For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. (Acts 22:15) Paul was chosen to see and hear the Lord speaking to him out of heaven. This divine election was a high privilege for himself; but it was not intended to end with him; it was meant to have an influence upon others, yea, upon all men. It is to Paul that Europe owes the gospel at this hour.
It is ours in our measure to be witnesses of that which the Lord has revealed to us, and it is at our peril that we hide the precious revelation. First, we must see and hear, or we shall have nothing to tell; but when we have done so, we must be eager to bear our testimony. It must be personal: "Thou shalt be." It must be for Christ: "Thou shalt be his witness." It must be constant and all absorbing; we are to be this above all other things and to the exclusion of many other matters. Our witness must not be to a select few who will cheerfully receive us but to "all men"—to all whom we can reach, young or old, rich or poor, good or bad. We must never be silent like those who are possessed by a dumb spirit; for the text before us is a command, and a promise, and we must not miss it—"Thou shalt be his witness." "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord."CHS
I find the results of this poll interesting since every poll conducted in the last decade or so (Barna, Gallup etc.)shows that 95% of Chrisitians have NEVER shared the Gospel with anyone. The above poll tells us that 95% of Chrisitians believe it is a Chrisitian responsibility. Looks like somebody somewhere's not walking their talk!
CALVIN BELIEVED THAT THE GOSPEL WAS TO BE PROCLAIMED TO EVERY MAN - ELECT OR NOT:"God invites all indiscriminately to salvation through the Gospel, but the ingratitude of the world is the reason why this grace, which is equally offered to all, is enjoyed by few." (Synoptic Gospels 1:116)
CALVIN BELIEVED IT TO BE HIS DUTY TO PRAY THAT EVERY MAN WOULD BE SAVED:"It is our duty to pray for all who trouble us; to desire the salvation of all men." (Comments on Psalms)
[URL=http://www.corkfpc.com/soulwinnercalvinsaid.html]]]THE REAL FRENCHIE - CHECK IT OUT[/URL]
"They must do their utmost to bring the whole world into Christ's fold, but when they do not succeed as they would wish, they must be satisfied with the single thought that those who are sheep will be collected together by their work." (Comment on John 10:27)jc
John UK wrote:Praise be to God that as my health continues to improve, and my spirit is reviving, I all the more have a yearning to get back to outreach work here in Wales.
If you email me I will send you some pictures of my ice shack and an ice fishing shack village. There are also some crazy snow drift and monster pike pictures attached.
rogerant@graham.ca
There are many areas of Wales which are devoid of gospel churches, and from one week to the next, year in year out, men, women and children are living their lives without hearing the words of eternal life.
As this is a burden on my heart, I am praying for increased strength, that I may go on regular sorties during the warmer months, to mid-West Wales to go door-to-door in various towns, either speaking to people directly, or putting good gospel material through letterboxes.
Currently I am investigating the possibility of bulk purchase of video CD's or DVD's from the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. The gospel messages by Dr Peter Masters are extremely good, being very gracious yet doctrinally sound; plus he uses the Authorized Version of the Bible, from which emanates sound doctrine.
Has anyone else used materials from the Met Tab in their evangelism? And are there any Christians from the area near Barmouth or Dolgellau on SA? Perhaps there is an obscure Reformed (Baptist) church in the location which I know nothing about yet.
Thank you very much, bro!
I suppose next month you'll be Jan.09?
G'night all! And happy evangelising!
John UK wrote:A] A man, hearing the gospel message, B] A realisation dawns on him later in life, through his Bible reading, that every ACTION of HIS, at the time of conversion, was due entirely to the powerful influence of the Holy Ghost, who was drawing him to Christ.
B] A realisation dawns on him later in life, through his Bible reading, that every ACTION of HIS, at the time of conversion, was due entirely to the powerful influence of the Holy Ghost, who was drawing him to Christ.
B] But I see you have come to this point anyway by saying here that the Holy Spirit was the one who "influenced" him.
I'll let you off this time.
Ok, some good points you make, some bad, but none of us is perfect.
Here now is an example.
A man, hearing the gospel message, becomes convicted of his sins, and deeply laments them. He comes to see that his actions through life have been a rebellion against God from his birth. He sees ahead of him the 'City of Destruction' and desires to flee from it to Christ who alone can save him from eternal death. He now believes that Jesus is the Son of the living God, and that through his atoning blood shed at Calvary's cross, he can receive forgiveness of sins. He desires that Jesus be his Lord and Saviour, and hears a welcoming call: "Come unto me, all ye that labour..." and maybe "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near, let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts...." or perhaps simply: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."
The man comes to Christ and is saved forever. A realisation dawns on him later in life, through his Bible reading, that every ACTION of HIS, at the time of conversion, was due entirely to the powerful influence of the Holy Ghost, who was drawing him to Christ.
But the Holy Ghost would not repent for him, nor believe for him, nor turn for him.
John UK wrote:A] Are you one of those funny charismatic people, always talking about the Holy Spirit, but never about the Lord Jesus Christ?B] "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth"C] If you are in a church where sinners are exhorted to sit quietly and passively wait until God shows them they are elect
B] "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth"
C] If you are in a church where sinners are exhorted to sit quietly and passively wait until God shows them they are elect
B] This Bible verse seems to contradict your statement at [C]. - *Chosen to salvation from the beginning.* - A good Bible teaching held by the Reformed Church.Your friend Mr Wesley wouldn't like that would he.
C] Attacking another denomination eh, John. Naughty sinner you!If your attack stems from your favorite hobbyhorse, - (namely Calvinism) - Then I refer you back to the above Scripture verse you quoted.[B].
Now John; please don't devalue the work of the Spirit, and don't discrimminate against Him in favor of presumed human action, especially at the point of conversion.Get yourself into a good Reformed Church where you will receive Bible and Bible only. Sola Scriptura.
Hello! Are you one of those funny charismatic people, always talking about the Holy Spirit, but never about the Lord Jesus Christ?
Ah well! Just for you:
"For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost." 1 Thess 1:5-6.
If this is not enough, how about this wonderful text:
"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thess 2:13-14.
The call comes in POWER (the POWER of the HOLY GHOST) and it sanctifies, or sets apart some (God's elect) and results in the person DOING SOMETHING.
If you are in a church where sinners are exhorted to sit quietly and passively wait until God shows them they are elect, I would exhort you to depart hence, and find a gospel preaching church.
John UK wrote:This effectual call and irresistible grace produce such a mighty response in a human that they actually DO SOMETHING.
WCF10-2. "This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man;[a] who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit,[b] he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it.[c]"
[a] Rom 9:11; Eph 2:4-5, 8-9; 2 Tim 1:9; Titus 3:4-5. [b] Rom 8:7; 1 Cor 2:14; Eph 2:5. [c] Ezek 36:27; John 5:25; 6:37.
Don't leave the Holy Spirit out of your equation.
Oooooh!!
You never heard of irresistible grace, or effectual calling? Shame on you!!
This effectual call and irresistible grace produce such a mighty response in a human that they actually DO SOMETHING. Wa Hey!! They lament their sins, repent of their wickedness, turn from unbelief to faith in a resurrected Saviour, receive him as Lord, and follow him in a lifelong commitment.
That God might be glorified!
JESUS IS LORD
John UK wrote:tweenthelinesIf a human does not act when he hears the gospel, he will not be saved. The 'mechanics' I have already mentioned in an earlier post.
Thats popish salvation by human effort.
If a human does not act when he hears the gospel, he will not be saved. The 'mechanics' I have already mentioned in an earlier post.
Could you please sqeeze the Holy Spirit into this human action somewhere?
You said: "God has already supernatural given and preserved His Word. I want to set no stumbling blocks before those who have a will to hear it and heed it."
I am with you on this. There are enough stumbling blocks confronting the unregenerate without professing Christians introducing their own in the course of them 'preaching the gospel'.
I have heard with my own ears, during a 'gospel message', statements like: "You cannot repent! You cannot believe! You cannot come to Christ!"
Now no matter what the preacher believes theologically, strong meat is for the saints, not for the poor demented sinner who needs the basic barebones of Christianity, and will still be feeding on such milk for some years, if he comes to Christ and is saved.
And what is this barebones? As you said: "Repent ye, and believe the gospel."
Christ came not to call the 'righteous', but sinners to repentance. Praise his wonderful name: JESUS!
Whether forecast wrote:Y'all really desire to get the human effect into salvation don't you.
The Holy Triune God will justly assign men and women to an eternity in weeping, darkness, and gnashing of teeth. LORD, have mercy.
"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:36)
God has already supernatural given and preserved His Word. I want to set no stumbling blocks before those who have a will to hear it and heed it.
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the SIMPLICITY that is in Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3)
Jesus (Mark 1:15): "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT ye, and believe the gospel."
Amen and amen!
John UK wrote:If love is a fruit of the Spirit, and not a mere natural love, then it looks to me as though Jesus is saying that this love (which comes from God) can be severely undermined .....But if it is a natural love, then why would Jesus be insisting on it being maintained, and thus enduring to the end?Matthew 24:12 "And .....wax cold."
But if it is a natural love, then why would Jesus be insisting on it being maintained, and thus enduring to the end?Matthew 24:12 "And .....wax cold."
BUTPromises
Phil 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
1Pet 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Jo 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him
The love of the Holy Spirit will not fail BECAUSE of human frailty.
