Over the years, such colleges become more and more accepted by the world as places of higher learning and if a young man comes from one of them, he is usually accepted by the world as a trained preacher and thus, after years and years of this procedure, we have hundreds of false doctrines being preached. We simply need to return to the Word of God and make sure everything we do and say is backed up with a "Thus saith the Lord.
This license suits the natural man and so they had great success, especially with those who knew nothing of the new life in Christ. The natural man of every generation likes an easy religion which puts no check on morals. No doubt with fair speeches and perverted religious arguments they betrayed and seduced some fine young women. This they did to satisfy their own corrupt passions and at the same time to gain money and followers See v.
True Christianity does not give license to immoral living, but rather brings the animal nature into subjection.
Paul says, "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection" 1 Cor. Again, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation bath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" Titus 2: But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" Rom.
Let us always be on guard against any professed teacher who makes light of sin. A true servant of Christ will surely preach self-denial and the restraining of lust. The Revised Version gives it, "just escaping.
What had these ensnared ones previously escaped? As we noticed, in connection with 1 Peter 1: Perhaps some had also escaped from Jewish ritualism. They heard the Gospel and saw that their idolatry was wrong. Before they were really brought to know Christ as Savior, or at least before they were firmly established in the truth, wicked perverts got hold of them and led them into corruption almost equally serious as that from which they had escaped; perhaps even into worse sin than they had ever indulged.
They fled into a home from a lion in the streets, where they thought they were safe, only there to be bitten by a serpent lurking in the shadows. Some become concerned about their sinful condition. They look for help from some religious system or cult.
They are ready to do any manner of penance, or go through any required ceremony. As time goes on, they discover that there is no power in their religion and perhaps the leaders do not live clean lives themselves. Soon they are back into a life of sin. It is one thing to accept Christianity as a system and quite another to really trust and obey Christ as Savior.
Those who only have a form of Christianity are quickly and easily led astray into some other system, or even back into sin. For those who lament their transgressions and yet forsake them not are to be admonished to learn to consider anxiously that they cleanse themselves in vain by their weeping, if they wickedly defile themselves in their living, seeing that the end for which they wash themselves in tears is that, when clean, they may return to filth. A fourth objection to this doctrine is, that if, by the perseverance of the saints is intended, that they live anything like lives of habitual obedience to God, then facts are against it.
To this objection I reply: But it is said, that facts contradict this. Christ has instructed his disciples to expect opposition and difficulties in the way to heaven. Therefore a more particular view of them is taken, as arising from the remainder of indwelling sin. From the world, and especially from former sinful companions.
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great. Can society survive a drought of "living water" (John )? Truly it is a situation where California's residents have wells without water. He wrote: "These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
From the temptations and suggest ions of Satan. The Christian is animated and encouraged, by various considerations, to oppose them; particularly by the presence of God; the aids of Christ; the example of others, who, though … Philip Doddridge— The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul Believe and be Saved It is the Holy Spirit alone that can draw us to the cross and fasten us to the Saviour.
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