If anything, this dream shows that God has a sense of humor. Mr. Gunderson was a “cat of spiritual discernment.” It was a tabby cat from the Salvation Army and was named after a famous FBI Agent named Ted Gunderson who looked just like Mulder from The X-Files. When I looked out upon Vanity Fair, I saw what I thought was a man on stilts at first, but actually it was a 12 foot tall Billy Sunday, the fundamentalist preacher. Dr. John R. Rice says in his pamphlet Why Preach Against Sin? that William Booth and Billy Sunday both thundered against sin in their sermons (pgs. 3, 25). Interesting to know that Billy is a nickname for William.
Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. –1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NIV)–
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. –Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV)–
The cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. –Revelation 21:8 (NIV)–
WesleyGospel, The Gospel of Jesus Christ – A Wesleyan approach to soteriology. Presents the order of salvation from Hell, repentance, faith, justification, regeneration, sanctification, conditional security, and Heaven. Also, a response to non-judgmentalism. Extensive bibliography. Intended as preparatory study for evangelistic preaching. 170 pages. Get the paperback here. Listen to the audio here.
Galloway, J. B. A Study of Holiness from the Early Church Fathers. Originally this was published as a small book by Beacon Hill Press in 1951, the publishing house of Church of the Nazarene. It is an overview of quotations from the church fathers (as well as the heretics Clement of Alexandria and Origen), which appear to support entire sanctification in the Wesleyan and Holiness tradition. I obviously disagree with the author’s conclusions and interpretations of these texts; but it is a rare and useful study of the issue.
Gundry, Stanley, ed. Five Views on Sanctification (Zondervan, 1987). I would probably lean mainly or entirely toward “The Reformed Perspective” by Anthony Hoekema. While I adopt many of the things in Wesley’s view of sanctification, such as the use of the moral law, the means of grace, works of charity and piety, etc., I think you will also find all of these aspects in most Reformed views of sanctification. Where I disagree with “The Wesleyan Perspective” is when it implies original sin can be annihilated by entire sanctification in the Holy Spirit:–to me, that idea is imaginary and heretical.
Atoning is the blood of Jesus Christ Atoning is the blood of Jesus Christ Give into Him Give in, give into Live in the blood of Christ Give into Him Give in, give into Live in the blood of Christ He rose, He rose, He rose, He rose, He rose He rose, He rose, He rose Rose, rose, rose, rose –Embodyment, “Golgotha”–
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
A curse implies something more than mere anger. It is suggested by burning indignation; and truly our God is not only somewhat angry with sinners, but his wrath is great towards sin. Wherever sin exists, there the fulness of the power of the divine indignation is directed; and though the effect of that wrath may be for awhile restrained through abundant longsuffering, yet God is greatly indignant with the iniquities of men. We wink at sin, yes, and even harden our hearts till we laugh at it and take pleasure in it, but oh! let us not think that God is such as we are; let us not suppose that sin can be beheld by him and yet no indignation be felt. Ah! no, the most holy God has written warnings in his word which plainly inform us how terribly he is provoked by iniquity, as, for instance, when he saith, “Beware, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.” “Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies.” “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, the Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” –Charles Spurgeon
A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. –1 Timothy 2:11-12 (NIV)–
Your sons and daughters will prophesy. –Acts 2:17 (NIV)–
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Dr. John R. Rice, Bobbed Hair, Bossy Wives, and Women Preachers (Sword, 1941).
James Beck and Craig Blomberg, Two Views on Women In Ministry (Zondervan, 2001).
Piper and Grudem, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (Crossway, 2021).
Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become EXCEEDING SINFUL. –Romans 7:13 (KJV)–
When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. –Numbers 25:7-8 (KJV)–
The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:and upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. –Revelation 17:4-5 (KJV)–
They will not set their thoughts to return to their God: for THE SPIRIT OF FORNICATION is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord. –Hosea 5:4 (DRB)–
He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. –Malachi 3:2 (NKJV)–
Thou hast loved righteousness and HATED INIQUITY. –Hebrews 1:9 (KJV)–
How does the preacher go about this? I’m still working on it. And since it’s right around Valentine’s Day, my wife and I plan to do a podcast really soon on which WORDS are appropriate to use in sermons against sexual sin. The recent Mike Bickle report by the Firefly firm should be seen as a wake up call to the body of Christ. To WAKE UP tothe need for preaching sermons AGAINST sexual sin, to HATE that sin, and to LOVE RIGHTEOUSNESS. David Wilkerson’s sermon “Wild Donkeys” is a perfect example of this type of preaching that’s so desperately needed today. The old fundamentalist belief was that if there was enough strong preaching on sexual sin and Hell, then it would produce personal revival, spiritual deliverance, and transfer to the affections of the listeners A HATRED OF FORNICATION, so they would fear the reproach, damnation, and wave of destruction that such a sin causes. It should be highlighted and absolutely preached against as one of the most abominable transgressions, because it’s without question the most seductive and destructive influence on the family unit.
Let’s say a preacher is burdened and ready to go. Now what? Well watch your mouth preacher! Slang words don’t glorify the Lord, neither does depicting pornographic scenes into the minds of your listeners. The preacher’s job is not to preach erotic sermons, but to make sexual sin appear for what it is: a debasing, defiling, disgusting, family destroying force empowered by the devil himself.
Finding the right words, and excluding the wrong words is half the battle, and I’ll be closely examining Dr. John R. Rice’s Adultery and Sex Perversion and Why Preach Against Sin? to find the right words and try to do this with excellence. –J.B.
“The Dance–Child of the Brothel, Sister of Gambling and Drunkenness, Mother of Lust–Road to Hell!”
“Diseased, Decaying Bodies with Undying Maggots and Unquenched Fire in Hell” –Dr. John R. Rice–
5 If he who comes preaches ANOTHER JESUS whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! 5 For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. 6 Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things. –2 Corinthians 11:4-6 (NKJV)–
The cowardly, UNBELIEVING, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. –Revelation 21:8 (NKJV)–
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SCOT MCKNIGHT’S “DECONSTRUCTION” IDEA IS JUST LIBERALISM
He says that people who see problems with clergy sexual abuse in Bible believing churches need to do the following things to stay strong Christians:
1. Stop equating being a Bible believer with being a Republican.
2. Tolerate gays in their homosexual lifestyle.
3. Christians really need to be involved with economic inequality issues.
4. Reject the Biblical doctrine of Hell. Become a universalist.
5. Reject the authority, inspiration, and inerrancy of Scripture.
6. Reject complementarian gender roles.
7. Let Christian youth watch Harry Potter movies. If you do, then you’ll be cool.
8. Reject original sin; and instead view all non-Christians as basically good people.
9. Reject young earth creation; and accept theistic evolution as the truth.
10. Listen to backsliders and be friends with them, because that’s what statistics say.
11. Worship the liberal, progressive “Jesus” instead of the Jesus of the Bible.
12. Completely reject lordship salvation. Embrace universalism and easy believism.
Rome! Because you have destroyed the truth of God, let God destroy you in these flames! –Martin Luther–
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Scot McKnight, “What Are They Deconstructing?” (Sept. 30, 2024). Scot is a pastor in the Anglican Church In North America (ACNA). I went to one once. I stopped because the elder I spoke with used the f-word openly in front of my kids. I didn’t bother going a second time.
This message is based on 1 Samuel 2. Any similarity with real life pastors is purely coincidental.
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‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.’ –1 Samuel 2:30–
Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. –2 Corinthians 11:14 (NIV)–
This is an old painting that hangs at the Luther House. It commemorates the time when the devil appeared to Martin Luther while he was translating the Bible at Wartburg Castle. He saw an open vision of the devil and threw his inkwell at him to make him go away. The ink stain is still on the wall today. The painting suggests that the devil was offering to help him attain riches as a Catholic cardinal, which is why the devil has cardinal’s clothing on. The devil was probably telling him to stop translating the Bible; and that he would help him to become a rich and popular Catholic leader in a compromised church culture.