"By love unfeigned." [II Cor. 6:6] The love of Christ constrained Paul to his abundant labors and sacrifice. His love for his people Israel drove him continually to prayer and witness (Rom. 10:1) and "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son." So love is the greatest motivation in the world, as the Holy Spirit power is the greatest power in the world. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 212]
There is a striking paradox in a good Christian life. The way to be great is to be a servant of all (Matt. 20:26-28). The way to have is to give (Luke 6:38; Prov. 11:25; II Cor. 9:8). The way to save one's life is to lose it (Mark 8:35). So the good Christian minister, warning, pleading, witnessing to many, will have honor and praise from those blessed by his ministry. But those who resist, who continue in sin, will avoid and disparage the zealous one. To some he is "the savour of life unto life," to others he is "the savour of death unto death" (II Cor. 2:16). He will be of good report of the best people, the earnest Christians, but slandered, sneered at, counted queer or a nuisance by others. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 214]
I KNOW God answers prayer. He has answered mine in thousands of instances. The answers to prayer have been so definite, so clearly out of the realm of probability that an unbiased investigator must be convinced that these answers to prayer were really the supernatural intervention of a loving God Who works miracles for His children when they trust Him. Others ought to tell what God has done for them, and so I ought to tell what God has done for me. - John R. Rice [Prayer -- Asking & Receiving, pg. 12]
Oh, God's Word means not to restrict the Christian's life, to make drab the future, to limit enjoyment [2 Cor. 6:12]! He wants them to develop a great standard, a great goal for Christian living with power and joy. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 215]
In II John, verses 9 to 11, we are plainly commanded, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." One who does not abide in the Bible teaching about Christ is not saved; he "hath not God," he is not a Christian and ought not to be given Christian recognition. I ought not receive him in the pulpit as a preacher, ought not to receive him as a Christian teacher in the Sunday school of Bible college or seminary. I ought not call him "brother," ought not entertain him in the prophet's chamber in my home. I might help any poor, troubled soul with food and raiment, but I ought not call him brother if he is an unconverted child of Satan. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 217]
No one ought ever be received as a church member who does not profess faith in Christ as his own personal Saviour. I cannot take part in a ministerial association if by doing so I must call "brother" unconverted men, infidels or those who deny the deity of Christ and His virgin birth and bodily resurrection, deny the blood atonement and inspiration of the Bible. If membership and association means count them brothers I cannot and must not do it. I must not support, with my money, denominational institutions that feed and honor and promote such men who are not Christians and who do not believe the Bible and deny the historic Christian faith. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 217]
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