I received an email a little while back from someone I never meet saying they were seeking the Lord. Emails like that bother me, for God is never hiding. When sin was revealed to Adam in the garden and the Lord approached it was man that hide. My response to this man was not the sinners prayer or a false hope or conversion but prayer and gospel. I pray we humble ourselves that it never about us and we see Him in all things. (needless to say, there will be no alter call at the end of todays commentary)
Extra credit: Anyone or everyone believes something. Today touches on just that in There are no atheists in hell by C.H. Spurgeon
Jhn 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
Jhn 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
- What did they believe?
A full proof way to win your friends and family to Christ. Oh had sad it is to read tracts of modern day evangelism. What blasphemy and ignorance attempts to lead the lost to salvation. You can intellectually preach sound doctrine or emotionally convict someone and accomplish nothing. You can sinfully walk with a man down an emotional Romans road and have them say the sinners prayer but their hearts and confession will still be empty. Many say, or can be made to say, that they believe on Him but without the grace of God they will not and cannot believe with true saving faith. Without the electing grace of God they are but sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. For a graceless heart will always love the praise of men more than the praise of God. We cannot lead a man to Christ, but it is Christ and Christ alone that searches out His sheep and brings them into the fold. It is mans will that loves the praise of the flesh. It is mans will that continues to lead the lost away from light and mans will the fills the false disciples with pride in thinking they have the power to convict and save. I say, it is not only dangerous but evil to try to coerce a confession out of an unbeliever. It is blasphemy and sin to give a sinner false hope that they are loved of God without the redemption of Christ. It is Christ that saves and the gospel which He uses to pierce the hearts of men not our wisdom or abilities. Humble yourselves my brother, throw away your foolish tracts and sinners prayers that bring false confessions. Trust in His finished work and His saving power and proclaim that alone.
Charles Spurgeon - (We can share the truth of God with others; but to apply that truth to the heart and conscience is quite another thing. I have preached Jesus Christ with my whole heart, and yet I know that I have never produced a saving effect upon a single unregenerate man unless the Spirit of God has opened the heart and placed the living seed of truth within it.)
James 4:4
