I believe that we are actually going to see the persecution of Christians in this country in the future. I do not mean the persecution of church members: the liberal church is so compromised today that they will go along with whatever comes along. I am saying that genuine believers in Christ may encounter persecution. [pg. 40]
May I say this kindly, but I must say it: God have mercy on the minister who is not giving out the Word of God. That is a frightful sin. It would be better to be a gangster than to be a man who is supposed to give out the Word of God and does not. [pg. 74]
In this little book of II Timothy an ominous cloud is seen on the horizon. It is the coming apostasy. Today, apostasy has broken like a storm, like a Texas tornado, on the world and in the church. What do we mean by apostasy? Webster defines apostasy as "total desertion of the principles of faith." So apostasy is not due to ignorance; it is heresy. Apostasy is deliberate error. It is intentional departure from the faith. An apostate is one who knows the truth of the gospel and the doctrines of the faith, but has repudiated them. [pg. 94]
Man is in such a state that he cannot be saved by perfect obedience--because he cannot render it. Neither can he be saved by imperfect obedience--because God will not accept it.
Therefore, the only solution is the gospel of the grace of God which reaches down and saves the sinner on the basis of the death and resurrection of Christ. Faith in Christ transforms human life. [pg. 96]
Perhaps you are thinking that you are disappointed with yourself. If you are, that means you must have believed in yourself. You should not have. You are to walk by the grace of God--"We walk by faith and not by sight." Or perhaps you are discouraged. If you are that means you do not believe God's Word and way of blessing. You really thought you could do it your way, and now you are discouraged. Or you may be saying, "I hope I can do better in the future." Then you do expect to get some good out of the old nature! Oh, my friend, be strong in the grace of God. [pg. 113]
I remember the story of the fellow whose wife said to him, "Everybody in town is talking about the Smiths' quarrel. Some of them are taking her part and some are taking his part." He chimed in, "Well, I suppose a few eccentric individuals are minding their own business." [pg. 127]
I believe that we are beginning to move into a time in this country when it will cost you something to be a Christian. Melvin Laird, long before he was Secretary of Defense, made a statement in San Francisco at a Republican convention. I do not know the circumstances which prompted the statement, but he said, "In this world it is becoming more and more unpopular to be a Christian. Soon it may become dangerous." We are seeing the accuracy of this statement. Real Christianity and real Christians are becoming very unpopular. [pg. 132, written in 1978]
I am not really moved today when the press cries that there is no freedom of the press. The bleeding-heart press has played that theme for all its worth, but have they said anything about how real Christianity is stifled by the press? When was the last time that you read a sympathetic article of the biblical position? The media stifles news that presents real Christianity. If a fundamental preacher gets any publicity, it will be distorted and misrepresented. Of course, if a preacher gets on the wrong side of the law, he will make the front page, but if he saves a group of people from going to hell, he is ignored. Friend, we are moving into an orbit when Christians may have to pay a price to stand for the faith. [pg. 132, written in 1978]
God is not trying to reform this world; He is redeeming men who accept Christ. The gospel does not appeal to Christ-rejecting men to do better. When a person says, "I am going to do better," I think he is a liar. If you have rejected Jesus Christ, you might as well try to get all you ca out of this life, because this life is all that you are going to get. Today our government is trying to get people to stop smoking; they're trying to educate people to the dangers of cigarettes. However, God is not asking you to do such things. You might as well eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you will die. God doesn't want to reform you; he wants to redeem you. [pg. 177]
My friend, after you have been saved, God is going to talk to you about good works. Until that time, God is not even interested in your "good works" because what you call good work, God calls dirty laundry. The righteousness of man is filthy rags in His sight (Isaiah 64:6). He doesn't want any of that. He wants to save you. If you do come to Him just as you are, He will save you because He has done something for you. He is not asking you to do something--what could you do for God? After you are saved, after you are a child of God, then He wants to talk to you about producing good works. He want s you to get involved in getting out the Word of God to others. [pg. 183-184]
Therefore, the only solution is the gospel of the grace of God which reaches down and saves the sinner on the basis of the death and resurrection of Christ. Faith in Christ transforms human life. [pg. 96]
Perhaps you are thinking that you are disappointed with yourself. If you are, that means you must have believed in yourself. You should not have. You are to walk by the grace of God--"We walk by faith and not by sight." Or perhaps you are discouraged. If you are that means you do not believe God's Word and way of blessing. You really thought you could do it your way, and now you are discouraged. Or you may be saying, "I hope I can do better in the future." Then you do expect to get some good out of the old nature! Oh, my friend, be strong in the grace of God. [pg. 113]
I remember the story of the fellow whose wife said to him, "Everybody in town is talking about the Smiths' quarrel. Some of them are taking her part and some are taking his part." He chimed in, "Well, I suppose a few eccentric individuals are minding their own business." [pg. 127]
I believe that we are beginning to move into a time in this country when it will cost you something to be a Christian. Melvin Laird, long before he was Secretary of Defense, made a statement in San Francisco at a Republican convention. I do not know the circumstances which prompted the statement, but he said, "In this world it is becoming more and more unpopular to be a Christian. Soon it may become dangerous." We are seeing the accuracy of this statement. Real Christianity and real Christians are becoming very unpopular. [pg. 132, written in 1978]
I am not really moved today when the press cries that there is no freedom of the press. The bleeding-heart press has played that theme for all its worth, but have they said anything about how real Christianity is stifled by the press? When was the last time that you read a sympathetic article of the biblical position? The media stifles news that presents real Christianity. If a fundamental preacher gets any publicity, it will be distorted and misrepresented. Of course, if a preacher gets on the wrong side of the law, he will make the front page, but if he saves a group of people from going to hell, he is ignored. Friend, we are moving into an orbit when Christians may have to pay a price to stand for the faith. [pg. 132, written in 1978]
God is not trying to reform this world; He is redeeming men who accept Christ. The gospel does not appeal to Christ-rejecting men to do better. When a person says, "I am going to do better," I think he is a liar. If you have rejected Jesus Christ, you might as well try to get all you ca out of this life, because this life is all that you are going to get. Today our government is trying to get people to stop smoking; they're trying to educate people to the dangers of cigarettes. However, God is not asking you to do such things. You might as well eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you will die. God doesn't want to reform you; he wants to redeem you. [pg. 177]
My friend, after you have been saved, God is going to talk to you about good works. Until that time, God is not even interested in your "good works" because what you call good work, God calls dirty laundry. The righteousness of man is filthy rags in His sight (Isaiah 64:6). He doesn't want any of that. He wants to save you. If you do come to Him just as you are, He will save you because He has done something for you. He is not asking you to do something--what could you do for God? After you are saved, after you are a child of God, then He wants to talk to you about producing good works. He want s you to get involved in getting out the Word of God to others. [pg. 183-184]
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