What about the Altar Call?
The song rings out, “come as you are, come and drink from the living water, that flowed from His hands, flowed from his side.” The lights are dimmed, with everyone’s heads bowed and eyes closed, the pastor calls out, “If you hear Christ, stand up like a man, come down to the altar.” The pastor proceeds to let the song play out. He looks out and there are only 3 people standing down below. The pastor quickly says, “let’s play that song one more time, there is someone hear struggling with drugs, pride, you have to let it go,” cries the pastor, and so it goes every week in today’s evangelical churches. People are moved to make “decisions” for Christ. Sadly, many of them find themselves coming to “the altar” multiple times a month for “forgiveness.” Let us look together at another segment of the Amazing Grace series and look at this “altar call.” May the Sovereign Lord use this segment to this end, as Paul said in Ephesians 1, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might, which he brought about in Christ, when he raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” May this spark a discussion to free those brothers in bondage to the freedom that Christ has called us to! See it in the comments section.
29 Comments, Comment or Ping
Mario Herrera
Apr 7th, 2008
H8n S8n
I don’t know if I saved yet,
but I sure am enjoying the treatments !
Apr 7th, 2008
agogley
There is a lady in my small group who was struggling with this belief that you could lose your salvation from one minute to the next. Our pastor was able to show her from Scripture that God is the author and finisher of our faith, and that the elect cannot fall away. What joy and peace comes from election!
Arminians siding with Catholics? Does that sound familiar?
Apr 8th, 2008
Mario
Agogley, the Doctrines of Grace need to be declared to the masses in the hope that our Lord would reveal them to His children setting them free to worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth. Mental idols of Jesus must be torn down. The church must see Christ in His fullness, that is according to Scripture.
H8N S8N:
Tell us a little more about yourself. What do you mean you are enjoying the treatments? How did you come across biblicalthought?
Apr 8th, 2008
H8n S8n
It’s a JOKE !
I have seen for myself the evidence of people who go down the alter
call, week after week. for some reason, the “treatments” do not take.
This was about 10 years ago, when I was going to the “Brain-less
Church” (quoting Dr. Bob), on Mondays to see Greg, and Wednesdays,
to see Pastor Chuck. (thank God Dr. Bob never said he was brainless,
it is the church that is brainless). No interest in Greg for sometime.
How did I come across biblicalthought?
I have been unsuccessful to include my “Worship Series” at any
Dr. Bob related web site. I am already up to 112 at another web site,
where I do a weekly series on “Worship”. This weeks entry is from the 4th century “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”. I post a history, when I can find it, lyrics, sometimes a commontary, and when I can find a
You Tube link, I post that as well. I spoke to Rae about my work, and
she has been very positive about what I am doing. It looks like I will
be working with her on this. Some of the stuff I post you cannot find on the internet. You would never guess Dr. Bob’s plumber knows so much
about “Worship”. This is what happens when you submit & give God a blank check, and let him fill in the blanks. I have never seen a link posted in your blog, but here goes. (from this weeks Series)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spwcPxux740
Feel free to tell Dr. Bob’s C.O.O. you spoke to H8n S8n !
I would not know a key if it was in my pocket. I know Worship.
Apr 8th, 2008
Johnny B
Alter calls, are not about salvation, their about numbers, it’s about corporate stats. It’s man telling God that we can handle the salvation thing, just stand back and watch us. Besides them being none biblical, the things that are said during one can be pretty bad and none biblical as well.
Mario, there’s a lot of preaching of a quasi-grace(new word I learned
). Here’s that problem I see through out the quote, unquote Church today. We have unregenerate men trying to teach or preach, the glorious doctrines of God, to other unregenerate men and women, who all believe that they are regenerate. Saved by grace and grace alone, the problem is their interpretation of that grace. I can do whatever (sin) I want and make heaven my home, because it’s by grace, it’s has nothing to do with me. They take this as license to sin, because they love their sin. Without the teaching of what sin is, according to the bible, there can not be a full understanding of sin and it’s consequences. With that you need to proper teaching on what sin is. I love the way J. C. Ryle, starts his book on holiness
“He that wishes to attain right views about Christian holiness must begin by examining the vast and solemn subject of sin.” With 1 John 3:4 as the Scripture reference, “Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
I believe that to understand what sin is and it’s consequences, before a Holy and Just God, helps us understand, what’s so amazing about grace. I would replace Holiness with grace in Ryle’s statement.
Apr 8th, 2008
Johnny B
Forgot, what I see in the Bible, is the ones hearing the message, asking the preacher “what must we do”
Apr 8th, 2008
agogley
No Worries, H8n S8n. I got your joke the first time.
Apr 8th, 2008
Reformed Rich
Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from HEARING (emphasis added), and hearing by the word of Christ.”
We are saved only by the Work of God Alone. We don’t need alter calls to be saved at all.
Thanks Mario for Preaching It!
Apr 8th, 2008
Espiridion "Speedy" Camez
Amen!!! Come strong brother!!
Apr 8th, 2008
Travis
I know I went down to the altar about 5 or 6 times, before I heard Dr. Bob preach at a calvary chapel, and slowly looked back but couldnt because of the truth that was convicting and convincing. I pray for my friends that go to Gregs church or the Calvaries and Horizons, it is such a barrier breaker to know that Its is BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH that I am save, and not by my rightousness, which is dirty.
As i read a book by Elliot Grudem, who was trained in the reforemed faith, and his book being backed by John Piper, seems to still think we have some kind of faith before its given even if it can not save us, why cant reformed teachers just say it, Faith and Grace are gifts. So when these gifts are given make a proffession of faith and get baptised.
Apr 8th, 2008
Travis
Why say the temple was the hope of salvation, and
Why does he just say Augustine - Calvin, this is ancient not just to Augustin?
Over all good post Mario.
Apr 8th, 2008
Mario
When I was in the military, I’d actually go to church on Sundays. I was unregenerate, however, I remember going down to the altar many, many times. Once they offered a wooden bird cage for the first person to go up! I wanted to get that dog gone bird cage and got beat by someone else!
I must say that the altar call did nothing for me. It was that great day when the Lord breathed life into this dead sinner! As the great hymn says:
Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in
sin and nature’s light; thine eye diffused a quickning ray
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off
my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed thee
No condemnation now I dread, Jesus, and
all in Him, is mine! Alive in Him, my living head
and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach
th’eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Amazing Love! How can it be, that thou my God shouldst die for me?
When at Calvary, I could not live what I believed or believe what I lived! This goes back to what Stephen wrote about in Orthodoxy or Orthopraxy. I thought that Calvary was the height of the Christian faith!
Christians today have to get out of theology that began in the 1900’s! The men who attend Calvary Chapel or other similar churches do not go beyond what Chuck Smith says. These brothers are indoctrinated and are actually afraid to look into solid biblical theology! They are told that theology is useless, “you just gotta love ‘em to Jesus,” they say.
There is no distinction between the Doctrine of Justification or Sanctification. The brothers that are out there know something is up. They cannot believe what they live, but they sure try to fake the funk while at church. Sadly, most of them waste their lives being janitors because they think this is what serving Jesus is. “I’ll just do my devotions and get out of the world.” This is the sort of mentality that exists. In reality, these brothers are serving and pleasing man rather than God Himself. They may think they are serving Jesus, but really, they are serving man. They’d rather have the smile of their pastor than the smile of God.
Men are castrated and feminized! They have the sweet lingo down…”Praise God brother!” “What a blessing!” and so on……It all looks good on the outside…..but it’s a whole different story on the inside…..they still have to deal with the depravity they attempt to cover up! I would dare say that to the degree they pretend to be super spiritual, is to the degree they are struggling with their besetting sin! Apart from the light of biblical teaching (Romans 12:1-2)
Come on former Calvary brothers….can I get a witness?
Apr 8th, 2008
Mario
Today’s mega evangelical church attendees must stop asking each other how their walks are, and stop asking if they are doing devotions! They identify their present condition with God by the works they are doing.
Each Christian must examine himself and see if he is really in the faith.
What must be understood is that if we are the called of God, chosen to be His Children, called by grace into His glorious light, we will be sanctified, whether we like it or not! There is nothing we can do to jump out of His hands! He will conform us to the image of His Son! He does not need our permission! He is the Sovereign God Almighty and does as He pleases. To this I say hallelujah! And no, this does not give the freedom to sin. The fact that God is sovereign, magnifies our accountability! We are called to holiness. By the way, the better we come to know the greatness of Christ, the clearer we see our wickedness, utterly depraved, desperately wicked, we see more clearly that we are great sinners….but OH!!!!!! We have a great Savior! Our righteousness, our worthiness comes through the person and work of our great God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Apr 8th, 2008
Stephen Macasil
Mario, since the video referenced Henry’s commentary on Hebrews 6, I thought it would be helpful to post it here.
1. He shows how far persons may go in religion, and, after all, fall away, and perish for ever, v. 4, 5.
(1.) They may be enlightened. Some of the ancients understand this of their being baptized; but it is rather to be understood of notional knowledge and common illumination, of which persons may have a great deal, and yet come short of heaven. Balaam was the man whose eyes were opened (Num. 24:3), and yet with his eyes opened he went down to utter darkness.
(2.) They may taste of the heavenly gift, feel something of the efficacy of the Holy Spirit in his operations upon their souls, causing them to taste something of religion, and yet be like persons in the market, who taste of what they will not come up to the price of, and so but take a taste, and leave it. Persons may taste religion, and seem to like it, if they could have it upon easier terms than denying themselves, and taking up their cross, and following Christ.
(3.) They may be made partakers of the Holy Ghost, that is, of his extraordinary and miraculous gifts; they may have cast out devils in the name of Christ, and done many other mighty works. Such gifts in the apostolic age were sometimes bestowed upon those who had no true saving grace.
(4.) They may taste of the good word of God; they may have some relish of gospel doctrines, may hear the word with pleasure, may remember much of it, and talk well of it, and yet never be cast into the form and mould of it, nor have it dwelling richly in them.
(5.) They may have tasted of the powers of the world to come; they may have been under strong impressions concerning heaven, and dread of going to hell. These lengths hypocrites may go, and, after all, turn apostates. Now hence observe, {1.} These great things are spoken here of those who may fall away; yet it is not here said of them that they were truly converted, or that they were justified; there is more in true saving grace than in all that is here said of apostates. {2.} This therefore is no proof of the final apostasy of true saints. These indeed may fall frequently and foully, but yet they will not totally nor finally from God; the purpose and the power of God, the purchase and the prayer of Christ, the promise of the gospel, the everlasting covenant that God has made with them, ordered in all things and sure, the indwelling of the Spirit, and the immortal seed of the word, these are their security. But the tree that has not these roots will not stand.
2. The apostle describes the dreadful case of such as fall away after having gone so far in the profession of the religion.
(1.) The greatness of the sin of apostasy. It is crucifying the Son of God afresh, and putting him to open shame. They declare that they approve of what the Jews did in crucifying Christ, and that they would be glad to do the same thing again if it were in their power. They pour the greatest contempt upon the Son of God, and therefore upon God himself, who expects all should reverence his Son, and honour him as they honour the Father. They do what in them lies to represent Christ and Christianity as a shameful thing, and would have him to be a public shame and reproach. This is the nature of apostasy.
(2.) The great misery of apostates. {1.} It is impossible to renew them again unto repentance. It is extremely hazardous. Very few instances can be given of those who have gone so far and fallen away, and yet ever have been brought to true repentance, such a repentance as is indeed a renovation of the soul. Some have thought this is the sin against the Holy Ghost, but without ground. The sin here mentioned is plainly apostasy both from the truth and the ways of Christ. God can renew them to repentance, but he seldom does it; and with men themselves it is impossible. {2.} Their misery is exemplified by a proper similitude, taken from the ground that after much cultivation brings forth nothing but briers and thorns; and therefore is nigh unto cursing, and its end is to be burned, v. 8. To give this the greater force here is observed the difference that there is between the good ground and the bad, that these contraries, being set one over against the other, illustrate each other. First Here is a description of the good ground: It drinketh in the rain that cometh often upon it. Believers do not only taste of the word of God, but they drink it in; and this good ground bringeth forth fruit answerable to the cost laid out, for the honour of Christ and the comfort of his faithful ministers, who are, under Christ, dressers of the ground. And this fruit-field or garden receives the blessing. God declares fruitful Christians blessed, and all wise and good men account them blessed: they are blessed with increase of grace, and with further establishment and glory at last. Secondly, Here is the different case of the bad ground: It bears briers and thorns; it is not only barren of good fruit, but fruitful in that which is bad, briers and thorns, fruitful in sin and wickedness, which are troublesome and hurtful to all about them, and will be most so to sinners themselves at last; and then such ground is rejected. God will concern himself no more about such wicked apostates; he will let them alone, and cast them out of his care; he will command the clouds that they rain no more upon them. Divine influences shall be restrained; and that is not all, but such ground is nigh unto cursing; so far is it from receiving the blessing, that a dreadful curse hangs over it, though as yet, through the patience of God, the curse is not fully executed. Lastly, Its end is to be burned. Apostasy will be punished with everlasting burnings, the fire that shall never be quenched. This is the sad end to which apostasy leads, and therefore Christians should go on and grow in grace, lest, if they do not go forward, they should go backward, till they bring matters to this woeful extremity of sin and misery.
Apr 8th, 2008
Frank
While I disagree with hastily offering assurance of salvation to people who have walked the aisle and repeated the sinner’s prayer, I like inviting people forward to discuss what’s been preached. God can use these discussions to meet needs, whether the people need to convert, clear up confusion, or find a good church for spiritual growth.
If God is sovereign, and Scripture says He is, He has no trouble saving His elect regardless of invitations. Whatever methods we use, we needn’t fear getting the non-elect saved. That won’t happen. As for false professions, they’re unavoidable, for even the apostles who evangelized in the Holy Spirit’s power got them. But we can trust that false converts will fall away when eventually offended by the truth, persecuted for their faith, or consumed by the cares of this world.
Apr 8th, 2008
Johnny B
Romans 2:12-15 “For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, THEIR CONSCIENCE BEARING WITNESS, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”
3:19-22 “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for BY THE LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.”
Romans 4:14 “because THE LAW BRINGS FORTH WRATH; for where there is no law there is no transgression.
7:14 “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN EXCEPT THROUGH THE LAW. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.”
Paul says in chapter 2 that their conscience bears witness, to the work of the law written in their hearts. Then he goes on to say in chapter 3 that the law brings the “knowledge of sin”. In 4 “the law brings forth wrath or judgment”. Chapter 5 he would not have known sin except through the law. If this is what brought Paul to the knowledge of his sin, then why isn’t the law being used to bring unregenerate people to the knowledge of sin? Paul talks about the conscience, the writer of Hebrews and Peter talk about the conscience, having to do with salvation.Hebrews 9:14 “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” 1 Peter 3:21 “There is also an anti type which now saves us–baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” 1 John 3:4 “Every one who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” (RSV) sin is braking the Law.
The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Could the Law and the Spirit work together in the conversion of sinners? If the Law is the standard for judgment and righteousness, could the Holy Spirit bring that judgment and righteousness to a sinner through the Law. That his conscience would bear witness, of his need for God’s grace and mercy?
There’s one thing for sure, in the so-called Church today. There’s no preaching or teaching, on how the Law brings wrath or that sin is braking God’s Holy standard. It’s not up to us to figure out who’s going to be saved, it is to preach God’s Holiness and Righteousness. The whole counsel of God and those that are called to life eternal will be saved and those that are not will remain the same, damned on their way to eternal judgment, Hell.
Apr 11th, 2008
Dr. Morey
Dear Johnny B,
You are struggling with the fact that the word “law” in the Bible means different things. It can refer to the Ten Commandments in one place and the entire OT in another place. Sometimes it refers to civil laws, sometimes to moral principles. The word “law” can be tricky if you do not observe the context carefully.
When you linked together the verses on the “law” in Romans in your last post, it showed that you were not aware that the word law has around ten or so different meanings.
One way to help you see the different meanings to the word law is to look up the word in I.S.B.E. or other theological dictionaries.
Apr 12th, 2008
Johnny B
One interesting thing that I noticed, Romans 2:15 the word “work” is translated “requirement” in the NIV. 8:4 “that the righteous REQUIREMENT of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Don’t know how it is in the Greek, but I found it interesting.
Apr 12th, 2008
Johnny B
I will look that up, in those chapters, Paul is dealing with our salvation. So I figured the Law was the commandments. With Psalms 19:7 as the back round. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” It seems that the law has value, in conversion. With him mentioning, covetousness, then, “You shall not covet.” But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire.” Since he mentions commandment, after mentioning on of them. I seemed to me that in that context, it was the Law, 10 commandments, that he was talking about. It seems like Galatians 3:23-26
“But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Looks like a shortened version of Romans 2:12-8:39. When I look at the ministry of Jesus, he used the commandments, when dealing with their need for God’s mercy. I might not be wording that right, but the rich young ruler comes to mind. He asked “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” Jesus, used 6 of the commandments, then Leviticus 19:18, which sums those 6 up. response, kept those since I was a youngster. Jesus, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But his possession were his God. Braking the sum of the first 4 commandments, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5.
I remember when I first was converted, I would hear teacher or preachers, say that sin was braking God’s 10 commandments. That seemed to of disappear. I was at a Church, about a year ago and of course it was alter call time. The pastor, said sin was braking God’s 10 Commandments, but never said what they were or what would happen for braking them. Then he gave the standard, come to Jesus for a better live.
I thought the apostate Church was going to be a future event, but it’s happening right now. The Gospel of today has nothing to do with sin, eternal judgment, the Holy God that is going to bring that judgment. Nothing to lead people to fear the Lord.
Apr 12th, 2008
Frank
Johnny B, yours are some interesting thoughts on the law or torah. You reminded me of Jeremiah 31:31-34:
“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Authorized Version).
As you can see, the LORD promises to write the law in people’s hearts when He makes the New Covenant. This passage is quoted in Hebrews 8 and Hebrews 10:15-17. The law spoken of, I think, is the torah revised and adapted for our age, as where we read, “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also in the law” (Hebrews 7:12).
Christ, of course, is our great high priest, and the law has been changed as a result. Now that there is no more earthly temple, we no longer must appear in Jerusalem thrice a year, and we no longer need to offer up animal sacrifices (Hebrews 9:25-28). Still, we are subject to a law based on the two great commandments, namely, that we must love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and our neighbor as ourselves.
Apr 12th, 2008
Johnny B
Frank, read what Luther and Calvin had to say about the Law, and it makes me think of John 16:8 “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” I know that Jesus tell us in the next vss what He means. Unbelief, God’s righteousness, could be in relation to His standard, and Satan judged or disarmed. What was his power over us, death. Hebrews 2:14 “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” The interesting part is that Paul says in, Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Which is in the beginning of his summarizing all that was said in vss 1:18-7:25.
Back to Luther and Calvin. This is from Wikipedia, under, Law and Gospel. Luther,
“The Formula of Concord distinguished three uses, or purposes, in the Law in Article VI. It states: “[T]he Law was given to men for three reasons. . .”
1. That “thereby outward discipline might be maintained against wild, disobedient men [and that wild and intractable men might be restrained, as though by certain bars]”
2. That “men thereby may be led to the knowledge of their sins”
3. That “after they are regenerate. . .they might. . .have a fixed rule according to which they are to regulate and direct their whole life”
We may summarize the three uses as follows:
To restrain external evil (civil use) or (curb).
To show us our sin (pedagogical, theological, or elenchtical {convicting} use) or (mirror).
To show us God’s character and will as a rule and guide to holy living, empowered by the Gospel alone (didactic use) or (rule).?”
Calvin,
“In his Institutes of the Christian Religion, the Reformer John Calvin likewise distinguished three uses in the Law. Calvin wrote: “That the whole matter may be made clearer, let us take a succinct view of the office and use of the Moral Law. Now this office and use seems to me to consist of three parts.”
1. By “exhibiting the righteousness of God, — in other words, the righteousness which alone is acceptable to God, — it admonishes every one of his own unrighteousness, certiorates, convicts, and finally condemns him.”
2. It acts “by means of its fearful denunciations and the consequent dread of punishment, to curb those who, unless forced, have no regard for rectitude and justice.”
3. “The third use of the Law. . .has respect to believers in whose hearts the Spirit of God already flourishes and reigns. . . . For it is the best instrument for enabling them daily to learn with greater truth and certainty what that will of the Lord is which they aspire to follow, and to confirm them in this knowledge. . .”
This scheme is the same as the Formula of Concord, with the exception that the first and second uses are transposed.”
When you read about the ancient near east’s pagan religion(s). The reason for some of the Levitical law(s) makes sense. Those restrictions were against pagan practice(s), toward their god(s). Like the linen and cotton, being mixed, had to do with the worship of a fertility or harvest god. I have a lot more to learn about it, but it is very interesting.
This is what I see in the modern Church today, the Law, being used to conform people, instead of to convert them. They’ll teach you how to look and act like a Christian, but will not bring the Gospel message that they’d be converted. Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:8 “But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,” I don’t believe it is lawful to use the law as a means of conformity. He goes on to say vss 9-11 “knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.”
It should be preached to the unregenerate, because they are under the wrath of the law, that the Holy Spirit would bring conviction. So that the elect, will believe unto life eternal.
Apr 13th, 2008
Johnny B
Here’s another verse having to do with a “good conscience” 1 Timothy 1:19 ” having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,” Paul adds faith to it.
Apr 13th, 2008
Jean Cauvin
The Altar Call came in at 3:00 A.M in the morning, and no one was there to answer the phone.
Who would you want to answer the call?
(This message has been approved by Hillary Communist)
Jean Cauvin
Apr 29th, 2008
Mario
That is a tough one Jean….who would you say?
Apr 29th, 2008
Johnny B
Here’s some thing I heard, from a friend of mine. He was at a service, where the preacher said, that sin is like the story of Humpty Dumpty. But God can put you back together again.
Apr 30th, 2008
Caesar A
There is nothing wrong with the Altar call, because it is not the altar call that grants salvation, but faith in Christ. Now, if your objection is the multiple coming to the altar just for the sake to be up there, then the issue is not the altar indeed, but what salvation is all about. Besides that, what is the problem that a Christian come up to the altar many times?
May 2nd, 2008
Mario
Cesar, I think your missing the point. The altar call is misleading people who “think” they are saved and lead a “religious’ life with good intentions! In that great Day, many will say to Him, “Lord, Lord,” and they will hear those dreaded words, “Depart from me, I never knew you.” How do the masses out there know that they will not hear these dreadful words? Faith is granted by God, another words it is a gift. Many people are placing their own faith on man. Well did the apostle Paul say, “and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom (philosophy) of men, but on the power of God.”
Pastors must teach the people in the church! The church is not meant for evangelism. Evangelism is the job of the people of the church. We, the people are taught, we go out evangelize the lost, and bring into the church to be discipled, according to Matthew 28, “Go there and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
We have a great responsibility! From the experience, the altar call does much damage to the unregenerate giving them false assurance through a “prayer.” This prayer does not originate in their heart. Salvation is not available on some technically written method that if followed produces some result. If this were the case, we would not need to rely of the Spirit of God.
I say there is much wrong with the altar call. How many times did I run up crying to the “altar” ? It never worked. At His appointed time, the Lord revealed Himself to me when I was alone. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. It is that resurrection power of God that makes dead sinners arise to translated from darkness into His glorious light!
May 3rd, 2008
Mario
Cesar,
One more thought, there is no “altar” in a church building, unless we are back in the Roman Catholic Church? The final altar is the cross of Christ where it was all finished. Salvation was not made possible, it was completed! In our day and age, what was planned by the Father, was accomplished by the Son, and is now being accomplished by the Holy Spirit! Blessed God Three in One!
May 3rd, 2008
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