High offices in the church (J. C. Ryle, “The Gospel of Luke” 1858) “The leading priests and teachers of religious law were actively plotting Jesus’ murder.” Luke 22:2 High offices in the church do not preserve the holders of them from great blindness and sin. The first step in putting Christ to death, was taken by […]
The sword of God’s Truth (Arthur Pink, “Faithfulness”) “Their speech is filled with flattery.” Psalm 5:9 This is the identifying mark of the “hireling,” the false pastor. He aims at pleasing his hearers, making them feel satisfied with themselves, ever patting them on the back. “But he who has My Word—let him speak My Word […]
Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats? by Charles Spurgeon (edited) An evil is in the ‘professed’ camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence, that the most shortsighted Christian can hardly fail to notice it. During the past few years this evil has developed at an alarming rate. It has worked like leaven until the […]
Isaiah 43: 27: Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me. It is much the same as the apostle Pauls’ word 2 Thessalonians 2: 3: Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be […]
The Law of Moses (Excerpted from Philpot’s sermon, “Not Our Own”) Imagine that you are ignorant of the gospel and of God’s way of preventing evil and of bringing about good– and were called upon to design some plan whereby a man might be most effectually restrained from the commission of sin, and made obedient […]
(John MacDuff, “Hospice of the Pilgrim” 1891) “Oh, where can rest be found?” This is the cry of weary, care worn humanity. This is the cry embracing every nation and every climate, from the yearnings of heathendom to the longings and aspirations of the present hour. From the tumultuous sea of the world’s unrest, this […]
Salvation is of the Lord. When the Lord Jesus Christ met that young-rich ruler, who sought salvation by his good works, He quickly showed this man that he actually had no good works that would justify his soul. Although this man had claimed he had kept the law, “All these have I observed from my […]
The essential difference between false and true religion is this: All false religion makes salvation to be ultimately dependent upon and determined by the worth, work, or will of the sinner; whereas true religion declares, with Jonah, “Salvation is of the Lord!” In its planning, in its purchase, in its performance, in its preservation, and […]
Secretly, quietly, insidiously, plausibly (J. C. Ryle, “Pharisees and Sadducees”) “Watch out for false prophets! They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves!” Matthew 7:15 “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light!” 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 […]
Malachi 1:7: Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. The next time you are baking a fresh loaf of homemade bread, mix in rat poison. Do you think you could obtain life by eating it? Why […]