"The Great Commission Given" From "The Fourfold Gospel" by J. W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton

8-9. THE GREAT COMMISSION GIVEN.
(Time and place same as last section.)
^a MATT. 28:18-20; ^b MARK 16:15-18; ^c LUKE 24:46, 47.

---

      ^a 18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.

  ^b 15 And he said unto them, Go ye ^a therefore, ^b into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. ^a and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:

  20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you:

  ^b 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.

^c Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day;

  47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. [The verses from Luke are taken from a later conversation, which will be handled in our next section. They are inserted here because they are an indicative statement of the commission which Matthew and Mark give in the imperative, and a section professing to embrace the commission would be imperfect without them. The first word of the commission is significant, and should be remembered. We have no right to wait for sinners to come and hear the gospel; we must carry it to them. The "therefore" with which it opens shows that Jesus rests this command nor the word "authority" adequately translated Christ's word. It means all the right of absolute authority, and all the force of absolute power. It is a most transcendent claim which Jesus utters here. All authority in heaven! Paul's qualification of these words, or their counterpart in ICorxv 1:1 Psalms 8:6 (ICor. xv. 27, 28) Psalms 27,28 , magnifies instead of detracting from their wonderful import, for he deems its necessary to state that the Father himself is not subject to the Son. Surely in connection with this marvelous celestial power, his dominion over out tiny earth would not need to be mentioned if it were not that we, its inhabitants, are very limited in our conception of things, and require exceedingly plain statements. The command calls for the Christianizing of all nations. If we realized better that authority with which Christ prefaces his commission, the conquest of the nations in his name would seem to us a small matter indeed, and we should set about it expecting to witness its speedy accomplishment. The structure of the sentence in the original Greek shows that it is the disciples and not the nations who are to be baptized; according to the commission, therefore, one must be made a disciple before he can be baptized. Baptism brings us into divine relation to God. Being a part of the process of adoption, it is called a birth ( John 3:5 ). The baptized Christian bears the name into which he is baptized (Romans 2:24 ; James 2:7 ). Luke sums up the whole commission by recording the words of Christ, wherein he states that he suffered that it might be preached to all nations that if men would repent, God could now forgive ( Romans 3:26 ). From Luke's record we also learn that the preaching of these glad tidings was to begin at Jerusalem.]

  ^b 17 And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;

  18 they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. [The Book of Acts gives examples of each one of these except the fourth, and though we have no there is little doubt that in the many persecutions such cases did occur.] ^a and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. [This is a promise not of bare companionship, but of full sympathy and support ( Isaiah 43:2 ; Exodus 33:15 ; Joshua 1:5 ). The duration of this promise shows that it is intended for all disciples.]

Written in 1914 and published by Standard Publishing Company in Cincinnati, Oh (my neck of the woods) this book is a complete chronology of the life of Christ, divided into titled sections and sub-divisions, with comments injected in the text.  Well worth the read if you can find it in book form, if not here is a site you can read it online.  Be Blessed Brothers and Sisters, Be Blessed!   http://www.ccel.org/m/mcgarvey/ffg/FFG000A.HTM

The Fourfold Gospel in the public domain and may be freely used and distributed.

"What is a Covenant?" By Meredith G. Kline

Because the subject of biblical covenants and ancient treaties has been under intensive investigation and lively dispute, some introductory observations are in order here about the nature of those biblical arrangements we call "covenants." Our chief interest in these comments is in those covenantal arrangements in which God was one party.

Of the biblical words usually rendered "covenant" the primary one in the Old Testament is the Hebrew berith, for which the Greek diathekewas the translation choice of the New Testament writers. What is it that constitutes the peculiar berith-character of that which is so denominated?

Repeatedly we read of a berith being "made." The berith-making is accomplished through a solemn process of ratification. Characteristically this transaction centers in the swearing of an oath, with its sanctioning curse. Clearly a berith is a legal kind of arrangement, a formal disposition of a binding nature. At the heart of a berith is an act of commitment and the customary oath-form of this commitment reveals the religious nature of the transaction. The berith arrangement is no mere secular contract but rather belongs to the sacred sphere of divine witness and enforcement.

"Calvinism in America" By Loraine Boettner

Chapter Seven: Calvinism in America, Taken From "Calvinism in History"

When we come to study the influence of Calvinism as a political force in the history of the United States we come to one of the brightest pages of all Calvinistic history. Calvinism came to America in the Mayflower, and Bancroft, the greatest of American historians, pronounces the Pilgrim Fathers "Calvinists in their faith according to the straightest system."¹ John Endicott, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; John Winthrop, the second governor of that Colony; Thomas Hooker, the founder of Connecticut; John Davenport, the founder of the New Haven Colony; and Roger Williams, the founder of the Rhode Island Colony, were all Calvinists. William Penn was a disciple of the Huguenots. It is estimated that of the 3,000,000 Americans at the time of the American Revolution, 900,000 were of Scotch or Scotch-Irish origin, 600,000 were Puritan English, and 400,000 were German or Dutch Reformed. In addition to this the Episcopalians had a Calvinistic confession in their Thirty-nine Articles; and many French Huguenots also had come to this western world. Thus we see that about two-thirds of the colonial population had been trained in the school of Calvin. Never in the world's history had a nation been founded by such people as these. Furthermore these people came to America not primarily for commercial gain or advantage, but because of deep religious convictions. It seems that the religious persecutions in various European countries had been providentially used to select out the most progressive and enlightened people for the colonization of America. At any rate it is quite generally admitted that the English, Scotch, Germans, and Dutch have been the most masterful people of Europe. Let it be especially remembered that the Puritans, who formed the great bulk of the settlers in New England, brought with them a Calvinistic Protestantism, that they were truly devoted to the doctrines of the great Reformers, that they had an aversion for formalism and oppression whether in the Church or in the State, and that in New England Calvinism remained the ruling theology throughout the entire Colonial period.

"ENDURING PERSECUTION FOR CHRIST" By John Calvin

"Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach." Hebrews xiii., 13. 

All the exhortations which can be given us to suffer patiently for the name of Jesus Christ, and in defense of the gospel, will have no effect if we do not feel assured of the cause for which we fight. For when we are called to part with life, it is absolutely necessary to know on what grounds. The firmness necessary we can not possess, unless it be founded on certainty of faith. 

It is true that persons may be found who will foolishly expose themselves to death in maintaining some absurd opinions and dreams conceived by their own brain, but such impetuosity is more to be regarded as frenzy than as Christian zeal; and, in fact, there is neither firmness nor sound sense in those who thus, at a kind of haphazard, cast themselves away. But, however this may be, it is in a good cause only that God can acknowledge us as His martyrs. Death is common to all, and the children of God are condemned to ignominy and tortures as criminals are; but God makes the distinction between them, inasmuch as He can not deny His truth. On our part, then, it is requisite that we have sure and infallible evidence of the doctrine which we maintain; and hence, as I have said, we can not be rationally imprest by any exhortations which we receive to suffer persecution for the gospel, if no true certainty of faith has been imprinted in our hearts. For to hazard our life upon a peradventure is not natural, and tho we were to do it, it would only be rashness, not Christian courage. In a word, nothing that we do will be approved of God if we are not thoroughly persuaded that it is for Him and His cause we suffer persecution, and the world is our enemy. 

"Exhortation to Prayer" by William Cowper

What various hindrances we meet 

In coming to a mercy-seat!
Yet who that knows the worth of pray'r,
But wishes to be often there?

Pray'r makes the dark'ned cloud withdraw,
Pray'r climbs the ladder Jacob saw;
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings ev'ry blessing from above.

Restraining pray'r, we cease to fight;
Pray'r makes the Christian's armour bright;
And Satan trembles, when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.

While Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Israel's side;
But when thro' weariness they fail'd,
That moment Amalek prevail'd.

Have you no words! Ah, think again,
Words flow apace when you complain;
And fill your fellow-creature's ear
With the sad tale of all your care.

Were half the breath thus vainly spent,
To heav'n in supplication sent;
Your cheerful song would oft'ner be,
"Hear what the LORD has done for me!"

Cry Out America Prayer Rally!

"All Kinds of Strange Teachings" By J.C. Ryle

 "Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings! It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them." Hebrews 13:9

      The text which heads this paper is an apostolic caution against false doctrine. It forms part of a warning which Paul addressed to Hebrew Christians. It is a caution just as much needed now--as it was eighteen hundred years ago. Never, I think, was it so important for Christian ministers to cry aloud continually, "Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings!"

      That old enemy of mankind, the devil, has no more subtle instrument for ruining souls, than that of spreading false doctrine. "A murderer and a liar from the beginning!" "Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour!"

      Outside the Church, he is ever persuading men to maintain sinful lives, and destructive superstitions. Human sacrifice to idols, gross revolting, cruel, worship of disgusting and abominable false deities, persecution, slavery, cannibalism, child murder, devastating religious wars--all these are a part of Satan's handiwork, and the fruit of his suggestions! Like a pirate, his object is to "sink, burn, and destroy!"

      Inside the Church he is ever laboring to sow heresies, to propagate errors, to foster departures from the faith. If he cannot prevent the waters flowing from the Fountain of Life, he tries hard to poison them. If he cannot destroy the remedy of the Gospel, he strives to adulterate and corrupt it. No wonder that he is called "Apollyon, the destroyer."

"The god of Arminianism" By Augustus Toplady- 1740-1778

I dare say, that, in such an auditory as this, a number of Arminians are present. I fear that all our public assemblies have too many of them. Perhaps, however, even these people, idolaters as they are, may be apt to blame, and, indeed, with justice, the absurdity of those who worship idols of silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. But let me ask: If it be so very absurd, to worship the work of other men’s hands what must it be, to worship the works of our own hands? Perhaps, you may say, "God forbid that I should do so.". Nevertheless, let me tell you, that trust, confidence, reliance, and dependence, for salvation, are all acts and very solemn ones too, of divine worship: and upon whatsoever you depend, whether in whole or in part, for your acceptance with God, and for your justification in his sight, whatsoever, you rely upon, and trust in, for the attainment of grace or glory; if it be any thing short of God in Christ, you are an idolater for all intents and purposes.

Very different is the idea which Scripture gives us, of the ever-blessed God, from that of those false gods worshipped by the heathens; and from that degrading representation of the true God, which Arminianism would palm upon mankind. Our God (says this Psalm, verse the third) is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he pleased. This is not the Arminian idea of God: for our free-willers and our chance-mongers tell us, that God does not do whatsoever he pleases; that there are a great number of things, which God wishes to do, and rags and strives to do, and yet cannot bring to pass . . . Is their god the Bible God? Certainly not. Their god "submits" to difficulties which he "cannot help" himself out of, and endeavors to make himself "easy" under millions and millions of inextricable embarrassments, uncomfortable disappointments, and mortifying defeats. . . .This said scheme ascends, on the ladder of blasphemy, to the mountain top of atheism; and then hurls itself from that precipice, into the gulf of blind, adamantine necessity, in order to prove mankind free agents!

. . .One great contest, between the religion of Arminianism, and the religion of Christ, is, who shall stand entitled to the praise and glory of a sinner’s salvation? Conversion decides this point at once; for I think that, without any imputation of uncharitableness, I may venture to say, that every truly awakened person, at least when he is under the shine of God’s countenance upon his soul, will fall down upon his knees, with this hymn of praise ascending from his heart, ‘Not unto me, O Lord, not unto me, but to thy name, give the glory’: I am saved not for my righteousness, but for thy mercy and thy truth’s sake.

"For Who Did Christ Die?" By John Owen

The Father imposed His wrath due unto, and the Son underwent

punishment for, either:

1. All the sins of all men.
2. All the sins of some men, or
3. Some of the sins of all men.

In which case it may be said:

1. That if the last be true, all men have some sins to answer for, and so,
none are saved.

2. That if the second be true, then Christ, in their stead suffered for all
the sins of all the elect in the whole world, and this is the truth.

3. But if the first be the case, why are not all men free from the
punishment due unto their sins?

You answer, "Because of unbelief."

I ask, Is this unbelief a sin, or is it not? If it be, then Christ
suffered the punishment due unto it, or He did not. If He did,
why must that hinder them more than their other sins for
which He died? If He did not, He did not die for all their
sins!"

"The twofold error of despising the true, and submitting to a false Church" By John Calvin (ICR IV. 1-10,11)

Section 10. We must on no account forsake the Church distinguished by such marks. Those who act otherwise are apostates, deserters of the truth and of the household of God, deniers of God and Christ, violators of the mystical marriage.

We have said that the symbols by which the Church is discerned are the preaching of the word and the observance of the sacraments, for these cannot any where exist without producing fruit and prospering by the blessing of God. I say not that wherever the word is preached fruit immediately appears; but that in every place where it is received, and has a fixed abode, it uniformly displays its efficacy. Be this as it may, when the preaching of the gospel is reverently heard, and the sacraments are not neglected, there for the time the face of the Church appears without deception or ambiguity; and no man may with impunity spurn her authority, or reject her admonitions, or resist her counsels, or make sport of her censures, far less revolt from her, and violate her unity, (see2.1.10, and 4.3.12).

"Freedom and Authority" By J.I. Packer

"Authority" is a word that makes most people think of law and order, direction and restraint, command and control, dominance and submission, respect and obedience. How, I wonder, do you react to such ideas? Have they any place in your vision of the life that is good and sweet? If so, you are unusual. One tragedy of our time is that, having these associations, "authority" has become almost a dirty word in the Western world, while opposition to authority in schools, families and society generally is cheerfully accepted as something that is at least harmless and perhaps rather fine.

How is it that so many today will tolerate expressions of defiance and disorder in society which a century ago would have been thought intolerable? Whence came the passionate permissiveness that has made a shambles of so many homes, schools and individual lives? What goes on here? What is happening to us?

 THE QUEST FOR FREEDOM

The answer to these questions is pinpointed by the fact that "freedom" is today almost a magic word. Since World War 2, when those who fought the dictators defined their war aims in terms of Four Freedoms — freedom from want, freedom from fear, freedom of speech and freedom of religion—freedom in one form or another has been a worldwide passion, encouraged and catered to at every level. Therapists labor to include freedom from inhibitions. Playboy carries the torch for sexual freedom ("free love" as it was once called, though there is little enough real love in Playboy sex). Campaigning politicians promise freedom from this or that social evil. Young nations seek freedom from the domination of overbearing neighbors. Artists pursue freedom from conventions of form and style which bound their predecessors.

The Continental Journal Newspaper, March 11, 1779

If all things succeed as already agreed,
And immutable impulses rule us;
To preach and to pray, is but time thrown away,
And our teachers do nothing but fool us.


 If we're driven by fate, either this way or that, 
As the carman whips us his horses,
Then no man can stray-all go the right way,
As the stars that are fix'd in their courses.


But if by free will, we can go or stand still,
As best suits the present occasion;
Then fill up the galls, and confirm him and ass
That depends upon Predestination.


This answer appeared two weeks later in the same newspaper.

If an all perfect mind rules over mankind,
With infinite wisdom and power;
Sure he may decree, and yet the will be free,
The deeds and events of each hour.


If Scripture affirms in the plainest of terms,
The doctrine of Predestination'
We ought to believe it, and humbly receive it, 
As a truth of divine revelation.


If all things advance with the force of mere chance,
Or by human free will are directed'
To preach and to pray, will be time thrown away,
Our teachers may be well rejected.


If men are deprav'd, and to vice so enslav'd'
That the heart chuses nothing but evil;
Then who goes on still by his own corrupt will, 
Is driving post haste to the devil.


Then let human pride and vain cavil subside,
It is plain to a full demonstration,
That he's a wild ass, who over his glass,
dare ridicule Predestination.

"Branded for Christ" By Leonard Ravenhill

In a certain sense, all men are strangers to one another. Even friends do not really know each other. To know a man, one must know all the influences of heredity and environment, as well as his countless moral choices that have fashioned him into what he is.

Though we do not really know one another, tracing the course of a man’s life sometimes offers rich reward, particularly when we see the great driving forces which have motivated him.

For instance, how greatly your life and mine would be benefited if we could experience the same surge of Christ-life that moved Saul of Tarsus (later called Paul) and plumb even a little the hidden depths of the meaning in his words, "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus" (Gal. 6:17).

One thing is sure about these words: they were an acknowledgment of Christ’s ownership. Paul belonged to the Lord Jesus -- spirit, soul, and body. He was branded for Christ.

When Paul claimed to bear in his body the wounds of the Lord, he was claiming no "stigmata," as did Saint Francis of Assisi in 1224 A.D. It is not a bodily identification by outward crucifixion. He had been "crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20).

THE ‘WORLD’ OF JOHN 3:16 DOES NOT MEAN ‘ALL MEN WITHOUT EXCEPTION’ by Rev. David J. Engelsma

It is now common among Reformed people that, when one confesses God’s election of some persons to salvation, God’s particular love for the elect, and God’s exclusive desire to save the elect, his confession is immediately contested by an appeal to John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Indeed, this is almost the rule. The one who thus appeals to John 3:16 intends to assert that God loves all men without exception and that God desires to save all men without exception. The basic assumption underlying this appeal to John 3:16, as an argument against election, is that the word, world, in John 3:16 means ‘all men without exception.

"The Vain Self-Flatteries of the Sinner" by Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

"For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful." [Psalm 36:2]

In the foregoing verse, David says, that the transgression of the wicked said within his heart, "that there is no fear of God before his eyes;" that is, when he saw that the wicked went on in sin, in an allowed way of wickedness, it convinced him, that he was not afraid of those terrible judgments, and of that wrath with which God hath threatened sinners If he were afraid of these he could never go on so securely in sin, as he doth.
In our text he gives the reason why the wicked did not fear. It was a strange thing that men, who enjoyed such light as they did in the land of Israel, who read and heard those many awful threatenings which were written in the book of the law, should not be afraid to go on in sin. But saith the Psalmist, They flatter themseIves in their own eyes: They have something or other which they make a foundation of encouragement, whereby they persuade themselves that they shall escape those judgments; and that makes them put far away the evil day.

"The Art of Preaching" By J.C. Philpot

We are overrun with a shallow, superficial ministry,  which is destitute of all life, savor, and power. A dry,  dead-letter scheme of doctrine, as mathematically 
correct as the squares of a chess-board, prevails, where what is called "truth" is preached. And to move Bible texts on the squares as pawns, is called  "the art of preaching".
How simple is truth!  Man's misery--God's mercy.

The aboundings of sin--the super-aboundings of grace.

"Steps to Personal Reformation" By Dr. Peter Hammond

Thanks to Dr. Peter Hammond, for more please visit.
www.reformationsa.org   A great site dedicated to Restoring the Reformation in South Africa.  Not a bad idea for the rest of the world as well!

Steps to Personal Reformation “Will You not revive us again, that our people may rejoice in You?” Psalm 85:6 1. Schedule time with God in your diary. If you fail to plan then you plan to fail. If something (or someone) is important then you need to schedule time in your diary. And just as you would not miss an appointment with anyone else, be sure to honour your appointment with God.

"Christian Training of Children"- A Book for Parents and Teachers by Charles Spurgeon

"Come, you children, hearken unto me—I will teach you the fear of the Lord." Psalm 34:11

FEED MY LAMBS

The best of the church are none too good for this work. Do not think because you have other service to do that therefore you should take no interest in this form of holy work, but kindly, according to your opportunities, stand ready to help the little ones, and to cheer those whose chief calling is to attend to them. To us all this message comes: "Feed My lambs!" To the minister, and to all who have any knowledge of the things of God, the commission is given. See to it that you look after the children that are in Christ Jesus. Peter was a leader among believers, yet he must feed the lambs.

"The Super-Excellent Law OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY" By John Calvin

And Moſes called all Iſrael and ſaid vnto them. Heare O Iſrael the ordinances and Lawes which I ſet before you this day, that ye may learne them and keepe them in deede.

2  The Lord our God made a couenant with vs in Horeb.

3  The Lorde our God made not this couenant with our fathers, but with vs which are all here aliue at this day.

FOr as much as it is hard to keep men in ſubiectió to GOD: therefore after he had chosen him a people, he vouchsafed to rule them, not for once and away, {176:B} but even so long time till they ought to have been well inured [used, accustomed] to his yoke. And after the same manner doth he deal daily with his Church. One word ought to be enough to make us understand the truth of our God. But forasmuch as we believe not so speedily as were requisite: & when we have begun, we start away again: and finally forget the things that he had taught us: therefore he thinketh it not enough to have told us once what is needful for our salvation, but he doth also put us oft in mind of it, & printeth it in our hearts as much as is possible.

"The School of Suffering" By John Newton

I suppose you are still in the 'school of the cross', learning the happy are of extracting 'real good' out of 'seeming evil', and to grow tall by stooping. The flesh is a sad untoward dunce in this school; but grace makes the spirit willing to learn by suffering; yes, it cares not what it endures, so that sin may be mortified, and a conformity to the image of Jesus be increased. Surely, when we see the most and the best of the Lord's children so often in heaviness, and when we consider how much He loves them, and what He has done and prepared for them, we may take it for granted that there is a need-be for their sufferings. For it would be easy to His power, and not a thousandth part of what His love intends to do for them should He make their whole life here, from the hour of their conversion to their death, a continued course of satisfaction and comfort, without anything to distress them from within or without. But were it so, would we not miss many advantages?

"Common Grace Revisited" By Shane C. Montgomery

Concerning the on-going debate on Common Grace, I think it would be safe to say that yes it is more than a theory, that God does offer blessings to the unregenerate (Reprobate) as well as to the regenerate (Elect).  But the amount of these blessings as well as the extent of God's sovereign control over the believers and non-believers daily lives is often taken to extreme, some might claim God is sovereign and He is, and in His sovereignty He is sovereign over every single aspect of every single living thing in the universe, to a point or extreme as to say He decides when a fly will fly into your window and onto a crumb of food under your kitchen table and all this while you are three thousand miles away on vacation.  This as well as every other action and thought happening every second of every day is decided and manipulated by Sovereign God.  While I agree God is in fact truly sovereign over all things, I believe we sometimes go to extremes concerning His involvement.

"How to Spend the Day With God" By Richard Baxter (115-16910

 The following has been updated for modern day.  It would appear anyway......

---

A holy life is inclined to be made easier when we know the usual sequence and method of our duties - with everything falling into its proper place. Therefore, I shall give some brief directions for spending the day in a holy manner.

Sleep

Measure the time of your sleep appropriately so that you do not waste your precious morning hours sluggishly in your bed. Let the time of your sleep be matched to your health and labour, and not to slothful pleasure.

First Thoughts

"The Finger of God" A sermon by J.C. Ryle (1865)

Preface:  When England experienced a major outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 1865, the Suffolk vicar J. C. Ryle (later Bishop of Liverpool) drew attention to a factor which most of his contemporaries had overlooked. The Egyptians in the time of Moses acknowledged 'the finger of God' in their plagues. Ryle called Englishmen to consider their national disaster in the same light.  His address here reprinted, establishes the principle that national calamities might be the judgements of God and examines the causes of such a chastisement. Readers may judge for themselves how far his words apply to more recent outbreaks.

"A vision of unchangeable, free mercy, in sending the means of grace to undeserving sinners" by John Owen

---

“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.”

Acts xvi. 9.

---

The kingdom of Jesus Christ is frequently in the Scripture compared to growing things, — small in the beginning and first appearance, but increasing by degrees unto glory and perfection. The shapeless stone cut out without hands, having neither form nor desirable beauty given unto it, becomes a great mountain, filling the whole earth, Dan. ii. 35. The small vine brought out of Egypt quickly covers the hills with her shadow, — her boughs reach unto the sea, and her branches unto the river, Ps. lxxx. 8. The tender plant becomes as the cedars of God; and the grain of mustard-seed to be a tree for the fowls of the air to make their nests in the branches thereof. Mountains are made plains before it, every valley is filled, and the crooked paths made straight, that it may have a passage to its appointed period; — and all this, not only not supported by outward advantages, but in direct opposition to the combined power of this whole creation, as fallen and in subjection to the “god of this world,” the head thereof. As Christ was “a tender plant,” seemingly easy to be broken; and “a root out of a dry ground,” not easily flourishing, yet liveth for ever; so his people and kingdom, — though as a “lily among thorns,” as “sheep among wolves,” as a “turtledove” among a multitude of devourers, — yet stands unshaken, at least unshivered.

"A Right Understanding of Sin" by J.C. Ryle

  If we had to pick one subject or doctrine that our modern church neglects the most, it would be sin.  Preaching on sin and it's effects on the believers life has fallen out of fashion as of late and this is very unfortunate, it is also unfortunate that to find any works of the true dangers of sin, at least anything edifying, we need to look to the past, that is where we find the Anglican preacher J.C. Ryle, along with A.W. Pink these two wrote on sin and holiness like no others so it is a great benefit for us modern day believers to have access to the works of Ryle and Pink.  The following is one of the better writings on sin I have ever read, hope you enjoy it and you are blessed to holiness by it.
Be Holy!
Shane


 “Sin is the transgression of the law.”—1 John 3:4

"The Beaten Path That Leads to The Cross of Christ" By Shane C. Montgomery

  "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."   Luke 18:13 (KJV)


  Have you ever been there?  For me it seems even after all these years of following Christ, I still end each day in the position of the Publican.  Every day I want so much to be holy and to be pleasing to God in how I live my life.  But everyday is the same, everyday I stumble in sin, I let temptation speak too long or I speak without thinking or out of anger.  I might fail to show proper love and support for others or I might find myself being prideful or self-centered in my thinking or actions.  I could go on and on listing sins that still reside all too much inside of me, a man who is suppose to be growing in grace, a man who is suppose to be conforming to a image of Christ.  Yet everyday I still do battle with my old self, the old man in me refuses to lie down in defeat, he just keeps on coming on!

"The Children of the Reformation" Prof. Homer C. Hoeksema

 

Beloved Children of the Reformation!


 In this pamphlet I wish to write not only to you, but about you. This you may have gathered from my subject already. It is not my chief purpose to deal with the Reformation and the Reformers, however necessary and instructive that may be. It is rather my purpose to write about the children, the spiritual children, of the Reformation of the sixteenth century, in the historical line of which all Protestant churches, to one degree or another, stand. And all that I have to say may really be summed up under the one main question: who and what are the Children of the Reformation?

"The Threefold Overthrow of Self" By J.C. Philpot

  "I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more, until he comes whose right it is; and I will give it to him." – Ezekiel 21:27

Before we enter into the spiritual and experimental meaning of this passage of Holy Writ, it may be desirable to advert for a few minutes to its literal signification, and to the circumstances under which these words were spoken by the Lord through his prophet Ezekiel.

These words were uttered, then, with reference to King Zedekiah, who at that time sat upon the throne of Judah. Nebuchadnezzar had elevated him to the position which he then occupied; he had made him king, and, in making him king, he had exacted of him a solemn oath in the name of Jehovah, that he would be faithful to Nebuchadnezzar 2Ch 36:13.

"We Must Be Holy!" By J. C. Ryle

Reader,

We must be holy on earth before we die—if we desire to go to heaven after death! If we hope to dwell with God forever in the life to come—we must endeavor to be like Him in the life that now is. We must not only admire holiness, and wish for holiness—we must beholy.

Holiness cannot justify and save us. Holiness cannot cover our iniquities, make satisfaction for transgressions, pay our debts to God. Our best works are no better than filthy rags, when tried by the light of God's law. The righteousness which Jesus Christ brought in, must be our only confidence—and the blood of His atonement, our only hope. All this is perfectly true, and yet we must be holy.

"The Hidden Life" Secrets of Contentment By J.R. Miller 1895

"I am glad to think I am not bound to make the world go right, But only to discover, and to do with cheerful heart, The work which God appoints." Someone has said, that if men were to be saved by contentment, instead of faith in Christ, most people would be lost. Yet contentment is a duty. It is also possible.

"The Tract Distributor"

 On a rare Saturday visit to Swansea, which is the second largest city in Wales with a population of 150,000, I had another opportunity to visit Des Roberts at his workplace. Forty years ago he began his lifetime vocation of distributing tracts once a week in the main street. At first he stood outside a shop which sold electrical appliances and on one occasion the annoyed manager told him to move away as he was driving trade from him. Des is not easily intimidated, and told him to produce some figures from his financial accounts to prove that he was suffering because of Des's presence. The policewoman who had been called to the scene by the manager would do nothing as Des had broken no laws. So for years more he stayed there unconcerned with the manager's glares. Then the pattern of trade in Swansea began to change and a new Quadrant of shops and arcades opened up and Des moved to a new pitch under the shelter of the entrance to the famous Swansea market.

"The Blessed Man" By Arthur Pink (1938)

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers" (Psalm 1:1). We have been much impressed by the fact that the wondrous and precious Psalter opens with the word "Blessed," and yet a little reflection shows it could scarcely begin with any other. As most of our readers are doubtless aware, "Psalms" means "Praises," and the key note is here struck at the very outset, for it is only the "Blessed man" who can truly praise God, as it is his praises which are alone acceptable to Him. The word "Blessed" has here, as in so many places in Scripture (like Matt. 5:3-11), a double force: First and primarily, it signifies that the Divine benediction—in contrast from God's curse, rests upon this man. Second and consequently, it denotes that he is a happy man.

"When Greed Replaces Mission" by Shane C. Montgomery

  This blog will no longer endorse, encourage or link to Living Waters ministry.  I will be removing anything related to them.  I do this because they continue to align with Trinity Broadcasting Network (TB) which is a "Pay For Pray" scam and not a legitimate God fearing, Christ serving ministry, they promote their own financial gain over in place of promoting the life giving message of the Gospel.  So, in continuing to promote Living Waters I would be promoting TBN and I cannot in good conscience live with that.

"A New Reformed Idolatry" by Shane C. Montgomery

 The idolatry of the Charismatics has found its way into the Reformed faith.  It sickens me to hear of the rash of Reformed Cruises that have popped up over the last year, bringing this sick TBN type idolatry to our churches.  Is this something that serves a purpose?  Is it a necessity?  Does it edify the believer?  What about the cost? From $599 a person up to $3,218 a person, is this making good use of God's money?  Is this type of frivolous spending, this pampering of the saint in the name of education, is this right?   Could we be putting this money to better use? Say by spreading the Gospel, or feeding the poor.  This is nothing but self-centered adults who have become complacent and spoiled indulgencing their materialistic lusts and all in the name of Jesus Christ.

“Is Seeing Believing?” An Easter Message by Shane C. Montgomery

Scripture Reading: John 20:1-18


Prayer:

Introduction:
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the heart of our faith. Christianity, is above all, a
religion of Resurrection. The Church is called primarily to be the community of the
Resurrection. We as God's Covenant people are called to be witnesses to the
Resurrection. We might not have been in the tomb with Mary, Peter and John on that
first Easter Sunday, but we know what is true and we bear witness to this truth.
On Easter we celebrate the Resurrection, on this day we come together as believers in
the Resurrection, and we worship and then we celebrate the fact that the Tomb was
empty, that Christ has indeed Risen, that Christ is alive today and sits at the right hand of
God the Father in Heaven, and that Christ is a witness on our behalf of our faith and
love.

"Gospel Fruit the Test of Genuine Discipleship" by J.C. Philpot

 "Herein is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples." John 15:8

Why does the farmer, at this season of the year, cast into the bosom of the earth so much valuable corn? That at harvest time he may reap a crop. Why does the gardener now transplant fruit trees, and put them by the side of a sunny wall? That those trees, when their bearing season comes, may produce rich and ripe fruit. If the farmer reap no crop, if the gardener gathers no fruit, each is disappointed, and they would conclude, either that the seed was bad and the tree worthless, or that there was something wrong about the soil. So it is in grace. Why does God sow the seed of His Word in the heart of any? or why does He plant any tree of righteousness in His garden here below? That there may spring from the one a crop which may issue in His glory; and that fruit may be found on the other which shall be acceptable in His sight.

Easter Poem

Some of us stay at the cross,
some of us wait at the tomb,
Quickened and raised with Christ
yet lingering still in the gloom.
Some of us 'bide at the Passover feast
with Pentecost all unknown,
The triumphs of grace in the heavenly place
that our Lord has made His own.
If the Christ who died had stopped at the cross,
His work had been incomplete.
If the Christ who was buried had stayed in the tomb,
He had only known defeat,
But the way of the cross never stops at the cross
and the way of the tomb leads on
To victorious grace in the heavenly place
where the risen Lord has gone.

Annie Johnson Flint.

"Is Mankind Lost in Sin?" by J. Gresham Machen

We have spoken of the first sin of man, and we have spoken of the question, "What is sin?" The question now arises what consequences that first sin of man has had for us and for all men. Some people think it had very slight consequences -- if indeed these people think that there ever was a first sin of man at all, in the sense in which it is described in the third chapter of Genesis.

I remember that some years ago, when I was driving home in my car after a summer vacation, I stayed over Sunday in a certain city without any particular reason except that I do not like to travel on that day. Being without any acquaintance with the city, I dropped into what seemed perhaps to be the leading church in the central part of the town.

"Hell" by Dr. Francis Turretin

Is there a hell? And what are its punishments—whether only of loss or also of sense.  We affirm the latter.

I. The execution of the sentence of the Judge will follow its promulgation. This will be carried out with respect to the wicked by casting them down into hell, where they must be tormented for ever with the devils; but with respect to the pious, by their introduction into heaven, to the joys of eternal life. Concern­ing this twofold end of men, of eternal life as well as of eternal death, something must also be said. And in the first place of hell or eternal death:

"Experimental Preaching" by A.W. Pink-Volume 16, No.7 S.I.T.S

The mere quoting of Scripture in the pulpit is not sufficient—people can become familiar with the letter of the Word by reading it at home; it is the expounding of it which is  so much needed today. “And Paul, as his manner was . . . reasoned with them out of the  Scriptures,  opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again  from the dead” (Acts 17:2, 3). But to “open” the Scriptures helpfully to the saints requires  more than a young man who has had a few months’ training in some “Bible Institute” or  a year or two in a theological seminary. None but those who have been personally taught  of God in the hard school of experience are qualified to so “open” up the Word that Divine light has cast upon the perplexing experiences of the believer, for while Scripture  interprets experience, experience is often the best interpreter of Scripture. “The heart of  the wise  teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning  to his lips” (Prov. 16:23), and  that “learning” cannot be acquired in any of man’s schools.

A Review of "Peace for the Troubled Heart" written by the late Herman Hoeksema

Sometimes even the most mature believers fall on hard times and endure suffering. We are not promised “Our Best Life Now” and life will and does remind us of this truth, we endure hardship, we suffer, we fall ill and we at times will fall into poverty, financially and spiritually. There will be times in every believers life where they feel God has removed Himself from an active role in their life. Nobody enjoys suffering, but we can take comfort in that God has not abandoned us and that He can and does use suffering and hardship to grow us as believers, making us more holy and prepared to endure this life and make us ready for eternal life in heaven.

"The Beauty of Holiness" by A.W. Pink

 “Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (Psa. 29:2). Holiness is the antithesis of sin, and the beauty of holiness is in direct contrast from the ugliness of sin. Sin is a deformity, a monstrosity. Sin is repulsive, repellent to the infinitely pure God: that is why He selected leprosy, the most loathsome and horrible of all diseases, to be its emblem. When the Prophet was Divinely inspired to depict the condition of degenerate Israel it was in these words, “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores” (Isa. 1:6). O that sin were sickening and hateful to us: not merely its grosser forms, but sin itself. At the opposite extreme from the hideousness of sin is “the beauty of holiness.” Holiness is lovely in the sight of God: necessarily so. It is the reflection of His own nature, for He is “glorious in holiness” (Exo. 15:11). O that it may be increasingly attractive to and earnestly sought after by us. Perhaps the simplest way of bringing out the beauty of holiness will be to contrast it from the beauties of time and sense.

"How Can We Be Salt and Light?" J.C. Ryle

  True Christians are to be in the world like salt. Now, salt has a peculiar taste of its own, utterly unlike anything else. When mingled with other substances, it preserves them from corruption. It imparts a portion of its taste to everything it is mixed with. It is useful so long as it preserves its savor, but no longer. Are we true Christians? Then see in this our place and duties!

True Christians are to be in the world like light. Now, it is the property of light to be utterly distinct from darkness. The least spark in a dark room can be seen at once. Of all things created, light is the most useful. It makes things grow. It guides. It cheers. It was the first thing called into being. Without it the world would be a gloomy blank. Are we true Christians? Then see again our position and responsibilities!

"Bible Study" by A. W. Pink

  (From Studies in the Scriptures Publication: July, 1939)

      From our correspondence we gather that in these strenuous days, there are not a few who deplore the fact that they do not now have the time available for serious reading which they once had. Working conditions are so exacting, competition is so keen and ruthless, the pace has become so feverish, that the majority are too exhausted at the close of the day to apply themselves in the evening to anything which involves much effort. We sympathize with these weary toilers, and would offer to them the following remarks. First, God is no Egyptian taskmaster, laying upon us a burden grievous to be borne. Second, there is nothing more restful to the nerves and relief-bringing to an over-taxed mind than half an hour spent alone with God; say five minutes in reading a Psalm or a portion from the Gospels, 15 or 20 minutes at the Throne of Grace--thanking God for the mercies of the day, pouring out to Him our troubles, seeking fresh supplies of grace: and then reading a chapter from the Epistles. Third, retire to rest half an hour sooner than you have been doing, and rise that much earlier in the morning, so as to spend it with God, preparing yourself for the demands of the day. Fourth, be most particular in seeing to it that you spend several hours on the Sabbath over God's Word and reading edifying books. It is not honouring to the Lord for you to rush from one meeting to another and leave yourself little opportunity for private devotions.

"The Reformed View of Education" by Cornelius Van Til

Only upon a Reformed basis can God really be made central in education. This is true because only in the Reformed system are Christ and the Holy Spirit really central in education. The Reformed view is based exclusively upon the Bible. The doctrines of creation and providence imply that God originates and arranges all the facts of the universe according to a “logic” that is above man. Man’s systems must therefore be consciously analogical to the system of God.

"Man's Utter Inability to Rescue Himself" by Thomas Boston

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him. John 6.44

We have now had a view of the total corruption of man’s nature, and that load of wrath which lies on him, that gulf of misery into which he is plunged in his natural state. But there is one part of his misery that deserves particular consideration; namely, his utter inability to recover himself, the knowledge of which is necessary for the due humiliation of a sinner. What I design here, is only to propose a few things, whereby to convince the unregenerate man of this his inability, that he may see an absolute need of Christ and of the power of His grace.

"THE COVENANT ALLEGORY" by Arthur W. Pink

---

The last eleven verses of Galatians 4 are far from being free of difficulties appears from the diverse expositions of the commentators. Nor will the limited space now at our disposal allow us to enter into as full an elucidation as could be wished, nor permit the pausing now and again to furnish collateral proofs for what is advanced, as would be our desire. Brevity has its advantages, but it does not always make for clarity. We must, however, content ourselves now with a comparatively terse running comment on this passage, and that, according to the limited light which we have therefrom,