Frank wrote:
Well said brother! The antichrist will need the support of women and since I believe the Vatican is the great whore in Revelations, this doesn't surprise me.
I remember as a youth praying to Mary so she would tell her son to do what I asked. They taught that no son would refuse his mother's request. They have always supported the female deity concept so this doesn't surprise me.

Dr. Tim wrote:
To whom should we preach the gospel? To everyone—Mark 16:15. What will happen when we preach the gospel to everyone? Some will get saved—Romans 1:16, Acts 28:24. What will happen if we preach the gospel to a lot of people? A lot of people will get saved—Ecclesiastes 11:6, II Corinthians 9:6. What is the gospel? The vicarious death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ—I Corinthians 15:1-4. What will happen if we don’t preach the gospel, but instead sit around and argue about it? The same thing that happens Sunday after Sunday in most churches: not a blessed thing—Revelation 3:1.

A vision of who Jesus is, and what he has done for lost souls, and how much he loves people, goes a long way in motivating us into taking the glorious gospel into all the world and seeing him reap the reward of his suffering and being satisfied.

It is a wonderful passage of the word of God.

I am a Gentile though a child of Abraham, having like faith.

I followed not after righteousness; never tried to be righteous.

I have attained to righteousness, the righteousness of God which comes by faith.

I have believed on Christ, though he is a stumblingstone and a rock of offence.

This is what the text is saying. I have not mentioned the why's or wherefore's because they are not mentioned in the text. If I wanted to expound on the works of God in the conversion of a sinner, I would choose a different text that explained that.

Adriel wrote:
Yes I take your point.
It's just that I can't get it out of my little brain that the virus in its original form was created by God.
Admittedly sin has changed it from being in a 'good' form to a 'bad' form, - thus the connection with God is broken at that point.
A very testing phenomenon? anomaly?
I wonder what everybody would say if MacArthur died of Corona virus in a few weeks time?

Isaiah 53:4 KJV
(4)  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

I checked a lot of different Bibles and the word we translate 'griefs' in the KJV, is variously translated in other versions:

griefs, sicknesses, suffering, infirmities, weaknesses, troubles, pains, illnesses, and diseases.

Isaiah 53:5 KJV
(5)  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Adriel wrote:
...
John;
Is MacArthur "tempting" God on this one??
Not even Christ would try that!!

John Yurich USA wrote:
This past Sunday at my Baptist Church the sermon was given by Associate Pastor Neil(because Senior Pastor Steve and wife are still down in Florida visiting their daughter and grandchildren) and was titled "Killjoys:The Antidote To Anxiety" from Philippians 4:6-7. The sermon was about going to Jesus for help with anxiety.

Frank wrote:
Hey Pilgrim excellent comment! I agree with you about MacArthur. He is somewhat controversial because he is unafraid to opine on any subject and of course some of his thoughts are not the same as the mainstream. I disagree with him about some things; but praise the Lord for the things He has taught me through this man.

Dolores wrote:
Thank you, John Uk, I actually meant for God’s blessings be upon you and peace from God throughout this day. There’s a song I love called,” One Day at a Time.” I have a tape that I listen to when I’m doing my daily walk. One day at a time, dear Jesus, that’s all I’m asking of you. Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus and tomorrow may never be mine, so teach me to take one day at a time. During this plague it has given me much peace to do this. This forum is a good place to be with fellowship among the brethren even when we don’t always agree, we learn from each other. You have always done that for me ever since I started on here years ago.Thanks again for the inspiration to face who knows what today 😊

Unprofitable Servant wrote:
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
That is the hope we hold out to the condemned sinner. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved is the message we give. Yes, we know that only God’s people for whom He died are going to be the willing ones in the day of His power (Psalm 110:3). The truths of the Scriptures don’t contradict one another.
The gospel is to be preached to every creature. We don’t have a way to know whom God has chosen. Which one of us back in the early days of Christianity would have thought Saul of Tarsus was a chosen one of God? This is why we must sow, we must water and we must leave the results of it to God alone, salvation is of the Lord.

Dr. Tim wrote:
BTW, John, I have been an angler for more than sixty years, and have caught literally thousands of freshwater fish. I learned a long time ago that a lot more fish are caught by people who actually go fishing than by people who sit around and run off at the mouth about the best methods of fishing.

Dr. Tim wrote:
1. The only gospel that can save is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Any gospel other than this is a false and accursed gospel. I Corinthians 15:1-4, Galatians 1:8-9.
2. The only way the gospel can save is for people to hear it and after hearing it (or, in some cases, while hearing it) to trust Jesus Christ as Savior. Romans 10:13-17, Acts 16:30-31.
3. The only way they can hear it is if someone actually preaches it either verbally, in written form, or by sign language. Romans 10:14-15.
4. The only ones who preach it to any considerable extent are “Arminians,” including Independent Fundamental Baptists. That’s why “Arminians” have the blessings of seeing a lot of people get saved, while Soggy Grace churches rarely if ever do. II Corinthians 9:6.

B. McCausland wrote:
Thank you, CV, for your candour and honesty in your last post.
Yes, most people get converted through Arminians, because knowingly or not, the call of the Gospel is given in the biblical way.
The first words of Christ ministry were, 'Repent and believe the gospel', Paul urged people to 'be reconciled with God', Peter announced that they had to 'repent and be converted' and so on.
The stiff upper-lip hypercalvinist is afraid of such statements in case their over polished pet doctrines get compromised.
We are to preach, but God does the preparation of the soul, the opening of the heart, as said of Lydia, the willing, the drawing to himself, the awakening of the spirit, the convicting, the opening of the ear, the softness of heart, the opening of the understanding, etc...
Someone said that we are to preach as if all depended on us, but pray as if all depended on God.
He that sows the seed will turn up with his sheaves, is the promise, because the call of the Gospel is *guaranteed* by the eternal election.
Bless God.

Dolores wrote:
Good morning, everybody. Pray for the Lord’s blessings to be on you and you are a light to those in darkness.
...

CV wrote:
John I won't try to convert you, I'll leave you with this.
David Cloud, while hitch hiking across the country was converted by an Arminian who gave him a ride. But Cloud did not turn to his circumstance or experience but turned to the Bible alone to draw his doctrine and theology.

Picture the scene: the Billy Graham meeting is just closing, and people are coming out. All along the road are different religious groups, all hoping to 'save' these folks from that AWFUL man's preaching. There are Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Salvation Army, Presbyterians, Methodists, United Reformed, 7th Day Baptists, IFB's, Sovereign Gracers, Reformed Baptists, Christadelphians, Church of God, Restored Church of God, Roman Catholics, Spiritualist, Elim Pentecostals, Assemblies of God Pentecostals, Apostolic Church, Brethren, Charismatic Churches, and at least fifty others.

It's the usual thing, same old, same old. The majority will ignore the radical side of Christianity, preferring to live a quiet life without any jail time.

CV wrote:
John, if a trumpet give an uncertain sound.. You believe in the sovereignty of God but you keep hi-fiving Armins, muddying the truth. Greatest theologians of past never got away with compromise. Sound a clear message!

My testimony is that the sovereign Lord chose to save me, and he chose to save me through the ministry of three men, all of whom were half-arminian, who all believed that John 3:16 was saying that God loved everyone and sent his Son to save sinners.

Now think about it. Why didn't the Lord choose to save me through sovereign gracers? I tell you why. He couldn't find any willing to come and witness to me.

It's a wonder I am not arminian myself, no thanks to the 'valiant for truth' lazy good-for-nothings who were not willing to witness to someone who gave no appearance of being middle class, well suited, well heeled.

Dr. Tim wrote:
What is the true gospel? Is it the one Paul preached, and the one he said saves people (I Corinthians 15:1-4), or is it another one?

It is this one bro. And it is a great message.