Paul Washer "A Living and Holy Sacrifice" Romans 12:1-2

Paul Washer speaks to prospective pastors at The Master's Seminary.

 

Commonly Misused Passages 2 and 3

Commonly Misused Passages 1: The Roman's Road

Are You Teachable?

For if you cry for discernment,

Lift your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord
And discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:3-6

When pride comes, then comes dishonor,
But with the humble is wisdom. 

Proverbs 11:2

Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,
Who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock from which you were hewn
And to the quarry from which you were dug.

Isaiah 51:1

But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Matthew 13:16-17

Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with [b]great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Acts 17:11

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

James 3:13

"Joy Born at Bethlehem" - Charles Spurgeon

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." Luke 2:10-12.

" The key-note of this angelic gospel is joy—

"I bring unto you good tidings of great joy....

  

   The joy which this first gospel preacher spoke of was no mean one, for he said, "I bring you good tidings"—that alone were joy: and not good tidings of joy only, but "good tidings of great joy."   Every word is emphatic, as if to show that the gospel is above all things intended to promote, and will most abundantly create the greatest possible joy in the human heart wherever it is received.... 

Rejoice,  ye who feel that ye are lost; your Saviour comes to seek and save you.    Be of good cheer ye who are in prison, for he comes to set you free.   

Ye who are famished and ready to die, Rejoice that he has consecrated for you a Bethlehem, a house of bread, and he has come to be the bread of life to your souls.

 Rejoice, O sinners, everywhere for the restorer of the castaways, the Saviour of the fallen is born. Join in the joy, ye saints, for he is the preserver of the saved ones, delivering them from innumerable perils, and he is the sure prefecter of such as he preserves. Jesus is no partial Saviour, beginning a work and not concluding it; but, restoring and upholding, he also prefects and presents the saved ones without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing before his Father's throne.

Rejoice aloud all ye people, let your hills and valleys ring with joy, for a Saviour who is mighty to save is born among you.....     

   I say, then, to you who would know the only true peace and lasting joy, come ye to the babe of Bethlehem, in after days the Man of Sorrows, the substitutionary sacrifice for sinners.

Come, ye little children, ye boys and girls, come ye; for he also was a boy.  "The holy child Jesus" is the children's Saviour, and saith still,  "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not."

Come hither, ye maidens, ye who are still in the morning of your beauty, and, like Mary, rejoice in God your Saviour.    The virgin bore him on her bosom, so come ye and bear him in your hearts,saying, "Unto us a child is born, onto us a son is given."                                                                                                                                       

And you, ye men in the plenitude of your strength, remember how Joseph cared for him, and watched with reverent solicitude his tender years; be you to his cause as a Father and a helper; sanctify your strength to his service.

And ye women advanced in years, ye matrons and widows, come like Anna and bless the Lord that you have seen the salvation of Israel, and ye hoar heads, who like Simeon are ready to depart, come ye and take the Saviour in your arms, adoring him as your Saviour and your all.

Ye shepherds, ye simple hearted, ye who toil for your daily bread, come and adore the Saviour; and stand not back ye wise men, ye who know by experience and who by meditation peer into deep truth, come ye, and like the sages of the East bow low before his presence, and make it your honor to pay honor to Christ the Lord.

  ... May all in this house, through the rich grace of God, be led to do the same, and may they all be thine, great Son of God, in the day of thine appearing, for thy love's sake.  Amen." ~ Charles Spurgeon 

Excerpts from  Charles Spurgeon’s sermon “Joy Born At Bethlehem”

Delivered on December 24th, 1871 at the Metropolitan Tabernacle

To read full sermon transcript click HERE

God's Solution: Justification & Regeneration by Paul Washer

Related article:

Does Romans 10:9-10 or Romans 10:13 Teach the "Sinner's Prayer?"

Flattery

"All flattery is dangerous; self-flattery is more dangerous; but self-flattery in the business of salvation, is the most dangerous of all." - John Flavel

Do You Truly Know The Lord? Paul Washer at The Master's College

Last month my kids, some friends, and I had the privilege of hearing Paul Washer live at The Master's College chapel. As usual he delivered a powerful and stirring message. He implores the students, who may be numb to the Gospel, to deeply examine themselves using the scripure of evidences of true conversion. I admire his genuine love for the lost.

Audio and MP3 download HERE.

“Another Gospel?” by Harry A. Ironside

HERE is only one Gospel ¾ only one true message of good news from heaven. But there are many substitutes offered in place of the Gospel. It was so in the beginning. It is so now. The apostle

Paul wrote to the Galatians:

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel; which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians1:6-9)

THESE are intensely solemn words. They come bubbling up from the steaming heart of the indignant apostle in righteous wrath as he learns of pretentious carnal legalists deliberately seeking to mislead eternally-bound souls with a false message which could only, like a will-o-the-wisp, lead to ruin and destruction at last. He would have us know it is a fearfully wicked thing to trifle with the sacred heaven – sent message that has come to a needy world declaring the grace of God to poor lost sinners.

WHAT then is this Gospel of which the apostle was so jealous? He tells us plainly in 1st Corinthians 15:1-4:

“… I declare unto you the gospel… how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

Note carefully: The Gospel is God’s wonderful story of His beloved Son. It is a message of grace to be received in faith. It is not a code of laws to be obeyed or good advice to be followed. It is not a system of ritual observances or a call to submit to certain ordinances. It does not set forth the claims of any human church organization, however venerable, nor does it exhort men to seek after experiences, however remarkable, though a blessed experience follows its acceptance. It simply sets forth Christ crucified and risen as the Savior of all who believe in Him.

WHEN THE MORMON elder comes declaring that an angel revealed a gospel of salvation through a restored church and renewed ordinances, he is preaching another gospel, and angel and man are alike under the curse.

WHEN THE LEGALIST comes insisting that salvation is by obedience to God’s holy law (which in itself is just and good), he is preaching another gospel, for the Word of God declares, “By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight.”

WHEN THE REVIVALIST comes promising salvation to those “who make a full surrender” of all that they have to God, and who “pay the price of full salvation,” he is preaching another gospel, for the price was paid on Calvary’s cross and the work that saves is finished. It was Christ Jesus who made the full surrender, when He yielded Himself unto death for us that we might be redeemed from the curse of the broken law and forever saved from the judgment to come upon all who refuse His grace.

WHEN THE MODERNIST prates in glowing terms and honeyed phrases of salvation by character, salvation by altruism, salvation by ethical culture, he, too is proclaiming another gospel, for if character could have saved, Christ need not have died; if altruism would have fitted sinful men for heaven, the Lord Jesus would surely have told us so; if ethical culture could deliver from the wrath of God, what place would Gethsemane, Calvary and the Empty Tomb have in the Divine economy?

WHEN THE CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST (falsely so-called) denies the reality of sin, disease and death and lulls sinners to sleep by telling them that “God is all and all is God,” even going so far as to declare the death of Christ was unreal, and His resurrection simply spiritual, and that the blood of Jesus was no more efficacious to cleanse from sins when shed upon the accursed tree than when it was flowing in His veins, he, or she, is promulgating another gospel, which is not another, for it is a baseless dream, a weird and blasphemous “error of mortal mind” that will leave its votaries at last without God and without hope.

THE SOLEMN FACT IS THERE IS NO OTHER GOSPEL. Every pretended substitute is but a Satan-devised delusion meant to turn men away from the strait gate which alone leads into the narrow way, and make them contented as they crowd down the clear side of the broad way to eternal perdition.

BEFORE there can really be another gospel there must be another savior and another Holy Spirit, and this can never be. Nor is any other gospel needed, for the grand old Gospel of the grace of God is all-sufficient to save “whosoever will,” and has demonstrated its power throughout the centuries by transforming lost miserable sinners into happy joyous saints. Paul says:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith” (Romans 1:16,17).

THE Gospel needs only to be preached in the power of the Holy Spirit to hold its own against every imitation and substitute that the mind of the natural man energized by Satan can devise. Like the Bible itself it is divinely inspired and, therefore, preeminently fitted for the needs of mankind… It convinces the mind and satisfies the heart, if men but take the place of repentant sinners and accept it by faith. It is the dynamic of God unto the deliverance of all who believe it. To refuse it is to be lost. To receive its message is to be saved.

IT reveals the righteousness of God, making known how He “can be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.” Satan’s false gospels all pretend to show how man can establish his own righteousness. The Gospel of Christ comes to unrighteous men and tells them of a righteousness that is divine which is imputed to all who believe.

ANOTHER gospel ¾ whatever its outward form ¾ will always be found to center in something that man can be or do in order to obtain merit. The Gospel of God declares what Christ has done in order that the salvation purchased may be justly offered to sinners.

ANOTHER gospel presupposes some strength, some ability to please God, in the natural man. God’s Gospel declares that when “we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

ANOTHER gospel will land you in hell! God’s Gospel, believed, will bring you safe to heaven.

Dr. Harry A. Ironside

TURNING from every false hope, I beseech my unsaved reader to rest in what Scripture declares concerning Christ, and thus be able to sing in faith:

“Upon a life I did not live, Upon a death I did not die, Another’s life, Another’s death I hang my whole eternity. None will ever be confounded who put their trust in Him.”

*The writings of Harry A. Ironside are in the public domain and can be used freely.

O Holy Spirit - A Puritan Prayer

In the Puritan prayer book, Valley of Vision, the authentic work of the Holy Spirit is beautifully implored. 

"O Holy Spirit,

As the sun if full of light,
the ocean full of water,
Heaven full of glory, so may my heart be full of thee.

Vain are all divine purposes of love
and the redemption wrought by Jesus
except thou work within,
regenerating by thy power,
giving me eyes to see Jesus,
showing me the realities of the unseen world.

Give me thyself without measure,
as an unimpaired fountain,
as inexhaustible riches.

I bewail my coldness, poverty, emptiness,
imperfect vision, languid service,
prayerless prayers, praiseless praises.

Suffer me not to grieve or resit thee.

Come as power,
to expel every rebel lust, to reign supreme
and keep me thine;

Come as teacher,
leading me into all truth, filling me with
all understanding;

Come as love,
that I may adore the Father and love him
as my all;

Come as joy;
to dwell in me, move in me, animate me;

Come as light,
illuminating the Scripture, moulding me
in its laws;

Come as sanctifier,
body, soul and spirit wholly thine;

Come as helper,
with strength to bless and keep, direct my
every step;

Come as beautifier,
bringing order out of confusion, loveliness
out of chaos.

Magnify to me thy glory by being magnified in me,
and make me redolent [strongly reminiscent or suggestive of] thy fragrance."

Why Are Young People Leaving the Church?

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. 

Likewise urge the young men to be sensible;  in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us. Titus 2:3-8 (Emphasis mine)

What I've seen over the 20 years of being a Christian is young people graduate high school or college who leave youth group/student ministry and follow their peers to younger churches. 

Those younger and hip churches lack older saints who have a gold mine of life time wisdom who are not connecting with these younger men and women. This gap creates an environment of immature baby Christians, who learn from more immature Christians, and they remain immature Christians.

Over time this problem creates an imbalance of age groups in biblical churches.

So why is this happening?

Age segregation defies the Titus 2 main principle of discipleship. The passage above is singular in context of a one on one relationship.

 If we separate young people in to their own culture within the church they'll have a hard time connecting and bonding with older men and women in the church's main population.

These older folks are also their family; come to the church of Jesus and find your uncles, fathers, brothers and grandfathers. It is not biblical for my children to depend solely on their peers for fellowship. "He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm." Proverbs 13:20

This is mainly the parents' responsibility to encourage and enable their kids form connections with older saints, but what happens if there are young people who are without parental support? Perhaps their father or both parents are unbelievers and they are not getting the discipleship training they need. That is where the church can jump in and use hospitality, spiritually adopt a young person, and demonstrate an authentic Christian home.

Often times the young person of an unbelieving family are sent to a youth group with their friends, but they are not getting one on one from a mature Christian. They often slip through the cracks and go on unchallenged in their Christian walk.

Even though I disagree with Mike Hauser's pragmatic philosophy of WHY young people are leaving the church they grew up in, I do agree with his solution because it lines up more to the biblical standard.  




Related articles:

Reflection on Becoming a Titus 2 Woman by Sherry Wilson

Pyromanics: "Too many old people"?

Ongoing Pastoral Counseling of an Abuser is a Formula for Trouble

I was part of a women's ministry for many years, and even in that environment the afflicted women were coaxed to get their Titus 2 on and go back to their husbands.

I don't understand the point in having shepherds if they won't protect the weak in the flock they vowed to protect; very sad.

"It has occurred to me lately that we are hearing about a very common pattern experienced by Christians who are abuse victims. They have gone to their pastor for help and the pastor decided to start meeting regularly with the abuser to counsel and “fix” the problem. Some time goes on – perhaps months or longer. Pastor and abuser meeting, talking, fixing. Then the inevitable day arrives. The victim receives a call or note from the pastor asking that she begin to meet with her husband and the pastor. It seems that great progress has been made and now it is time to get her involved. What should she do?"

"Don’t go. Don’t go. Don’t go."

Full article here.

Related article:

Signs Your Husband May be Addicted to Pornography

Abstinence is unrealistic and old fashioned

Another reblog! This excellent article will encourage young people, and make parents like me pump their arms.

"There’s plenty of ignorance on the subject. Plenty of confusion. But it’s the lies I hate. The lies that come from people who know better. The people who have made mistakes and now encourage others to make them, too."
Full article here

Christian Women Bloggers: Maintaining God-Intended Femininity

The Lord is showing me some things.

"Since the publication of my book, Should She Preach? - Biblical Evangelism for Women, I have received questions from several sisters in Christ regarding to what extend can Christian women write, teach, and or share the gospel online (i.e. blogs, journals, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc.). It's a legitimate question. Some Christian women have asked the question in a sincere and thoughtful way, while others have asked the question with venom in their words, ready for a fight." Tony Miano

Full article here.

Related posts:

Recovering Biblical Womanhood - Paul Washer

Mentoring: A Blessed Call

Being a Wife and Mother - Charo Washer

Horrible Advice From an Elder

In the middle of my second separation from my abusive ex-husband, the elder of our church called. He called to inform me my soul was in danger. It did not matter that my physical life, my emotional life was in danger from the abuse. He insisted that there was something much worse for me. “God hates divorce,“ he said. “Go back to your husband. Submit to him. Put a hundred and ten percent into the marriage what you want out of it. It will work. He is not abusive. He has poor coping skills that’s all.”

Full article here.

What is Regeneration? By Matthew Barrett

Regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit to unite the elect sinner to Christ by breathing new life into that dead and depraved sinner so as to raise him from spiritual death to spiritual life, removing his heart of stone and giving him a heart of flesh, so that he is washed, born from above and now able to repent and trust in Christ as a new creation. Moreover, regeneration is the act of God alone and therefore it is monergistic in nature, accomplished by the sovereign act of the Spirit apart from and unconditioned upon man’s will to believe. In short, man’s faith does not cause regeneration but regeneration causes man’s faith.

In Deuteronomy 30:6 we read, “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” If the circumcision of the heart refers to regeneration (cf. Rom. 2:25–27), then to what purpose does God promise to circumcise the heart? He circumcises the heart “so that” his people will love the Lord. The Lord does not circumcise their hearts “because” they acted in repentance and faith by loving the Lord. Rather, it is God’s sovereign act of circumcising the heart that causes the sinner to love him. Nowhere in Deuteronomy 30:6 do we see any indication that God’s sovereign act of circumcising the heart is conditioned on the will of man to believe. Rather, it is quite the opposite. The Lord must first circumcise the heart so that the sinner can exercise a will that believes.

Matthew Barrett, from his booklet, What is Regeneration? by P&R Publishing

Original article here.

Christian Counselor Litmus Test

Forgiveness

I've never been popular. I guess you can call me the black sheep in my family, school and even church. My lack of conformity to unspoken rules has always made it hard for me to assimilate with the majority. 

I often ask "Why?" in certain situations, and sometimes it gets me in trouble. For example, if someone asks me why I don't wear a dress to church, I will as politely as I can, ask why and where that is in scripture? Would Jesus love me less if I wore pants? I tend to share what I'm thinking and feeling and sometimes it makes a lot of people uncomfortable. I'm trying to be more congenial in these situations, but it doesn't come naturally.

Being somewhat awkward and unyielding in nature has made me a target for mistreatment even among professing Christians. They often feel justified in their slights and disregard towards me. I've also been verbally trampled upon by a well known Christian leader in my community for sharing a concern of mine. In my confusion, sensitivity, and despair I withdrew, licked my wounds while bitterness would root in my heart defiling many. 

Frankly I expect more from Christians. I would forgive with the condition in my mind hoping that the Holy Spirit in their growth in sanctification would show them their error, and they will ask me for their forgiveness. I would day dream there would be tears, hugs, and reconciliation, but it never happens. Month after month, year after year they continue to go along as if nothing ever happened, justified in their poor treatment towards a sister in Christ.

With all that said, let me get one thing straight, I'm not saying I'm a victim. I know that there is at least some responsibility on my part in every situation. I'm sure there are also plenty of people that I have wounded unaware. I hope I would do anything to help restore our relationship. My heart is deceitfully wicked and who can know it? I'm far from perfect.

I've been thinking, researching, and praying about forgiveness, and the Lord revealed something big to me. In this verse Jesus teaches Peter in the following passage:

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."

I've always thought the above verse meant the amount of sins to forgive and forgiveness is a one time deal. However, my heart would reveal there is still unforgiveness even after I thought I dealt with it. I noticed the word "sin" is singular. This is really important. I have to REPEATEDLY chose to forgive for even the same sin. Forgiveness is a process and seven times may not be enough. I may have to forgive that person hundreds of times out of obedience to the Lord until my heart is free from that burden.

I've experienced this with my parents. Before I was even saved I harbored a lot of anger and bitterness towards them. I'm not going in to details here because I still want to honor them, but forgiving them even as a Christian was a long process that took many years. I spent much time in confession to the Lord of my resentment. Eventually those painful memories that I held on to began to fade. The Lord set my heart free of the hurt that previously imprisoned me. It is true that if I forgive, I will eventually forget. I now have an amazing relationship with my mother and father.

Forgiveness is not easy for any of us. Forgiveness my require a lifetime of forgiving. It is so important to the Lord that I forgive and forgive again until the matter is completely settled in my heart. It is for my good because He loves me.

J. R. Miller ~ Touching Others

I wish emotionally I would do better at surprise trials. It's these times when I'm reminded of my shortcomings and God's amazing grace. I also appreciate the sisters He brings in to ground and comfort me when passions run high, and get me back to thinking clearly again.

O Magnify the Lord With Me ~ A Marriage Plea

Since I've been homeschooling these last three years, I haven't had much time to write what's been on my heart as much. For this season in my life, I'll have to let videos and other authors do it for me.

I was moved deeply by this sermon excerpt from a wedding on May 19, 2012. Bob Jennings, who gave the service, went home to be with Jesus shortly after in November 2012.

Are You A Do, Do, Do Christian?

I'm finally, after walking with the Lord for almost 20 years, getting this.

 

Church Service, for Believers or Unbelievers?

'Is it not the point of Church services and assemblies “the assembling of ourselves together?” Assembling of saints together exhorting one another, considering each other to provoke unto love and to good works? Outrageous would the claim be that this too is applicable to the unbelieving world is it not? Then why is it that men still continue to pursue such a thought? Why is it though having known this text people still endeavor to change what is to be by Scripture to what their hearts and minds desire? As all things that are in this ever so rising tide of infidelity it is because we think we know better. The oldest sin in the book.' Full article HERE.

Related Links:

Something Is Missing In The Church by Leonard Ravenhill

Why Is There So Much Sin In The Church?

Bring True Converts to Church

You Might Be a Pragmatist

Do You Really Love Your Neighbor?

What makes me sad and feel helpless as a mother is to see subtle social bullying by those who profess to be Christian. If you claim to know Jesus Christ as your Savior and you shun, avoid, spurn or ignore people who are different...repent, or better yet examine yourself to see if you're in the faith. You are called to love your neighbor as yourself.

When God saved me 20 years ago, the first thing I noticed was the love I had for His people. It confused me when I would see Christians treating other believers poorly. I'm not saying I've never done it, but this behavior should not be a regular part of our lives. 

The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8

Encourage Your Pastor ~ Charles Spurgeon

If you do not encourage your minister, your minister will probably sink down in despair. Remember that the man himself needs encouragement, because he is weak. Who is sufficient for these things?

To serve in any part of the spiritual army is dangerous, but to be a captain is to be doubly exposed. The most of the shots are aimed at the officers. If Satan can find a flaw in our character, then it will be, "Publish it, publish it, publish it!" If he can lead us to keep back a doctrine or go amiss in practice, or wander in experience, he is glad enough. How delighted is the devil to break the vessels of mercy.

Pray for the poor man, whom you expose to perish if you do not preserve him by supplication. If there were a ship at sea stranded and broken on the rocks, and someone volunteered to carry a rope to the sinking crew, you, standing on the shore, could do no more, methinks you could not do less, than cry, "O God! help him to bear the rope to that wrecked ship."

Pray for the minister and encourage him, for there are plenty to discourage him. There are always carping spirits abroad who will remind him of any fault; he will be afflicted by those dastards who will not dare to sign their names to a letter, but send it to him anonymously; and then there is the devil, who, the moment the man has got out of the pulpit, will say, "There is a poor sermon! You will never dare to preach again."

After he has been preaching for weeks there will come a suggestion, "You are not in your proper sphere of labor." There are all sorts of discouragements to be met with. Professing Christians will backslide. Those who do remain will often be inconsistent, and he will be sighing and crying in his closet, while you, perhaps, are thanking God that your souls have been fed under him.

Encourage your minister, I pray you, wherever you attend—encourage him for your own sake. A discouraged minister is a serious burden upon the congregation. When the fountain gets out of order, you cannot expect to find water at any of the taps; and if the minister be not right, it is something like a steam engine in a great manufactory—everybody's loom is idle when the motive-power is out of order.

See that he is resting upon God and receiving his divine power, and you will all know, each Sabbath day, the benefit of it. This is the least thing you can do. There are many other things which may cause you expense, effort, time, but to encourage the minister is so easy, so simple a matter, that I may well press upon you to do it.

Wretched: Paul Washer How to KNOW you are a Christian.

Charo Washer ~ Being a Wife and Mother

For those who know me or read my blog must know that I highly admire Paul Washer. I have his same passion for the lost, false converts, the church, and the family.

 Here is his wife, Charo, who gave an amazing testimony in 2006 of her own false conversion as a missionary and pastor's wife. Since then she has experienced our God's amazing transformation and is teaching on the family. I like that there is not a whole lot of fluffy or flowery talk. This is just straight up wisdom which I believe women really need in our day. Even though this is a translation it's still worth the time.

False Converts: My Deepest Burden

I get some opposition from my Christian friends that I'm judgmental when I've shared my concern about false converts. Most of what I post here echos that burden because it is love that motivates me; it's love for God, love for His church, and love for people.

Below is a list from Todd Friel of "Evangelical Phrases that Produce False Converts 13 Evangelistic Phrases That Produce False Converts.

Before reading on, it's important to understand that true faith as well as repentance is a gift from God. We can't muster faith anymore than Lazarus can raise himself from the dead. He responded to the call from Jesus himself.

Have you received the amazing supernatural gift of being transformed (repentance) by the Holy Spirit?

1. Make Jesus your Lord and Savior. We cannot make Jesus our Lord and Savior, He is our Lord and Savior. We are living in rebellion to Him and He commands us to repent and trust Him.

2. Ask Jesus into your heart. Does Jesus come into our hearts? Yes He does. The question is, “How does He get in there?” It is not by simply asking Him in; it is by repentance and faith.

3. Just believe in Jesus. The demons believe and they tremble. We must repent and trust.

4. You have a God-shaped hole in your heart and only Jesus can fill it. We have far more than a hole that needs to be filled so we can feel complete; we have a wretched, deceitful, sinful heart that needs cleansing. Repentance and faith applies the blood of the lamb for that cleansing.

5. Accept Jesus. Whoa. We need to accept Jesus? This is entirely backward. We need Jesus to accept us–and He will, if we repent and trust.

6. Make a decision for Jesus. Decisional regeneration puts man in the driver’s seat of salvation. When we repent and trust, Jesus decides to save us. That puts Him in the driver’s seat…where He demands.

7. It is easy to believe. While the formula of repentance and faith sounds simple, a complete surrendering of self in repentance is anything but easy. It’s hard.

8. God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. The only promises for the convert are trials, temptation and persecution. If that is how you define a wonderful life, fine. Otherwise we must command all men everywhere to repent and trust.

9. Come to Jesus just as you are. We should come to Jesus just as the sinners we are, but He also expects a broken heart and contrite spirit demonstrated in repentance and faith.

10. Come to Jesus and you will receive forgiveness of sins and ________________ (fill in the blank with money, health, a healed marriage). Jesus didn’t promise healed marriages; in fact He promised broken homes because we would divide when one member repents and trusts.

11. Come to Jesus and experience love, joy, peace. Do we get the fruit of the Spirit upon conversion? Yes. But if we come seeking the gifts and not the giver, we will receive neither. Instead, we must repent and trust.

12. Jesus is the missing piece. Um, no, the God of the universe is not the missing piece, He demands that He is the center of our lives when we repent and trust.

13. Jesus is better than fame and fortune. That is an understatement, and frankly, it is insulting. Saying Jesus is better than money is like saying that a steak dinner is better than eating a dung hill. He defies comparison and we trivialize the Son of God. Instead, we should be pleading with all men everywhere to repent and trust.

A.W. Pink: Unbelievers