Category: Miscellaneous

What Man starts, ends in Failure

C H McKINTOSH

We learn from Scripture that, in every instance in which man has been set in a place of responsibility, he has utterly failed. Total failure has marked man’s history, from Paradise to Pentecost. There is not a single exception to the dark and melancholy rule. Let man be tried under the fairest possible circumstances, and he is sure to break down. Let a business start with the very brightest prospects, most often hopeless bankruptcy will be the end. There is no denying this fact – no getting over it. It runs like a dark, broad line along the page of human history, from first to last.

 

Adam’s Sin

When at first, man was placed in the garden of Eden, surrounded by all that the hand of an Almighty and Beneficent Creator could do to make him happy, he believed the serpent’s lie, and turned his back on God. He proved, in an unmistakable manner, that he had more confidence in the serpent than in Jehovah Elohim – more respect for the word of the devil than for the Word of the blessed Creator.  He trusted Satan rather than God, blessed throughout the everlasting ages. This is our first proof.

It could be said that Adam did not know he was listening to the devil. But how does that affect the real merits of the case? Satan would never say, ‘I am the devil; and I am come to slander Jehovah Elohim, and get you to turn your back upon Him altogether”. Yet this was precisely what he did, and Adam accepted serpent’s lie.  That led to the word of God being replaced by human superstition.

 

Noah’s Drunkenness

Man progressed until at length his iniquity rose to a head, and God sent the deluge.  Noah was carried safely through the judgment, and placed at the head of the restored earth, and given the sword of government.  How does Noah carry himself? He gets drunk and degrades himself in the presence of his sons. Whatever excuse he might have given, he got drunk and exposed himself.

 

Israel’s Sins

When Israel was redeemed out of Egypt, the people solemnly pledged themselves to do all that Jehovah had spoken.  What happened?   Just after receiving the tables of the law, no less a person than Aaron made a golden calf and said, ‘These be thy gods, O Israel, that brought thee up out of the land of Egypt’ (Ex 32:4).  Jehovah displaced by a calf – How terrible! – and how deeply humiliating.  Consequent on this the priesthood failed and Aaron’s sons offered strange fire;

So man fails always – the results: Adam was driven from the garden; Noah was despised by his son, and Israel saw the tables of testimony shattered to atoms, and Aaron never appeared in the presence of God in his garments of glory and beauty.

Failure continued – Israel got a king.   What followed? – strange wives, gross idolatry, and a divided nation.

 

Now the Church

It need not surprise us to find that in the Christian church similar sad failures occur.  All started well:

‘They that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.  And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved’  (Acts 2:41-47).

‘And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need’ (Acts 4:32-35).

 Here we have a lovely sample of true Christianity – some rich clusters of the fruit of the Spirit – the glorious triumph of grace over all the narrow selfishness of nature – the exquisite merging of all personal interests and considerations in the common good.  It displays of the moral glories of heaven – a fair and touching illustration of what it will be in a future day, when our God shall have things His own way, with new creation in view and the heavens above and the earth beneath under the benign influence of the Saviour’s reign.

 

The Church’s Failure

 But alas, in the public church, this lovely picture was marred.  Covetousness and deceit soon broke out in Ananias and Sapphira, and the murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, proving that man is the same, always and everywhere.   Unfaithfulness, failure, sin and ruin are stamped on every page of man’s history, from first to last. It is perfectly useless for anyone to deny this.

Of course, we are not looking on the church as the body of Christ.  In this aspect, thank God, there can be no failure.  Christ infallibly maintains His church according to the divine integrity of His own work. He will soon present His church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. He has expressly declared that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His assembly.

Paul had to warn the Ephesian elders, ‘Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of (or from among) your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them’(Acts 20: 28-30).

– This was a warning about the church fathers who insisted on their own authority – and held questionable doctrine.

Paul told Timothy ‘Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth’(1 Tim 4:1-3)

– This describes Romanism and popery.

And ‘This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away’(2 Tim 3:1-5).

– This describes Protestantism and infidelity.

Another great principle which we need to bear in mind is that God never restores a fallen witness. When man fails in his responsibility – which, as we have before proved, he always does – God does not reinstate him. He brings in something better, as the fruit of His own sovereign grace; but He never puts a new piece upon an old garment.  What is of man cannot be reformed.

 

Edited and extracted from C H Mackintosh ‘LETTERS TO A FRIEND ON THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THINGS’ – /var/folders/rq/t4tbmlbn6zx9kw44_g_7ghpw0000gn/T/com.microsoft.Word/WebArchiveCopyPasteTempFiles/f.gif/var/folders/rq/t4tbmlbn6zx9kw44_g_7ghpw0000gn/T/com.microsoft.Word/WebArchiveCopyPasteTempFiles/f.gifReprinted from ‘Things New and Old’ Vols. 17 – 18, 1874 and 1875.

Click here for original

 

ADOSS blog: Defending the Glad Tidings – The Gospel is under Attack

I have only recently come to realise how much the glad tidings are under attack.  In the past few weeks several things forced themselves on me. I had drafted a blog on the subject: Know about God or Know God.  I may come back to this later – but this is more urgent.

Four things:

 

The Church Leader

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come (Heb 13:14).

But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep (John 10:12-13).

We went to an ‘open garden’ at the residence of a senior clergyman.  The weather was perfect, and the gardens, specially the roses, were beautiful. We had the obligatory tea and cakes – very tasty.  As we left, the curate himself was standing at the entrance shaking hands.  I said to him, ‘You’ve created a paradise on earth; you won’t want to leave.’  He smiled and demurred, but really accepted what I said.  I said, ‘Are you trying to make things better here’. To which he replied, ‘Of course!’  My retort:  ‘Jesus died for my sins, and He is coming soon.  I don’t want to stay here; I want to be with Him.’ He was at a loss what to say – my wife was flabbergasted.  ‘Not even a recognition of the Lord.’

I looked at one of his recent sermons.  He was arguing for hope for the vulnerable, admitting that they would have hope if Jesus had turned their lives around.  Did our friend himself have hope?.  He needs our prayers.

 

The Charismatic Church

 

 Neither . . . foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. . . .Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.(Eph 5:4-7)

I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. (Acts 20:29-30)

A brother was talking to me about his daughter who belonged to an apostolic charismatic church which insisted on the overriding words of its leaders. Earlier he had been attended the church too.  One of the sect’s leaders told him, ‘You obey your house group leader rather than the bible’. That finished him.

He had seen other churches like that – attractive in many ways, re-baptising more and more members especially amongst the young who liked the happy, uninhibited atmosphere and the music.  It was satisfying to the flesh, but not to God.  They say, ‘You need Jesus as your friend’. Little mention is made of sin, repentance, and the precious blood, though they do mention the risen Saviour.  Money is important.  I understand a leader said in his sermon, ‘If any of you have not signed a covenant for £X to be given to this church each week, you cannot be members and need to check you are believers’.   What part of scripture does that idea come from?  Oh yes! ‘I am not like other men; I tithe everything I gain!’ (Luke 18:12).

I am reminded of the recent sermon by Bishop Michael Curry at the recent wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.  On one side it was a positive message of the love of God.  But behind that is the suggestion of ‘All you need is love’ – a theme popularised in the 1960’s by John Lennon and the Hindu seeking Beetles.  There may have been an acknowledgment that Jesus died, but not of repentance and faith in the blood.

They talk of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Is it really of the Spirit, and is it baptised to the death of the Lord?

 

Formalism and Legality

 

Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they (Acts 15:10-11).

 

Rules of the Church! (Canon Law)

This is something that has dogged the church from its earliest days.  The early believers were almost entirely Jewish: they were brought up under the law of Moses and took it into Christianity, and insisted that Gentiles kept the law too.  Peter, a previously devout Jew, whom Paul had once to withstand, was clear to them in the above account of the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15.

The flesh is content when there are boundaries, with liberty to do what we like within them.  A child is brought up that way.  Are we to remain children?  Paul’s most severe condemnation was on those who would bring persons back under bondage (see the whole book of Galatians).

The Roman Catholic Church is, of course, the clearest example of legalism – and with that formalism, where so many features of the Jewish system migrated into a new quasi-Christian form of worship – priests, altars, vestments etc. Persons are kept unsure of salvation, and the fear of purgatory holds them in bondage.  If only they knew the scriptures; if only they knew the Saviour!

But we see it closer to home.  What started in the early 1800’s as a simple movement of believers under the Spirit of God, gathering separately to the Lord’s name forsaking formalism and legality appear to have split into several groups with some of this legalistic line of thinking.  Why is it that as soon as liberty comes in, dear believers want (with the best of intentions) to mount a rear-guard action as to ‘standards slipping’.  No one would doubt that the flesh wants licence – but let us present Christ.  Be like Him; keep near Him.  If the state amongst Christians is to be raised, present Jesus.

 

Liberalism and Political Correctness

They glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen (Romans 1:21-25).

Much has been written about this.  Militant secularists and humanists, supported by the media and many politicians have put acceptance of moral corruption and unholy relationships above God’s law.  Confronting this can result in prosecution.  Cases have been numerous.

Conclusion

Frederick Raven wrote ‘The gospel is very little understood by many believers. The defect is in preaching the benefitsof Christ’s death instead of CHRIST Himself. If anyone asked me what the gospel was, I should say, ‘CHRIST’ (Address on ‘The Gospel’ – FER’s Ministry Vol 14 page 157)

J B Stoney wrote in a letter, ‘I am more and more convinced that the real check to our spiritual growth is from some defect in infancy — an imperfect apprehension of the gospel. The death of Christ and all involved in it must be entered into before the value and greatness of the resurrection can be estimated.’ ( Discipline of the Servant No. 4 Letters vol. 1 page 190)

But let’s be thankful wherever the gospel is preached – God can use anything:  Paul wrote, ‘I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. . . .But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; so that. . . [I am] much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife, and some also of good will; the one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds; but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice (Phil 1:7-18).

 

What do you think?  As always I value your comment either by email or by, better still, by leaving a comment on https://adoss.co.uk

 

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

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In grace, your brother

Sosthenes Hoadelphos

 

June 2018

 

PS – My previous letter on ‘Eternal Punishment’ attracted much less comment than usual.  Whilst we don’t preach judgment, is it a subject we are shy about?  Think about it, how many of those in churches marked by the above, eternally lost?  Comments?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hell is Real – and Eternal

It is clear that in the 1800’s J N Darby and other godly men and women had to contend with those who taught that eternal punishment in hell was inconsistent with a loving God.  Some positions were:

  1. –        After a period of punishment all eventually would be saved.
  2. –        Unbelievers would be annihilated – not banished to hell
  3. –        The lost would gradually be consumed and therefore be annihilated

I guess it is not much different now.  This year the Pope was reported to have told an interviewer (a well-known 93-year-old atheist) that those who do not repent and cannot be forgiven just disappeared, that is he questioned the existence of hell.  (See The Guardian 30 March 2018).  The Vatican unsurprisingly maintained that this was a misrepresentation of what the Pope said.  The same article said that Francis’ predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI said in 2007 that hell “really exists and is eternal, even if nobody talks about it much anymore”.  Whatever these Catholic leaders said, or did not say, it is clear that Satan is as active in the 21stCentury as he was in the 19th, to obfuscate biblical teaching as to the Lake of Fire, and so to lull people into a sense of false security.

Darby produced a paper ‘Brief Scriptural Evidence on the doctrine of Eternal Punishment, for plain people’.  Collected Writings Vol 7 (Doctrinal 2) page 1

In that paper, Darby listed a number of scriptures to arrest believers and make them consider that is certainly the truth.  These are listed with comments in the companion posting to this one ‘Eternal Punishment – Where JND Points to it in Scripture’.

 

Subversion of the Truth

 

The faith of many has been undermined by subverting the doctrine of eternal punishment.  Many claim that the Greek for eternal or everlasting  (αἰώνιος/aiónios/Strong 166) as in ‘And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal’ (Matthew 25:46), does not really mean what it says.  But the problem is tthat so many persons who say that the word does not really mean ‘without end’ do not know Greek well enough to form a judgment.  Darby said he knew Greek, even if he said he was not very learned (!) and he was convinced that eternal meant just that.  (My Greek is very limited, so I will respect JND- Sosthenes.)

The Spirit of God would help a humble, plain man who is with God as he reads the scriptures, far more than those who trust in their knowledge of Greek. The statements of his English Bible leave not a doubt that the punishment of the wicked is eternal.  It is clear that God meant to produce in the mind of the reader the conviction that eternal misery is the portion of the wicked.  God would not frighten souls by telling them a lie.

As a digression here is that statement in various translations – in short, there is hardly any difference.  So whichever reliable translation you go by the message will be the same.

 

Matthew 25:46 Translation
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment King James
Then they will go away to eternal punishment New International
These will go away into eternal punishment American Standard
And these shall go away into eternal punishment Darby

 

Universalism and Annihilationism

 

There are two mutually exclusive concepts:

  1. All will be saved, all, even the devil himself, though most would not like to say anything so plain as that – universalists.
  2. The wicked will not be saved (the soul not being immortal at all), and that the fire of hell will in time consume them– annihilationists.

Neither believe in eternal punishment.

Darby said that  annihilationism was most prevalent in the UK, whilst universalism was prevalent elsewhere.  ( I gather that some Baptidsts hold it – Sosthenes). Proponents of both are at loggerheads with each other, though of course both are wrong.

Annihilationists contend that the universalists’ position is monstrously unscriptural, because it is clear that some people are damned and others saved.  Universalists must also reject the gospel and the truth of Christ’s sacrificial atonement.  They have no Christ and no Saviour. They wanted to believe that a loving God would want everybody to be happy in the end – some having to wait a little longer.

Similarly annihilationists believe that there is no everlasting hell, and they have set up another absurd and untenable notion: that the soul is not immortal at all, and that death means simply ceasing to exist, and therefore, that life is to be found only in Christ; and that, after a certain quantity of punishment, the wicked will be turned out of existence, or consumed by the fire of hell, and exist no more.

If life is only in Christ, how come the wicked are alive after death in order to be punished? They quote ‘He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life(1 John 5:12).  How come then they exist in order to be punished?  Did God keep the alive in order to punish them.  Was that His purpose“`/.Scripture is clear though, ‘It is appointed unto men once to die, and AFTER THIS the judgment’ (Hebrews 9:27).  Their argument limits the efficacy of the blood of Christ.  If He bore our sins, all He saved us from was a certain measured quantity of punishment, then His work would not have been an eternal one. There is a suggestion that ‘eternal’ pertains only to the millennial age.  Scripture does no support that.

Eternal contrasts with temporal.

We have:

For the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
A house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens 2 Corinthians 5:1
To whom be honour and power everlasting 1 Timothy 6:16
The God of all grace who hath called us to His eternal glory. 1 Peter 5:10
He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Hebrews 5:9
By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. . .How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 5:12,14

And ‘eternal’ does not mean ‘millennial’.  When scripture speaks of this it sometimes says ‘the next world’.  Also, we get the expression ‘for ever’.  Sometimes this may infer eternity, though often it has a more limited scope, e.g. the course of a person’s life, this present evil world, or a dispensation.

In short, eternal means eternal – nothing else.

Sosthenes

April 2018

The Modern Smooth Cross

 

The Comfortable Cross for the Twenty-first Century

 

A W Tozer

Originally published in The Alliance Witness – 15 May 1963, entitled ‘Modern Smooth Cross’ three days after the death of its author Dr Aiden W Tozer (1897-1963).  The paper I was given provided a number of helpful scriptural references, so I reproduce it with the scriptures below.

It was written over 50 years ago – but remains relevant – maybe more so.

 

The New Cross 

 

All unannounced and mostly undetected there has come in modern times a new cross into popular evangelical circles. It is like the old cross, but different; the likenesses are superficial, the differences fundamental.
From this new cross has sprung a new philosophy of the Christian life; and from that new philosophy has come a new evangelical technique, a new type of meeting and a new kind of preaching. This new evangelism employs the same language as the old, but its content is not the same and its emphasis not as before.
‘I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.  (Gal 1:6-10)

 

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.  (2 Cor 11:14-15)
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Tim 3:5)
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Tim 4:3-4)

 

Friends with the World 

The old cross would have no truck with the world. For Adam’s proud flesh it meant the end of the journey. It carried into effect the sentence imposed by the law of Sinai. The new cross is not opposed to the human race; rather it is friendly pal, and if understood aright, it is the source of oceans of good clean fun and innocent enjoyment. It lets Adam live without interference. His life motivation is unchanged; he still lives for his own pleasures, only now he takes delight in singing choruses and watching religious movies instead of singing bawdy songs and drinking hard liquor. The accent is still on enjoyment, though the fun is now on a higher plan morally, if not intellectually.
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.   And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever abideth for ever. (1 John 2:15-17)

 

An Easy Cross

The new cross encourages a new and entirely different evangelistic approach. The evangelist does not demand abnegation of the old life before the new life can be received. He preaches not contrasts but similarities. He seeks to key into public interest by showing that Christianity makes no unpleasant demands; rather it offers the same things the world does, only on a higher level. Whatever the sin-mad world happens to be clamoring after at the moment is cleverly shown to be the very thing the gospel offers; only the religious product is better.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Col 3:3)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Cor 5:17)

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again (John 3:6-7)

 

A Pleasant Cross

The new cross does not slay the sinner, it redirects him. It gears him into cleaner and jollier way of living and saves his self-respect. To the self-assertive it says,”Come and assert yourself for Christ.” To the egoist, it says,”Come and do your boasting in the Lord.” To the thrill seekers it says,”Come and enjoy the thrill of Christian fellowship.” The modern message is slanted in the direction of the current vogue, thereby catering to human taste and reasoning.
The philosophy back of this kind of thing may be sincere, but its sincerity does not save it from being false. It is false because it is blind. It misses completely all the meaning of the cross.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (1 Cor 1:18)
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (Rom 7:18)
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Phil 3:3)
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41I receive not honour from men. (John 5:40-41)

 

A Symbol of Death 

The old cross is a symbol of death. It stands for the abrupt violent end of a human being. The man in Roman times who took up his cross and started down the road had already said goodbye to his friends. He was not coming back. He was not going out to have his life redirected; he was going to have it ended. The cross made no compromise, modified nothing, spared nothing; it slew all of the man, completely and for good. It did not try to keep on good terms with its victim. It struck swift and hard, and when it had finished its work the man was no more.
The race of Adam is under death sentence. There is no commutation, and no escape. God cannot approve any of the fruits of sin, however innocent they may appear or beautiful to the eyes of men. God salvages the individual by liquidating him, and then raising him again to newness of life.
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Phil 2:8)
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Cor 15:22)
We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin… Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it
saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:9,19-23)
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin…. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 6:3-7,23)

 

Public Relations Agents? 

That evangelism which draws friendly parallels between the ways of God and the ways of men is false to the Bible and cruel to the souls of the hearers. The faith of Christ does not parallel the world; it intersects it. In coming to Christ we do no bring our old life up onto a higher plane; we leave it at the cross. The corn of wheat must fall into the ground and die.
We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to Big Businessmen, or the Press, or the World of Sports, or Modern Education. We are not diplomats ,but prophets, and our message is not a compromise, but an ultimatum.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (Isa 55:8)
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Prov 14:12)
 
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Gal 6:14)
 
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24)
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.  (1 Cor 1:18-21)
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech youby us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Cor 5:20)

 

Death unto Life

God offers life, but not an improved old life. The life He offers is life out of death. It stands always on the far side of the cross whoever would possess it must pass under the rod. He must repudiate himself and concur in God’s just sentence against him.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)
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)
But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him….The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!  But wisdom is justified of all her children. (Luke 7:30, 34-35)
[Paul was] testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)

 

Forsake and Trust 

What does this mean to the individual, the condemned man who would find life in Christ Jesus? How can this theology be translated into life? Simply, he must repent, believe and receive Christ as Saviour. He must forsake his sins and then go on to forsake himself. Let him cover nothing, defend nothing, excuse nothing. Let him not seek to make terms with God, but let him bow his head before the stroke of God’s stern displeasure.
 Having done this let him gaze with simple trust upon the risen Saviour, and from Him will come life and re-birth and cleansing and power. The cross that ended the earthly life of Jesus now puts an end to the sinner, and the power that raised Christ from the dead now raises him to a new life along with Christ.
 
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isa 55:7)
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:6)
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.  For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? (Luke 9:23-25)
  
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.   
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. (John 3:14-16)
 
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)
 
 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. (Rom 14:17-18)
 

The Faith once delivered to the Saints – Knowing where we are, and what God wants us to do, in the Confused State of Christendom

J N Darby
John Nelson Darby

The Faith once delivered to the Saints or

The Path for the Christian in the Ruin of Christendom

In this paper John Darby notes that whatever God sets up perfectly, man ruins.   This applies equally to the Church and we must accept our part in its public failure.  But it remains the Church, and it is for us to be faithful to the Lord.  We are in the last days and the Lord’s coming is imminent, so we are exhorted to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude:3).

Despite the public situation, we need to have a conscience as to what is evil, and keep close to the Lord,   We must heed the Holy Spirit, judging evil, resting the word, not the teachings of men.  We must be prepared to act alone or with just a few.  Only then we can then get a view of God’s work, and know what God’s mind is for us on our path, individually and collectively.  And we can trust in God, not in our own reasoning – in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:” (Isaiah 30:15)

Church Unity and Sectarianism – or -The Nature and Unity of the Church of Christ

That they all may be one; John 17:21

In this paper Darby’s objective was to show Christians how the Church can be united according to the Word of God, and how it should operate consistently.  The Church would therefore be strengthened in its hopes, showing the world the power of God’s grace.  At the same time believers would be led to rely more on the Holy Spirit and less on human plans and co-operative schemes.

Darby looks at the way in which the public Christian Church has degenerated with worldliness, human organisation, tolerance of evil and sectarian fragmentation, running counter to the Lord’s words That they all may be one.

Church unity cannot be achieved by human compromise and confederacy.  It can only be in looking to the Lord Himself, giving Him His place, by the Holy Spirit, going forth to him without the camp and being not of the world.

Separation from Evil and Christian Unity– or – Separation from Evil, God’s Principle of Unity

Darby observed that, despite the brokenness of the church publicly, right-minded Christians were craving for unity.  However, for Christians to be united, their union must be centred on God, who is righteous and holy.

But we are in a secular and religious world that is full of evil, and God cannot be united with evil.  The Christian must separate from what is evil before unity can be considered.  Christ – who died, rose again and ascended is to be the Centre, and the Lord’s Supper the symbol and expression of unity and fellowship.  Let us go forth to him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

If the Church is to be maintained separate from evil, it is called upon to judge them that are within.  Only thus can Christian unity be maintained in the power of the Holy Spirit and with an honest conscience.

God’s Love and Grace – Holiness, Unity and Christian Gathering – or Grace, the Power of Unity and of Gathering

After maintaining that separation from evil must be the principle of unity, Darby was at pains to show that it cannot be the power to gather Christians.  Holiness may attract them together, but the power to gather is grace, working in love – love through faith.  If Christians gather purely out of separation from evil, they become occupied with the evil, which is not of God.

We are to be separated from evil, but separated to God.  And that is in grace, so we abound in love towards one another, our fellowship being with the Father and the Son, grace alone having revealed God’s heart.  Active love gathers us together.

Independent Churches, Independent Local Assemblies, Personal Judgment and Conscience – or – On Ecclesiastical Independency

Darby observed the tendency of Christians to confuse their private, independent judgment with their conscience.  My individual judgment, even if well intentioned, may be as a result of my own will, and I will act independently, whereas conscience relates to God’s rights, the Word and the Lord’s authority.  If I am disobedient, I am acting independently, in self-will, and am despising God’s authority.

There is only one Church of God – the body of Christ.  An action in one gathering is binding on all, even if I personally have reservations about it.  Scripture does not support independent churches, whether in a place or universally.  Although many Christians might prefer to belong to independent assemblies, these are unscriptural, the work of Satan and positively evil, flying in the face of known truth.

If there is blasphemy in a local assembly or association with it, then I have to act.  That is not independence, but I am acting in the light of the whole:  “Because we, being many, are one loaf, one body; for we all partake of that one loaf (1 Corinthians 10:17 JND).  We profess to be one body whenever we break bread; scripture knows nothing else.

The Church as the Body of Christ, the Church as the Habitation of God, and Local Churches – or – Churches and the Church

In this paper, J.N. Darby introduced the thought of the local assembly and its function.

Most people, Christians included, think of churches in terms of the Anglican Church, the United Reformed Church, the Baptist Church, the Roman Catholic Church etc., and the structures, church organisations and buildings associated with them.  However, scripturally the Church is the Body of Christ, and churches the expression of that body in a place.  Teachers, shepherds, evangelists and other gifts apply to the whole Church.  Elders (or overseers) are local.  The idea of a single person, appointed or voted into a professional position is totally of man’s order and sets aside the Spirit of God.

If we believe that the public church is ruined, and governed by man, not the Holy Spirit, then we should humbly cry to the Lord.  He will meet us in our need.

The Evil of Clericalism – or – The Notion of a Clergyman, Dispensationally the sin against the Holy Ghost

When John Nelson Darby, a former clergyman himself, published ‘The Notion of a Clergyman, dispensationally the sin against the Holy Ghost.’ with its understandably provocative title, it was said that he was accusing every clergyman or appointed leader of committing the sin against the Holy Spirit.  He was at pains to show that this was far from the truth.

Darby’s issue was that any human appointment, whether by delegation or election, substituted the direct sovereign action of the Holy Spirit, by that of man. This is the notion of a clergyman.  The system is wrong.  It substitutes man for God.  True ministry is by the gift and the power of God’s Spirit, not by man’s appointment.

If the authority of the clergy is derived from man, it follows that anything that is of God, by the Holy Spirit must be condemned by the system and classed as evil.  This, then, is the sin against the Holy Spirit in this dispensation.

Ginosko and Oida – γινώσκω and οἶδα

J N Darby and Strong on the Difference between Ginosko and Oida

Two words for ‘Know’

Two Greek words, Ginosko and Oida are used for ‘to know’ in the New Testament – γινώσκω/ ginóskó/Strong 1097and οἶδα/eidó (or oida) Strong 1492. The former signifies objective knowledge, what a man has learned or acquired. The English expression ‘being acquainted with’ perhaps conveys the meaning. Oἶδα/Oidaconveys the thought of what is inward, the inward consciousness in the mind, intuitive knowledge not immediately derived from what is external.

Difference between ginóskó and oida

The difference between the two words is illustrated in John 8.55, ‘Ye know [γινώσκω/ ginóskó/Strong 1097] Him not, but I know[οἶδα/oida/Strong 1492]Him.’ Again, in John 13.7, ‘What I do thou dost not know [οἶδα/oida/Strong 1492]now, but thou shalt know [γινώσκω/ ginóskó/Strong 1097] hereafter.’ And finally in Heb 8.11, ‘They shall not teach . . . saying, Know [γινώσκω/ ginóskó/Strong 1097]) the Lord; because all shall know [οἶδα/oida/Strong 1492]me.’ The word [οἶδα/oida/Strong 1492]is used of Christ as knowing the Father, and as knowing the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, of Paul’s knowledge of ‘a man in Christ,’ (2 Cor 2:12) and of the Christian’s knowledge that he has eternal life, and the knowledge of God Himself.

The words for ‘know’ are different in 1 Cor 8., though the distinction is very faint in Greek.

Verse 1′ We all have knowledge’ is of objective knowledge: γνῶσις/gnósis/Strong 1108[i]. ‘ Knowledge [the same word] puffs up.

Verse 2 ‘If any one think he knows[εἰδέναι/eidenai/Strong 1492– has the inward conscious knowledge of in his mind]anything, he
knows[ἔγνωκε/egnoke/Strong 1097– objectively]nothing yet as he ought to
know[same word] it. But if any one love God, he is
known[ἔγνωσται/egnōstai/Strong 1097]of him.

Verse 3 ‘Concerning eating things offered to idols, we know’[οἴδαμεν/oidamen/Strong 1492 have the conscious knowledge in our minds].

Verse 10, ‘ If any one see thee, which hast knowledge’ [γνῶσιν/gnōsin/Strong 1108objectively, what a man has learned, acquired].  So verse 11 ‘The brother for whose sake Christ died, will perish through thy knowledge’.

Hence from the word meaning ‘ inward conscious knowledge,’ a. derivative ‘means ‘conscience.’  1 Cor 4:4 – ‘For I know [σύνοιδα/synoida/Strong 4894]  nothing against myself’[ii]– am conscious of no fault.

2 Tim 1:12:  ‘I know [οἴδα/oida/Strong 1492] whom I have believed.’ I have the inward conscious knowledge of who the person is.It is not just, ‘ I know him.’

‘I know whom I have believed,’ 2 Tim 1.12– I have the inward conscious knowledge of who the person is. Read also 1 Cor 16.15,

In 2 Tim 3:14-15‘continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing[εἰδὼς/eidōs/Strong 1492) of whom thou hast learned them [he was conscious of it]; And that from a child thou hast known [οἶδας/oidas/Strong 1492– he had the knowledge of them in his own mind realised] the holy scriptures’.  All these verses refer to inward conscious knowledge.  The difference between the significance of the two words is often slight and objective knowledge may pass into conscious knowledge, but not vice versa.

Ginosko and Oida are expressed by savoir and connaître in French, wissen and kennen in German. Though the difference is made in French and German, it must not be supposed that the distinct use of the words corresponds exactly, but it suffices here to have shown the use in Greek. The German seems to me to answer more fully to the Greek, but different nations think differently. Thus, ‘Ye know [οἴδατε/oidate/ Strong 1492] the household of Stephanas (1 Cor 16:7).’ It was their inward acquaintance with their qualities, not objective.  Of such a process the French incapable.  It must be ‘vous connaissez, or explicitly ‘vous savez ce qui en est de’.

ἐπίγνωσις/epignósis/Strong 1922is used for certain objective knowledge, and consequent recognition of the truth of a thing e.g. ‘the knowledge of the Son of God’(Eph 4:13), or ‘the acknowledging of the truth, (2 Tim 2:25)

A combination of Darby’s footnote to 1 Cor 8.1, taken from both the 1890 and 1961 editions.

Strong’s Explanations and HELPS Word-studies

  1. eidó

eidó: be aware, behold, consider, perceive

Original Word: οἶδα
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: eidó
Phonetic Spelling: (i’-do)
Short Definition: I know, remember
Definition: I know, remember, appreciate.

1492 eídō (oida) – properly, to see with physical eyes (cf. Ro 1:11), as it naturally bridges to the metaphorical sense: perceiving (“mentally seeing“). This is akin to the expressions: “I see what You mean”; “I see what you are saying.”

1492 /eídō (“seeing that becomes knowing“) then is a gateway to grasp spiritual truth (reality) from a physical plane.  1492 (eídō) then is physical seeing (sight) which should be the constant bridge to mental and spiritual seeing (comprehension).

  1. gnósis  Strong 1922 epignósis

gnósis: a knowing, knowledge

Original Word: γνῶσις, εως, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: gnósis
Phonetic Spelling: (gno’-sis)
Short Definition: knowledge, doctrine, wisdom
Definition: knowledge, doctrine, wisdom.

Cognate: 1108 gnṓsis (a feminine noun derived from 1097 /ginṓskō, “experientially know”) – functional (“working”) knowledge gleaned from first-hand (personal) experience, connecting theory to application; “application-knowledge,” gained in (by) a direct relationship.  See 1097(ginōskō).

1108 /gnṓsis (“applied-knowledge”) is only as accurate (reliable) as the relationship it derives from. For example, the Gnostics boasted of their “applied knowledge” gained by their personal spiritual experiences – and it was (is) disastrous!

[“Gnosticism” is literally, “the cult based on having special, personal knowledge” (1108 /gnṓsis).]

ginóskó: to come to know, recognize, perceive

Original Word: γινώσκω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ginóskó
Phonetic Spelling: (ghin-oce’-ko)
Short Definition: I come to know, learn, realize
Definition: I am taking in knowledge, come to know, learn; aor: I ascertained, realized.

1097 ginṓskō – properly, to know, especially through personal experience(first-hand acquaintance).  1097 /ginṓskō (“experientially know”) is used for example in Lk 1:34, “And Mary [a virgin] said to the angel, ‘How will this be since I do not know (1097 /ginṓskō = sexual intimacy) a man?'”

Hebrew equivalents of Ginosko and Oida – YADA

 I Have a question

Why does our Lord use ‘ginosko’ in John 17:3? – ‘This is the eternal life, that they should know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent./ αὕτη δέ ἐστιν ἡ αἰώνιος ζωή, ἵνα γινώσκωσί σε τὸν μόνον ἀληθινὸν Θεόν, καὶ ὃν ἀπέστειλας Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν’. Our Lord’s desires is that we might have an intimate knowledge of God, formed by a persoanl relationship. Why is this not οἶδα/oida?

– Please use the comment form to reply

[i]As a departure from the norm used by JND, I am showing the form of the verb actually used in scripture in this section only. This is so the reader can get additional explanations from the Bible-hub website.

[ii]Interestingly this is not quoted from either the KJV nor Darby translations, but from the English Revised Version, the translation that

Darby refused to participate in.

Introduce your Christian Friends to A Day of Small Things

Dear Fellow Believer,

Have you found help and blessing from reading A Day of Small Things (ADOSS), and receiving our periodic letters?

Have you had help from the more concise and simply written summaries of JN Darby’s writings?

Have you had help as to how we can enjoy Christian fellowship amid the confusion of Christendom, apart from organised sects with clerical structures (ie one person in charge of a gathering)?

Above all, has anything you have written strengthened your personal link with our Lord and Saviour, and your desire to see Him when He returns to rapture His saints? – Call it pre-trib or pre-millennium, if you like.

If so, why not introduce some of your friends to ADOSS?

 

If you have already introduced your friend(s) to A Day of Small Things, then I will write to them, (normally in my real name) telling them we have added their names to the list.

Otherwise, we will write to them introducing A Day of Small Things and inviting them to be added to the list.

I love to correspond with fellow believers on these and other subjects. Please feel free to email me at any time. I will always use my real name in reply.

I look forward to hearing from you, and sharing something of our common salvation, and the need to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints (See Jude v. 3).

Greetings in our Lord and soon-coming Saviour,

Sosthenes

The Sad State of the Church

What a mess the Church is in!  I don’t want to down any sect – not even the Roman Catholics.  Indeed I have been in correspondence with an old colleague of my wife’s, who resigned his vicarship over the question of women priests, became a Catholic.  We had plenty of areas of disagreement – but two things we were in agreement on – the saving grace of our God and the efficacy of the blood of our Lord Jesus.

There are problems everywhere, and the more I think of it, the more we have to be humble about.  This side of the glory there will not be any group who is not affected by wrong judgments, worldliness, legality and the desire of people to promote themselves and their own ideas.

By faith we have to lay hold of the truth of the One Body.  There is no breakdown in the bride of Christ.

 

Sosthenes

February 2014

All Roads lead to Rome

 

There is little doubt that things are moving quickly.  At one time Rome persecuted true believers using torture and even the stake.  Many dear saints perished in the Spanish Inquisition – and even now this is celebrated in some parades.  Manuel, a friend of my father, as a young man during the Spanish civil war, was shown a coffin by a priest and told, ‘That is where you are going!’  He fled.  Rome’s heart hasn’t changed.

Its tactics have changed though.  Protestants are being lured back – ‘ there isn’t much difference really’.  Indeed many are pleased that the Catholic church takes a firm line on abortion, gay rights and promotes moral rectitude, despite the fact that many priests have fallen miserably.

A few weeks ago I came across this video on You Tube Ecumenism: Spiritual Whoredom – a bit frightening.  It might have overplayed things, critical of some who have served the Lord.  But whoever they are, none are immune from the charms of the harlot.

Sosthenes

April 2014

Theological Seminaries – Do we need them?

There are many sincere believers, and sound teachers who work in these institutions. There are many earnest young Christians, men and women, desirous of serving the Lord, who attend them, and have gone on to serve Him faithfully. But is there any scriptural basis for them?

I have looked at a few websites recently and there are some noble statements. The Dallas Theological Seminary, for example, is very much influenced by the ministry of John Nelson Darby, and has produced some worthy alumni, such as my friend Paul Wilkinson. It states, ‘The mission of Dallas Theological Seminary is to glorify God by equipping godly servant-leaders for the proclamation of His Word and the building up of the body of Christ worldwide.’ Nobody could criticise that – in fact the church needs more and more workmen. But what do many desire? A Doctor of Ministry degree? A wonderful graduation ceremony in robes? And how much does it cost? not that a degree should be without cost, of course. Timothy was told ‘for those who shall have ministered well obtain for themselves a good degree, and much boldness in faith which [is] in Christ Jesus.’ (I Tim 3:13 JND). They get their degree by ministering; they do not get their degree in order to minister.

Furthermore, like any college, it is a social institution with sports, clubs etc., and you only need to look at Facebook to see that. Nothing wrong, of course, with sport and social activities, but are they part of the church?

There was the School of Tyrannus in Corinth. It was a place to read and discuss the word, and for interested persons to come to the Lord. If it was a formal school, I don’t think it was more than a place of convenience for Paul. Then there was the home of Aquila and Priscilla. I don’t think either had a doctorate, but they were able to take Apollos (who maybe had one) expound unto him the way of God more perfectly (Acts 18:26).

So, maybe the best place to learn is in the assembly. We are to learn in the school of God. There is a good book by James Butler Stoney (1814-1897) – Discipline in the School of God. Maybe this is a good place to start. Though we had best start on our knees first.

Sosthenes

June 2014

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