I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. –Jeremiah 23:21-22 (KJV)–
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! –Isaiah 5:20 (KJV)–
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. –Proverbs 16:6 (KJV)–
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Sermons against sin, sermons on repentance, sermons on Hell and the fear of God, gory sermons on the passion of Christ. These are all called “negative” and “depressing,” because unrepentant porno addicts with a “manly” Promise Keepers mentality, don’t grieve over their sins, don’t weep and even laugh at people who weep over sin, are maniacs who indulge their flesh with euphoria, and don’t hate sin, and have no desire to hate sin and love righteousness. Porn and worldly movies have hardened their hearts in sin; and they are past feeling. Their formerly guilty consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They have lost the gift of repentance; and are so far gone into backsliding, that they make jokes about godly people who do try to fear God. Whereas once they were persecuted for righteousness, now they have become persecutors, because of money. Such are the preachers of the so-called Purpose Driven Life and Power of Positive Thinking. Such are the preachers of self-love, false hope, personal dream fulfillment, and other self-help business themes. Such are the sermons of backslidden pastors, who’ve abandoned God’s call to be preachers of righteousness. Sellouts! Fakes! Phonies! Just like Faust who sold his soul to the devil for success.–J.B.
Father of Lies Burn with your legion Suffer inside eternal Abyss God has terminated my soul The committed: “I want to dwell within Your Embrace.”
I had a dream of this reality My decision to live by my means I took what’s mine, never regret, until now Separation from the love I took for granted Separation from the truth revealed to me –Living Sacrifice, “Separation”–
Put on the garments of praise For the spirit of heaviness Let the oil of gladness flow down From your throne Put on the garments of praise For the spirit of heaviness Your joy is my strength alone My strength alone
Make these broken weary bones Made to dance again Wet this dry and thirsty land With a river Lord, our eyes are fixed on you We are waiting For your garland of grace As we praise your name
Hallelujah, sing hallelujah We give all honor and praise to Your name Hallelujah, sing hallelujah We trade our sorrows for garments of praise
I agree with Suzy Lamb. With all the other YouTube channels trying to report on clergy sexual abuse, Julie stands out to me as the journalist who wants to help victims, and not just attack the Church, but to help it move in the right direction. –J.B.–
Freak out and give in Doesn’t matter what you believe in Stay cool And be somebody’s fool this year ‘Cause they know Who is righteous, what is bold So I’m told
Who wants honey? As long as there’s some money Who wants that honey?
Oh-oh, oh-oh Hipsters unite Come align for the big fight to rock (For you) But beware All those angels with their wings glued on ‘Cause deep down They are frightened and they’re scared If you don’t stare
Who wants honey? As long as there’s some money Who wants that honey?
Let me out
Tell me all of your secrets Cannot help but believe this is true Tell me all of your secrets I know, I know, I know Should have listened when I was told
Who wants that honey? As long as there’s some money Who wants that honey?
Let me out –Smashing Pumpkins, “Cherub Rock”–
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13 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. –Matthew 5:13-16 (NKJV)–
Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. –2 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV)–
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. –James 4:4 (NKJV)–
I look upon all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation. –John Wesley–
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Christ had lately called his disciples, and told them that they should be fishers of men; here he tells them further what he designed them to be–the salt of the earth, and lights of the world, that they might be indeed what it was expected they should be.
I. Ye are the salt of the earth. This would encourage and support them under their sufferings, that, though they should be treated with contempt, yet they should really be blessings to the world, and the more so for their suffering thus. The prophets, who went before them, were the salt of the land of Canaan; but the apostles were the salt of the whole earth, for they must go into all the world to preach the gospel. It was a discouragement to them that they were so few and so weak. What could they do in so large a province as the whole earth? Nothing, if they were to work by force of arms and dint of sword; but, being to work silent as salt, one handful of that salt would diffuse its savour far and wide; would go a great way, and work insensibly and irresistibly as leaven, Matthew 13:33. The doctrine of the gospel is as salt; it is penetrating, quick, and powerful (Hebrews 4:12); it reaches the heart Acts 2:37. It is cleansing, it is relishing, and preserves from putrefaction. We read of the savour of the knowledge of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14); for all other learning is insipid without that. An everlasting covenant is called a covenant of salt (Numbers 18:19); and the gospel is an everlasting gospel. Salt was required in all the sacrifices (Leviticus 2:13), in Ezekiel’s mystical temple, Ezekiel 43:24. Now Christ’s disciples having themselves learned the doctrine of the gospel, and being employed to teach it to others, were as salt. Note, Christians, and especially ministers, are the salt of the earth.
1. If they be as they should be they are as good salt, white, and small, and broken into many grains, but very useful and necessary. Pliny says, Sine sale, vita humana non potest degere–Without salt human life cannot be sustained. See in this, (1.) What they are to be in themselves–seasoned with the gospel, with the salt of grace; thoughts and affections, words and actions, all seasoned with grace, Colossians 4:6. Have salt in yourselves, else you cannot diffuse it among others, Mark 9:50. (2.) What they are to be to others; they must not only be good but do good, must insinuate themselves into the minds of the people, not to serve any secular interest of their own, but that they might transform them into the taste and relish of the gospel. (3.) What great blessings they are to the world. Mankind, lying in ignorance and wickedness, were a vast heap of unsavoury stuff, ready to putrefy; but Christ sent forth his disciples, by their lives and doctrines, to season it with knowledge and grace, and so to render it acceptable to God, to the angels, and to all that relish divine things. (4.) How they must expect to be disposed of. They must not be laid on a heap, must not continue always together at Jerusalem, but must be scattered as salt upon the meat, here a grain and there a grain; as the Levites were dispersed in Israel, that, wherever they live, they may communicate their savour. Some have observed, that whereas it is foolishly called an ill omen to have the salt fall towards us, it is really an ill omen to have the salt fall from us.
2. If they be not, they are as salt that has lost its savour. If you, who should season others, are yourselves unsavoury, void of spiritual life, relish, and vigour; if a Christian be so, especially if a minister be so, his condition is very sad; for, (1.) He is irrecoverable: Wherewith shall it be salted? Salt is a remedy for unsavoury meat, but there is no remedy for unsavoury salt. Christianity will give a man a relish; but if a man can take up and continue the profession of it, and yet remain flat and foolish, and graceless and insipid, no other doctrine, no other means, can be applied, to make him savoury. If Christianity do not do it, nothing will. (2.) He is unprofitable: It is thenceforth good for nothing; what use can it be put to, in which it will not do more hurt than good? As a man without reason, so is a Christian without grace. A wicked man is the worst of creatures; a wicked Christian is the worst of men; and a wicked minister is the worst of Christians. (3.) He is doomed to ruin and rejection; He shall be cast out–expelled the church and the communion of the faithful, to which he is a blot and a burden; and he shall be trodden under foot of men.Let God be glorified in the shame and rejection of those by whom he has been reproached, and who have made themselves fit for nothing but to be trampled upon.
—MATTHEW HENRY COMMENTARY—
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Arthur Gish, Beyond the Rat Race (Herald Press, 1973).
Dr. John R. Rice, The Unequal Yoke (Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1946).
—. The Evangelist (Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1968).
Richard Steele, The Religious Tradesman (Sprinkle Publications, 1989).
Viola Walden, John R. Rice: The Captain of Our Team (Sword of the Lord, 2000).
Billy Graham, A Biblical Standard for Evangelists (World Wide Publications, 1984).
Ernest Pickering, Biblical Separation (Regular Baptist Press, 1979).
J. C. Ryle, Separation from the World (Waymark Books, 2012).
Watchman Nee, Separation from the World (Living Stream Ministry, 1993).
Repent ye, and believe the Gospel. –Mark 1:15 (KJV)–
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. –2 Thessalonians 1:8 (KJV)–
The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. –Titus 2:11-12 (KJV)–
The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. –Revelation 21:8 (KJV)–
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. –1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (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)–
By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Not of works, lest any man should boast.For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. –Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV)–
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. –Philippians 2:12 (KJV)–
Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell. –Matthew 10:28 (KJV)–
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. –Matthew 28:20 (KJV)–
Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. –Hebrews 12:14 (KJV)–
I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts. –Hebrews 8:10 (KJV)–
If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into Hell. –Matthew 5:29 (KJV)–
The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. –1 Samuel 16:14 (KJV)–
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. –Matthew 25:44-46 (KJV)–
“Ye shall therefore be perfect, as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” And who says, ye shall not; or, at least, not till your soul is separated from the body? It is the doctrine of St. Paul, the doctrine of St. James, of St. Peter, and St. John; and no otherwise Mr. Wesley’s, than as it is the doctrine of every one who preaches the pure and the whole gospel. I tell you, as plain as I can speak, where and when I found this. I found it in the oracles of God, in the Old and New Testament; when I read them with no other view or desire but to save my own soul. But whosoever this doctrine is, I pray you, what harm is there in it? Look at it again; survey it on every side, and that with the closest attention. In one view, it is purity of intention, dedicating all the life to God. It is the giving God all our heart; it is one desire and design ruling all our tempers. It is the devoting, not a part, but all our soul, body, and substance to God. In another view, it is all the mind which was in Christ, enabling us to walk as Christ walked. It is the circumcision of the heart from all filthiness, all inward as well as outward pollution. It is a renewal of the heart in the whole image of God, the full likeness of Him that created it. In yet another, it is the loving God with all our heart, and our neighbour as ourselves. Now, take it in which of these views you please, (for there is no material difference,) and this is the whole and sole perfection, as a train of writings prove to a demonstration, which I have believed and taught for these forty years, from the year 1725 to the year 1765. –John Wesley
I believe that what people today call “lordship salvation,” is essentially what Wesley meant by the expression “Christian perfection.” Not sinless perfectionism mind you, but a faith in Jesus’ blood as a substitutionary atonement, that immediately leads to a heartfelt intention to obey the Bible for the rest of your life until you die, a repentance and obedience so deep that it can break off sinful addictions. 1 Peter 2:24 (KJV): “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness.” –J.B.
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Curtis Hutson, Salvation Crystal Clear (Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1987).
—. “Another Gospel Which Is Not Another.” It’s not until about 58:00 into the recording above that things get really bad, where obvious antinomian teaching rears its head. News of Dr. Jack Hyles being involved in sexual misconduct started to surface around 1989. It seems to me that Hutson was aware of this years before; and decided to formulate this cheap grace teaching to give his crony a pass for clergy sexual abuse (CSA). Although Pentecostals, the sexual misconduct of Jim Bakker (1987) and Jimmy Swaggart (1988), would have had a demoralizing effect on Baptists as well, because they all used to watch their TV shows. It’s not surprising that MacArthur’s lordship controversy surfaced around this time; as these scandals probably provoked a lot of discussion on the nature of true salvation.
Dr. John R. Rice, What Must I Do to Be Saved? (Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1945).
Dr. Thomas C. Oden, John Wesley’s Scriptural Christianity (Zondervan, 1994).
Dr. James Boice, Christ’s Call to Discipleship (Moody, 1986).
Dr. Kenneth Gentry, Lord of the Saved (Presbyterian & Reformed, 1992).
Dr. William G. T. Shedd, Dogmatic Theology. 3rd ed. (P&R Publishing, 2024).
Dr. Anthony Hoekema, Saved by Grace (Eerdmans, 1989).
Dr. Richard Belcher, A Layman’s Guide to the Lordship Controversy (Crowne, 1990).
Dr. Robert Lescelius, Lordship Salvation (Revival Literature, 1992).
Walter Chantry, Today’s Gospel: Authentic or Synthetic? (Banner of Truth, 1970).
Gary Collins, Beyond Easy Believism (Word, 1982).
A. W. Tozer, I Call It Heresy! (Wingspread, 1991).
T. Alan Chrisope, Jesus Is Lord (Evangelical Press, 1982).
Curtis Crenshaw, Lordship Salvation: The Only Kind There Is! (Footstool, 1994).
R. B. Kuiper, God Centered Evangelism (Banner of Truth, 1961).
Ernest C. Reisinger, Lord & Christ (Presbyterian & Reformed, 1994).
—. Today’s Evangelism: It’s Message and Methods (Craig, 1982).
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts. –Psalm 51:6 (KJV)–
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. –Psalm 126:5-6 (KJV)–
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. –James 4:9 (KJV)–
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. –Matthew 5:4 (KJV)–
Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. –Genesis 37:34 (KJV)–
Word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. –Jonah 3:6 (KJV)–
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. –Ecclesiastes 3:4 (KJV)–
Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. –Philippians 4:8 (KJV)–
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