Still a Mission World wrote:
Quote from Mission organisation
"The remaining unreached peoples of the world are progessively harder to reach; the political, cultural, religious, and spiritual barriers to be surmounted are ever more difficult."

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."

Mike wrote:
After having spoken concerning his grace, and exhorted his disciples to steady faith, he now begins to strike the rebellious, though even here he mitigates the severity due to the wickedness of those who deliberately — as it were — reject God; for he delays to pronounce judgment on them, because, on the contrary, he has come for the salvation of all. In the first place, we ought to understand that he does not speak here of all unbelievers without distinction, but of those who, knowingly and willingly, reject the doctrine of the Gospel which has been exhibited to them. Why then does Christ not choose to condemn them? It is because he lays aside for a time the office of a judge, and offers salvation to all without reserve, and stretches out his arms to embrace all, that all may be the more encouraged to repent."
Calvin on John 12:47

Sherry C. wrote:
Is this not the David Wilkerson who preached against the false teaching of the Toronto Blessing... is he a true man of God or a false teacher and prophet? I do need to know. I've seen many men of God fall away from the faith. They have started well but have ended up becoming false teachers and preachers.Is David Wilkerson one who has become false?

I wouldn't be so quick to judge a person just because he ascribes God's judgment on sin - though setting a time and place is questionable. The important thing for us is to search the Scriptures and see what God says about sin and judgment. Setting a time for judgment can be questioned; however, sin will be judged, and that is Scriptural.

The Czech republic, having broken free from the evils of communism, and growing as a result of capitalism, knows what a stranglehold power exerts on a people.

When Vaclav Havel, came out with his book on global warming, and then, spoke in the U.S. about the reason for those promoters of global warming - namely, power over the masses to control, and, of course, money, he was dissed by the intellectual elites, and those in power positions.

Since then, thanks to C-span and the internet, people are seeing a different assessment unfold and opinion has shifted, thankfully. People are awakening to the lies that are promulgated by those who are the news makers.

charles m wrote:
doesnt the idea of the sinners suffering in hell being a payment of some kind open up the way to the heresy of purgatory ? i think for this raason alone i would have to reject the idea of the sinner in hell being able to offer any restitution or satisfaction by his suffering quite apart from the context of scripture which makes it clear to me that the creature is by himself unable to do anything by himself toward his salvation . .in this way im with john wales in that only jesus work of the cross is able to provide satisfaction to the creator.
maybe the debtors in prison suffer because they cant pay their debt and jesus atonement was not for their sin ?

You are proof-positive that the Holy Spirit is Teacher to the one who has been born-again for only 2 yrs. In all my years as a Christian, I have never even thought that "sinners were paying a debt in hell." Like you indicate, payment for sin was accomplished by Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross. Those in hell are suffering, but not paying for sins.

Good insight!

John UK wrote:
God has not called us to calvinism, arminianism, amyraldianism, pelagianism, augustinianism, lutherism, campbellitism, wesleyanism, scofieldism, catholicism, protestantism, fundamentalism, socialism, paulism, barnabasism or any other ism you can muster.

As a matter of fact, I need to return to what had been my morning routine for years - spending time with the Lord in prayer and Bible reading. I have been negligent, and I cannot recall Scripture, as easily. I need to refresh my memory by taking in the Word, first. Then, I can read others.

DJC49 wrote:
*Candle lit* --
I appreciate your musings and contemplations! But sadly, I must categorically reject your conjecture about those who were spoken of in Matt 27:52,53 (those coming out of the graves)

I have heard many stories from different people groups of "one" appearing unto their people with a message like unto the Biblical account of the Messiah. Could it not be that these who "came out of the graves" served this very pupose in revealing to people in lands beyond the holy land, these truths?

Of course, the Messiah to come was a promise given in the Garden, and this would have been passed down through the generations, and would have continued even when the peoples were divided. The account of Noah is something that can be seen as regarded in many different cultures.

Then there are the heavens declaring God's Glory. God does not leave Himself w/o a Witness.

"CandleLit

I know what you meant earlier. You just used the wrong word, I think?

Did you mean to say: "Sufficient for all, but efficaceous only in the elect?"
_________

Yes, John,

Thank you for clarifying my comment.

DJC49 wrote:
1)BTW, was yours a not-so-subtle slam agin' me?
2)And his run-ons? NOT amusing, rather, unreadable gobbledygook.
3) He doesn't ACTUALLY seperate from real believers, rather, he defines himself.
4) Terribly WRONG!
It is efficacious ONLY for the elect!!!

2) That which is amusing to one, is annoying to another. What I find amusing is the exchange between you and Michael on this issue. Isn't is good that God made us different?

3) That's a reasonable explanation.

rogerant wrote:
... a blanket condemnation of any one type of church or doctrine that realtes to "Which issue do you think most confronts the Church of today doen't really work. When a Reformed church falls away from sound preaching, it becomes either liberal or hyper. In either case, it becomes works based. Equivalent to the semi pelagian decisional regenation preaching of the dispensensational evangelical Baptist churches in the U.S. today.
In either case, God's sheep are not being fed.
God help us!

Joe T. wrote:
Remonstrance Article on atonement:
"That agreeably thereunto, Jesus Christ the Savior of the world, died for all men and for every man, so that he has obtained for them all, by his death on the cross, redemption and the forgiveness of sins; yet that no one actually enjoys this forgiveness of sins except the believer..."
This would be John's position.
Synod of Dordt Article on atonement:
"For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation: that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father..."
This is the Reformed position and not John's.

pew view wrote:
It is amazing but true that those who don't have the correct doctrines are blind in many other ways too. Clearly alias "Bible only" has a problem with perception.
My guess is that he is the alter ego of John Yurich - or is it John UK. Hmmmmm!!!
BTW I am neither from Canada nor America.
Just one of the REAL Calvinists around here, by the Grace of God.

Mike wrote:
Rogerant is telling it like it is, Bible only. He and DJC49 are not the same person. Look more closely at their posts, they do not have the same "fingerprints."

I know that one for DJC is the infamous "cough" and "ahem" and he really doesn't want to be confused with anyone else. I guess he reaaaaaaaaaallly likes himself, and no else would measure up.

And, Mike, I know that you are witty, reserved, much like an Englishman, with your dry sense of humour.

Michael H., is always gracious, and his calling in life is to evangelize whenever given the opportunity. So, you are going to hear Michael talk about how thankful he is for God saving him, and he wants others to know the Lord. Oh, and his style of writing is with run-on sentences, which I find amusing.

Rogerant, he's going to hold to doctrine, while he tells us how cold it is in his part of the world, sometimes fishing, sometimes riding around in his jeep, playing A.W.Pink recordings.

The 1st one was "Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace?" - Rediscovering the doctrines that shook the world.

The 2nd one was finished by Philip Graham Ryken, as Dr. Boice was in the process of writing it, when he passed away. The name of it is "The Doctrines of Grace" - rediscovering the evangelical gospel.

Joe T. wrote:
A.W. Pink REGENERATION AND THE NEW BIRTH
"We are either saints or sinners, spiritually alive or spiritually dead. children of God or children of the Devil. In view of this solemn fact, how momentous is the question, Have I been born again? If not, and you die in your present state, you will wish you had never been born at all. 1. ITS NECESSITY 1. The need for regeneration lies in our natural degeneration. In consequence of the fall of our first parents, all of us were born alienated from the Divine life and holiness, despoiled of all those perfections wherewith man’s nature was at first endowed. Ezekiel 16:4,5 gives a graphic picture of our terrible spiritual plight at our entrance into this world: cast out to the loathing of our persons, rolling ourselves in our own filth, impotent to help ourselves. That “likeness” of God ( Genesis 1:26) which was at first stamped on mansoul, has been effaced, aversion from God and an inordinate love of the creature having displaced it.

John UK wrote:
"In conclusion, let both writer and reader test and search himself in the presence of God, by these questions. How stands my heart affected toward sin? Is there a deep humiliation and godly sorrow after I have yielded thereto? Is there a genuine detestation of it? Is my conscience tender, so that my peace is disturbed by what the world calls 'trifling faults' and 'little things'? Am I humbled when conscious of the risings of pride and self-will? Do I loathe my inward corruption? What engages my mind in seasons of recreation? Are my affections dead toward the world and alive toward God? Do I find spiritual exercises pleasant and joyous or irksome and burdensome? Can I truthfully say, How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth? (Psalm 119:103) Is communion with God my highest joy? Is the glory of God dearer to me than all the world contains?"

I am deeply moved by Pink's remarks that you posted. One has to have known these stirrings of the Spirit to have written such. And, that another speaks what I know in my own heart is so comforting.

Goanddolikewise wrote:
'Is it possible the first quote is taken out of context?
When in doubt, question your own analysis or understanding.'

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. - 1 John 5:1
Faith and Regeneration
by C.H. Spurgeon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Sermon
(No. 979)
Delivered on Lord's-day Morning, March 5th, 1871
At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington
To believe in Jesus is a better indicator of regeneration than anything else, and in no case did it ever mislead. Faith in the living God and his Son Jesus Christ is always the result of the new birth, and can never exist except in the regenerate. Whoever has faith is a saved man.
Another Spurgeon quote later..

"Both regeneration and faith occur in time simultaneously. However for hypercalvs. who might accuse Spurgeon of being an Arminian (and many did) he is quick to point out that if one thinks of cause and effect then the cause is regeneration and the effect faith.

John UK wrote:
So you believe the new birth is not salvation, then, as I asked earlier. Thank you. I call it by the proper phrase: "sanctification of the Spirit" as found in 2 Thessaloninas 2:13.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.
You believe, you get saved. You don't believe, you get condemned.

Are you making a distinction between the new birth and salvation? The new birth being regeneration, and salvation being yet to be realized - when we are with the Lord?

John UK wrote:
Today I am middling, but sometimes fine, and occasionally euphoric; but this is rare. It is very windy today in Wales, but mild and sometimes sunny. When it is sunny I feel euphoric, but that is not because I am a sun worshipper, it is because sun produces vitamin D in the system which gives me a high. When it is cloudy and the overall barometric pressure is low, this can have very severe effects in the faculties, yet during the month when I was converted the temperature was well below freezing for days on end, which just goes to prove that God doesn't need sunshine to quicken a lost soul into believing and getting saved. The light and dark are both alike to him.

A thread where one could post a:

"thought for the day"

"prayer request" or "praise"

"book to recommend" or

"political opinion"

would be useful for people like myself who only want to share a thought, but not necessarily enter into a debate.