Sower that we referred to in episode one of our series on the Perseverance of the Saints, and I believe that the author of Hebrews is indeed referencing that teaching of Jesus. Let's refresh our memories: 13 Then he said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand all of the parables?14 The sower sows the word.15 Some are like the word sown on the path. When they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them.16 And others are like seed sown on rocky ground. When they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.17 But they have no root; they are short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately fall away.18 Others are like seed sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word,19 but the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.20 And those like seed sown on good ground hear the word, welcome it, and produce fruit thirty, sixty, and a hundred times what was sown.” Mark 4:13-20 Four different types of soil - four different types of people who the Gospel seed is delivered to. Person/soil #1 hears the Word of God, but immediately loses/forgets/ignores it, according to Jesus. These people are not saved at all. Person/soil #2 is like rocky ground - they hear the Word and respond with joy - but it is a SHALLOW joy without root - it is a surface response that does not go into the soul and mind. Have you ever had a friend eagerly make a commitment to you to do something, and then blissfully blow it off as if the commitment has never happened? This is what is going on here. This is a person who hears the Word and seems to believe and accept it, but they do so in a most shallow way. Because their acceptance is shallow - any sort of trouble or distress that comes along (whether immediately or a long time down the road) the shallow-hearer and responder to the Word of God will immediately fall away. Was this person a saved Christian? NO! But they appeared to be. They looked like somebody who truly believed, because their emotions demonstrated interest, but they were bandwagon fans of Jesus and not committed followers. Hebrews is written as a warning to such shallow-believers - those who have heard the good news and had an emotional response to it, but they are not true-believers. Person/soil #3 is in a similar place. These are people that are busy, or successful, or popular, or lovers of the world. They hear the Word of God and respond to it - it sounds good to them, and they say yes to Jesus in the same way they might say yes to anything that sounds good. They are interested, but busy, and have other priorities. They decide to follow Jesus, but they are already following so many other things, and they will continue to follow new things as well. They make a commitment and appear to be a Christian based on their words, but a close look at their lives show they aren't really following Jesus, but merely going to church and doing some religious things. They may feed the poor. They may pray when in trouble. They may thank God when they win an award. They may read popular Christian books, and wear cross necklaces and such...but they aren't followers of Jesus - the thorns of this world (the concerns of the modern age, the desire to be wealthy and successful and many other sorts of desires) effectively choke them out. They care about Jesus and church and stuff like that, but not really any more than they care about other things. This person is not a genuine follower of Jesus, but believes themselves to be, and will identify as a follower of Jesus. However, verses like Luke 9:23 ("Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.") would strike them as the Word of a fanatic, and not the Word of 'their' Jesus. Again, the warning passages of Hebrews are written to people like this - they've heard the Word and sort of believe, but they are being choked out by every other thing that is important to them. I believe the Hebrews 6 reference to thorns and thistles is a direct reference to this Mark 4 teaching of Jesus which identifies the thorny soil as unsaved soil. Let's close with a great challenge from brother Spurgeon: God save us from a lifeless profession! May we never be like certain trees, of which John Bunyan said, that they were green outside, but inwardly they were so rotten that they were only fit to be tinder for the devil's fire-starting kit. Many professors are too beautiful appearing not to be false; too obviously saintly outside not to be loathsome within; for there is an over-doing of the grave’s white paint. You feel convinced that there would not be so much whitewashing and repair-work on the outside if there were not so much rottenness inside to be concealed. The smell of roses or of lavender is sweet, but much scent excites much suspicion - what smell are the scents meant to mask? Oh, let us, each one who professes tonight, say to himself, "I was baptised on a profession of my faith, but was I ever baptised into Christ? When the Holy name of the triune God was named on me, did I then enter into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit? I have come often to the communion table; but have I communed with Christ there? My name is on the membership-roll, but is it written in heaven? I have said to others I am a Christian, but am I in very deed known unto Christ? Or will He say to me on that day of judgment, 'I never knew you: depart from me you workers of iniquity'?" (Matthew 7:21-23) These are solemn questions. Many persons are temporary followers of Christ, and outwardly, as far as the human eye can follow, they appear to be real followers of Christ. I believe in the final perseverance of the saints; but I do not know, nor can any man know, how near a man may approach to the likeness of a saint and yet after all apostatise (fall away.) Nor is any one of us able to say of himself, or of his fellow churchmembers, "We never shall fall away."  Now, beloved, what was the beginning of our confidence? Well, the beginning of my confidence was, "I am a sinner, Christ is a Savior; and I rest on him to save me." Long before I began with Christ he had begun with me; but when I began with him it was, like I was a completely bankrupt man who had nothing of his own, and looked to Christ for everything. I know when I first cast my eye to his dear cross and rested in him, I had no value of my own, it was all demerit. I had nothing deserving in me, except that I felt I was hell-deserving: I had not even a shade of virtue that I could confide in. It was all over with me. I had come to an extremity. I could not have found a quarter’s worth of goodness in myself if I had been melted down. I seemed to be all rottenness, a dunghill of corruption, nothing better, but something a great deal worse. I could truly join with Paul at that time, and say that my own goodness was as if it were dung. “Dung” is a strong expression that he used; but I do not suppose he felt it to be strong enough. He says, "I count my goodness and good deeds as worth the same as dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him."  Well, that is how we began with Christ. We were nothing at all, and Jesus Christ was all in all. Now, brothers, we are not made partakers of Christ unless we hold this fast to the end. Have you got beyond that? Are you something creditable in your own reckoning? I am worried about you. Are you in and of yourself a better person now than you were then? I am afraid for you, friend. Do you remember the place you were in when you found Jesus? you dared not lift your eyes, to heaven, but cried, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Now in Christ you walk in a far more noble place than that, for you are made to sit with Jesus in the heavenly places. But, I ask you, apart from Christ, have you any different place from that of deep self humiliation? If you believe yourself to be something, apart from Christ, then you have not held the beginning of your confidence fast even until now. Begin to suspect yourself. This is the position to always take, namely that you , “have nothing, but in Christ, possess everything.” Let your mindset be, “I am the worst of sinners, and yet - Christ died for me!  Where else was the beginning of your confidence in salvation? May we not say of it that it was only and wholly, fully and exclusively, in the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ? Source: https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1042.cfm 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began ha good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 1:6

Hello friends, and a happy May to you!  Today's Bible readings include Numbers 8, quite a bit shorter than chapter 7, and also Psalms 44, Song of Songs 6 and Hebrews 6. Today is part two of our continuing discussion on the Perseverance of the Saints, and our big question is, does Hebrews 6 indicate that a saved person can become unsaved? Here's the pertinent section: 4 For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, 6 and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt. 7 For the ground that drinks the rain that often falls on it and that produces vegetation useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and at the end will be burned. Hebrews 6:4-8 That's a pretty sobering passage, and its not the only one in Hebrews - there are several. In fact, it is one of many 'warning' passages in the Bible, where people are warned to not fall away from God. Consider these others:  Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.  - 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. - Colossians 1:21-23 12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. - Hebrews 3:12 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; - 2nd Timothy 2:11-12 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. - James 5:19-20 These are some sobering passages, to be sure. Hebrews 6 as a whole is also sobering, so let's go read it, and come back and discuss our big Bible question. Again - we see and hear a strong warning in Hebrews 6. May nothing I say today take away from that warning in the least. Our main question is this: Does Hebrews 6 demonstrate that a saved person might lose their salvation? I believe the answer to that question is a firm "no," BUT, I do believe that Hebrews 6 demonstrates that one who appears in every way to be a believer might indeed lose that appearance. I know that is as clear as mud, but I believe we can explain things as we go forward. Can somebody who is saved by Jesus, somehow or someway become unsaved? I believe the answer to that question is a firm and clear 'no!' as demonstrated by these Scriptures: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. - John 10:27-29 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. - john 5:24 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. - John 6:37 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 1:6 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, - Ephesians 2:8 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, - Ephesians 1:13 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” - John 6:40 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:28-31 Hebrews 7:5 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. How do we reconcile all of these passages with the first passages we read - the warning passages? I believe the answer is given to us as something like a clue in Hebrews 6:7-8 " 7 For the ground that drinks the rain that often falls on it and that produces vegetation useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and at the end will be burned." This passage should remind you of the parable of the Sower that we referred to in episode one of our series on the Perseverance of the Saints, and I believe that the author of Hebrews is indeed referencing that teaching of Jesus. Let's refresh our memories: 13 Then he said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand all of the parables?14 The sower sows the word.15 Some are like the word sown on the path. When they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them.16 And others are like seed sown on rocky ground. When they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.17 But they have no root; they are short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately fall away.18 Others are like seed sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word,19 but the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.20 And those like seed sown on good ground hear the word, welcome it, and produce fruit thirty, sixty, and a hundred times what was sown.” Mark 4:13-20 Four different types of soil - four different types of people who the Gospel seed is delivered to. Person/soil #1 hears the Word of God, but immediately loses/forgets/ignores it, according to Jesus. These people are not saved at all. Person/soil #2 is like rocky ground - they hear the Word and respond with joy - but it is a SHALLOW joy without root - it is a surface response that does not go into the soul and mind. Have you ever had a friend eagerly make a commitment to you to do something, and then blissfully blow it off as if the commitment has never happened? This is what is going on here. This is a person who hears the Word and seems to believe and accept it, but they do so in a most shallow way. Because their acceptance is shallow - any sort of trouble or distress that comes along (whether immediately or a long time down the road) the shallow-hearer and responder to the Word of God will immediately fall away. Was this person a saved Christian? NO! But they appeared to be. They looked like somebody who truly believed, because their emotions demonstrated interest, but they were bandwagon fans of Jesus and not committed followers. Hebrews is written as a warning to such shallow-believers - those who have heard the good news and had an emotional response to it, but they are not true-believers. Person/soil #3 is in a similar place. These are people that are busy, or successful, or popular, or lovers of the world. They hear the Word of God and respond to it - it sounds good to them, and they say yes to Jesus in the same way they might say yes to anything that sounds good. They are interested, but busy, and have other priorities. They decide to follow Jesus, but they are already following so many other things, and they will continue to follow new things as well. They make a commitment and appear to be a Christian based on their words, but a close look at their lives show they aren't really following Jesus, but merely going to church and doing some religious things. They may feed the poor. They may pray when in trouble. They may thank God when they win an award. They may read popular Christian books, and wear cross necklaces and such...but they aren't followers of Jesus - the thorns of this world (the concerns of the modern age, the desire to be wealthy and successful and many other sorts of desires) effectively choke them out. They care about Jesus and church and stuff like that, but not really any more than they care about other things. This person is not a genuine follower of Jesus, but believes themselves to be, and will identify as a follower of Jesus. However, verses like Luke 9:23 ("Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.") would strike them as the Word of a fanatic, and not the Word of 'their' Jesus. Again, the warning passages of Hebrews are written to people like this - they've heard the Word and sort of believe, but they are being choked out by every other thing that is important to them. I believe the Hebrews 6 reference to thorns and thistles is a direct reference to this Mark 4 teaching of Jesus which identifies the thorny soil as unsaved soil. Let's close with a great challenge from brother Spurgeon: God save us from a lifeless profession! May we never be like certain trees, of which John Bunyan said, that they were green outside, but inwardly they were so rotten that they were only fit to be tinder for the devil's fire-starting kit. Many professors are too beautiful appearing not to be false; too obviously saintly outside not to be loathsome within; for there is an over-doing of the grave’s white paint. You feel convinced that there would not be so much whitewashing and repair-work on the outside if there were not so much rottenness inside to be concealed. The smell of roses or of lavender is sweet, but much scent excites much suspicion - what smell are the scents meant to mask? Oh, let us, each one who professes tonight, say to himself, "I was baptised on a profession of my faith, but was I ever baptised into Christ? When the Holy name of the triune God was named on me, did I then enter into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit? I have come often to the communion table; but have I communed with Christ there? My name is on the membership-roll, but is it written in heaven? I have said to others I am a Christian, but am I in very deed known unto Christ? Or will He say to me on that day of judgment, 'I never knew you: depart from me you workers of iniquity'?" (Matthew 7:21-23) These are solemn questions. Many persons are temporary followers of Christ, and outwardly, as far as the human eye can follow, they appear to be real followers of Christ. I believe in the final perseverance of the saints; but I do not know, nor can any man know, how near a man may approach to the likeness of a saint and yet after all apostatise (fall away.) Nor is any one of us able to say of himself, or of his fellow churchmembers, "We never shall fall away."  Now, beloved, what was the beginning of our confidence? Well, the beginning of my confidence was, "I am a sinner, Christ is a Savior; and I rest on him to save me." Long before I began with Christ he had begun with me; but when I began with him it was, like I was a completely bankrupt man who had nothing of his own, and looked to Christ for everything. I know when I first cast my eye to his dear cross and rested in him, I had no value of my own, it was all demerit. I had nothing deserving in me, except that I felt I was hell-deserving: I had not even a shade of virtue that I could confide in. It was all over with me. I had come to an extremity. I could not have found a quarter’s worth of goodness in myself if I had been melted down. I seemed to be all rottenness, a dunghill of corruption, nothing better, but something a great deal worse. I could truly join with Paul at that time, and say that my own goodness was as if it were dung. “Dung” is a strong expression that he used; but I do not suppose he felt it to be strong enough. He says, "I count my goodness and good deeds as worth the same as dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him."  Well, that is how we began with Christ. We were nothing at all, and Jesus Christ was all in all. Now, brothers, we are not made partakers of Christ unless we hold this fast to the end. Have you got beyond that? Are you something creditable in your own reckoning? I am worried about you. Are you in and of yourself a better person now than you were then? I am afraid for you, friend. Do you remember the place you were in when you found Jesus? you dared not lift your eyes, to heaven, but cried, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Now in Christ you walk in a far more noble place than that, for you are made to sit with Jesus in the heavenly places. But, I ask you, apart from Christ, have you any different place from that of deep self humiliation? If you believe yourself to be something, apart from Christ, then you have not held the beginning of your confidence fast even until now. Begin to suspect yourself. This is the position to always take, namely that you , “have nothing, but in Christ, possess everything.” Let your mindset be, “I am the worst of sinners, and yet - Christ died for me!  Where else was the beginning of your confidence in salvation? May we not say of it that it was only and wholly, fully and exclusively, in the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ? Source: https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1042.cfm 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began ha good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 1:6

In this episode, Gillespie and Riley read and discuss Charles Spurgeon's sermon, "God or Self - Which?" This week, traditions, rituals, and a lot of talk about pastoral care. Text: God or Self- Which? by Charles Spurgeon Show Notes:  Biography Wikipedia Big in Japan - Tom Waits — Questions? Comments? Show Ideas? Send them to us at BannedBooks@1517legacy.com. Please subscribe, rate, and review the show in Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-books-podcast/id1370993639?mt=2. We’re proud to be part of 1517 Podcasts, a network of shows dedicated to delivering Christ-centered content through weekly, monthly, and seasonal audio platforms. Our podcasts cover a multitude of content, from Christian doctrine, apologetics, cultural engagement, and powerful preaching. Find out more at 1517. And as always, don't forget Gillespie's coffee for your caffeinated needs and especially the 1517 Reformation Roast

Trust His Heart -- Week 2 of 2 Spurgeon: “God is too good to be unkind. He is too wise to be confused. If I cannot trace his hand, I can always trust his heart.” Pastor Steve: “God promises that he doesn’t cause our suffering; however, when we...

Spurgeon: "God is too good to be unkind. He is too wise to be confused. If I cannot trace his hand, I can always trust his heart.“ Warren: “Behind every publicly successful ministry, there is private pain. Pain is God’s megaphone [to gain our...