Msg #1810 Is It Really Real

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes, that have been taught to “act” Christian without understanding “be” Christian. In his "My Little Children" epistle the first thing the beloved Apostle John lays out is a means for determining the fidelity of ones faith; “Hereby we know that we know him” (1John 2:3a). The first stabbing probe is pointed, “He that saith I know him, and keepeth not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him” (verse 4). With John's clarification these are Christ's commandments, not Moses' ten (verses 5-8). This is a New Covenant in a New Dispensation that reprimands Covenant Theology and exposes Ellen G. White's chronic debacle. These probes are not designed to be thrust into a neighbor's heart or a loved-ones soul, they are intent on a self-examination. A second heart searching probe, “He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now” (verse 9). Again this is not a club used to beat on someone else's feigned faith, it is to cut and reach into our own soul. Then, like the third tine of a pitch fork, from the pen of a ninety year old preacher, “If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him” (verse 15b). Paul wrote to reprimanded carnal Christians, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves, how Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2Cor 13:5). The Apostle John gives us tools for that examination. In dealing with this Peter said to one Simon the Sorcerer, “Thy money perish with thee... for they heart is not right in the sight of God” (Acts 8:20,21). Be sure yours is, don't just “act” Christian.

An Essay for week #10 Mar 11, 2018

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs180311.mp3

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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit

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