Tuesday, September 25, 2012

What do I say when people ask "What is your purpose in holding that graphic sign?"





Recently we have been taking the CHOICE sign out when we go out to preach. Sometimes I am approached by someone who wants to know what I think is going to be accomplished by holding the sign of a dismembered child. Here is my answer:

My desire us that seeing this poor little baby would elicit or provoke the response of mercy in your soul. Jesus said: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

Did you know that Psalm 127:3 declares: "Children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is His reward"? This little baby, whom I have named 'Annie', was a gift to her mother & father.

The Bible tells us that we are created in the image & likeness of God. The value of every human being, including those people who are in the womb, comes from the Lord Himself. Annie had extrinsic value, just like you & me.

Did you know that God said: "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you"? (Jeremiah 1:5) The Lord designed you, He created you. The same is true of every child in the womb. No one is a 'mistake'. No baby in the womb is a 'accident'. The timing of Annie's conception, & the timing of every little pre-born infant, is perfect.

The sixth commandment of God is: "You shall not murder". As you can see, abortion is a murderous act of violence against a helpless, innocent person. In His love for children, & for justice, God commands that we not only have nothing to do with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather that we expose evil. This true photo of Annie exposes the wicked reality of child-murder.

Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor as we love ourself & to esteem others more highly than yourself. Won't you have mercy on the children & love & esteem them as you love & esteem yourself & those who are precious to you? In Proverbs 24:11 the Holy Spirit admonishes us to "Deliver those who are drawn toward death, & hold back those stumbling to the slaughter." The Savior taught us that it is religious hypocrisy to walk by on the other side of the road when you are aware someone nearby is dying. Won't you rescue the perishing in the Name of Christ?

+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

I am often able to educate people about adoption & transition right to the Law of God & the gospel of grace.

I have utmost confidence in the power of the Law of God & the Word of God to convince & convict both sinner & saint. It is our ablest auxiliary in the pursuit of love & protection of the little ones. There is no need to be defensive or fearful. Speak plainly: "It is written". The truth speaks loud & clear, through both the photograph of what abortion (is & what abortion does) to a dear child & through the scriptures, which reveal the sanctity of human life & the sin of murder & apathy.

It is my sincere hope that many of you would prayerfully consider obtaining a graphic sign & carry it out with you when men preach in the street, at campuses, parks, beaches, festivals, sports events, etc. If you have no one who will preach, simply grab some tracts & stand with the sign & watch God bring opportunities for you to share the gospel of life & eternity!

For abortion signs go to: www.abortionno.org/Store/signs.html

How God's Commandments protect innocent children




This precious little baby was murdered by abortion. Her mother brought her to a place so that she could have her killed. Since as many as 80% of the women who murder their babies profess to be a part of the visible church of Jesus Christ, must must wonder, did anyone tell this baby's mother "God says: 'You shall not murder"'? Would those in her church tell her that God forbids the shedding of innocent blood? Even if she went to a crisis pregnancy center, would she have heard the four words of the commandment: 'You shall not murder'?

God has given His Law out of His kindness and yet, so few professing Christians are willing to share them. RC Sproul explains the threefold use of the Law:

The first purpose of the Law is to be a mirror... [It] reflects and mirrors the perfect righteousness of God. ..The law illumines human sinfulness. Augustine wrote, “The Law orders, that we, after attempting to do what is ordered, and so feeling our weakness under the Law, may learn to implore the help of grace.”...The Law acts as a severe schoolmaster who drives us to Christ.

A second purpose for the Law is the restraint of evil. The law, in and of itself, cannot change human hearts. It can, however, serve to protect the righteous from the unjust. Calvin says this purpose is “by means of its fearful denunciations and the consequent dread of punishment, to curb those who, unless forced, have no regard for rectitude and justice.” The law allows for a limited measure of justice on this earth, until the last judgment is realized.

The third purpose of the Law is to reveal what is pleasing to God. As born-again children of God, the law enlightens us as to what is pleasing to our Father, whom we seek to serve. The Christian delights in the law as God Himself delights in it. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). This is the highest function of the Law, to serve as an instrument for the people of God to give Him honor and glory.

By studying or meditating on the law of God, we attend the school of righteousness. We learn what pleases God and what offends Him. The moral law that God reveals in Scripture is always binding upon us.
(Excerpted from: http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/sproul/threefold_law.html)

I want to focus on the second use of the Law: the restraint of evil. This is often referred to as the 'civil use' of the commandments. Who doesn't want to RESTRAIN EVIL? Christians, most of all, should want to promote God's glory and because of the love for our neighbor, protect them from the wicked. The Holy Spirit declares: "O you who love the LORD, hate evil! ...The fear of the LORD is to hate evil" (Psalm 97:10;Proverbs 8:13) If the fear of the Lord is to hate evil, what is preventing us from sharing the Law of God, which RESTRAINS EVIL?

David VanDrunen writes about the second use of the Law of God:

Of the three uses of the law, the so-called “civil” use may strike us as the least interesting theologically. It involves no inward transformation of the heart or Spirit-wrought righteousness that is pleasing in God’s sight. By this use, the Law restrains the sinful excesses of sinners through the fear of shame and punishment, promoting an external obedience to moral standards and a measure of peace in society...
Matched against her two sisters, it is true, the civil use of the law has less curb appeal. Yet a few moments’ reflection quickly reveals the folly of underestimating its importance...The civil use may not directly involve the bestowal of saving blessings in Christ, but God wonderfully gives it an indirect role in promoting gospel proclamation and saving sinners.


In this article, I explore this civil use of the law and God’s generosity in restraining unrighteousness in the world. To do so, I first discuss how the civil use operates in bringing sinners to know and (externally) obey God’s law...

How the Civil Use Works: Common Grace and Natural Law


The pedagogical and didactic uses of the law involve the special saving operation of the Holy Spirit in the elect. In the former, the Spirit brings sinners to a true appreciation of their sin and illumines them to see the gospel as the answer to their miserable plight. In the latter, the Spirit utilizes the law to direct the life of redeemed saints whom He is sanctifying. Things work differently with the civil use. The civil use involves the Spirit’s work of common grace.


Common grace refers to general, non-saving blessings that God gives to all sorts of people. Believers and unbelievers alike share them in “common.” Perhaps the most familiar biblical verse describing common grace is Matthew 5:45, which says that God “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” The civil use of the Law is a work of common grace because it does not involve God’s special saving work among His elect. In its civil use, the law checks and bridles sinners from giving full vent to their sinful desires. It should be apparent, then, that the civil use is primarily for unbelievers. Though they do not render pure obedience, stemming from true faith and a desire for God’s glory, they very often render external obedience in response to the restraining force of the law. But we also see the civil use of the law at work in believers. At times we Christians refrain from doing evil only because we are afraid of getting caught and suffering for it, instead of from faith-inspired love of the good. This too is a common grace of God, for it’s better to refrain from evil for the wrong reasons than to do it. But Romans 13:5, for example, shows us a better way: “one must be in subjection..., not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.”


The idea of natural law is also important for understanding how the civil use works. Natural law refers to God’s revelation of His moral will in the created order as apprehended through the human conscience (Rom. 1:18–32; 2:14–15). It is true that God’s law as revealed in Scripture can also serve the civil use. Some people, without coming to true faith, hear the Scriptures and try to conform to its commands, driven by a general fear of God’s anger, social pressure, or the like. But most non-Christians do not read the Bible or listen to sermons. Their knowledge of God’s law comes primarily — or entirely — from the natural law. The natural law is God’s Law, and through its testimony to His will and His coming judgment it often serves to restrain wickedness and to work much external good in society.

The creation and enforcement of human laws supplement this work of natural law. Human laws that forbid bad behavior and threaten to punish it by the point of the sword can serve to restrain wickedness in particularly effective ways. This too is the work of God’s common grace...

The civil use of the law is a gift of God that should not be despised. Through it God permits His people, to varying degrees, to live “a peaceful and quiet life” (1 Tim. 2:2). Even more importantly, through keeping order and protecting basic liberties, it allows the church to gather peacefully and to carry out its mission...

Thank God for this common blessing of the law’s civil use. .. pray for its continuation.

(Excerpted from Restraining Sin: The Civil Use of the Law
http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/restraining-sin-civil-use-law/)

Let us be faithful to use the moral Law of God in promoting obedience to the command to sexual purity and to protect infants from murder by their own mothers. The second use of the Law RESTRAINS evil. May we be faithful to preach, teach and counsel with the commandments which prohibit fornication and murder, that sinners might fear the Lord's holy wrath, both now and at the Judgment. It is my prayer that God would be pleased to use the preaching, teaching and counseling of His 6th and 7th commandments to stigmatize sexual immorality and the murder of children by abortion and bring great shame to anyone who has committed, or helped someone else commit, these great evils.


'So shall My Word be that goes out from My mouth;
it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.'
~ God (Isaiah 55:11)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away.
~ Jesus in Matthew 24:35

Let My teaching fall like rain and My Words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
~ Deuteronomy 32:2

But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at My Word.
~ Isaiah 66:2

Cry aloud; do not hold back;
lift up your voice like a trumpet;
declare to My people their transgression,
to the house of Jacob their sins.
~ Isaiah 58:1

Listen to Ray Comfort preach about the consequences of failure to use the Law in evangelism:
www.livingwaters.com/learn/hellsbestkeptsecret.htm

www.livingwaters.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=11:consequences-of-failure-to-use-the-law&Itemid=305&lang=en

www.livingwaters.com/learn/trueandfalse.htm

Which of these three ... describes YOU?


This is 'Little Mary'. 
She was murdered at 1103 Lucerne Terrace in Orlando on November 6, 1999 along with many other infants.


Jesus said: "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy."
Matthew 5:7 


 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, 
"Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 

He (Jesus) said to him (the lawyer),“What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 

And he (the lawyer) answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. 

And He (Jesus) said to him (the lawyer), “You have answered correctly; do thisand you will live.

But he (the lawyer), desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 

Jesus replied,

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denariic and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back. 

Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 

He (the lawyer) said, “The one who showed him mercy.”

And Jesus said to him“You go, and do likewise.
Luke 10:25-37


Which of these three, do you think, describes YOU?

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. 
James 2:13

Thursday, August 30, 2012

For Life & Eternity training event


If you are interested in attending a training & equipping event to learn how to share the gospel at an abortuary, please let me know. "For Life & Eternity" will be theological & practical training. Lord willing, it will be February 19-23 in Orlando. We will go to a killing place each day. You will shadow seasoned missionaries during abortion times.
It's been invitation only, but if you are interested...
All applicants must agree to the Westminster Confession:
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/
or the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith:
http://hbdoctrine.webs.com/londonbaptist1689.htm

Please e mail: pattesmith@gmail.com if you are interested.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Do these aborting women look like 'victims' to you?

by Patte Smith on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 10:26am ·

This is Elise. She is at Orlando Women's Center killing place to murder her twins at 20 weeks gestation because they are girls. She already has two daughters. Elise was unwilling to consider choosing a loving adoptive home for her children. In spite of being offered help and support for hours on end, Elise killed her daughters. She paid $2600 for an induction-of-labor abortion. Elise delivered those baby girls into the toilet. Elise is a professing Christian.



The young mother on the right with the big baby belly is proudly posing for a photo as she waits to kill the infant in her womb. She refused all offers of help. She was adamant that she would not choose a loving adoptive mommy & daddy to raise her little one.

What does the Bible say about the ORIGIN of human sinfulness?

Hear the anointed authoritative Word of the Savior on the matter:

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder...sexual immorality ...
~ Matthew 15:19;Mark 7:21

Jesus taught that the urge/desire/temptation to sin does not come from outside of ourselves.
It comes from within.
Lust and  sexual immorality comes from inside the sinner.  
Murder proceeds out of the heart of the murderer.

While we always take in account the external pressures upon aborting women, we cannot, we MUST not, discount the reality of her indwelling sin. Of human depravity. Evil corruption courses through our veins. The devil reinforces our wicked thoughts and the world applauds or, in the very least, sympathizes with our sinful machinations. May the Lord help us to recognize that it is not poverty or circumstance that force a woman to fornicate and murder her baby (or babies). It's sin.

The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart.

Aborting mothers have a conscience, given to them by their Creator. They know right from wrong.
They are, by God's common grace*, under the influence of His moral truth. Through general revelation* God's commandments are carved on the human heart, bringing uncomfortable feelings of guilt, shame and fear of the Lord. Abortion-bound women must suppress that truth by their wickedness.
This is why women who kill their children cannot say they were victims.
They are without excuse.

Let's read Romans 1:18-32 and meditate upon the condition of all boys and girls, men and women, before God.

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven
against all the godlessness and wickedness of men
who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
 since what may be known about God is plain to them,
because God has made it plain to them.  
 For since the creation of the world
God’s invisible qualities—
His eternal power and divine nature—
have been clearly seen,
being understood from what has been made,
so that men are without excuse.
 For although they knew God,
they neither glorified Him as God
nor gave thanks to Him,
but their thinking became futile
and their foolish hearts were darkened.  
 Although they claimed to be wise,
they became fools  
 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God
for images made to look like mortal man ...
 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts
to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  
 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie,
and worshiped and served the creature
rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.
Amen.

 Because of this,
God gave them over to shameful lusts...
and received in themselves
the due penalty for their perversion.
 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile
to retain the knowledge of God,
He gave them over to a depraved mind,
to do what ought not to be done.  
 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness,
evil, greed and depravity.
They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.
They are ...God-haters,
insolent, arrogant and boastful;
they invent ways of doing evil...
they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.  
 Although they know God’s righteous decree
that those who do such things deserve death,
they not only continue to do these very things
but also approve of those who practice them.
----
Friends, one of the ways that the devil has weakened the witness of God's people is to trick them into thinking they should not use the Law of God, His commandments, when addressing sinners. I urge you, beloved, take time to listen to this powerful message by Ray Comfort called 'Hell's Best Kept Secret'. Have your Bible with you and take notes. If you have never heard this message, listen twice.
http://www.livingwaters.com/learn/hellsbestkeptsecret.htm

You also notice that Elise, the mother who murdered her twins, was a professing Christian. Please take time to listen to another of Ray Comfort's biblical messages called 'True & False Conversion': http://www.livingwaters.com/learn/trueandfalse.htm

Psalm 19:7 declares:
The Law of the LORD is perfect,
converting the soul:
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple.

Is it any wonder that the murderer from the beginning wants to suppress it?

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:
to visit orphans...in their affliction,
and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James 1:27 

So, what are you waiting for?

Go now!
Go to the killing place in your city.
Go to the field of blood and souls.
Go, with the Law & gospel of life & eternity!



Suggestions for further study:

*For a concise study on the biblical doctrine of general revelation read JI Packer's article here:
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/packer/04guilt.html

*For a concise study of the biblical doctrine of common grace read RC Sproul's article here:
http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/loving-provision/

*For a concise study of the biblical doctrine of sinful human depravity read RC Sproul's article here:
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/sproul/depravity.html

*For a concise study of the biblical doctrine on the three-fold use of the moral Law (God's holy commandments) read:
www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/sproul/threefold_law.html

Overturn our cozy alliances with the world, Lord!

by Patte Smith on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 9:09am ·


I was greatly displeased
and threw all Tobiah's household goods out of the room.
I gave orders to purify the rooms,
and then I put back into them
the equipment of the house of God,
with the grain offerings and the incense.
~ Nehemiah 13:8-9

The high priest had allowed his grandson to marry the daughter of Sanballat, the governor of Samaria, who was an ally of Tobiah the Ammonite. Both of these were vitriolic, bitter enemies of Nehemiah. This cozy alliance led to an invitation to Tobiah to actually move into the temple itself. To make room for him, the high priest took over the storeroom that was set apart for the grain, oil, and incense used by the Levites in their purification and ritual ceremonies. So there were two wrongs involved.
An Ammonite and his family were actually living in the temple, contrary to the Law of Moses;
and, they had deliberately defrauded the Levites of their rights of storage.

When Nehemiah returned he went into prompt and passionate action. He threw the baggage out, fumigated the room, and returned the oil, grain, and incense to their proper place. Many people feel that he overreacted. Today we do not get upset by the presence of evil and think it strange that a man should act like Nehemiah did. We have lost to a great degree our ability to express outrage and public indignation over things that are wrong.

We must remember, however, that this is similar to the incident in the New Testament when Jesus came into the temple and found it filled with moneychangers. Jesus reacted in a way similar to Nehemiah. He made a whip and went around the temple, upsetting tables and driving the moneychangers out. It indicates that there is a time for strong stands against the evils that others have indifferently accepted.

Evil invades us quietly. Before we are aware of it, we have compromised and gone along with standards widely accepted. We find the people of God have often been corrupted by this kind of thing.

When it comes down to individuals, this is a picture of our struggle with our flesh. We must be prepared to be drastic and take often painful action to clear up the things that are wrong in our own affairs. Many Christians allow evil to take root in their own lives. This story pictures the way these false forces can invade our lives and take up rooms in the very temple of our spirit, polluting and destroying us in the process. Take action. Do not allow these evil things to remain. Even if it takes painful effort to do so, end it! That is what this great story teaches us.

Lord, forgive me for the ways in which I allow subtle compromises to creep into my thinking and my choices. Help me to be as ruthless in judging and dealing with my own sin.

Life Application:
Do we have the requisite credibility, courage and wisdom for expressing outrage in our decadent culture? Are we blinded by tolerance so as not to see the wrongness?

~ Ray Stedman

Christian, does the whole world revolve around Christ or YOU?

by Patte Smith on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at 8:06am ·



Of all the sins that you ever heard of, there is scarce any more odious and dangerous than selfishness, and yet I doubt there are many that never were much troubled at it, nor sensible of its malignity. My principal request therefore to you is, that as ever you would prove Christians indeed, and be saved from sin and the damnation which follows it, take heed of this deadly sin of selfishness, and be sure you are possessed with true self-denial.

For your help, I shall tell you how your self-denial must be tried. I shall only tell you in a few words, how the least measure of true self-denial may be known. Wherever the interest of carnal self is stronger and more predominant habitually than the interest of God, of Christ, of everlasting life, there is no true self-denial or saving grace; but where God's interest is strongest, there self-denial is sincere. If you further ask me how this may be known, briefly thus:

1. What is it that you live for? What is that good which your mind is principally set to obtain? And what is that end which you principally design and endeavor to obtain, and which you set your heart on, and lay out your hopes upon? Is it the pleasing and glorifying of God, and the everlasting fruition of Him? Or is it the pleasing of your fleshly mind in the fruition of any inferior thing? Know this, and you may know whether self or God have the greatest interest in you. For that is your God which you love most, and please best, and would do most for.

2. Which do you set most by, the means of your salvation and of the glory of God, or the means of providing for self and flesh? Do you set more by Christ and holiness, which are the way to God; or by riches, honor, and pleasures, which gratify the flesh? Know this, and you may know whether you have true self-denial.

3. If you are truly self-denying, you are ordinarily ruled by God, and His Word and Spirit, and not by the carnal self. Which is the rule and master of your lives? Whose word and will is it ordinarily that prevails? When God draws, and self draws, which do you follow in the tenor of your life? Know this, and you may know whether you have true self-denial.

4. If you have true self-denial, the drift of your lives is carried on in a successful opposition to your carnal self, so that you not only refuse to be ruled by it, and love it as your god, but you fight against it, and tread it down as your enemy. So that you go armed against self in the course of your lives, and are striving against self in every duty; and as others think, it then goes best with them, when self is highest and pleased best; so you will know that then it goes best with you, when self is lowest, and most effectually subdued.

5. If you have true self-denial, there is nothing in this world so dear to you, but on deliberation you would leave it for God. He that has anything which he loves so well that he cannot spare it for God, is a selfish and unsanctified wretch. And therefore God has still put men to it, in the trial of their sincerity, to part with that which was dearest to the flesh. Abraham must be tried by parting with his only son. And Christ makes it His standing rule, "He who forsakes not all that he has, cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33).



Yet it is true that flesh and blood may make much resistance in a gracious heart; and many a striving thought there may be, before with Abraham we part with a son, or before we can part with wealth or life; but yet on deliberation, self-denial will prevail, and there is nothing so dear to a gracious soul, which he cannot spare at the will of God, and the hope of everlasting life. If with Peter we would flinch in a temptation-we should return with Peter in weeping bitterly, and give Christ those lives that in a temptation we denied Him.

6. In a word, true self-denial is procured by the knowledge and love of God, advancing Him in the soul-to debasing of self. The illuminated soul is so much taken with the glory and goodness of the Lord, that it carries him out of himself to God, and as it were estranges him from himself, that he may have communion with God; and this makes him vile in his own eyes, and to abhor himself in dust and ashes; he is lost in himself, and seeking God, he finds himself again in God. It is not a stoical resolution, but the love of God and the hopes of glory, that make him throw away the world, and look contemptuously on all below, so far as they are mere provision for flesh.

Search now, and try your hearts by these evidences, whether you are possessed of this necessary grace of self-denial. O make not light of the matter! For I must tell you that self is the most treacherous enemy, and the most insinuating deceiver in the world. It will be within you when you are not aware of it and will conquer you when you perceive not yourselves much troubled with it; and of all other vices is both the hardest to find out and the hardest to cure. Be sure therefore in the first place, that you have self-denial; and then be sure you use it and live in the practice of it.

Excerpted from Self-Denial
by Richard Baxter
www.reformedsermonarchives.com/bax1.htm

Christian, are you growing?

by Patte Smith on Monday, August 13, 2012 at 1:25pm ·


There is a generation of Christians in this age
who grieve me to the heart.
They make my blood run cold.
I cannot understand them.
For anything that man's eye can see,
they make no progress.
They never seem to get on.
Years roll on, and they are just the same —
the same besetting sins,
the same infirmities of disposition,
the same weakness in trial,
the same chilliness of heart,
the same apathy,
the same faint resemblance to Christ;
but no new knowledge,
no increased interest in the kingdom,
no freshness,
no new strength,
no new fruits...
Are they not forgetting that growth is the proof of life —
that even the tree grows, and the snail and the sloth MOVE?
Are they not forgetting how awfully far a man may go,
and yet not be a true Christian?
He may be like a wax figure,
the very image of a believer,
and yet not have within him
the breath of God...
and be dead after all.

~ JC Ryle

All sin is NOT Equal!

by Patte Smith on Friday, July 27, 2012 at 9:37am ·


My friends, do not fall for the devil's lie.
The Bible teaches that there are degrees of sin and degrees of punishment.

Take time to read and study this biblical treatise by Thomas Watson on;

Degrees of Sin

Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?

Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations,
are more heinous in the sight of God than others.

‘He that delivered me unto thee, has the greater sin.’
John 19: 11

The Stoic philosophers held that all sins were equal; but this Scripture clearly holds forth that there is a gradual difference in sin; some are greater than others; some are ‘mighty sins,’ and 'crying sins.’ Amos 5: 12; Gen 18: 21. Every sin has a voice to speak, but some sins cry. As some diseases are worse than others, and some poisons more venomous, so some sins are more heinous. ‘Ye have done worse than your fathers, your sins have exceeded theirs.’ Jer 16: 12; Ezek 16: 47. Some sins have a blacker aspect than others; to clip the king’s coin is treason; but to strike his person is a higher degree of treason. A vain thought is a sin, but a blasphemous word is a greater sin. That some sins are greater than others appears,

(1) Because there was difference in the offerings under the law; the sin offering was greater than the trespass offering.

(2) Because some sins are not capable of pardon as others are, therefore they must needs be more heinous, as the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Matt 12: 31.

(3) Because some sins have a greater degree of punishment than others. ‘Ye shall receive the greater damnation.’ Matt 23: 14. ‘Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?’ God would not punish one more than another if his sin was not greater. It is true, ‘all sins are equally heinous in respect of the object,’ or the infinite God, against whom sin is committed, but, in another sense, all sins are not alike heinous; some sins have more bloody circumstances in them, which are like the dye to the wool, to give it a deeper colour.

[1] Such sins are more heinous as are committed without any occasion offered; as when a man swears or is angry, and has no provocation. The less the occasion of sin, the greater is the sin itself.

[2] Such sins are more heinous that are committed presumptuously. Under the law there was no sacrifice for presumptuous sins. Num 15: 30.

What is the sin of presumption, which heightens and aggravates sin, and makes it more heinous?
To sin presumptuously, is to sin against convictions and illuminations, or an enlightened conscience. ‘They are of those that rebel against the light.’ Job 24: 13. Conscience, like the cherubim, stands with a flaming sword in its hand to deter the sinner; and yet he will sin. Did not Pilate sin against conviction, and with a high hand, in condemning Christ? He knew that for envy the Jews had delivered him. Matt 27: 18. He confessed he ‘found no fault in Him.’ Luke 23: 14. His own wife sent to him saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that just man.’ Matt 27: 19. Yet for all this, he gave the sentence of death against Christ. He sinned presumptuously, against an enlightened conscience. To sin ignorantly does something to extenuate and pare off the guilt. ‘If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin,’ that is, their sin had been less. John 15: 22. But to sin against illuminations and convictions enhances men’s sins. These sins make deep wounds in the soul; other sins fetch blood; they are a stab at the heart.

How many ways may a man sin against illuminations and convictions?

(1) When he lives in the total neglect of duty. He is not ignorant that it is a duty to read the Word, yet he lets the Bible lie by as rusty armour, seldom made us of. He is convinced that it is a duty to pray in his family, yet he can go days and months, and God never hears of him; he calls God Father, but never asks his blessing. Neglect of family-prayer, as it were, uncovers the roof of men’s houses, and makes way for a curse to be rained down upon their table.

(2) When a man lives in the same sins he condemns in others. ‘Thou that judges, does the same things.’ Rom 2: 1. As Augustine says of Seneca, ‘He wrote against superstition, yet he worshipped those images which he reproved.’ One man condemns another for rash censuring, yet lives in the same sin himself; a master reproves his apprentice for swearing, yet he himself swears. The snuffers of the tabernacle were of pure gold: they who reprove and snuff the vices of others, had need themselves be free from those sins. The snuffers must be of gold.

(3) When a man sins after vows. ‘Thy vows are upon me, O God.’ Psa 56: 12. A vow is a religious promise made to God, to dedicate ourselves to Him. A vow is not only a purpose, but a promise. Every votary makes himself a debtor; he binds himself to God in a solemn manner. Now, to sin after a vow, to vow himself to God, and give his soul to the devil, must needs be against the highest convictions.

(4) When a man sins after counsels, admonitions, warnings, he cannot plead ignorance. The trumpet of the gospel has been blown in his ears, and sounded a retreat to call him off from his sins, he has been told of his injustice, living in malice, keeping bad company, yet he would venture upon sin. This is to sin against conviction; it aggravates the sin, and is like a weight put into the scale, to make his sin weigh the heavier. If a sea-mark be set up to give warning that there are shelves and rocks in that place, yet if the mariner will sail there, and split his ship, it is presumption; and if he be cast away, who will pity him?

(5) When a man sins against express combinations and threatening. God has thundered out threatenings against such sins.
"But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses." Psa 68: 21. Though God set the point of His sword to the breast of a sinner, he will still commit sin. The pleasure of sin delights him more than the threatenings affright him. Like the leviathan, ‘he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.’ Job 41: 29. Nay, he derides God’s threatenings. ‘Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it:’ we have heard much what God intends to do, and of judgement approaching, we would fain see it. Isa 5: 19. For men to see the flaming sword of God’s threatening brandished, yet to strengthen themselves in sin, is in an aggravated manner to sin against illumination and conviction.

(6) When a man sins under affliction. God not only thunders by threatening, but lets His thunderbolt fall. He inflicts judgements on a person so that he may read his sins in his punishment, and yet he sins. His sin was uncleanness, by which he wasted his strength, as well as his estate. He has had a fit of apoplexy; and yet while feeling the smart of sin, he retains the love of sin. This is to sin against conviction. ‘In his distress did he trespass yet more; this is that king Ahab’ 2 Chron 28: 22. It makes the sin greater to sin against an enlightened conscience. It is full of obstinacy. Men give no reason, make no defence for their sins, and yet are resolved to hold fast iniquity. Voluntas est regula et mensura actionis [An action can be measured and judged by the will involved], the more of the will in a sin, the greater the sin. ‘We will walk after our own devices.’ Jer 18: 12. Though there be death and hell at every step, we will march on under Satan’s colours. What made the sin of apostate angels so great was that it was wilful; they had no ignorance in their mind, no passion to stir them up; there was no tempter to deceive them, but they sinned obstinately and from choice. To sin against convictions and illuminations, is joined with rejection and contempt of God. It is bad for a sinner to forget God, but it is worse to condemn him. ‘Wherefore does the wicked condemn God?’ Psa 10: 13. An enlightened sinner knows that by his sin he disobliges and angers God; but he cares not whether God be pleased or not, he will have his sin; therefore such a one is said to reproach God. ‘The soul that does ought presumptuously, the same reproacheth the Lord.’ Numb 15: 30. Every sin displeases God, but sins against an enlightened conscience reproach the Lord. To condemn the authority of a prince, is a reproach done to him. It is accompanied with impudence. Fear and shame are banished, the veil of modesty is laid aside. ‘The unjust knoweth no shame.’ Zeph 3: 5. Judas knew Christ was the Messiah; he was convinced of it by an oracle from heaven, and by the miracles he wrought, and yet he impudently went on in his treason, even when Christ said, ‘He that dips his hand with me in the dish, he shall betray me:’ and he knew Christ meant him. When he was going about his treason, and Christ pronounced a woe to him, yet, for all that, he proceeded in his treason. Luke 22: 22. Thus to sin presumptuously, against an enlightened conscience, dyes the sin of a crimson colour, and makes it greater than other sins.

[3] Such sins are more heinous than others, which are sins of continuance. The continuing of sin is the enhancing of sin. He who plots treason, makes himself a greater offender. Some men’s heads are the devil’s minthouse, they are a mint of mischief. ‘Inventors of evil things.’ Rom 1: 30. Some invent new oaths, others new snares. Such were those presidents that invented a decree against Daniel, and got the king to sign it. Dan 6: 9.

[4] Those sins are greater which proceed from a spirit of malignity. To malign holiness is diabolical. It is a sin to want grace, it is worse to hate it. In nature there are antipathies, as between the vine and laurel. Some have an antipathy against God because of his purity. ‘Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.’ Isa 30: 11. Sinners, if it lay in their power, would not only dethrone God, but annihilate Him; if they could help it, God should no longer be God. Thus sin is boiled up to a greater height.

[5] Those sins are of greater magnitude, which are mixed with ingratitude. Of all things God cannot endure to have His kindness slighted. His mercy is seen in reprieving men so long, in wooing them by His Spirit and ministers to be reconciled, in crowning them with so many temporal blessings: and to abuse all this love — when God has been filling up the measure of His mercy, for men to fill up the measure of their sins — is high ingratitude, and makes their sins of a deeper crimson. Some are worse for mercy. ‘The vulture,’ says Aelian, ‘draws sickness from perfumes.’ So the sinner contracts evil from the sweet perfumes of God’s mercy. The English chronicle reports of one Parry, who being condemned to die, Queen Elizabeth sent him her pardon; and after he was pardoned, he conspired and plotted the queen’s death. Just so some deal with God, He bestows mercy, and they plot treason against Him. ‘I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me.’ Isa 1: 2. The Athenians, in lieu of the good service Themistocles had done them, banished him their city. The snake, in the fable, being frozen, stung him that gave it warmth. Certainly sins against mercy are more heinous.

[6] Those sins are more heinous than others which are committed with delectation. A child of God may sin through a surprisal, or against his will. ‘The evil which I would not, that I do.’ Rom 7: 19. He is like one that is carried down the stream involuntarily. But to sin with delight heightens and greatens the sin. It is a sign the heart is in the sin. ‘They set their heart on their iniquity,’ as a man follows his gain with delight. Hos 4: 8. ‘Without are dogs, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.’ Rev 22: 15. To tell a lie is a sin; but to love to tell a lie is a greater sin.

[7] Those sins are more heinous than others which are committed under a pretence of religion. To cheat and defraud is a sin, but to do it with a Bible in one’s hand, is a double sin. To be unchaste is a sin; but to put on a mask of religion to play the whore makes the sin greater. ‘I have peace offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows; come let us take our fill of love.’ Prov 7: 14, 15. She speaks as if she had been at church, and had been saying her prayers: who would ever have suspected her of dishonesty? But, behold her hypocrisy; she makes her devotion a preface to adultery. ‘Which devour widows’ houses, and for a show make long prayers.’ Luke 20: 47. The sin was not in making long prayers; for Christ was a whole night in prayer; but to make long prayers that they might do unrighteous actions, made their sin more horrid.

[8] Sins of apostasy are more heinous than others. Demas forsook the truth and afterwards became a priest in an idol temple, says Dorotheus. 2 Tim 4: 10. To fall is a sin; but to fall away is a greater sin.Apostates cast a disgrace upon religion. ‘The apostate,’ says Tertullian, ‘seems to put God and Satan in the balance; and having weighed both their services, prefers the devil’s, and proclaims him to be the best master.’ In which respect the apostate is said to put Christ to ‘open shame.’ Heb 6: 6. This dyes a sin in grain, and makes it greater. It is a sin not to profess Christ, but it is a greater to deny him. Not to wear Christ’s colours is a sin, but to run from His colours is a greater sin. A pagan sins less than a baptised renegade.

[9] To persecute religion makes sin greater. Acts 7: 52. To have no religion is a sin, but to endeavour to destroy religion is a greater. Antiochus Epiphanes took more tedious journeys and ran more hazards, to vex and oppose the Jews, than all his predecessors had done to obtain victories. Herod ‘added this above all, that he shut up John in prison.’ Luke 3: 20. He sinned before by incest; but by imprisoning the prophet he added to his sin and made it greater. Persecution fills up the measure of sin. ‘Fill ye up the measure of your fathers.’ Matt 23: 32. If you pour a porringer of water into a cistern it adds something to it, but if you pour in a bucketful or two it fills up the measure of the cistern; so persecution fills up the measure of sin, and makes it greater.

[10] To sin maliciously makes sin greater. Aquinas, and other of the schoolmen, place the sin against the Holy Ghost in malice. The sinner does all he can to vex God, and despite the Spirit of grace. Heb 10: 29. Thus Julia threw up his dagger in the air, as if he would have been revenged upon God. This swells sin to its full size, it cannot be greater. When a man is once come to this, blasphemously to despite the Spirit, there is but one step lower he can fall, and that is to hell.

[11] It aggravates sin, and makes it greater, when a man not only sins himself, but endeavours to make others sin.

(1) Such as teach errors to the people, who decry Christ’s deity, or deny His virtue, making Him only a political head, not a head of influence: who preach against the morality of the Sabbath, or the immortality of the soul; these men’s sins are greater than others. If the breakers of God’s law sin, what do they that teach men to break them? Matt 5: 19.

(2) Such as destroy others by their bad example. The swearing father teaches his son to swear, and damns him by his example. Such men’s sins are greater than others, and they shall have a hotter place in hell.
Use. You see all sins are not equal; some are more grievous than others, and bring greater wrath; therefore especially take heed of these sins. ‘Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins.’ Psa 19: 13. The least sin is bad enough; you need not aggravate your sins, and make them more heinous. He that has a little wound will not make it deeper. Oh, beware of those circumstances which increase your sin and make it more heinous! The higher a man is in sinning, the lower he shall lie in torment.

Excerpted from:

The Ten Commandments 
by

 Thomas Watson 


Chapter 3.2 www.biblebb.com/files/TW/tw-commandments.htm

The Blood that Cleanseth

by Patte Smith on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 11:20am ·
The Blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1:7


"Cleanseth," says the text-not "shall cleanse."
There are multitudes who think that as a dying hope they may look forward to pardon. Oh! how infinitely better to have cleansing now than to depend on the bare possibility of forgiveness when I come to die. Some imagine that a sense of pardon is an attainment only obtainable after many years of Christian experience. But forgiveness of sin is a present thing-a privilege for this day, a joy for this very hour. The moment a sinner trusts Jesus he is fully forgiven. The text, being written in the present tense, also indicates continuance; it was "cleanseth" yesterday, it is "cleanseth" to-day, it will be "cleanseth" tomorrow: it will be always so with you, Christian, until you cross the river; every hour you may come to this fountain, for it cleanseth still. Notice, likewise, the completeness of the cleansing, "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin"-not only from sin, but "from all sin." Reader, I cannot tell you the exceeding sweetness of this word, but I pray God the Holy Ghost to give you a taste of it. Manifold are our sins against God. Whether the bill be little or great, the same receipt can discharge one as the other. The blood of Jesus Christ is as blessed and divine a payment for the transgressions of blaspheming Peter as for the shortcomings of loving John; our iniquity is gone, all gone at once, and all gone for ever.
Blessed completeness! What a sweet theme to dwell upon as one gives himself to sleep.
"Sins against a holy God;
Sins against His righteous laws;
Sins against His love, His blood;
Sins against His name and cause;
Sins immense as is the sea-
From them all He cleanseth me."


~ Charles Spurgeon

Who do you trust?

by Patte Smith on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 9:45am ·


On whom dost thou trust?

"I trust," says the Christian,
 "in a triune God.
I trust the Father,
believing that He has chosen me
from before the foundations of the world;
I trust Him to provide for me
in providence,
to teach me,
to guide me,
to correct me if need be,
and to bring me home to His own house where the many mansions are.
I trust the Son.
Very God of very God is He
-the Man Christ Jesus.
I trust in Him to take away all my sins by His own sacrifice,
and to adorn me with His perfect righteousness.
I trust Him for what He is,
for what He has done,
and for what He has promised yet to do.
And I trust the Holy Spirit-
He has begun to save me from my inbred sins;
I trust Him to drive them all out;
I trust Him to curb my temper,
to subdue my will,
to enlighten my understanding,
to check my passions,
to comfort my despondency,
to help my weakness,
to illuminate my darkness;
I trust Him to dwell in me as my life,
to reign in me as my King,
to sanctify me wholly,
spirit, soul, and body,
and then to take me up to dwell with the saints in light for ever."

To trust Him whose power will never be exhausted,
whose love will never wane,
whose kindness will never change,
whose faithfulness will never fail,
whose wisdom will never be nonplussed,
and whose perfect goodness can never know a diminution!
Happy art thou, reader, if this trust is thine!
So trusting,
thou shalt enjoy sweet peace now,
and glory hereafter,
and the foundation of thy trust
shall never be removed.

~ Charles Spurgeon

Is it wrong to murder a baby by abortion?

by Patte Smith on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 10:30am ·


Abortion: A matter of Life or Death

Is it wrong to murder a baby by abortion?

First, to answer that question we must establish where human life comes from. Do you know that the Bible teaches us that the Creator of the universe designed and created you, as well as your pre-born child? In Jeremiah 1:5 God says: "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you."  How could God possibly know you before you were conceived? How could He know you before your father's sperm penetrated your mother's egg? The Lord of heaven and earth knows you because He designed you even before He spoke you into existence. Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, upholds the universe by the Word of His power. Psalm 139:13-14,16 is a prayer which confesses to God: “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well..Your eyes have seen my unformed substance...”. Psalm 127:3 declares: "Children are a gift from the LORD." No child is a mistake. No boy or girl is an accident. Every single baby is a gift from God Himself. 

We, being created in God's image and likeness, are moral beings. We know right from wrong—not as taught by our culture, but by our Creator—for morality is a universal human characteristic. We know in our hearts and minds that it is wrong to lie, steal, and to be sexually immoral (have sex with someone we are not covenanted to in marriage). Every person also knows that it is wrong to murder. How do we know these things are wrong? God is good, and kind. He has given us His Law, the Ten Commandments, to show us His goodness, and to show us what is required of us. Because God is good, He has made it clear to us that He exists by giving us two things, the creation and our conscience. We know there is a Creator by looking at creation—the sun, moon, plants, animals, humans, etc. We also know there is a God because He has written His law, the Ten Commandments on our hearts. If we’re honest with ourselves we must admit and agree with the Creator that we’ve broken His laws. And because God is good, He must punish lawbreakers. For God, in His goodness, has promised to punish all sin (breaking His Commandments), and the punishment that He has ascribed for sin is eternity in Hell.  He is just and has promised to let no sin go unpunished. God's commandments include "You shall not murder". Do you know what God has prophesied as the end of all who murder the innocent? Revelation 21:8 says God's just punishment for every murderer is: eternity in the lake of fire!

Murdering a child in the womb is a willful violation of God's clear commandment. Since abortion is morally wrong, we must never consider it as an 'option'. God has not given us a 'choice'. He simply commands: "You shall not murder".

Jesus said: "No one is good". The Bible reveals that all have not only sinned, but that since the fall of Adam and Eve, the first human beings, all people are sinners by nature. God is just and has promised that He will not allow sin to go unpunished. Yes. Sin is that serious! In fact, did you know that the Word of God says that there is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood? But God is also merciful and loving.  2,000 years ago, God sent His one and only Son to earth to be born of a virgin and to live under the same Law that you and I live under.  Jesus, the Son of God, was fully man, yet fully God.  He was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He never sinned.  He was perfect in thought, word, and deed. Jesus was, in every respect, pleasing in the sight of God.

During His lifetime, Jesus made claimed to be equal with God, saying, "I and My Father are One" (John 10:30). He claimed to be the exclusive way to God, saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). And He claimed that little children are precious to God, saying, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:14).  Jesus also told us how to enter heaven. “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3).  Despite Jesus' goodness and perfection, He was taken by the hands of sinful men, to be executed.  He did this willingly, saying, "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father” (John 10:17-18).  He was crucified, and He died.On the cross, Jesus cried these words: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"  Jesus, being the Son of God, and in every respect equal with God, was forsaken by God.  Why?  Although He was, and is, the Son of God, He was also the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  At that moment on the cross, the sins of the world were placed on Him, and the Father crushed Him under His just and holy wrath. This is how God can forgive sin. He caused His precious Son Jesus, who knew no sin, to become sin for all who repent and believe, that we could then become the righteousness that God requires, in Christ alone. Jesus, having endured the full wrath of God for His people, was buried and on the third day He arose from the grave, just as He said He would. Although this forgiveness is free, it is not automatic. Jesus Himself said that you must be converted.  This is more than praying a prayer or going to church. Jesus said: "You must be born again!"  Scripture says, "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 17:30-31). God requires that you must repent (confess and forsake your sin) and that you must place your trust solely in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation.  God loves life. He created you in His image. And He created every child in every womb in His image.  His desire for is that you turn to Him and receive forgiveness so that you may live. Then the decision you, or someone you know, may face, the decision of whether or not to abort (murder) a child, will not be difficult.

The precious little babies in the womb are created in the image of God, just as you are. You know that abortion is wrong. You know that it is sin. So the answer to the big question:
"Is it wrong to murder a baby by abortion?"  is this: Yes! It is soul-damning sin to murder a child in the womb. Sex outside marriage (fornication) is also a serious sin. Please, repent of your sexual immorality, turn to Christ today and do not kill the precious infant inside you. The life God has created is the life God requires you to love and protect.

Do not be so ignorant as to presume that God will forgive your sins. Going to church will not save you. Praying will not save you. Do not be deceived-you cannot mock the justice of God. God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, they will reap. (Galatians 6:7). If you sow the sin of murder, you will reap death, for the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). Fear God and turn away from murdering today and look to Jesus, the Savior, to forgive you of your sin, cleanse you by His blood and give you a new heart with new desires.
----

Abortion is murder:
abortionNO.org
abort73.com

Adoption is a way for you to choose a loving forever family for your little baby. And, it's FREE. You can also receive financial assistance with your living expenses and medical expenses:
For information go to:
birthmother.com to learn about adoption.
parentprofiles.com to see profiles of couples on the adoption waiting list.

E mail forlifeandeternity@gmail.com for personal counseling and direction.

The Word of God is a Woman's Friend & Benefactor

by Patte Smith on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 6:33pm ·



Woman’s virtue, dignity, honor, and happiness, are nowhere safe but under the protection of the Word of God. The Bible is the benefactor of the female sex. Beneath this protection they are secure in their rights, their dignity, and their peace. It is their vine and fig tree, under which in calm repose they may enjoy the shade and relish the fruit. It protects their purity from taint, and their peace from disturbance.

Woman! regard your Savior for the next world as your Emancipator for this present one
—love the Bible as the charter of your liberty, and the guardian of your bliss—and...
Christ as your asylum from the wrongs of oppression and the arts of seduction.

Grateful she ought to be, for immense are the favors which have been conferred upon her.. It is enough to demand her thankfulness, that in common with man, she is the object of Divine love, redeeming mercy, and the subject of immortal hope! But in addition to this, she is rescued from oppression and exalted to honor in the present world. In regard to this, your obligations to Christianity are immense. You owe infinitely more to it than you ever reflect upon, or than you will ever be able to cancel. Often as you look round upon your condition in society, and especially as often as you contrast your situation with that of women in Pagan countries, let a glow of gratitude warm your heart and add intensity to the fervor with which you exclaim, “Precious Bible.” Yes, doubly precious to you as your friend for both worlds.

~ John Angell James

An oracle of woe for those who lust and fornicate

by Patte Smith on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 10:51am ·


What Does God Say About the Sin of Fornication?

(Fornication is defined in the Bible as sexual intimacy outside the covenant of marriage)

                   God ALWAYS says NO to fornication
                          and all sexual immorality!

Sexual sin is an extremely serious soul-damning sin to God.

The Bible declares that :

"No fornicator has any inheritance
in the kingdom of God."
Ephesians 5:5

"Fornicators … God will judge."
Hebrews 13:4

WARNING!!!!

Do not be foolish and presume that God will forgive you
for the sin of fornication!
Even if you are not a professing Christian,
your God-given conscience tells you that sex outside marriage is wrong.
The Bible says that lust and impure thoughts come from an evil, sinful heart.

 Jesus asks: “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?”
Matthew 9:4

”For out of the heart come evil thoughts … sexual immorality”
Matthew 15:19 Mark 7:21 Luke 6:45

”Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived..."
I Corinthians 6:9,10

"Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord …
Flee sexual immorality.
Every sin that a man does is outside the body,
but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit … and you are not your own?
… therefore glorify God in your body"
I Corinthians 6:18-20


The Bible describes fornication as a work of the sinful flesh;

"The works of the flesh … fornication."
Galatians 5:19

Listen to God speak to you through His moral Law.
Jesus said He didn’t come to abolish (do away with) the 10 commandments, but to fulfill them. (Matt 5:17)
And He commissioned His followers to make disciples teaching everyone to obey them. (Matt 28:19-20)
In fact, the Savior not only taught the 10 RAISED the bar of holy requirements from God.
While the 7th commandment says: "You shall not commit adultery", Jesus upped the ante.
The Master assures us that it is a sin of the heart even to lust (dwell on sexual thoughts and fantasize)
about another person in your mind!

But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 5:27-28

Jesus goes on to say that it would be better for you to pluck out your eye than sin.
Yes! Sexual sin is that serious!

When you actually go through with the physical act(s) of sex and consummate your lustful sin of adultery with another person, you are condemned by your conscience, which always affirms God’s perfect moral teachings.

How do you know what God commands?

How do you know what sin is? Romans 3:20 explains:

“For by the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”


"Know this … the Law is made for … whoremongers."
I Timothy 1:9,10

You may not consider your boyfriend or girlfriend a whore or whoremonger, but my friend,
by the Bible’s (God's) definition that is what you are if you have sex with someone you are not married to.

What does God require of you?

"This is the will of God, your holiness:
That you refrain from sexual immorality."
I Thessalonians 4:3-8

Holiness and sexual purity are NOT an option.
They are commanded of you.

“ … but as He who called you is holy,
you also be holy in all your conduct,
because it is written; 'Be holy as I am holy.'”
I Peter 1:15, 16 (Lev 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:7)

The Christian standard of, and motivation for, holiness is the absolute moral perfection of God Himself.
(Read Matt 5:48; Eph 5:1)

"Therefore … let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
II Cornithians 7:1

Jesus assures you that His standard for you is perfect holiness;

"Therefore you shall be perfect
just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
Matthew 5:48


"Without holiness no one will see the Lord."
Hebrews 12:14

If you believe (and say) that God will automatically forgive your sexual sin,
my friend, I assure you, you are deceived.
The Bible says otherwise. At the judgment Jesus will look at you and say;

"I don't know you or where you come from.
Away from Me, all you evildoers!'"
Luke 13:27

 On that great and terrible day of the Lord…

“…those who have done good will rise to live,
and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned."
John 5:29

"…those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil,
there will be wrath and anger.
There will be trouble and distress
for every human being who does evil.."
Romans 2:8, 9

Be afraid! 


“If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment …”
Hebrews 10: 26,27

Do not be foolish and fear only your circumstances and the loss of your guilty pleasures.
Losing your girlfriend or boyfriend, or having to do without sex
is nothing compared with having to face God.

Friend, be wise … Fear the Lord!
Be afraid to give yourself over to sexual sin!

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom …"
Psalm 111:10

"Fear God …” 
I Peter 2:17

God is kind enough to give you advance notice,
warning you to:

Avoid every kind of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:22

You can’t blame God if he sends you to hell for eternity.
It is your responsibility to obey Him while you live.
If you refuse to flee sexual immorality,
you will die in your sins.
You will be like those who …

"… perish because they refused to love the truth
and so be saved."
2 Thessalonians 2:10


The unholy alliance of the world, your sinful flesh and the devil are conspiring against the knowledge and admission of this holy truth.

You may think that you are free, but if you are a fornicator, you are deceived.
It is obvious that your evil desires enslave you.
Jesus says;

"Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin."
John 8:34


"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey,
you are that one’s slaves whom you obey,
whether of sin leading to death,
or of obedience leading to righteousness?"
Romans 6:16

"… but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
James 1:14

"Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness,
and receive with meekness the implanted Word,
which is able to save your souls."
James 1:21

Do you say you are a Christian and yet you continue in sexual immorality?
The Bible says that you are under the control of the devil and are deceived!

How dare you defend the sin of fornication by the comfort of GOD in Jesus Christ and the grace of His divine forgiveness!  Blasphemy! Be warned! Do NOT promote the lie that the GRACE of Jesus makes it EASIER for you to sin. The power of sin comes from within YOU, not from God. Be afraid! You are blaspheming the Holy Spirit when you ascribe the justification for sexual immorality to the belief that you will be forgiven.

The apostle Paul addresses this lie in Roman 6:15, 21,23:
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly NOT! ... for the end of those things is DEATH ... For the wages of sin is DEATH."

"Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal
'The Lord knows those who are His,' and,
'Let everyone who names the Name of Christ depart from iniquity'.
2 Timothy 2:19

"They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him,
being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work."
Titus 1:16

Listen to the warning voice of the Savior:

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord ...' and I will declare to them,
'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." 
Matthew 7:21-23

Jesus will say, ‘I do not know you … Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.” (Luke 13:27)

The Bible assures us that God does not even hear the prayer of a person who harbors sin and excuses sin.
In fact, God calls the prayer of a fornicator an abomination!

"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."
 Psalm 66:18

"One who turns his ear away from hearing the Law, even his prayer is an abomination."
Proverbs 28:9

"We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin …
We know that whoever is born of God does not sin.."
1 John 5:18

"Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good.
Anyone who does what is good is from God.
Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God."
3 John 1:11

"Know this. You will not get away with any of your sin.
If you continue in your quest to satisfy your sexual desires and fornicate,
things will not go well for you.
…while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse,
deceiving and being deceived."
 2 Timothy 3:13


Do not be fooled into thinking that by going to church you can continue to sin
and you are safe with the LORD. Church cannot save you now or in the day of judgment.
Your priest, your pastor, they cannot save you.
God sees you as His enemy. He opposes you because you are;

"…alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works"
Colossians 1:21

"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
1 Peter 3:12

You are under the judgment of God!

"I will utter My judgments against them concerning all their wickedness"
Jeremiah 1:16


God requires you to turn from your sexual immorality and flee to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and the power to live in fear of Him and walk in holiness! By His Blood He can forgive you and by the power of His Holy Spirit He can can break the stronghold of sin in your soul and by His grace, give you the power to live a holy life and do what is right in the sight of God and men. What must you do?

He must turn from evil and do good
1 Peter 3:11

As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
Peter 4:2


Repent that you may …

" ... escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."
2 Peter 1:4

You must truly repent if you have been involved in sexual sin. Genuine repentance involves more than saying you are sorry for your sin to God. You are not forgiven by merely feeling or saying that you are sorry.
To receive forgiveness and cleansing from God
you are required to TURN from and FORSAKE sin.
You cannot do this in your own power.
You need Christ to savingly repent of your evil!
Go to God in wholehearted sorrow and repent now.

Jesus didn’t come simply to keep us from going to hell. Christ’s perfect sinless life and sacrifice on the Cross and triumph over death at the resurrection is a double cure. Jesus rescues the penitent sinner from both:
The penalty of sin
and
The power of sin.


Why choose God’s wrath?

Repent and sin no more today!

Look to Christ and live! He sacrificed His life's Blood at the Cross for those who will humble themselves and come to Him. He rose from the grave, and is alive forevermore.
The Savior will come again to judge the living and the dead. His grace is sufficient for all your sin.

Jesus says:
"Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy,
and My burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30

The Cross is where those who repent and believe receive their salvation and joy of Jesus Christ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubGCISQQ7Zo

Nine reasons why people (including professing Christians) won't repent of sin, with warnings

by Patte Smith on Sunday, July 8, 2012 at 7:48pm ·




Thomas Watson noted 9 HINDRANCES of repentance, or what he calls;
gospel mourning:

 1. The love of sin. The love of sin makes sin taste sweet, and this sweetness in sinbewitches the heart. The love of sin hardens the heart and keeps the devil in possession. In true mourning there must be a grieving for sin. But how can a man grieve for that sin which his heart is in love with? Oh, take heed of this sweet poison! The love of sin freezes the soul in impenitence.


2. Despair. Despair affronts God, undervalues Christ's blood and damns the soul! 'But they will say—It's hopeless. We will continue to follow our plans, and each of us will continue to act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart' (Jeremiah 18:12). This is the language of despair. Despair destroys repentance, for the proper ground of repentance is mercy. 'The goodness of God leads you to repentance' (Romans 2:4)—but despair hides mercy out of sight. Oh, take heed of this. Despair is an irrational sin; there is no ground for it. The Lord shows mercy to thousands. Why may you not be one of a thousand? The wings of God's mercy are stretched out to every humble penitent. Though you have been a great sinner—yet if you are a weeping sinner—there is a golden scepter of mercy held forth (Psalm 103:11). Despair locks up the soul in impenitence!


3. A conceit that this mourning will make us melancholy (unhappy). But this is a mistake. Lose our joy? Tell me, what joy can there be in a condemned condition? What joy does sin afford? Is not sin compared to a wound and bruise? (Isaiah 1:6). David had his broken bones (Psalm 51:8). Is there any comfort in having the bones out of joint? Does not sin breed a palpitation and trembling of heart? (Deuteronomy 28:65, 66). Is it any joy for a man to be a 'terror to himself'? (Jeremiah 20:4). Surely of the sinner's laughter it may be said, 'It is mad!' (Ecclesiastes 2:2), whereas holy mourning is the breeder of joy. It does not eclipse joy—but refines our joy and makes it better. The prodigal dated his joy from the time of his repentance. 'Then they began to be merry' (Luke 15:24).


4. Checking the motions of the Spirit. The Spirit sets us a-mourning. Oft we meet with gracious motions to prayer and repentance. Now when we stifle these motions, which is called a quenching the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). When the Spirit of God falls as dew in His influences upon the soul, then it is moistened with sorrow. But if the Spirit withdraws, the soul is like Gideon's dry fleece. A ship can as well sail without the wind, a bird can as well fly without wings—as we can mourn without the Spirit! Take heed of grieving the Spirit. Do not drive away this sweet Dove from the ark of your soul. The Spirit is 'gentle and tender'. If He is grieved, He may say, 'I will come no more'—and if He once withdraws, we cannot mourn.


5. Presumption of mercy. Who will mourn for sin—who thinks he may be saved at a cheaper rate? How many suck damnation out of the sweet flower of God's mercy? Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save sinners, is the occasion of many a man's perishing. 'Oh,' says one, 'Christ died for me. He has done all. What need I pray or mourn?' Many a bold sinner plucks death from the tree of life, and through presumption, goes to hell by that ladder of Christ's blood, by which others go to heaven. It is sad when the goodness of God, which should 'lead to repentance' (Romans 2:4), leads to presumption. O sinner, do not hope yourself into hell. Take heed of being damned upon a mistake. You say God is merciful, and therefore you go on securely in sin. But whom is mercy for? The presuming sinner or the mourning sinner? 'Let the wicked forsake his way, and return to the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him' (Isaiah 55:7). No mercy without forsaking sin, and no forsaking sin without mourning!


6. A conceit of the smallness of sin. 'Is it not a little one?' (Genesis 19:20). The devil holds the small end of the telescope to sinners. To imagine that sin is less than it is, is very dangerous. An opinion of the littleness of sin keeps us from the use of means. Who will be earnest for a physician, who thinks it is but a trivial disease? And who will seek to God with a penitent heart for mercy, who thinks sin is but a slight thing? Consider that sin cannot be little, because it is against the Majesty of heaven. There is no small treason, it being against the king's person. Every sin is sinful, therefore damnable. There is death and hell in every sin. "The wages of sin is death!" (Romans 6:23). It is not with sin as it is with diseases—some are mortal, some not mortal. The least sin without repentance, will be a lock and bolt to shut men out of heaven.

View sin in the red glass of Christ's sufferings. The least sin cost his blood. Read the greatness of your sin in the deepness of Christ's wounds. Let not Satan cast such a mist before your eyes that you cannot see sin in its right colors. Not only do great sins carry men to hell—but lesser sins as well.


7. Procrastination;  "When the lamp is almost out, the strength exhausted, and old age comes on—then mourning for sin will be in season—but it is too soon now." That I may show how pernicious this opinion is, and that I may roll away this stone from the mouth of the well, that so the waters of repentance may be drawn forth—let me propose these four serious and weighty considerations:


First, do you know what it is to be in the state of condemnation? And will you say it is too soon to get out of it? You are under 'the wrath of God' (John 3:36)!  You are under 'the power of Satan' (Acts 26:18), and is it too soon to get out of the enemy's quarters?


Second, men do not argue thus in other cases. They do not say, 'It is too soon to be rich.' They will not put off getting the world until old age. No! here they take the first opportunity. It is not too soon to be rich—and is it too soon to be saved from sin? Is not repentance a matter of the greatest consequence? Is it not more needful for men to lament their sin, than augment their estate?


Third, God's call to mourning is always in the present. 'Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts' (Hebrews 3:7, 8). Such are God's summons to repentance. 'Today if you will hear His voice'. Sinners, when Satan has tempted you to any wickedness, you have not said, 'It is too soon, Satan'—but have immediately embraced his temptation. You have not put the devil off—and will you put God off?


Fourth, it is a foolish thing to adjourn and put off mourning for sin, for the longer you put off holy mourning—the harder you will find the work when you come to it! A bone which is out of joint is easier to set at first—than if you let it go longer. A disease is sooner cured at first—than if it is let alone until advance stages come. You may easily wade over the waters when they are low but if you wait stay until they are risen, then they will be beyond your depth. O sinner, the more treasons against God you commit—the more do you incense Him against you, and the harder it will be to get your pardon.

To adjourn, and put off mourning for sin is folly in respect of the uncertainty of life. How does the procrastinating sinner know that he shall live to be old? 'What is your life? It is but a vapor' (James 4:14).
It is folly to put off all until the last. Though God has given you space to repent, He may deny you grace to repent. When God calls for mourning and you are deaf—when you call for mercy God may be dumb. 'I called you so often, but you didn't come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you— when calamity overcomes you like a storm, when you are engulfed by trouble, and when anguish and distress overwhelm you. I will not answer when they cry for help. Even though they anxiously search for Me, they will not find Me!' (Proverbs 1:24-28). Think of it seriously. God may take the latter time to judge you in—because you did not take the former time to repent.

To put off our solemn turning to God until old age, or sickness, is high imprudence, because 'death bed repentance' is for the most part insincere and spurious. Though true mourning for sin be never too late—yet 'death bed repentance' is seldom true. That repentance is seldom true-hearted, which is grey-headed. It is disputable whether these death-tears are not shed more out of fear of hell—than love to God.


8. Delay in the execution of justice. "When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong." (Ecclesiastes 8:11). God forbears punishing—therefore men forbear repenting. He does not smite upon their back by correction—therefore they do not smite upon their thigh by humiliation (Jeremiah 31:19). The sinner thinks thus: 'God has spared me all this while; He has eked out patience into longsuffering; surely He will not punish.' 'He says to himself—'God has forgotten; He covers His face and never sees' (Psalm 10:11). God is not only gracious—but 'waits to be gracious' (Isaiah 30:18). But God by His patience, would bribe sinners to repentance. But, alas, how is His patience abused! God's longsuffering hardens most. Because God stops the vial of His wrath, sinners stop the conduit of tears! That the patience of God may not (through our corruption) obstruct holy mourning, let sinners remember:


First, God's patience has bounds set to it (Genesis 6:3). Though men will not set bounds to their sin—yet God sets bounds to His patience. There is a time when the sun of God's patience will set, and, being once set—it never returns any degrees backwards. The lease of patience will soon be run out! There is a time when God says, 'My Spirit shall no longer strive.' The angel cried, 'The hour of judgement has come' (Revelation 14:7). Perhaps at the next sin you commit—God may say, 'Your hour has now come!'


Second, to be hardened under God's patience, makes our condition far worse. Incensed justice will revenge abused patience! God was patient towards Sodom—but when they did not repent, He made the fire and brimstone flame about their ears! Sodom, which was once the wonder of God's patience—is now a standing monument of God's severity. Long forbearance is not forgiveness. God may keep off the stroke awhile—but justice is not dead. The longer God is taking His blow—the sorer it will be when it comes. The longer a stone is falling—the heavier it will be at last. The longer God is whetting His sword—the sharper it cuts. Sins against God's patience are of a deeper dye; they are worse than the sins of the devils. How dreadful will their condition be—who sin because God is patient with them. For every crumb of patience, God puts a drop of wrath into His vial. The longer God forbears with a sinner, the more interest he is sure to pay in hell.


9. Mirth and music. 'You sing idle songs to the sound of the harp. You drink wine by the bowlful, and you perfume yourselves with exotic fragrances.' (Amos 6:5, 6). Instead of the dirge, they sing idle songs. Many sing away sorrow, and drown their tears in wine. The sweet waters of pleasure destroy the bitter waters of mourning. How many go dancing to hell?!
Let us take heed of all these hindrances to holy tears. 'Let the harp play sad music, and the flute accompany those who weep.' (Job 30:31).

Excerpted from:

Gospel Mourning by Thomas Watson
http://www.gracegems.org/Watson/beatitudes3.htm