The Conversion of Zaccheus 2

These are parts of those glad tidings which are published in the gospel; and of the certainty of them, next to the express word of God, the experience of all such as have been saved, is the best, and, as I take it, the most undoubted proof. That God might teach us every way, he has been pleased to leave upon record many instances of the power of his grace exerted in the salvation of several persons, that we, hearing how he dealt with them, might from thence infer the manner we must expect to be dealt with ourselves, and learn in what way we must look for salvation, if we truly desire to be made partakers of the inheritance with the saints in light.

The conversion of the person referred to in the text, I think, will be of no small service to us in this matter, if rightly improved. I would hope, most of you know who the person is, to whom the Lord Jesus speaks; it is the publican Zaccheus, to whose house the blessed Jesus said, salvation came, and whom he pronounces a Son of Abraham.

The Conversion of Zaccheus -George Whitefield 1

The Conversion of Zaccheus

Luke 19:9–10 — “And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house; forasmuch as he also is the Son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Salvation, every where through the whole scripture, is said to be the free gift of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Not only free, because God is a sovereign agent, and therefore may withhold it from, or confer it on, whom he pleaseth; but free, because there is nothing to be found in man, that can any way induce God to be merciful unto him. The righteousness of Jesus Christ is the sole cause of our finding favor in God's sight: this righteousness apprehended by faith (which is also the gift of God) makes it our own; and this faith, if true, will work by love.

Book review –Mathetes

Book review –

Like CS Lewis’ introduction to “the Incarnation of the Word of God” by Athanasius I would implore you to read old books. The reading of old Christian books has helped me greatly back when I was struggling, like many do, with Scripture’s exclusive Truth claims and with unpacking Reformation Theology.

Probably the best, concise treatment on an introduction to classic Christianity that I know of is the Letter to Diogentus by Mathetes (which means Disciple of the Apostles). Written about 130 AD it deals with many debated Christian issues in the Church today.

These topics would include the rejection of Universalism, idolatry, the errors and superstitious observances of the Jews, the manner of Christian living in a fallen world, the hope of Heaven, support for Creation and God-in-flesh in Christ, rejection of post modern uncertainty, the affirmation of Hell as Eternal fire and God’s judgment, Salvation by faith not by works, substitutionary atonement, original sin, teaching Scripture as knowledge worth being taught and believed, and the story of the Garden, tree of life and serpent as historic not mythology or allegory.

So before you fall for the lies of the Emergent “Church” who says we need to ditch historic orthodox Christianity and write our own new Kind of Kristianity first you should spend some time looking at what the Early Church believed, taught and confessed.

Since this short Epistle is strong on God’s mercy and forgiveness, any true Christian who holds to the sound Biblical doctrines of the ancient Church will be comforted by this letter which speaks of God’s call to us from sin and rebellion to trust in Christ and the forgiveness He’s won for us on the Cross. I pray that it will bless you as much as it has blessed me.

Gospel Crier #3

So what are you saying, “don’t do good works?”

No, I’m not saying don’t do good works. And not only am I not saying that, I am saying a genuine believer cannot not do good works. In my prior articles I merely articulated that God’s Word does not allow you to add your good works to God’s gifts of faith and repentance in Salvation.

So the question now is what good works do Christians do and why?

First, let’s start with why. As stated clearly in my prior articles it’s not to earn or merit God’s love or Salvation. But good works are only a Christian’s way of showing honor, reverence, worship and thanksgiving to their God and Savior.

So worship doesn’t just mean singing? – No. Are you saying a non-Christian cannot do a good work? – Yes; to mimic God the Holy Spirit in Hebrews without faith it is impossible to please God. So no, even if you and a non-Christian did the exact same work God only looks at the Christian’s act as a good work and the same act done by the unbeliever as a sin. Why? Because even in their “good” works an unbeliever sins in their continued unbelief and in their incorrect motive for good works which should be to help build up fellow believers, point people to Christ for Salvation and worship God by serving your neighbor.

So what good works do Christians do?  Well let’s look at a few, the answers may surprise you.

1-    Trust - in Christ and all He has accomplished for us.

2-    Fellowship with believers – dedicated to the prayers, confessions of sin and the Apostle’s teachings.

3-    Establish a Godly home – husbands sacrificially love your wives, wives respect your husbands, parents rear children in the respect of and honor to the Lord and children respect your parents

4-    Volunteering – I know of Zero genuine Christians that do nothing God honoring. From childcare in the church (allowing fellow believers time to be discipled Biblically), teaching or being taught sound doctrine in Bible study, sitting (like Mary, not works-righteous Martha) and receiving the Gospel during the sermon, pointing unbelievers to Christ for Salvation (like John the Reformed Baptist did), or even serving your neighbor by being a good employee, boss, slave or master.

The problem is Christians, like all other sinners, are tempted to self-honor so instead of being content in quietly working with your hands as unto the Lord in whatever vocation God has placed you. People look to a BIG BOLD service as more righteous of a good work than the everyday good work. “Look,” the believer may say, “That man is being martyred for preaching the Gospel surely he is more holy than us, right?” Nope – the martyr, like you and me, is simultaneously Sinner and Saint, holy only because of what Christ has done for him, holy because God has chosen to declare him holy. God has made him holy with Christ’s righteousness; he is not inherently holy on his own. Now it may be that he is not afraid to face martyrdom because he is more thankful than you are for Christ, but he’s not more holy by nature.

Believer, how thankful are you that God has saved you? Do you show it to others by loving Christ’s bride (the Church) as he does? Do you sacrificially live your life to honor God by pointing others to Christ and serving others to honor Him? If you desire to but don’t know how to get started, come to church, join a class, help in child care, and get started – I’ll save you a seat.

WOW! C H Spugeon responds to my 1st Gospel Crier article

An evil is in the 'professed' camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence,
that the most shortsighted can hardly fail to notice it. During the past
few years it has developed at an abnormal rate, even for evil. It has
worked like leaven until the whole lump ferments!

The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing, than hinting to the Church that
part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a
view to winning them. From speaking out the gospel, the Church has
gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the
frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her borders. Now she has
adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses!

My first contention is that providing amusement for the people is nowhere
spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the Church. If it is a
Christian work why did not Christ speak of it? "Go into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature," that is clear enough. So it would
have been had he added, "and provide amusement for those who do not relish
the gospel."

No such words, however, are to be found. It did not seem to occur to Him.
Then again, he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as pastors and
teachers for the work of the ministry. Where do entertainers come in? The
Holy Spirit is silent concerning them. Were the prophets persecuted because
they amused the people, or because they refused? The "concert" has no
martyr roll.

Again, providing amusement is in direct antagonism to the teaching and life
of Christ and all His apostles. What was the attitude of the apostolic
Church to the world? "You are the salt of the world", not the sugar candy;
something the world will spit out, not swallow.

Had Jesus introduced more of the bright and pleasant elements into His
teaching, He would have been more popular. When "many of His disciples
turned back and no longer followed Him," I do not hear Him say, 'Run after
these people, Peter, and tell them we will have a different style of
service tomorrow; something short and attractive with little preaching. We
will have a pleasant evening for the people. Tell them they will be sure to
enjoy it! Be quick, Peter, we must get the people somehow!'

No! Jesus pitied sinners, sighed and wept over them, but never sought to
amuse them!

In vain will the epistles be searched to find any trace of the 'gospel of
amusement'. Their message is, "Therefore, come out from them and separate
yourselves from them... Don't touch their filthy things..." Anything
approaching amusement is conspicuous by its absence. They had boundless
confidence in the gospel and employed no other weapon.

After Peter and John were locked up for preaching, the Church had a prayer
meeting, but they did not pray, 'Lord, grant unto your servants that by a
wise and discriminating use of innocent recreation we may show these people
how happy we are'.

No! They did not cease from preaching Christ. They had no time for
arranging entertainments. Scattered by persecution they went everywhere
preaching the gospel. They turned the world upside down; that is the only
difference from today's church.

Lastly, amusement fails to effect the end desired. Let the heavy laden who
found peace through the concert not keep silent! Let the drunkard to whom
the dramatic entertainment had been God's link in the chain of their
conversion, stand up! There are none to answer! The mission of amusement
produces no converts!

The need of the hour for today's ministry is earnest spirituality joined
with Biblical doctrine, so understood and felt, that it sets men on fire.

- C. H. Spurgeon

Wise words C H, thanks for drawing our attention to them. 

If you out in Internet-land have a comment, reply, encouragement or sassy come-back 
to something I posted feel free to leave it. I may even post it for your viewing pleasure.
I would like to add though if your going to disagree - that's fine (I like that) please provide IN CONTEXT biblical reasoning not just, "I feel like God would be a huge dick if he Elected some to Salvation and left others to revel in the mire of their own sin." Aside from Blasphemy that is not a logical connection of the passages of Scripture in question regarding Is it Man's work/decision that Saves or God's work/decision that Saves.

God bless and remember if your god is not the God of Scripture (Mormons, Islam, Buddhist, JW's, Catholics, Hindus, Free-will Pelagians/Semi-Pelagians/Arminiams) then you worship an Idol that you have "Carved" theologically and that Idol cannot and will not Save you. Repent and trust no longer in yourselves or your false religion but in the Biblical/Historical/God-Man Christ Jesus AKA the Messiah Yeshua of Nazareth.

Gospel Crier article #2

Salvation is by God’s Grace alone, which comes to us through Faith alone and on account of Christ’s work alone so that on the last day we may cry out with the other Saints and Angels not because of anything we did but to God alone be all the Glory in the Salvation of His people.

I want to be gentle yet clear about this, our Justification (or righteous standing before God) is by works however it is on account of Christ’s work’s alone and not our own. And we receive this Alien (or Imputed) righteousness, which belongs to Christ, from Christ only through trust in Him and in His completed (or sufficient) work in attaining Salvation for us.

For example lets say your pastor taught Salvation by Faith plus anything that you added to the equation even if it were something good like tithing, obedience, chastity, charity, morality or environmentalism then what he told you would be a heresy and if you looked to or put your trust in having done that action, work or moral improvement to save instead of in Christ alone for your Salvation you would have put your faith in an idol and that cannot save you.

You may ask, if this is so then why is the commonality in every other world religion works? Basically it’s because they are false man-made religions that cannot save.

Simply put, “by works” seems right to Mankind. The basic desire of Man’s fallen nature is Control, especially of his own life and his own destiny – being judged by works allows Man to be in Control not God. Also “by works” tickles Man’s pride (by saying he can pull it off if he just tries hard enough) and it registers with his innate sense of justice in trying to judge himself by weighing his own Good Works vs. his Sins. This broad path of works righteousness always leads to death and destruction. This system has to reject the sufficiency of Christ’s accomplished work to save so that it can rely in whole or in part on itself. Fallen Man fails to see the horror of his own sins in God’s eyes and at the same time he fails to see the holy otherness or righteous perfection of God. Scripture says our best – best – best good works are a steaming pile of animal poop (Philippians) or used and bloody menstruation pads (Isaiah) before God. Add to this Jesus’ words in Matthew who says God’s standard is 100% moral perfection and James who says if you fail at just 1 point of God’s Law you are guilty of breaking all of it. It’s all or nothing. You can have Heaven and moral perfection via Christ’s righteousness or Hell and incompetent failure via your own self-righteousness.

Mull these passages over in your mind, heart and soul. Think about them and pray to the only God who is God, who is real, who is there, who hears and acts.

            But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. But to all who did receive Him (Jesus), who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. For God said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion (works), but on God, who has mercy.

Salvation is a Gift from God received not by works, grasping, choosing it, or feeling saved deep down in you heart of hearts, but by trust (or faith) in the finished work of Christ for your Salvation. It’s both that easy and that hard - believe HIM.

100% TULIP and Bible free - the Daisy

5 points of Arminianism: the Free-Will Daisy

Dude! You mean I get to choose God?

Anyone who sez “yes” to Jesus can go to Heaven

I’m okay and you’re okay cuz Jesus died for everyone

So, if I just repeat this magic prayer, I’m in!

You better make sure you keep doing good or you’re out