In making a good theologian, it also takes a long time, much good works, more than that, it is in a furnace of purifying, 7 x 7 times of purifying in his mind, teaching and theology!
Above all, he must passed the tests of pride of this world, lust of the eyes, lust of the fresh!
And then he or she must passed the tests of the discerning the wrong and the false spirits! The wrong and the right teachings come from these spirits!
To make a good theologian, it take at least 40 years, in the ministry of Bible teaching!
First 40 years, like Moses in palace, for study, approved onto God!
Second 40 years, like Moses in wilderness, serving!
Last 40 years, in leading the flocks! As a leader.
We cannot be Moses, he is such a humble man on earth!
Swift to listen for first 40 years? Slow to speak for the next 40 years!
To be a theologian, it is impossible for a man, but it is possible, only God's grace.
Moses also killed a man, before he went hidden in the wilderness! That is why, it is by the grace of God! He lived until 120 years old.
For 40 years, he was running from the palace, his college!
We pray for unity within the Bible-Presbyterian Church. Calling some of their fundamentalists to repentance. We reprimand Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) lecturers for teaching heresy and living in lust and pride! ++THIS BLOG HAS STRONG LANGUAGE. Reader discretion is advised++
19.10.09
The End time is the time for the Holy Spirit to work.
Like in the beginning, the Holy Spirit was moving over the water in the Book of Genesis, in the creation.
In the end time, the Holy Spirit came to anoint us, to live with us! To transform us!
HE IS THE COMFORTER GOD HAD PROMISED TO US!
In this end time, it is a time not for us to pursuing any perfect Bible nor the KJV, but it is the time for the Holy Spirit to work.
It is a time to read the Bible, HUMBLY, and obey it, teach other in humility!
The 21th century is the century for the Holy Spirit, God with us, to guide and lead us!
Pastors are you waiting on the Holy Spirit in the end time?
You are not alone here on earth, He is here for you!
In the end time, the Holy Spirit came to anoint us, to live with us! To transform us!
HE IS THE COMFORTER GOD HAD PROMISED TO US!
In this end time, it is a time not for us to pursuing any perfect Bible nor the KJV, but it is the time for the Holy Spirit to work.
It is a time to read the Bible, HUMBLY, and obey it, teach other in humility!
The 21th century is the century for the Holy Spirit, God with us, to guide and lead us!
Pastors are you waiting on the Holy Spirit in the end time?
You are not alone here on earth, He is here for you!
Making a good pastor
To make a good pastor, it must at least, take some years, like 20 year in ministry, he or she must goes through many testings!
The tribulation
To make the charismatic happy, feel good about the end time, i will say this to them, if I am asked about the tribulation in the end time. The end time, the calamities and sufferings are surely great.
In the end time, the charismatics are very concerned about their lives!
I will happy, to tell them, I will say this to them, "Probably, you guys the charismatics will go up to the heaven first, before the tribulation....this is the first rapture! You will not go through the tribulation! ...
And then we the fundamentalists will stay on the earth to go through the tribulation on earth, and then we will have to wait for the second rapture, surely you guys like to hear this kind of encouragement."
Do encourage your friends in the end time!
Those who are endured to the end, will be saved!
In the end time, the charismatics are very concerned about their lives!
I will happy, to tell them, I will say this to them, "Probably, you guys the charismatics will go up to the heaven first, before the tribulation....this is the first rapture! You will not go through the tribulation! ...
And then we the fundamentalists will stay on the earth to go through the tribulation on earth, and then we will have to wait for the second rapture, surely you guys like to hear this kind of encouragement."
Do encourage your friends in the end time!
Those who are endured to the end, will be saved!
17.10.09
Thank You Jesus!
Thank You Jesus, for the Bible, You have handed down to mankind!
Thank God for "New Chinese Version Bible"
"Take up and read it," and "do every thing in love!"
Am I hungry for the words of God?
Thank God for Martin Luther and John Calvin!
They are like St.Peter and St.Paul, running the spiritual race!
Thank God for "New Chinese Version Bible"
"Take up and read it," and "do every thing in love!"
Am I hungry for the words of God?
Thank God for Martin Luther and John Calvin!
They are like St.Peter and St.Paul, running the spiritual race!
Do every thing in love!
I had met some leaders who are serving in the end time, one of them gave me his name card, on his name card, printed there, "Do every thing in love!" I was glad to see that small print of Bible verse on a name card.
Some how and in some other ways, people come to know him after some times, he himself as a leader, does not like to read the Bible at all, his sons and daughters also follow his footstep, they looked down to those who read the Bible! To them it is useless to read the Bible.
He sometimes secretly steal Bible from his friends, and then throw the Bible away secretly! He hates to see people read the Bible! He looked down on people who are Bible binded, to him these people are anti social, proud, no better than a chatter in the coffee shop. What is Bible in his life! Not good enough, compared with a cup "Starbuck."
He as a leader in the church, says to me aloud, "Do every thing in love," but he just hates that Bible! He contradicted himself! What is love after all?
Our God is an awesome God, but some leaders like him, just throw that Bible away, in the rubbish bin! Man threw away God's word, in pursuing good work, is that a charitable work? Is that love?
In this Reformation month, a month to appreciate the value of a Bible, do you know that centuries ago, many great men had been killed for the sake in protecting the Bible, in translating the Bible into English! Tyndale was killed for translating the English Bible?
Do you love the Bible, do you read the Bible in love?
I hope you will not exchange the Bible with some other good works! The moment you do that, you are losing the battle.
Why man does not lived on bread alone? Why?
Is man have to live by every word proceed from the mouth of God? Is it? Matthew 4:4 ?
Where is love comes from? From moon, star, sun, water, bread, coffee bean?
Is God love? God is love? Who is God actually?
Reformation is impossible, if it is done, without the love for Bible!
I have to ask myself this again, and again!
"Receive thou the Spirit, receive thou the Bible?"
Some how and in some other ways, people come to know him after some times, he himself as a leader, does not like to read the Bible at all, his sons and daughters also follow his footstep, they looked down to those who read the Bible! To them it is useless to read the Bible.
He sometimes secretly steal Bible from his friends, and then throw the Bible away secretly! He hates to see people read the Bible! He looked down on people who are Bible binded, to him these people are anti social, proud, no better than a chatter in the coffee shop. What is Bible in his life! Not good enough, compared with a cup "Starbuck."
He as a leader in the church, says to me aloud, "Do every thing in love," but he just hates that Bible! He contradicted himself! What is love after all?
Our God is an awesome God, but some leaders like him, just throw that Bible away, in the rubbish bin! Man threw away God's word, in pursuing good work, is that a charitable work? Is that love?
In this Reformation month, a month to appreciate the value of a Bible, do you know that centuries ago, many great men had been killed for the sake in protecting the Bible, in translating the Bible into English! Tyndale was killed for translating the English Bible?
Do you love the Bible, do you read the Bible in love?
I hope you will not exchange the Bible with some other good works! The moment you do that, you are losing the battle.
Why man does not lived on bread alone? Why?
Is man have to live by every word proceed from the mouth of God? Is it? Matthew 4:4 ?
Where is love comes from? From moon, star, sun, water, bread, coffee bean?
Is God love? God is love? Who is God actually?
Reformation is impossible, if it is done, without the love for Bible!
I have to ask myself this again, and again!
"Receive thou the Spirit, receive thou the Bible?"
16.10.09
Good Works
The terrorists are under covered with good works, they will open orphanages, prison visiting, social clubs, purposely helping this and that man! But they are doing greater evils behind all these good works, this is the end time, do not be so naive with good works! Black money is used here and there!
They are living secretly, they are like the special secret agents, they like to twist their words and life, so that no one may find them out, but they had the kind of of mentality, that they are taking order from the senior above for the good of the rest of the people, to kill and murder, and they just obey them without conscience and pure heart! You can see, that they lived a double standard life, some time, you know them, you just know them by the way they lived and talked! They had that pride in uniforms! They cannot get rid of from their face!
Like the Special secret agents, they the terrorists are well trained to search and destroy their enemies, and they will search your rubbish bags to find some clues from the rubbish you throw, they will hear from you in the wall and roof, and they are well trained to stay over nights in the bushes without any traces to spy on you, they are indeed clever, but they are just an organ, just a living instrument, they are an agent for some one, and they will receive payment secretly, and they have mission to do on earth, to search, destroy and kill!
The good armies are to search and kill these terrorist, go and do this, the Lord is with you! Prepared for wars in the end! Against the terrorists, since they do not love peace on earth, they bombed places here and there, so do this on to them without any mercy what so ever to protect the earth for a moment!
Lord, have mercy on us! There is greater war, the spiritual warfare.
And in some rural places, these special agents, from the special branch too, are becoming the terrorist under covered with good works, to protect some families, some high authorities! We do not know who actually they are they protecting in the public. Actually Satan is at work in all the killings and murdering, Satan is a murderer even from the beginning!
Bible gave us some clues about these high principalities, they are called the devils, demons, and the head of them is Satan, I had met some of them along my life in this earth, they are living creatures! Evil spirit is a secret agent for Satan, they come to search and destroy the believers, what the Bible says about Satan, it is said, it comes to kill, murder, lying and destroy! It is true!
Now, then, I pursue the theologians who are teaching the Verbal Plenary Preservation, to stop to search and destroy!
Stop to search the Bible, if they are doing that to destroy the unity in BP churches! If they search the Bible, but then they destroy the unity in fundamental churches like BP, they are actually worsen then the special agents I mentioned, I am talking without hates, but with concerns!
If you are concerned, for the remnant of the fundamentalism to proceed ahead, please have mercy, do not search and destroy the fundamentalists.
I hope you search the Bible to build up the holy faith in Christ, I am not talking about perfect faith, I am talking about the most holy faith!
Theologians! What have you done to the churches in the end time! Do you search the Bible and destroy the churches!
I know what have you done last summer, what about this summer?
See the cloud in the air, now you see it, then you will not see it, take heed that you do not behave like the secret agents, you must have good manners!
You are called to protect the flocks! Not to destroy them!
With that, you even used a piece of your verbal plenary preservation! You destroy the flocks, especially the Chinese flock, I am crying with tears in writing this, looking back, where John Sung had labor with his own life! To save soul with gospel, he came to South East Asia decades ago, to feed your forefathers with his Bible, the Chinese Union Version, You are guilty! You are guilty! Now you have chased away, the Chinese pastors among you, you are going to meet John Sung, and he will say something about this to you!
You are so forgetful, you forget how the scribes met Jesus Christ to trace some weakness from Him, but Jesus ignored further theological debates, Jesus went forward to Calvary without delay! On the cross, He says it is finished! You forget He said that, it is finished on the cross! The atonement had been made once and for all, but you forget that, you search the manuscripts, hoping to find the perfect TR, you search the TR hoping you will find the perfect versions, but all this is in vain.
What is the greatest commission for us on earth?
Are we making disciples for Christ, or making more and more secret agents, or making more and more terrorists in the end time!
Teach them about what?
Baptist them in the name of who?
I pursue you, to search the Bible and build up the holy faith in Christ!
Stop disturbing the unity in Christ, where John Sung preached once!
Lord, unite the people of Han, if they belong to You!
They are living secretly, they are like the special secret agents, they like to twist their words and life, so that no one may find them out, but they had the kind of of mentality, that they are taking order from the senior above for the good of the rest of the people, to kill and murder, and they just obey them without conscience and pure heart! You can see, that they lived a double standard life, some time, you know them, you just know them by the way they lived and talked! They had that pride in uniforms! They cannot get rid of from their face!
Like the Special secret agents, they the terrorists are well trained to search and destroy their enemies, and they will search your rubbish bags to find some clues from the rubbish you throw, they will hear from you in the wall and roof, and they are well trained to stay over nights in the bushes without any traces to spy on you, they are indeed clever, but they are just an organ, just a living instrument, they are an agent for some one, and they will receive payment secretly, and they have mission to do on earth, to search, destroy and kill!
The good armies are to search and kill these terrorist, go and do this, the Lord is with you! Prepared for wars in the end! Against the terrorists, since they do not love peace on earth, they bombed places here and there, so do this on to them without any mercy what so ever to protect the earth for a moment!
Lord, have mercy on us! There is greater war, the spiritual warfare.
And in some rural places, these special agents, from the special branch too, are becoming the terrorist under covered with good works, to protect some families, some high authorities! We do not know who actually they are they protecting in the public. Actually Satan is at work in all the killings and murdering, Satan is a murderer even from the beginning!
Bible gave us some clues about these high principalities, they are called the devils, demons, and the head of them is Satan, I had met some of them along my life in this earth, they are living creatures! Evil spirit is a secret agent for Satan, they come to search and destroy the believers, what the Bible says about Satan, it is said, it comes to kill, murder, lying and destroy! It is true!
Now, then, I pursue the theologians who are teaching the Verbal Plenary Preservation, to stop to search and destroy!
Stop to search the Bible, if they are doing that to destroy the unity in BP churches! If they search the Bible, but then they destroy the unity in fundamental churches like BP, they are actually worsen then the special agents I mentioned, I am talking without hates, but with concerns!
If you are concerned, for the remnant of the fundamentalism to proceed ahead, please have mercy, do not search and destroy the fundamentalists.
I hope you search the Bible to build up the holy faith in Christ, I am not talking about perfect faith, I am talking about the most holy faith!
Theologians! What have you done to the churches in the end time! Do you search the Bible and destroy the churches!
I know what have you done last summer, what about this summer?
See the cloud in the air, now you see it, then you will not see it, take heed that you do not behave like the secret agents, you must have good manners!
You are called to protect the flocks! Not to destroy them!
With that, you even used a piece of your verbal plenary preservation! You destroy the flocks, especially the Chinese flock, I am crying with tears in writing this, looking back, where John Sung had labor with his own life! To save soul with gospel, he came to South East Asia decades ago, to feed your forefathers with his Bible, the Chinese Union Version, You are guilty! You are guilty! Now you have chased away, the Chinese pastors among you, you are going to meet John Sung, and he will say something about this to you!
You are so forgetful, you forget how the scribes met Jesus Christ to trace some weakness from Him, but Jesus ignored further theological debates, Jesus went forward to Calvary without delay! On the cross, He says it is finished! You forget He said that, it is finished on the cross! The atonement had been made once and for all, but you forget that, you search the manuscripts, hoping to find the perfect TR, you search the TR hoping you will find the perfect versions, but all this is in vain.
What is the greatest commission for us on earth?
Are we making disciples for Christ, or making more and more secret agents, or making more and more terrorists in the end time!
Teach them about what?
Baptist them in the name of who?
I pursue you, to search the Bible and build up the holy faith in Christ!
Stop disturbing the unity in Christ, where John Sung preached once!
Lord, unite the people of Han, if they belong to You!
The World will be ended!
The end of the world, is the ending of this mankind and generation, when we see Lord Messiah is coming in the sky.
And there are some do not believe in the end of this world, they say we are silly, scaring people offshore!
I am not make up a story here! We must fight that insurgent in the mountains with mission - "search and destroy!"
This is the way, the terrorists had done onto my family! I will not retaliate on to them, let my God be my captain! Let Him come and make a war for us! How many people must be killed to protect that corrupter!
The days for the terrorists in the Afghan is not long, search and destroy, go with fire from above, and let the people flee from the mountains and hills, and that rat will run for food, and that evil man will be captured and be killed! And the world will rejoice for his killing, because he is the terrorist!
In the spirit I see, smoke come out from the mountain, and I see that man is running for life! he is in fear! Search him now! With eyes from above! And you will see green pasture, it is where he will hide! Take him alive, but kill him if he is attacking you!
I do not know what is this, may be this in the game, "counter strike" in the end time!
And there are some do not believe in the end of this world, they say we are silly, scaring people offshore!
I am not make up a story here! We must fight that insurgent in the mountains with mission - "search and destroy!"
This is the way, the terrorists had done onto my family! I will not retaliate on to them, let my God be my captain! Let Him come and make a war for us! How many people must be killed to protect that corrupter!
The days for the terrorists in the Afghan is not long, search and destroy, go with fire from above, and let the people flee from the mountains and hills, and that rat will run for food, and that evil man will be captured and be killed! And the world will rejoice for his killing, because he is the terrorist!
In the spirit I see, smoke come out from the mountain, and I see that man is running for life! he is in fear! Search him now! With eyes from above! And you will see green pasture, it is where he will hide! Take him alive, but kill him if he is attacking you!
I do not know what is this, may be this in the game, "counter strike" in the end time!
14.10.09
From the sky
There will be fire works from the sky, a special message to us from the sky!
Like a movie in the sky above! I am losing my mind again?
To turn over our enemy! Sing aloud the Psalm 7!
And the enemies of Christ are united for the last war!
May God arise for us, for our enemies are so many, more than our hair!
May God bless them!
Amen, Amen, Amen.
The fire works were so great that even the sky will become like a scroll?
And let angels come and search us!
Surely the murderers are liars!
Corrupter are swindlers!
Who is racists, let others tell this to us, who is racist, let other tell us, not we to tell others!
Go ahead with what you intent to do, but there is judgment from God!
Like a movie in the sky above! I am losing my mind again?
To turn over our enemy! Sing aloud the Psalm 7!
And the enemies of Christ are united for the last war!
May God arise for us, for our enemies are so many, more than our hair!
May God bless them!
Amen, Amen, Amen.
The fire works were so great that even the sky will become like a scroll?
And let angels come and search us!
Surely the murderers are liars!
Corrupter are swindlers!
Who is racists, let others tell this to us, who is racist, let other tell us, not we to tell others!
Go ahead with what you intent to do, but there is judgment from God!
13.10.09
Without the Bible the Bible college will die!
One day some one asked me about starting a Bible College in the country, I replied, it is not so easy as you think!
I went back home, these is a few things i thought:
Firstly, the thing is, we have to decide, what is the purpose for a Bible College to be set up?
Training the servants or Bosses?
Secondly, what Bible Versions are going to be used in that Bible college, so that there will be no quarrel for the Bible versions in the future, KJV or CUV, NIV or NKJV? If a Bible College do not know how to choose a faithful Bible Version, it is better for them, not to start a Bible College at all!
Know how! Do not just quarrel! Fight!
Thirdly, asking the students in the Bible College, what kind of certificate they want from the Bible College, what kind of degree, why they want a piece of paper like that? Spiritual life is more important than this certificate!
I think it is enough for us, as a nominal Christian, to avoid such a quarrelsome Bible College, if they the lectures, do not know how to choose, even in choosing the Bible Versions! If they keep on fighting among them for Bible Versions, suing each other for minor issue like Verbal Plenary Preservation, it is better so that we stay away from this kind of Bible College!
If We are training servants, then do not aspect all of them to be successful, and not all of them will become scholars, and do not called any one as a theologian without testings! What a shame to do that!
Without the Bible like Chinese Union Version and NKJV for the Chinese Christian and young believers, the Bible College will die.
I went back home, these is a few things i thought:
Firstly, the thing is, we have to decide, what is the purpose for a Bible College to be set up?
Training the servants or Bosses?
Secondly, what Bible Versions are going to be used in that Bible college, so that there will be no quarrel for the Bible versions in the future, KJV or CUV, NIV or NKJV? If a Bible College do not know how to choose a faithful Bible Version, it is better for them, not to start a Bible College at all!
Know how! Do not just quarrel! Fight!
Thirdly, asking the students in the Bible College, what kind of certificate they want from the Bible College, what kind of degree, why they want a piece of paper like that? Spiritual life is more important than this certificate!
I think it is enough for us, as a nominal Christian, to avoid such a quarrelsome Bible College, if they the lectures, do not know how to choose, even in choosing the Bible Versions! If they keep on fighting among them for Bible Versions, suing each other for minor issue like Verbal Plenary Preservation, it is better so that we stay away from this kind of Bible College!
If We are training servants, then do not aspect all of them to be successful, and not all of them will become scholars, and do not called any one as a theologian without testings! What a shame to do that!
Without the Bible like Chinese Union Version and NKJV for the Chinese Christian and young believers, the Bible College will die.
12.10.09
Harsh and rough Words
When you are reading this blog, you will find, these words are harsh, rough! Without proper manners in vocab and grammer! My syntax is Chinese syntax!
But my intention is royal, i am royal to CUV! Because CUV is easy to understand, the meaning is most of the time, straight forward, the meaning of the gospel is well kept in CUV!
CUV needs only a concordance, a good commentary and a chair with a cup of tea, you may find this CUV easy to read, bringing the Good News to us the Chinese. The Holy Spirit speak to us through the CUV!
We ordinary Chinese do not border much about the underlying Greek and Hebrew Texts, we believe CUV served the Chinese well enough, and it had improved, and had been improved in other translations, that does not means we believe CUV is perfect in grammer, syntax, translation, we believe the wording is capable to be improved, that is why we must read the Bible with humbleness!
We believe our CUV Bible is from God, it will not return to God, without effect on mankind!
Do not put extra burden to the Chinese Christians, if you do that it is a stumbling blocks to the Chinese churches, and then it is a wall between us, VPP is breaking the unity!
I dare not to say I am at the Lord's side.
I dare to say for the time being, I am at the CUV side! Even KJV and NKJV.
Let God speak to us, and The Holy Spirit may illuminates us, when we are worshiping Him, when we wait on to the Holy Spirit, and He will become our spiritual teacher!
The Holy Spirit is a Spirit, God, but He is gentle enough, for us to push aside, without our respect!
The Holy Spirit is a Spirit, God, but He is silently living with us, and leading us toward that truth, it is not very far away from us, it is in our mouth and heart!
The Holy Spirit is our God, Whom we can say, God is with us, Immanuel!
The Holy Spirit is our unseen God!
The Bible is from the Holy Spirit, and in the Hands of the Holy Spirit, take and read, take and read with our humble hearts, cry to Him, so that you may be able to learn, and able to understand!
Stop fighting over the "a few missing Words!"
Take up and read...that Bible CUV, KJV, NKJV, with humbleness!
Let the words hide in us, the temple of God, and body of Christ! So that we may not sin against the Lord!
And built up our faith, in Bible reading and with prayers and supplications. Sing the hymns, and praise the Lord with all our hearts.
Man without quarrels, with clean hands, arise, for the time is short!
God never forget the CUV!
But my intention is royal, i am royal to CUV! Because CUV is easy to understand, the meaning is most of the time, straight forward, the meaning of the gospel is well kept in CUV!
CUV needs only a concordance, a good commentary and a chair with a cup of tea, you may find this CUV easy to read, bringing the Good News to us the Chinese. The Holy Spirit speak to us through the CUV!
We ordinary Chinese do not border much about the underlying Greek and Hebrew Texts, we believe CUV served the Chinese well enough, and it had improved, and had been improved in other translations, that does not means we believe CUV is perfect in grammer, syntax, translation, we believe the wording is capable to be improved, that is why we must read the Bible with humbleness!
We believe our CUV Bible is from God, it will not return to God, without effect on mankind!
Do not put extra burden to the Chinese Christians, if you do that it is a stumbling blocks to the Chinese churches, and then it is a wall between us, VPP is breaking the unity!
I dare not to say I am at the Lord's side.
I dare to say for the time being, I am at the CUV side! Even KJV and NKJV.
Let God speak to us, and The Holy Spirit may illuminates us, when we are worshiping Him, when we wait on to the Holy Spirit, and He will become our spiritual teacher!
The Holy Spirit is a Spirit, God, but He is gentle enough, for us to push aside, without our respect!
The Holy Spirit is a Spirit, God, but He is silently living with us, and leading us toward that truth, it is not very far away from us, it is in our mouth and heart!
The Holy Spirit is our God, Whom we can say, God is with us, Immanuel!
The Holy Spirit is our unseen God!
The Bible is from the Holy Spirit, and in the Hands of the Holy Spirit, take and read, take and read with our humble hearts, cry to Him, so that you may be able to learn, and able to understand!
Stop fighting over the "a few missing Words!"
Take up and read...that Bible CUV, KJV, NKJV, with humbleness!
Let the words hide in us, the temple of God, and body of Christ! So that we may not sin against the Lord!
And built up our faith, in Bible reading and with prayers and supplications. Sing the hymns, and praise the Lord with all our hearts.
Man without quarrels, with clean hands, arise, for the time is short!
God never forget the CUV!
MARTIN LUTHER
MARTIN LUTHER:
CERTAINTY IN THE TRUTH
By Iain H. Murray
It was a day of grace for Europe when Martin Luther was born at Eisleben, in Germany, in 1483. Entering first the University of Erfurt in 1501, then an Augustinian monastery, Luther was ordained in the Church of Rome in 1507. But the death of a friend in a thunderstorm, a visit to Rome-revealing its corruption-and an increasing sense of his sinfulness, arrested Luther's promising career. Made aware of the emptiness of all human wisdom, its inability to give peace to the soul, he was drawn to study the Word of God. So great was his anguish of soul that sometimes he would lay "three days and three nights upon his bed without meat, drink, or any sleep, like a dead man." In this condition, he learnt to read each verse in the Bible like a drowning man would clutch at any piece of wood to save his life, and thus sometime between the years 1513-1517 he found that man can be justified by faith in Christ alone, and that in salvation God takes no account of man's works, merit, or will. "This doctrine," Luther writes, "is not learned or gotten by any study, diligence, or wisdom of man, but it is revealed by God Himself." Henceforth he stood upon the Word of God alone, it was his storehouse from whence he drew those truths which, in his writings, flashed like thunderbolts through Europe. In 1519 Erasmus writes to Luther that "his books had raised such an uproar at Louvain, as it was not possible for him to describe." God had begun a conflict for His Truth, and it was bitterly opposed. "I had" Luther says, "hanging on my neck the pope, the universities, all the deep learned, and the devil; these hunted me into the Bible, wherein I sedulously read . . ." An "illiterate monk" thus became, in the hands of God, too much-as Margaret the Emperor's sister confessed-for all the academics in Paris to answer. By 1520 there was an irreconcilable break with the Church of Rome; the pope was determined that Luther and his gospel should perish together.
A man-made religion will ever contest with those who preach that salvation is solely of the grace of God. There is a clean difference between the two. This was exemplified in Luther's disputation with Eckius, the Romanist champion, in 1519, when the first point of dispute was over free-will. "We condemn," Luther proclaimed, "man's free-will, his strength, his wisdom, and all religion of man's own devising; in short, we say that there is nothing in us able to deserve grace." The compromising Erasmus rightly saw free-will to be a chief issue between Luther and Rome, and fearing the displeasure of man, he wrote in defence of man's free-will in salvation. This brought forth in reply Luther's mighty work on "The Bondage of The Will". Erasmus rather than attempting the hopeless task of showing that the Bible teaches free-will and not God's eternal election, had sought to avoid the issue by complaining that there could be no usefulness in teaching doctrines of election and predestination. Luther, sweeping aside his evasions, demands to know whether the doctrines are of God or not? "Where, alas! Erasmus, are your fear and reverence of God, when you roundly declare that this branch of truth, which He has revealed from heaven, is at best, useless? What! Shall the Glorious Creator be taught by you, His creature, what is fit to be preached? Is the adorable God so very defective in knowledge, as not to know, till you instruct Him, what would be useful and what pernicious? Could He not know the consequence of His revealing this doctrine, till those consequences were pointed out by you? Who art thou, O Erasmus, that thou shouldst reply against God! Paul, discoursing of God, says, "Whom He will He hardeneth." And again, "God willing to show His wrath . . ." and the Apostle did not write this to have it stifled among a few persons, and buried in a corner, but wrote it to the Christians at Rome; which was, in effect, bringing this doctrine upon the stage of the whole world, stamping a universal imprimature upon it, and publishing it to believers at large throughout the world. What can sound harsher to carnal men than those words of Christ, 'I know whom I have chosen'? Now these and similar assertions of Christ and His Apostles, are the very positions which you, O Erasmus, brand as useless and hurtful!" Luther then goes on to show why the doctrines of election and grace are to be preached, "Whilst a man is persuaded that he has it in his power to contribute anything, be it ever so little, to his salvation, he remains in carnal self-confidence; he is not a self-despairer, and therefore is not duly humbled before God, he believes he may lend a helping hand in his salvation, but on the contrary, whoever is truly convinced that the whole work depends singly on the will of God, such a person renounces his own will and strength; he waits and prays for the operation of God, nor waits and prays in vain . . ."
Luther's characteristic is certainty in the Truth. "A man must be able to affirm, I know for certain, that what I teach is the only Word of the high majesty of God in Heaven, His Final conclusion and Everlasting Unchangeable Truth, and whatsoever concurs and agrees not with this doctrine is altogether false, and spun by the devil . . . To God's Word will I remain, though the whole world be against me." Commenting on Paul's certainty in the truth on Galatians i. 9, he writes, "he dare curse all teachers throughout the World and in heaven, which pervert the Gospel that Paul preached, or teach any other; for all men must either believe that Gospel that he preached, or else be accursed and condemned." Such was Luther's certainty of the truth that he cared not for any man; excommunicated by the pope, he replied by throwing the papal bull into a fire with the prayer "Because thou hast troubled the Holy One of God let eternal fire trouble thee." When King Henry VIII of England was incensed to write against the truth, Luther answered him very plainly, and defends his sharpness of language thus: "nor ought it to be considered as a great matter if I affront and treat sharply an earthly prince, who has dared to blaspheme the King of Heaven in his writings, insulting His Name with lies." Again we see his boldness in stating God's truth that all relying upon their works for salvation, not justified by faith in Christ alone, are under the curse of God (Gal. iii. 10). "This the pope and his proud prelates do not believe. Yet must we not hold our peace but must confess the truth and say, that the papacy is accursed; yea the Emperor is accursed; for according to Paul, whatsoever is without the promise and faith of Abraham, is accursed."
Luther was a man void of ambition. He took no money for his written works. His consuming desire was the declaration of the Truth of God. The Bible was the beginning and end of his thoughts, without it, he said, all the learning in the world is not worth a straw. His dying prayer was that God would preserve His church in the truth, and his last words: "Thee, O Christ have I known, thee have I loved, thee have I taught, thee have I trusted, into thy hands I commend my spirit." It would be a happy day indeed, should God cause His children to return and study the works of His servant, Martin Luther, then we could say: "Earth still enjoys him, tho' his soul is fled, his name is deathless, tho' his dust is dead."
CERTAINTY IN THE TRUTH
By Iain H. Murray
It was a day of grace for Europe when Martin Luther was born at Eisleben, in Germany, in 1483. Entering first the University of Erfurt in 1501, then an Augustinian monastery, Luther was ordained in the Church of Rome in 1507. But the death of a friend in a thunderstorm, a visit to Rome-revealing its corruption-and an increasing sense of his sinfulness, arrested Luther's promising career. Made aware of the emptiness of all human wisdom, its inability to give peace to the soul, he was drawn to study the Word of God. So great was his anguish of soul that sometimes he would lay "three days and three nights upon his bed without meat, drink, or any sleep, like a dead man." In this condition, he learnt to read each verse in the Bible like a drowning man would clutch at any piece of wood to save his life, and thus sometime between the years 1513-1517 he found that man can be justified by faith in Christ alone, and that in salvation God takes no account of man's works, merit, or will. "This doctrine," Luther writes, "is not learned or gotten by any study, diligence, or wisdom of man, but it is revealed by God Himself." Henceforth he stood upon the Word of God alone, it was his storehouse from whence he drew those truths which, in his writings, flashed like thunderbolts through Europe. In 1519 Erasmus writes to Luther that "his books had raised such an uproar at Louvain, as it was not possible for him to describe." God had begun a conflict for His Truth, and it was bitterly opposed. "I had" Luther says, "hanging on my neck the pope, the universities, all the deep learned, and the devil; these hunted me into the Bible, wherein I sedulously read . . ." An "illiterate monk" thus became, in the hands of God, too much-as Margaret the Emperor's sister confessed-for all the academics in Paris to answer. By 1520 there was an irreconcilable break with the Church of Rome; the pope was determined that Luther and his gospel should perish together.
A man-made religion will ever contest with those who preach that salvation is solely of the grace of God. There is a clean difference between the two. This was exemplified in Luther's disputation with Eckius, the Romanist champion, in 1519, when the first point of dispute was over free-will. "We condemn," Luther proclaimed, "man's free-will, his strength, his wisdom, and all religion of man's own devising; in short, we say that there is nothing in us able to deserve grace." The compromising Erasmus rightly saw free-will to be a chief issue between Luther and Rome, and fearing the displeasure of man, he wrote in defence of man's free-will in salvation. This brought forth in reply Luther's mighty work on "The Bondage of The Will". Erasmus rather than attempting the hopeless task of showing that the Bible teaches free-will and not God's eternal election, had sought to avoid the issue by complaining that there could be no usefulness in teaching doctrines of election and predestination. Luther, sweeping aside his evasions, demands to know whether the doctrines are of God or not? "Where, alas! Erasmus, are your fear and reverence of God, when you roundly declare that this branch of truth, which He has revealed from heaven, is at best, useless? What! Shall the Glorious Creator be taught by you, His creature, what is fit to be preached? Is the adorable God so very defective in knowledge, as not to know, till you instruct Him, what would be useful and what pernicious? Could He not know the consequence of His revealing this doctrine, till those consequences were pointed out by you? Who art thou, O Erasmus, that thou shouldst reply against God! Paul, discoursing of God, says, "Whom He will He hardeneth." And again, "God willing to show His wrath . . ." and the Apostle did not write this to have it stifled among a few persons, and buried in a corner, but wrote it to the Christians at Rome; which was, in effect, bringing this doctrine upon the stage of the whole world, stamping a universal imprimature upon it, and publishing it to believers at large throughout the world. What can sound harsher to carnal men than those words of Christ, 'I know whom I have chosen'? Now these and similar assertions of Christ and His Apostles, are the very positions which you, O Erasmus, brand as useless and hurtful!" Luther then goes on to show why the doctrines of election and grace are to be preached, "Whilst a man is persuaded that he has it in his power to contribute anything, be it ever so little, to his salvation, he remains in carnal self-confidence; he is not a self-despairer, and therefore is not duly humbled before God, he believes he may lend a helping hand in his salvation, but on the contrary, whoever is truly convinced that the whole work depends singly on the will of God, such a person renounces his own will and strength; he waits and prays for the operation of God, nor waits and prays in vain . . ."
Luther's characteristic is certainty in the Truth. "A man must be able to affirm, I know for certain, that what I teach is the only Word of the high majesty of God in Heaven, His Final conclusion and Everlasting Unchangeable Truth, and whatsoever concurs and agrees not with this doctrine is altogether false, and spun by the devil . . . To God's Word will I remain, though the whole world be against me." Commenting on Paul's certainty in the truth on Galatians i. 9, he writes, "he dare curse all teachers throughout the World and in heaven, which pervert the Gospel that Paul preached, or teach any other; for all men must either believe that Gospel that he preached, or else be accursed and condemned." Such was Luther's certainty of the truth that he cared not for any man; excommunicated by the pope, he replied by throwing the papal bull into a fire with the prayer "Because thou hast troubled the Holy One of God let eternal fire trouble thee." When King Henry VIII of England was incensed to write against the truth, Luther answered him very plainly, and defends his sharpness of language thus: "nor ought it to be considered as a great matter if I affront and treat sharply an earthly prince, who has dared to blaspheme the King of Heaven in his writings, insulting His Name with lies." Again we see his boldness in stating God's truth that all relying upon their works for salvation, not justified by faith in Christ alone, are under the curse of God (Gal. iii. 10). "This the pope and his proud prelates do not believe. Yet must we not hold our peace but must confess the truth and say, that the papacy is accursed; yea the Emperor is accursed; for according to Paul, whatsoever is without the promise and faith of Abraham, is accursed."
Luther was a man void of ambition. He took no money for his written works. His consuming desire was the declaration of the Truth of God. The Bible was the beginning and end of his thoughts, without it, he said, all the learning in the world is not worth a straw. His dying prayer was that God would preserve His church in the truth, and his last words: "Thee, O Christ have I known, thee have I loved, thee have I taught, thee have I trusted, into thy hands I commend my spirit." It would be a happy day indeed, should God cause His children to return and study the works of His servant, Martin Luther, then we could say: "Earth still enjoys him, tho' his soul is fled, his name is deathless, tho' his dust is dead."
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