Do any of you have an 'illuminated' Bible at home?
"No," says one, "I have a morocco Bible; I have a Polyglot Bible; I have a marginal reference Bible."Ah! that is all very well, but have you an illuminated Bible? "Yes, I have a large family Bible with pictures in it. "There is a picture of John the Baptist baptizing Christ by pouring water on his head, and many other nonsensical things; but that is not what I mean: have you an illuminated Bible? "Yes, I have a Bible with splendid engravings in it. "Yes; I know you may have; but have you an illuminated Bible? "I don't understand what you mean by an illuminated Bible. "Well, it is the Christian man who has an illuminated Bible.He does not buy it illuminated originally, but when he reads it" A glory gilds the sacred page, Majestic like the sun Which gives a light to every page,-It gives, but burrows none. "There is nothing like reading an illuminated Bible, beloved. You may read the Bible to all eternity, and never learn anything by it, unless it is illuminated by the Spirit;and then the words shine forth like stars! The book seems made of gold leaf; every singleletter glitters like a diamond. Oh, it is a blessed thing to read an illuminated Biblel it up by the radiance of the Holy Spirit!
July 10, 2004
July 07, 2004
He is my shepherd by E. Wilson
“ But He that entereth by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To Him the porter openeth and the sheep hear His voice, and He calleth His own sheep by name and leadeth them out.” John 10:2-3
In Palestine during biblical times in each village was a sheepfold. This was a common property of all the farmers. It was protected by high walls with only one door. Every night shepherds, to protect their sheep from beast and robbers, would lead their flock into the sheepfold and leave them in the care of the porter. The porter would remain at the door all night until morning. In the morning the porter would allow each shepherd to come to the door and call out for his sheep; many times by their name. Their sheep recognizing the voice of their master would beckon to his voice and follow him and the shepherd would lead them out.
God says in John 10:7 “…verily, verily I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.” Man can only be saved by God. Salvation may only be obtained through God. God is the door of the sheepfold, the only way man can find the green pastures of peace and freedom is through the door of Christ. Rev 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…” Who can hear His voice, who opens the door? Is this dependant on our choice or action, or His electing grace. God says in John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd and know my sheep and am known of mine.” God not only is the door but the shepherd. His son knows His sheep and He calls them by name and they know Him. The shepherd does not stand at the door of the sheepfold and call to all sheep and whom ever comes to him is his. God knows His sheep by name and calls them alone out of the flesh to follow Him. 2Tim 2:19 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His…” When the door of God is open and Jesus calls for His sheep, His sheep and His sheep alone beckon to His voice and will come to Him. Would His sheep chose not to come? God forbid, His sheep know the voice of their master and love Him and desire to be in His fold. It’s not that you have no other choice, it is when God gives you ears to hear and you hear the voice of His Spirit you have no other desire but to follow Him. John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow Me.” So why when the door of God opens and Jesus effectually calls to His sheep do so many stay in the walls of the sheepfold rather than follow Him. John 10:26 clearly states “But ye believe not, because ye are not my sheep…” Why did they not come, because they could not, nor ever recognize His voice. John 8:43 “Why do ye not understand my speech? Because ye cannot hear my word.” It’s not that they have no other choice but to stay, it is they know not His voice and have no desire to come because they are not His sheep. You cannot chose to become one of His sheep. You are one of His sheep because He is your shepherd and His voice effectually calls you out by name. Will you harken to that voice, will you repent, confess, and believe? Of course, not as a condition but as a result. Not because you became a sheep but because you were one of His sheep. If you do not believe you were never one of His, and you will never hear His voice. John 8:47 “He that is of God heareth Gods words; ye therefore, hear them not, because ye are not of God.”
Psalm 23:“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
In Palestine during biblical times in each village was a sheepfold. This was a common property of all the farmers. It was protected by high walls with only one door. Every night shepherds, to protect their sheep from beast and robbers, would lead their flock into the sheepfold and leave them in the care of the porter. The porter would remain at the door all night until morning. In the morning the porter would allow each shepherd to come to the door and call out for his sheep; many times by their name. Their sheep recognizing the voice of their master would beckon to his voice and follow him and the shepherd would lead them out.
God says in John 10:7 “…verily, verily I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.” Man can only be saved by God. Salvation may only be obtained through God. God is the door of the sheepfold, the only way man can find the green pastures of peace and freedom is through the door of Christ. Rev 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…” Who can hear His voice, who opens the door? Is this dependant on our choice or action, or His electing grace. God says in John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd and know my sheep and am known of mine.” God not only is the door but the shepherd. His son knows His sheep and He calls them by name and they know Him. The shepherd does not stand at the door of the sheepfold and call to all sheep and whom ever comes to him is his. God knows His sheep by name and calls them alone out of the flesh to follow Him. 2Tim 2:19 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His…” When the door of God is open and Jesus calls for His sheep, His sheep and His sheep alone beckon to His voice and will come to Him. Would His sheep chose not to come? God forbid, His sheep know the voice of their master and love Him and desire to be in His fold. It’s not that you have no other choice, it is when God gives you ears to hear and you hear the voice of His Spirit you have no other desire but to follow Him. John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow Me.” So why when the door of God opens and Jesus effectually calls to His sheep do so many stay in the walls of the sheepfold rather than follow Him. John 10:26 clearly states “But ye believe not, because ye are not my sheep…” Why did they not come, because they could not, nor ever recognize His voice. John 8:43 “Why do ye not understand my speech? Because ye cannot hear my word.” It’s not that they have no other choice but to stay, it is they know not His voice and have no desire to come because they are not His sheep. You cannot chose to become one of His sheep. You are one of His sheep because He is your shepherd and His voice effectually calls you out by name. Will you harken to that voice, will you repent, confess, and believe? Of course, not as a condition but as a result. Not because you became a sheep but because you were one of His sheep. If you do not believe you were never one of His, and you will never hear His voice. John 8:47 “He that is of God heareth Gods words; ye therefore, hear them not, because ye are not of God.”
Psalm 23:“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
July 03, 2004
If Free Will Is True.... by Todd Nibert
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
The belief that most people hold to is that God loves everybody and wants to save everybody. But He has given man a free will, and cannot save a man unless that man, of his own free will, decides to let God save him. If that is true....
. The Scriptures are mistaken when they describe man as dead in sins.
. God is not sovereign. His will is subject to man's will.
. Praying to God for the salvation of sinners is a mistake. We should be praying to men to use their will to let God save them.
. Salvation is not dependent upon God, but man.
. Man gets a portion of the credit in salvation.
. Salvation cannot be said to be 100% grace. Man's will is the key that unlocks the grace of God. Grace cannot work unless man turns the key.
. God's will has no say in the ultimate destiny of the sinner. In reality, God's will is meaningless in the salvation of the sinner. The will of man controls his own destiny.
. The death of Christ was at best a gamble, dependent upon the will of man, and in reality a failure, because many He died for are lost anyway.
. The security of the believer hinges on his own will.
Thank God, free will is not true! "It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." (Romans 9:16). The believer prefers Free Grace over free will.
The belief that most people hold to is that God loves everybody and wants to save everybody. But He has given man a free will, and cannot save a man unless that man, of his own free will, decides to let God save him. If that is true....
. The Scriptures are mistaken when they describe man as dead in sins.
. God is not sovereign. His will is subject to man's will.
. Praying to God for the salvation of sinners is a mistake. We should be praying to men to use their will to let God save them.
. Salvation is not dependent upon God, but man.
. Man gets a portion of the credit in salvation.
. Salvation cannot be said to be 100% grace. Man's will is the key that unlocks the grace of God. Grace cannot work unless man turns the key.
. God's will has no say in the ultimate destiny of the sinner. In reality, God's will is meaningless in the salvation of the sinner. The will of man controls his own destiny.
. The death of Christ was at best a gamble, dependent upon the will of man, and in reality a failure, because many He died for are lost anyway.
. The security of the believer hinges on his own will.
Thank God, free will is not true! "It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." (Romans 9:16). The believer prefers Free Grace over free will.
July 02, 2004
Human guidance? by Winslow
We have need to be on our watch against the powerful influence of spiritual mentors, lest, fascinated by the fame of some popular leader, we become the willing dupes of a childish superstition, or the blind followers of a fatal error. Do not take your views of Divine truth from man; draw them primarily from God's Word. Do not study the Bible through your theological system, but let your system be taken from, and faithfully weighed with, the Bible. Our theological system must not be allowed to give its complexion to, or to be the interpreter of, revealed truth. But, on the contrary, God's Word is to suggest and mold and tint all our thoughts and opinions and systems. We must not set the sun by our watch; but our watch by the sun. In other words, we must not attempt to make God's Word dovetail with our creed, but must test every doctrine we hold, every opinion we receive, every principle we maintain, the hope we cherish, by the unerring standard of revealed truth. This will give a Divine and proper complexion to our views. If we receive the light of the sun through a tinted lens, the light will necessarily reflect the hue of the medium through which it passes. So, if we receive the light of God's Word through any theological system whatever, it will necessarily reflect the error and imperfection, if such there be, of that system. And thus we shall fail to receive the teaching of God as it flows pure and simple from His Word, as light flows from the sun, and as streams from the fountain. The Bible is our rule of faith and our only and ultimate appeal. By the law and the testimony let every doctrine, and system, and hope for eternity be tried. Do not be, then, carried away by the learning, the influence, or even the piety attaching to a popular name. Allow no human leader the mastery of your mind and conscience. Yield yourself meekly and obediently to the authority and teaching of Christ, accepting human guidance only so far as it comes with a "thus says the Lord" as its divine endorsement. Our only safeguard in a matter of such infinite moment as our future well being, is God's pure Word; our only secure place, the feet of the Savior. Sitting there as His lowly disciple, the Holy Spirit will lead our minds into the truth, even "the truth as it is in Jesus," as it emanates from Jesus, as it speaks of Jesus, as it strengthens our faith in, and inspires our love to, Jesus, and as it prepares us to go and be with Jesus forever.
July 01, 2004
HE IS SOVEREIGN by A.W. Pink
Friend; was there not a time when you walked in the counsel of the ungodly, stood in the way of sinners, sat in the seat of the scorners, and with them said, "We will not have this man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14)? Was there not a time when you "would not come to Christ that you might have life" (John 5:40)? Yea, was there not a time when you mingled your voice with those who said unto God, "Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him" (Job 21:14,15)? With shamed face you have to acknowledge there was. But how is it that all is now changed? What was it that brought you from haughty self-sufficiency to a humble suppliant, from one that was at enmity with God to one that is at peace with Him, from lawlessness to subjection, from hate to love? And, as one born of the Spirit, you will readily reply, "By the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Corinthians 15:10). Then do you not see that it is due to no lack of power in God, nor to His refusal to coerce man, that other rebels are not saved too? If God was able to subdue your will and win your heart, and that without interfering with your moral responsibility, then is He not able to do the same for others? Assuredly He is. Then how inconsistent, how illogical, how foolish of you, in seeking to account for the present course of the wicked and their ultimate fate, to argue that God is unable to save them, that they will not let Him. Do you say, "But the time came when I was willing, willing to receive Christ as my Saviour?" True, but it was the Lord who made you willing (Psalm 110:3; Philippians 2:13); why then does He not make all sinners willing? Why, but for the fact that He is sovereign and does as He pleases! --A. W. Pink
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