JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 "To another discerning of spirits" (I Cor. 12, vs. 10). All Christians are warned to "try the spirits whether they are of God" (I John 4:1). All are to "beware of false prophets" (Matt. 7:15). All are reminded that Satan goes about like a roaring lion, that that we are to put on the whole armour of God, praying always (Eph. 6:11). But some wise men are obviously endued with the wisdom to discern insincerity, false doctrines and unwise applications. Dr. Bob Jones, Sr., seemed to have that gift. So, in some measure have other greatly used men of God. Paul seem to have more discernment than Peter, for Peter was led into compromise with the Judaizers in Galatians 2:4-11, and Barnabas likewise was led away with his dissimulation. But Paul, with divine wisdom, saw that was wrong and rebuked it openly. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 119]

The Bible never hints that "the church, which is his body" began at Pentecost. That body, "the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven" (Heb. 12:23), will include, at the rapture when it is called out and assembled (and therefore an ecclesia of church,) the born-again children of God, these "dead in Christ" of I Thessalonians 4:16, 17. So it must include Old Testament saints. It could not, then, have begun at Pentecost. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 122]

Is Paul rebuking what they had at Corinth [I Cor. 14]? Obviously. Does God give power for a miracle and then rebuke the miracle? Never! Then what foreign languages they had at Corinth were not miraculous. They were natural languages, unknown to some, particularly the "unlearned" as verses 23 and 24 tell us. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 134]

The Gospel is so glorious, God's grace is so wonderful that, given such an offer of mercy and eternal blessing, how can any lost sinner reject it? How can anyone reject such love, turn down Heaven, go ahead on a course that leads to Hell and eternal suffering and ruin? It is unreasonable. After one is saved, he always sees that his rebellion, his delay, his unbelief were unreasonable folly! Why then do not all who hear the Gospel turn to Christ at once?

Because of two things--their own depraved nature, with a bias toward evil, and Satan's work in deceiving sinners. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 187]

God in lovingkindness must sometimes allow suffering to come to one of His own in order to make us our best. How many preachers struggle along in poverty because God wants them to enter into the heart-burden of those to whom they minister. God wants a man to serve Him even in sorrow and poverty, and sometimes God allows one to suffer as did Paul with his thorn in the flesh, "lest I should be exalted above measure" (II Cor. 12:70). Sometimes God allows tragedy, the death of a loved one, some heartbreak to come to a man, that the well of human compassion and pity for those about him may be deepened. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 189-190]

There is the sweet fellowship with the Lord Jesus that one will never know unless he suffers with Jesus and for Jesus. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 193]

"By longsuffering." [II Cor. 6:6] With what patience, with what unflurried peace must the man of God lead God's people, deal with their sins and failures, without much surprise or discouragement. Leadership should be settled in character, not giving up one's peace, nor one's task, nor giving up the wayward. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 211-212]