#1768
The master deception of Satan!
(Arthur Pink, "The Doctrine of Sanctification" 1937)
"I am the LORD your God. You must consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy." Leviticus 11:44
We do greatly deceive ourselves, if we imagine that we are drawing nearer to Heaven--while only following those courses which lead to Hell.
We are woefully deluded, if we suppose that we are journeying towards glory--and yet are living in sin.
Christ died to procure holiness--not to secure an indulgence for sin.
To live in known and allowed sin, and yet expect to be saved by Christ--is the master deception of Satan!
My reader, a faith which does not transform character and reform conduct, is worthless.
Saving faith is only proved to be genuine by bearing the blossoms of experimental godliness and the fruits of personal piety.
Great multitudes of ignorant people who live under the Gospel, harden their hearts in sin and ruin their souls forever, by trusting on Christ for such an 'imaginary salvation' as consists not at all in holiness--but only in forgiveness of sin and deliverance from everlasting torments. They would be free from the punishments due to sin--but they love their lusts so well that they hate holiness and do not desire to be saved from the service of sin. If they do not desire to be made holy and righteous in their hearts and lives--then they do not heartily desire true salvation.
(Arthur Pink, "The Doctrine of Sanctification" 1937)
"I am the LORD your God. You must consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy." Leviticus 11:44
We do greatly deceive ourselves, if we imagine that we are drawing nearer to Heaven--while only following those courses which lead to Hell.
We are woefully deluded, if we suppose that we are journeying towards glory--and yet are living in sin.
Christ died to procure holiness--not to secure an indulgence for sin.
To live in known and allowed sin, and yet expect to be saved by Christ--is the master deception of Satan!
My reader, a faith which does not transform character and reform conduct, is worthless.
Saving faith is only proved to be genuine by bearing the blossoms of experimental godliness and the fruits of personal piety.
Great multitudes of ignorant people who live under the Gospel, harden their hearts in sin and ruin their souls forever, by trusting on Christ for such an 'imaginary salvation' as consists not at all in holiness--but only in forgiveness of sin and deliverance from everlasting torments. They would be free from the punishments due to sin--but they love their lusts so well that they hate holiness and do not desire to be saved from the service of sin. If they do not desire to be made holy and righteous in their hearts and lives--then they do not heartily desire true salvation.
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The
shepherd smells like his sheep. He carries them on his shoulder. Drinks from
the same spring from which they drink. There is a companionship between shepherd
and sheep, they trust one another.
One
of the unanswered questions of my life, WHY those who claim to love god, put
their redemption in the shed blood of his son, envy often imitate, those who
despise God. I have associates, family members, neighbors, who say they are
Christian, "Christ-like," and yet, in language, dress, habits,
personal interests... can not be distinguished from those who are basically
unbelievers-atheists. When you are in their company, they talk about the world,
flesh, devil. THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE DIFFERENT. Those of us who love Gods word,
love the Gospel, love Gospel music, have an aching hunger to
associate-talk-visit with those who have a small knowledge of the holiness of
God. We know that God has forgiven our sins, past, present and future. That we
are in daily warfare against our flaws, but even the child recognizes
hypocrisy.
I
shutter, even panic, when I think of the many times that I have failed my
blessed Lord. This I know, from everything I have read in his word, from
everything I have experienced in life... He has mercy to spare and although I
have failed him, He will never fail me.
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