Sound Theology?
Sound Theology?
The following is from Spurgeon's sermon,"Plain Words with the Careless" No. 778. Luke 8:28.
A man may know a great deal about true religion,
and yet be a total stranger to it.
He may know that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God, and yet he may be possessed by a devil;
no, he may be a den for a whole legion of devils.
Mere knowledge does nothing for us but puff us up.
We may know, and know, and know, and so
increase our responsibility, without bringing
us at all into a state of salvation.
Beware of resting in head-knowledge!
Beware of relying upon mere orthodoxy, for without
love to Jesus, with all your correctness of doctrine,
you will be a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.
It is well to be sound in the faith, but the
soundness must be in the heart as well
as in the head.
There is as ready a way to destruction by the road of orthodoxy as by the paths of heterodoxy.
Hell has thousands in it who were never heretics.
Remember that the devils "believe and tremble."
There are no sounder theological believers than
devils, and yet their conduct is not affected by
what they believe, and consequently they still
remain at enmity to the Most High God.
A mere head-believer is on a par therefore with
fallen angels, and he will have his portion with
them forever unless grace shall change his heart.
posted by mark pierson at 11:46 AM
8 Comments:
This post will remain up here for the time that this blog is shut down for July and August.
In this time I shall add posts to my "Christocentric" blog, though without comments.
Have a great Summer!
Mark
June 27, 2009 12:05 PM
A Call to Holy Living - Spurgeon
"A Call to Holy Living"—a sermon first preached on Sunday morning, 14 January 1872, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle.
It is a very great fault in any ministry if the doctrine of justification by faith alone be not most clearly taught. I will go further, and add, that it is not only a great fault, but a fatal one; for souls will never find their way to heaven by a ministry that is indistinct upon the most fundamental of gospel truths.
The merit by which a soul enters heaven is not its own; it is the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am quite sure that you will all hold me guiltless of ever having spoken about this great doctrine in any other than unmistakable language; if I have erred, it is not in that direction.
At the same time, it is a dangerous state of things if doctrine is made to drive out precept, and faith is held up as making holiness a superfluity. Sanctification must not be forgotten or overlaid by justification. We must teach plainly that the faith which saves the soul is not a dead faith, but a faith which operates with purifying effect upon our entire nature, and produces in us fruits of righteousness to the praise and glory of God.
It is not by personal holiness that a man shall enter heaven, but yet without holiness shall no man see the Lord. It is not by good works that we are justified, but if a man shall continue to live an ungodly life, his "faith" will not justify him; for it is not the faith of God's elect; since that faith is wrought by the Holy Spirit, and conforms men to the image of Christ.
We must learn to place the legal precepts in their right position. They are not the base of the column, but they are the capital of it. Precepts are not given to us as a way to obtain life, but as the way in which to exhibit life.
The commands of Christ are not upon the legal tenor of "this do and live," but upon the gospel system of "live and do this." We are not to be attentive to the precepts in order to be saved, but because we are saved. Our master motive is to be gratitude to him who has saved us with a great salvation.
I am sure that every renewed heart here will feel no opposition to the most holy precepts of our Lord. However severely pure that law may seem to be which we have read just now from this fifth chapter of Matthew, our hearts agree with it, and we ask that we may be so renewed that our lives may be conformed to it. The regenerate never rebel against any precept, saying, "This, is too pure;" on the contrary, our new-born nature is enamoured of its holiness, and we cry, "Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes."
Even though we find that when we would do good evil is present with us, yet our inmost soul longs after holiness, and pines to be delivered from every evil way. At any rate, Dear friends, if it be not so with you, you may well question whether you are indeed the children of God. My desire, this morning, is to insist upon the precepts which tend to holiness, and I pray the Holy Spirit to excite desires after a high degree of purity in all believing, hearts.
June 30, 2009 7:58 AM
"We must teach plainly that the faith which saves the soul is not a dead faith, but a faith which operates with purifying effect upon our entire nature, and produces in us fruits of righteousness to the praise and glory of God."
Sounds like the same thing the Bible teaches in Romans 8:1-14. Spurgeon taught the plain meaning of Scripture....
July 01, 2009 10:00 PM
Mark,
My pastor asked me to post the following:
Mark,
Just a note to encourage you and let you know that Brandon Presbyterian Church is praying for you in light of the various medical related trials in your family recently. May God bring you and family through them according to his purpose and grace and may you all be strengthened through the process.
I appreciate you and pray for your coping and progress.
Tim Muse (Senior Pastor)
July 30, 2009 1:48 PM
Pastor Muse,
I am humbled and honored that my family and I are in your prayers! Thank you!
Wayne, thanks for posting this comment from your pastor!
July 31, 2009 7:08 AM
Sound Theology?
The following is from Spurgeon's sermon,"Plain Words with the Careless" No. 778. Luke 8:28.
A man may know a great deal about true religion,
and yet be a total stranger to it.
He may know that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God, and yet he may be possessed by a devil;
no, he may be a den for a whole legion of devils.
Mere knowledge does nothing for us but puff us up.
We may know, and know, and know, and so
increase our responsibility, without bringing
us at all into a state of salvation.
Beware of resting in head-knowledge!
Beware of relying upon mere orthodoxy, for without
love to Jesus, with all your correctness of doctrine,
you will be a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.
It is well to be sound in the faith, but the
soundness must be in the heart as well
as in the head.
There is as ready a way to destruction by the road of orthodoxy as by the paths of heterodoxy.
Hell has thousands in it who were never heretics.
Remember that the devils "believe and tremble."
There are no sounder theological believers than
devils, and yet their conduct is not affected by
what they believe, and consequently they still
remain at enmity to the Most High God.
A mere head-believer is on a par therefore with
fallen angels, and he will have his portion with
them forever unless grace shall change his heart.
August 10, 2009 2:19 PM
A Call to Holy Living - Spurgeon
"A Call to Holy Living"—a sermon first preached on Sunday morning, 14 January 1872, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle.
It is a very great fault in any ministry if the doctrine of justification by faith alone be not most clearly taught. I will go further, and add, that it is not only a great fault, but a fatal one; for souls will never find their way to heaven by a ministry that is indistinct upon the most fundamental of gospel truths.
The merit by which a soul enters heaven is not its own; it is the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am quite sure that you will all hold me guiltless of ever having spoken about this great doctrine in any other than unmistakable language; if I have erred, it is not in that direction.
At the same time, it is a dangerous state of things if doctrine is made to drive out precept, and faith is held up as making holiness a superfluity. Sanctification must not be forgotten or overlaid by justification. We must teach plainly that the faith which saves the soul is not a dead faith, but a faith which operates with purifying effect upon our entire nature, and produces in us fruits of righteousness to the praise and glory of God.
It is not by personal holiness that a man shall enter heaven, but yet without holiness shall no man see the Lord. It is not by good works that we are justified, but if a man shall continue to live an ungodly life, his "faith" will not justify him; for it is not the faith of God's elect; since that faith is wrought by the Holy Spirit, and conforms men to the image of Christ.
We must learn to place the legal precepts in their right position. They are not the base of the column, but they are the capital of it. Precepts are not given to us as a way to obtain life, but as the way in which to exhibit life.
The commands of Christ are not upon the legal tenor of "this do and live," but upon the gospel system of "live and do this." We are not to be attentive to the precepts in order to be saved, but because we are saved. Our master motive is to be gratitude to him who has saved us with a great salvation.
I am sure that every renewed heart here will feel no opposition to the most holy precepts of our Lord. However severely pure that law may seem to be which we have read just now from this fifth chapter of Matthew, our hearts agree with it, and we ask that we may be so renewed that our lives may be conformed to it. The regenerate never rebel against any precept, saying, "This, is too pure;" on the contrary, our new-born nature is enamoured of its holiness, and we cry, "Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes."
Even though we find that when we would do good evil is present with us, yet our inmost soul longs after holiness, and pines to be delivered from every evil way. At any rate, Dear friends, if it be not so with you, you may well question whether you are indeed the children of God. My desire, this morning, is to insist upon the precepts which tend to holiness, and I pray the Holy Spirit to excite desires after a high degree of purity in all believing, hearts.
August 10, 2009 2:21 PM
no email again
November 23, 2009 12:55 PM
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