DO WE REALLY CARE FOR OR LOVE THE LOST?

Often times we sing the song, “Does Jesus Care”.  This is a very comforting song and is often sung at funerals.  There is a joy that fills the heart, especially when we sing the chorus, “O yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief; when the days are weary, The long night dreary, I know my Saviour cares.”  How do we know he cares?  Well, the Bible tells us he does and how much.  Jesus cares for you and me so much until he was willing to die for us that we might live.  He has proven his love for us.  Jesus left all the beauties and glories of heaven and came to this sin-cursed earth in order to pay the ransom price for the sins of man.  (Philippians 2:5-8).  In Luke 19:10 we read, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

 How much do we really care for the lost?  How much do we love them?  John said, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

  1. How much do you love your own soul?  Do you talk righteously but do not act so?  Do you really want to go to heaven?  Do you quickly find an excuse for not serving the Lord or do you faithfully serve him?  Do you attend all the services of the church possible and work for the cause of Christ?  If not, why not?  If your soul is saved, it will be because you love God, His Son, the church, the Bible and your soul more than anyone or anything in this life.  Jesus said, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple...so likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”  (Luke 14:26, 33)     I know some do not love their own soul for they will not attend worship or serve the Lord.  Some of you have been pleaded with time and time again, but continue to give some silly excuse for not faithfully serving God. 
  2. Do you love the souls of your children and grandchildren?  You do not unless you are a faithful, dedicated example of Christianity.  Oh, you say, I provide for them well.  I give them a good house, car, boat, etc.  I cook, iron, etc. for them.  Yes, but that wasn't the question.  The question was, “Do you love the souls of your children and grandchildren?”  Parents have an obligation to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and yet, many seem to think they are doing someone a favor when they bring their children to Bible classes and worship service once in a while.     Parents, how can you look your children in the face and say, “I love you.”, and then not be faithful in services and not work for the saving of lost souls.
  3. How much do you love the soul of your husband or wife?  Do you set the best example for him or her?  Does your mate know that God comes first even before him or her?  Do you act un-Christian?  Do you curse, swear, get mad, fuss, drink, etc.?  Do you ever invite Christian friends into your home that your mate may get to know them and to appreciate them?  It seems that some couldn't care less if their mate is lost.  How much do you care?
  4. How much do you love the lost in the community?  Do you say, “Yes, I want them to be saved and go to heaven,” but never do anything toward their salvation?  Do you believe the world is saying of the church today, “Those people really care about lost souls?”
  5. How much do you love your unfaithful brethren?  Paul said, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”  (Galatians 6:1).  How many of the unfaithful have you contacted lately concerning their soul?  Have you even considered their unfaithfulness?  James said, “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”  (James 5:19, 20)

Remember, we are to love in deed and in truth.  Brethren, how much do we really love the lost?

Author Unknown

A Good Rule

Everybody needs a rule to work by, and here is a good one: The whole church, and the furtherance of Truth, is more important than one man, or a few, and more important than one congregation or a few. The Word is to be preached (II Timothy 4:2), and ALL OF IT (Acts 20:27), and in a spirit of love of Truth (II Thessalonians 2:10) and hatred for all false ways (Psalm 119:104, 128). To “let error pass” is to declare that one cares nothing for Truth, cares nothing for the souls of men, and cares not if souls are lost. No man calling himself a Gospel preacher can afford to be in that position. And, he cannot allow himself to be compromised in spirit and heart that some man or some men stand between himself and the Truth! Our speaking and writing brethren, around the world, need to take this lesson most seriously!

Bill Jackson

The Appropriateness of Warnings

When compared with his letters to the Corinthians, the Galatians, or to Timothy and Titus, Paul’s letter to the Philippians is couched in very mild terms. The Philippian Church was apparently free of such major problems as those he addressed in the aforementioned epistles. Paul was thus able to devote more of his letter to Philippi to commendation and instruction, rather than to correction. However, there is one explosion of forceful terminology in Philippians – a stringent, explicit warning:“Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision” (3:2). My purpose is not to provide an exposition of this verse nor identify those to whom it originally applied. Rather, I want to emphasize the fact that, even in an otherwise mildly-worded letter of encouragement, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to caution those brethren.Warnings about spiritual dangers posed by false teachers and their doctrines are appropriate or the Bible would not be so full of them, as every Bible student knows it is. Please consider the following thoughts concerning some of the “whys” and “hows” of these necessary warnings:

There is a need to issue such warnings as a preventive measure. Preventive medicine is the best kind and usually the least painful. While no righteous person rejoices in the news of a brother, a school, or an entire congregation that has abandoned the Truth, it is better to be warned of such than to be led astray by them through ignorance and/or innocence. Appropriate and timely warnings of men gone astray and of what they are teaching (whether within or without) are a necessary preventive measure brethren can be fortified. By sounding forth warnings of the errors being circulated we can fortify many brethren and prepare them to withstand the errors. This is what Paul did in his three-fold “beware” of the foregoing passage.

Warnings are also needed to cure problems that have already developed from false teaching. Paul did not get the warnings about the evil workers to the Galatians in time to prevent grievous problems from occurring. However, he did not hesitate to sound forth the warnings of the follies and consequences of succumbing to the false teachers although they had done their dirty work. Problems caused by false doctrines can never be cured by ignoring them. The sources of the heresies, as well as the errors themselves, must be exposed by due warnings concerning them if any of those ensnared by them are to be rescued.

When warnings are given they must be in such terms that those who hear may recognize and identify the source of the danger. Otherwise, the warnings are of little worth. Paul used great plainness in the warnings of our text, identifying the “dogs” and the “evil workers” as the Judaizing teachers. He was even more specific when he warned Timothy to shun Hymenaeus and Philetus because their doctrine (that the resurrection was already past) was erroneous and cancerous and had already corrupted some (II Timothy 2:16-18). We are commanded to mark those who cause division through false doctrine so as to identify them, and warn others of them (Romans 16:17). We should always take great care not to slander or falsely accuse others, nor should anyone want to defame another person or institution unnecessarily for any reason. However, when souls are at stake we are derelict in our duty if we do not sound the warnings plainly, including calling the names of men, institutions, or congregations where necessary. May all of our warnings be issued from a broken heart full of love for the sinner, but even more for the Lord, His Word, and His people. 

There is the need to hear and act upon the warnings. We live in a strange time in church history when even the elect have come under the influence of so much human philosophy that they do not want to hear the warnings upon which the salvation of their very souls depends. Because of such shallow and perverted thinking, many brethren are critical of preachers, churches, or publications that are “issue-oriented,” as they are wont to say. Some members of the church are hypersensitive to any exposure or identity of a false teacher or his doctrine, regardless of how destructive he or it may be. Others will come right out and tell you that they do not want to hear about any “problems” in the church, as if ignorance of them would cause them to disappear. Ira Y. Rice, Jr., is right: “You just cannot warn some brethren!”

The Scriptures frequently admonish us to hear reliable spiritual warnings so as to act upon them and thereby avoid many dangers. The Lord wrote seven letters to as many churches, issuing many warnings designed to save their souls (Revelation 2-3). At the conclusion of each letter He urged, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches” (Revelation 2:7, et al.). Clearly, He not only intended for them to hear, but to heed and act upon the warnings He issued. Some preachers take pride in not keeping up with “the issues,” as if to do so were somehow an unspiritual or vain activity. Too few elderships in my acquaintance are careful to stay abreast of the many winds of false doctrine that are blowing ever more strongly and of the men that are blowing them. Preachers and elders who are wise will stay informed themselves and will keep their respective congregations informed. Not all will listen with appreciation, but all need to hear the warnings anyway. Paul wrote the warnings in Philippians (and in many other) because he knew brethren needed to hear them for their own spiritual safety.

Dub McClish

 

A Good Working Rule

Everybody needs a rule to work by, and here is a good one: The whole church— and the furtherance of Truth—is more important than one man or a few, and more important than one  congregation or a few. We are to preach the Word (II Timothy 4:2) and all of it (Acts 20:27), and in a spirit of love of Truth (II Thessalonians 2:10) and hatred for all false ways (Psalms 119:104, 128).    

To “let error pass” is to declare that one cares nothing for Truth, cares nothing for the souls of men, and cares not if souls are lost. No man calling himself a Gospel preacher can afford to be in that position. And, he cannot allow himself to be compromised in spirit and heart by letting some man or men stand between himself and the Truth. Our speaking and writing brethren around the world need to take these matters most seriously.

Bill Jackson