Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. –Matthew 5:11 (KJV)–
The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. –1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV)–
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. –1 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV)–
We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. –1 Corinthians 4:10 (KJV)–
George Marsh counting all things loss for the sake of Christ. —Foxe’s Book of Martyrs—
The worship of creation Seeming endless But it will end And every knee shall bow
Thoughts of a coincidental existence And a futureless world corrodes into the Spinal chord of the narcissistic man A paradigm shift for worse My ego is my god Given authority by the enlightenment Of science The enlightenment of the age of freedom Freedom – the name in which we legalize all The name in which we tolerate all
Credibility for truth, image for substance Weakness and failure Unbearable elements in life Subtly opposed through an endless flow of Constantly replaced trends, neither allowed To mature nor to fade The surroundings A mirror reflecting the signals Of admiration that makes my identity A constant egocentricity providing a Purging of anything threatening popularity
The peak of this shallowness Displayed by the so-called stars In their quest for self-actualisation This beautiful people experiencing The illusion of narcissistic prosperity Uncritically and boundlessly admired Simply for their own sake
–Extol, “Paradigms”–
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Dr. Leland Ryken, Worldly Saints (Zondervan, 1986), ch. 5: “Family.”
Dr. Hugh Pyle, The Truth About Rock Music (Sword of the Lord, 1985).
David Wilkerson, Set the Trumpet to Thy Mouth (World Challenge, 1985), ch. 4.
David Wilkerson, New Hope for Homosexuals (Teen Challenge, 1964).
—. Two of Me (Garden Valley Publishers, 1980).
Dr. Hugh Pyle, The Truth About the Homosexuals (Sword of the Lord, 1978).
Martin Bennett, I’m Gay…O.K.? (Last Days Ministries, 1984).
Leonard Ravenhill, Be Ye Angry And Sin Not (Last Days Ministries, 1982). I am angry when I read a letter from my friend and neighbor David Wilkerson announcing this near unbelievable perversion.
“Homosexuals now claim more than 50,000 members in their ‘all homosexual’ churches. The Metropolitan Community Church is one of many homosexual denominations springing up across the nation. I sent an observer to one of their annual ‘Holy Ghost’ conventions in Dallas, Texas. What unbelievable blasphemy!
“Each delegate, as they registered, was given a packet which included, among other things, two ‘boy’ magazines of all nude men and a list of all the gay bars in Dallas – so that delegates could leave the evening service, go to their selected bar, and connect with a lover for the night. And those delegates call themselves ‘ministers.’ How they did sing! They praised the Lord with enthusiasm; but their evangelist corrupted the Gospel beyond comprehension. He said, ‘Sure, Paul condemned men who changed the natural use and burned one toward another. But that’s not us. We didn’t change anything. We were born this way. So, come out of your closets. Be filled with the Holy Ghost, and enjoy your homosexuality!”
My anger over this is intensified when I read that the cutback in federal spending will cause some old folks to miss meals. Yet the same federal folks on the 5th of May, 1981, gave the Metropolitan Community (homosexual) Church $380,000 of our tax money to operate four resettlement centers for Cuban refugee homosexuals. (Just let the true Church of Jesus try to get the government to give us a dime to rescue men from an eternal hell!)
Christ rescued Tim by His death for men I accept Him in, I once slept in sin Yes, I’m now His resurrected kin But the Christian race is starting, so let’s begin What a hectic thing I’m stepping in A plethora of men and women expect to win Trying to cross the border like a Mexican But the kingdom doors are closing, let’s be pressing in! It’s not a competition to conquer Christians We help each other get across the finish line But those who turn back get killed when they halt And turn into a pillar of salt But I thought salvation’s through faith alone? Yes, but this faith is shown by those who make it home ’cause Christ’s words are clear Those who are saved endure to the end and persevere The pilgrimage is through the wilderness And I must kill my own sin and filthiness I see the grime that’s within, I’m despising my sin To see the King’s face is the prize at the end! ’cause my portion’s my Lord and my Father I brought nothin’ with me, but my Sword and my Armor And I brought a pocket full of manna And Christ’s righteousness, I’m rockin’ as my banner He paved the way exact and gave His map To help me stay away from Satan’s traps Plus, He gave me His Spirit to guide me When I’m weary and tired, His Spirit revives me I realized something drastic has happened That shapes my attractions and fashions my actions I died with Christ and rose with Him So now I have dominion over sin At first I ran great over landscapes ’cause I can’t wait to see the Lamb’s face Daily refreshed on new supplies of manna With my Sword, I’m killing lies and slander I see wolves in sheep’s clothes I was told that these foes are as greedy and cold as Pete Rose I avoided the pack But some of my boys were attacked and destroyed by the trap! I soon fell into a swamp of slime At the sight of my sin, I almost lost my mind And started spittin’ up at the sickenin’ stuff It was the sin that easily trips me up! These slithery cords started bringin’ me towards The bottom of the swamp, I was swingin’ my Sword To slice them off of me Now I feel trife and sloppy, see, and this life’s exhaustin’ me So I ran to a mountain of Love And dove headfirst in it’s fountain of blood After being renewed and cleansed I realized it’s better to run with a crew of friends Plus I realized I’m my worst enemy It’s my own sinful nature that hinders me On top of solid rock, I’m running again And not on soggy slop, I’m shunning my sin
“This is the fight of my life, I sure can’t afford to be slipping This is the fight of my life, I sure can’t afford to be slipping”
I then passed by the city of destruction And I seen how it’s wicked and disgustin’ Full of wicked worldliness And images of pretty girlie’s hips and jiggy pearly wrists When I passed their block, I was asked to stop But I had to say I’d rather not I was slapped and socked as the laughin’-stock I tried to warn them, “God’s wrath is hot!” But they abused this Christian, they refused to listen They wouldn’t choose the good news of the crucifixion This city was full of pagans braggin’ And its ruler was this huge flamin’ dragon But this one cat asked for the Messiah So I grabbed his hand and snatched him from the fire But then this girl, she stopped and gave up She loved the world more than the God of Jacob I must reset my pace for the rest of this hectic race So I shed some extra weight And kept my eyes on Christ, fixed on Him So I wouldn’t slip in sin and trip again But I took my eyes off Christ and tripped and stumbled Down this cliff, I crumbled, I ripped my bundle Plus my hand is cut, my pants are stuck And now I’ve fallen and I can’t get up! I see the world’s tyrant economy sponsored It was this giant pornography monster It grabbed my legs, I was stabbed with pegs So I had to pray for a path to escape Just then, rushed in a crew of brethren They rescued me from the poo I stepped in Forget a jar of scope, a bar of soap I washed in the blood of the Lamb of God to soak I seen my weakness, now my strength is crushed So Christ became my crutch and strength and trust Jesus is my treasure, but He feels so far away in this dry desert I know I must murder my sin and endure to the end But now I’m thirsting for Him And I’m so anxious So the Spirit led me to an oasis my soul craves this I drank from joyful springs To rest from my toil to sing to the anointed King (Hallelujah!) It renewed my hope in the open tomb But then I see the kingdom doors, they’re closing soon! I must be relentless to rush to the entrance Along with brothers who trust with repentance But there’s not a lot who are soldiers Who run with their cross on top of their shoulders By my road map, I’m soon reminded The gate is narrow and there’s few that find it And those that do, don’t dilly-dally in They’re really rowdy men who kill and battle sin But at the last stretch, the porn monster Returned to tempt me to be a whore-monger So with my Sword, I hacked it to pieces ’cause I’m way more attracted to Jesus! Now I enter the gates, endin’ this race Jesus, my Hope, and His Splendor awaits And though I’m pressin’ in, detestin’ sin It’s His blood and righteousness that gets me in I’m now ready to see His majesty “It’s the King of Glory!”, I’m screaming happily As I bask in His presence, perfect in pleasure I’ll worship forever with gladness and reverence Wonderin’ what’s to come And after ten thousand years, it’s as if it’s just begun Wonderin’ what’s to come And after a million years, it’s as if it’s just begun
—Timothy Brindle, “Pressing Into the Kingdom”–
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No man is to have sexual relations with another man; God hates that. –Leviticus 18:22 (GNT)–
On the very day Lot left Sodom, fiery flames poured down from the sky and killed everyone. –Jesus in Luke 17:29 (CEV)–
Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. –Jude 1:7 (NIV)–
In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. –Romans 1:27 (NIV)–
John Martin’s The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (1852)
The Lot’s Wife Pillar on Mount Sodom, Israel. The left side shows where her face was when she looked back at Sodom being destroyed. The right side shows what used to be her long hair coming down her upper back. The rest of the pillar shows the curvature of what used to be her body.
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Dr. Hugh Pyle, The Truth About the Homosexuals (Sword of the Lord, 1978).
Calvary Chapel Magazine, “California Bill Endangers Children, Overrides Parents.” (August 21, 2025). Pastor Jack Hibbs, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, CA, strongly encourages the voters of California to reject Assembly Bill (AB) 495 at the state Capitol on Tuesday. He has been warning Californians that this bill—which expands categories of those who can claim “caregiver” rights over a child—will strip them of their parental rights. Opponents say nightmare bill AB 495 exposes children to kidnappers, traffickers, and predators. It could become law within the next two weeks unless vetoed.
* CORRECTION: 32:20 – It wasn’t Epictetus, but it was Lucretius who taught a form of atheistic evolution in his book On the Nature of Things (50 BC).
Dr. MacArthur says at 1:20 that if a Christian has a genuine DESIRE to KNOW GOD, to be LOVED BY GOD, to LOVE GOD BACK, to HONOR GOD, and to OBEY THE WORD OF GOD from the heart, then that person is genuinely saved. On this last point, the flesh struggle of Romans 7 is brought to bear, and the bottom line reason why people often question the status of their salvation. Then he says that ALL born again Christians experience the conflicted flesh struggle of Romans 7: “join the club” he says. At 6:30 he says that some people have been “taught wrongly” that you can lose your salvation; and “that generates a certain amount of fear.” My response: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Php. 2:12, KJV). Then he comes back to saying that “unregenerate enemies of God don’t have those desires” to know God, love God, honor God, and obey the Word of God from the heart.
My response:
1. I agree with MacArthur that Scripture teaches a truly Spirit indwelt Christian will want to know God, love God, honor God, and obey the Word of God. Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are they that HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, for they shall be filled.” I also believe that Scripture says there is more to salvation assurance than this…
2. The WORKS OF PIETY and the WORKS OF MERCY will flow out of your heart, as you have the opportunity to act them out: public prayer, family prayer, private prayer, the Lord’s Supper, Bible study, fasting, feeding the hungry, clothing the needy, entertaining godly strangers, visiting prisoners, visiting the sick, and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost (see Matthew 25:31-46). Wesley: “We go on from grace to grace, while we are careful to “abstain from all appearance of evil,” and are “zealous of good works,” as we have opportunity, doing good to all men” (“The Scripture Way of Salvation” 1.8). These are not meant to be viewed or used as an earning system, a point system, or logging in our labor hours with God, but rather should only be viewed as signs, marks, or evidences of a true and genuine inward work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a real Christian born of the Spirit. The Articles of Religion say, “Although good works, which are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification, can not put away our sins, and endure the severity of God’s judgments; yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and spring out of a true and lively faith, insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree is discerned by its fruit.”
3. These outward physical actions, or good works, will come from the inward impulses called THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23, KJV). THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT, as a presence of fire within, confirming the Word of God as a sign following (Mark 16:20), as the disciples on the road to Emmaus: “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the way and while He opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32, KJV), and Wesley: “I felt my heart strangely warmed,” he said, as he was listening to someone else read Martin Luther’s Preface to Romans, “I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins.” The Holy Spirit took up residence in Wesley’s heart; and made his presence known by fire and love: “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5, KJV) and a sense of forgiveness and adoption into the kingdom of God: “Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:15-16, KJV).
4. KEEPING A CLEAN CONSCIENCE: “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck” (1 Timothy 1:19, KJV). Notice the conditional nature of this verse: if you hold on to your faith (in penal substitutionary atonement), and in addition to that, maintain a good, clear conscience before God, then you’re to be understood as living in a state of salvation before God; but on the other hand, if you previously had all that–faith in the atonement and a clean conscience–and then through a deliberate, premeditated, movement of rebellion, decide to “put away” your faith in the atonement and a clean conscience, now you’ve moved your soul into such a dangerous state that this can be said of your condition: “concerning faith have made shipwreck.” Try to make eternal security hold up to that in a court of law! It wouldn’t be able to: you’d have to be intellectually dishonest in order to make unconditional eternal security work after reading and understanding that. This is a genuine warning against apostasy: and is a warning that’s completely incompatible with the “if saved, always saved” concept, because the keeping power here is not attributed to the Holy Spirit in this text, but to the human will: to the act of YOU holding onto your faith in the cross and a good conscience. Keeping power is not attributed to God holding onto you as in John 10:28, but to your own act of holding onto your faith tightly and keeping a clean conscience. And what happens when you stop holding onto the cross? God lets you go: “If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26-27, KJV). So it should be clear, that whether we’re considering Old Testament examples like Samson, Saul, or Solomon, or New Testament examples like Judas, Hymenaeus, or Alexander, this remains a real possibility; and not a theoretical one: keeping is not simply a matter of God’s Spirit holding you in John 10:28 like a Shepherd that holds his sheep, but its also a matter of you as a human being continuing to hold onto the atonement and a clean conscience in 1 Timothy 1:19. John Wesley and his preachers win that argument with no contest after all the Scriptures have been considered. Martin Luther also saw things that way. Both of them would consider the Presbyterians and Baptists to be gravely wrong on this point! Guilty as sin too! Since they’ve been studying the Word of God for so long; and after four hundred years or so, still maintain such a lazy approach to so misguide souls into perdition, this most often being the case: all for the sake of alleviating people’s anxiety, and being more popular! Matthew 16:26: “What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” Critical error! –J.B.
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Dr. French Arrington, Christian Doctrine, vol. 2 (Pathway Press, 1992), ch. 10.
Dr. Kenneth J. Collins, The Scripture Way of Salvation (Abingdon Press, 1997).
—. Wesley on Salvation (Zondervan, 1989).
J.B., The Gospel of Jesus Christ (Kingsley Press, 2015), chs. 3-4.
J. Matthew Pinson, ed. Four Views on Eternal Security (Zondervan, 2002).
Adam Clarke, Christian Theology (Schmul, 1967), chs. 7-12, 30.