Imposition
Probably the most common objection to evangelism today is, "Isn't it wrong to impose our beliefs on others?"
Some people don't practice evangelism because they feel they are imposing on others. And the way evangelism is often done, I can understand the confusion! But when you understand what the Bible presents as evangelism, it's really not a matter of imposing your beliefs.
It's important to understand that the message you are sharing is not merely an opinion but a fact. That's why sharing the gospel can't be called an imposition, any more than a pilot can impose his belief on all his passengers that the runway is here and not there.
Additionally, the truths of the gospel are not yours, in the sense that they uniquely pertain to you or your perspective or experience, or in the sense that you came up with them. When you evangelize, you are not merely saying, "This is how I like to think of God," or "This is how I see it." You're presenting the Christian gospel. You didn't invent it, and you have no authority to alter it.
Personal Testimony
One of the classic testimonies was given by a blind man Jesus healed. When he was questioned after Jesus healed him, he responded, "Whether he [Jesus] is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:25). The man disregarded the menacing threats of those more honored and respected than he in order to give this verbal witness to the power of God. It's a wonderful, powerful testimony, but it's not evangelism. There is no gospel in it. The man didn't even know who Jesus was.
An account of a changed life is wonderful and inspiring thing, but it's the gospel of Jesus Christ that explains what it's all about and how it happened.
Social Action and Public Involvement
Being involved in mercy ministries may help to commend the gospel, which is why Jesus taught, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). Displaying God's compassion and kindness by our actions is a good and appropriate thing for Christians to do. But such actions are not evangelism. They commend the gospel, but they share it with no one. To be evangelism, the gospel must be clearly communicated, whether in written or oral form.
When our eyes fall from God to humanity, social ills replace sin, horizontal problems replace the fundamental vertical problem between us and God, winning elections eclipses winning souls.
Apologetics
Other people mistake apologetics for evangelism. Like the activities we've considered above, apologetics itself is a good thing. We are instructed by Peter to be ready to give a reason for the hope that we have (1 Pet. 3:15). And apologetics is doing exactly that. Apologetics is answering questions and objections people may have about God or Christ, or about the Bible or the message of the gospel.
Answering questions and defending parts of the good news may often be a part of conversations Christians have with non-Christians, and while that may have been a part of our own reading or thinking or talking as we came to Christ, such activity is not evangelism.
Apologetics can present wonderful opportunities for evangelism. Being willing to engage in conversations about where we came from or what's wrong with this world can be a significant way to introduce honest discussions about the gospel.
By far the greatest danger in apologetics is being distracted from the main message. Evangelism is not defending the virgin birth or defending the historicity of the resurrection. Apologetics is defending the faith, answering the questions others have about Christianity. It is responding to the agenda that others set. Evangelism, however, is following Christ's agenda, the news about him. Evangelism is the positive act of telling the good news about Jesus Christ and the way of salvation through him.
The Results of Evangelism
Finally, one of the most common and dangerous mistakes in evangelism is to misinterpret the results of evangelism—the conversion of unbelievers—for evangelism itself, which is the simple telling of the gospel message. Who can deny that much modern evangelism has become emotionally manipulative, seeking simply to cause a momentary decision of the sinner's will, yet neglecting the biblical idea that conversion is the result of the supernatural, gracious act of God toward the sinner?
When we are involved in a program in which converts are quickly counted, decisions are more likely pressed, and evangelism is gauged by its immediately obvious effect, we are involved in undermining real evangelism and real churches.
The Christian call to evangelism is a call not simply to persuade people to make decisions but rather to proclaim to them the good news of salvation in Christ, to call them to repentance, and to give God the glory for regeneration and conversion. We don't fail in our evangelism if we faithfully tell the gospel to someone who is not converted; we fail only if we don't faithfully tell the gospel at all. Evangelism itself isn't converting people; it's telling them that they need to be converted and telling them how they can be.
Mark Dever (From Christianity Today)
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
We Preached the Gospel today at Pitt
Please go to www.changeUofPitt.blogspot.com if you would like to be trained up and go out and share the Gospel too. There is not much time.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Dear Catholic Friend - by Mark Cahill
I love you. I want to make that clear. I love you enough to share the Truth with you. This post is not about bashing the Catholic church or Catholics, and I pray it does not come across as such. I simply love you and I want you to join me in heaven one day. I ask that you continue reading and allow me to explain.
You have probably had conversations with protestant Christians before, and it's likely been argued who was right or who was wrong. Issues about the Catholic church and its teachings were brought up, and you probably found no shortage of reasoning to support your religious beliefs.
Please allow me to be frank with you: it matters not who is right or who is wrong. It matters not what you believe to be the correct set of beliefs. The only thing that matters is the truth. Understanding and coming to a saving knowledge of the Truth is the most important thing you will ever do in this life. I compel you to take some time and consider what I present to you. Surely it is worth your time to determine if your beliefs are true, or whether you have been deceived. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 13:5,
5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
The Bible is clear that deception and lies abound, and if this is true, we must consider where those lies and deceptions are present.
There are numerous resources to explain the trappings and false teachings of the Catholic church. The most critical false teaching is the Catholic doctrine of salvation as it contradicts the biblical pathway of salvation. As is the case with many other Catholic doctrines, the gospel of the Catholic church is fundamentally opposed to the Word of God. I love you enough to tell you this. It gives me no joy to have this discussion, as it may very well divide us. But division is no excuse to compromise the truth, and if one is deceived into believing something contrary to the fundamentals of Christianity, it is my responsibility to share this with you so that you might come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. I love you enough to tell you. I want you to be with me in heaven. I urge you then with all of my heart to please continue reading.
The first resource I want to share with you is a message from Mark Cahill. Mark was born into a Catholic family but was saved by the blood of Jesus Christ more than 25 years ago. In his message posted below, he compares the official and current Catechism of the Catholic Church to Scripture. I plead with you to consider how the catechisms contradict the Word of God, and by doing so, you may be on the road to reading the Bible for yourself and coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. In no way is this an exhaustive study of Roman Catholicism versus the Bible, but it is certainly a beginning for future study and consideration.
To stream via Windows Media Player: Roman Catholicism versus the Bible
To download mp3 directly: Roman Catholicism versus the Bible
For your convenience as you listen to the audio message and for future reference, I have listed below several of the catechisms Mark addresses and the Scriptures that refute them. I encourage you to listen to the audio for an explanation of each. Please prayerfully consider the implications of these teachings and how they cannot possibly lead to saving faith in Jesus Christ. I encourage you to obtain a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and compare to the Word of God for yourself. You can also open up the Catechism link in a new window to view online.
Paragraph 97
97 "Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture make up a single sacred deposit of the Word of God"... (bold emphasis mine)
The Bible:
Colossians 2:8-10 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Here, the Catholic church teaches that tradition PLUS the Bible makes up the Word of God. The Bible, however, warns us to beware of traditions of men and that Christ, who is the Word, makes us complete.
Paragraph 181
181 "Believing" is an ecclesial act. the Church's faith precedes, engenders, supports and nourishes our faith. the Church is the mother of all believers. "No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother" (bold emphasis mine)
The Bible:
John 6:44 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
How can the Catholic church claim motherhood of all believers when the church was not even established before Jesus spoke these words in John 6:44?
Paragraph 868
868 The Church is catholic: she proclaims the fullness of the faith. She bears in herself and administers the totality of the means of salvation...
You will find nowhere in Scripture that the church possesses the fullness of the faith or the totality of the means of salvation. Jesus Christ is the fullness of the faith and the totality of salvation, and any tradition or doctrine beyond Him and His finished work on the cross is utterly unbiblical.
Paragraph 1493
1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. the confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. (bold emphasis mine)
Paragraph 1461
1461 Since Christ entrusted to his apostles the ministry of reconciliation,65 bishops who are their successors, and priests, the bishops' collaborators, continue to exercise this ministry. Indeed bishops and priests, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, have the power to forgive all sins "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." (bold emphasis mine)
The Bible
Matthew 9:6 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
Mark 2:7 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Psalm 51:4 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
Only God has the power to forgive sins, no one else. We may ask forgiveness from someone we have offended, and they have the responsibility to forgive us of our offense, but every sin we commit is against God. It is He, and He alone, who can forgive our trespasses.
Paragraph 1129
1129 The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation.
The Bible
Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The Catholic Church has added works as a means of salvation. Further:
Paragraph 1257
1257 The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. (bold emphasis mine)
Paragraph 1263
1263 By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin. (bold emphasis mine)
The Bible
1 Corinthians 1:17 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
Salvation comes by the grace of God alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone as Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly teaches. Moreover, if baptism was required for salvation, Paul would have been sent to baptize, not preach the gospel. Adding baptism as a requirement to salvation strips away the doctrine of grace, and thereby strips away true salvation if one puts their trust in the baptism and not in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins.
Paragraph 1031
1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. the tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire
Did you catch that? The church "formulated" this "tradition" at the Councils of Florence and Trent, which took place in the 15th and 16th centuries, respectively.
The Bible
1 John 4:10 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Jesus Christ was the propitiation for our sins. He satisfied the debt of sin once and for all. Nothing else must be done to satisfy this penalty. The Catholic church, however, teaches that one must go through this purification process in order to gain entry into heaven. The Bible, contrarily, teaches that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Jesus said "It is finished", and that means there is no more payment for sin to be made. As CARM indicates regarding purgatory:
1. It is not explicitly found in the Bible.
2. It implies that the righteousness of Christ does not cleanse from all sin.
3. It implies that justification is not by faith alone.
4. It implies that there is something we must do in order to be cleansed of sin.
To learn more about purgatory, please visit these links:
* Purgatory
* Does Purgatory Deny the Sufficiency of Jesus' Sacrifice?
* Purgatory and 1 Cor. 3:15
Paragraph 494
494 ...without a single sin to restrain her...
Paragraph 411
411...Mary benefited first of all and uniquely from Christ's victory over sin: she was preserved from all stain of original sin and by a special grace of God committed no sin of any kind during her whole earthly life. (bold emphasis mine)
The Bible
Luke 1:46-47 46 And Mary said:
“ My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
If Mary was perfect, with no original sin, having "committed no sin of any kind during her whole earthly life", why is it that she needed a Savior? And because all men are appointed to die once because of the consequence of sin, the Catholic church had to formulate yet another doctrine to appease this false teaching:
Paragraph 966
966 "Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things... (bold emphasis mine)
The Catholic church teaches Mary did not die. So not only are they in error to teach Mary was sinless, they required another lie to account for the first deception.
Paragraph 2677
By asking Mary to pray for us, we acknowledge ourselves to be poor sinners and we address ourselves to the "Mother of Mercy," the All-Holy One.
This is blasphemy. There is only one All-Holy One and He is the Lord of lords and King of all kings. He is the Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come!
Paragraph 969
969 ...Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation .... Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix." (bold emphasis mine)
The Bible
1 Timothy 2:5 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
1 John 2:1 1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Hebrews 9:15 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
John 16:7 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
Psalm 54:4 4 Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life.
Do you see what has happened here? The Catholic church has given Mary the same names as Jesus and the Holy Spirit (Mediatrix, Advocate, Helper). Though she is blessed among all women, the Catholic church has exalted her to a place she does not deserve. Many of the names given to her are reserved for Christ alone. To review a list of prayers to Mary, please see A Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
These teachings of the Catholic church are merely the tip of the iceberg. Future posts will address the many other errors and false teachings of the Catholic church. It has not been my intention to bash Catholics or the Catholic church, but rather to share the truth in love and hold the teachings of the Catholic church against the absolute truth of the Word of God.
I have family and friends who adhere to Catholicism. I have you all in my prayers that you will come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is true freedom to be had in Christ, and as He says Himself, the truth will set you free. Free from the bondage of a works-based system where you will never be able to attain salvation by any work of your own, and free from the weight of sin that would condemn us all to an eternal hell had it not been for the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, who offers us all the gift of grace through faith in Him, and Him alone.
This is a lot of information, admittedly. Please take time to listen to Mark Cahill's audio message and consider what I have presented to you. I will post more in the future, Lord willing.
Acts 20:26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God[c] which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
You have probably had conversations with protestant Christians before, and it's likely been argued who was right or who was wrong. Issues about the Catholic church and its teachings were brought up, and you probably found no shortage of reasoning to support your religious beliefs.
Please allow me to be frank with you: it matters not who is right or who is wrong. It matters not what you believe to be the correct set of beliefs. The only thing that matters is the truth. Understanding and coming to a saving knowledge of the Truth is the most important thing you will ever do in this life. I compel you to take some time and consider what I present to you. Surely it is worth your time to determine if your beliefs are true, or whether you have been deceived. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 13:5,
5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
The Bible is clear that deception and lies abound, and if this is true, we must consider where those lies and deceptions are present.
There are numerous resources to explain the trappings and false teachings of the Catholic church. The most critical false teaching is the Catholic doctrine of salvation as it contradicts the biblical pathway of salvation. As is the case with many other Catholic doctrines, the gospel of the Catholic church is fundamentally opposed to the Word of God. I love you enough to tell you this. It gives me no joy to have this discussion, as it may very well divide us. But division is no excuse to compromise the truth, and if one is deceived into believing something contrary to the fundamentals of Christianity, it is my responsibility to share this with you so that you might come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. I love you enough to tell you. I want you to be with me in heaven. I urge you then with all of my heart to please continue reading.
The first resource I want to share with you is a message from Mark Cahill. Mark was born into a Catholic family but was saved by the blood of Jesus Christ more than 25 years ago. In his message posted below, he compares the official and current Catechism of the Catholic Church to Scripture. I plead with you to consider how the catechisms contradict the Word of God, and by doing so, you may be on the road to reading the Bible for yourself and coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. In no way is this an exhaustive study of Roman Catholicism versus the Bible, but it is certainly a beginning for future study and consideration.
To stream via Windows Media Player: Roman Catholicism versus the Bible
To download mp3 directly: Roman Catholicism versus the Bible
For your convenience as you listen to the audio message and for future reference, I have listed below several of the catechisms Mark addresses and the Scriptures that refute them. I encourage you to listen to the audio for an explanation of each. Please prayerfully consider the implications of these teachings and how they cannot possibly lead to saving faith in Jesus Christ. I encourage you to obtain a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and compare to the Word of God for yourself. You can also open up the Catechism link in a new window to view online.
Paragraph 97
97 "Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture make up a single sacred deposit of the Word of God"... (bold emphasis mine)
The Bible:
Colossians 2:8-10 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Here, the Catholic church teaches that tradition PLUS the Bible makes up the Word of God. The Bible, however, warns us to beware of traditions of men and that Christ, who is the Word, makes us complete.
Paragraph 181
181 "Believing" is an ecclesial act. the Church's faith precedes, engenders, supports and nourishes our faith. the Church is the mother of all believers. "No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother" (bold emphasis mine)
The Bible:
John 6:44 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
How can the Catholic church claim motherhood of all believers when the church was not even established before Jesus spoke these words in John 6:44?
Paragraph 868
868 The Church is catholic: she proclaims the fullness of the faith. She bears in herself and administers the totality of the means of salvation...
You will find nowhere in Scripture that the church possesses the fullness of the faith or the totality of the means of salvation. Jesus Christ is the fullness of the faith and the totality of salvation, and any tradition or doctrine beyond Him and His finished work on the cross is utterly unbiblical.
Paragraph 1493
1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. the confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. (bold emphasis mine)
Paragraph 1461
1461 Since Christ entrusted to his apostles the ministry of reconciliation,65 bishops who are their successors, and priests, the bishops' collaborators, continue to exercise this ministry. Indeed bishops and priests, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, have the power to forgive all sins "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." (bold emphasis mine)
The Bible
Matthew 9:6 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
Mark 2:7 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Psalm 51:4 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
Only God has the power to forgive sins, no one else. We may ask forgiveness from someone we have offended, and they have the responsibility to forgive us of our offense, but every sin we commit is against God. It is He, and He alone, who can forgive our trespasses.
Paragraph 1129
1129 The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation.
The Bible
Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The Catholic Church has added works as a means of salvation. Further:
Paragraph 1257
1257 The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. (bold emphasis mine)
Paragraph 1263
1263 By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin. (bold emphasis mine)
The Bible
1 Corinthians 1:17 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
Salvation comes by the grace of God alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone as Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly teaches. Moreover, if baptism was required for salvation, Paul would have been sent to baptize, not preach the gospel. Adding baptism as a requirement to salvation strips away the doctrine of grace, and thereby strips away true salvation if one puts their trust in the baptism and not in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins.
Paragraph 1031
1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. the tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire
Did you catch that? The church "formulated" this "tradition" at the Councils of Florence and Trent, which took place in the 15th and 16th centuries, respectively.
The Bible
1 John 4:10 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Jesus Christ was the propitiation for our sins. He satisfied the debt of sin once and for all. Nothing else must be done to satisfy this penalty. The Catholic church, however, teaches that one must go through this purification process in order to gain entry into heaven. The Bible, contrarily, teaches that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Jesus said "It is finished", and that means there is no more payment for sin to be made. As CARM indicates regarding purgatory:
1. It is not explicitly found in the Bible.
2. It implies that the righteousness of Christ does not cleanse from all sin.
3. It implies that justification is not by faith alone.
4. It implies that there is something we must do in order to be cleansed of sin.
To learn more about purgatory, please visit these links:
* Purgatory
* Does Purgatory Deny the Sufficiency of Jesus' Sacrifice?
* Purgatory and 1 Cor. 3:15
Paragraph 494
494 ...without a single sin to restrain her...
Paragraph 411
411...Mary benefited first of all and uniquely from Christ's victory over sin: she was preserved from all stain of original sin and by a special grace of God committed no sin of any kind during her whole earthly life. (bold emphasis mine)
The Bible
Luke 1:46-47 46 And Mary said:
“ My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
If Mary was perfect, with no original sin, having "committed no sin of any kind during her whole earthly life", why is it that she needed a Savior? And because all men are appointed to die once because of the consequence of sin, the Catholic church had to formulate yet another doctrine to appease this false teaching:
Paragraph 966
966 "Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things... (bold emphasis mine)
The Catholic church teaches Mary did not die. So not only are they in error to teach Mary was sinless, they required another lie to account for the first deception.
Paragraph 2677
By asking Mary to pray for us, we acknowledge ourselves to be poor sinners and we address ourselves to the "Mother of Mercy," the All-Holy One.
This is blasphemy. There is only one All-Holy One and He is the Lord of lords and King of all kings. He is the Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come!
Paragraph 969
969 ...Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation .... Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix." (bold emphasis mine)
The Bible
1 Timothy 2:5 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
1 John 2:1 1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Hebrews 9:15 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
John 16:7 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
Psalm 54:4 4 Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life.
Do you see what has happened here? The Catholic church has given Mary the same names as Jesus and the Holy Spirit (Mediatrix, Advocate, Helper). Though she is blessed among all women, the Catholic church has exalted her to a place she does not deserve. Many of the names given to her are reserved for Christ alone. To review a list of prayers to Mary, please see A Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
These teachings of the Catholic church are merely the tip of the iceberg. Future posts will address the many other errors and false teachings of the Catholic church. It has not been my intention to bash Catholics or the Catholic church, but rather to share the truth in love and hold the teachings of the Catholic church against the absolute truth of the Word of God.
I have family and friends who adhere to Catholicism. I have you all in my prayers that you will come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is true freedom to be had in Christ, and as He says Himself, the truth will set you free. Free from the bondage of a works-based system where you will never be able to attain salvation by any work of your own, and free from the weight of sin that would condemn us all to an eternal hell had it not been for the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, who offers us all the gift of grace through faith in Him, and Him alone.
This is a lot of information, admittedly. Please take time to listen to Mark Cahill's audio message and consider what I have presented to you. I will post more in the future, Lord willing.
Acts 20:26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God[c] which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
Friday, October 29, 2010
IUP Out Reach
Today we handed out 1000 books out to IUP students. It took about 2 hours to hand out all the books. The books were very well received. I it is interesting how different each campus is when we hand out the books. People here looked us in the eye when we handed out the books. Several people had very long discussions with people about the Gospel and Evolution.
Jason was able to talk to a professor and all of my experience with professors is that handing out these books is one of the few times they will talk to us.
We had two Dawkins followers rip out the first 50 pages to show us they were atheists. Dawkins told them to do that.
I did not not hand out many books myself since I spent most of my time taking pictures and getting video and making sure each group was without issues.
The kids did a great job handing out the books. Mark and Josh and Hope really handed out tons of books. Josh handed out plenty of Gospel tracts as well.
Then we handed out over 1000 Gospel tracts. The tracts were well received as well. People really liked them.
We did open air preaching in the afternoon and that was just amazing. We had person after person come over and take the good person test. Many of the people that came over were Christians or believed they were Christians. I took them through the law and they said based on the law they would be guilty and go to hell. I went over the Gospel with them or they would explain what they knew about the Gospel and I would fill in the gaps and they would cry and say "I believe that" We had several Christians thank us and asked us to come back to the campus. They told us that we were needed and that they appreciated us being there. I gave all the Christians that we talked to Hell's Best Kept Secret CD's. At minimum we encouraged Christians that were there or helped them understand the Gospel better. We prayed with a few Christians and they were very greatful.
A letter from Jason that helped hand out books.
Hi guys,
I'm that Jason that talked to the professor. My son is the Josh who
handed out lots of Gospel tracts.
First of all, my son is a machine. . . a tract handing out machine.
He "out tracts" me every time we do this. It probably helps that he's
cute and 9 years old, but I'll take it. :-) (As you can see, I'm
very proud of him)
The professor I talked to was a professor of Ecology at the
University. Nice guy. He said he was Unitarian Universalist. We
went back and forth with the usual banter of him believing Evolution
to be beyond dispute and me being a Christian who of course refutes
that claim. I was able to raise some points with him that got him to
think a bit, and he also gave me some good questions.
There was a moment in our discussion, however, that was rather
extraordinary. The professor was telling me about a particular type
of mollusk that can imitate the look of a minnow. It does this so
that a large fish will attempt to eat it and when the fish gets close
enough it releases it larvae, which live on the fish, and thus the
mollusk can repopulate. Fascinating.
He was very interested in what a stunning replica of a minnow this
mollusk could create and he said "I'll be honest, I just don't
understand how that could happen by chance."
I responded "Exactly."
Then he said "But you see, that is a problem for you guys too. After
all, why would a creator worry about such detail, about such
precision?" (something to that effect)
Without skipping a beat, I said "God did that so that you would look
at that Mollusk, or any other extraordinary creation, and praise Him
for being a magnificent God."
He didn't say anything, and neither did I. I could tell he was in
DEEP thought. After a few moments he looked up and said "I've never
thought of it like that."
I did get to the Gospel and told him that if Jesus really was who He
claimed to be, that had implications on everything. Including Ecology
and most importantly, his life and eternal state. After we finished
talking, he said that I gave him a lot to think about.
In all my time of street ministry, that had to be one of the better
conversations I've had.
I also talked to a very intelligent physics student. He was a
pleasant young man who seemed to be pretty set in his ways. There's
nothing much to report of the bulk of my conversation with him. He
liked to run down a lot of rabbit trails, but I wasn't going to play
that game.
The young man, at one point, told me that he was glad to go to hell if
it meant standing up for what was right in the face of a God who would
damn others to hell. A little while later he told me that he thought
it was good for people try to attain to God's standards (i.e. the Ten
Commandments). Notice the contradiction? I did, and I pointed it out
to him. He told me that he hadn't seen that before in his thinking
and it bothered him. At that point he became very honest, telling me
that he sometimes sat up at nights and wondered if "this" (meaning the
earth) was all there was to life. I told him that God had created us
to ask questions like that and those were meant to prompt us to
diligently seek Him.
I'm not sure what kind of impact I had on the young man, but I'm
praying it was a good one. He told me that he had no religious
background before and I got the distinct feeling that he had never
been faced with these types of questions before. (Questions such as
taking him through the law in comparison to his life)
All in all, it was a good day of ministry and Indiana University of PA
heard the Gospel.
Pray for Matt (the professor) and Mike (the physics student).
I wanted to mention that much is often made of how difficult or scary
doing this type of ministry can be. I understand different people
react differently, but I want to encourage you that it is not as bad
as you think it is. In fact, most often it can be a lot of fun and a
time of good fellowship with believers. I was very blessed to be with
the Pepling's and members of my church, and other churches, today.
It's also very rewarding to see your children handing out tracts with
you and talking to others about the Gospel.
I hope everyone who is able will join us next time! God bless you all.
IUP Out Reach Letter
Hi guys,
The professor I talked to was a professor of Ecology at the
University. Nice guy. He said he was Unitarian Universalist. We
went back and forth with the usual banter of him believing Evolution
to be beyond dispute and me being a Christian who of course refutes
that claim. I was able to raise some points with him that got him to
think a bit, and he also gave me some good questions.
There was a moment in our discussion, however, that was rather
extraordinary. The professor was telling me about a particular type
of mollusk that can imitate the look of a minnow. It does this so
that a large fish will attempt to eat it and when the fish gets close
enough it releases it larvae, which live on the fish, and thus the
mollusk can repopulate. Fascinating.
He was very interested in what a stunning replica of a minnow this
mollusk could create and he said "I'll be honest, I just don't
understand how that could happen by chance."
I responded "Exactly."
Then he said "But you see, that is a problem for you guys too. After
all, why would a creator worry about such detail, about such
precision?" (something to that effect)
Without skipping a beat, I said "God did that so that you would look
at that Mollusk, or any other extraordinary creation, and praise Him
for being a magnificent God."
He didn't say anything, and neither did I. I could tell he was in
DEEP thought. After a few moments he looked up and said "I've never
thought of it like that."
I did get to the Gospel and told him that if Jesus really was who He
claimed to be, that had implications on everything. Including Ecology
and most importantly, his life and eternal state. After we finished
talking, he said that I gave him a lot to think about.
In all my time of street ministry, that had to be one of the better
conversations I've had.
I also talked to a very intelligent physics student. He was a
pleasant young man who seemed to be pretty set in his ways. There's
nothing much to report of the bulk of my conversation with him. He
liked to run down a lot of rabbit trails, but I wasn't going to play
that game.
The young man, at one point, told me that he was glad to go to hell if
it meant standing up for what was right in the face of a God who would
damn others to hell. A little while later he told me that he thought
it was good for people try to attain to God's standards (i.e. the Ten
Commandments). Notice the contradiction? I did, and I pointed it out
to him. He told me that he hadn't seen that before in his thinking
and it bothered him. At that point he became very honest, telling me
that he sometimes sat up at nights and wondered if "this" (meaning the
earth) was all there was to life. I told him that God had created us
to ask questions like that and those were meant to prompt us to
diligently seek Him.
I'm not sure what kind of impact I had on the young man, but I'm
praying it was a good one. He told me that he had no religious
background before and I got the distinct feeling that he had never
been faced with these types of questions before. (Questions such as
taking him through the law in comparison to his life)
All in all, it was a good day of ministry and Indiana University of PA
heard the Gospel.
Pray for Matt (the professor) and Mike (the physics student).
I wanted to mention that much is often made of how difficult or scary
doing this type of ministry can be. I understand different people
react differently, but I want to encourage you that it is not as bad
as you think it is. In fact, most often it can be a lot of fun and a
time of good fellowship with believers. I was very blessed to be with
the Pepling's and members of my church, and other churches, today.
It's also very rewarding to see your children handing out tracts with
you and talking to others about the Gospel.
I hope everyone who is able will join us next time! God bless you all.
The professor I talked to was a professor of Ecology at the
University. Nice guy. He said he was Unitarian Universalist. We
went back and forth with the usual banter of him believing Evolution
to be beyond dispute and me being a Christian who of course refutes
that claim. I was able to raise some points with him that got him to
think a bit, and he also gave me some good questions.
There was a moment in our discussion, however, that was rather
extraordinary. The professor was telling me about a particular type
of mollusk that can imitate the look of a minnow. It does this so
that a large fish will attempt to eat it and when the fish gets close
enough it releases it larvae, which live on the fish, and thus the
mollusk can repopulate. Fascinating.
He was very interested in what a stunning replica of a minnow this
mollusk could create and he said "I'll be honest, I just don't
understand how that could happen by chance."
I responded "Exactly."
Then he said "But you see, that is a problem for you guys too. After
all, why would a creator worry about such detail, about such
precision?" (something to that effect)
Without skipping a beat, I said "God did that so that you would look
at that Mollusk, or any other extraordinary creation, and praise Him
for being a magnificent God."
He didn't say anything, and neither did I. I could tell he was in
DEEP thought. After a few moments he looked up and said "I've never
thought of it like that."
I did get to the Gospel and told him that if Jesus really was who He
claimed to be, that had implications on everything. Including Ecology
and most importantly, his life and eternal state. After we finished
talking, he said that I gave him a lot to think about.
In all my time of street ministry, that had to be one of the better
conversations I've had.
I also talked to a very intelligent physics student. He was a
pleasant young man who seemed to be pretty set in his ways. There's
nothing much to report of the bulk of my conversation with him. He
liked to run down a lot of rabbit trails, but I wasn't going to play
that game.
The young man, at one point, told me that he was glad to go to hell if
it meant standing up for what was right in the face of a God who would
damn others to hell. A little while later he told me that he thought
it was good for people try to attain to God's standards (i.e. the Ten
Commandments). Notice the contradiction? I did, and I pointed it out
to him. He told me that he hadn't seen that before in his thinking
and it bothered him. At that point he became very honest, telling me
that he sometimes sat up at nights and wondered if "this" (meaning the
earth) was all there was to life. I told him that God had created us
to ask questions like that and those were meant to prompt us to
diligently seek Him.
I'm not sure what kind of impact I had on the young man, but I'm
praying it was a good one. He told me that he had no religious
background before and I got the distinct feeling that he had never
been faced with these types of questions before. (Questions such as
taking him through the law in comparison to his life)
All in all, it was a good day of ministry and Indiana University of PA
heard the Gospel.
Pray for Matt (the professor) and Mike (the physics student).
I wanted to mention that much is often made of how difficult or scary
doing this type of ministry can be. I understand different people
react differently, but I want to encourage you that it is not as bad
as you think it is. In fact, most often it can be a lot of fun and a
time of good fellowship with believers. I was very blessed to be with
the Pepling's and members of my church, and other churches, today.
It's also very rewarding to see your children handing out tracts with
you and talking to others about the Gospel.
I hope everyone who is able will join us next time! God bless you all.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Want to share your faith too?
Please go to http://www.meetup.com/shareyourfaith so that you can contact us and go out and witness with us. We have fellowships and training and outreached. Hope to see you some time.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Do you have Questions?
If you have Questions about Jesus or Christianity please contact us at persuadepittsburgh@gmail.com. We can setup up a Bible Study for you or just answer the questions that you have. We all started out not knowing anything about God and had to study and ask Questions. Please feel free to contact us if you have any Questions at all.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
More Law by Ray Comfort
There is something else in criminal law that is extremely important to understand. It is Ignorantia juris non excusat--from the Latin "ignorance of the law does not excuse." It's the legal principle which says that even though a person is unaware of a law, they are still liable for its violation. They are guilty even though they weren’t aware of the law’s demand.
If you drive through a country town at 70 MPH, ignorant of the fact that the law of the town says that 50 MPH is the maximum speed, you are still guilty of violation of the law and held accountable.
Being held accountable for violating a law of which you had no knowledge may seem unreasonable, because there is no way any one person could be aware of every law on the books. However, the purpose of this principle is to ensure that "willful blindness" cannot become the basis of a plea of innocence.
Such is the case with the willful ignorance of atheism--"I didn’t believe therefore I am guiltless." The Law still condemns its violators, despite what the Bible calls "unbelief."
However, a good judge will take genuine ignorance into account. This is the case with God. Even though you have intuitive knowledge that adultery is a violation of God’s moral Law, you may be ignorant to the fact that God’s considers lust to be adultery (see Matthew 5:27-28). Or, even though you may think it is okay to have a personal conception of God (either as an image of wood, or as an image in your mind), you may not be aware that this is a violation of the Second of the Ten Commandments:
"You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them" (Exodus 20:4).
When the Apostle Paul arrived in the city of Athens, the Bible tells us that he was grieved because the city had given itself to idolatry. In their ignorance, they had done what most civilizations do, they had made God to be as they imagined Him to be. Paul said,
"Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'" (Acts 17:24-28).
How foreign these words are even to modern "traditional" Christianity. Many whisper when they enter a building that they call a "church" because the assume that that is where God dwells. But the Scriptures tell us "God does not dwell in temples made with hands." He is as much in your home as He is at places we assume are holy, and He is nothing like we conceive Him to be.
Then the Apostle gave them the good news that even though they were guilty of violating the Second of the Ten Commandments, God would overlook their ignorance:
"Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:29-31, italics added).
If you have suddenly realized that you have also been guilty of creating a god in your own image, the Bible has the same message for you. You must repent because God has appointed a fearful Day of Judgment, and the only way to be safe on the Day is to trust in the Savior, Jesus Christ.
This is from http://raycomfortfood.blogspot.com/
If you drive through a country town at 70 MPH, ignorant of the fact that the law of the town says that 50 MPH is the maximum speed, you are still guilty of violation of the law and held accountable.
Being held accountable for violating a law of which you had no knowledge may seem unreasonable, because there is no way any one person could be aware of every law on the books. However, the purpose of this principle is to ensure that "willful blindness" cannot become the basis of a plea of innocence.
Such is the case with the willful ignorance of atheism--"I didn’t believe therefore I am guiltless." The Law still condemns its violators, despite what the Bible calls "unbelief."
However, a good judge will take genuine ignorance into account. This is the case with God. Even though you have intuitive knowledge that adultery is a violation of God’s moral Law, you may be ignorant to the fact that God’s considers lust to be adultery (see Matthew 5:27-28). Or, even though you may think it is okay to have a personal conception of God (either as an image of wood, or as an image in your mind), you may not be aware that this is a violation of the Second of the Ten Commandments:
"You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them" (Exodus 20:4).
When the Apostle Paul arrived in the city of Athens, the Bible tells us that he was grieved because the city had given itself to idolatry. In their ignorance, they had done what most civilizations do, they had made God to be as they imagined Him to be. Paul said,
"Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'" (Acts 17:24-28).
How foreign these words are even to modern "traditional" Christianity. Many whisper when they enter a building that they call a "church" because the assume that that is where God dwells. But the Scriptures tell us "God does not dwell in temples made with hands." He is as much in your home as He is at places we assume are holy, and He is nothing like we conceive Him to be.
Then the Apostle gave them the good news that even though they were guilty of violating the Second of the Ten Commandments, God would overlook their ignorance:
"Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:29-31, italics added).
If you have suddenly realized that you have also been guilty of creating a god in your own image, the Bible has the same message for you. You must repent because God has appointed a fearful Day of Judgment, and the only way to be safe on the Day is to trust in the Savior, Jesus Christ.
This is from http://raycomfortfood.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Paul's subject!
(James Smith, "Rills from the Rock of Ages", 1860
Paul was . . .
an extraordinary man,
called to an extraordinary office, and
being sent to perform an extraordinary work
--he chose an extraordinary subject.
He knew history,
he was acquainted with philosophy, and
he was well versed in tradition.
There were . . .
few subjects that he could not handle,
few themes that he could not discuss,
few congregations that he could not interest.
But he made the conversion of sinners the object of his life--and he chose Christ crucified to be the subject of his ministry!
No matter where he went--he took his subject with him.
No matter whom he addressed--he directed their attention to this point.
He knew what man required--and what man preferred; but it made no matter to him. As he wrote to the Corinthians, so he always acted, "Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified--a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God!" 1 Corinthians 1:22-24
Paul's subject then, was Christ Crucified!
Paul CHOSE this subject--and he had good reasons for doing so!
First, it is a most comprehensive subject,
for it is the center where . . .
time and eternity,
God and man,
sin and holiness,
life and death--meet!
It is the theater where God . . .
displays His perfections,
unfolds His purposes,
maintains His rights,
confounds His foes, and
secures His glory!
It is the instrument by which . . .
death is destroyed,
sin is conquered,
rebels are reconciled,
saints are sanctified, and
heaven is opened!
It is an object which . . .
confounds reason,
astonishes angels,
attracts sinners,
imparts holiness, and
furnishes matter for endless praise!
Second, it is the most honored subject.
It tunes the harps of heaven.
It fills the sweetest songs on earth.
It is that by which the Holy Spirit works . . .
in the conversion of sinners,
in the consolation of saints,
in the sanctification of believers, and
in the establishment of the church of God.
By the preaching of Christ crucified . . .
the oracles of the heathen were silenced,
the altars of the heathen were cast down, and
the temples of the heathen were transformed into houses of prayer.
By the preaching of the cross . . .
society is elevated,
nations are honored, and
millions are snatched from Hell!
Third, it is a subject that is intensely hated!
Devils hate it, and try to prevent its publication.
Erroneous men hate it, and try to substitute something of their own for it.
And just in proportion as men are influenced by the prince of darkness, or yield to the pride of their own fallen natures--will they hate the doctrine of the cross!
But all Christians love it,
all the ministers of Christ glory in it,
all poor perishing sinners need it!
The more we know of God's nature and government--the more we see of man's natural state and condition.
And the more we feel of our own weakness and depravity--the more shall we prize and value the doctrine of the cross!
Christ, and Him crucified shall be . . .
the subject of my ministry,
the theme of my songs,
the joy of my heart, and
the foundation of my everlasting hope!
O my soul, look to Jesus--as crucified for your sins!
Think of Jesus--as dying in your stead!
Speak of Jesus--as full of grace and love!
Christians! WHAT do we preach?
We are ALL preachers--and we preach daily!
But do we preach Christ?
Do we speak of Him with our tongues?
Do we write of Him with our pens?
Do we honor Him with our lives?
Is Christ and His glory--the grand end and aim of our life?
WHY do we preach Christ?
Is it out of love to Him?
Is it that we may do good to souls?
Is it that we may please God?
Christ crucified should be preached by every Christian.
Christ crucified should be preached in all companies.
Christ crucified should be preached every day.
Beloved,
if we would save souls from death,
if we would rescue sinners from eternal misery,
if we would make believers happy,
if we would cover Satan with shame,
if we would deprive death of its sting, and
if we would make the road to glory plain--
we must preach Christ crucified;
we must exercise faith in Christ crucified;
and we must daily meditate on Christ crucified!
May Christ and His cross be all my theme!
May Christ and His cross be all my hope!
May Christ and His cross be all my joy!
Cross of Jesus! Jesus crucified!
To you would I look in life--and all its troubles!
To you would I look in death--and all its pangs!
To you would I look in glory--when filled with all its joys!
"God forbid, that I should glory, except in the cross of my Lord Jesus Christ!"
Paul was . . .
an extraordinary man,
called to an extraordinary office, and
being sent to perform an extraordinary work
--he chose an extraordinary subject.
He knew history,
he was acquainted with philosophy, and
he was well versed in tradition.
There were . . .
few subjects that he could not handle,
few themes that he could not discuss,
few congregations that he could not interest.
But he made the conversion of sinners the object of his life--and he chose Christ crucified to be the subject of his ministry!
No matter where he went--he took his subject with him.
No matter whom he addressed--he directed their attention to this point.
He knew what man required--and what man preferred; but it made no matter to him. As he wrote to the Corinthians, so he always acted, "Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified--a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God!" 1 Corinthians 1:22-24
Paul's subject then, was Christ Crucified!
Paul CHOSE this subject--and he had good reasons for doing so!
First, it is a most comprehensive subject,
for it is the center where . . .
time and eternity,
God and man,
sin and holiness,
life and death--meet!
It is the theater where God . . .
displays His perfections,
unfolds His purposes,
maintains His rights,
confounds His foes, and
secures His glory!
It is the instrument by which . . .
death is destroyed,
sin is conquered,
rebels are reconciled,
saints are sanctified, and
heaven is opened!
It is an object which . . .
confounds reason,
astonishes angels,
attracts sinners,
imparts holiness, and
furnishes matter for endless praise!
Second, it is the most honored subject.
It tunes the harps of heaven.
It fills the sweetest songs on earth.
It is that by which the Holy Spirit works . . .
in the conversion of sinners,
in the consolation of saints,
in the sanctification of believers, and
in the establishment of the church of God.
By the preaching of Christ crucified . . .
the oracles of the heathen were silenced,
the altars of the heathen were cast down, and
the temples of the heathen were transformed into houses of prayer.
By the preaching of the cross . . .
society is elevated,
nations are honored, and
millions are snatched from Hell!
Third, it is a subject that is intensely hated!
Devils hate it, and try to prevent its publication.
Erroneous men hate it, and try to substitute something of their own for it.
And just in proportion as men are influenced by the prince of darkness, or yield to the pride of their own fallen natures--will they hate the doctrine of the cross!
But all Christians love it,
all the ministers of Christ glory in it,
all poor perishing sinners need it!
The more we know of God's nature and government--the more we see of man's natural state and condition.
And the more we feel of our own weakness and depravity--the more shall we prize and value the doctrine of the cross!
Christ, and Him crucified shall be . . .
the subject of my ministry,
the theme of my songs,
the joy of my heart, and
the foundation of my everlasting hope!
O my soul, look to Jesus--as crucified for your sins!
Think of Jesus--as dying in your stead!
Speak of Jesus--as full of grace and love!
Christians! WHAT do we preach?
We are ALL preachers--and we preach daily!
But do we preach Christ?
Do we speak of Him with our tongues?
Do we write of Him with our pens?
Do we honor Him with our lives?
Is Christ and His glory--the grand end and aim of our life?
WHY do we preach Christ?
Is it out of love to Him?
Is it that we may do good to souls?
Is it that we may please God?
Christ crucified should be preached by every Christian.
Christ crucified should be preached in all companies.
Christ crucified should be preached every day.
Beloved,
if we would save souls from death,
if we would rescue sinners from eternal misery,
if we would make believers happy,
if we would cover Satan with shame,
if we would deprive death of its sting, and
if we would make the road to glory plain--
we must preach Christ crucified;
we must exercise faith in Christ crucified;
and we must daily meditate on Christ crucified!
May Christ and His cross be all my theme!
May Christ and His cross be all my hope!
May Christ and His cross be all my joy!
Cross of Jesus! Jesus crucified!
To you would I look in life--and all its troubles!
To you would I look in death--and all its pangs!
To you would I look in glory--when filled with all its joys!
"God forbid, that I should glory, except in the cross of my Lord Jesus Christ!"
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
SELF is always the carnal man's god
(James Smith, "The Believer's Triumph" 1862)
"So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:8
No lost sinner, while carnal, while minding the things of the flesh--can ever please God. He cannot . . .
at any time--either in youth or old age;
in any place-- either common or sacred;
under any circumstances--of either sickness or health;
at any season--either in life or death.
Man is totally depraved. He is wholly fallen. The whole head is sick, the whole heart is faint. The leprosy cleaves to him, has spread over him, and dried up all the moral and vital moisture of the soul. The man is therefore lost, wholly lost, eternally lost--unless God interposes for his rescue!
All that he does while he is so--is displeasing to God.
"The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to the Lord." Proverbs 21:27
"The ploughing of the wicked is sin." Proverbs 21:4
He has no faith, and "without faith it is impossible to please God." In all his prayers, tears, alms-deeds, and other good works--there is something that is displeasing to God. It is like the offering of Cain; for the person must be reconciled to God--before the sacrifice can be accepted by God. Until then he cannot please God, for he cannot set his heart to do it. He may try--but the innate disposition of the heart while carnal, will be too strong for him, and will lead him to break through all his vows, promises, and resolutions.
He may change his conduct--but he cannot change his heart; for its depravity has become natural to it.
He cannot do what God requires--as God requires it.
If what he does is externally good, it is internally bad.
The motive prompting, and the end aimed at--are alike evil, for SELF is always the carnal man's god.
"So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:8
No lost sinner, while carnal, while minding the things of the flesh--can ever please God. He cannot . . .
at any time--either in youth or old age;
in any place-- either common or sacred;
under any circumstances--of either sickness or health;
at any season--either in life or death.
Man is totally depraved. He is wholly fallen. The whole head is sick, the whole heart is faint. The leprosy cleaves to him, has spread over him, and dried up all the moral and vital moisture of the soul. The man is therefore lost, wholly lost, eternally lost--unless God interposes for his rescue!
All that he does while he is so--is displeasing to God.
"The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to the Lord." Proverbs 21:27
"The ploughing of the wicked is sin." Proverbs 21:4
He has no faith, and "without faith it is impossible to please God." In all his prayers, tears, alms-deeds, and other good works--there is something that is displeasing to God. It is like the offering of Cain; for the person must be reconciled to God--before the sacrifice can be accepted by God. Until then he cannot please God, for he cannot set his heart to do it. He may try--but the innate disposition of the heart while carnal, will be too strong for him, and will lead him to break through all his vows, promises, and resolutions.
He may change his conduct--but he cannot change his heart; for its depravity has become natural to it.
He cannot do what God requires--as God requires it.
If what he does is externally good, it is internally bad.
The motive prompting, and the end aimed at--are alike evil, for SELF is always the carnal man's god.
Monday, August 23, 2010
My shield (James Smith, "Wealth for Souls" 1859)
The privileges of the godly are many and great--but this is an especial one: "My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart." Psalm 7:10
This implies exposure to foes--Satan, evil men, and death--against these we need defense.
It implies opposition--and the opposition of our foes is great, daring, and deadly.
It implies danger to be apprehended--because we are weak, timid, and unskillful--and our foes are strong, daring, and experienced.
Our safety therefore, stands in what the Lord is to us--He is our shield, and such a shield as no one besides has, or can have.
He is omniscient to see all our foes and dangers.
He is omnipresent to help us at all times, and against all opposers.
He is omnipotent to defend us, and secure us from all evil.
He is faithful to fulfill His word, and carry out His engagements.
He will come between the believer and danger.
He will preserve the trusting soul from all real injury.
He will protect the upright in heart everywhere, and at all times.
What a mercy! What an unspeakable privilege is this!
"You who fear the Lord--trust in the Lord! He is their help and shield." Psalm 115:11. O for grace to trust the Lord with all, to trust the Lord for all, and to trust the Lord under all! Holy Spirit, strip us of all confidence in the flesh, of all reliance on man, and of all trust in circumstances; and bring us by Your divine and holy teaching--to trust in the Lord alone!
"He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge." Psalm 144:2
This implies exposure to foes--Satan, evil men, and death--against these we need defense.
It implies opposition--and the opposition of our foes is great, daring, and deadly.
It implies danger to be apprehended--because we are weak, timid, and unskillful--and our foes are strong, daring, and experienced.
Our safety therefore, stands in what the Lord is to us--He is our shield, and such a shield as no one besides has, or can have.
He is omniscient to see all our foes and dangers.
He is omnipresent to help us at all times, and against all opposers.
He is omnipotent to defend us, and secure us from all evil.
He is faithful to fulfill His word, and carry out His engagements.
He will come between the believer and danger.
He will preserve the trusting soul from all real injury.
He will protect the upright in heart everywhere, and at all times.
What a mercy! What an unspeakable privilege is this!
"You who fear the Lord--trust in the Lord! He is their help and shield." Psalm 115:11. O for grace to trust the Lord with all, to trust the Lord for all, and to trust the Lord under all! Holy Spirit, strip us of all confidence in the flesh, of all reliance on man, and of all trust in circumstances; and bring us by Your divine and holy teaching--to trust in the Lord alone!
"He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge." Psalm 144:2
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
A Rest for the People of God (Hebrews 3:7-4:13)
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.
10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’
As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
4:1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.
10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’
As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
4:1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
(James Smith, "A Solemn Admonition" 1859)
I am in eternity--and you are on the brink!
Passing through a country graveyard the other day, an inscription on a head-stone struck my eye. The stone was by the side of the path, where everyone could see it, and it was placed there in memory of a young man who died at the age of seventeen. It was--
"Reader, one moment,
Stop, and think:
That I am in eternity!
And you are on the brink!"
In eternity! A young man, only seventeen years of age, in eternity!
In a fixed, a changeless, an eternal state!
In Heaven--or in Hell!
Saved with an everlasting salvation--or damned forever!
If it should be the latter, what a fearful supposition! And yet many have gone to Hell--before they have been seventeen years of age!
"I am in eternity--and you are on the brink!" Yes, though you may be young, apparently healthy, full of life and vigor--you are on the brink of eternity! A slight accident, a few days illness--and you are in eternity! What a solemn thought!
What will eternity be to you?
Where will you be in eternity?
Are your sins pardoned?
Are you reconciled to God by the death of His Son?
Are you sanctified by the Holy Spirit--and thus made fit for Heaven?
If not, remember that in Hell, there is . . .
no gospel,
no means of grace,
no way of escape from the wrath of God!
Once there--and your doom is fixed forever!
Think, O think . . .
Of the dreadful consequences of dying in your sins!
Of going down to the grave in an unconverted state!
Of dying under the curse of God!
"Behold, now is the accepted time!
Behold, now is the day of salvation!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Reader! The above was written over 150 years ago.
All who then read this little piece--are now in eternity!
All who now read this little piece--are on the brink!
"Reader, one moment,
Stop, and think:
That I am in eternity!
And you are on the brink!"
Passing through a country graveyard the other day, an inscription on a head-stone struck my eye. The stone was by the side of the path, where everyone could see it, and it was placed there in memory of a young man who died at the age of seventeen. It was--
"Reader, one moment,
Stop, and think:
That I am in eternity!
And you are on the brink!"
In eternity! A young man, only seventeen years of age, in eternity!
In a fixed, a changeless, an eternal state!
In Heaven--or in Hell!
Saved with an everlasting salvation--or damned forever!
If it should be the latter, what a fearful supposition! And yet many have gone to Hell--before they have been seventeen years of age!
"I am in eternity--and you are on the brink!" Yes, though you may be young, apparently healthy, full of life and vigor--you are on the brink of eternity! A slight accident, a few days illness--and you are in eternity! What a solemn thought!
What will eternity be to you?
Where will you be in eternity?
Are your sins pardoned?
Are you reconciled to God by the death of His Son?
Are you sanctified by the Holy Spirit--and thus made fit for Heaven?
If not, remember that in Hell, there is . . .
no gospel,
no means of grace,
no way of escape from the wrath of God!
Once there--and your doom is fixed forever!
Think, O think . . .
Of the dreadful consequences of dying in your sins!
Of going down to the grave in an unconverted state!
Of dying under the curse of God!
"Behold, now is the accepted time!
Behold, now is the day of salvation!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Reader! The above was written over 150 years ago.
All who then read this little piece--are now in eternity!
All who now read this little piece--are on the brink!
"Reader, one moment,
Stop, and think:
That I am in eternity!
And you are on the brink!"
Monday, July 26, 2010
Who is Persuade Pittsburgh?
I am the person you saw out on the streets reading the Bible. I am the person you heard sharing the law and the gospel. I am the person willing to look like a fool out in public because I care about you and where you will spend eternity.
I am the one that handed you a gospel tract. I am the one that didn’t finish a conversation with you, so instead, I gave you a gospel tract so that we could continue it here.
I am the one you saw standing on the corner handing people tracts and open air preaching. I am the one that put a gospel tract somewhere in hopes you would find it.
I put a gospel tract wherever I thought you might be. In reality, I don’t know who you are, but, I have been hoping you would find this site so that I could give you some very important information. Information that could change your life.
Is God calling you to Him? Do you know who He is? I mean, do you know where you would spend eternity, if you died today?
That’s who I am. Just a person who has been commanded to point you to Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, the Son of God.
Thank you for taking the time to see who gave you this message. But the most important message is really from God through the Bible. Please stick around and take the test. God bless you and I am glad you are here; believe me, it is no accident.
I am the one that handed you a gospel tract. I am the one that didn’t finish a conversation with you, so instead, I gave you a gospel tract so that we could continue it here.
I am the one you saw standing on the corner handing people tracts and open air preaching. I am the one that put a gospel tract somewhere in hopes you would find it.
I put a gospel tract wherever I thought you might be. In reality, I don’t know who you are, but, I have been hoping you would find this site so that I could give you some very important information. Information that could change your life.
Is God calling you to Him? Do you know who He is? I mean, do you know where you would spend eternity, if you died today?
That’s who I am. Just a person who has been commanded to point you to Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, the Son of God.
Thank you for taking the time to see who gave you this message. But the most important message is really from God through the Bible. Please stick around and take the test. God bless you and I am glad you are here; believe me, it is no accident.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Reason for this Blog
This Blog started out to be an encouragement for others that share the Gospel of Jesus Christ but I have changed it over for those that have recieved a million dollar bill and have questions. I have many good links on the sides of the blog. I am still working through what all needs to be on this site but if you have anything that you need explained you may email us at persuadepittsburgh@gmail.com.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Good Churches in Pittsburgh
Good Churches in the area.
Aliquippa
Allentown
Lehigh Valley Presbyterian Church www.lvpca.org - 610-439-0200
Allison Park
Memorial Park Church - www.memorialparkchurch.org/
8800 Peebles Road Allison Park, PA 15101-2796 (412) 364-9492
Butler
Middlesex Presbyterian Church - 724-586-7096
Westminster Presbyterian Church www.westminsterpca.com - 724-283-4204
Carmichaels
Greene Valley Presbyterian Church www.greenevalleypca.com - 724-966-5291
Cranberry
Christ Bible Church - http://www.bbcofcranberry.org/
2721 Rochester Road Cranberry Township Pa 16066 724-77680
Hampton
Hampton Bible Chapel – meets at 10am in Hampton Community Center on Sundays
Monroeville
Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church - 724-327-8370
New Covenant Presbyterian Church - www.newcovpca.org - 412-856-5717
Murrysville
Murrysville Community Church - www.murrysvillechurch.com - 724-327-8411
New Castle
New Covenant Evangelical - http://www.newcovenantepc.com
1911 Harlansburg Road New Castle 16101 724-652-8062
Pittsburgh
Beverly Heights Presbyterian -http://www.beverlyheights.org
1207 Washington Road Pittsburgh PA 15228
Fourth Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh -5450 Friendship Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15232 - 412-661-7414
New Hope EPC - http://www.newhopeneighbor.org -412-766-2728
2710 Shadeland Avenue Pittsburgh PA 15212
Providence Presbyterian Church - www.providence-pca.net - 412-788-6100
Wexford
North Park Church - http://www.northparkepc.org
Is Repentance Necessary
Is Repentance Necessary for Salvation?
It is true that there are numerous Bible verses that speak of the promise of salvation, with no mention of repentance. These merely say to "believe" on Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9). However, the Bible makes it clear that God is holy and man is sinful, and that sin makes a separation between the two (Isaiah 59:1,2). Without repentance from sin, wicked men cannot have fellowship with a holy God. We are dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1) and until we forsake them through repentance, we cannot be made alive in Christ.
The Scriptures speak of "repentance unto life" (Acts 11:18). We turn from sin to the Savior. This is why Paul preached "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). The first public word Jesus preached was "repent" (Matthew 4:17). John the Baptist began his ministry the same way (Matthew 3:2). Jesus told His hearers that without repentance, they would perish (Luke 13:3).
If belief is all that is necessary for salvation, then the logical conclusion is that one need never repent. However, the Bible tells us that a false convert "believes" and yet is not saved (Luke 8:13); he remains a "worker of iniquity." Look at the warning of Scripture: "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth" (1 John 1:6). The Scriptures also say, "He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesses and forsakes them [repentance] shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). Jesus said that there was joy in heaven over one sinner who "repents" (Luke 15:10). If there is no repentance, there is no joy because there is no salvation.
When Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, he commanded his hearers to repent "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Without repentance, there is no remission of sins; we are still under His wrath. Peter further said, "Repent . . . and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19). We cannot be "converted" unless we repent. God Himself "commands all men everywhere [leaving no exceptions] to repent" (Acts 17:30). Peter said a similar thing at Pentecost: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you" (Acts 2:38).
If repentance wasn’t necessary for salvation, why then did Jesus command that repentance be preached to all nations (Luke 24:47)? With so many Scriptures speaking of the necessity of repentance for salvation, one can only suspect that those who preach salvation without repentance are strangers to repentance themselves, and thus strangers to true conversion.
This was taken from www.livingwaters.com and this so so much more can be found there.
Save Yourself some Pain
Did you get a Million Dollar Bill and you have more questions then you have come to the right place.
Here is save yourself some Pain by Ray Comfort and can be found at www.livingwaters.com as well.
Here is save yourself some Pain by Ray Comfort and can be found at www.livingwaters.com as well.
Save Yourself Some Pain
| Becoming a Christian is the most incredible event that will ever take place in your life. You have found peace with your Creator. You have found everlasting life! Be assured--God will never leave you nor forsake you. He has brought you this far and He will complete the wonderful work He has begun in you. God knows your every thought, your every care and your deepest concerns. Let's now look at some of those possible concerns. First, and of primary concern -- do you have "assurance" of your salvation? The Bible says to "make your calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10, italics added), so, let's go through a short "checklist" to make sure that you are truly saved:
Think of it this way... You have violated the law and face a $50,000 fine. You tell the judge that you are truly sorry for your crime, but he answers, "So you should be -- you have broken the law! Now, can you pay this fine?" He can only acquit you if the fine is paid. If someone else pays your fine, then he can let you go, but he must have "grounds" on which to release you. The reason we need a substitute (a savior) to pay our moral "fine," is because we have broken God's Law. To see how much we have transgressed this Law (the Ten Commandments), we will go through some of them -- Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen something? Have you ever lusted after another person? If you answered "Yes" to these questions, you admit that you are a lying, thieving, adulterer at heart, and you have to face God on Judgment Day! If you have used His name in vain, then you are guilty of "blasphemy" -- you've substituted God's holy Name for a curse word. Perhaps you've hated someone, then the Bible says that you are a murderer. You have violated God's holy Law, and you're in BIG trouble. On Judgment Day, you will be found guilty and end up in Hell. That's why you need the Savior. Merely being sorry for your sins, or confessing them to God won't help you. You must turn from sin (repent), and your faith must be in Jesus Christ alone. He is the only "grounds" for God to grant mercy towards you. If you're not sure of your salvation, make Psalm 51 your own prayer. Let's now look at some more important principles that can save you a great deal of pain...
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