Some within the realm of Christianity have taken it upon themselves to determine what sins are more wicked than others, especially when it comes to the sin of homosexuality. Too bad they often overlook their own sin of gossip, or being a busy body ( both of which the bible forbids, 1 peter 4:15, 2 cor.12:20). I am going to show from God's word how all sexual sin is greivous...
Homosexual sin is no worse than adultery, or any sexual sin outside the covenant of marriage. When we look at past history, we see what society becomes when left unchecked. Sodom and Gomorrah were an example of such a society: Abraham pleaded with God to spare the city if there were fifty righteous, which God agreed to do if, in fact, there were fifty righteous. Abraham continued to plead, decreasing the number of righteous with each plea. When it was all said and done, there were no righteous people in the city to justify God sparing the inhabitants. The sin of homosexuality was a result of a downward progression of sexual immorality that was left unchecked(google John MacArthur's 'A Nation Abandoned by God).
This is what happens when immorality is left unchecked, when preachers fail to call out against immoral behavior. Sexual sin called for death as punishment in the Old Testament (Lev.20:10-16). Certain sexual sins called for exile (17-18), or barrenness (19-21). The penalty for homosexual sin was death, as was the penalty for the adulterer/adulteress. The Bible does state that homosexual sex is an abomination to God (vs.13, also Lev.18:22). Notice also in Lev.20:12 that if a man has sexual relations with his daughter in law, he has 'wrought confusion' which means 'unnatural bestiality'. In verse 14 it states that if a man has sexual relations with his wife and mother in law, it is wickedness, which means heinous crime. So, we see that sins that are sexual in nature are an abomination, bring confusion, and are heinous crimes against a holy God. We must be oh so careful as to not label homosexual sin as more greivous than other sexual sins, and all sins.
All sin defiles and makes unclean those who practice such sinful deeds. Revelation 21:27 tells us what becomes of those who are unclean and defiled. The Lord Jesus goes further and instructs us in our thoughts concerning sexual desires in Matt.5:27-28, "you have heard that it was said by them of old time, thou shalt not commit adultery, but I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (mind)." To look means to perceive, see, stare, gawk or gape at with a fixation of sorts. We must not set our eyes upon someone long enough to feed lust in our thoughts. To do so would lead to a desire to long for, covet and lust after that person.
Lust comes from the Greek word epithumeo, which is derived from two words, epi and thumos. Epi translates 'of direction, towards, upon'. This describes the object of your lusting and the direction in which the lusting is geared at...the person who your eyes are gazing upon.
Thumos translates 'passion, a violent passion of the mind, the wine of passion, inflaming wine which either drives the drinker mad or kills him with its strength'. This is not a reference to alcohol, it is a picture of one who lusts so intensly and to the point of destruction; just as abusing alcohol destroys, so does forbidden lust. Thumos stems from the root word thuo, meaning 'to rush, sacrifice, kill, slay'. You have slayed that person whom you lust intensly after in the sense that you have passionately devoured them in your mind as your eyes feed your lust. This is why pornography is such big business...lust and the mind are powerful tools that destroy when fed forbidden desires.
Let us refrain from categorizing sin: the thief, the liar, adulterer, idolater, gossip, etc have the same end. We must preach Christ and repentance, in love, NOT critically or judgmentally!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Putting away sin-by Mike Ratliff
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:30-32 ESV)
Much that is wrong that is causing the confusion in the church visible all around us right now is the result of complete misunderstanding of what it means to be a true disciple of Christ, a Christian. John MacArthur’s new book, Slave, is a great source for believers to read and then understand their true role in the Kingdom of God. Back in the late 1980’s a good friend at our church gave me a book by John MacArthur. It was the first edition of his book The Gospel According to Jesus. I believe I read it in just a few days. I have read it two more times since then. I have also read his books The Gospel According to the Apostles and Ashamed of the Gospel. There is a common theme in all of them my brethren and it is one that detractors of John MacArthur hate because that theme is directed to correct them. That theme is all through his new book, Slave, as well. What is it? It is that Jesus Christ is Lord and those who belong to Him are his δοῦλοί (slaves).
Continue reading here...
Much that is wrong that is causing the confusion in the church visible all around us right now is the result of complete misunderstanding of what it means to be a true disciple of Christ, a Christian. John MacArthur’s new book, Slave, is a great source for believers to read and then understand their true role in the Kingdom of God. Back in the late 1980’s a good friend at our church gave me a book by John MacArthur. It was the first edition of his book The Gospel According to Jesus. I believe I read it in just a few days. I have read it two more times since then. I have also read his books The Gospel According to the Apostles and Ashamed of the Gospel. There is a common theme in all of them my brethren and it is one that detractors of John MacArthur hate because that theme is directed to correct them. That theme is all through his new book, Slave, as well. What is it? It is that Jesus Christ is Lord and those who belong to Him are his δοῦλοί (slaves).
Continue reading here...
Thursday, March 10, 2011
the grave of Jesus
The Lamb of God had taken away the sins of the world. The day of
expiation was past. The atonement was now accepted. Peace with
God was made. The tumults of the people were hushed. The women hastened
to the tomb. The great stone was rolled away. Instead of a dead body — they
found living angels. They were terrified, and filled with alarm. But their
fears were soon scattered, for a mighty angel, clothed with majesty — but
inspired with love, said to them with winning voice, "Do not be afraid, for
I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he
has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay!" Matthew
28:5-6. Jesus had lain . . .
in the bosom of his Father,
in the womb of the virgin,
in the manger at Bethlehem,
in the carpenter's cottage at Nazareth,
and at length in Joseph's tomb.
There he lay — a corpse. Life was gone. Strength and
beauty were gone. He was brought into the dust of death. Let us visit his
grave. Let us obey the angels, and let us bow down, and "Come and see the
place where he lay!"
Mark, The SPOT. It is a
garden — a rich man's garden. In the upper part of it there is a rock, and
out of that rock was chiseled a tomb. It was a quiet spot, though not far
from the city. No one had lain there before. The man of wealth had intended
it for himself. He expected to die, for he knew that his wealth could not
save him from the last enemy. But of Messiah it had been said, "His
death was with the wicked, and with the rich man was his tomb." Therefore,
they laid Jesus there, for the sepulcher was not far from the cross. It was
near at hand. Flowers, sweet flowers grew and threw their fragrance around
it, and lofty shrubs bent over it.
It was an interesting spot. Interesting before
Jesus was laid there — but to us, much more so afterwards. The beauties of
creation, the terrible effects of sin, and the ravages of
death — were brought close together. The flowers blossomed and
looked mirthful — humanity had faded and looked sad. What could form
a greater contrast, than those beautiful flowers — and the sorrow-stricken,
mutilated corpse of the Son of God. I feel deeply interested in every object
around me, as I stand by the grave of Jesus, and look down to "see the place
where he lay!"
The place is as instructive as it is interesting.
What lessons may be learned here! O sin, what have you
introduced! O death, what have you done! The Son of God is slain, the
Son of man was laid in the tomb. The Lord of Glory — was clothed with shame.
The Prince of life — experienced death. The omnipotent — suffers. The
immortal — dies. The innocent takes the place, and suffers the
desert of the guilty. O what condescension! O what a stoop — from the
highest throne of glory, to this charnel house! What a mystery! Let me
meditate, adore, and praise!
But it is a solemn spot. Death is always solemn —
but the death of the Son of God is most solemn. The grave is always a solemn
place — but the grave of Jesus is particularly so.
He died — whom no one could kill.
He died — whom no disease could touch.
He died — who had given life to millions.
He was buried — who was to raise every corpse from the
grave.
What did that tomb enclose!
What did that stone cover!
The body of the incarnate God;
the hope of his scattered disciples,
the foundation of the church of God.
O my soul, I feel a deep seriousness creep over me, as I
look at the place, and think that I myself was the cause of his
death, and that it was through my fault that he was brought down to
the gates of the grave. Let me tarry here for a while, and with deep
seriousness and sympathy, look at the tomb, and "see the place where he
lay!"
Observe, The ACTION.
"Come and see." Use the eye, to ascertain, the grave is empty — to
impress the mind; let the eye affect the heart — and to profit the
soul, for the most important, the most precious lessons, are to be learned
here. Come, meditate, let the eye of the mind reach where the eye of
the body cannot, and for a time be a substitute for it. Looking into
the empty grave, let us ask five questions, not so much for information — as
impression.
First, WHO lay there? The Lord! The Lord of heaven
and earth. The creator of the universe, the sustainer of all
things, the preserver of men! The ruler of all worlds, lay there! The
King of kings, the Lord of lords, was wrapped in that shroud! The face of
the King eternal, immortal, invisible, was covered with that burial cloth. O
wondrous thought — it is the place where the Lord lay!
Second, in what CHARACTER did he lay there? As our
Surety, Savior, and Friend. He had become answerable for us. He engaged to
pay the debt that we had contracted, and to suffer all we had deserved. "He
bore our sins, he carried our sorrows." It was his undertaking for us
— which nailed him to the cross, and then laid him in the sepulcher. He died
to save us. He was bruised that he might save us. He arose from the grave
that he might save us. He became our Surety, that he might be our Savior;
and he became our Savior, because he was our Friend.
O Jesus, as my Surety — you have paid my
tremendous debt;
as my Savior — you will present me without fault to your Father;
and as my Friend — you will associate me with yourself forever.
Third, what brought him there?
It was our sins — and His own infinite love.
Our sins alone could not — for He was not involved in
them.
His love alone could not — for as innocent, He could
not die.
But out of His pure, infinite, and eternal love — He
became answerable for our sins. He engaged to bear them, atone for them, and
remove them forever!
"He died for our sins."
He suffered — because we had sinned,
He died — because we deserved to die, and
He lay in the grave for a time — that we may not lie in hell forever!
Our sins . . .
forged the nails that fastened Him to the tree,
planted the thorns that pierced His brow, and
sharpened the spear that was thrust into His heart!
O what an evil must sin be — to bring the Son of God into
such a state of suffering and humiliation!
O what love must the love of Jesus be — that induced Him
to take our place, and suffer and die in our stead!
Fourth, how LONG did he lay there? For three days,
or until all he had engaged to do was fulfilled. They laid him there on
Friday, he lay there the whole of Saturday, and he arose on the morning of
Sunday. With the Jews, part of a day was reckoned as a whole —
and therefore according to their reckoning, he lay there three days.
He lay there long enough to prove that he was really dead. He lay there,
until laying there longer, would answer no purpose — and then he rose.
Fifth, what BROUGHT him thence? The sentence of
divine justice, the command of his Father, and his own power. The debt being
paid, the bond was cancelled — the Surety must be set at liberty. The
expiation being complete, the Father could desire no more, and therefore
commanded to set him free. Having life in himself, having power to lay down
his life, and power to take it again — he exerted that power, and came forth
free from all obligation, invested with universal authority, and able to
save whoever he would. "He has risen! Come and see the place where he lay!"
Let us now, Accept the Invitation. Let us come to the
place and become familiar with it — that we may neither fear death nor the
grave. Let us come and obtain assurance that we also shall be
delivered from it. Let us come and examine into its nature and contents.
What is the grave? It is a bed of rest, for the poor,
weary, worn-out body. It is a house of safety, in which the
members of Jesus are laid up, until he shall raise and make them like
himself. It is a land of quiet, where the wicked cease from
troubling, and where the weary are at rest. The rich and the poor are there,
and the servant is free from his master.
What is to be seen in that tomb? A napkin to wipe our
tears, a winding sheet to wrap up our bodies, and an angel to guard our
dust. Here we see the last foe conquered, conquered on his own ground, and
conquered though every advantage was given him. Surely then, death is
disarmed, the grave is furnished, and believers have nothing to fear.
Come then, lost sinner — come, see the place where
the Lord lay. He is risen. He is able to save. He is exalted to give
repentance, and the remission of sins. Come and believe in a living, loving,
almighty Savior. There is salvation for you nowhere else. You can obtain
pardon, peace, and everlasting life in no other way. Only by believing in
Jesus can you be saved, and by believing you may be saved before rising from
the perusal of these lines.
Come, seeker — come, see the place where the Lord
lay, and be happy. See, death is conquered, Satan is overcome,
and sin is put away. Jesus is a perfect Savior, a pledged Savior —
pledged to save all who come unto God by him. Indulge your fears no longer,
harbor your doubts no more — but come and trust in the risen Savior, and be
at peace. The angel says, "Fear not, I know that you seek Jesus." Because
you seek Jesus, you ought not to fear. He will save you, and save you for
evermore.
Come, believer — come, see the place where the
Lord lay — and weep, love, and rejoice!
Weep — that he had to suffer so much, and to sink so
low, for you!
Love — because he has so loved you, as to lay down
his life for you; because he has conquered death for you; because he has
perfumed the grave for you; because he has opened the gates of glory for
you.
Rejoice — for he has finished his work, frustrated
the designs of all your foes, and secured for you all the good things of
time, and the great things of eternity. Rejoice in Jesus! Rejoice at his
empty tomb! Rejoice, rejoice forever in his holy name!
From gracegems
expiation was past. The atonement was now accepted. Peace with
God was made. The tumults of the people were hushed. The women hastened
to the tomb. The great stone was rolled away. Instead of a dead body — they
found living angels. They were terrified, and filled with alarm. But their
fears were soon scattered, for a mighty angel, clothed with majesty — but
inspired with love, said to them with winning voice, "Do not be afraid, for
I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he
has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay!" Matthew
28:5-6. Jesus had lain . . .
in the bosom of his Father,
in the womb of the virgin,
in the manger at Bethlehem,
in the carpenter's cottage at Nazareth,
and at length in Joseph's tomb.
There he lay — a corpse. Life was gone. Strength and
beauty were gone. He was brought into the dust of death. Let us visit his
grave. Let us obey the angels, and let us bow down, and "Come and see the
place where he lay!"
Mark, The SPOT. It is a
garden — a rich man's garden. In the upper part of it there is a rock, and
out of that rock was chiseled a tomb. It was a quiet spot, though not far
from the city. No one had lain there before. The man of wealth had intended
it for himself. He expected to die, for he knew that his wealth could not
save him from the last enemy. But of Messiah it had been said, "His
death was with the wicked, and with the rich man was his tomb." Therefore,
they laid Jesus there, for the sepulcher was not far from the cross. It was
near at hand. Flowers, sweet flowers grew and threw their fragrance around
it, and lofty shrubs bent over it.
It was an interesting spot. Interesting before
Jesus was laid there — but to us, much more so afterwards. The beauties of
creation, the terrible effects of sin, and the ravages of
death — were brought close together. The flowers blossomed and
looked mirthful — humanity had faded and looked sad. What could form
a greater contrast, than those beautiful flowers — and the sorrow-stricken,
mutilated corpse of the Son of God. I feel deeply interested in every object
around me, as I stand by the grave of Jesus, and look down to "see the place
where he lay!"
The place is as instructive as it is interesting.
What lessons may be learned here! O sin, what have you
introduced! O death, what have you done! The Son of God is slain, the
Son of man was laid in the tomb. The Lord of Glory — was clothed with shame.
The Prince of life — experienced death. The omnipotent — suffers. The
immortal — dies. The innocent takes the place, and suffers the
desert of the guilty. O what condescension! O what a stoop — from the
highest throne of glory, to this charnel house! What a mystery! Let me
meditate, adore, and praise!
But it is a solemn spot. Death is always solemn —
but the death of the Son of God is most solemn. The grave is always a solemn
place — but the grave of Jesus is particularly so.
He died — whom no one could kill.
He died — whom no disease could touch.
He died — who had given life to millions.
He was buried — who was to raise every corpse from the
grave.
What did that tomb enclose!
What did that stone cover!
The body of the incarnate God;
the hope of his scattered disciples,
the foundation of the church of God.
O my soul, I feel a deep seriousness creep over me, as I
look at the place, and think that I myself was the cause of his
death, and that it was through my fault that he was brought down to
the gates of the grave. Let me tarry here for a while, and with deep
seriousness and sympathy, look at the tomb, and "see the place where he
lay!"
Observe, The ACTION.
"Come and see." Use the eye, to ascertain, the grave is empty — to
impress the mind; let the eye affect the heart — and to profit the
soul, for the most important, the most precious lessons, are to be learned
here. Come, meditate, let the eye of the mind reach where the eye of
the body cannot, and for a time be a substitute for it. Looking into
the empty grave, let us ask five questions, not so much for information — as
impression.
First, WHO lay there? The Lord! The Lord of heaven
and earth. The creator of the universe, the sustainer of all
things, the preserver of men! The ruler of all worlds, lay there! The
King of kings, the Lord of lords, was wrapped in that shroud! The face of
the King eternal, immortal, invisible, was covered with that burial cloth. O
wondrous thought — it is the place where the Lord lay!
Second, in what CHARACTER did he lay there? As our
Surety, Savior, and Friend. He had become answerable for us. He engaged to
pay the debt that we had contracted, and to suffer all we had deserved. "He
bore our sins, he carried our sorrows." It was his undertaking for us
— which nailed him to the cross, and then laid him in the sepulcher. He died
to save us. He was bruised that he might save us. He arose from the grave
that he might save us. He became our Surety, that he might be our Savior;
and he became our Savior, because he was our Friend.
O Jesus, as my Surety — you have paid my
tremendous debt;
as my Savior — you will present me without fault to your Father;
and as my Friend — you will associate me with yourself forever.
Third, what brought him there?
It was our sins — and His own infinite love.
Our sins alone could not — for He was not involved in
them.
His love alone could not — for as innocent, He could
not die.
But out of His pure, infinite, and eternal love — He
became answerable for our sins. He engaged to bear them, atone for them, and
remove them forever!
"He died for our sins."
He suffered — because we had sinned,
He died — because we deserved to die, and
He lay in the grave for a time — that we may not lie in hell forever!
Our sins . . .
forged the nails that fastened Him to the tree,
planted the thorns that pierced His brow, and
sharpened the spear that was thrust into His heart!
O what an evil must sin be — to bring the Son of God into
such a state of suffering and humiliation!
O what love must the love of Jesus be — that induced Him
to take our place, and suffer and die in our stead!
Fourth, how LONG did he lay there? For three days,
or until all he had engaged to do was fulfilled. They laid him there on
Friday, he lay there the whole of Saturday, and he arose on the morning of
Sunday. With the Jews, part of a day was reckoned as a whole —
and therefore according to their reckoning, he lay there three days.
He lay there long enough to prove that he was really dead. He lay there,
until laying there longer, would answer no purpose — and then he rose.
Fifth, what BROUGHT him thence? The sentence of
divine justice, the command of his Father, and his own power. The debt being
paid, the bond was cancelled — the Surety must be set at liberty. The
expiation being complete, the Father could desire no more, and therefore
commanded to set him free. Having life in himself, having power to lay down
his life, and power to take it again — he exerted that power, and came forth
free from all obligation, invested with universal authority, and able to
save whoever he would. "He has risen! Come and see the place where he lay!"
Let us now, Accept the Invitation. Let us come to the
place and become familiar with it — that we may neither fear death nor the
grave. Let us come and obtain assurance that we also shall be
delivered from it. Let us come and examine into its nature and contents.
What is the grave? It is a bed of rest, for the poor,
weary, worn-out body. It is a house of safety, in which the
members of Jesus are laid up, until he shall raise and make them like
himself. It is a land of quiet, where the wicked cease from
troubling, and where the weary are at rest. The rich and the poor are there,
and the servant is free from his master.
What is to be seen in that tomb? A napkin to wipe our
tears, a winding sheet to wrap up our bodies, and an angel to guard our
dust. Here we see the last foe conquered, conquered on his own ground, and
conquered though every advantage was given him. Surely then, death is
disarmed, the grave is furnished, and believers have nothing to fear.
Come then, lost sinner — come, see the place where
the Lord lay. He is risen. He is able to save. He is exalted to give
repentance, and the remission of sins. Come and believe in a living, loving,
almighty Savior. There is salvation for you nowhere else. You can obtain
pardon, peace, and everlasting life in no other way. Only by believing in
Jesus can you be saved, and by believing you may be saved before rising from
the perusal of these lines.
Come, seeker — come, see the place where the Lord
lay, and be happy. See, death is conquered, Satan is overcome,
and sin is put away. Jesus is a perfect Savior, a pledged Savior —
pledged to save all who come unto God by him. Indulge your fears no longer,
harbor your doubts no more — but come and trust in the risen Savior, and be
at peace. The angel says, "Fear not, I know that you seek Jesus." Because
you seek Jesus, you ought not to fear. He will save you, and save you for
evermore.
Come, believer — come, see the place where the
Lord lay — and weep, love, and rejoice!
Weep — that he had to suffer so much, and to sink so
low, for you!
Love — because he has so loved you, as to lay down
his life for you; because he has conquered death for you; because he has
perfumed the grave for you; because he has opened the gates of glory for
you.
Rejoice — for he has finished his work, frustrated
the designs of all your foes, and secured for you all the good things of
time, and the great things of eternity. Rejoice in Jesus! Rejoice at his
empty tomb! Rejoice, rejoice forever in his holy name!
From gracegems
Saturday, March 5, 2011
the truth about same sex marriage
Through a dear brother in Christ, I found this article exposing the dangers of same sex marriage and the homosexual agenda...thank you John Lanagan of 'my word like fire' for fighting for God's truth. Here is the link
my grace is sufficient
"My grace is sufficient for thee."
— 2co 12:9
If none of God's saints were poor and tried, we should not know half so well the consolations of divine grace. When we find the wanderer who has not where to lay his head, who yet can say, "Still will I trust in the Lord;" when we see the pauper starving on bread and water, who still glories in Jesus; when we see the bereaved widow overwhelmed in affliction, and yet having faith in Christ, oh! what honour it reflects on the gospel. God's grace is illustrated and magnified in the poverty and trials of believers. Saints bear up under every discouragement, believing that all things work together for their good, and that out of apparent evils a real blessing shall ultimately spring-that their God will either work a deliverance for them speedily, or most assuredly support them in the trouble, as long as he is pleased to keep them in it. This patience of the saints proves the power of divine grace. There is a lighthouse out at sea: it is a calm night-I cannot tell whether the edifice is firm; the tempest must rage about it, and then I shall know whether it will stand. So with the Spirit's work: if it were not on many occasions surrounded with tempestuous waters, we should not know that it was true and strong; if the winds did not blow upon it, we should not know how firm and secure it was. The master-works of God are those men who stand in the midst of difficulties, stedfast, unmoveable,-
"Calm mid the bewildering cry,
Confident of victory."
He who would glorify his God must set his account upon meeting with many trials. No man can be illustrious before the Lord unless his conflicts be many. If then, yours be a much-tried path, rejoice in it, because you will the better show forth the all-sufficient grace of God. As for his failing you, never dream of it-hate the thought. The God who has been sufficient until now, should be trusted to the end.
C.H. Spurgeon
— 2co 12:9
If none of God's saints were poor and tried, we should not know half so well the consolations of divine grace. When we find the wanderer who has not where to lay his head, who yet can say, "Still will I trust in the Lord;" when we see the pauper starving on bread and water, who still glories in Jesus; when we see the bereaved widow overwhelmed in affliction, and yet having faith in Christ, oh! what honour it reflects on the gospel. God's grace is illustrated and magnified in the poverty and trials of believers. Saints bear up under every discouragement, believing that all things work together for their good, and that out of apparent evils a real blessing shall ultimately spring-that their God will either work a deliverance for them speedily, or most assuredly support them in the trouble, as long as he is pleased to keep them in it. This patience of the saints proves the power of divine grace. There is a lighthouse out at sea: it is a calm night-I cannot tell whether the edifice is firm; the tempest must rage about it, and then I shall know whether it will stand. So with the Spirit's work: if it were not on many occasions surrounded with tempestuous waters, we should not know that it was true and strong; if the winds did not blow upon it, we should not know how firm and secure it was. The master-works of God are those men who stand in the midst of difficulties, stedfast, unmoveable,-
"Calm mid the bewildering cry,
Confident of victory."
He who would glorify his God must set his account upon meeting with many trials. No man can be illustrious before the Lord unless his conflicts be many. If then, yours be a much-tried path, rejoice in it, because you will the better show forth the all-sufficient grace of God. As for his failing you, never dream of it-hate the thought. The God who has been sufficient until now, should be trusted to the end.
C.H. Spurgeon
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Letter to your children
My dear children,
As your parent, I feel deeply concerned for both your
present and everlasting welfare. Great will be my sorrow
and distress--to see you associated with the worldly, the
careless, or the profane--and to look forward with the fear of
being everlastingly separated from you! O what an idea--to be
separated forever! the parent enjoying unutterable
blessedness--but the child enduring unspeakable, unending woe!
With all the solemn realities of eternity before me I write, and with the deepest
solicitude I beg your attention. Allow me first, my dear child, to call your
attention to the infinite value of your immortal SOUL.
You have a soul which is immortal, destined to live forever. Live it must, live it will, and live forever;
but it is capable of enduring most dreadful, fearful, and
never-ending torments!
I tell you from the mouth of God--
that you have an immortal soul;
that there is a glorious heaven--and a dreadful hell;
that one or the other must be your eternal abode;
and I beseech you to consider seriously, reflect in time, and
flee from the wrath to come!
Your nature is entirely depraved, and always has
been! You were conceived in sin, shaped in iniquity, and brought forth
under the curse of God! You have grown up hitherto in a sinful state:
every thought of your heart, every word you have spoken,
every action you have performed, is more or less sinful.
Your heart is a fountain so corrupt, that nothing pure can possibly
proceed from it. God, says of your heart, my
child, that it is "deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked!" Every variety of sin and wickedness
lurks there! It may be concealed from your view, but yet it
is there; and if temptation should present itself,
or the Lord takes off his restraints--it would soon
make its dreadful appearance.
There never was a sin committed by the vilest malefactor, or a crime
perpetrated by the greatest monster of iniquity--but the
seed of that sin or crime is to be found in your
heart! "For from within, out of the heart," says Jesus,
"proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, thefts,
covetousness, wickedness; deceit, lust, an evil eye, pride,
blasphemy, foolishness! All these evil things come from
within and defile a man!" Well then may the Apostle say,
"The carnal mind is enmity against God--for it is
not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be! So
then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God!"
Do you think that it is possible, my dear child, for anything good to
come from a heart like this? But just such a heart is yours--and
the reason you do not know it, is because spiritual darkness
and ignorance are spread over your soul; the eyes of your
understanding are darkened, and you are hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin!
From James Smith's 'Parental Solicitude' at http://gracegems.org/Smith3/parental_solicitude.htm
As your parent, I feel deeply concerned for both your
present and everlasting welfare. Great will be my sorrow
and distress--to see you associated with the worldly, the
careless, or the profane--and to look forward with the fear of
being everlastingly separated from you! O what an idea--to be
separated forever! the parent enjoying unutterable
blessedness--but the child enduring unspeakable, unending woe!
With all the solemn realities of eternity before me I write, and with the deepest
solicitude I beg your attention. Allow me first, my dear child, to call your
attention to the infinite value of your immortal SOUL.
You have a soul which is immortal, destined to live forever. Live it must, live it will, and live forever;
but it is capable of enduring most dreadful, fearful, and
never-ending torments!
I tell you from the mouth of God--
that you have an immortal soul;
that there is a glorious heaven--and a dreadful hell;
that one or the other must be your eternal abode;
and I beseech you to consider seriously, reflect in time, and
flee from the wrath to come!
Your nature is entirely depraved, and always has
been! You were conceived in sin, shaped in iniquity, and brought forth
under the curse of God! You have grown up hitherto in a sinful state:
every thought of your heart, every word you have spoken,
every action you have performed, is more or less sinful.
Your heart is a fountain so corrupt, that nothing pure can possibly
proceed from it. God, says of your heart, my
child, that it is "deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked!" Every variety of sin and wickedness
lurks there! It may be concealed from your view, but yet it
is there; and if temptation should present itself,
or the Lord takes off his restraints--it would soon
make its dreadful appearance.
There never was a sin committed by the vilest malefactor, or a crime
perpetrated by the greatest monster of iniquity--but the
seed of that sin or crime is to be found in your
heart! "For from within, out of the heart," says Jesus,
"proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, thefts,
covetousness, wickedness; deceit, lust, an evil eye, pride,
blasphemy, foolishness! All these evil things come from
within and defile a man!" Well then may the Apostle say,
"The carnal mind is enmity against God--for it is
not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be! So
then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God!"
Do you think that it is possible, my dear child, for anything good to
come from a heart like this? But just such a heart is yours--and
the reason you do not know it, is because spiritual darkness
and ignorance are spread over your soul; the eyes of your
understanding are darkened, and you are hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin!
From James Smith's 'Parental Solicitude' at http://gracegems.org/Smith3/parental_solicitude.htm
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