THE TENTACLES OF FALSE RELIGION

False religion with its many preachers and professors is like a giant sea monster with many tentacles. It is always reaching out and seeking to get men and women in its death grip, especially the Lord’s people. I say many tentacles because it is always reaching out to grasp us in many ways. It seeks to entangle families by its many associations, activities and organizations which operate as outwardly appearing good and benevolent causes but its real purpose is to lure them to its false god. It reaches out and entwines many by its promise to do our children good, train them and assure they are moral and well-rounded. It extends out with offers of help to families in their many needs and difficulties of life. Its deceiving and disguised tentacles reach out to grip us with offers of fellowship, inclusion, fun, entertainment and social involvement. It holds out its many appeals to our pride, our intellects and our natural tendency to try and DO something for God! The number of its tentacles is endless and its strength is far superior to ours. This monster never tires, constantly changes its appearance and often mutates to become whatever our flesh in the moment is seeking. Its activities and arms are constantly reaching out to seize by its many “ways of death.” Many jobs, duties and positions are extended to us but they are just efforts to establish a self-righteousness and exalt man. It appears friendly but is damning. It speaks softly but tells lies about God. Its tentacles are deadly and binding and most in its grip are not even aware they are being held and destroyed! Beware of it! Christ alone is able to deliver from it and wrest us from its grip. Be watchful of its deceiving tentacles and test them with the word of God. Ask yourself, is it biblical? Does it emphasize the body or the soul? Does it build up Christ’s church? Most importantly, who really gets the glory in it? Does it give God all the glory? Death is in its embrace but thank God Christ said of His sheep: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.” (John 10:28,29)

Gary Shepard

The blessed Jesus was the Object of the greatest contempt, scorn and reproach. He was despised and rejected of men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. In a way of contempt He was called this Fellow, and Deceiver, and a. gluttonous Man, and a Wine-bibber, a Friend of Publicans and Sinners. On which Account He is represented, in prophecy, as saying, “Reproach hath broken my heart.” (Ps 69:20) Oh! The amazing condescension of Christ, to endure such contradiction of sinners, against himself with this kind view, to save the chief of them.

John Brine

The gospel is not about an offer but an offering. The gospel is not about our service to God but about His sacrifice for us. The gospel is not about how to restrain our sinfulness but about how Christ put away sin. The gospel is not about how to live but about a life laid down. The gospel is not about opportunities for the future but about an event of history, the cross death of Christ Jesus. The gospel is not about an appeal from God but about an act of God. The gospel is not about how to be a Christian but about Christ and Him crucified. The gospel is not about fellowship but about One who is God’s Fellow. The gospel is not about what you can do for God but about what He has done for His people according to His own purpose and grace which was given them in Christ before the world began. The gospel is not about man’s will but God’s will. The gospel is not a call for you to accept Jesus but a message that declares that God has accepted His people in the Beloved. The gospel is not a call to work but rather a call to rest, rest in the finished work of Christ. I could go on and on but the point is that God’s gospel glorifies God and exalts Christ as the All-Sufficient and Successful Savior of sinners!

GS

The Lord Jesus Christ, as He stands in relation to both God the Father and His people, could gladly announce to their joy: “I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God." (John 20:17) What a delight it is to our souls when He speaks these words of relationship to our souls by His Spirit and gospel!

GS

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Re 5:9)

SING TO THE LAMB

Sing with us now ye blood-bought host,

Make Christ the Worthy Lamb your boast!

God’s Lamb then slain upon the cross,

His people saved from endless loss.

His precious blood that once was shed,

There on the cross our living Head,

His life, the life of God, laid down;

And gave to us the living crown.

That blood a covenant did seal,

An everlasting love reveal.

A satisfaction then was made,

As Christ did feel the justice blade.

All those who died in Him that day,

Their sins by blood were put away.

No charge can any bring to them;

And neither does our God condemn.

Redemption’s price was fully paid,

When on Him all our sins were laid;

And now as purchased ones we sing,

And to our Master praise we bring.

Oh saints redeemed by blood to God,

From among men, His grace applaud.

In ev’ry place, for endless days,

Sing to the Lamb with endless praise,

8.8 8.8