By E. L. Bynum
(The following article is based upon a sermon preached by Pastor Bynum, Sunday Morning, Jan. 18, 2004 at Tabernacle Baptist Church, Lubbock, Texas.)
It was Jan. 22, 1973 that the Roe vs. Wade decision came down from the Supreme Court. In just a few days it will be the 31st Anniversary of that horrible decision. It was all based on a lie, because Roe was not pregnant, but it was wholly a made up farce. Since then this woman as been saved and is a crusader against abortion.
I. Abortion Is Disobedience to God.
It is a violation of the Scriptures. Let us consider the testimony of David. “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psa. 139:13-16). This passage makes it so clear that David was a person known to God before he was born or even before he was formed in the womb.
Listen to God’s message to the prophet Jeremiah. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jer. 1:5). God’s message is plain and proves beyond a shadow of a doubt Jeremiah was a person known to God while he was in the womb of his mother.
Abortion is the taking of a life and the Bible says, “Thou shalt not kill.” (Ex. 20:13)
The penalty for killing an unborn child is a very serious thing. “If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life.” (Exodus 21:22-23). This is very plain that if either the mother or the baby die, then the person responsible would die. If the baby is prematurely born, but does not die, then the judgment would be lighter.
If this is true of an accidental killing, just think of a purposeful abortion. We believe that some of the most criminal people in America are doctors who do abortions, yet they are getting rich by killing babies. People who submit to having their babies killed had better wake up and repent.
We can be glad that there was no abortion when Mary found herself with child. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 1:18)
This Scripture says that she was “found with child.” It does not say she was found with a fetus, but she was “found with child.” The term fetus is the invention of evil people who simply do not be believe that the baby in the womb is a human being.
Let us consider the case of Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist. The Bible says that “the babe leaped in her womb” ( Luke 1:41). The Greek word for babe is “brephos,” and the very same word is used in Luke 2:12, 16, when referring to Jesus as the babe in the manger.
How could anyone claim to be a Christian and a Bible believer and be for abortion? I think that this would be impossible.
Abortion Violates the Sovereignty of God. God is the giver of life and the taker of life. How dare we try to take over that responsibility? What if the mother of David or Jeremiah had an abortion? What if Mary or Elizabeth had done the same?
II. Abortion Means Disaster to Man.
Abortion leads to promiscuity. Abortion enables those who commit fornication to escape the immediate consequences which is often pregnancy. Now people think I can get an abortion if it happens. More and more abortions and illegitimate births are taking place, because of the easy availability of abortion. It is true that some of them choose not to abort the baby, but this accounts for a lot of single mothers on public welfare.
Teenagers, some as young as 13 get abortions without parental consent. Planned Parenthood helps keep this secret from the parents. The founder of Planned Parenthood was
Margaret Sanger. She was an atheist, 1 of 11 children born to atheist parents in 1879. Margaret Sanger said, “I will have No Gods, No Masters.” As a young adult, she was not only an atheist but a Eugenist. Remember Eugenics? Hitler used the theory of eugenics (Some races inferior) to justify the Jewish holocaust. She also said, “It is every woman’s right to live, to love . . . to be lazy, to be an unwed mother, to create life, and to destroy life.” In 1931, Sanger founded the “Population Association of America” The “Population Association of America” later became known as “Planned Parenthood.”
They promote fornication by dispensing birth control devices, if they fail they will help get an abortion. Through schools and other organizations, government bodies contribute to this problem in America.
Abortion Leads to Deadly Diseases. There are a number of sexually transmitted diseases that have flourished during the years of abortion. Syphilis, gonorrhea, and many others sexually transmitted diseases have flourished because of abortion and a permissive society. None of these deadly diseases can be cured. You have them the rest of your life.
The prospects of this is horrible when we consider that 25.6 percent of the women in the U.S.A. have genital herpes. This means that one woman out of four is afflicted for life with this disease. We do not have the statistics on the men, but I am sure that it is just as shocking. This disease is spread through fornication and adultery. Sexual relations are to be only in the bonds of marriage.
The sexual revolution has been aided and fostered by Planned Parenthood and other liberal organizations. As a result one half of adults under 40 have lived with an unmarried partner. There are more than 12 million households maintained by women. One out of every three babies is born out of wedlock. Children as young as 12 are getting pregnant. Promiscuity is widespread among Junior High and High School students.
The AIDS epidemic has been spread throughout the world because of the sexual revolution. Millions have died from this worldwide, and hundreds of thousands in America. The homosexual revolution has been aided and abetted by many who are bisexual, and who find promiscuity made easy by abortion. Years ago when we first began to hear about AIDS, many were so naive as to believe that this would result in people turning against homosexual practices. Instead it has gained them a world of sympathy and government aid. What a crazy mixed up world we are living in.
III. Abortion Brings Death to Man.
Just think of the vast number of abortions. Every abortion means death to a human being. The appalling numbers of abortions is staggering. Worldwide there are approximately 46 million abortions per year. That means there are approximately 126,000 abortions per day.
In the United States there were 1.37 million abortions in 1996. This means at that approximately 3,700 were aborted each day. We have had between 35 and 45 million abortions since Roe vs. Wade, 31 years ago. If we had only had 36 million, that is more than 12% of the present population of U.S.A.! That amounts to 180 times the population of Lubbock which is more than 200,000.
We regret the loss of over 700 men and women in the battle against terrorism in Iraq. The feminists, pro-abortionists, and the liberals are very stirred up over this, but the death of 40 million babies is no big deal. Where is sanity, reason and human compassion in all of this?
I have before me actual pictures of babies that have been aborted and they are horrible to behold. It is brutal, sadistic, cruel and inhumane, to say the least. We believe it is a criminal act of murder and people are going to have to answer to God for it all.
How can any doctor perform this horrible act? It is contrary to the Oath of Hippocrates , which all doctors used to take as they were becoming doctors. It says, “I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion.” Why have many doctors forsaken this sacred oath? I am sure that many of them do it for money, and others just believe it is alright because they are liberal. (I thank God for all the doctors that do not believe in abortion and refuse to perform it.)
Our nation is risking the wrath and judgment of Almighty God by legalizing this brutal practice. Who is having these abortions? 64.4% of all abortions are performed on never-married women; Married women account for 18.4% of all abortions and divorced women obtain 9.4%.
Why has there been so many abortions? An estimated 43% of all women will have at least one abortion by the time they are 45 years old. 47% of all abortions are performed on women who have had at least one previous abortion.
Think of the vast loss of life and talent as the result of abortion. Think of how many potential doctors, scientists, inventors, preachers, nurses, laborers and solid citizens were eliminated in more than 36 million abortions? Nobody knows but God just how great a loss this has been to our nation. There are vast numbers of disturbed and emotionally scarred women that now regret they ever succumbed to the advice to abort. It is one mistake that cannot be taken back. Only through repentance and the experience of salvation can they receive any sense of comfort.
Think of the vast number of illegal immigrants who are entering this country every year.
Their coming helps to fill the void made by abortion. There are many liabilities to our society in their coming. They come with their own language, culture, religion and way of life. This is changing the face of our culture, and turning our nation into ethnic groups that will never be erased, but which divide us.
Why do not God fearing Americans rise up and demand of our government that this awful slaughter of life be stopped?
We need to confess and repent of our apathy and unconcern for the sins of our nation. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:15) We desperately need revival among God’s people if we are to see the moral condition of our nation change.
Let me suggest five actions we can take to stop abortion. (1) We must remember that one person can make a difference! We can make our voice to be heard in many ways. (2) We can pray that God will mightily move to stop abortion in America. There is mighty power in prayer as the above verse tells us. (3) We can strive to place in leadership those who will work to abolish abortion. The liberals block the appointment of conservative judges to the courts, because they are deathly afraid that Roe vs. Wade will be reversed. Why should any Christian vote for a politician that believes in abortion? (4) We should use every legal, and peaceful means at our disposal to stop abortion. (5) We should not be afraid to use our testimony and influence to encourage others to be pro-life.
Please listen to the testimony of a nurse. “I’m a housewife and a registered nurse from Jacksonville. I worked the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift, and when we weren’t busy, I’d go out to help with the newborns. One night I saw a bassinet outside the nursery. There was a baby in this bassinet — a crying, perfectly formed baby — but there was a difference in this child. She had been scalded. She was the child of a saline abortion.
“This little girl looked as if she had been put in a pot of boiling water. No doctor, no nurse, no parent, to comfort this hurt, burned child. She was left alone to die in pain. They wouldn’t let her in the nursery — they didn’t even bother to cover her.
“I was ashamed of my profession that night! It’s hard to believe this can happen in our modern hospitals, but it does. It happens all the time. I thought a hospital was a place to heal the sick — not a place to kill.
“I asked a nurse at another hospital what they do with their babies that are aborted by saline. Unlike my hospital, where the baby was left alone struggling for breath, their hospital puts the infant in a bucket and puts the lid on. Suffocation! Death by suffocation!
“Another nurse said she had to stop helping with abortions. The little severed arms and legs from suction abortions were just too much for her to look at.
“Aren’t you happy our moms weren’t born in this generation? It could have been one of us in that lonely bassinet — or that ugly bucket.” —Kathleen Malloy, Jacksonville, FL.
By Gregory A. Albright
From The Pastor’s Study: I read an article in a magazine the other day entitled: “Keeping it Real.” It spoke about churches today and what they have become. This is something I believe is part of the problem in our Baptist churches today. When I get a visitor they often want to quiz me saying: “What different PROGRAMS do you have for me and my family?” Many preachers today seem to be pushing programs and sales techthat I learned when I was in the business world. These men think that they have found something new! Just remember, whatever you entice people with to get them into church, you will continually have to give it to them and more to keep them! Jesus said: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” [John 12:32] If people come to our church and want to serve the Lord in Spirit and truth, these are the kinds of Christians that I am interested in pastoring. The others that come will always be seekand looking for something new and never be satisfied. We are facing a generation that does not know anything about the Bible. This is really nothing new, it is called being lost. You can title them the “Lost Generation,” but that is what we all were before coming to the saving knowledge of the Saviour Jesus Christ.
When those speak out and ask the question: “What is REAL?” they are not asking anything new. Pilate cried out the same thing before the Lord after he spoke: “Every one that is of the truth hearth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.” [John 18:37-38] We can read the book of Ecclesiastes and see that there is nothing new under the sun. “There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.” [Ecclesiastes 6:1-2] We see a disease in this country and it is called EVIL! Most of the parents that raised this generation have guilty conscience’s about not being home for their children because they both “had” to work. Instead of time and attenthey gave this generation material substitutes, leaving many feeling that they never had real intimacy or a stable family life that made them feel loved. This generation hates the fact that nothing feels “real” to them. Therefore they often lack purpose and direction in their life. Preachers we need to get into the Word of God, and preach the Word; not about the Word, but preach the Word! We are warned in the prophets about the times in which we are living: “Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.” [Hosea 4:1 ] We need to hold services that glorify God and not worry about providing different programs and fun times. The Bible never taught that people were destroyed for a lack of programs; it says: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shall be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” [Hosea 4:6] What about the next generation? It’s up to you and me to tell them about our Saviour.
Gregory A. Albright is Pastor of Van Born Baptist Church, Dearborn Heights, Michigan.
By M.L. Moser, Sr.
37. This faith is a gift from God.
Ephesians 2:8,9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
38. The believer is not saved by what he does, but by what Christ has done for him.
Titus 3:5: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
Romans 4:5: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
39. Salvation is a gift, not a wage.
Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord .”
40. The believer’s hope is a living hope.
I Peter 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
41. The believer’s hope will not fade away. Will not grow dim.
I Peter 1:4,5: “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
42. The believer’s hope is reserved, (set aside) in Heaven for him.
I Peter 1:4: “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”
43. The believer’s inheritance is incorruptible.
I Peter 1:4: “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”
44. The believer’s inheritance cannot be defiled.
I Peter 1:4: “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”
45. The believer is kept through faith.
I Peter 1:4,5: (See reasons number 36 & 37) “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
46. The believer to be revealed in the last time.
I Peter 1:5: “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
47. The believer is secure because of Christ’s prayer.
John 17:9-12: “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world; and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”
48. The believer shall never die.
John 11:26: “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
49. The believer to be kept from the evil.
John 17:15: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” Jesus prays that the believer may be kept from the Devil. Was this prayer answered?
50. The believer to be with Christ in glory.
John 17:24: “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”
51. The believer shall never hunger.
John 6:35: “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
52. The believer will in no wise be cast out. (Not under any circumstances:)
John 6:37: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
53. Christ will not lose a single believer.
John 6:39: “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”
54. The believer is more than a conqueror through Christ.
Romans 8:37: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
55. Christ will raise up the believer at the last day.
John 6:38-40: “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
56. Whosoever eats the bread of life shall never die.
John 6:51: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
57. The believer justified by faith, to be saved from wrath.
Romans 5:9: “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
58. Nothing can separate the believer from Christ.
Romans 8:38,39: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
There is nothing in death that can.
There is nothing in life that can.
There is not an angel that can. Good angels would not, bad angels cannot.
Principalities cannot. Satan is head of principalities of darkness. Powers cannot. Satan is Prince of the powers of the air.
Things present cannot separate.
Things to come cannot.
Heights cannot. There is nothing above that can separate us.
Depth cannot. There is nothing below that can separate us.
Nor any other creature.
NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
59. Christ will complete salvation until the end.
Philippians 1:6: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
60. The believer to be preserved spirit, soul and body.
I Thessalonians 5:23: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
61. God cannot lie.
Titus 1:2: “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.”
62. Jesus is able to save unto the uttermost.
Hebrews 7:25: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
63. The believer is born of incorruptible seed.
I Peter 1:23: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” Can the devil corrupt that which God says is incorruptible?
64. The believer to be like Christ.
I John 3:2: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
65. The believer is perfected forever.
Hebrews 10:14: “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.”
66. The believer believes unto the saving of his soul.
Hebrews 10:38,39: “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
67. The believer made righteous through Christ’s obedience.
Romans 5:18,19: “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
68. Because all things work together for good to the believer.
Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
69. Because the believer is so helpless that he cannot place his sins upon Christ. God must do it for him. Therefore salvation is by grace.
Isaiah 53:6: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
70. Because Christ did not come to help us, but to save.
Luke 19:10: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
71. Because the Holy Spirit abides in the believer forever.
John 14:16,17: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
72. Because God, not being a man, cannot lie.
Numbers 23:19: “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
73. Because His mercy endureth forever.
Psalm 136. Twenty-six times in this Psalm it is written “His mercy endureth for ever.”
74. Because it is the Father’s will that Christ should lose nothing.
John 6:39: “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”
75. Because the believer has not yet borne the image of the heavenly.
I Corinthians 15:49: “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”
76. Because the believer is preserved unto the heavenly kingdom.
II Timothy 4:18: “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever.”
77. Because the believer is the object of God’s mercy, not His wrath.
Ephesians 2:4: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.”
John 3:36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
I Thessalonians 5:9,10: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.”
78. Because a sealed and witnessed transaction is final.
Ephesians 1:13: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.” Sealed with the Spirit.
Hebrews 10:15: “Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us.” Witness of the Spirit.
79. Salvation is obtained, not attained.
Hebrews 9:12: “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
80. Because the believer is a new creation. Created in Christ Jesus. Therefore eternal in righteousness.
Ephesians 4:24: “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
81. Because the Father reckons the sinner:
Dead with Christ,
Buried with Christ,
Raised with Christ, Romans 6:3-5
Seated with Christ, Ephesians 2:4-6
Romans 6:3-5: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”
Ephesians 2:4-6: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved); And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
82. Because all believers will be changed at Christ’s coming.
I Corinthians 15:51,52: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
83. Because of the “MUST” of I Corinthians 15:53.
“For this corruptible MUST put on incorruption, and this mortal MUST put on immortality.”
84. Because the power of God is not limited.
Matthew 28:18,19: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
I Peter 1:5: “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
85. Because one cannot be unborn.
John 3:5: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
86. Because the saints are preserved forever.
Psalms 37:28: “For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”
87. Because Christ will raise every believer up at the last day.
John 6:44-47: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
88. Because nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
Romans 8:35: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (The answer “NO” is demanded by the passage to the question).
89. Because the believer overcomes the world.
I John 5:4: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
90. Because it is the believer’s faith that overcomes the world.
I John 5:4: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
91. Because God will not forget the believer
Isaiah 49:15: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.”
92. Because the new covenant in His blood, is an everlasting covenant.
Jeremiah 32:40: “And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I wilt not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.”
93. Because the believer has ceased from his own works.
Hebrews 4:10: “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”
94. Because it is God that works in the believer.
Philippians 2:13: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
95. Because we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:10: “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
96. Because God’s promise that through the offering of Christ He will put away the believer’s sins, and will remember them no more.
Hebrews 10:17: “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”
97. Because the believer has already been redeemed. (Past tense.)
I Peter 1:18,19: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
98. Because of the record that God hath given.
I John 5:10,11: “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself; he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
99. Because the believer’s salvation is begun and finished by Christ.
Hebrews 12:2: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
100. Because salvation is by grace, and not by any mixture of grace and works.
Romans 11:6: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
101. Because salvation IS salvation.
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By Norman H. Wells
Chapter 22 from the book “The Religion Racket.” It is extremely disturbing to watch as religion begins to fail. A lot of effort is always put forth to bolster a sagging religion. Many different methods have been employed to check the decline in religion. One of the most common methods used to strengthen religion is to combine it with something else. If religion won’t stand by itself, join it up with another activity, and this is supposed to give added strength.
Since real religion will have an effect upon every aspect of life and is closely associated with every activity, it is not too difficult to cement it to anything that is desired. Generally, it is found that such a merger has disastrous effects. Religion continues to decline, and that which it has joined, rather than helping, is consuming and destroying.
The result of combining religion with entertainment has already been considered. Whenever a religion begins to appear dry, dull, and lifeless, it is logical to look around for something that will inject a little life. Too often religion will turn to entertainment, and Gospel celebrities and stars will be brought into the services. Clerical comedians will be employed. The old hymns will be thrown out, and “gospel songs” with a beat will be used. The latest singing groups are asked to appear. Religious movies become a regular service rendered. At first this combination of religion and entertainment seems to work. Generally, the crowds will pick up in attendance, and folks will seem to be enjoying the services. It will appear that it is easier to get the unchurched to attend this type of church service, and usually more “decisions” will be made.
All this appears wonderful, but somewhere along the line it will be noticed that there is less and less religion and more and more entertainment until finally entertainment takes over, and religion is just a faint suggestion. The church will find itself in direct competition with commercial entertainment, and in this field the church always comes out second best. The only thing it has to offer is cheaper admission.
It has been found that to join religion with psychology and psychiatry can also be a success...for a while. There can be no doubt that true religion will reach into the realms of psychology and psychiatry, but to overemphasize these in order to strengthen religion can prove fatal to religion. It is a cure that can kill.
We are living in a time of re-emphasis on things which concern the mind and spirit. The effects of emotional disturbances, nervous breakdowns, maladjustments, etc. are well known. The jargon of the professionals in these fields has become common to all. Books on psychiatry, psychoanalysis, mental hygiene, etc. are also available to everyone. Again it needs to be stated that true religion, properly applied, is the answer to a great deal of the mental and emotional difficulties that plague this generation. It is also true that when religion over-emphasizes this, it again is in danger of losing its identity. Our church services can degenerate into mental health clinics, and our preachers can become nothing more than second-rate psychiatrists. That which is an important part can be allowed to grow until it assimilates all other aspects of religion.
More and more it will be noticed that religion is being joined to politics. The close identity of these two is very evident. Preachers have found that it gets a great deal of attention to comment upon political affairs. The liberal and conservative, the right and left wing, as well as the middle of the roaders all find their political philosophies being expounded from our pulpits. Religious leaders and their denominations are looked upon as potent political factors. It is not uncommon to see conflicting sides of a political issue each being represented by religious leaders quoting Bible verses to prove their point. It is soon found that marriage to politics eventually smothers religion. Church services become nothing more than political rallies, and political indoctrination takes the place of religious teaching.
When the spirituality of a religion begins to wane, the tendency is for the adherents to feel they must get busy and do something. This results in renewed emphasis upon the various programs of the church, and the one getting the most attention is likely to be social work and welfare. The effort to secure clothes for the naked, food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, education for the illiterate, etc. is intensified. Certainly, all of these things are good and should be done, but if religion finds that all it is doing is providing for material needs then it is again missing its purpose. Religion will find that it is still dying...spiritually. It is again swallowed up by that which is supposed to help. The result is the same, even if a “good work” has done the consuming.
In searching about for added strength, religion sometimes joins up with recreation. A successful religion today feels it must have good recreational facilities. Some of these have reached the proportions of having fine gymnasiums, swimming pools, bowling lanes, skating rinks, etc. while others have to be content with a ping pong table or two. Practically every church finds it necessary to sponsor teams in all the church leagues for bowling, softball, etc. The church is also expected to provide for the social life of the church-goer, and dances, card parties, and social activities of all kinds are used. This also results in failure. It causes people to attend church to play, not pray. Associating religion with recreation winds up with recreation taking over and becoming predominant while religion continues to decline.
Religion is always urged to join up with all civic improvement activities. Of course, these are important, but should it become religion’s main task to improve our environment? This is another cure that kills.
The erosion and decay these things can bring about in religion is subtle and hard to define. After all, what’s wrong with good, clean entertainment? With religious psychology and psychiatry? With politics? Social work? Recreation? The answer, of course, is that nothing is wrong, and real religion will have an effect in all these areas. But it is also a fact that any one of these things can so dominate religion so as to destroy. We can bury religion in an overemphasis of these “good things.”
It is an admission of utter failure to even feel that religion must be joined to something else in order to survive. If it continually has to be propped up, then we are in bad shape. If religion does not have strength to stand on its own, then of what possible good is it anyway? The decent thing would be to bury it quietly and try to forget.
It seems as though very few ever think of the other alternative. Why not knock off all the barnacles that have attached themselves to religion and give it a chance? Why not quit trying to dilute it and let religion come on...full strength?
Edited by E. L. Bynum
(Editor’s Note: In our News & Views column we quote from many different sources. Please understand that this does not necessarily mean that we approve of all of the publications from which we quote.)
Protection Or Corruption?— The American Civil Liberties Union is suing public school officials in Louisiana for sponsoring religious activities. But one Christian attorney warns of the ACLU’s motives, saying they are just another attempt to erase Christianity from all areas of the public square. (Crosswalk, 4/21/04) The ACLU is in the corruption business not protection. Two elementary school students complained of being ‘left out’ when directed to another student activity because they objected to singing Christmas carols. Parents with such oppositions to Christianity will be hard pressed to find the ACLU available when they stand before God. Satan’s law firm will be just as ashamed before God as all others who deny Him. (Psa. 25:3) “Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.” (W. W. Mosley, hereafter WWM)
SBC Pastor Robes To Reach Recruits— Appearing much like Robert Schuller and/or a Catholic priest, Lonnie Latham, pastor of a South Tulsa Baptist church now appears in his pulpit in robe and all the trimmings. (Baptist Messenger [OK], 3/18/04) The church’s liturgical service on Sunday morning included an altar boy, also robed appropriately, who assisted in lighting the candles for the service. Viewing the picture in the SBC official paper for Okla., without explanation, could be identified as any Catholic, Methodist, Episcopalian, Anglican, or a variety of others. Identification is an important asset in service to our Lord. I would never want to be identified other than a Christian who is a Fundamental Baptist. —WWM
Willow Creek Leadership Summit 2004— Once again thousands will gather at various locations to hear an ecumenical hodgepodge dipped from their porridge of skimmed milk religion covering toasty flakes of love(?). Purity, separation, and biblical doctrine will be absent from this table set for only those gullible for a common religious unity at all cost. Pastor Bill Hybels leads the group of speakers including Coach Pat Summitt, Tenn. Univ., and T. D. Jakes, Sr., pastor of The Potter’s House, Dallas. Others of like quality will also speak. The bigger is better syndrome has captured the minds of too many Baptist churches who have joined the Willow Creek Asso. for the sole purpose of enhancing membership. Our Lord must not have had such quality leadership or He would not have had to ask the twelve in John 6:67, “Will ye also go away?” Doctrinal purity will always rise to the top as cream does on fresh milk from a cow. That which is left is poor livelihood even for a hog. —WWM
Cafeteria Christianity— “[The present] popularity with meditative mysticism presents a very new and perplexing challenge for evangelical Christianity. We are beginning to encounter the ‘New Age Christian’ ...someone who remains in his or her home church and professes the Christian faith but has also incorporated various aspects of the New Age worldview into his or her life.... What has fueled the momentum of this trend is the buffet dining approach that has marked American religious sensibilities in the last twenty yearsyou take what you want and leave the rest. Americans are picking and blending religions as if they were ordering espressos: pick your espresso blend, but you still get coffeepick your spiritual path, but you still get God. Whatever suits your spiritual tastes, you bring together. The result is hybrid New Age spirituality....” (Berean Call, 5/7/04) Pastor’s beware! New Age theology is difficult to identify when coated with faithful attendance and other commendable traits. God accepts repentant sinners confessing their sin just as they are, but a change of life style is sure to follow. If there is no change, weak believers are sure to be swayed by dangerous ideological aspirations. —WWM
Is America Gradually Becoming Islamic?— “A holy war of sorts is heating up in a Detroit suburb, where members of the local Muslim community want loudspeakers on mosques to announce the Islamic call to prayer five times each day.” (WorldDailyNet, 4/15/04) The call is said to include proclamations that translate as “Allah is the greatest,” “Mohammed is the messenger of Allah,” “Come to prayer,” and “Come to success.” Although there is strong opposition from Christian residents of Hamtramck, Mich., Islam’s presence in America is gaining recognition as a dominating religion. Believers in the true God and His Son, Jesus Christ, must be quiet while all other false religions freely & publicly promote their false gods. Acquiescent Christianity will gain nothing by considering such strides by false religion to be acceptable. God has already been expelled from too many segments of America’s birthright. Too many are now ready to be quiet for the sake of unity. Judge Roy Moore’s Ten Commandment monument made no sound but was removed because it was offensive. The real reason it was moved was because it was the Word of the living God. May God give us people who will answer Elijah’s “if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” (1 Kgs. 18:21) Where do you stand? —WWM
Pro-Life Teacher Criticizes NEA Abortion Position— The April “March for Women’s Lives,” was led by the NEA, Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice Am., and the ACLU, and other abortion activist organizations. However, not all teachers pro-choice. “A pro-life educators group called ‘Teachers Saving Children’ says the NEA should not be engaging in such political activity.” (AgapePress, 4/23/04) Not knowing the benefits of teachers being a member of the NEA, I can only refer to the biblical advice given in 2 Cor 6:17, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, . . .” —WWM
JJ’s Deficiency Is Showing— Baptist(?) Pastor(?) Politician(?) Jesse Jackson says calling for the Sec. of Def. to resign is just not enough. JJ seems to think he ought to be tried for war crimes. So far as I know JJ has never pastored a church, held a political office, and certainly is not a ‘Baptist.’ He has demonstrated by his immoral activities that he falls woefully short of being a Christian. Yet the liberal media focuses on his smirking face every opportunity ‘he gets.’ This Rainbow Coalition leader is as liberal as Ted Kennedy and about a spiritual. Barjesus was not the last false prophet seeking to turn others from the faith. (Acts 13:6-10) —WWM
Modern Theology At Work— “The study by Ellison Research found that the Bible version most likely to be used by pastors in their work is the New International Version (NIV). In fact, 31 percent of pastors favored the NIV, followed by the King James, the New Revised Standard, the New King James, and the New American Standard Version. “ AgapePress via Crosswalk, 5/12/04) A watered down Bible is sure to produce watered down Christianity. The band wagon is loaded with theologians who point out errors(?) in the KJV. Hardly any of this load of theo-logs will mention the differences between all other versions. Maybe no one at the seminary is interested in correction . . . only criticism. If buying a used car requires a little knowledge of its origin, it seems buying a Bible would carry greater emphasis on it’s origin. The truth will still set you free. —WWM
Bible Condemns Homosexuality— “Biblical Christianity represents the greatest obstacle to the normalization of homosexuality. The reason for this is quite simple — the Bible emphatically condemns all forms of homosexual behavior. If homosexual advocates are to succeed, they must either marginalize or neutralize the Bible as an authority.” —R. Albert Mohler (Baptist Press, 5/13/04) Homosexual advocates are assisted by liberal lawmakers and their media counterparts. The God of the Bible and His Son, Jesus Christ, have been under attack even before Nimrod started his tower. Skirmishes may be lost but the victory over sin and the devil and his cohorts is already decided. Though surrounded on every side, the God of the saints will deliver. (Rev. 20:9,10) “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Even so, come, Lord Jesus! —WWM
True Muslim Creed— “Muslim fundamentalists in the northern states of Plateau and Nasarawa recently killed eight pastors and 1,500 believers, while destroying 173 churches. The Muslim-Christian violence last month also displaced 25,000 people, Compass Direct reported. Christian leaders condemned the attacks, warning that the government’s inability to address the violence could turn the country into “a theater for religious war.” The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) asked, “How can anyone explain the reason for invading a church where women, children and men were worshiping, asking them to surrender and lie face down and then proceed to machete and axe them to death in their house of worship?” CAN officials noted that Christians in the African nation have never initiated violence against Muslims, and Nigerian officials have lukewarm attitudes toward the plight of believers, Compass reported.” (Crosswalk, 5/12/04) The chameleon Muslim religion can change from calm to coercive, without much notice until it is too late. Condescending political and religious leaders are their greatest asset in America. —WWM
Sin Celebrated/Christianity Suppressed— Officials at Spaulding High School in Rochester, New Hampshire, have barred sophomore Jessica Meserve from forming a Christian student club. Meserve was told that her club would violate the alleged “separation of Church and State.” Meanwhile, the school allowed another student group, the Straight and Gay Alliance (SAGA), to use school facilities for meetings and other events. (CrossWalk, 5/14/04) Homosexuality is condemned by the Bible, God’s inspired Word. If homosexuality is to made acceptable, the Bible must be overturned as an authority for morality. This will never happen since the “Word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Isa. 40:8) These school officials are helping to bring this to pass. (Isa. 5:20) “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” —WWM
Another Hollywood Swipe At Christianity— Ridiculing Christianity has long been the trademark of Hollywood film makers. From the circuit riding preacher appearing as a dummy on a horse or mule to the modern day tactic of depicting believers in Christ as lunatics. If the Islam religion, Hinduism, or any other Baal like worship was so portrayed, the media would be on top of it like a chicken on a June bug. However, when the film “Saved” hits the big screen, which is said to portray believers as gullible blockheads, it may even get good reviews from the liberal media. One doesn’t have to listen to Brokaw, Rather, or Jennings long to recognize whose side they are on. (2 Tim. 3:13) “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” —WWM
Free From Righteousness— Half of young people will contract STDs, according to a new study. The evangelists of the sexual revolution claimed to be the instruments of liberation, who would set our culture free from the “oppressive” strictures of Judeo-Christian tradition. Now, however, such “free love” is demanding pay back, and the revolution may be enslaving its practitioners in a lifetime lived under the chains of debilitating and deadly diseases. (AgapePress, 5/12/04) There is a world of difference from being free from sin and free to sin. The sexual revolution is reaping today the sin seed sown the last several decades. (Hosea 8:7) “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.” Freedom from righteousness is the goal of the morally debauched. It is the trademark of the servants of sin. (Rom. 6:20) Freedom from sin brings the fruit of holiness, ending with everlasting life. (Rom. 6:22) —WWM
Not Politically Correct, But True— The director at Federation for American Immigration Reform may fall short of being politically correct, but she hits the nail square on the head on this one. On Muslim migration to America she says, “They’re not coming here to become Americans, they’re coming here, as these websites are saying, and promoting colonization of their own religion, of their own culture in towns and taking them over.” (AgapePress, 5/12/04) Hamtramck, Mich. is only a drop in the bucket of Islam religious takeover in America. Those who believe Islam is a ‘peaceful religion’ will be shocked into reality when the same thing happens here that has happened in other countries dominated by Islam. True Christians, beware! —WWM
Regular Churchgoers?— [Sharp upturn in unchurched Americans — no good examples to follow?] Although many preachers and television evangelists talks of a revival sweeping the U.S., a new survey show that’s not the case. Perhaps one reason is a lack of good examples among those who are regular churchgoers. (AgapePress, 5/7/04) Regular churchgoers range all the way from Sunday morning only attendees to the Christmas/Easter bunch. To become a regular churchgoer requires a being born of the Spirit. That which is born of the flesh will continue to have fleshly responses until it is genuinely led by the Spirit. (Rom. 8:14) “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” —WWM
“In God We Trust” — Oklahoma’s governor has said it is alright to place the national motto, “In God We Trust”, in all Oklahoma class rooms. It was ok before the governor make this ruling. (Prov. 22:6) “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The importance of our trust being in God should be posted every where and consistently. (Deut. 6:7) “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Hillary would call this a right-wing conspiracy. Better be right than wrong. Especially when it carries eternal consequences. —WWM
What Harm Would Come?— A Catholic pro-life group has launched an ad campaign aimed at holding Roman Catholic Church officials accountable for not taking steps to ensure that pro-abortion politicians do not receive holy communion. (AP, 5/7/04) Transubstantiation is a gimmick of the Catholic Church. Although it might not harm physically it is sure to be of no help spiritually. What harm would come to Kennedy or Kerry if they be deprived of this? Real harm to the human soul is to be deprived of the truth that Jesus Christ came and died for sinners, and arose for their justification. Repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ is always available through the preaching of the Gospel. (Acts 20:21) Missing the crumb may be humiliating for a Catholic, missing Christ has eternal consequences that are no joke. —WWM
A President’s Wisdom— “Our calling is to align our hearts and action with God’s planinsofar as we can know it.” — Pres. George W. Bush. Our president joins others of the past who have placed their confidence in God. If any nation survives very long it will be because of its leaders and people placing their trust in the living God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Psa. 33:12) “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” (Psa. 144:15) “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.” —WWM
OK Indian Nation Follows Mass.— The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma has granted its first same-sex marriage application. (Altus Times, 5/17/04) A lesbian couple’s sent the tribal officials scrambling “to clarify their marriage laws to include the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman.” The Indian nations of OK, to a point, enjoy their own tribal rules. They also operate their own casinos and have tax breaks on certain products. The Principal Chief says the couple’s marriage application would not be valid. David Cornsilk, a Cherokee activist who instigated the application said, “They’re just wanting to enjoy the benefits of the tribe to which they belong.” Like the English, Scotch, German, etc. ancestors of other Americans, the ancestors of this Indian lesbian couple would have a tribal dance to show their disapproval if it had happened in their day. Of course the ACLU wasn’t around back then to point out the tribe’s limitations.—WWM