John's brother in Christ wrote:
You have made some very wise and gracious comments and we can only hope John will return. Only Vultures would be circling for bones as one would think he was 'suddenly' an apostate by all the clamour. He makes simple challenges to some posters who maintain that they are biblicists...show me the men who preach the same and the churches that do likewise and he could show you thousands on SermonAudio that hold to the same doctrine as himself, including the founder of SermonAudio. He doesn't hide the fact where he stands ... J C Ryle's evangelistic preaching and where he believes the 1689 confession is scriptural. So he will be sadly missed.
The two most recent sermons from my own Pastor might be helpful to us all …
‘Let no Corrupt Communication’ 23 01 19 Ephesians 4:29-32
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=130191212572931
‘Walking in Biblical Love’ 30 01 19 Ephesians 5:1-2
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=131191129233446
'And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.' Eph 4:32

John's brother in Christ wrote:
Only Vultures would be circling for bones as one would think he was 'suddenly' an apostate by all the clamour. He makes simple challenges to some posters who maintain that they are biblicists...show me the men who preach the same and the churches that do likewise and he could show you thousands on SermonAudio that hold to the same doctrine as himself, including the founder of SermonAudio. He doesn't hide the fact where he stands ... J C Ryle's evangelistic preaching and where he believes the 1689 confession is scriptural. So he will be sadly missed.
The two most recent sermons from my own Pastor might be helpful to us all …
‘Let no Corrupt Communication’ 23 01 19 Ephesians 4:29-32
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=130191212572931
‘Walking in Biblical Love’ 30 01 19 Ephesians 5:1-2
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=131191129233446
'And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.' Eph 4:32

Take heed wrote:
Actually I have answered your questions. So quit wasting my time.
Now how about you answer my questions?
John MacArthur has a mega church. Do you believe that no one who attends there is a genuine believer? Are they not brothers in Christ?

1) So then . . what is the "great deal more that you believe?"

2) Does your definition of a brother in Christ include any and all who profess to be Christians, including Arminians and Pentecostals / Charismatics?

3) What about those who profess to be Christians and belong to so-called "mega churches?"
Are they your brothers in Christ?

Take heed wrote:
I have answered your questions. Sadly you're having problems understanding my posts.
Read them again and very slowly.
Permit me to ask you a question - Do you view all genuine believers who may nevertheless err in doctrine as unbelievers? Are they not your brothers in Christ?

So then . . what is the "great deal more that you believe?"

Does your definition of a brother in Christ include any and all who profess to be Christians, including Arminians and Pentecostals / Charismatics?

Take heed wrote:
Is English not your main language?

You haven't answered my questions.

So then . . what is the "great deal more that you believe?"

Does your definition of a brother in Christ include any and all who profess to be Christians, including Arminians and Pentecostals / Charismatics?

Take heed wrote:
Lol. "believe a great deal more" was meant to signify the degree of adherence or attachment to its teachings and not limiting the scope of what is believed. In JUK's case, it certainly included the scope, but that's not the case with me.
If you don't know what the doctrines of grace are, then there is plenty of material on SA which will help you.

So then . . what is the "great deal more that you believe?"

Does your definition of a brother in Christ include any and all who profess to be Christians, including Arminians and Pentecostals / Charismatics?

What about those who profess to be Christians and belong to so-called "mega churches?"
Are they your brothers in Christ?

Take heed wrote:
I am a believer in the doctrines of grace and probably believe a great deal more of the 1689BCF than JUK ever did.
A brother in Christ is any person who has no other trust but Jesus Christ for their salvation and who out of love seeks to please the Lord by heartily obeying his commandments. Or put another way, someone in whose life the Lord has, is and will continue to work.

What about those who profess to be Christians and belong to so-called "mega churches?"

What don't you believe in the 1689 BCF?

in brief, could you define the doctrines of the Christian faith, as you understand are set forth / revealed in God's Word and that which you believe, espouse and promote?

Are you Cecil Andrews of Take Heed Ministries?

I'm certain if John is observing he was encouraged. Thanks for your encouragement to me as well.

Re: the doctrines of grace . .

"I have my own opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel if we do not preach justification by faith without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing unchangeable eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross." (Charles Spurgeon, The New Park Street Pulpit, Vol. 1, 1856).

I believe you meant Acts 26:6-8.

You ask . .
Are Jews and Israel distinct or used interchangeably?

I would welcome your thoughts.

B. McCausland wrote:
Thanks, fair enough on an earnest brother

a brother in earnest!

In responding to Dr. Tim, who wrote:
" That his recent comments to some people were ugly is beyond dispute, and there is no excuse for failure to apologize."

B.McC wrote:

2. How many times have you have been ugly but *funny*? Does humour make things less ugly?

"3. Apologies for telling things as they are?
Tone was the flaw, not content"

*******
So true B.Mc.

John is a passionate man, both zealous and earnest
in his convictions. And it must be conceded that Christian apologetics is by its very nature contentious.

God's Word exhorts us to
"contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
- - Jude 1:3

This I believe is what John has ever sought to do.

Quoting Christian teachers / pastors like Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon, A. W. Pink, Shaun Willcock, etc. is is not tantamount to being in bondage to them, but rather acknowledging that God hath ordained some in His church to be teachers and pastors.

Ephesians 4:10-13
"He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"

Rec. Reading:
The Doctrines of Grace
By Shaun Willcock, Minister of the Gospel
http://www.biblebasedministries.co.uk/pamphlets/salvation/the-doctrines-of-grace/

June . . a Christian / a sinner saved by grace

Amen sister.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
- Rom. 8:28

" . . and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
- 1 John 1:3b

Re the heart of man . .
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
- Jer. 17:9

It is good to take the psalmist's prayer for our own:

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."
- Psalm 19:14

Take care sister. May you walk in the light of His countenance and
may we each prove the sufficiency of His grace in our earthly pilgrimage.

In Christian fellowship,

"John UK is a sincere, yet imperfect man. If his remarks got out of hand of late, it should be acknowledged that we have seen far worse behaviour from his accusers here in the past who often used blatant insult as a norm, yet all this going unchecked.

John did not misrepresent as a norm. He took time to ask and to proceed accordingly.
Regretfully, and unfairly, what he got in the end seems a 'merciless' dismissal at the hands of some of his "brethren" who fell on him in his exasperation."

As you say, "Love covers a multitude of faults"

B Mc
We must keep John in our prayers.

Posting for John-UK's encouragement:

Prov. 18:24b
“. . . there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

Matthew Henry commentary:

In our troubles we expect comfort and relief from our relations,

but sometimes there is a friend, that is nothing akin to us, the bonds of whose esteem and love prove stronger than those of nature,
and, when it comes to the trial, will do more for us than a brother will.

“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 1:24-25

In some sense the path to heaven is safe. But in other respects there is no road as dangerous; it is overrun with difficulties.

Commentary by: Charles H. Spurgeon
- continued -