Having a form of religion

 

#a_form_of_godliness
#the_power_of_godliness

2Timothy 3: KJT
1¶This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

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Read the above passage a few more times, please; take a deep breath, and read it again, slowly.

Take a deep breath then ask yourself,

Is the passage speaking of the godless in the world, or those in the churches who are supposed to be godly in the perilous days? Too many Christians are only too ready to point all their fingers at the world.

A few notes:
- Verses 2-5 form one sentence; v2-4 end with a semicolon, and what follows after the semicolon is closely related to everything said in v2-4.

- "...having a form of religion, but denying the power thereof:" are true and apply to the men (and women)  described in v2-4.

Those of the world don't have a form of godliness (i.e. a form of Christian religion) spoken of, much less the power of godliness thereof to deny.

Now, look carefully around the churches, or your own church; don't forget to look yourself in the mirror too.

Are the prophesied "perilous days" here yet?

What do you say? Do you see those character traits manifested by members in churches?

"Feed My Lambs" NOT "Receive my rams"

It is "Feed my lambs";
It's not "receive my rams"

#elitist_syndrome

A frightening thought crossed my mind.

In reaction to the woolly and loose churchmanship that prevails in many churches, not a few churches have developed an elitist syndrome - that of setting extra-biblical standards for baptism and membership.

Let's remember a few basics:

Eternal salvation is God's immutable and effectual work:
- He purposed eternal salvation for His elect,
- Christ secured that same salvation for them, and the
- Holy Spirit applies it to each elect personally at God's appointed and approved time... effectually calling each one out of his native state of sin, condemnation, and death, to that of grace and salvation.
- In this, there is no variation. Everyone is equally saved in the same manner, on the same ground, and to the same extent.
- By these divine monergistic activities, they are completely and perfectly fitted for heaven. Nothing else is needed!
- However, God is interested not only in getting them fit for heaven, but He has also appointed the means for their temporal salvation while here on earth on their journey to their eternal inheritance.

The gospel ministry in the context of the NT church of Jesus Christ is God's appointed means to nurture and train God's children, both in sound doctrines and godly living.

- God's children, depending upon the QUALITY and the QUANTITY of the gospel ministry available, and their responses to it, are converted to the truth of God to vastly different degrees. They end up believing and obeying different amounts of the truth of God, some more, some less, and others very little. Some are sound in their head and godly in their ways; others less converted are still deceived with falsehood, lies and superstition. Some are less detoxified by the gospel ministry!

The least converted among them are still God's children NONETHELESS.... minister to them! That's Christ's command - "preach the gospel, baptize them that believe, add them to the church, and teach them to observe all things Christ has commanded," - that is, baptized by Christ's authority AND brought under Christ's authority vested in a local church.

Matthew 28: KJT
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Christ said, "Feed My lambs..."

Some elitist-minded likely heard, "Receive My Rams."

So, they admit rams, not lambs into membership so that feeding commanded may be done. 

"Being a pastor is a life full of hardship"

🧝Leongsie
Anyway, being a pastor is a life full of hardship. It doesn't pay well. So those who want to study to be pastors should already have an exemplary character and an honest heart towards God and His people. So just an interview would be sufficient.

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sing
A man becomes a pastor/teacher because he is called to the work by Christ; it's His gift to His Church.

Ephesians 4 KJT
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.

Usually, men are in the ministry because they are called; they are not in it for money.

A pastor is not an employee of the church that gets a salary!

A pastor is a servant of Christ to His church to administer His rule over His church; the chief manner to administer Christ's rule over His church is to faithfully make known His word/will to His people.

Matthew 28:20 KJT
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you*: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

1 Timothy 3:2 KJT
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, *apt to teach.*

2 Timothy 2:24 KJT
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, *apt to teach,* patient...

2 Timothy 4:2 KJT — Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

@ So just an interview would be sufficient.

The most needful testimony must come from the church of which he is a member. When Christ calls a man to the work of the ministry, the Spirit will also indicate that to the church. If his church cannot vouch for him that he is called, then everything else is not really relevant.

When Christ calls a man, he often already manifests some evidence of being fitted for the work - he desires to minister to others, he is given to study the Scriptures, etc.

The best training a man gets is through the faithful ministry in the regular life of a local church.

2 Timothy 2:2 KJT
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many are witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

This is the apostolic pattern to equip men called to the ministry.

️Acts 13 - KJT
1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Note a few things:
i. There is a local church in Antioch.

ii. The Holy Spirit indicated to the church His calling of the two men, and instructed the church to set them apart for the work.

iii. The church acknowledged that divine call... by ordaining them and sending them forth to the work.

The Spirit called the men within the context of a local church; their local church recognized that call, ordained them, and sent them out to do the work.

Later, Saul would always return to his home church and give reports of his gospel labours. He was church-based and practised good churchmanship - thus setting an apostolic example.

Acts 14 KJT
26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Good Churchmanship

1) COME. Never miss church unless it is absolutely necessary. George Washington's pastor said of him, "No company ever kept him from church."

2) COME EARLY. Rushing into church at the last minute is not conducive to true worship.

3) COME WITH YOUR WHOLE FAMILY. "The church service is not a convention that a family should merely send a delegate."

4) TAKE A PLACE TOWARD THE FRONT OF CHURCH. Leave the rear seats for those who may come late, and for backsliders, and mothers with children.

5) BE DEVOUT. The church is not a theater or place of amusement. You come to worship God, not to whisper, lounge or sleep. God's house deserves our very utmost reverence.

6) HELP STRANGERS TO FIND AND FOLLOW THE SERVICE. If they have no book, share yours with them. Sing! Join in the worship! Don't just sit!

7) ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT STRANGERS ARE THE GUESTS OF THE CHURCH MEMBERS. Treat them with the same courtesy as you would if they should visit in your home.

8) GIVE A GOOD OFFERING TO GOD. God loveth a cheerful giver. Freely ye have received.

9) NEVER RUSH FOR THE DOOR after benediction as though the church were on fire. Speak and be spoken to. Be congenial.

10) NEVER STAY AWAY FROM CHURCH BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS NOT PERFECT. How lonesome you would feel in a perfect church.

Author Unknown

Justification of Life is the Ground of the New Birth

#justification_regeneration_adoption_faith

#justification_manifested_by_faith

EVEN SO, faith is the consequence of justification by God's free grace.

Why? An unjustified man is still in his native state of condemnation and death, incapable of faith. Elementary. Period.

With the accounting of the righteousness of Christ in justification, freely by God's grace, IT IS UNTO justification of LIFE. LIFE enables faith.

Romans 5:18 KJV — Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Justification by God's free grace based on the righteousness of Christ alone is logically followed by the regeneration by the Holy Spirit; regeneration is accompanied by the adoption by the Father and the bestowal of the Spirit of adoption to dwell in the justified; the indwelling Spirit works the grace of faith in the child of God, enabling him to believe.

Romans 8:15 KJT
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Please note: eternal salvation is the gift,  not faith; faith is a saving grace, among all others, worked in a child of God by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Eph 2:8; Gal 5:22.

"The reason why any are justified IS NOT because they have faith; but the reason why they have faith IS because they are justified." Dr John Gill and ALL his old school Baptists contemporaries.

The new school Baptists - whether the Calvinistic or  the Arminian  variety - believe the reverse, i.e.  "The reason why any are justified IS because they have faith." That's ALSO putting the cart before the horse but they are oblivious of their folly.

O LORD, open Thou their eyes to see the error of their ways, and convert them to the gospel truth.

James 5 - KJT
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.