Is
Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you?
Or were ye baptized in the name of
Paul?
I thank god that I baptized none of you,
but Crispus and Gaius; lest any
should
say that I had baptized in mine won name.
And I baptized also the
household
of Stephanas; besides I know not whether
I baptized any other. For
Christ sent me not
to baptized, but to preach the gospel:
not with wisdom of
words, lest the cross
of Christ should be made of none effect.
For the
preaching of the cross is to them
that perish foolishness;
but unto us which
are saved
it is the power of God.
ICorinthians
1:13-17
There is a struggling in
Christianity, for all who claim to be Christian. There is no way around such a
thing, as many have to endure, yet, remain faithful under harsh circumstances.
Much or our conflict is not due to others who have confronted our beliefs,
rather because we are lusting after, seeking that which are fruitless cares.
Furthermore, we are all too willing to accept that which is told to us without
checking to see if it is true. We do this also with much that is advertised
telling us that there has been some sort of clinical trial, but never telling
us who that clinic or given any information. Last nigh as I do from time to
time took time to listen to Bill Johnson head pastor of the Bethel Church here
in Redding and the School of the Supernatural. I do this to check to see if he
is preaching the Gospel. Last nigh, once again, he spoke of a miracle where a
person who had a metal rod placed into here arm to support the bone dissolved
into nothing. He spoke of other miracles as though what he said was the truth
and yet: no evidence given to support his anecdotal story. But people gobbled
it up as truth. People are looking for miracles as though to give some credence
to their belief. Listen to Clement of Rome and see what this early church
father wrote for you and I:
"These things, beloved, we write unto you, not merely to
admonish you of your duty, but also to remind ourselves. For we are struggling
on the same arena, and the same conflict is assigned to both of us. Wherefore
let us give up vain and fruitless cares, and approach to the glorious and
venerable rule of our holy calling. Let us attend to what is good, pleasing,
and acceptable in the sight of Him who formed us. Let us look stedfastly to the
blood of Christ, and see how precious that blood is to God, (Some insert “Father.”) which,
having been shed for our salvation, has set the grace of repentance before the
whole world. Let us turn to every age that has passed, and learn that, from
generation to generation, the Lord has granted a place of repentance to all
such as would be converted unto Him. Noah preached repentance, and as many as
listened to him were saved. (Gen. vii.; 1 Pet. iii. 20; 2 Pet. ii. 5.) Jonah
proclaimed destruction to the Ninevites; (Jon. iii.) but they,
repenting of their sins, propitiated God by prayer, and obtained salvation,
although they were aliens [to the covenant] of God.
The ministers of the grace of God have, by the Holy Spirit,
spoken of repentance; and the Lord of all things has himself declared with an
oath regarding it, “As I live, saith the Lord, I desire not the death of the
sinner, but rather his repentance;” (Ezek. xxxiii. 11.) adding, moreover, this gracious declaration,
“Repent, O house of Israel, of your iniquity. (Ezek. xviii. 30.) Say
to the children of My people, Though your sins reach from earth to heaven, and
though they be redder Comp. (Isa. i. 18.) than
scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth, yet if ye turn to Me with your whole
heart, and say, Father! I will listen to you, as to a holy
(These words are not found in Scripture, though they are quoted again by Clem.
Alex. (Pædag., i. 10) as from Ezekiel. people.”) And in another
place He speaks thus: “Wash you, and become clean; put away the wickedness of
your souls from before mine eyes; cease from your evil ways, and learn to do
well; seek out judgment, deliver the oppressed, judge the fatherless, and see
that justice is done to the widow; and come, and let us reason together. He
declares, Though your sins be like crimson, I will make them white as snow;
though they be like scarlet, I will whiten them like wool. And if ye be willing
and obey Me, ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye refuse, and will not
hearken unto Me, the sword shall devour you, for the mouth of the Lord hath
spoken these things.”9 Isa. i. 16–20.) Desiring,
therefore, that all His beloved should be partakers of repentance, He has, by
His almighty will, established [these declarations].
Wherefore, let us yield obedience to His excellent and
glorious will; and imploring His mercy and loving-kindness, while we forsake
all fruitless labours, (Some read ματαιολογίαν, “vain talk.”) and strife, and envy, which leads to
death, let us turn and have recourse to His compassions. Let us stedfastly
contemplate those who have perfectly ministered to His excellent glory. Let us
take (for instance) Enoch, who, being found righteous in obedience, was
translated, and death was never known to happen to him. (Gen. v. 24; Heb. xi. 5.) Literally, “and
his death was not found.” Noah,
being found faithful, preached regeneration to the world through his ministry;
and the Lord saved by him the animals which, with one accord, entered into the ark."
Repentance
is required of any who want to be saved: “Repent ye therefore, and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall
come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). It is not stories, nor miracles
or anything else that we are to be concerned with, it is to repent and believe
on Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. Nothing has changed as to the message
from the apostles and the early Church fathers. Think of this: they lived
within a time just dome 30-50 years after the death of Jesus.
Who are you listening too? Who has your
attention? Is it some man who you have never tested as Philippians 5:21
instructs? Are you more concerned about living a life that manifest Jesus
Christ who loved you enough to die for you and to remove all sin from you
electing you to have eternal life: or miracles?
Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness
to his house, that he may set his nest on
high,
that he may be delivered from the power of evil!
Habakkuk 2:9
Do not just accept: prove!
Richard L. Crumb
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