Parents' role in saving their children from eternal hell???

Parents' role in saving their children from eternal hell???

A brother posted a quote on parenting, and some exchanges transpired below.

Adam posted this quote
I have often thought that Christ speaks to you, as Pharaoh's daughter did to Moses's mother, "take this child and nurse it for me." 0, sirs, consider, what a precious jewel is committed to your charge, what an advantage you have to show your love to Christ, to stock the generation with noble plants, and what a joyful account you may make if you be faithful....Is not the duty clear? And dare you neglect so direct a command? Are the souls of your children of no value? Are you willing that they should be brands of hell? Are you indifferent whether they be damned or saved? Shall the devil, run away with them without control? Will not you use your utmost endeavors to deliver them from the wrath to come?” ~ James Janeway


FOW:
What a challenge!

Sing F Lau
God's grace in Christ alone shall save a man from eternal hell - nothing more and nothing less, lest eternal salvation by the free and sovereign grace of God ALONE is denied.

However, godly parenting shall save many from the hell on earth.

EVEN SO, the gospel ministry will save many of God's children from much temporal judgment and destruction. Only those whom the Lord has saved by His free and sovereign grace will benefit from the gospel ministry. It is foolishness unto all others!

Adam:
Sing... do you have kids? If so, I would be very curious to hear how you raise them in accordance to Eph 6:4 seeing that you are not sure if they are the elect or not.

Sing F Lau
I don't have kids, I have 4 children, 21, 19, 17, and 14. Training children is based solely upon the revealed will of God... what God expects every parent to train and teach what their children ought to know and how they should live in God's world as moral creatures made in the image of God.

Only God can make them His own children. But as parents I am commanded to train them as moral creatures made in the image of God, living in His world and are held accountable, and answerable to Him.

People don't take God's word seriously do they?
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13.

I take for granted that the spiritual birth by God must PRECEDE the ability to believe in Christ.

I believe this passage rules out ABSOLUTELY any possibility of human contribution or assistance of any kind or manner towards a person's SON-SHIP with God.

Human efforts, those that have been ordained by God, are most necessary for the DISCIPLE-SHIP of a child of God (which is solely by God's free and sovereign grace)

Distinction is the essence of sound theology - whether doctrinal or practical.

Adam
Sing - I have noticed that the comments you place on all your posts tend to go back to your one point rather than just simply commenting on the matter at hand. The original point of the post is an admonition that we ought to be concerned about the souls of our children. Do you agree with this or not?

Sing F Lau
Brother, that is exactly what I am doing - commenting on the matter at hand. I go back to the one basic fundamental point BECAUSE that has either been rejected or denied or perverted.

The original point of your quote is that we should be concerned with the ETERNAL SALVATION of our children. And all these rhetorical questions prove that:
"...Are you willing that they should be brands of hell? Are you indifferent whether they be damned or saved? Shall the devil, run away with them without control? Will not you use your utmost endeavors to deliver them from the wrath to come?”
These questions plainly imply that the author believe that parents can do something towards the eternal salvation of their children!

My comment is to show that that notion is erroneous.

By nature, each child is conceived in sin and born in sin, already child of wrath, unable to receive spiritual things... unless God Himself has worked grace in them. God alone, by His grace through His Son alone, can save a man from that condemned state. In that, no man can do anything or assist God in any way.

God alone, by His grace in Christ alone, can and will take care of all those things raised in the rhetorical questions, i.e. God alone, by His grace in Christ alone can save a man from hell, save a man from eternal damnation, save a man from the hand of the devil, save a man from the wrath to come. In these NO MAN can do anything or assist in anyway!

But parents can do a great deal to save their children from HELL on earth, in this life. Yes, we are to be very concerned about the soul of our children - BUT only in the temporal sense... relating to their temporal well-being.

God expects us to do those things that are in our capacity to do. God alone can, and will do those things that He alone has power to do.

May our Lord grant you understanding, and teach the truth of the gospel.

Raise the Dead by means of preaching the gospel - Really?

An exchanged that took place on Facebook after a Brother posted a quote from Spurgeon

Jason posted:
"Christian Mission--- Raise the Dead by means of preaching the Gospel."

Sing F Lau
No, no, no - way off the truth of the Scriptures!

Christian mission: make disciples of God's children, those ALREADY regenerated by the direct regenerating work of the Spirit of God WITHOUT the preaching of the gospel.

The great commission is to make DISCIPLES. It is not helping God to make His children!

And disciples can only be made out of those who are already God's children.

We can make disciples of sinners still dead in their sins!

Jason
Yes yes yes perhaps when you see Spurgeon you can let him know as the comment is from a sermon he preached from the bible.

James
I think the quote above is addressing the spiritually "dead."

Stephens
Those outside of Christ are not children of God but children of wrath. All are made in the image of God (though in a fallen state) but not all are children of God. God uses the preaching of his word to bring people from spiritual death to life. Read Eph.2.

Sing F Lau
If God uses the preaching of his word to bring people from spiritual death to life - then eternal salvation becomes dependent in some way upon the faithfulness of the preachers, the purity of the message preached, the ability of the hearers in understanding, etc, etc, etc... and many of God's children will be shut out of their eternal glory!

" 29 ¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

Does any man play any part in this passage? Do remember the declaration here applies to ABSOLUTELY EVERY ELECT of God.

Bjack M:
Sing F Lau... I don't know where you are getting your information. No one is denying that discipleship is not one of the primary duties of a Christian, but first we must get diciples for Christ by preaching the Gospel. Romans 10:13-15.. Out of Love for God and then for people the proclamation of the Gospel is the Christians main business in life according to the Word of God and to Charles Spurgeon and any other God fearing man I have ever known or heard of Colossians 1:28-"We preach,warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom so that we may present every man perfect or mature in Christ Jesus."..So we are to warn people that they must repent and put their full faith and trust in Christ alone to save them and then we must help them to grow mature in the faith by teaching.

Sing F Lau
Bjack: True. But disciples can only be made out of God's children who are ALREADY by God's own and sovereign work.

We are in the business of making disciples of God's children, who WERE born "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

We are not in the business of assisting God to make His children. That is what so many think they are doing- just like a silly midwife that she helped a man to father a child in his wife! A midwife can only help deliver a life that is already there!

Disciples can only be made out of God's children that He by His own power and will has born!

So, please distinguish the issues at hand.

The gospel ministry is of utmost important... but it plays NIL, ZIL, ZERO role in helping God make His children. It plays crucial role in converting them to the truth.

Jason
Sing you already know I know only God raises the dead he does so by the preaching of his word and he uses men to proclaim it. I recommend the book Soul Winner by Spurgeon we also know from scripture the verse says he who wins souls is wise knowing that I understand fully it is God alone who wins the soul unto himself I am convinced not the most beautiful eloquent speech of the benefits of heaven nor the fiery sermons against the furnace of hell will reach men unless God himself awakens a dead sinner from the grave Salvation belongs fully to God.

Sing F Lau
Good news INSTRUCT and INFORM and EDIFY.
Good news play NO part in God raising the dead.

Jesus raised the dead Lazarus... the disciples did not assist in any way. When Larazus was already raised, the disciples did help to removed the grave clothes...
That's a perfect illustration of the place and role of the gospel ministry through men.

Only those whom God has born again and given eternal life can be instructed and informed by the gospel truth of their salvation.

God raises the dead without the need of preaching.

Those ALREADY raised by God need the preaching of the gospel that they may be informed and instructed of the truth of their eternal salvation by the free grace of God.

If you still cannot see the difference, then saying anymore would be fruitless.

Stephens:
Its simple, God is sovereign and the author of salvation yet scripture is also clear it is our job to fulfill the great commission and preach the gospel to all peoples. We do not know who all the elect are and God uses the proclamation of His Word as His means for drawing His chosen people. I guess that's not simple but I tried to sum it up.

Jason
I fully understand and see the difference perhaps you need to understand God needs nothing including preaching to do anything however that does not mean he does not use it.

Bjack M
Sing F Lau enough said..I now understand your position - Hyper-calvinism. It would be scary to look into the mind of a Calvinist, much more a Hyper-Calvinist and see their thoughts on the very nature and character of God..."What comes to your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you." AW Tozer

Jason
Bjack Sing is very reformed perhaps you have not taken the time to look at his site in fact he and I both agree with John Gill a staunch calvinist. The above comment is not about Election but rather exhorting Christians to proclaim the Gospel knowing God uses the preaching of his word to awaken sinners while God is not limited to this does not mean that he does not use it. I could say I prayed for so and so knowing it was not my prayer itself that will save anyone but rather The power of God unto salvation that saves. God does not depend on preaching prayer fasting to save his elect but yet commands all of the above.

Jason
It is at the height of arrogance pride and heresy to think that we need to preach because God is depending on us. God depends on no one but himself however he does use the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe.

Sing F Lau
Bjack: food is very important... but food is good ONLY for the living. Food plays no role in giving life to the dead. Is that simple and common sense enough or is it hyper-super-ultra abc-ism?

The gospel ministry is VERY important. But what is it important for? Was it APPOINTED by God as a means to help God to give life to the dead? Or was it appointed by God as a means to inform and instruct His children concerning their salvation by God's free grace?

Hello, I am only talking common sense. So, do not resort to labels. Let's just talk common sense, OK? It is people who can't conduct a discussion decently that resort to throwing labels!

Are you a married man, and a father? Did all those milk and diapers and baby's clothes assist you in any way to father your children? Or are those good things only for the well-being of the child fathered by you WITHOUT the helps of all those things? Can't remember? Ask thy wife! Women remember things much better

Bjack M:
Lol..I don't have to look at his site to know that he is hyper-calvinist and hyper calvinism is his foundation for everything that he has said.His whole discussion is based on this.He has just taken what you believe to the next step or to it's logical end.He just thinks God is more sovereign than you.I would have to agree with Sing.It is ridiculous to think that we have to preach the Gospel if God is not using us in the salvation of souls.If He is not using us(2 Cor 5) to IMPLORE people on CHRIST'S BEHALF to be reconciled to God.We definitely have a responsibility to WARN people.ummm..Why would we need to warn with tears in our eyes the ELECT to flee from the coming wrath to come.EPH 6:19 There is no need for the emotions or pleading or the law or fear..Just Preach Jesus Christ and Him Crucified with none of the above. Of course God uses our faithfulness to help further His Kingdom.

Sing F Lau
Bjack, what do you think of this statement?
"These angels and men thus predestined and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished." Is this hyper-calvinistic?

Stephens
Sing, hyper-calvinism is when you believe that God just does all the work and that since we are elect we can basically be couch potatoes and we never need to share our faith or anything. That is contrary to Gods Word. We are commanded to be out calling all people to repent and believe just as Jesus did early in His ministry. We need to go to the peoples who have never heard the gospel and share that truth with them. Think of John Paton for example. Read J.I. Packers book "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God".

Jason
Stephens: lol I thought hyper- calvinism was a calvinist who had one too many energy drinks and couldn't wait to share the Gospel.

Stephens
Lol! You are being sarcastic right? Calvin and Spurgeon and Whitefield sure weren't hyper calvinists...

Sing F Lau
I wrote these words here http://pruning-deformed-branches.blogspot.com/2008/01/two-orders-compared.html
======
The situation is "like a Genevan who believes that milk, diapers and baby clothes are necessary for the conception of a child calling a Chinese brother a ‘hyper-calvinist’ just because he believes that milk and baby clothes are necessary only for the growth and development of the child already delivered. How bizarre can the world get!

"It get even more bizarre when a Genevan misrepresents the Chinese brother as saying, “milk, diapers, and baby clothes are not needed at all for new born babes.” A ‘standard reformed’ brother boldly retorted, ‘If justification is prior to faith, then there is no need of faith at all; then what need is there for preaching!’ It is like a man saying to his wife, ‘darling wifey, you said milk and baby clothes are not needed for the conception and the delivery of a child, then what need is there to shop for these things for our new born baby?’ The wifey rolled her eyes and said, ‘Get me the rolling pin, quick, you fool!"
======

Sing F Lau
Bjack wrote: "It is ridiculous to think that we have to preach the Gospel if God is not using us in the salvation of souls. If He is not using us(2 Cor 5) to IMPLORE people on CHRIST'S BEHALF to be reconciled to God.We definitely have a responsibility to WARN people. ummm"

Many think that they can warn those dead in sin and trespasses! Many think they has the ability to IMPLORE those still in enmity against God! What a joke! Christ Himself declared and repeated, "Except a man be born again, he CANNOT..." Many think otherwise... before those dead in trespasses and sins, and in emnity against God are given eternal life, they can be implored and persuaded and warned! Either they are liars, or Christ is!

God send forth laborers to make disciples... to IMPLORE those whom God Himself has regenerated and quickened from spiritual death - "which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" - and bestowed with eternal life... to plead with them to turn from their errors and be converted to the truth, and embrace the truth of their salvation by God's free grace, to walk soberly, godly and righteously.

Sing F Lau
Stephens@ "Sing, hyper-calvinism is when you believe that God just does all the work and that since we are elect we can basically be couch potatoes and we never need to share our faith or anything. That is contrary to Gods Word."

The Bible AFFIRMS that in eternal salvation God ALONE DOES ALL the work Himself.
" 29 ¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

The Bibles AFFIRMS that in temporal salvation, God commands His children to work out their OWN SALVATION with fear and trembling.

Sing F Lau
Stephens said:" hyper-calvinism is when you believe that God just does all the work... and we never need to share our faith or anything. That is contrary to Gods Word."

The issue is NOT whether to share the gospel or not. It is a settled issue that the gospel ministry is very important - but important for what?

The Arminians insist that it is the means appointed by God to help Him to give life to the dead.

The Bible affirms that it is the means appointed by God to instruct and inform His children (those whom God Himself has begotten by His free grace) concerning their eternal salvation by God's grace in Jesus Christ.

Stephens
Sing you are a hyper-calvinist, it shows in the point you are trying to make. I am concerned for you my friend. Christ told us to preach the gospel to all peoples in all nations! If we don't give the gospel to the lost, how can they be saved? "Faith comes by hearing the word of God" as Paul said.

Repent of the dangerous doctrine you are promoting man. God is the author of salvation but he uses the power of his word preached by men as his means of saving us.

You aren't saved when you are born if you are elect but if you are elect that means you will eventually hear the Gospel and be saved and given new life in Christ in His perfect timing. There will be no empty seats in heaven.

Stephens
All men are given a chance to repent and believe and yet God must grant them regeneration. The bible says that Pharoe hardened his heart against Moses and was fully responsible for his actions yet it also says God heardened his heart that His power might be displayed.

Sing F Lau
Jason@ "The bible says that Pharoe hardened his heart against Moses and was fully responsible for his actions yet it also says God hardened his heart that His power might be displayed."

Does God ever harden the heart of those whom He has predestined unto eternal life, whose redemption Christ has purchased, and whom the Spirit of God has regenerated and applied that eternal salvation? God is perfectly harmonious and consistent in all His acts.

Yes, God always give enough ropes for rebels to hang themselves - and the condemnation is SOLELY upon their own head.

Yes, indeed the power and grace of God is gloriously displayed in free and sovereign activities of saving His people who were DEAD in trespasses and sins. God alone must give them ETERNAL salvation... then and only then, those that ARE SAVED are able to do something to save themselves from the perverse and wicked generation they live in!

Stephens
I think you are still missing the point. The gospel must be preached to all people because we don't know who the elect are. Different people get saved at different points of life. Paul says "how are they to hear without someone preaching?" (Rom. 10:14). Just earlier Paul says "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" and within that context he is talking about salvation has come to all people, jew and gentile, who repent and believe. Then he says they cant believe until someone is sent to them with the message. We must call all men to repent and believe because we do not know who the elect are? Does this make sense to you? Get out of the error of hyper-calvinism, its a dangerous doctrine that destroys the call to be a witness of the gospel to all people.

Sing F Lau
I wander who is missing the point! It seems you are the one missing the point. The fact that you bring up the point of the vital need to the gospel, which I strongly advocate and practiced, is CONCLUSIVE evidence that you have missed the point all along.

I did say the gospel ministry is VERY important, didn't I? You insist that it is important for one thing, I insist that it is not for that one thing but for another. Do you understand? [It is like we both insist that foof is very important. However, you insist that food is for bringing life to the dead, whereas I insist that food is for nourishing the living. Do you understand?]

Who is denying that the gospel is not to be preached to all WITHOUT distinction? It has to be preached to all BECAUSE God's children (yes, the elect that has been REGENERATED) are found among the multitudes of people.

Stephens@ "Paul says "how are they to hear without someone preaching?"... Then he says they cant believe until someone is sent to them with the message."

However, Paul DIDN'T say, "how are they to BE REGENERATED without someone preaching" DID he? It seems that you are insisting just that if I have understood what you have written so far.

Paul DIDN'T say, "... they can't BE REGENERATED until someone is sent to them with the message" DID he? It seems that you are insisting just that if have understood what you have written so far.

Paul's rhetorical questions 'how are they to HEAR?... how are they to believe?' PRESUPPOSE that we are dealing with people who are ALREADY regenerated... it is SUCH alone who are able to hear and to believe."

So many, you included, if I have not misunderstood you, insist that the preaching of the gospel is indispensable to the regeneration of sinners dead in their trespasses and sins.

Conclusion:
So these confused people, who mumble from one side of their big mouth that salvation is by the grace of God alone, and then in the next breath, from the other side of their mouth insist that that same salvation is conditioned upon the preachers' ministry, and most certainly the believer's faith in Christ too.

If God's sovereign work of saving His people is conditioned upon the activities of preachers, then, just what kind of preaching would God use to help Him to regenerate sinners dead in trespasses and sins?

And this is eternal life!

A brother posted this passage, and some exchanges followed:
"And this is eternal life,
that they know You the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
(John 17:3)

Taeka
"And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" 1 John 5:11,12

Schalk
Amen!

Elaine
I love 1 John...all of it! As well as all of John's writings. How blessed we are to know Jesus thru his eyes.

Charles
He was the disciple Jesus loved. :-)

Sing F Lau
Eternal life is given, by God's free and sovereign grace when we were dead in trespasses and sins, SO THAT we may know the good news, THAT IS, God is the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent to save us.

So many insist that one must believe in order to have eternal life. Even the Reformed Baptist churches in Malaysia believe such notion, and defend it vigorously.

See here
http://pruning-deformed-branches.blogspot.com/2008/01/pruning-7-deformed-branches-5-summary.html

Taeka
I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. (Jeremiah 24:7)

Sing F Lau
"It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."

"Taught of God" is WITHOUT human instrumentality.
God teaches each elect - "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them."

Sing F Lau
Heidi - Jesus died for His own people, those that the Father has given to Him - to save them. To tell those for whom Christ did not die to believe that Jesus did die for them to save them WOULD BE telling them a lie and asking them to believe a lie!

Jesus speaks the truth:
"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day... As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him."

"as many as" - not one more, and not one less!

Many preachers preach lies, and expect some to believe lies!

Sing F Lau
Faith is a fruit and evidence of eternal life that has been given when one was DEAD in trespasses and sins.

Sing F Lau
God does not give faith... faith is a grace worked by the Holy Spirit dwelling in the heart. Some children (regenerated elect) will be able to manifest that grace of faith in believing, many others will not be able to manifest that grace of faith in believing.

"So it appears that we agree that one has to have faith in Christ to get to heaven."

You and I do not agree. Simply: you have excluded from heaven those elect that are not able to exercise that grace of faith...

Mark
Heidi - Eph 2:8 tells us that faith is a gift from God, but the verse you cite is James 1:17 - Sorry Sing

Mark
Don't forget: "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (Jn 3:36) Not the words of man, but the Word of God says so.

Sing F Lau
Faith is NOT a gift of God, salvation is. A gift is from WITHOUT. Faith is one of the many graces worked WITHIN by the indwelling Spirit.

Read a short article on Eph 2:8,9 and see what you think.
http://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2008/01/saved-by-grace-through-faith-whose.html

Sing F Lau
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (Jn 3:36)

Amen, and so let the word of God say what it says; and let not man impose his idea on the word of God. Often man read into God's word more than it says.

"He who believes in the Son HAS-HAS-HAS eternal life." This is a declaration of fact, it is not a statement of offer. It is not, 'whoever WILL believe in the Son SHALL have life.'

So Mark, let the Scriptures says what it says; don't make it say what you want it to say! A statement of fact is stating a fact; it is not a stating a conditional offer. I hope you can differentiate the two!

The fact declared is this: He who believes DOES SO because of the possession of eternal life. Believing is an activity made possible because of the possession of eternal life.
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life..." Believing evidences the present possession of eternal life. He who presently believes does so because of the present possession of ETERNAL life. Eternal life makes possible the activities of that life - like believing the gospel truth.

"He who does not obey the Son will not see life"
- who can obey God but those who possess eternal life. But the reality is that not everyone who possesses eternal life obey the Son.
- also that life that is obtained by obedience or lost by disobedience CANNOT possibly the ETERNAL life that have been freely given at regeneration by God's grace.
- there are those who possess eternal life that fails to see life... fail to experience the abundance of life here on earth because of their disobedience... much like Lot! They make shipwreck of their faith! Only children of God, possessors of eternal life, can make shipwreck of their faith.

And yes, the wrath of God abides on a disobedient child of God. NO doubt about that.

Many people make this equation:
The number of those possessing eternal life is EXACTLY EQUAL the number of those who believe the gospel and obey the Lord Jesus Christ.

Such idea will exclude many elect children of God from their eternal inheritance! They are incapable of believing. Other never has the privilege of hearing the gospel. But all the elect shall be given ETERNAL LIFE, all by God's free and sovereign grace.

Mark
Sing - If faith is not a gift from God, then the Scripture is lying and is not authoritative for any other proposition and is worthless to us. One of the most basic pre-suppositions of reformed theology is the innerency and reliability of Scripture.Re-read Eph 2:8

Sing F Lau
Brother, I have no use whatsoever with 'reformed' pre-suppositions. I do have much use for what the Scriptures DO TEACH. There is a vast difference between the two.

Faith is one of the many graces worked WITHIN the heart of a child of God. A gift is something that comes to a child of God from WITHOUT. There is a vast difference between the two. I hope you do see the difference.

Yes, take off your reformed glasses and re-read Eph 2:8.

The gift there is clearly salvation by God's free grace. And if by God's free grace, the faith mentioned CAN'T possibly be yours in any remotest sense.

The eternal salvation by God's free grace is through the faith of Jesus Christ, i.e. through Christ's faithfulness that secured the righteousness for our eternal salvation.

Roman 3:22, "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:"

Please note that the righteousness of God's provision for our eternal salvation is not through your faith in Jesus Christ. That righteousness is by the faith of Jesus, i.e by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ in accomplishing the work of redemption.

Your faith has nothing to do with your eternal salvation EXCEPT to evidence and manifest that salvation that has been accomplished, and applied to your by the free and sovereign grace of God.

An instrument is to evidence and manifest the presence of the specific thing the instrument was designed and ordained to do. Faith is to evidence and manifest the justification that has taken place by God's free grace.

I have no used for reformed shibboleth, said with all due respect to an older Brother.

Sing F Lau
Jesus Himself said,
"Except a man be born again, he CANNOT see the kingdom of God."
"Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he CANNOT enter into the kingdom of God."

So very many insist: a man CAN do something IN ORDER to be born again, given eternal life.

Is it not so plain and obvious to any sane mind that LIFE must precede the activities of THAT LIFE.

Repentance and faith are activities of eternal life, bestowed at new birth, all by God's free and sovereign grace.

Man by nature is in rebellion and enmity against God.

Let God be true, and every man a liar.

The Harvest is Great - Go, gather them in!

The harvest is great.
Did you help in any way in producing these bananas?
Or these bananas were already there,
and you are sent to gather them in?

James posted:
It's February already! Now's not the time to slow down - the Harvest is great but the workers are few. This verse helps me to stay alert and on target. ”A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.” Proverbs 24:33

Sing F Lau
The harvest is all ready to be gathered in.
God Himself by His free and sovereign grace HAS PRODUCED the harvest. And He gave us the command to go and gather in the harvest into the barn, the NT church, not heaven! By His own grace in effectually calling them out of the state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation, He has made each one perfectly fit for heaven and eternal glory.

God Himself has produced His children... we are called to go out and gather them into the NT churches. The means to do so is the gospel ministry, the sole means appointed by God himself. Many have substituted this ordained mean with social activism!

God's children out there, ALREADY born of God, and they alone, will hear the gospel, and believe the gospel, and be converted... be baptized and be gathered into NT churches. The gospel ministry is the means to IDENTIFY and SEARCH out God's children out there. They who will believe ARE God's children. All the beggarly substitutes will attract lots of 'banana and rice believers'. They attract the wrong type of people.

The harvest is ALREADY there by God's free and sovereign grace. We DIDN'T have anything to do with the PRODUCTION and BEING of the harvest. God does it alone, all by His own free grace. God gives us the means to gather in the harvest He Himself has already produced.

Yes, let's work while it is day. Amen.

James
They are waiting - "But how will they hear unless a preacher is sent?"

Sing F Lau
Who are waiting? Those whom God has given eternal life and are enabled to hear, or those still dead in their trespasses and sins?

Just who is the gospel ministry ordained for, and what benefits will it bring to those intended?

What does this rhetorical question presupposes, "And how shall they believe on Him of whom they have not heard?" Who are those under consideration: those that are able to believe, i.e. those already begotten with eternal life, capable of hearing spiritual truth, and believing it.

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which ARE SAVED it is the power of God... But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which ARE CALLED, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 1Cor 1:18,23-24.

The harvest that we are commanded to gather into the NT churches are those ALREADY SAVED, ALREADY CALLED by God Himself. Such alone will hear the gospel call and respond.
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Concluding remarks
It is so obvious that so many do not understand the basic functions of the gospel ministry. So many see it as the ordained means to help God to produce the harvest, i.e. to aid God to produce His children; that the gospel ministry is the necessary means or instrument in the regeneration of those dead in trespasses and sins.

The gospel ministry is the appointed means to gather in God's children that God Himself has produced by His free and sovereign grace.

Untimely death of them that mocked God

The message below was forwarded to me.
I cannot vouch for the truthfulness of the 'facts',
but they most certainly have a very sobering message
to this frivolous age that has no fear of the living God.
Read it.
=====

BE SURE YOU SCROLL WAY DOWN
TO SEE WHAT THIS MESSAGE
HOLDS FOR YOU!!!!
YOU JUST MIGHT BE SURPRISED!!!
I WAS!!!

DID YOU KNOW THESE FACTS?

I SURE DIDN'T TILL NOW

Death is certain
but the Bible speaks about
untimely death!

Make a
personal reflection about this......

Very interesting,
read until the end.....

It is
written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7):


'Be not deceived;
God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man sow,
that shall he also reap..


Here are some
men and women
who mocked
God :


John Lennon
(Singer):

Some years before,
during his interview
with an American Magazine,
he said:

'Christianity will end, it will disappear.
I do not have to argue about
that.. I am certain.
Jesus was ok,
but his subjects were too simple,
we are more famous than Him' (1966).

Lennon, after saying that the Beatles
were more famous than Jesus Christ,
was shot six times.


Tancredo Neves
(President of Brazil ):

During the Presidential campaign,
he said if he got 500,000 votes
from his party,
not even God would remove him from
Presidency.

Sure he got the votes,
but he got sick a day
before being made President,
then he died.


Cazuza
(Bi-sexual Brazilian
composer, singer and poet):

During a show in Canecio ( Rio de Janeiro ),
while smoking his cigarette,
he puffed out some smoke into the air
and said:
'God, that's for you.'

He died at the age of 32
of LUNG CANCER
in a horrible manner.


The Man
(who built the Titanic)

After the construction of Titanic,
a reporter asked him
how safe the Titanic would be.

With an ironic tone he said:
'Not even God
can sink it'

The result:
I think you all know what
happened to the Titanic


Marilyn Monroe
(Actress)

She was visited by Billy Graham
during a presentation of a show.

He said the Spirit of God
had sent him to preach to her.

After hearing what the Preacher had to say,
she said: 'I don't need your Jesus'.

A week later,
she was found dead in her apartment


Bon Scott
(Singer)

The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC.
On one of his 1979 songs
he sang:

'Don't stop me;
I'm going down all the way,
down the highway to hell'.

On the 19th of February 1980,
Bon Scott was found dead,
he had been choked
by his own vomit.


Campinas
(in 2005)

In Campinas,
Brazil a group of friends, drunk,
went to pick up a friend.....

The mother accompanied her to the car
and was so worried
about the drunkenness of her friends
and she said to the daughter
holding her hand,
who was already seated in the car:

'My Daughter,
Go With God
And May He Protect You.'

She responded:
'Only if He (God) Travels in the trunk,
Cause inside here..... it's already full '

Hours later, news came by
that they had been involved
in a fatal accident,
everyone had died,
the car could not be recognized
what type of car it had been,
but surprisingly,
the trunk was intact.

The police said there was no way
the trunk could have remained intact.
To their surprise,
inside the trunk was a crate of eggs,
none was broken


Christine Hewitt
(Jamaican Journalist and entertainer)
said the
Bible (Word of God)
was the worst book ever written.

In June 2006
she was found burnt
beyond recognition
in her motor vehicle.

Many more important people
have forgotten that
there is no other name
that was given so much authority
as the name of Jesus.

Many have died,
but only Jesus died and rose again,
and he is still alive.


'Jesus'

PS:
If it was a joke,
you would have sent it to everyone.
So are you going to
have courage to send this?.