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.
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