Classic Christian Quotes from Classic Ministers

Classic Christian Quotes from Classic Ministers



The infinite tenderness of Jesus!
(Charles Spurgeon)

"I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep!" John 10:11 

"He will carry the lambs in His bosom, holding them close to His heart!" Isaiah 40:11

Who is He of whom such gracious words are spoken? He is the Good Shepherd. Why does He carry the lambs in His bosom? Because He has a tender heart, and any weakness in His redeemed children at once melts His heart. 

The sighs, the ignorance, the feebleness of the little ones of His flock draw forth His compassion. 

He is considerate of the weak of His flock. He purchased them with His blood, they are His property--He must and will care for those who cost Him so dear. 

He is responsible for each lamb, bound by covenant engagements not to lose one. They are all a part of His glory and reward. 

"He carries the lambs in His bosom!"
Here is boundless affection. Would He put them in His bosom if He did not love them so much? 

Here is tender nearness. So near are they, that they could not possibly be nearer. 

Here is hallowed familiarity. There are precious 'love passages' between Christ and His weak ones. 

Here is perfect safety. In His bosom, who can hurt them? None can snatch them away from His omnipotence! They can never perish--ever! 

Here is perfect rest and sweetest comfort. 

Surely we are not sufficiently sensible of the infinite tenderness of Jesus!
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Luke 10:26-28

(26) He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" (27) So he answered and said, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'" (28) And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."
New King James Version  

These verses give us a formula for entering the Kingdom of God. It is just that simple—or is it?

We should love the Lord our God more than anything else. Nothing is to take precedence over Him, not our desires, our will, nor anything else. God is always first. We are to love God with all of our soul. We are to be ready to give up our lives to honor God, if it is required. We are to endure all types of ridicule and torment for His sake, if it falls our lot. That is part of loving God.

It is our loving God with all of our strength. Whatever we possess has come from God. If we do something to physically serve God, or if we have to give our substance as living sacrifice, this, too, is just part of loving God with all of our strength.

Adam Clarke summed up the first part of verse 28:

In a word, he [one thinking with and using the mind of Christ] sees God in all things; thinks of Him at all times; has his mind continually fixed upon God; acknowledges Him in all his ways. He begins, continues, and ends all his thoughts, words and works, to the glory of His name. This is the person who loves God with all of his heart, his might, and strength and his intellect.

That is a tall order, but it is exactly what God wants from us. He wants us to do unto others as we would have them do unto us, loving our neighbors as ourselves. It is self-explanatory.

If we are in trouble, do we want someone to come and help us? Of course! Do we want someone to listen to us when we need someone's ear? Of course! Do we want someone to rescue us when we find ourselves in financial difficulties? Certainly! Likewise, we should be concerned for others, as we are concerned for ourselves.

~John O. Reid~

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The Throne of Grace

Hebrews 4:14-16

Almighty God is righteous and just. Romans 3:23 tells us that all people have sinned and are inadequate to be in His presence. As a result of His wrath against sin, we were doomed to eternal separation from Him.

But thankfully, the story doesn’t end there. In His love and mercy, God sent His Son to walk among us. Jesus experienced the hardship and temptation common to all people, yet He never sinned. The Savior chose to die a gruesome death in our place, paying the penalty for our wrongs.

There is no deeper love, Scripture tells us, than a man who gives up his life for a friend (John 15:13). Jesus went even farther—dying for us while we were still His enemies (Rom. 5:10). In fact, He would have sacrificed Himself even if you were the only person ever to exist.

Promising forgiveness and eternal life, Christ asks sinful man to believe and follow Him. When we trust in Jesus, we are adopted as God’s children and receive His indwelling Spirit, who blesses abundantly with joy, peace, and guidance. Always welcome before the Throne of Grace, believers have access to converse with the Father at any time. He promises to hear and respond to our seeking, repentant hearts. And Jesus intercedes for us, praying on our behalf.

We don’t deserve the Lord’s invitation to have an intimate relationship with Him. Yet in His grace, He is loving and compassionate toward us. What a privilege to be able to approach the King’s throne, knowing He listens, understands, and cares. Rest in God’s love, and enjoy sweet fellowship with Him.

~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~

Identification of the Godly # 4

Identification of the Godly # 4

Once more, we would emphasize the fact that 2 Timothy 3:12 occurs in a passage which is describing a season of declension and departure from God - as the verse which immediately follows also goes on to show. Those seasons of declension are designated "perilous times" in the opening verse of the chapter; and therefore, we must supply answer to the question, What is it that particularly constitutes any "time" or season "perilous" to Christendom? Surely, the reply is obvious: It is the withdrawal of the Holy Spirit's power, when His gracious operations and unction are withheld, because insult has been done to Him. Then it is that the restraining hand of God is also removed, and the flesh is given more or less free rein. The consequences are obvious: Instead of peace, there will be strife, prayer becomes formal, preaching is flat and profitless, hoary "tradition" supplants "the present truth" (2 Peter 1:12); and a dead orthodoxy is the result. 

 Soon, a dead orthodoxy is followed by heterodoxy, the Scriptural standard is lowered, worldliness comes in apace, and Christ is shut out (Revelation 3:20). 

"But evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Tim. 3:13). It is religious "seducers" who are in view, the unregenerate men who occupy most of our pulpits today; and who by their "form of godliness" (2 Tim. 3:5) delude the unwary - delude them, because they fail to perceive that their lives (moral and respectable though they be) deny the power or reality and efficacy of the same.

"Perilous" indeed is a season when such preachers abound! And what the special word to us at such a time? The next verse answers: "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of" (2 Tim. 3:14). Be not swayed by what nearly every other professor is doing - look well to your own bearings.

"Continue," do not depart from "acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness" (Titus 1:1). If others are determined to make shipwreck of the faith, see to it that you "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." But remember that faithfulness will cost you something. In a "perilous" time, you may - probably will - have to walk alone, as Enoch did. Persecution will come upon you not from atheists and infidels - but from those who still keep up a form of godliness," but who are strangers to its living power. It will come to you from empty professors whose compromising ways are condemned by your refusal to conform thereto; whose worldliness and carnality is rebuked by your spirituality. It was the religious leaders of Israel who hounded the Saviour to death!

Thus, it is by their godly living, the true are distinguished from the false, and by the opposition which they meet with from the latter, that they may be clearly identified. Their care to avoid what they call "singularity" and "puritanism" - and thus, to escape "persecution" -0 is what exposes the empty professor! The true people of God - then, are clearly distinguished from empty professors. 

Genuine godliness is a new nature within - manifesting itself without; the mere form of godliness is nothing but an external cloak, seeking to hide the old man. Genuine godliness issues from filial fear and spiritual love; the mere form of godliness issues from servile fear and selfish love. Genuine godliness is vitalized by the Holy Spirit; the mere form of godliness is regulated by selfish considerations, or is stimulated by emotion. Genuine godliness is lasting; the mere form of godliness is only evanescent.

~A. W. Pink~

(The End)

Classic Christian Quotes From Classic Ministers

Classic Christian Quotes From Classic Ministers

Thoughtful Living

Psalms 25:8-15

Are you living thoughtfully and intentionally—or automatically? It’s so easy to get up each morning, do our work, enjoy some relaxation or entertainment, and fall into bed each night without giving any thought to God’s involvement in our lives. But to be ignorant of how He has blessed, guided, protected, and warned us is a foolish way to live. Just consider the benefits of keeping our spiritual eyes and ears open throughout the day.

Those who are aware of the Lord’s presence during their daily activities enjoy the peace of knowing that He is always in control and working to accomplish His good purposes. Every day’s experiences with Him teach them to know and love Him more.

When we learn to see God’s footprints in our days, we will become aware of the scope of His involvement in our lives. Maybe He strengthened you for a task or opened a door of opportunity. Perhaps He guided your decisions or helped you respond in a godly way to a difficult person.

If our ears are open to the Lord’s warnings and instructions, we won’t repeat the same mistakes again and again. But those who are deaf to His voice will continue in unhealthy thought patterns, negative emotions, and foolish responses.

Each night before you go to sleep, take some time to reflect on the day’s activities. The Lord is constantly with you, guarding and guiding your way. He wants you to see Him in everything and understand life from His perspective as you rely on His wisdom and power to face any challenge.

~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~

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Oh stand and wonder!

(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity")

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us--that we should be called the sons of God!" 1 John 3:1 

It is an infinite condescension in God to honor us with the title of sons, and therefore we should never think of it, nor ever speak of it--but with much amazement. O sirs! what matter of admiration is this--that the great and glorious God, who has many millions of glorious angels attending Him--that He should . . .
  look upon all redeemed people as His sons,  
  and love them as His sons, 
  and delight in them as His sons,
  and clothe them as His sons, 
  and feed them as His sons,
  and protect them as His sons,
  and stand by them as His sons, 
  and lay up for them as His sons,
  and lay out Himself for them as His sons; 
that those who have not deserved . . .
  a smile from God,
  a good word from God,
  a bit of bread from God, or
  a temporal blessing from God,
should be made the sons of God!

What manner of love is this--that those who have . . .
  so highly provoked God,
  walked so disobediently and contrary to God, 
  were so exceeding unlike God, 
  preferred every lust, and every toy and vanity before God, 
  fought many years under Satan's banner against God, 
  refused all the offers of mercy that have been made by God,
that those who have deserved to be . . .
  reprobated by God,
  damned by God, and
  to be thrown to Hell by God--
that these should be made the sons of God! 

Oh stand and wonder! Oh stand and admire the freeness of His grace, and at the riches of His grace!

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" 1 John 3:1 

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Get out of My sight!

(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity, or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness")

Many now-a-days say that there is no Hell. Multitudes think that all that is spoken of Hell in Scripture is false and mythical. They will not believe that there is a Hell . . .
  until they come to feel themselves in Hell,
  until they find everlasting flames about their ears,
  until they are sentenced to the fire,
  until they are doomed to everlasting fire!

The last words that Christ will ever speak to the ungodly will be the most tormenting and horrifying, the most killing and damning, the most stinging and wounding! "Then He will also say to those on the left: Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons!" Matthew 25:41

This terrible sentence breathes out nothing but fire and brimstone, terror and horror, dread and woe!

"Depart from Me!" Here is utter rejection: "Pack! Be gone! Get out of My sight! Let Me never see your face again!"

"You who are cursed!" Here is malediction. You shall be cursed in your bodies and cursed in your souls! You shall be cursed of God, and cursed of angels, and cursed of saints, and cursed of devils, and cursed of your companions! Yes, you shall curse your very selves, your very souls. All your former curses, all your maledictions--shall at last recoil upon your own souls! 

Now you curse every man and thing which stands in the way of your lusts, and which cross your designs! But at last all the curses of Heaven and Hell shall meet in their full power and force upon you!

"But, Lord, if we must depart, and depart cursed--oh let us go into some good place!" 

"No! Depart into the eternal fire!" There is the vengeance and everlasting continuance of it. You shall go into fire, into everlasting fire, which will neither consume itself, nor consume you! Eternity of extreme punishment is the hell of Hell. 

If all the fires which ever were in the world were contracted into one fire, how terrible would it be! Yet such a fire would be but as a 'painted fire'--compared to the fire of Hell. The greatest and the hottest fires that ever were on earth--are but ice in comparison to the fire of Hell. Ah! how sad, how dreadful would it be to experience what it is to lie in unquenchable fire--not for a day, a month, or a year, or a hundred, or a thousand years--but forever and ever!

"If it were," says one, "but for a thousand years, I could bear it--but seeing it is for eternity, this astonishes and affrights me!" 

"I am afraid of Hell," says another, "because the worm there never dies, and the fire never goes out!"

It is called "unquenchable fire," and "eternal fire." The torments of the damned are . . .
  very grievous for the bitterness of them,
  and more grievous for the diversity of them,
  but most of all grievous for the eternity of them!

Wronged justice can never be satisfied, and therefore the sinner must be forever tormented. The sinner in Hell will sin forever, and therefore he must be punished forever. It will not stand with the unspotted justice and righteousness of God to cease punishing--while the sinner ceases not sinning.

"But, Lord, if I must go into fire, into everlasting fire--then oh, let me have some good company in my misery!"

"No! The devil and his demons shall be your companions!" Ah! who can conceive or express the misery of living with devils and damned spirits and hellish fiends and furies forever!

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ!" 1 Thessalonians 5:9 

Identification of the Godly # 3

Identification of the Godly # 3

It is equally true that some of God's own children suffer spiritual declines; and while they are in a backslidden state, they differ, practically, very little from the unregenerate; as Paul said of the Galatians, "I stand in doubt of you" (4:20). Backsliders have no Scriptural warrant to regard themselves as children of God; still less to expect others to accredit them as such. But it is not of them we write; but rather of the ones who bear the marks of those who are in Christ Jesus.

"All who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12). It is be duly noted, that this verse occurs in a passage which describes a time of apostasy; and therefore, it is one which is most pertinent to our own day. "The last days" of verse 1 do not signify the closing days of this era - but mean this Christian age itself, which is the final one in the earth's history. In this Christian age, there would be "perilous times" (2 Timothy 3:1), there would occur and recur seasons of declension and departure from God, for the passage is describing not the profane world - but the professing world; not the character and condition of men in general - but that of nominal Christians in particular. This is clear from "lovers of pleasures, more than lovers of God" ((3:4), for those in the professing world do not pretend unto any love for Him.

It is further borne out by what is said in verse 5. It is this feature of it which makes the passage of such deep importance to us at the present juncture.

Now, if one carefully notes the different characteristics enumerated in verses 2 to 4, there should be no difficulty in identifying those who possess the same. Not that all of those features are stamped on each one of them - yet sufficient to classify them. And it is not the slightest breach of charity - but rather, a sober statement of fact - when we say that many, in fact most, of those very features are now borne by the majority of "church members" professing to be Christians; yet who are highly indignant if anyone dared to challenge their claim! But God requires us to judge them and act accordingly: "Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them" (2 Timothy 3:5). This clearly implies two things: That God's people are able to clearly recognize such characters; and that they must have no fellowship with them.

Should they disregard that injunction, the consequences would be most serious - compare Revelation 18:4-5, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes."

Those mentioned in verse 5 - and there are a multitude of such today - are described as, first, "having a form of godliness," which means that they have a religious veneer. They bear the name Christ, belong to some so-called evangelical church, and seek to create the impression that they are regenerate people. But like the foolish virgins, they "took their lamps - and took no oil with them" (Matt. 25:3, 4), they are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit, nor made partakers of the transforming grace of God. For it is said of them, secondly, "but denying its power" (2 Tim. 3:5), the reality of vital godliness is lacking, the beauties of holiness are not found in them. By their lips, they claim to be godly - but by their lives, they give the lie to it. "They profess that they know God; but in works they DENY Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16). And with such, the children of God are to have nothing to do - to shun them as they would the plague!

In contrast from such characters, the apostle said to Timothy, "But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions" (2 Timothy 3:10).

There is the genuine gold - set over against the tinsel. There is the power of godliness, set over against the mere "form" of it. It consists of soundness in doctrine, for where there is not that, there can be none of the others. It consists of a definitely marked "manner of life," treading the path of obedience, in subjection to God's authority. it consists of the presence and exercise of spiritual graces. It consists of evoking and encountering the hatred and opposition of godless religionists. Then Paul adds - as though to say, my testimony and experience is common to the redeemed, "yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12).

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 4)

Classic Christian Quotes From Classic Ministers

Classic Christian Quotes From Classic Ministers

Protecting The Children

Matthew 18:1-6 is our reading for today,

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.  But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

This is a powerful truth God desires you and me to understand.  He takes very seriously the protection and nurture of children.

First, it is important to understand that the word sin in this verse means to entrap.  It means to set a snare for someone.  Jesus was talking about someone who purposely entices an innocent child to do wrong.

Second, the millstone He refers to was about five feet across and would take an ox or a donkey to turn it.  Get the picture?!  Better for that millstone to be tied around a person's neck and to drown in the depths of the deepest sea than to entice a child to do wrong. 

The exploitation or abuse of children is not overlooked or taken lightly by God.  We read in Scripture that some sins incur a worse judgment from the Almighty.  Causing children to sin is one of the worst.  Never take their exploitation lightly.

~Bayless Conley~

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Our Heavenly Father

Matthew 6:8-13

When Christ taught His disciples to pray, He told them to address God as "Our Father." They had previously heard Jesus say, "My Father," but now they, too, shared in that privileged family relationship. All of us who has been born again into the household of God have this same right.

Since our concepts of God are shaped by our earthly fathers, we all have different perceptions of Him, but Jesus is the only one who has a completely accurate understanding of the heavenly Father. Consider some of the ways He cares for His children:

* Loves: God's love is unconditional, since it's based on His nature rather than our performance (1 John 4:16).

* Listens: When we pray, He gives us His full attention (Ps. 55:16-17).

* Provides: The Father assumes responsibility for meeting all our needs (Phil. 4:19).

* Guides: He is the one who directs our path when we trust in Him (Prov. 3:5-6).

* Protects: The Lord shields us spiritually, emotionally, and physically, sifting every experience through His sovereign fingers. (Ps. 121:1-8).

* Stays: He's not an absentee parent, since He'll never leave or forsake us (Deut. 31:8).

*  Disciplines: The Lord disciplines us
for our good, so that we may share in His holiness (Heb. 12:5-11).

Though experiences with our earthly dads may have distorted our view of the heavenly Father, we can learn to see Him as He truly is. By viewing Him through the truth of Scripture instead of our preconceptions, we will see evidence of His loving care and discover a security we've never known before.

~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~

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 The Outward, Upward Look

"Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else"   (Isaiah 45:22).

This is a promise of promises. It lies at the foundation of our spiritual I life. Salvation comes through a look at Him who is "a just God and a Saviour." How simple is the direction! "Look unto me." How reasonable is the requirement! Surely the creature should look to the Creator. We have looked elsewhere long enough; it is time that we look alone to Him who invites our expectation and promises to give us His salvation. Only a look! Will we not look at once? We are to bring nothing in ourselves but to look outward and upward to our LORD on His throne, whither He has gone up from the cross. A look requires no preparation, no violent effort: it needs neither wit nor wisdom, wealth nor strength. All that we need is in the LORD our God, and if we look to Him for everything, that everything shall be ours, and we shall be saved. Come, far-off ones, look hither! Ye ends of the earth, turn your eyes this way! As from the furthest regions men may see the sun and enjoy his light, so you who lie in death's borders at the very gates of hell may by a look receive the light of God, the life of heaven, the salvation of the LORD Jesus Christ, who is God and therefore able to save.

~Charles H. Spurgeon~

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Blessed is he that waiteth (Dan. 12:12).

It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God's warriors than standing still.

There are hours of perplexity when the most willing spirit, anxiously desirous to serve the Lord, knows not what part to take. Then what shall it do? Vex itself by despair? Fly back in cowardice, turn to the right hand in fear, or rush forward in presumption?

No, but simply wait. Wait in prayer, however. Call upon God and spread the case before Him; tell Him your difficulty, and plead His promise of aid.

Wait in faith. Express your unstaggering confidence in Him. Believe that if He keep you tarrying even till midnight, yet He will come at the right time; the vision shall come, and shall not tarry.

Wait in quiet patience. Never murmur against the second cause, as the children of Israel did against Moses. Accept the case as it is, and put it as it stands, simply and with your whole heart, without any self-will, into the hand of your covenant God, saying, "Now, Lord, not my will, but Thine be done. I know not what to do; I am brought to extremities; but I will wait until Thou shalt cleave the floods, or drive back my foes. I will wait, if Thou keep me many a day, for my heart is fixed upon Thee alone, O God, and my spirit waiteth for Thee in full conviction that Thou wilt yet be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower."

Wait patiently wait,
God never is late;
Thy budding plans are in Thy Father's holding,
And only wait His grand divine unfolding.
Then wait, wait,
Patiently wait.
Trust, hopefully trust,
That God will adjust
Thy tangled life; and from its dark concealings,
Will bring His will, in all its bright revealings.
Then trust, trust,
Hopefully trust.
Rest, peacefully rest
On thy Saviour's breast;
Breathe in His ear thy sacred high ambition,
And He will bring it forth in blest fruition.
Then rest, rest,
Peacefully rest!
--Mercy A. Gladwin

~L. B. Cowman~

Identification of the Godly # 2

Identification of the Godly # 2

It is the Spirit's holy presence and gracious operations which make all the difference, not only to the regenerate but also to the unregenerate. There are His general operations, as well as particular - the former being His work upon the many, while the latter is His quickening work within only a few. Even the ungodly who attend services where the power of an ungrieved Spirit is felt, are at lest sobered and awed, many moved unto a reformation of life, and not a few to make a profession and unite with God's people; and if their profession is to be credited, their walk must be orderly. But in a day when the Spirit is "quenched," His powerful operations more or less cease, and then the whole tone of things is rapidly lowered, and professors with a disorderly walk can still maintain their standing; nevertheless, they are much more easily recognized! There is no good reason why any child of God should be mistaken about empty professors. He has but to measure them, as he should himself also, by the unerring standard of God's Word.

In it, the Lord has plainly described His people by many different "marks," by which they may be identified. We will look at one now which is less known and about which far less is written and said than about many others. "Yes, and all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). Observe how searching that assertion is: Not "some" but "ALL"; not "may" but "SHALL suffer persecution," if they will (are determined) to "live godly." What is godly living? It is giving God His due place in our hearts and lives. It is to spurn the customs of this world, to lean not unto our own understanding - but to have our character and conduct formed and regulated to please God in all things. It is for the graces of faith, hope and love to be constantly exercised upon Him - so that they bring forth their appropriate fruits.

Now those who will "live godly" - all of them who do so, "shall suffer persecution." They have always done so, and they always will in this world. Godly Abel was persecuted by Cain, Isaac was persecuted by Ishmael, David was persecuted by Saul, the prophets were persecuted by the apostates, Christ was persecuted by the Jews. And both Scripture and history show that persecution has always come most from nominal saints, from the professing Christian world!

True, there are various degrees of persecution: From the sneer and cold shoulder, to being dis-fellowshiped by the church; from being dubbed "puritanical," to being placed in the stocks.

So also persecution takes different forms: As it exists in the heart, issues from the tongue, or by actions; but generally, it is done under the cloak of religion.

Now, a professing Christian may escape "persecution" by merely compromising. But he will not call it that; rather, does he say, "he is avoiding extremes," "acting prudently," etc. But real Christians refuse to trim their sails; and therefore, they will, do, and must - suffer persecution. Reader, if you are not being persecuted in some form or other - you are not entitled to regard yourself as living a godly life.

There are those who believe that "persecution" in a more pronounced form is soon to be the lot of Christendom. Personally, we emphatically dissent. Most certainly what is known as "organized Christianity" is not on the eve of being persecuted as in earlier ages. Why are we so dogmatic? Because satan is the author of persecution, and he will not stir up opposition against the "churches" as they now are. He is only too well-pleased to leave them alone in their heterodoxy or dead formality! There is far too little godliness prevailing in them today to cause satan any uneasiness! The strong man armed has full possession of the hearts of windy professors; and therefore, he lets them rest in a false peace. But if the Spirit should again work in an unmistakable manner - outside in "the wilderness" - then the devil would rage and stir up his ecclesiastical agents to do everything in their power to put a stop to it. But he is still opposing godly livers, and by his opposition, we may identify them.

"When a strong man armed keeps his palace, his goods are in peace" (Luke 11:21). The "strong man" here is satan, as the context shows. His "palace" has a double reference: Individually, it signifies the sinner's heart, in which the devil resides and rules. Collectively, it is an apostate Christendom, where he presides as "god" of the religious world (2 Cor. 4:4). His "goods" are the faculties of the individual soul and his deluded victims in the corporate company. But what we would specially observe, is that satan preserves his goods "in peace." There is no ceaseless conflict within the one whom satan "keeps," but rather, the sleep of death. So in his "synagogue" (Rev. 2:9), he keeps its members at peace with each other. It is the saints - those who are determined by grace to "live godly" - that are the objects of his malice, and against whom he stirs up persecution, using when he can, professing Christians as his instruments.

Above, we virtually covered the ground intended; but after pondering the same, we feel there are one or two points rather in need of clarification and amplification. For example, the presence of so many nominal Christians among the regenerate, and the task of distinguishing the one from the other. It is true that in every age, there have been a large number of empty professors; yet for the most part, they were easily recognized - by those who measured their outward conduct by the rules of Scripture.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 3)

Classic Christian Quotes from Classic Ministers

Classic Christian Quotes from Classic Ministers


Sin is . . .

("The Lamb of God!" James Hamilton)

"Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless?" Job 22:5

Man is made up of divers lusts and passions! Pride, ambition, envy, vanity, resentment, anger, covetousness, immorality, cruelty--these and many evil appetites and emotions besides, flow through all his nature in fierce and malignant currents, and are his very being's poisoned blood and fevered pulse! They break out . . .
  in oaths and curses,
  in fightings and violence,
  in debauchery and orgy;
  in spoken falsehood and acted lies,
  in words of lewdness and deeds of shame!

Sin is . . .
  earth's great burden, 
  humanity's deforming blot,
  the enemy of God, 
  the transgressor of His law, 
  the great soul-poison and heart-plague, 
  the only thing which really defiles man, 
  pollution, misery, guilt,
  incipient Hell, 
  the only thing to which we can give, in its fullest sense, the emphatic name of evil.

Jesus could not look on sin without abhorrence. The sight of that cursed thing which had insulted His heavenly Father and filled a happy world with woe and horror, kindled His zeal and revenge; and while the Lamb's gentleness encouraged the sinner, the Lion's fury still flashed upon the sin. 

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!" Romans 6:23 
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Dust you are and to dust you will return!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." Genesis 3:19 

"All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return!" Ecclesiastes 3:20 

Augustine used to say he did not know whether to call it a dying life--or a living death. I leave the choice between those two expressions to you. 

This is certainly a dying life--its march is marked by graves. 

Nothing but a continuous miracle keeps any one of us from the sepulcher! 

Were omnipotence to stay its power but for a moment--we would return to our native dust. 

It is a dying life--and it is equally true that it is a living death. 
We are always dying.
Every beating pulse we count, leaves but the number less. 
The more years we count in our life--the fewer remain.

Are you afraid of dying? Oh! never be afraid of that--be afraid of living. 
Living is the only thing which can do any harm--dying can never hurt a Christian.

Christian! You are nearer your eternal home than you thought you were--and every moment you are getting nearer still!

Oh, it would be indeed horrible if we could not die! 
Who wants to be chained to this poor life for centuries?

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

"I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!" 
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Accepting God's Gift of Love

1 John 4:7-12

Many people simply can't believe that the Lord loves them. Others believe that He loves them, but only when they are pleasing Him in some way. Why is it so hard for us to accept His unconditional love?

One reason is that we have a hard time loving others without condition. We might say the words "I love you" to our spouse, children, friends, co-workers, or fellow believers but all too often are calculating in our mind whether or not they've lived up to our standard. We sometimes excuse ourselves from loving certain people because their behavior upsets or annoys us. The fact that we place restrictions on extending favor causes us to wrongly assume that the Lord does likewise.

Another reason is poor self-image. Considering ourselves unworthy, we refuse to accept God's love. You know what? None of us are worthy of the heavenly Father's goodness and mercy—so you can let go of that excuse once and for all. We're not coming to Him based on our worth. Rather, we're coming to Him based on His grace, and our position is secure in Christ. To put yourself down as "beneath His grace" is to trample on His loving, generous gift. God arranged an awesome divine way for us to be reconciled to Him, and His greatest desire is for relationship with each of us.

If you feel unloved or struggle to accept yourself, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of our heavenly Father's love for you—and to sink it deep into your heart. Receive the truth that He reveals. It will be a completely different story about your value as an individual.

~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~